The bamboo grove was bathed in morning dew. Li Qingshan stood with his hands behind his back beside a blue stone, his clothes fluttering lightly in the breeze.
He gazed at Jiang Tingting, who was now able to skillfully circulate the divine power of the Life Spring before him, his gaze calm yet seemingly penetrating layers of Cause and Effect.
Yesterday, when Tingting condensed her Life Sea, the black spring shimmering with purple light already displayed a power far exceeding that of others of the same level.
The divine power drawn by ordinary cultivators of the Life Spring is but a trickle, while her Taiyin Divine Force is like a frozen river, and even the slightest emanation of it is enough to freeze cultivators of the Bitter Sea Realm.
With such strength, dealing with those few cultivators at the Sea of Bitterness Realm from the Li Family would be more than enough.
" Tingting."
Li Qingshan's voice broke the tranquility of the bamboo forest, like a clear spring striking a stone, yet carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible heaviness.
His light fell upon Jiang Tingting, and seeing that the Life Spring force flowing around her had reached perfection, he nodded slightly.
With such cultivation, let alone the few Sea of Bitterness Realm cultivators in the Li Family, even ordinary Life Spring cultivators might not be her match.
The time has come.
He spoke, his voice calm yet tinged with solemnity. "Now that your cultivation is just beginning, there are some things you should know."
Jiang Tingting stopped her stance and stood up, her clear eyes looking at her master with a questioning gaze.
Li Qingshan did not answer directly, but instead raised his finger and gently pointed it into the Void.
A wisp of moonlight flowed from his fingertips, sketching out rugged mountains and deep ravines in the air like a paintbrush—a place that inspired awe and fear.
This is Black Wind Abyss.
Li Qingshan.
As he spoke, two figures standing side by side gradually appeared in the scene created by the light and shadow.
Although their faces were somewhat blurred, their figures were upright and resolute.
The moment Jiang Tingting's gaze fell upon the Dao Body, she trembled violently.
A throbbing sensation deep within her blood made her instantly understand something, and her hand gripping the magic sword tightened unconsciously.
The sword hummed, and a deep black light flowed uncontrollably, as if the surrounding air had frozen.
She raised her head and looked at Li Qingshan, her voice trembling slightly. "Master, they are my parents?"
She looked up at Li Qingshan, the childishness gone from her clear eyes, replaced by a solemnity beyond her years. "Master, are you saying that Father and Mother's deaths weren't accidents?"
"It wasn't an accident; someone did it intentionally."
A shimmering light flowed from Li Qingshan's fingertips, and a cultivator dressed in a Daoist robe from the Yanxia Cave Heaven appeared in the scene, quietly sprinkling a packet of dark powder into the luggage of Jiang Ming and his wife.
"This man is named Li Hu. He is a member of the Li Family in Green Forest Town and he cultivated in Yanxia Cave Heaven with your father."
Out of jealousy for your father's rapid advancement in cultivation, he secretly bought this " Beast-Luring Madness Powder " from a black market cultivator. This substance can induce the ferocity of strange beasts; it is colorless and odorless, and ordinary cultivators would find it difficult to detect.
The scene continues to unfold: After Jiang Ming and his wife stepped into the Black Wind Abyss, the previously dormant Lightning Bird suddenly went berserk, transforming into a bolt of lightning that tore through the sky and pounced on the two of them;
Although Jiang Ming fought back with all his might, the ferocity of the Lightning Bird far exceeded their combined strength.
Ultimately, the couple exhausted their divine power and perished under the claws of the ferocious bird.
As the light and shadow faded, Li Qingshan calmly added, "The outer sect elder of Yanxia Cave Heaven is Li Hu's uncle. Afterwards, he deliberately covered up the truth, only saying that they 'died from encountering a beast,' and even condoned the Li Family's seizure of your family's property, forcing you and your family into a desperate situation."
" Li Hu! The Li Family!"
Jiang Tingting's voice trembled slightly, and extreme grief and indignation surged in her chest.
The Taiyin Divine Force within his body surged violently, the air around him instantly condensed into frost, and spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the bluestone beneath his feet.
She suddenly knelt down and kowtowed three times towards the Black Wind Abyss, oblivious to the blood seeping from her forehead. "Father! Mother! I only learned the truth today, and I will make the murderer pay for his crimes in blood!"
Li Qingshan stared at the chilling killing intent in her eyes, offering no advice, but calmly retrieved a long sword from the Bitter Sea.
The sword was three feet and seven inches long, its entire body as black as the eternal night. The blade was engraved with intricate Daoist patterns, and the dark gemstone inlaid in the hilt shimmered with an eerie light. It was the Killing Sword " Profound Yin " that he had forged in Kunlun in his early years.
This sword is powered by the Taiyin Divine Force, and it can even fight against cultivators at the Dao Palace Realm.
For Tingting now, she is more than capable of overwhelming the entire Li Family family.
"This sword is called Profound Yin. It can draw upon the Taiyin Divine Force within you, enabling you to sever the Sea of Bitterness and destroy the Dao Palace."
Li Qingshan handed the sword to Tingting.
"The strongest cultivator in the Li Family is only at the early stage of the Life Spring. As an outer sect elder of the Yanxia Cave Heaven, he would not easily leave the mountain gate."
The Cause and Effect of today requires you to settle it. This is both to avenge your parents and to temper your resolve on the path of Tao.
Jiang Tingting took the Profound Yin Sword. The blade felt slightly cool to the touch, resonating with the Taiyin Divine Force within her body.
She stood up straight, wiped the blood from her forehead, and her eyes held only an icy resolve. "Master, rest assured, I will definitely not let you down!"
Before she finished speaking, she had already ridden the black Divine Rainbow and rushed straight to the Li Family mansion in Green Forest Town.
The divine power of the Life Spring Realm surged around his body, and ripples spread through the air beneath his feet. In the blink of an eye, he stood before the vermilion gate of the Li Family.
The Li Family mansion occupies a large area, and its vermilion gate is carved with ferocious tiger heads.
Hearing a noise outside the door, two members of the Li Family opened the door to investigate.
They carried long swords at their waists, indicating they were already quite skilled martial artists among ordinary people.
Upon seeing a young girl with her hair in a bun approaching with a sword, the two men were taken aback at first, then sneered, "Where did this little brat come from? Get out of here! This is not a place for you to play!"
Jiang Tingting remained silent, only raising her wrist to swing her sword.
The moment the Profound Yin Sword was drawn, a chilling aura swept in all directions, and the steel blades at their waists were instantly covered in frost as the sword light flashed.
With two soft "splatter" sounds, the pair of ferocious tiger heads on the eaves and vermilion gate of the Li Family mansion were stained with blood.
Two heads rolled onto the bluestone slab, their eyes wide open, the lingering sneer in their throats still present, while the blood from the severed necks was frozen by the chilling aura of the Profound Yin Sword, condensing into tiny ice crystals.
Jiang Tingting's small hand holding the Profound Yin Sword was as steady as a rock. Her eyes, hidden beneath her hair, showed no emotion, only a chilling aura of Yin energy in them, colder than the blade itself.
She stepped over the pool of blood, her black skirt sweeping across the heads on the ground, and without pausing, strode straight into the Li Family mansion.
The courtyard inside the mansion was paved with bluestone slabs, and the sides were planted with neatly trimmed pine and cypress trees, but now the needles fell because of the cold sword.
Several servants who were sweeping looked up at the sound and saw a young girl with her hair in a bun holding a sword. They were first stunned, then burst into laughter. "Where did this little brat come from? She dares to break into the Li Family with just a broken sword?"
A man carrying a broom stepped forward, intending to shoo her away. He had only taken three steps when he felt a chill run up his spine from the soles of his feet. The broom in his hand was instantly covered in frost, and his fingers went numb from the cold.
"You, your sword."
Before she finished speaking, Jiang Tingting's sword moved with her. The Profound Yin Sword drew a cold arc, its light paler than morning dew, yet sharper than ice.
The servant didn't even see the sword's path before he felt a chill on his neck, and his body fell straight to the ground, the blood freezing as soon as it gushed out.
The remaining servants' faces changed drastically, and they screamed as they ran towards the inner courtyard, "Murder! A sorcerer has broken into the manor and is killing people!"
The footsteps startled the Li Family family members inside the mansion.
More than a dozen martial artists with long swords at their waists rushed out of the side room. The leader was Li Hao, the third generation of the Li Family, a skilled martial artist who once killed a tiger in the mountains with a single punch.
Seeing that Jiang Tingting was only three feet tall, yet the sword in her hand radiated a chilling aura, he frowned. "Little brat, how dare you cause trouble in the Li Family? Do you know whose territory this Green Forest Town is?"
Jiang Tingting didn't answer, but simply raised her sword and pointed it at him.
The Yin-cold energy on the Profound Yin Sword suddenly dissipated, instantly covering the pine and cypress trees in the courtyard with white frost, and ice crystals seeped from the cracks in the stone slabs on the ground.
The disciples behind Li Hao shivered, their grips on their knives tightening involuntarily.
"It's a cultivator! Quickly go and fetch the elders and seventh brother!"
Li Hao shouted and leaped into the air, intending to retreat into the backyard.
Unfortunately, as soon as he moved, he felt a chill in his chest.
The Profound Yin Sword flashed past, piercing his chest. The Taiyin cold energy surged into his body through the wound, freezing his blood instantly. His body stiffened and he fell to the ground, his eyes still filled with disbelief and terror.
"Run!"
The remaining members of the Li Family were completely panicked.
Jiang Tingting used Divine Markings to power the Profound Yin Sword, and each strike was accompanied by a chilling aura.
With each gust of cold air that fell, someone collapsed to the ground.
In the blink of an eye, the courtyard was filled with corpses, blood mixed with shards of ice, a horrifying sight.
"Who dares to act so presumptuously in the Li Family!"
A furious shout came from the inner courtyard, and Li Zhong, an elder of the Li Family, led five core disciples out quickly.
Li Zhong was dressed in a light blue outfit, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist. His cultivation level at the early stage of the Bitter Sea was already top-tier within a hundred miles of Green Forest Town.
He had barely stepped into the courtyard when he was shocked by the horrific scene on the ground, his pupils shrinking in disbelief. When his gaze fell on Jiang Tingting, he was filled with astonishment and suspicion. "You, you're that girl from the Jiang Family?"
He recognized Jiang Tingting; more than a year ago, after Jiang Ming and his wife died, he had led a group to rob the restaurant.
Back then, this girl was just a baby hiding behind her grandfather, but now she has cultivated supernatural powers, wielding a sword and storming into the mansion, killing dozens of members of the Li Family!
Jiang Tingting looked up at him, her voice clear yet icy cold. " Li Zhong, do you still remember the Lightning Bird of Black Wind Abyss?"
Li Zhong's heart skipped a beat, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.
The Black Wind Abyss incident was a joint effort between him and Li Hu. Years ago, they secretly sprinkled " Mad Beast Powder " on Jiang Ming and his wife's clothes, attracting the Lightning Bird. They thought they had done it flawlessly, but they never expected that this girl would find out the truth!
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
Li Zhong remained calm and waved to his men behind him, saying, "Attack! Kill this witch!"
They exchanged a glance, gritted their teeth, and lunged at Jiang Tingting. But Jiang Tingting stood still, only slowly raising her Profound Yin Sword when they got close.
A dense black chill erupted from the sword, condensing into a phantom in the air, like a miniature ice field, instantly enveloping the five disciples.
The moment they touched the cold air, they were frozen solid, their bodies seemingly nailed to the spot, unable to move.
"This... this is the power of the Life Spring Realm!"
Li Zhong screamed in shock. He finally realized that the girl in front of him was no longer the helpless baby who had been bullied by everyone, but a great cultivator who had reached the Life Spring Realm.
With such cultivation, one could become an outer sect elder in the Yanxia Cave Heaven, let alone in Green Forest Town!
Jiang Tingting didn't give them a chance to beg for mercy. The Profound Yin Sword swept across, and five sword lights flashed, causing the heads of the five disciples to fall to the ground simultaneously.
Li Zhong was so frightened that his legs went weak. He turned around and tried to run to the inner courtyard, but a Divine Markings wrapped around his ankle, causing him to fall to the ground.
"Spare me! Spare my life!"
Li Zhong lay on the ground, his voice trembling.
"It was Li Hu! It was all Li Hu's idea! He's the one who made me use the Mad Beast Powder! Please let me go, I'll give you money, all the Li Family's assets!"
Jiang Tingting walked up to him, the tip of the Profound Yin Sword pressed against the back of his head.
Her voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable resolve. "How will you compensate me for my parents' lives?"
"I, I."
Li Zhong was incoherent, his eyes filled with despair.
He looked at the little girl who was no more than five years old, his eyes filled with no pity, only the coldness of revenge.
"Pfft."
A flash of sword light, and Li Zhong's head rolled to the ground. Jiang Tingting sheathed the Profound Yin Sword; the bloodstains on the blade were instantly frozen by the cold air. With a gentle shake, the ice crystals shattered, and the blade returned to its original state.
She turned and walked towards the inner courtyard, where the last few members of the Li Family were hiding in the side rooms. They heard the commotion outside, but didn't even have the courage to come out.
Jiang Tingting pushed open the door, and the people inside the room huddled in a corner, some crying and begging for mercy, others trembling.
" The Jiang Family, Jiang Family girl, we've never harmed your parents! Please, let us go!"
"Yes! It was all done by Li Zhong and Li Hu! We know nothing about it!"
Jiang Tingting looked at them, her eyes unwavering.
Since these people have enjoyed the benefits of the Li Family, they must also bear the consequences of the Li Family's Cause and Effect.
The Profound Yin Sword was swung, and a chilling aura filled the room. Soon, all sound was silenced.
In the backyard of the Li residence, Tingting arrived on the ice, the Profound Yin Sword lightly pressed against her neck. "Where is Li Hu?"
An elder of the Li Family trembled. "He's... he's cultivating in a secret chamber within the manor."
Tingting drew her sword and headed towards the secret chamber. Along the way, the Li Family members either knelt down begging for mercy or fled in panic, all of whom were easily killed.
Her sword was too fast; so fast that before one could even see the flash of the blade, their soul had already departed for the underworld.
The Stone Gate to the secret chamber was shattered by a single kick. Li Hu was practicing his internal energy on a futon when he opened his eyes and saw that Jiang Tingting, who was holding a sword, had a far stronger aura than him. His face turned deathly pale instantly.
The memories of framing Jiang Ming and condoning the family's seizure of assets flooded back, sending a chill down her spine. "You, you're Jiang Ming's daughter? What do you want?"
What are you doing?
Li Hu hurriedly got up to resist, but found that he was surrounded by the cold Yin energy, his Bitter Sea was frozen, and he could not even move his knuckles.
He begged for mercy, "Miss Tingting, I was bewitched! I'm willing to give up everything the Li Family owns to save my life!"
"It's too late."
Tingting raised her sword overhead, "You can't afford to pay for our parents' lives; the debt to the Jiang Family can only be repaid with blood!"
The sword fell, and his head rolled to the ground. Li Hu's eyes remained wide open until his death, unable to believe that the evil he had sown years ago would bear such a tragic consequence.
Outside the secret chamber, the Li Family mansion was awash in blood.
Those who had bullied the Jiang Family and condoned their evil deeds all lay in pools of blood, their bodies covered in frost, frozen with the fear of their impending death.
Tingting stood in the center of the courtyard, drops of blood from the Profound Yin Sword falling and freezing upon touching the ground.
A short while later, Jiang Tingting walked out of the Li Family mansion.
The tiger head on the vermilion gate was covered with ice crystals and blood. There was no sound inside the mansion. Only the chilling aura of Yin permeated the courtyard, turning this once Lifetime Li Family mansion into an ice cellar.
In the distance, amidst the bamboo grove, Li Qingshan stood quietly with his hands behind his back, his gaze towards the Li Family mansion utterly calm.
This revenge is not only to sever the Cause and Effect, but also to help Tingting understand that the path of cultivation requires both the will to protect and the courage to eliminate evil.
Only by personally settling scores can one's Daoist heart be as firm as a rock, and only then can one step into the world of great strife in the future.
Before long, Jiang Tingting arrived in front of Li Qingshan.
His clothes were unstained by blood, only a faint chill lingered around him, and the grief and indignation in his eyes had dissipated, replaced by a calm that came after experiencing bloodshed.
She approached Li Qingshan and bowed respectfully. "Master, the Li Family has been wiped out."
"Very good. The outer sect elder of the Li Family in the Yanxia Cave Heaven, along with several other members of the Li Family, have also been killed by my primordial spirit flying sword."
Li Qingshan nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the Li Family mansion.
" The Cause and Effect here have been resolved. In a few days, we should set off for the Northern Region of the Eastern Wilderness."
Tingting nodded, without looking back. Everything in that mansion was already a thing of the past.
She gripped the Profound Yin Sword tightly and rose into the air with Li Qingshan.
The morning light shone on her, the dark sword gleam intertwined with the golden sunrise, as if foreshadowing the path ahead, a path that would be both swift and fierce, and bright and clear.