The Ancestor Slain by the Sword

The sword light flashed like a rainbow, crashing down on the Ji Clan ancestor's defensive Spirit Artifact, the Earth Spirit Stele.

The Earth Spirit Stele was an exceptional Spirit Artifact even among those of the upper second grade. In the past, under the Ji Clan ancestor's control, it had easily blocked attacks from most False Core cultivators. With Protective Mystic Light as well, the ancestor reckoned he could withstand a few blows even from a Golden Core True Person. He therefore saw nothing wrong with taking Mo Wen's attack head-on.

But the moment he felt the power of Mo Wen's sword strike, he regretted it!

"How is this possible? How can someone at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage have such immense Law Power?!"

The Ji Clan ancestor felt a surge of Law Power as immense as a Golden Core cultivator's bearing down on him, toppling mountains and overturning seas.

Both the Earth Spirit Stele and his Protective Mystic Light were now under pressure beyond their limits. Had the stele not been forged with a portion of third-grade fire copper, it would probably have been cleaved in two by the strike.

But the Ji Clan ancestor no longer had time for regrets. He channeled his Law Power with all his might, bringing his Protective Mystic Light to its strongest state. As for what would become of the Earth Spirit Stele, he could only leave it to fate.

Fortunately, by giving it his all, he managed to block Mo Wen's sword strike with his Protective Mystic Light. The Earth Spirit Stele, however, had been scored with a deep sword mark and could not be used again until it was repaired!

The immense force of the recoil sent both men flying more than a hundred zhang before they managed to steady themselves.

On the surface, their first clash had ended evenly. But the Ji Clan ancestor knew full well that he had already lost their contest of Law Power! He had suffered a slight internal injury, which he had forcibly suppressed to save face.

Mo Wen, meanwhile, glanced helplessly at the Startling Thunder Sword. This high-grade spirit sword, taken from the Ji Household's second elder, was still a little inadequate for such heavy use!

Under normal circumstances, a Foundation Establishment cultivator using a high-grade Spirit Artifact was definitely well equipped! Even some Rogue Cultivators who had just advanced to the Golden Core Realm used weapons of no higher grade.

Yet Mo Wen, a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, had Law Power that somewhat exceeded the norm, already reaching a level comparable to a Golden Core cultivator's. On top of that, his body cultivation had reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. When he fought with all his strength, the Startling Thunder Sword held him back!

Had Mo Wen not withdrawn some of his strength at the last moment of that strike, the Startling Thunder Sword would probably have been ruined on the spot. Even so, it had sustained some damage and would have to be nurtured with Law Power for a while before it could return to normal.

From that strike, Mo Wen had roughly gauged the defensive limits of Protective Mystic Light. If he had a top-tier high-grade spirit sword, he could break through a False Core cultivator's Protective Mystic Light in a single strike. But the Ji Clan ancestor was his only test subject, so he could not be certain the same was true of other False Core cultivators!

He had yet to use his trump card, Sword Qi Thunder Sound, however, so he judged that his peak combat strength should be a cut above that of a False Core cultivator.

Still, a False Core cultivator's Protective Mystic Light could indeed take a beating. Even if he used Sword Qi Thunder Sound, it would be difficult to kill the Ji Clan ancestor instantly.

"If one strike won't do, then I'll give him a few more!"

Without hesitation, Mo Wen put away the Startling Thunder Sword and took another high-grade spirit sword from his Storage Bag.

He had just raided the Ji Clan's lair, and he still had three high-grade spirit swords on hand, more than enough to expend!

This time, Mo Wen used Sword Qi Thunder Sound the moment he struck.

Thunder cracked, and the Ji Clan ancestor was sent flying by Mo Wen's sword. Had his Protective Mystic Light not been active, there probably would not have been a scrap of bone left of him.

Caught off guard by the strike, the Ji Clan ancestor had escaped death by relying on his Protective Mystic Light, but he had been gravely injured.

This time, the ancestor could no longer suppress his injuries! He spat out several great mouthfuls of blood, and the bones all over his body crackled, as though his sinews and bones had nearly all been shattered!

Mo Wen struck while the iron was hot, immediately switching to another high-grade spirit sword and slashing at the Ji Clan ancestor again.

Seeing Mo Wen's move, the ancestor was horrified beyond measure. He knew his own condition all too well: he could never withstand Mo Wen's third strike!

"Spare my..." Before the Ji Clan ancestor could finish the plea, he heard another thunderclap that filled him with terror!

I'm finished! The thought had barely formed when he felt his Protective Mystic Light torn violently apart. Then he fell into boundless darkness!

At their core, False Core cultivators were still at the Foundation Establishment level. They had merely gained some of a Golden Core cultivator's might by relying on the inner core of a third-grade Demon Beast. Their souls had therefore undergone no fundamental transformation, and once their bodies were destroyed, no life remained in them.

Golden Core cultivators were very different. When they condensed their Golden Cores, a spark of undying spirit was born within their souls. If they died a violent death before exhausting their allotted lifespans, they had a chance to possess the body of a lower-level cultivator with a Spirit Root and live another life.

After killing the Ji Clan ancestor with a sword strike, Mo Wen took the Storage Bag from his body and returned to Scarlet Moon Mountain.

When Song Xuan saw Mo Wen returning, he immediately flew over and looked him up and down before saying happily, "Good, good, you're not missing any arms or legs?"

"Hey, what's wrong with your eyes? Can't you see I came back victorious?" Mo Wen said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Impossible! That was a False Core ancestor. It's already amazing that you came back in one piece!" Song Xuan said, his face full of disbelief.

"Come on, let's go back to Azure Luan Immortal City!" Mo Wen said, no longer bothering to explain.

"What about those people?" Song Xuan asked, pointing at the Ji Clan members.

"What do you think?" Mo Wen replied irritably. He picked Song Xuan up and flew toward Azure Luan Immortal City.

The Ji Household's ancestor was dead, and the only one who posed even a slight threat to Mo Wen was Ji Bufan, who was said to have a chance of reaching the Golden Core Realm.

Even if Ji Bufan broke through to the Golden Core Realm someday, it would be no great matter to Mo Wen. He had the talent Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence; when it came to the speed of his progress, he had never feared anyone!

As for the Ji Household members who could no longer resist, he truly could not bring himself to deal them a ruthless blow, so he simply returned to Azure Luan Immortal City.

After today's battle, he was afraid his true strength could no longer be concealed. Fortunately, his trump card, Sword Qi Thunder Sound, had yet to be exposed. Even if a Golden Core cultivator set their sights on him, he would not be powerless to fight back!

After returning to the immortal city, the two went straight to Song Yixue to let her know they were safe.

Seeing them return unharmed, Song Yixue finally felt the weight lift from her heart.

The three held a feast in the cave abode to settle their nerves. As they ate and drank, they discussed how they should establish themselves in Azure Luan Immortal City.