Chapter 41: Come Out, Kill!

The Cloud Mist Sect had not been doing well these past years to begin with. Now, hearing such bad news, the Elders were about to explode with rage.

They rushed at the disciple who had just emerged from the Secret Realm and demanded loudly, "Speak! Who did this?!!!"

The Elder of that disciple's sect was immediately displeased. He stepped forward and shielded the disciple behind him.

He glanced disdainfully at the Cloud Mist Sect Elder and said lightly, "The Cloud Mist Sect really has declined. So many disciples, and not a single one survived. Tsk tsk."

"Cough, little friend, could you tell me who killed my Cloud Mist Sect's disciples in the Secret Realm?" a kindly-faced Cloud Mist Sect Elder spoke up, handing the disciple a Profound-Rank Low-Grade Artifact.

"It was the Little She-Devil of the Soul-Refining Sect!" The disciple put away the Profound-Rank Low-Grade Artifact and, without looking back, entered the Spirit Sound Sect's ranks.

Instantly, all the Cloud Mist Sect Elders looked toward where you and Qingyunzi stood, killing intent overflowing.

"Your disciple caused this trouble. Do you have no intention of handling it?" Qingyunzi transmitted to you, his expression unchanging.

"My disciple brings glory to the sect. As the Sect Master, shouldn't you show some appreciation?" you shot back. "Besides, whether it was really my disciple isn't necessarily so!"

"Heh heh, in our sect, only your disciple is as full of killing intent as you. There's no mistake!"

Then Qingyunzi stepped forward, his full Golden Core stage cultivation erupting, pressing down on the Cloud Mist Sect Elders until they could barely breathe.

"Giving you face? Do you really think the Soul-Refining Sect has a good temper?" Qingyunzi glared viciously at the Cloud Mist Sect crowd.

After sensing the pressure of a Golden Core cultivator, none of them dared to speak.

Qingyunzi, who normally joked around with you, had suddenly flown into a rage, making him seem like a completely different person.

"Fellow Daoist, bullying a junior is your fault!" The new Cloud Mist Sect Master suddenly appeared, his own Golden Core cultivation holding back Qingyunzi's pressure.

"Heh heh, the previous Sect Master hasn't been dead for more than a few years, right? I suggest you be more careful when you go out in the future!" Qingyunzi sized the man up and threatened.

"You!"

"The, the Little She-Devil is coming out!" a disciple suddenly shouted, cutting off what the Cloud Mist Sect Master was about to say.

Hearing this, all the Elders present looked toward the Secret Realm's exit, wanting to see what this Little She-Devil who could slaughter Cloud Mist Sect disciples actually looked like.

A young woman with delicate features, a cold expression, dressed in blood-stained white robes, her hair loose and disheveled, walked out carrying a spirit sword, her whole body radiating murderous aura.

The young woman surveyed her surroundings. When she saw you, her face — unchanged for over a decade — was covered in smiles.

"Master!"

"The, the Little She-Devil actually smiled?!!!"

"Is this still the Little She-Devil? Could she have been possessed?"

The disciples who had emerged from the Secret Realm looked at the smile on Shangguan Lan's face in disbelief.

"Die!!!" A Cloud Mist Sect Elder suddenly attacked, his sword pointed at Shangguan Lan.

"How dare you!" You had been guarding against this moment all along. The instant the Cloud Mist Sect Elder moved, you acted.

Beside you, Qingyunzi, who also wanted to act, was blocked by the Cloud Mist Sect Master.

You appeared instantly in front of Shangguan Lan and threw out a punch with the Heavenly Lightning Fist, blasting the Cloud Mist Sect Elder to death on the spot.

A grand Cloud Mist Sect Elder, at the seventh layer of Golden Core, could not withstand a single punch from you.

"You're doomed! You dared to provoke him — your Cloud Mist Sect will probably have to change Sect Masters again!" Qingyunzi said, warning the Cloud Mist Sect Master before him.

"Hmph, a mere Golden Core cultivator. I can kill him with a wave of my hand!" The new Sect Master was unconcerned.

"Master!" Shangguan Lan threw herself into your arms, wrapping both arms tightly around you. At this moment she was no longer the Little She-Devil who killed without blinking in the Secret Realm, but a good disciple doted on by her Master.

"Don't be afraid. With your Master here, no one can hurt you." You reached out and stroked Shangguan Lan's head to comfort her.

You raised your head and looked toward the Cloud Mist Sect Elders, killing intent overflowing.

"What are you afraid of? Attack together, kill her!" the new Cloud Mist Sect Master ordered.

"Fellow Daoist, have you always been this brave?" Qingyunzi was stunned.

The Cloud Mist Sect Elders, hearing this, all attacked you together.

"Hold on tight to me," you said to Shangguan Lan, then took out an Earth-Rank Low-Grade Treasure from your storage bag, the Soul-Refining Banner.

With a gentle shake, the Cloud Mist Sect Elders, all at Golden Core cultivation, immediately clutched their heads, their gazes vacant.

Hundreds of thousands of living souls rushed into their minds, attacking their divine sense.

Seizing the opportunity, you took out a spirit sword and deployed the Startled Swan Sword Art at the Perfection Realm.

One sword strike, and dozens of Golden Core cultivators all perished.

"This, how could that possibly be!"

"What technique was that? Killed them all with one sword?"

"A perfected Startled Swan? That can't be right!"

"What realm is he actually at?"

At this moment, everyone present was stunned.

Ten Golden Core Elders, all wiped out by a single sword strike from you.

Such a battle record was truly terrifying.

Having eliminated the Elders, you turned your gaze to the Cloud Mist Sect Master in the sky.

Seeing your gaze turn toward him, Qingyunzi hurriedly retreated, afraid of being caught in the blast.

Seeing the killing intent in your eyes, the new Cloud Mist Sect Master felt he had been humiliated.

"This old man is a Golden Core — why would I fear a mere Golden Core like you? Die!" The new Sect Master gripped his treasure and attacked.

You took out a formation plate and poured spiritual power into it. The Five Elements Phantom Spirit Formation unfolded instantly, drawing the Cloud Mist Sect Master inside.

You controlled the formation, plunging the Cloud Mist Sect Master into an illusion.

"Junior Brother, I'm... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to kill you!"

"Master, no, don't, don't!"

"AH!!!!"

The Cloud Mist Sect Master quickly fell into a state of madness, slashing and killing wildly within the formation.

"What's wrong with him?" Qingyunzi came to your side, looking at the Cloud Mist Sect Master within the formation, and asked.

"He's fallen into demonic madness," you explained lightly, then stepped into the formation, took out the Broken Sword, and slashed at the demonically-possessed Cloud Mist Sect Master.

At the critical moment, the Cloud Mist Sect Master sensed the threat of death, suddenly broke free from the illusion, and hurriedly dodged your sneak attack.

Though he dodged your fatal blow in time, the Cloud Mist Sect Master still had half his body cut off and fell into a severely wounded state.

Shangguan Lan, nestled in your arms, suddenly acted, cutting off the head of the severely wounded Cloud Mist Sect Master with a single sword strike!

Watching the Nascent Soul try to flee, you destroyed it with a single sword strike.

The great battle ended. You looked down at Shangguan Lan, a flicker of surprise passing through your eyes.