Ling Tian Sword God

”The shockwave from their clash actually has that much power?”

Onlookers watched as Luo Yutang was blown away by the backlash, all sucking in a sharp breath. Usually, shockwaves from a clash were unlikely to harm the combatants. After all, shockwaves radiated in all directions, their power quickly weakening as they spread. Unless one was at the epicenter of the shockwave, the damage would be minimal. Yet, Luo Yutang was clearly hundreds of feet away.

”Ling Chen was less than twenty feet from the explosion. I wonder how he is now?”

”Most likely, he took more damage than Luo Yutang.”

”That’s probably true, nine times out of ten.”

Many disciples of Hanmei Villa looked with trepidation toward the area where Ling Chen stood.

The light radiating from the shockwave had not yet disappeared but was a hundred times weaker than before. Through the flickering light, one could vaguely make out the silhouette of a person.

Hmph! He was so close; he must be seriously injured!

Upon seeing this, Luo Yutang believed Ling Chen had taken the full brunt of the shockwave’s impact. My Yama Sky Demon Flash is potent. At such close proximity, he must be severely injured. Even if his cultivation temporarily surged to the Sky Apex Fourth Realm, his Protective True Qi couldn’t possibly withstand the impact, especially since his actual cultivation is only at the Sky Apex Realm Second Layer.

”Nothing must happen to Brother Ling Chen!” Luo Xian’er said anxiously.

Ling Yin, standing beside her, stayed silent, her beautiful eyes fixed on the dissipating waves of light.

POP!

The light dissipated, revealing Ling Chen’s figure.

Under everyone’s gaze, Ling Chen maintained his sword-slashing posture. A thread of dark golden qi still coiled around the blade of his Red Sky Sword, dissipating outwards.

”How is that possible? He isn’t coughing up blood?”

Luo Yutang was taken aback.

No, some severe injuries aren’t visible externally. That must be it. Luo Yutang’s eyes darkened; he refused to believe that Ling Chen had emerged unscathed.

Ling Chen must be forcing himself not to cough up blood. But in such a severely injured state, he couldn’t possibly hide it completely without showing any signs.

WHOOSH!

Slowly exhaling a long breath, Ling Chen relaxed his stance. The Red Sky Sword pointed diagonally to the ground, and he seemed somewhat fatigued. He stretched his body, then glanced at the crowd below, his gaze finally locking onto Luo Yutang.

”The match is decided. Luo Yutang, you lost,” Ling Chen said nonchalantly, returning his sword to its scabbard.

”He really is uninjured!”

Luo Yutang’s expression turned exceedingly grim. He hadn’t expected that even after executing the Yama Golden Body and his trump card technique, the Yama Sky Demon Flash, he still couldn’t defeat Ling Chen.

Forget about defeating him; he hadn’t even managed to injure Ling Chen.

Isn’t this guy just a nobody in his early twenties?

Seeing Luo Yutang’s grim expression, Ling Chen said with narrowed eyes, ”Luo Yutang, as per our agreement, you’ve lost. All grudges between your Capture God Lineage and me are now settled.”

Luo Yutang started to retort but suddenly felt a chill. His gaze shifted to Mei Fangzhi, who was watching him with a sword-like intensity, as if any word of defiance would be met with a fatal strike of sword qi.

He swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. Luo Yutang took a deep breath, suppressing a bellyful of rage. Not only had he failed to capture Ling Chen on this trip, but he had also lost to him. If news of this got out, his reputation would suffer a major blow.

Furthermore, he had presumptuously agreed to Ling Chen’s condition that if defeated, all grudges between them would be written off.

What a double loss indeed!

”I can guarantee I won’t seek revenge against you. But as for what my master, His Lordship, decides to do, I cannot control it, nor do I have the ability to,” Luo Yutang said coldly after a long silence.

”That’s no issue. I, Mei, will spread word of today’s events throughout the Martial World, ensuring all the heroes in Yi Zhou know of this matter. I trust that with Capture God’s reputation, he wouldn’t stoop to attacking a junior, thereby demeaning his own status,” Mei Fangzhi replied with a calm smile. His words, however, made Luo Yutang’s heart sink. If this news spread, his master, Capture God, would indeed find it difficult to act against Ling Chen. Capture God valued his reputation above all; he would never do anything to tarnish it.

However, I will likely face dire consequences. Capture God will certainly not forgive me easily.

Suppressing the rage in his chest, Luo Yutang got up from the ground and clasped his fists towards Ling Chen and Mei Fangzhi. ”I admit defeat today. Farewell!”

With that, he immediately turned and dejectedly made his way down the mountain.

”He actually admitted defeat so readily? I thought he’d fly into a rage from shame and cause a big scene,” Shen Qianlang said with a laugh.

”This is Hanmei Villa. Would he dare act presumptuously here?” Xuan Yu shook his head. Then, he walked over to Ling Chen, patted him on the shoulder, and said, ”Well done. You might be the first of the younger generation to make ’Iron Hand Yama’ Luo Yutang willingly concede defeat.”

As Capture God’s second disciple, and with his considerable strength, Luo Yutang usually acted quite arrogantly in the Jianghu. Few dared to offend him; it was always him bullying others.

But today, Luo Yutang had truly suffered a major loss. Moreover, after suffering this loss, he couldn’t even vent his frustration and could only swallow it down.

”This was largely thanks to Master Mei’s presence. Otherwise, I’m afraid this person wouldn’t have let matters rest so easily,” Ling Chen said, turning to Mei Fangzhi and clasping his fists in thanks.

”Little friend Ling Chen, there’s no need for such courtesy. You helped our Hanmei Villa, so it’s natural that I, Mei, should return the favor,” Mei Fangzhi said, stroking his beard. His eyes held deep appreciation as he looked at Ling Chen. Ling Chen’s final sword technique had even amazed him, a Half-Saint who had been immersed in the Sword Way for decades.

”However, although Luo Yutang lost to you this time, and Capture God will find it unbecoming to act against you openly, it doesn’t mean he will abandon the thought of killing you. You must still be careful in the future,” Mei Fangzhi said with a grave expression.

Capture God naturally wouldn’t deal with Ling Chen openly, but who could fathom his methods in the dark? Such tactics were impossible to defend against effectively.

”I understand. We will depart Hanmei Villa tomorrow and leave the Yi Zhou region. Even Capture God cannot possibly know our whereabouts at all times,” Ling Chen replied with equal gravity. For someone of Capture God’s stature, killing a minor figure like him was as easy as flipping his hand. Even if he didn’t act personally, he likely had a hundred ways to take his life.

They could only try to leave Yi Zhou, this place of trouble, as soon as possible and head elsewhere to avoid the eyes of the Capture God Lineage.

”Mm, it is indeed not suitable for you to remain at Hanmei Villa any longer,” Mei Fangzhi nodded. This time, he did not try to persuade Ling Chen to stay. For safety considerations, Hanmei Villa truly could not guarantee Ling Chen’s security, especially since Capture God was a genuine Saint.

”However, little friend Ling Chen, before you leave, I, Mei, would like to have a sparring session with you. What do you say?” Mei Fangzhi suddenly proposed with a smile, his gaze fixed on Ling Chen.