Great Yan Dynasty, Vermillion Bird Sword Sect, Guest Room
Vermillion Bird Sword Sect was always busy as the strongest sword sect, its territory was huge. The big hall on the eastern part of the Sect stood unmoving. Inside, important guests were housed.
In one of the rooms, silence ruled. Sitting cross-legged, Hua Lian pondered what to do when he reached Raincoat Sect, 'I know they're bad, fiendish cultivators, but to kill them all…' Looking at his hands, as if he could see blood on them, 'I've killed, but it was when the adrenaline hit, and now...'
Faces of dread appeared in his mind, faces of Ming Huang, Mistfall, Dew, and the bloody mess Raindrop was before he became Tian Lianchen. Hua Lian's hand slightly trembled, "How do the protagonists kill so easily?"
Breaking him out of his thinking was Huang Jihao's voice, "I've come to tell you the whereabouts of Raincoat Sect." He didn't wait for a reply, as he barged in.
Hua Lian didn't comment on his attitude, "So?" He pointed at the mat opposite him, "Sit down, have some tea your Master gave me."
Huang Jihao raised an eyebrow, and shrugging, he sat down, taking the cup, "They're in the Forgotten Valley at the western part of the Great Yan. What, you're going to go alone?"
Hua Lian smiled, "You went there, and I'm stronger than you, so… that's a yes." While inside, he planned, 'It would take me at least four months to get there.' Standing up, Hua Lian clasped his hands, "Thank you for the information."
Huang Jihao was startled, so he just nodded, without offering his help, 'He can beat these bugs easily.' He led him outside, while many disciples gossiped about who the strange man was.
Ignoring the disciples' murmurs, Hua Lian paid his respects to Tang Han before finally leaving. After walking a bit further, he took out his lotus and turned it into a throne. Stepping on it, he began to fly west.
He cultivated on his way to the Forgotten Valley, but the Spirit Qi couldn't compare to the Dao Field, so his progress wasn't great. However, when the valley was in sight, he was half a step into the 5th level of Nascent Soul.
Sending out his divine sense, he covered the whole valley, 'Nothing. These Raincoat Sect disciples are good at hiding like street rats.' He let out a sigh, taking out his Moon Wail Guqin, he started to play it.
The sound of Luring Lullaby traveled through the air, vibrating with the wind. Hua Lian conjured the violet barrier around himself while still playing the guqin.
He could see ripples in the air when the nine figures stumbled out of hiding, all had a frown on their face. Hua Lian was still playing without commenting on their arrival. He just asked, "Where is Huang Zuntian?"
All of their frowns deepened, and an old man with a straw hat stepped in front, "What does Junior want with our Sect Master?"
'This old man's aura is strongest, probably an 8th level of Soul Formation.' Hua Lian slowly stopped playing, "Where are my Sect members?"
A bulky man in a straw raincoat sneered, "You're from Jade Pure Sect? Humph, you must be Deity Slaying Elder." He raised his hands, sending out needles made of water.
However, how could a mare spell affect the barrier of the 36th-grade Violet Lotus? It couldn't, the needles just became dust when they touched the barrier, 'They attacked first, but can I kill them?' Looking at his hands, he clenched them, 'If that's what it takes, then…'
Hua Lian again began to play guqin, however, this time the tune was different. In it, sorrow played with sadness, the Decaying Melody had started.
When all of them heard the melody, they simultaneously coughed up blood. Their complexion paled as each of them tried to defend themselves using different treasures, but failed miserably.
Hua Lian had a conflicted look in his eyes, infusing his Violet Qi into the melody, his opponents began to age. Their hair started to turn white, and wrinkles appeared on their faces, making them panic.
The old man's teeth started to fall out, his already wrinkly face became even older. Frantically circulating his Spirit Qi, the old man yelled, "What the fu*k are you doing?! You mon-" Before he could finish his sentence, his flesh had already dried, becoming no more than skin and bones.
The old man was the first to fall, turning into dust on his way down. After him, one by one, all of them fell, turning to dust. Hua Lian, still on his lotus, slowly stopped playing the guqin.
His hand, still shaking, was clenched hard, 'Even their essence souls were destroyed. I wondered how the spell worked, now…' Looking at the drifting dust, he shuddered, 'I wish I had just used Primordial Sky-Splitting Palm, at least it would've spared them this slow decay.'
Using his Qi, he picked up their storage rings and treasures, putting them all into his spiritual ring. After taking his spoils, he couldn't help but pity them, 'Huang Jihao easily defended against my attack, and he was only 3rd level, while these guys were from 5th to 8th level. Quite weak.'
Landing, he caught sight of a spatial disturbance, 'A formation on top of a Secret Realm, interesting. Huang Zuntian knows how to hide.' He broke the formation easily with Primordial Sky-Splitting Palm, causing disciples to rush out like flies.
Hua Lian's voice resonated across, "Your elders are dead, surrender your Sect Master, or perish." Though he said that, his heart weavered, 'I can't kill them all, I don't think I'm capable of such slaughter…'
Jade Pure Sect, Cultivate Diligently Become Immortal Mountain
Han Jue was on his usual day of seclusion when he felt a visitor, 'Sect Master is here.' Opening his cave adobe, he let him in, summoning a mat opposite his.
Li Qingzi looked at Han Jue, sadness and panic evident in his eyes, "Maple Leaf Valley has fallen. Our Jade Pure Sect is next."
Hearing this, Han Jue was a bit torn, 'I shouldn't have sent Hua Lian, we could've all just hid in my Dao Field…' He took the communication token, ready to call back Hua Lian, when a system message popped up.
[The Jade Pure Sect is doomed, and your disciples' whereabouts are unknown. You have the following choices:]
[1. Immediately call back Hua Lian, and hide in your Dao Field. You can obtain Numinous Treasure.]
[2. Trust in Hua Lian's ability to rescue Sect members. You can obtain the sword technique manual and an egg of a divine beast of providence.]
Seeing the system's biased choice, Han Jue was tempted, 'Ah, what the hell. I gave him the mission, if the Dao Ancestor's inheritor dies from a few mortals, then I guess it wasn't meant to be…'
He silently chose the second option while calming Li Qingzi, "Sect Master, don't worry, I've sent Hua Lian on that mission."
Li Qingzi was then confused, pointing outside, he mumbled, "Then who's the one outside?"
Thinking briefly, Han Jue replied, "That's his clone." Plain and simple, but Li Qingzi's brain turned into an overheated processor.
He was processing the information before yelling, "But he's already in the 7th level of Nascent Soul!" While Tian Lianchen had all Hua Lian's memories, secret techniques were an exception. Hua Lian also forgot to teach Tian Lianchen how to hide his cultivation.
Han Jue also nodded in understanding, he was well aware of Tian Lianchen's cultivation from a simulation trial. And although he had higher cultivation, Hua Lian's methods were more powerful, 'Especially that violet lotus of his.'
Great Yan, Forgotten Valley
The Raincoat Sect disciples looked at each other, communicating with each other through sound transmission. Among them, Yang Tiandong looked upwards, and seeing his Junior Brother, he was shocked, 'What is he doing here?!'
Sensing him, Hua Lian sent him a sound transmission, "Senior Brother, don't do anything, I've got it under control."
Uncertainty appeared in Yang Tiandong's eyes, "But Junior Brother, your cultivation…" However, seeing Hua Lian shake his head, he decided to believe in his Junior Brother.
While this bit was happening, many of the disciples took out their weapons, and seeing this, Hua Lian sighed, mumbling, "I guess this is how it's going to be."
Hua Lian reached for his guqin, ready, 'I'll make them fall unconscious, then seal them.' As he was about to play the first note, a voice yelled, "Stop!" An aura of Soul Formation spread, making all disciples look in reverence when they recognized the voice.
"Ha! Sect Master is here! You're done for!" All disciples bowed in the direction of the voice. Their Sect Master was a Soul Formation expert, almost in the Void Amalgamation Realm.
However, Hua Lian was set on this, despite Huang Zuntian being one of his favorite characters; he needed to rescue his Sect members. Thus, he plunked the guqin, sending a melancholic sound throughout the valley.
Weaker disciples were the first to fall, coughing up blood and falling unconscious. Huang Zuntian looked at his disciples falling one after another, anger rising, "Who are you?!"
While inside, he was panicked, 'How did we offend this Senior?! I knew we were supposed to just hide in Forgotten Valley until I reached Void Amalgamation Realm, but no.'
Hua Lian, still playing, calmly replied, "Second Disciple of Deity Slaying Elder of Jade Pure Sect, Hua Lian." He raised his brow, "Huang Zuntian?" Although knowing the answer, he decided to check.
Huang Zuntian looked at his disciples, thought for a second, and turned into a streak of white light, trying to run away, 'I'm sorry, but my life comes first, I'll reach the Void Amalgamation Realm and I'll avenge all of you…'
Hua Lian quickly mobilized his Violet Qi, sending out Heaven-Sealing Myriad-Forms Palm. The palm strike became two meters large, swiftly arriving in front of Huang Zuntian, 'What the f-' Was his last thought before turning into a marble-like seal.
The disciples had wide eyes, especially Yang Tiandong, 'Junior Brother is already so strong…' Disbelief was written on his face. Another person who was shocked was Zhou Fan, 'Han Jue already has such a disciple?!'
Willing his qi, Hua Lian picked up the sealed Huang Zuntian, then his gaze turned toward the disciples who were shaking, "What will it be? Will you release your prisoners or face your doom?"
All disciples lost the will to fight the moment they saw their Sect Master flee without them. Dropping their weapons, they all bowed and begged, "Please spare us, Senior! We were only following Elder's orders, we never hurt them."
The disciples exhaled relief as they gathered near Hua Lian, some laughing in disbelief, and even Yang Tiandong arrived before Hua Lian, "Junior Brother, you were so quick. How did you–"
He was interrupted by a man in a straw raincoat, grabbing a disciple in Jade Pure Sect robes, "Release our Sect Master, and I won't kill this bastard." Holding a short sword on his neck.
Some of the Jade Pure Sect disciples yelled, "Senior Zheng!"
Jade Pure Sect disciples looked at Hua Lian, while Zheng Jian frowned. Not scared, he sent Hua Lian a sound transmission, "Senior, don't trade for my life. I'll gladly enter the reincarnation cycle. Destroy these fiendish f**kers!"
Hua Lian's reaction was a bit slower, "Wait!" But Zheng Jian leaned into the cold blade, drawing blood and ending his life. Hua Lian just stood there, watching in shock, "Why would you…"
His hand, frozen mid-air, slightly trembled, 'I could've saved you…' Looking at Zheng Jian's lifeless body, he clenched his fists, and his breath quickened.
Yang Tiandong placed his hand on Hua Lian's shoulder, shaking his head, "Junior Brother, you saved us. Senior Zheng…"
Hua Lian's lips quivered, "But I could've–" He suddenly heard Han Jue's voice in his head, 'Morals are only applicable to strong cultivators or weak mortals, you are neither. Become a strong cultivator, and you can live by your ideals.'
He took a deep breath, 'I'll try to live in this dog-eat-dog world until I'm strong enough.' He took his guqin, and infusing his Violet Qi, he played Decaying Melody.
The melody had an eerie, withering sound. Hua Lian's strikes were heavy, but resolute, "I'll fulfill your last wish." All Raincoat disciples began to age, with gray hairs sprouting, as they frantically tried to block the sound.
Some covered their ears, some chanted spells, some attacked, some tried to flee, but it was all pointless, as Hua Lian was serious about killing them all, 'I'll destroy every single one of you.'
Looking at the horrific scene, even the Jade Pure Sect disciples were in shock. Yang Tiandong looked at his focused Junior Brother with pity, 'He's probably blaming himself, but Senior Zheng's the one to blame for being captured in the first place.'
Hua Lian didn't stop there, slowing down the melody's rhythm, he prolonged their torture. After the last disciple turned to dust, he slowly stopped playing, his hands shaking.
Jade Pure Sect, Cultivate Diligently Become Immortal Mountain
Han Jue was woken up by a system message, and when he saw it, he frowned.
[You trusted in your disciple Hua Lian to complete his mission; he has annihilated the Raincoat Sect. You obtained the sword technique manual and an egg of a divine beast of providence.]
[Congratulations on obtaining the manual—Heartless Flying Sword]
[Congratulations on obtaining the Chaotic Heavenly Dog.]
[Heartless Flying Sword: Heartless Sword Technique. After cultivating this sword technique, one's emotions and lust will decrease. The lethality of this sword technique is extremely high.]
[Chaotic Heavenly Dog: One of the ancient Divine Beasts of Providence. Legend has it that the Heavenly Dog devours the moon. Currently in an egg state.]
'Annihilated?' After checking his emails, he was relieved.
[Your disciple, Hua Lian, was attacked by a Raincoat Sect mighty figure] × 9
[Your disciple, Hua Lian, was attacked by the Raincoat Sect's disciple] × 1254
'It doesn't say he was injured, that's good. But to annihilate the whole sect, can this kid hold it? Many wouldn't even blink while killing, he, on the other hand…' Sighing, he closed his eyes and went back to his seclusion, unaware of an unknown woman's approach.