Inside the Lingxiao Sect's Main Hall, Luo Xueyao stood before Qin Wucheng, her hands clasped, voice steady but eyes dark with grief.
"My disciple was originally the seventh princess of the Grand Xu Dynasty. Three days ago, the Grand Xu Dynasty clashed in national war against the Plume Ascension Dynasty. On the surface our forces were balanced, but I did not expect a traitor within the court would betray us. He joined hands with the Plume Ascension Dynasty—and now their army has reached our royal capital!"
Her voice shook. "My Royal Father and Queen ordered two clan Elders to escort me to the Primordial Dao Holy Land to seek refuge. But before we could leave the border, the Plume Ascension Dynasty discovered us. They sent a Grand Sea Realm Ninth Stage powerhouse to pursue me. To protect me, the two Elders diverted the enemy, allowing me to escape. By the time I reached the Immortal Grave Mountain, I could only pray to meet the Sect Master of the Lingxiao Sect!"
She clenched her fists. "Sect Master! The Plume Ascension Dynasty is worse than beasts. Everywhere their army passes, they slaughter the innocent and burn cities to ash. They spare no one—not even commoners! If possible, this disciple swears to annihilate them with my own hands!"
Qin Wucheng's eyes narrowed; a chill glint cut through his calm expression.
"Hmph. A dynasty that treats mortals as insects," he said lightly, his tone cold enough to freeze the air. "Xueyao, rest easy. As long as I am here, no one in this world dares touch you."
Inside, his heart seethed. Cultivators call themselves seekers of the Dao, yet they massacre mortals for sport? Plume Ascension Dynasty… you're already blacklisted.
Luo Xueyao exhaled softly, a trace of relief easing her shoulders.
Boom… Boom…
The mountains trembled. A roar of collapsing stone rolled from the distance. Qin Wucheng and the others turned their heads just as two figures shot across the ridge, battered and streaked with blood.
"Princess! Quickly—this way!"
A gray-robed old man's voice cracked with urgency.
Two elders landed before them, their breaths chaotic.
"The Xu Clan Elders…" Luo Xueyao's eyes reddened. "Elders! You're still alive!"
The old men bowed hurriedly. "Princess, the Grand Sea Realm warrior from the Plume Ascension Dynasty is right behind us! Luo Tian and I planned to drag them into the Immortal Grave Mountain and die together, but we didn't expect to find you here!"
Another elder choked, eyes wet. "We failed our ancestors. We couldn't even preserve the royal bloodline!"
They barely spared a glance for Qin Wucheng's group—no aura, no pressure; to their senses, the four before them were ordinary. They assumed Xueyao had stumbled upon a few low-level wanderers.
Then the mountain wind split.
A golden-armored figure appeared in the sky, descending with casual arrogance. His armor shone like molten sun; his eyes gleamed cruelly.
"Ha! The two ants can really run."
His gaze swept across them, mocking. "The princess of the Grand Xu Dynasty herself? Perfect. Saves me the effort of searching."
His focus shifted. "You should have gone to the Primordial Dao Holy Land when you had the chance, little princess. But no—you stayed behind to die?"
Luo Xueyao's face hardened. She recognized him instantly—General Baifeng's lieutenant, a Grand Sea Realm Ninth Stage expert.
He raised one hand, energy coiling around his palm. "A pity. You would've been a fine offering to my dynasty's glory."
"Princess, go!" one Elder gasped, blood spilling from his lips. "We'll hold him!"
"Elders!" Luo Xueyao's cry cracked the air. She turned toward Qin Wucheng, voice trembling. "Sect Master, please—save them!"
Her eyes were desperate. She didn't know his true cultivation, but his expression hadn't changed since the enemy appeared. That alone was enough hope.
Qin Wucheng sighed inwardly. So dramatic.
He clasped his hands behind his back, robes fluttering in the mountain wind. "Wang Ming," he said evenly, "remove the obstacle."
"Yes, Sect Master."
Wang Ming stepped forward, unhurried, his eyes indifferent.
The golden-armored man barked a laugh. "A few ants without aura dare issue orders before me? You seek death!"
He thrust his palm down. Spiritual power condensed into a titanic handprint that blotted the sky—Heaven-Crushing Palm—falling with the might of a collapsing mountain.
The air screamed.
Then—
Boom!
Before the giant palm descended, Wang Ming raised his own hand and swatted lazily.
The attack shattered like glass, fragments of spiritual light scattering into mist.
The armored man froze mid-air, disbelief twisting his face.
Impossible.
A Grand Sea Realm Ninth Stage strike, dissolved by a casual wave?
His mind reeled. "You—what Realm are you?!"
Before he could react, Wang Ming's aura surged. It poured out like a tidal wave, crushing the air itself. The pressure forced the armored man from the sky; he crashed to his knees on shattered rock, coughing blood.
His pupils shrank. "S-Soul Transformation Realm!"
He trembled violently. "S-Senior, I'm from the Plume Ascension Dynasty! If you let me go—"
A single finger extended.
The world seemed to pause.
That finger expanded in the man's vision until it filled everything.
Sky-Severing Finger.
A thunderclap echoed through the valley.
When the light faded, the golden-armored man was gone—nothing left but a crater and drifting dust.
The silence afterward was deafening.
Luo Xueyao's heart pounded. "Soul Transformation Realm…" she whispered, awe thick in her voice.
She had guessed Lingxiao Sect might be powerful—but a Soul Transformation Realm guard? And he obeyed Qin Wucheng's word like a shadow?
Her gaze flicked toward Qin Wucheng, standing with his usual serene composure. Then… his cultivation must be above that… perhaps Immortal King Realm?
A chill ran down her spine—and, oddly, a surge of safety followed.
She bowed deeply. "Sect Master's might shakes the heavens."
Qin Wucheng gave a calm nod, but inside he was grinning like an idiot. Good job, Wang Ming. That performance deserves a bonus. If only we had sect robes that matched this level of nonsense.
The two Xu Clan Elders finally regained their wits. Both fell to their knees before Wang Ming. "We offended Senior earlier by failing to recognize your greatness. Please forgive us!"
Wang Ming simply clasped his hands behind his back, silent as stone.
Luo Xueyao exhaled shakily, still staring at the crater. The wind carried the faint scent of scorched air. Her heart filled with both fear and relief.
The Lingxiao Sect truly hides dragons… If even a guard is this strong, what of the Sect Master himself?
She stole a glance at Qin Wucheng's profile—handsome, calm, utterly unreadable.
Her fingers tightened. Maybe… maybe the Grand Xu Dynasty still has hope.
"Elders," Qin Wucheng's voice cut through her thoughts, gentle but firm, "take the princess back to the sect's Rest Pavilion. Let her heal. I will handle the aftermath."
The Elders bowed low. "Yes, Sect Master!"
As they departed with Luo Xueyao, Zhao Han leaned closer, whispering, "Sect Master, that guard's finger—one hit kill! Is this what they call true might?"
Qin Wucheng's lips twitched. "Remember that scene. One day, you'll have to act like that too."
Zhao Han blinked. "Act—"
"Train," Qin Wucheng corrected smoothly. "Go train."
"Yes!"
When they were gone, Qin Wucheng glanced at the horizon, where dust still drifted from the destroyed mountain ridge.
Plume Ascension Dynasty… killing mortals, invading kingdoms…
He frowned slightly. If their commanders are already Grand Sea Realm Ninth Stage, their upper echelon must reach Immortal King Realm at least.
He sighed. Looks like I'll have to strengthen the sect faster. Otherwise, one real war and we're finished.
[ Ding! Host's subordinate Wang Ming has slain an enemy cultivator. Host Prestige +1000. Sect Reputation +1 Star. ]
"Good." Qin Wucheng nodded faintly. "At least you're useful sometimes."
[ Ding! Reminder: Sect Master may convert accumulated Prestige into recruitment slots, building upgrades, or random draws. ]
"Later," he murmured. "We'll need them soon."
He turned, robes fluttering as he walked toward the sect's summit. Behind him, Wang Ming and Wang Xuan followed in silent formation, like twin mountains at his back.
From below, the faint toll of the Lingxiao bell echoed—deep, solemn, alive.
The world outside trembled in chaos.
But here, above the clouds, the newly risen Lingxiao Sect began to breathe.
And its handsome, overly calm Sect Master smiled faintly to himself.
Alright, dog System. Maybe this time, we'll really build a sect worth scamming the heavens.