Longevity through Upgrading Buildings

Chapter 1248: Chapter 426: The Dao Rises a Foot, the Devil Rises a Yard

After Punishment Sword sent off that Flying Sword, everything seemed to settle back into calm.

Only the soul-linked tracking disks in the three men’s hands... every now and then, a few stars would wink out.

At first, over those first few days, the stars were going dark at a terrifying pace.

Only when the three Sects each had just a few dozen disciples left did the rate at which the stars vanished finally slow down.

”The ones left now are the elite of our Three Star Luo Sects.”

The more Huang Xiu said that, the more worried the three of them became.

Why?

Because there was still half a month until Blood Sword Island opened... and after that half month, who knew how many would still be alive?

As expected, when there was only the last day left...

Each of the three Sects had fewer than ten disciples remaining.

’At this rate, the Cloud Rain Sect will probably have fewer than five disciples walk out of there alive.’

When the final passage opened, there would definitely be another massacre; that much was beyond question.

Ji Yuan thought about how this was his first time going out on a mission and he’d run into something like this, and he couldn’t help feeling a bit helpless inside.

But there was nothing he could do about it.

”Hm?”

He was in the middle of his thoughts when his Divine Sense suddenly picked up a streak of sword light rapidly approaching from the South. When he extended his Divine Sense to investigate, he discovered that there was actually a person inside that sword light!

’Riding a sword light through the air—what formidable strength!’

While Ji Yuan was inwardly marveling, he also discerned the man’s cultivation.

Peak of Core Formation.

In that case, this person was most likely the helper Punishment Sword had called in. It was just... that look of his... The Magic Robe on his body was filthy and ragged—that was one thing—but even his hair was clumped together in muddy strands. How did he look anything like a Peak Core Formation Sword Cultivator?

He looked more like a condemned prisoner who’d just been let out of some dungeon.

By the time Ji Yuan had already finished probing this man thoroughly...

Only then did Punishment Sword and Huang Xiu notice his presence; just as the two turned their heads to investigate, that sword light had already arrived high above Sword Gate Island, then plunged straight down to land in front of the three of them.

The Sword Qi spilling off him forced Punishment Sword and Huang Xiu to hastily cast spells to shield themselves; only Ji Yuan stood where he was without dodging or flinching.

The slovenly Sword Cultivator glanced at Ji Yuan first, then let his gaze fall on Punishment Sword.

The latter looked at the newcomer, his eyes filled with both shock and delight, but even more so with fear.

Yet since the slovenly Sword Cultivator was looking his way, he had no choice but to step forward and say in surprise and delight:

”Senior Brother Zhu, why did you come in person?”

”What, I’m not allowed to come?”

The slovenly Sword Cultivator sneered with open contempt.

Ji Yuan didn’t recognize this man, and instinctively furrowed his brow.

Then Huang Xiu’s explanation sounded in his sea of consciousness: ”This man is named Zhu Guang. In his early years he fell into demonic ways and slaughtered all the Cultivators on an entire island, but his talent was simply too heaven-defying, so Heavenly Sword Sect suppressed him beneath Sword Cliff instead. I don’t know why they let him out this time.”

...And they still kept him alive?

Ji Yuan thought it over and understood. Nothing more than Heavenly Sword Sect coveting his talent, wanting to see if he could one day reach Nascent Soul Formation and be used by Heavenly Sword Sect.

As for those innocent Cultivators who died, they naturally didn’t factor into Heavenly Sword Sect’s considerations.

”I wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare.”

Just moments ago, Punishment Sword had been arrogant and overbearing, but in front of Zhu Guang, all of that vanished, replaced by a posture of extreme caution and deference.

Yet in the next instant, Zhu Guang stepped forward, placed a hand directly on Punishment Sword’s head, and with Sword Qi pouring in, reduced Punishment Sword to bare white bones in a single instant.

”If you have to blame something, blame the fact that you saw me leaving my cage.”

Zhu Guang grinned ferociously, casually tossing Punishment Sword’s corpse aside, then turned his gaze on Ji Yuan and Huang Xiu.

He smiled and asked, ”Well then, which one of you two wants to die first?”