Profound Tier Low Grade — Tianji Sword
Zhang Lingxiao circulated the Devouring Heaven Demon Art, drawing in the lingering blood qi.
When he turned back toward Su Qing, his expression was calm and composed.
In his eyes, trampling Zhang Kun Song to death had been no different from crushing an ant. His heart remained completely unmoved.
"So this is the benefit of strength…"
A new goal quietly took root in Zhang Lingxiao's heart.
His lifelong dream of becoming a Martial Artist had already been fulfilled. Now, he needed a new dream.
To become a peerless expert—an existence standing above all Martial Artists on the Kyushu Continent.
With that thought, Zhang Lingxiao clenched his fists. He was currently only at the Qi Wu Realm, Middle Stage. The road ahead was still long.
"You're quite something, Little Man," Su Qing said with a smile, clapping lightly.
"Ruthless hands, decisive movements… and you looked rather handsome just now. I'm starting to grow quite fond of you."
"Let's go. To the Zhang Family."
Zhang Lingxiao didn't respond to her teasing.
"Alright," Su Qing replied casually.
---
They passed through the city gate, which was guarded by two personal guards of the City Lord's Mansion.
The two guards had witnessed Zhang Lingxiao instantly killing Zhang Kun Song earlier. They exchanged a glance, understanding flashing between their eyes.
The Zhang Family's waste… can cultivate now.
Without a word, they stepped aside and opened the gate.
As long as killing didn't occur within the city walls, the City Lord's Mansion rarely intervened. Only the victim's family could seek revenge.
This was a world where the strong were respected, and the weak were prey.
However, killing within the city without justification was another matter entirely.
The City Lord himself was a Xuan Wu Realm Late Stage expert.
Anyone who violated city law would simply have to await judgment.
---
"We're almost there."
In Qingyun Town, many residents were ordinary people with no martial cultivation. These families were unaffiliated with the three great clans.
If an ordinary family produced a Martial Artist, they would often change their surname and attach themselves to a great family as an outsider.
Zhang Kun Song was a perfect example.
His original surname was Kun, not Zhang.
---
Just as they neared the Zhang Family estate, more than a dozen Zhang Family Martial Artists suddenly emerged from a nearby alley.
All of them wore the distinctive Zhang Family uniforms.
They swiftly surrounded Zhang Lingxiao and Su Qing.
"Zhang Lingxiao! You traitor's son—how dare you return to seek death?!"
The leader stepped forward.
He was around thirty years old, broad-shouldered and powerfully built. His aura was thick and steady—clearly a seasoned Martial Artist at the Qi Wu Realm Sixth Heaven.
Zhang Lingxiao recognized him at once.
Zhang Yangshan—the strongest outsider disciple of the Zhang Family, famed for his brutal boxing techniques.
So I ran into him before even reaching the estate.
That was fine.
It saved him the trouble.
In the Martial Dao, each Heaven was a vast chasm. Numbers meant little without strength.
Among these dozen disciples, only Zhang Yangshan was worth noting.
"Traitor?" Zhang Lingxiao sneered.
"I'll give you two choices."
"Abandon the darkness and follow me. Help me overthrow Zhang Yuntao's control of the Zhang Family."
"Or…"
"Die."
He drew the long sword from his waist.
Spiritual qi erupted from his body, completely unrestrained.
Qi Wu Realm Sixth Heaven.
Zhang Yangshan froze.
The surrounding Zhang Family disciples stared in disbelief.
Wasn't Zhang Lingxiao a useless waste who couldn't cultivate?
How had he reached the same realm as their leader?
Even worse—
Zhang Yangshan could clearly sense it.
Though they were in the same realm, the density and purity of Zhang Lingxiao's spiritual qi far surpassed his own.
He was no match.
"Zhang Lingxiao," Zhang Yangshan said grimly, "I don't know what kind of opportunity you encountered."
"But don't delude yourself. The First Family Head is at the Ling Wu Realm Middle Stage!"
"Even your traitor father—who reached the Ling Wu Realm Late Stage—failed. What makes you think you can succeed?"
Despite knowing he was outmatched, retreat was not in Zhang Yangshan's nature.
His iron fists had earned him countless merits and resources from the Zhang Family.
He would never betray Zhang Yuntao.
"Hmph."
"Then your choice is death."
Zhang Lingxiao's voice turned cold.
He had once planned to recruit manpower to oppose the Li Family and Ma Family.
But these people were already rotten to the core.
Better to let them become nourishment for his cultivation.
"Kill!"
Zhang Lingxiao surged forward, sword in hand.
Su Qing stepped aside, arms crossed beneath her chest.
Unless someone attacked her first, she had no intention of intervening.
For someone like her, battles at the Qi Wu Realm were simply beneath notice.
---
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Though Zhang Lingxiao had never learned a formal sword technique, his footwork was unpredictable and his speed terrifying.
The Zhang Family disciples couldn't even touch the hem of his robe before falling one by one.
Not a single survivor remained.
Zhang Yangshan's eyes turned bloodshot.
He raised both fists and roared:
"Ramming Ox Fist!"
His massive fists smashed forward, fist qi roaring like a charging beast.
Zhang Lingxiao didn't confront it head-on.
Instead, he activated Phantom Step, instantly widening the distance.
The punch smashed into an afterimage and dispersed uselessly.
Zhang Lingxiao seized the opening.
He thrust his sword.
Puchi!
The blade sliced cleanly through Zhang Yangshan's defensive qi, severed his fingers, and pierced straight through his heart.
The battle ended within a few breaths.
---
Buzz—
The Devouring Heaven Demon Art activated once more.
Over ten streams of blood poured into Zhang Lingxiao's body.
Boom!
His aura surged violently.
Qi Wu Realm Seventh Heaven!
He had officially entered the Late Stage of the Qi Wu Realm.
"Not bad," Su Qing said approvingly as she walked over.
"Clean, decisive movements. No wasted strikes."
"You're very suited to the sword."
She flicked her jade finger lightly.
Hum—
A clear sword hum echoed through the air.
A plain silver longsword appeared out of thin air before Zhang Lingxiao.
Though unadorned, it radiated a faint spiritual glow.
A true Spiritual Artifact.
"Profound Rank Low Grade Spiritual Artifact — Tianji Sword."
"It used to be my personal weapon. I'm giving it to you."
Zhang Lingxiao grasped the hilt, his heart pounding.
The power flowing from the blade far exceeded anything he had ever touched.
Spiritual Artifacts and cultivation techniques were ranked as follows:
Yellow Rank, Profound Rank, Earth Rank, Heaven Rank…
Each further divided into Low, Medium, High, and Supreme Grades.
Even the entire Zhang Family possessed nothing of Profound Rank.
Zhang Yuntao's weapon was merely a Yellow Rank High Grade blade.
Su Qing's generosity was truly extravagant.
"Beautiful Su Qing," Zhang Lingxiao said with a grin, lovingly stroking the blade,
"This Tianji Sword is truly extraordinary."
"But… I don't actually know any sword techniques. What I used earlier were just crude, wild moves."
"They won't hold up against truly powerful Martial Artists."
Su Qing covered her lips and laughed softly.
"Oh?"
"Little Man… are you hinting that you want me to give you a sword cultivation technique as well?"
---