Chapter 2372: The Aloof Sword Cultivator and His Natal Sword Spirit 16

Liu Qingcheng couldn't believe that a killing move aided by something like that could be so easily dispelled.

And he could clearly see that this strange person was from……

He glanced at Xie Qingmo's Chen Sword that had slain the great demon, his heart sank, a ridiculous yet palpitant thought flashed through his mind, but instinctively he didn't want to dwell on it.

"Who... who are you!"

"Could it be some monster raised by Second Senior Brother?"

Jin Chen stepped closer, completely ignoring his slander, his questioning voice overwhelming the dying great demon's wail.

"I ask you, what do you intend to do to Xie Qingmo?"

Liu Qingcheng instinctively staggered back, stepping in the sticky blood mud, nearly falling, never having felt such destructive killing intent, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"I... I didn't do anything! I didn't do anything!" Liu Qingcheng denied vehemently, voice choked with tears, "It's you! What do you want to do to me?! Senior Brother! Save me! He's going to kill me!"

He clung to a lifeline like a straw, screaming in terror, stumbling toward Yun Che who was grappling with the great demon, seeking refuge.

However, Jin Chen's silhouette was faster than his.

Just as Liu Qingcheng turned to flee, Jin Chen appeared in a flash, blocking the path between Liu Qingcheng and Yun Che, his dark robe billowing, raising a frigid gale.

What's even more shocking is that the great demon, which had been violently struggling under the siege of everyone, seemed to feel an irresistible pressure, even giving up resistance, its crimson beast eyes filled only with fear, its massive body involuntarily kneeling toward Jin Chen's direction with a thunderous crash.

Everyone:???

This unbelievable scene left all the cultivators who witnessed it with blank minds.

This youth... what exactly is he?!

Xie Qingmo seized the opportunity, the Chen Sword piercing the vital point exposed by the great demon's kneeling.

The sword blade entered the flesh, sinking straight to the hilt.

The great demon let out a mournful, despairing wail, collapsed with a thunderous crash, completely losing vitality, its foul demon blood gushing like a spring, dyeing a large area of the cliff base red.

"Stop!" Yun Che finally came to his senses from the shock of the great demon's demise and the oppressive presence of Jin Chen, shouting sternly while flashing to block Liu Qingcheng's front, warily staring at Jin Chen.

"Who exactly are you?! Why did you attack a disciple of the Tianyan Sect?!"

Although he sensed Liu Qingcheng's behavior was odd, as Senior Brother, his duty to protect his fellow sect members compelled him to step forward.

Xie Qingmo slowly drew out the Chen Sword embedded in the great demon's body.

He lightly shook his wrist, the demon blood on the blade instantly shaken off, then took out a plain cloth and slowly wiped the spotless sword blade.

"He is my sword spirit."

Yun Che froze, looking at Xie Qingmo, "... What?"

"A sword... sword spirit?!"

"The innate sentience of a life-bound sword! Taking human form?!"

"Good heavens... Xie Qingmo's sword... has actually reached such a realm!"

After a brief silence, came the sounds of everyone gasping and drawing in cold breaths.

A sword spirit taking human form—nothing short of a legend among legends!

Jin Chen ignored the surrounding exclamations, his icy gaze sweeping past Yun Che and still fixed on the trembling Liu Qingcheng, "Just now, he intended to kill Xie Qingmo with yin-evil sorcery."

"I didn't! You're slandering me! Senior Brother! He's slandering me!" Liu Qingcheng screamed, tears streaming down his face as he clung desperately to Yun Che's sleeve, as if grasping the sole lifeline.

Yun Che's heart was torn.

Reason told him that as Xie Qingmo's innate sword spirit, Jin Chen could never slander the sword's master.

Liu Qingcheng's earlier behavior was indeed strange.

But seeing Liu Qingcheng's frightened, helpless, pitiful appearance and hearing his hoarse, anguished cries, an indescribable heartache and the strong urge to protect him, like a spell, once again took hold of his heart.

Yun Che gritted his teeth, still blocking Liu Qingcheng's front, "This matter... this matter, after returning to the sect, the Master will decide! You can't……"

"Move aside." Jin Chen's voice had not a ripple.

Yun Che would not budge an inch.

Killing intent flared in Jin Chen's eyes, no more words, his body like lightning, instantly bypassing Yun Che's obstruction, stabbing straight at Liu Qingcheng's heart, giving no one a chance to react.

The clear sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh rang out!

Liu Qingcheng's expression of terror and tears froze instantly.

He incredulously lowered his head, looking at the blood hole in his chest, bright blood gushing out like a breached dam.

"Ugh..."

He made a hoarse, ragged sound from his throat, his body limp as it fell backward.

"Qingcheng!!" Yun Che lunged forward, trying to catch him.

However, something even more horrifying happened.

Though Liu Qingcheng's heart had been pierced and should have died instantly, as he fell, the terrifying wound's flesh miraculously healed at a visible speed, more than half restored, leaving only his bloodstained garment.

Jin Chen: "……"

【"Wow, what incredible self-healing ability." Ling Gun Gun exclaimed, 【"The protagonist's true form might be... mud!"】

Jin Chen looked at his blood-stained fingertips, then at the rapidly healing wound on the ground, his brows furrowed tightly as he turned to Xie Qingmo, his voice grave with unprecedented seriousness.

"Xie Qingmo, he is indeed a monster."

Liu Qingcheng lay on the ground, his face pallid as a ghost, covering the lingering painful spot on his chest, gasping heavily, his eyes filled with lingering fear.

He looked at Jin Chen, voice weak yet trembling with tears, "No... Master said... I bear a special celestial affinity, blessed with deep fortune... I am one protected by the Heavenly Dao... you... you cannot kill me." He wept even more miserably, as if bearing a tremendous grievance and injustice.

The cultivators: "……"

You Tianyan Sect are really chaotic!

Yun Che and several soft-hearted cultivators, influenced by Liu Qingcheng's aura and tears, looked at his miserable state and listened to his lament, the nascent pity and protective urge in their hearts once again gaining the upper hand.

They unconsciously stepped forward a few paces, vaguely blocking between Liu Qingcheng and Jin Chen, gazing at Xie Qingmo with complex eyes, carrying disapproval and a hint of pleading.

It seemed as if Xie Qingmo and Jin Chen were the aggressive perpetrators.

"Fellow Daoist Xie, this matter…… is it too much?"

"Fellow Daoist Liu, even if he is wrong, but……"

"Please spare his life at the sword's edge, and hand him over to the sect to handle……"

Xie Qingmo stood opposite them, alone.

The white robes fluttered in the wind at the cliff's base, still cool and aloof, yet faintly revealing a hint of loneliness.

He watched the fellow disciples and cultivators blocking Liu Qingcheng ahead, lowered his gaze, and put away his sword-wiping cloth.

Just then, Jin Chen walked to his side without hesitation, stood shoulder to shoulder with him, and put an arm around his waist.

"Xie Qingmo, I'll find another chance to kill him." Jin Chen coaxed.

The black-robed and white-robed figures, the Sword Master and Sword Spirit, their silhouettes overlapped, forming a world of their own, clearly distinct from the crowd opposite.

"Ugh..." Xing Yan suddenly clutched his chest in pain, his face turned pale, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

His steps staggered, step by step, he trudged away from the direction where Liu Qingcheng stood, though difficult yet resolute, eventually standing behind Xie Qingmo, his voice tinged with the weakness after struggle.

"Second... Second Senior Brother..."

Immediately after, Shi Yan also seemed to be pulled by something, his honest face showing confusion and pain; he glanced at the weeping Liu Qingcheng, then at the lone Xie Qingmo standing, and, following his instinct, silently moved his steps to stand beside Xing Yan, lowering his head.

Next was Lan Yi; it was unclear whether she had kept something in mind, but she was originally quite far from Liu Qingcheng.

Liu Qingcheng's sob caught in his throat; he hurriedly grabbed Yun Che's wrist, who was blocking the front, and cried, "Eldest Senior Brother..."

Finally, Xie Qingmo lowered his eyelids and said, "Forget it."

"Jin Chen, let's go."

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +10, total 27!】