Ling Tian Sword God

”I acknowledge that you are the Unbeatable Sword Sect, but it’s only the three of us who admit it,” the Ice Extermination Sect said after a deep breath.

The Phantom Sword Sect, his mouth stained with blood, said, ”Just because we acknowledge it doesn’t mean the older generation of masters do too. Ling Chen, there are many masters stronger than us.”

”Exactly. The old masters are not listed in the World Master List because they have surpassed the age limit, and they are not interested in this list either. But for you, as the Unbeatable Sword Sect, the title ’Unbeatable’ elevates you above everyone else, usurping all the influence of the older generation of masters for yourself. Your peaceful days won’t last much longer.”

Ling Chen retorted, ”Since I dare to call myself the Unbeatable Sword Sect, I’m prepared to face challenges. They don’t dare to call themselves the Unbeatable Sword Sect, but I, Ling Chen, do. I am willing to relinquish the title of Unbeatable Sword Sect to anyone who can defeat me.”

”Haha, well said!”

Mo Tao stroked his beard, his face breaking into a smile. ”The title hasn’t been given to the wrong person! Without an unbeatable heart, how can one be worthy of being the number one Master in the Martial World? If he himself believes he’s not unbeatable, how can he lead the world and top the World Master List?”

Hearing these words, Huyan Xiong fell silent and ashamed. The person Mo Tao was referring to was undoubtedly him.

”Ling Chen, our fight is not over yet. We shall fight again when fate allows.” Yun Qinghong didn’t specify a date. Setting one now would be meaningless because his competition with Ling Chen wasn’t going to be resolved overnight, or even in a year or two. If he could catch up to Ling Chen, a fight would naturally occur. If not, all would be empty talk. Conversely, if Ling Chen’s momentum faltered, the outcome would be the same.

”Let’s go!”

Huyan Xiong, Fang Baiyu, and the others then departed.

Yin Tianxi looked at Ling Chen with a solemn expression. This man... we should no longer make an enemy of him.

Nearby, Yin Zongli gritted his teeth but eventually suppressed the urge in his heart. He knew his strength was insufficient to be Ling Chen’s enemy.

”Ling Chen, let’s catch up when you have time.”

After Su Ziling greeted Ling Chen, he also departed.

In the blink of an eye, Nine Dragons Lake went from bustling to silent. Everything flourishes only to decay; prosperity is followed by decline. This is inevitable.

Feng Piaoliu came to Ling Chen alone, looked at him, and smiled, ”Dustless Club Master, or should I call you ’Ling Chen’?”

Ling Chen shook his head and chuckled, ”It seems I couldn’t hide it from you after all. My disguise must have been somewhat of a failure.”

”So it really is you.”

Feng Piaoliu’s eyes lit up. He had initially only been seventy percent certain and hadn’t dared to fully confirm it, never expecting his guess to be entirely correct.

Feng Piaoliu remarked with some emotion, ”I never expected that you, in a sudden transformation, would become the Sect Leader of the Cyan Robe Association. It’s truly hard to believe.”

Ling Chen shook his head. ”The experiences involved cannot be explained in just a few words.” So many things had happened since leaving Sky Void Palace that, had they occurred before, he himself would scarcely have believed them.

Remembering the first time he met Feng Piaoliu, he himself was just a minor figure. Time is ruthless, invincible. Only Cultivation can preserve the most precious years, even if only for a few short decades. Looking back, his earlier self seemed so naive. In the blink of an eye, three years had passed. Only then did he truly lament how quickly and silently time flowed by.

Ling Chen suddenly asked softly, ”She... how has she been recently?”

Feng Piaoliu naturally knew who Ling Chen was asking about. He gave a wry smile before replying, ”She’s... alright. But I haven’t seen her in a long time. Recently, she’s been in closed-door Cultivation, training even more fanatically than before.”

Ling Chen frowned slightly. ”How did it come to this?” Although there was essentially no longer any connection between him and Xu Ruoyan, Ling Chen, mindful of their past, still felt some concern for her.

”She has suffered too many blows these past few years. I’m afraid only you can help her move past it.” Feng Piaoliu still shook his head.

”Me?”

Ling Chen shook his head, ”I can’t help her. I once thought I could help her, but in return, I almost got pierced in the heart by a sword. The only person who can help her is herself.”

”If she continues to force herself to live in hatred, she will likely only end up destroying herself.”

”You really don’t plan to see her?” Feng Piaoliu sighed.

Ling Chen chuckled. ”See her? In what capacity?”

”I’ve witnessed the power of Sky Void Palace firsthand; I have no desire to experience that kind of confrontation a second time. I’m not a nine-tailed fox; I don’t actually have nine lives.”

”Brother Feng, if we are still friends, please do not reveal my identity.”

Cupping his fist to Feng Piaoliu, Ling Chen’s figure flickered and he flew towards Liu Feiyue.

Liu Feiyue looked at Ling Chen and said, ”The sword discourse is over. It’s time to return to the Cyan Robe Association.”

”Your days ahead will likely not be easy.”

Today, Ling Chen had won the title of Unbeatable Sword Sect. Although those three masters had acknowledged him, they did not represent all the older generation of masters. Upon his return, Ling Chen would undoubtedly face challenges from others; this was inevitable.

Ling Chen said faintly, ”The title is already mine. Whatever storms may come, let them.”

The two of them rode on the Qingfeng Jue and began their journey back to the Cyan Robe Association.

「...」

Above a barren mountain, on the only path back to Green Cloud Mountain.

WHOOSH!

A streak of light tore through the sky at an extremely high speed.

The streak of light was revealed to be a black, flying Exotic Beast. On its back was a black-clothed middle-aged man, appearing to be under forty. His hair was disheveled, his body covered in wounds, presenting an exceptionally wretched sight. If Ling Chen were here, he would definitely recognize this man.

This person was precisely the Black Market Master.

Behind him, another eagle-like Exotic Beast was also pursuing the Black Market Master at an astonishing speed.

The Black Market Master glanced behind him, his gaze falling on the figure atop the eagle-like Exotic Beast, and he roared, ”Shentu Yan! You dare to ambush me? Do you intend to declare all-out war with my Black Market?”

While he had been cultivating, he suddenly received an invitation from Shentu Yan, asking him to discuss a collaboration between the Divine Intent Sect and the Black Market. Unexpectedly, he had walked into Shentu Yan’s ambush. The Black Market experts he had brought with him were all killed in the battle against a large host of Shentu Yan’s Top Sky Apex Strong subordinates. Fortunately, relying on his own superior strength, he had managed to break through the encirclement and escape.

Even so, he was still seriously injured by Shentu Yan.

Shentu Yan chuckled coldly, a glacial intent glinting in his eyes. ”Hehe, things have already come to this. Could I possibly still hope for the Black Market’s forgiveness?”

Previously, he had absorbed Sikong Yi’s cultivation base, greatly increasing his strength to the Sixth Layer of Sky Apex. As long as he also absorbed the Black Market Master’s cultivation base, he could take another great stride forward, reaching the Seventh Realm of Sky Apex.

At that time, who in the entire Martial World would be his opponent?