Ling Tian Sword God

Chapter 8: Chapter 7: Battle with the Demon Ape_1

”Heh heh. Ling Chen, we were worried you wouldn’t be a match for the Evil Blood Blade. Concerned for your safety, that’s why we followed you all the way here. Don’t overthink it.”

Meng Yuan looked at Ling Chen, a radiant smile on his face.

”You lot, go after the Evil Blood Blade! Don’t let him escape.” After speaking to Ling Chen, Meng Yuan whispered to his two followers.

”Yes, sir.” The two disciples immediately gave chase.

”Concerned for my safety? Then why are you blocking the alley entrance? Meng Yuan, are you trying to murder a fellow sect member? This is the grave crime of betraying the sect!”

How could Ling Chen not guess Meng Yuan’s intentions? The current setup was clearly aimed at him, intending to see him dead.

Moreover, this greedy fool also planned to kill the Evil Blood Blade, snatching his mission in the process.

”Betraying the sect? Everyone here is my man. Even if I slaughter you, who would know?”

Meng Yuan’s smile turned chilling.

Seeing that Ling Chen had seen through him, Meng Yuan no longer bothered to feign ignorance and decided to drop the act. In his eyes, Ling Chen was already a dead man, and it didn’t matter what a dead man knew.

”Meng Yuan, it seems I hold no grudge against you, nor you against me. Why do you want me dead?”

Ling Chen squinted, but his face showed no sign of panic.

”We have no grievances, yet I will kill you to gain merit!” A ruthless glint appeared in Meng Yuan’s eyes. ”Brothers, form up! Attack with me and kill him!”

”Yes!”

The remaining five Divine Intent Sect disciples obeyed, dispersing to take their positions. They pointed their swords at Ling Chen, clearly forming a Sword Formation.

The Void Piercing Sword Formation.

Ling Chen was very familiar with the various Array Formations of the Divine Intent Sect disciples. Naturally, he recognized the Human-rank Array Formation these disciples had deployed. The Void Piercing Sword Formation was quite common among disciples, usually used to besiege sect traitors, wanted criminals, and the like. He never expected it to be used against him today.

”Fellow martial brothers, this is a personal matter between Meng Yuan and myself. It would be best if you didn’t get involved. I don’t wish to harm the innocent by mistake.”

Ling Chen calmly scanned his surroundings.

”Haha, harm the innocent by mistake? To spout such nonsense when you’re about to die is laughable!”

”Exactly! Do you still think you’re the former number one genius of the Martial World?”

Ling Chen’s words had no effect; instead, they drew scornful remarks from two of the disciples.

”Enough talk! Attack!”

Murderous intent flared in Meng Yuan’s eyes. He struck first, targeting Ling Chen. ”Trash! Xiao Muyu saved you last time. Let’s see who can save you now!”

WHOOSH!

The sound of robes fluttering in the air accompanied Meng Yuan’s aura as it suddenly surged, becoming overwhelmingly powerful.

Warrior Sixth Layer Realm!

Ling Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly. He hadn’t expected Meng Yuan’s cultivation to have reached such a level, a realm higher than he had anticipated.

”Great Wilderness Manual, Raging Waves Fist!”

Meng Yuan stomped his foot hard, leaving a deep imprint on the ground. All the strength and True Qi in his body converged into his fist. With a loud shout, he unleashed a punch, its surging Fist Strength crashing out like a tidal wave.

Simultaneously, the five disciples who had set up the Void Piercing Sword Formation drew their swords and lunged, surrounding Ling Chen.

”Haha, Ling Chen, I bet you never thought you’d die here today! Stop struggling! You won’t stand a chance of survival within my Ironclad Formation!”

Seeing Ling Chen motionless, Meng Yuan assumed he was intimidated by his formation and had lost his nerve. He laughed mockingly, intending to further crush Ling Chen’s will to fight and kill him in one fell swoop.

”If others do not provoke me, I shall not provoke them. I originally had no intention of slaughtering fellow disciples, but it seems that’s no longer an option.”

Ling Chen’s face was serene, then his gaze suddenly sharpened. ”Since that’s the case, you can all leave your lives behind.”

CLANG!

As his voice fell, Ling Chen suddenly drew his sword in the face of the six formidable attacks.

True Qi swiftly converged with the Sword Light, erupting the instant Ling Chen swung his sword!

Ling Chen’s movements were like a phantom as he lunged forward. His Sword Light, like a dragon, like a white steed flashing past a crevice, moved with astonishing speed!

Dragon Seeking Sword Technique, Second Style, White Dragon Passing the Gap!

The five disciples attacking with the Sword Formation were the first to be struck by the Sword Light. They only saw a blur before their eyes as a draconic Sword Light rapidly filled their vision, streaking past a part of their bodies.

PUCHI!

A soft sound, and in the next instant, the five disciples were decapitated almost simultaneously, their heads flying into the air.

”What?”

Seeing this, Meng Yuan’s face filled with horror. A chill ran down his neck. He hurriedly looked down, only to see his own headless body, gushing blood, slowly toppling over.

How could this be possible? This was Meng Yuan’s last thought. He never imagined Ling Chen could kill six people with a single sword strike. What terrifying swordsmanship! This fellow... he’s an immense threat. He must be killed as soon as possible; this cannot drag on for more than two months!

However, he would never have the chance to voice these thoughts.

”An excess of injustice is sure to bring self-destruction.”

Ling Chen gazed at Meng Yuan’s headless corpse and couldn’t help but shake his head, feeling not a shred of pity. He then searched their bodies, collected their money and resources, set the corpses ablaze, and then chased in the direction the Evil Blood Blade had fled.

「Inside the Demonic Forest.」

He clearly fled in this direction, why can’t I find him?

Ling Chen frowned. The Evil Blood Blade had just fled from here. Given his injuries, he couldn’t have gone far. He should still be somewhere around here.

The dark, broad-leaved forest reeked of decay. Ling Chen slowed his pace, scanning his surroundings. Then, a strong, pungent smell of blood suddenly wafted from not far away.

Ling Chen’s pupils constricted slightly. He followed the scent deeper into the Demonic Forest.

After no more than a few dozen steps, he reached a damp clearing where he was startled to find three bloody corpses. The thick, bloody odor emanated from these three bodies.

The three had died horrifically: their bodies were dismembered, their internal organs gouged out, and brain matter splattered everywhere. The sight was nauseating.

Ling Chen carefully identified them. They were none other than the Evil Blood Blade and the two Divine Intent Sect disciples who had been chasing him.

”Why did these three die so gruesomely?”

Ling Chen forcibly suppressed his nausea, his brow furrowed tightly. Whoever did this, their methods were too cruel. This wasn’t the work of a human, but a beast. This place isn’t safe to stay for long.

The Demonic Forest had always been a strange place, with incessant rumors of demons and monsters. Although most were likely fabrications by gossips, it was better to err on the side of caution. The bizarre deaths of these three were deeply unsettling, warranting vigilance.

But before leaving, he had to collect any valuables from the three corpses.

Covering his nose, he approached the three mutilated bodies and began to search them. To his surprise, whoever killed them hadn’t looted their belongings. They had left behind quite a few things, which was unexpected.

Just as he was about done looting the three, a violent tremor suddenly came from the nearby forest, and even the ground began to shake.

His expression shifted slightly. Ling Chen immediately leaped onto a large nearby tree, concealing himself.

ROAR!

Just as Ling Chen hid, the ground trembled again. A massive black shadow, like a small hill, appeared in his line of sight, furiously pounding the ground.

Looking closer, Ling Chen made out the shadow’s form: it was a giant black ape, easily two or three men tall, covered in black fur, with a cyanotic face and crimson eyes, resembling a Fierce Ghost. The giant black ape repeatedly slammed the ground, exuding an intensely savage aura.

Could this beast have killed them? Ling Chen, watching from the tree, was inwardly alarmed. This was no ordinary ape; its entire body exuded a sinister, demonic aura, as if it were possessed.

Judging from the large bloodstains on this Demon Ape, the Evil Blood Blade and the other two were most likely its victims.

However, just as Ling Chen’s gaze fell upon this Demon Ape, it stirred. It turned its head, its eyes locking directly onto Ling Chen’s hiding spot.

Not good! Ling Chen instinctively knew something was amiss. Without a second thought, he leaped down from the tree and fled in the opposite direction.

This Demon Ape was immensely powerful; he was no match for it.

BANG!

The moment Ling Chen leaped from the tree, a deafening crash came from behind. The entire tree he’d been on was toppled by the Demon Ape. It then seemed to lock onto him, madly charging in his direction.

Has this beast gone mad? Ling Chen’s expression darkened. A lingering fear gripped him; if he had been a fraction slower in retreating just now, he would likely be dead or severely maimed. Still, he felt a sliver of relief; the beast shouldn’t be able to catch him for now.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, the Demon Ape suddenly launched itself from the ground. Its massive body, surprisingly agile, exploded upwards with astonishing leaping power.

Damn it! Ling Chen was dumbfounded by this sight.

Before Ling Chen could fully react, the Demon Ape was already descending upon him, its enormous paw, wreathed in violent air currents, swiped down.

The air around him instantly became a ferocious vortex. He felt trapped by an unseen force, like a small boat in a tempest, unable to break free no matter how he struggled.

Impending doom.