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Deep under the Heavenly Sword Villa, a large crowd gathered in a wide stone cave.
Ling Tianni stood in the center. He had invited all the major sect leaders to watch this ritual.
Since Yufeng and his sons had already left the mountain, his villa had lost its greatest backing.
He needed to show everyone his power to keep their support.
In the middle of the cave, heavy chains held an old man against a glowing stone platform.
It was Yun Canghai.
"Begin the seal!"
Ling Tianni commanded his elders.
Yun Canghai pulled hard against the chains.
His muscles shook.
He fought back with everything he had left, but he was simply too weak.
"You are all cowards,"
Yun Canghai spat, his voice rough and tired.
"You lock me in the dark because you fear the truth."
"Keep your energy steady,"
Ling Tianni told his elders, ignoring the old man's words.
"The seal is almost complete."
"I think we will stop right here,"
A calm voice echoed across the quiet cave.
Ling Tianni quickly turned around.
He frowned when he saw Sam walking in.
"You again,"
Ling Tianni said.
"This is a restricted area. We are sealing a devil. Do not interfere."
Sam did not argue. He just raised his hand.
He pointed one finger at the glowing stone platform.
A beam of light shot from his fingertip.
*CRACK.*
The ancient seal shattered like glass.
The chains snapped into pieces and fell to the floor.
Yun Canghai dropped to the ground.
He took a deep, ragged breath. He was finally free.
Ling Tianni stumbled backward. His eyes were wide with shock.
The other sect leaders gasped.
"How?"
Ling Tianni yelled, panic rising in his chest.
"That seal was built by our ancestors! How did you break it with one finger?"
"It was a very weak lock,"
Sam said simply.
He walked past the stunned elders and helped the old man stand up.
"You have doomed us all!"
Ling Tianni warned him.
"He is a monster! When Elder Ling Kun finds out you freed him, he will kill you!"
Sam smiled easily.
"Ling Kun is not here,"
Sam said.
"He already ran away."
Ling Tianni froze.
"He ran away?"
The Villa Master asked.
"No, he didn't run away. He is an elder of the Sacred Grounds! He will bring an army back to punish you!"
"I know,"
Sam answered.
"That is exactly why I let him escape."
Ling Tianni could not believe his ears.
"You want them to come here?"
Ling Tianni asked.
"Yes,"
Sam replied calmly.
"It saves me a lot of time. If he brings all the leaders here, I do not have to hunt them down. They will deliver themselves right to me."
Sam looked at the tired old man leaning against his arm.
"Let's go, old man,"
Sam told him.
"Your family is waiting for you."
Yun Canghai looked up at Sam. He was deeply confused.
"Who are you?"
Yun Canghai asked, his voice shaking slightly.
"Why did you free me? I do not even know you."
Sam supported the old man.
"We can talk about all of that later,"
Sam said.
"Right now, we need to get you out."
Yun Canghai hesitated.
He looked at Ling Tianni and the angry sect leaders blocking the path.
He knew he had no other choice.
Staying here meant being locked in the dark forever.
"Fine,"
Yun Canghai agreed quietly.
"I will go with you."
They turned to walk toward the exit.
Suddenly, a terrifying pressure crashed down on the entire cave.
The air became incredibly heavy.
The weaker sect leaders gasped for air and fell to their knees.
The ground beneath them started to shake.
Ling Tianni felt the heavy energy and laughed out loud.
"You are too late!"
Ling Tianni shouted at Sam, his confidence returning.
"The Sacred Grounds have arrived!"
Three figures slowly floated down from the cave entrance.
Ling Kun stood in the front. He no longer looked scared. He looked very proud and smug.
Behind him stood two older men in golden robes.
They did not even touch the ground.
They floated in the air, looking down at everyone with cold, empty eyes.
They were not ordinary masters.
They were cultivators of the Sovereign Profound Realm.
"I told you I would return,"
Ling Kun said to Sam.
"You thought you won. But you are nothing. I brought the grand elders of the Sun Moon Divine Hall."
One of the grand elders looked around the cave.
He noticed the broken chains and then looked directly at Xia Qingyue.
"Is this the arrogant man you mentioned, Ling Kun?"
The grand elder asked slowly.
"Yes, Elder,"
Ling Kun answered respectfully.
"He insulted our sect, stole the girl with the special body, and now he is freeing the devil."
The grand elder finally looked at Sam.
"You have committed a crime against the Sun Moon Divine Hall,"
The grand elder stated.
"Kneel down right now, and I might leave your body intact."
Sam did not kneel.
He handed Yun Canghai over to Jean.
He stepped forward, put his hands in his pockets, and looked up at the floating men.
"You brought two Sovereign Realm cultivators,"
Sam said, completely ignoring the threat.
"Is that all? I was hoping you would bring your Sect Master too."
The grand elder on the left laughed. It was a harsh, mocking sound.
"Our Sect Master?"
The elder asked.
"Why would a dragon come to step on an ant? We are more than enough to turn you into dust."
Ling Kun crossed his arms. He smiled proudly.
"You rely on a few clever tricks,"
Ling Kun sneered.
"But tricks do not work against true strength. You are trapped."
Sam shook his head slowly.
"You are right about one thing,"
Sam told them.
"True strength does matter. But you have no idea what that looks like."
Sam took his hands out of his pockets.
He held up his right hand.
A faint, colorful light began to glow around his fingers.
*My control over the Infinity Stones has become much stronger lately,*
Sam thought.
*I used to hold back to keep things stable. Now, I do not have to.*
His flying sword flew with incredible speed before it split up.
Ten, Hundred, Thousand… until it reached a million.
The entire sky was replaced by an ocean of sharp steel.
Every single sword pointed directly at the three men from the Sun Moon Divine Hall.
The sheer weight of the swords created a massive, crushing pressure.
The two Sovereign Realm elders could not stay in the air.
The force pushed them down.
They hit the stone floor hard, landing right next to Ling Kun.
Ling Kun fell to his knees. His proud smile vanished completely.
"What... what is this?"
Ling Kun whispered, his teeth chattering.
He tried to lift his head, but the pressure was too heavy.
"I can control millions of swords with a single thought now,"
Sam answered simply.
Sam lowered his hand and looked at the trembling men.
"This is not a trick,"
Sam said, his voice echoing in the silent cave.
"This is absolute power. So, let me ask you again."
The millions of swords hummed loudly, ready to drop.
"Did you really think two of them were enough to fight me?"