Ling Tian Sword God

With a swing of the sword, Ling Chen sliced open the head of the Thunder Eye Colossal Whale. Deep within the brain, he unexpectedly saw a golden crystal, about the size of a fist, radiating an extremely pure thunder energy.

Needless to say, this thing must be the Thunder Source Crystal.

Ling Chen took out the Thunder Source Crystal, and in an instant, an extremely pure thunder power flowed from his palm into his body, causing the blood in his arteries to speed up its flow.

After retrieving the Thunder Source Crystal, Ling Chen cut down several other parts of the Thunder Eye Colossal Whale’s flesh, such as the fins and certain internal organs, which were extremely nourishing, suitable for daily sustenance, replenishing energy, and aiding cultivation.

After collecting the necessary items, Ling Chen returned to the sea vessel and continued his journey towards the Nine Provinces Continent.

Though the ship suffered not insignificant damage from the Thunder Eye Colossal Whale’s collision, the dragon bone structure remained intact. Fortunately, there was no water leakage, and it could still be used.

Sitting cross-legged in the ship’s cabin, Ling Chen began to circulate his True Qi, absorbing the power from the Thunder Source Crystal.

The Thunder Source Crystal contained extremely pure thunder energy. Ling Chen felt a tingling sensation all over his skin. The power of the thunder coursed through him, washing over his True Qi and melting away impurities into nothingness.

Repeating this process several times, Ling Chen could clearly feel his True Qi becoming purer. After infusing his whole body, the True Qi finally gathered back into his Dantian, making his Spirit Sea more and more full.

During this process, Ling Chen gradually touched the bottleneck of a breakthrough.

”Might as well go for it in one go.”

Ling Chen’s eyes gradually brightened. He had seen signs of a breakthrough when refining the Black Wind Sea Python’s Snake Gallbladder, but he fell short then. Now, with enough accumulation, the breakthrough should naturally follow.

...

Seven days later.

Unbeknownst to him, the vessel had entered the Xu Zhou Territory waters.

At this moment, Ling Chen was still in the cabin, and a layer of dust had settled upon him.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes and slowly exhaled a breath of impure air.

His aura had clearly shown a significant improvement compared to seven days prior, reaching the realm of Sky Apex Realm Fourth Layer.

Upon reaching the Sky Apex Realm, raising one’s realm became much more difficult than before. Ling Chen’s cultivation originally reached the peak of Sky Apex Realm Third Layer, aided by the Dragon Origin Fruit, then enhanced by consuming the Black Wind Sea Python’s Snake Gallbladder, and now he has refined the Thunder Source Crystal. With such accumulation, he finally reached Sky Apex Realm Fourth Layer naturally.

Exiting the cabin, Ling Chen came to the deck. The ship had now moved into coastal areas, and other vessels could be seen passing by from afar.

Boom!

Suddenly, a deafening roar came from the distance. Ling Chen looked towards it and noted an island, entirely engulfed in warfare.

Around the island, large warships were bombarding it fiercely. At the same time, Ling Chen saw numerous strong individuals rushing up the island, slaughtering its inhabitants.

However, it was clear that those residing on the island were not ordinary civilians but ferocious pirates.

But even pirates have families. However, given the enormous disparity in power, the pirate strongmen had mostly been cleared out, leaving only the old, weak, and sick, doomed to slaughter.

Those rushing onto the island wore the official attire of the Central Dynasty—a mix of Xu Zhou’s soldiers with quite a few strong warriors among them.

The so-called Xu Zhou Imperial Troops were essentially controlled by the various Saint Families. Anyone with a slight background or strength would typically pledge allegiance to a Saint Family; without that, there was virtually no chance of promotion.

Observing this slaughter from afar, Ling Chen’s heart was as calm as a bright mirror, undisturbed by waves. Though this slaughter was gruesome, Ling Chen had no reason to intervene. Who knows if these pirates hadn’t slaughtered innocent civilians before, with their hands equally drenched in blood.

Amidst Ling Chen’s contemplation, two warships approached him. On the warships, dozens of armed officials glared menacingly at Ling Chen.

”Who are you? Why are you alone aboard a vessel?”

A warrior resembling a general scrutinized Ling Chen and shouted sternly.

In this emergency period, Xu Zhou’s Saint Families were preparing to launch an attack on the Witch Fiend Sect. Any vessel from the Outer Sea had to be strictly examined. They had been busy eradicating nearby pirate forces to pave the way for the upcoming operation.

Ling Chen arriving alone from the Outer Sea at this critical moment seemed suspicious, naturally making others suspect him of being a spy.

”I am a native of Yi Zhou, named Dustless. Last month, I set out with the Bright Moon Tower’s merchant convoy and was delayed, so I returned alone.”

Ling Chen, unwilling to clash with the official troops, spoke patiently in a mild tone.

”Oh? Do you have an Official Document or anything to prove your identity?”

The general’s vigilant expression did not wane.

”No.”

Ling Chen frowned slightly. As a person from the Five Kingdoms, where am I supposed to acquire an Official Document or identity-proving item?

”What, not even an Official Document? This person is definitely a spy from the Witch Fiend Sect!”

A discerning official expert immediately shouted in a low voice.

Swish, swish, swish!

In an instant, one official expert after another drew their weapons, ready to strike at Ling Chen.

”I initially didn’t want to cause trouble, but why provoke me? Step aside, or I can’t promise not to accidentally hurt you.”

Ling Chen, disregarding the tense atmosphere, spoke coldly.

”Arrogant! Arrest him!”

The general ordered.

As soon as his words fell, ropes were tossed from the two warships, hooking onto Ling Chen’s vessel. Subsequently, many official experts leaped along the ropes, charging towards Ling Chen.

”Stubborn fools.”

Ling Chen shook his head. Standing still, suddenly, he stomped his foot. Instantly, a vast True Qi storm centered on Ling Chen swept outwards.

Bang, bang, bang!

The figures hit by the True Qi storm were blasted away in an instant, one after another plunging into the sea.

With just one move, he eliminated dozens of official experts.

”Top Sky Apex Strong!”

The general’s expression shifted. In that fleeting moment, he felt an overwhelmingly terrifying aura from Ling Chen, unlike any common top Sky Apex strong aura he had felt—a pressure akin to a mountain.

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