Chapter 6: Spit Back Everything You Stole!

Five hundred flying swords formed a dense net of steel, descending upon the five elders!

“Work together!”

The five men clearly hadn’t expected Lu Jin to be so powerful that even they would feel dread. In this moment of crisis, they threw caution to the wind. They surged forward, forming a small formation around Luo Jiu. Their spiritual Qi erupted, condensing into a defensive shield shaped like a giant, inverted bowl.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The flying swords struck relentlessly; the booming echoes were never-ending. The shockwaves from the impact swept in all directions. The watching disciples trembled, their eyes filled with horror. The terrifying strength Lu Jin displayed sent chills down their spines. His combat power was far beyond their wildest expectations.

As the roar of battle reached its peak, the sound spread throughout the Ten Thousand Swords Sect. More and more people were drawn to the commotion, their numbers swelling by the minute.

Even at the far edges of the sect’s territory, experts from the Ziyang Sect and the Mad Blade Sect watched with bewildered expressions. Clearly, they hadn’t expected this internal strife to escalate so far beyond their control.

“What is happening inside the Ten Thousand Swords Sect? Could that man not be a member of their sect?”

“It is strange. But it is clear this man has a deep grudge against them; otherwise, he wouldn’t be slaughtering his way out the moment he emerged from seclusion.”

“We cannot enter their mountain gates recklessly. We can only investigate his identity in secret.”

“If this man completely breaks with the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, he might be qualified to join my Mad Blade Sect…”

While the earth-shaking sounds of battle drew more experts to the scene, a middle-aged man in black robes suddenly opened his eyes deep within the sect’s forbidden grounds. He had the head of a leopard and eyes like rings; his stature was tall and slender. There was no ripple of spiritual Qi around him, yet just by standing there, he possessed a majesty that forbade any disrespect.

“Three years…”

The man murmured to himself, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. After a moment of reflection, he vanished from the spot in the blink of an eye.

The flying swords fell like a waterfall.

When Lu Jin’s five hundred swords slammed into the defensive shield of Luo Jiu and the others, the barrier could no longer hold. Densely packed cracks spread like a spiderweb.

“What terrifying power!”

“Everyone! This brat has pushed us to the brink! If we don’t fight back now, what are we waiting for!”

“I can’t hold it anymore!”

Thud. Thud.

One elder fell to his knees, vomiting blood. As the defense collapsed, the other elders gradually lost their footing. Soon, they were all kneeling, the terror in their eyes growing more intense. The stench of death surrounded them; their very souls felt like they were tearing apart.

“Lu Jin! You dare to slaughter your own elders!” Luo Jiu roared in fear, struggling against the crushing weight of the flying swords.

“Kneel!”

Lu Jin’s voice was icy. As he spoke, the defensive shield shattered into dust. Elder Luo Jiu slammed onto his knees with a heavy thud. Blood sprayed from his mouth as his aura instantly withered.

After a single exchange, all five men were kneeling on the ground, blood overflowing from their lips.

“How is this possible!”

“The five elders combined are not his match! It’s unbelievable!”

“Elder Luo Jiu is a Jindan expert! Now, even a Jindan is not his match! Just how strong has he become?”

“Not good! Is he really going to kill the elders?”

The onlookers were paralyzed with fear. Five flying swords hovered above Lu Jin’s head, pointing directly at the five elders with lethal intent.

“Lu Jin! You cannot kill me! I am an Inner Sect elder!” Luo Jiu was truly terrified.

The other four were also shaking. With Lu Jin’s current power, killing them was as easy as turning over a hand.

“It is only right for you to kill me, but wrong for me to kill you? There is no such logic!”

Before his voice finished, the five swords shot forward.

“Impudent!”

A sudden, thunderous roar echoed out. The voice was wrapped in spiritual Qi, sounding like a massive bell that vibrated through the ears. At the same time, several streaks of sword Qi arrived with lightning speed, accurately shattering Lu Jin’s five swords.

Two figures swept down from the air. Seeing them, the crowd erupted in joy.

“It’s the Peak Master and the Saintess!”

“Peak Master Ji has finally arrived!”

“Lu Jin is dead now!”

Luo Jiu and the other elders let out sighs of relief. Just a moment ago, they were certain they were dead. They had truly walked to the gates of the underworld and back.

“Peak Master Ji!” Luo Jiu stumbled toward Ji Yaoyue and began to recount what had happened.

Lu Jin’s gaze swept over Ji Yaoyue’s face before settling on Liu Ruyan. Instantly, his fists clenched. The hatred in his heart surged like a tidal wave.

“Liu Ruyan!”

His eyes turned blood-red, like those of an Asura. Three years. Finally, he was looking at the poisonous woman who had almost killed him.

Liu Ruyan also looked at Lu Jin. Her gaze was complicated: surprise, annoyance, and above all, murderous intent. She hadn’t expected the “trash” to return with such power. Even more, she hadn’t expected the person holding the “great fortune” her Master Fox wanted her to steal would be the very person she wanted to pull up by the roots.

What exactly happened to him?

“Lu Jin! You traitor who colluded with the demons, you still dare to return!”

Liu Ruyan spoke first. Her voice was unquestionable and haughty, immediately pinning the crime firmly on Lu Jin.

Hearing this, Lu Jin’s gaze became freezing. “Liu Ruyan! Your shamelessness is truly appalling!”

“Back then, you and Yang Dianfeng conspired to harm me. You shattered my Dantian with a sword, dug out my Supreme Bone, and pushed me into the depths of the Demon Cave, hoping I would die without a burial!”

“Seeing me return alive, you resort to lies and frame me, saying the deaths of our brothers and sisters were my doing! Liu Ruyan, now that the Ten Thousand Swords Sect is watching, do you dare to swear to the heavens that you are innocent?”

Lu Jin’s words were powerful. The expressions of many disciples began to shift. Some were finally starting to understand; after all, three years ago, Lu Jin was the top disciple of the Inner Sect and an idol to many. He was a heroic figure who fought demons and protected the weak.

But because of one trip to the Demon Cave, he had become a monstrous criminal. This was something many disciples had found hard to accept at first. However, as Liu Ruyan’s power grew and Lu Jin remained missing, they had gradually accepted the “truth.”

Now that Lu Jin had returned with such dominance, it seemed the truth was about to be revealed to the world.

“Silence!”

Luo Jiu roared. Now that Ji Yaoyue was backing him, he was no longer afraid. “Lu Jin! Ruyan is the honored Saintess of our sect. How can we allow you to frame her! If you dare to speak another word of nonsense, everyone in the Ten Thousand Swords Sect will cut you down!”

Lu Jin gave him a cold look. “Old dog, you have no place to speak here!”

Luo Jiu gritted his teeth but didn’t dare speak again. He looked at Ji Yaoyue. Cold light flashed in Ji Yaoyue’s eyes as she suddenly barked:

“Kneel!”

Boom!

A burst of scorching spiritual Qi, shaped like a crimson dragon, shot forward! Lu Jin was startled. His Dragon Membrane flashed, but he was still knocked back more than a dozen yards.

Ji Yaoyue was an expert at the sixth grade of the Jindan Realm. Even a casual attack from her was difficult to handle. But when she saw that Lu Jin was only pushed back a dozen yards, a hint of surprise appeared in her eyes.

Lu Jin’s realm appeared to be only the fifth stage of the Spirit Pearl Realm, yet his defensive power was baffling. Any ordinary fifth-stage cultivator would have been heavily injured and forced to their knees by that attack. Yet, he was unharmed.

The crowd was equally stunned, whispering among themselves.

“This guy has some tricks. To be hit by Peak Master Ji’s attack and still be standing!”

“Interesting! Too bad that no matter how many tricks he has, he can’t compete with the Peak Master.”

“I actually think he’s quite the man! Seeking revenge regardless of life and death!”

“Quiet! You want to go against the Saintess?”

While they gossiped, a strange light appeared in Lu Jin’s eyes. The moment he took Ji Yaoyue’s attack, a peculiar energy had been devoured by the Heaven Burial Coffin!

When that energy was fed back into his Dantian, he discovered to his surprise that it contained a sliver of exotic fire power!

Exotic fire? So that’s how it is.

He suddenly narrowed his eyes and smiled. He remembered now: the Peak Master of Saintess Peak, Ji Yaoyue, was not just a spiritual cultivator, but also an alchemist! She had become an alchemist not because of immense soul power, but because she had obtained a wisp of exotic fire in her youth.

Her previous attack had contained a trace of that fire power. And this was exactly what he needed to activate the technique given by the coffin: the Sin-Fire Prison-Suppressing Sword!

With a thought, that exotic fire power began to multiply within his Spirit Pearl through the Great Derivation Dragon Transformation Art. He wouldn’t miss such an opportunity! Moreover, once he could unleash the Sin-Fire Prison-Suppressing Sword, it would be his greatest trump card.

“Shifu, let me handle this!”

Seeing that Lu Jin had survived her Shifu’s attack, Liu Ruyan’s eyes shifted. She stepped forward. “I didn’t expect that after three years, a piece of trash like you would actually regain his cultivation. Lu Jin, you committed monstrous crimes three years ago. Today, you will not escape the death penalty!”

Liu Ruyan stood on her high horse, speaking with the untouchable air of a Saintess. “As the Saintess, I have the responsibility to eliminate this scourge for the Ten Thousand Swords Sect!”

As she spoke, her aura exploded. It was approaching the second grade of the Jindan Realm! She had been at the peak of the first grade; although she was injured by the lightning, she had gained massive benefits in the Marrow-Cleansing Pool. Her aura was now even stronger than before.

However: while her youth and power would normally draw screams of admiration from the disciples, the crowd was now silent. After witnessing Lu Jin suppress five elders, including the Jindan Luo Jiu, they weren’t cheering for her. Instead, they were secretly worried. It seemed Lu Jin now had the capital to challenge her.

“Hmph. Liu Ruyan, is my Supreme Bone working well for you?”

Lu Jin looked at the shimmering Liu Ruyan. His laughter was like a cold blade.

Liu Ruyan ground her teeth in secret, but she didn’t respond directly. Her words remained righteous. “Stop your clever talk! Since you want to know the power of the Supreme Bone, today I will use it to kill you!”

Seeing her determined expression, Lu Jin’s gaze turned freezing. His killing intent rolled out. Spiritual Qi was released from his Spirit Pearl, flowing like a river to the top of his head, where it transformed into the phantoms of five hundred flying swords.

“Liu Ruyan! Three years ago you stole from me. Today, you will spit it all back out!”

NOTES

Exotic Fire (异火): Rare and powerful flames found in nature, often used by alchemists to refine high-level pills. 

Sin-Fire Prison-Suppressing Sword (孽火镇狱剑): The new technique Lu Jin is preparing to use, powered by the exotic fire he just “stole.” 

Supreme Bone (至尊骨): The source of the MC’s original talent, now in Liu Ruyan’s possession.