Chapter 5: Chapter Five: Exterminate the Tian Family!

The next morning, Dao Ling Shan.

Sunlight filtered through layers of clouds, shining into the dense forest; slender beams pierced the leaves and danced upon the river's surface, creating countless ripples.

Luo Ling had risen early—he had not forgotten the one thing he still had to do.

Tian Family!

On that day, when the Tian Family moved against his brother, he remembered it vividly. He gazed toward the Tian Family's direction, opened his palm, and the Blue Sword appeared in his hand. He gripped the hilt tightly, his expression icy, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, then vanished from his spot.

Soon after, he arrived above the Tian Family, looking down to see a mountain range, with several houses standing on the slopes.

He walked straight toward the Tian Family's main hall, the sword in his hand trembling slightly.

Moments later, an old man blocked his path. Seeing Luo Ling, he first froze, then beamed with delight. "Luo Ling, today I've prepared six Ling Xuan Zhe Peak cultivators to deal with you—yet you've come here yourself to die!" With that, he laughed loudly and waved his right hand; six terrifying auras suddenly appeared in the field.

The old man was the Tian Jia Da Zhang Lao; the newcomers were six Elders.

The Great Elder now studied Luo Ling and found he emitted not a single aura—just like an ordinary person. Such a person was either a top-tier master far stronger than himself, or truly an ordinary, extremely weak individual.

Although the Great Elder knew Luo Ling was a prodigy, he himself was an ancient monster who had cultivated for centuries; clearly, he believed Luo Ling was the latter. Thinking this, the Great Elder smiled at Luo Ling. "You still have time to run!"

Luo Ling looked at the group, his expression calm. "Your Tian Family is so large—only these few came? Are there no more?"

The Great Elder sneered. "What? Aren't these enough to kill you? Do you think you can fight seven at once?"

The Great Elder clearly did not believe Luo Ling could take on seven Ling Xuan Zhe Peak cultivators. Even if Luo Ling could instantly kill one, two fists couldn't fight four hands—here were seven experts!

Luo Ling's expression remained calm. He looked at the Great Elder and smiled faintly. "Great Elder, if I were you, I'd turn and run right now."

The Great Elder burst into laughter. "Hah! Such bold words! Then today, you'll be buried right here!"

No sooner had he spoken than the six men behind him vanished, each appearing at a different angle around Luo Ling, forming a circle of encirclement.

The Great Elder stepped forward, stopping a short distance from Luo Ling. He looked at the six Elders, and all seven extended their fingers in unison—seven streams of power surged skyward, darkening the heavens!

Soon, the sky cracked open. The seven streams converged at its center, and a Golden Divine Thunder quietly coalesced—its target: Luo Ling below.

A divine thunder forged from the combined power of seven top-tier Tian Family experts!

Below, Luo Ze looked up at the thunder, furrowed his brow, and with a thought, the Blue Sword shot upward.

Luo Ling gripped the Blue Sword and pointed it toward the heavens!

At that moment, mysterious forces from all around converged upon the Blue Sword, and the entire world began to tremble slightly.

Sword Intent!

This was the Sword Intent unleashed by the Blue Sword!

And the sword technique Luo Ling now used was one he had long mastered—Sword Pointing to the Heavens!

The core of this technique is Sword Intent: I raise my sword to point at the heavens—that is its aura.

At this moment, overwhelming pressure flooded the battlefield!

In the field, Luo Ling's sword slashed straight at the divine thunder!

The swordlight and the thunder collided instantly—the battlefield shook violently, yet the swordlight did not vanish; the divine thunder shattered.

The seven Tian Family members afar frowned deeply.

It wasn't over. The swordlight halted in the sky, then split into seven, each streaking downward toward the seven Tian Family members below!

The Great Elder and the others' faces

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Changed drastically—they turned to flee, but had taken only two steps when seven swordlights pierced through their foreheads!

Instant kill!

One youth, one sword technique—slaying seven experts in an instant!

The Great Elder and the others were stunned, their faces pale, eyes filled with dread—too terrifying!

Soon, all seven lost their life signs completely.

Luo Ling glanced around the battlefield and collected the more valuable resources from their bodies.

After securing them, Luo Ling flew above the Tian Family's main compound, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes as he slowly closed them.

Those who harmed my brother—I will exterminate their entire clan!

Luo Ling suddenly opened his eyes. The Blue Sword shot skyward, and countless Sword Intent and Sword Intent enveloped the Tian Family below.

In the sky, the Blue Sword plunged straight down into the Tian Family…

Boom!

Boom—!

Boom—Boom—!

The entire mountain range shook violently!

Soon after, the once majestic Tian Family was reduced to a flat expanse of rubble.

The Tian Family erupted in countless screams, rising into the sky!

Annihilation!

From that day forward, the Tian Family vanished from Dao Ling Shan!

Luo Ling glanced at the scene, then turned and left.

The entire Dao Ling Shan was stunned!

Luo Ling became famous in one battle!

This time, not as a genius of Dao Ling Shan—but as a mighty Sword Cultivator!

Soon, Luo Ling became known throughout Dao Ling Shan; his strength became a complete mystery to everyone there.

His sword art was also known: one sword, slaying seven Ling Xuan Zhe Peak experts!

Such power could earn even the Martial Pavilion Master to call him "Senior." Yet Luo Ling was still very young. After this incident, the Martial Pavilion Master, Wu Feng, bestowed upon Luo Ling the title—Dao Ling Mountain Sword Immortal!

And thus, Luo Ling came to be known as "Luo Sword Immortal!"

Luo Ling became the strongest on Dao Ling Shan, countless people regarded him as a god, and the Martial Pavilion hoped he would continue to protect Dao Ling Shan in the future.

Protecting a power is difficult, but now Luo Ling has the ability—so long as he lives, who dares to move against Dao Ling Shan?

Luo Ling did not refuse, because his Sword Intent was the Guardian Sword Intent; previously he protected his younger brother, now he protected all of Dao Ling Shan, and this protective power could better enhance his Sword Dao!

Thus, Luo Ling was also honored by the Martial Pavilion as the Dao Ling Shan Guardian Deity!

His younger brother Luo Ze was also cherished by the people of Dao Ling Shan, and Dao Ling Shan continuously bestowed all kinds of resources upon the Luo Family.

Luo Family.

When Luo Ling returned to the Luo Family, Luo Ze ran up to him, smiling: "Brother, you're amazing—you destroyed the Tian Family with a single sword! I envy you so much."

Luo Ling's heart warmed, and he laughed: "I'm this strong just to protect you. If I were weak, we'd both be dead a thousand times over from the Tian Family!"

Indeed, if I had no strength, would the Martial Pavilion care for me? Wouldn't the Tian Family have killed me hundreds of times already?

Strength is most important—only by becoming strong yourself can you protect those you care for and hold onto everything you have!

Thinking of this, the Blue Sword at his waist trembled slightly, emitting a Sword Intent, as if responding to Luo Ling.

Luo Ling smiled faintly—this sense of protection made him even more confident!

In the following days, Luo Ling lived quite freely, training each day and then playing with his younger brother.

One afternoon, while training, Luo Ling suddenly looked toward the distance and saw Wu Feng appear before him.

"Luo Sword Immortal, forgive the interruption—are you free now?" Wu Feng greeted.

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Seeing Wu Feng so courteous, Luo Ling felt uneasy; after thinking a moment, he said: "Pavilion Master, just call me Luo Ling or Youngster Luo—I'm not worthy of 'Sword Immortal.'"

He then smiled: "Pavilion Master came in person—there must be something major. Speak."

Wu Feng smiled faintly, then spoke gravely: "Youngster Luo, to be frank, the Tian Family Head learned his entire family was wiped out and sent word to Dao Ling Shan—he said this matter enraged him utterly, and in three days he will arrive at Dao Ling Shan, kill you first, then send the entire Dao Ling Shan into the Wu Bian Zhi Di!"

After hearing this, Luo Ling hesitated and asked: "The Tian Family Head? He wasn't in the Tian Family? No one survived that day."

Wu Feng then explained to Luo Ling about the Tian Family, including its Head: "The Tian Family Head's name is Tian Wang—he..."

After a long while, Wu Feng finished speaking, and Luo Ling's expression turned grim.

Luo Ling frowned slightly and asked: "You all know Tian Wang is strong—how strong exactly?"

"We don't know. But his strength is certainly at Dao Xuan Zhe Peak—or higher!" Wu Feng replied.

He looked at Luo Ling, hesitated, then said: "Youngster, we don't know your true strength—could you reveal it to me?"

How strong was Luo Ling?

He truly couldn't tell—could Luo Ling even match Tian Wang?

After hearing this, Luo Ling's lips curled into a faint smile: "Pavilion Master, don't fear—my strength is also immense!"

Luo Ling was deeply confident in his strength—he rarely used his sword in daily life. Previously, when sparring with peers, he used only his fists, testing strength alone. Only when enraged—such as when someone harmed his brother—would he draw his sword to settle matters!

Wu Feng chuckled bitterly: "I know you're a prodigy, but Tian Wang is truly terrifying. Be honest—what are your odds?"

Wu Feng was now helpless—if Luo Ling truly couldn't defeat Tian Wang, Dao Ling Shan would be finished!

Wu Bian Zhi Di!

Tian Wang could truly send the entire Dao Ling Shan into Wu Bian Zhi Di—just imagining it, Wu Feng's eyes darkened with caution.

Looking at the Pavilion Master before him, Luo Ling stopped joking—he grew serious: "My strength can instantly kill any Dao Xuan Zhe without effort. I've never fought anyone above Dao Xuan Zhe, because I don't even know what lies beyond Dao Xuan Zhe!"

In truth, Luo Ling was also growing concerned—he was invincible against Dao Xuan Zhe and below, but if Tian Wang was above Dao Xuan Zhe... his eyes grew heavy with gravity.

No one knew what lay above Dao Xuan Zhe, for the strongest on Xuan Zhe Continent were Dao Xuan Zhe—so he guessed Tian Wang's power likely reached Dao Xuan Zhe Peak.

If Tian Wang truly was above Dao Xuan Zhe, he didn't know if he could win—but though he'd never fought a being above Dao Xuan Zhe, that didn't mean he lacked the power to fight.

Thinking of this, he continued: "Even if he's above Dao Xuan Zhe, I can still defeat him!"

This was his confidence—he himself was at Dao Xuan Zhe Peak, and he was a Sword Cultivator—not an ordinary one, but a Sword Grandmaster!

Sword Grandmaster!

What did he fear?

Now, he could walk across all of Xuan Zhe Continent with impunity!

Hearing this, Wu Feng, seeing Luo Ling's confidence, felt his heart settle and his expression relax.

"Good—your words are enough. We will always believe in you!" Wu Feng said, relieved.

He bowed to Luo Ling, then said: "Youngster, I'll take my leave." In an instant, he vanished from the spot.

In the courtyard, Luo Ling fell silent, lost in thought.

…

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