Chapter 255 - 254: The Might of the Sword God Domain, Slaying Qi Qingshan

High in the sky, tens of thousands of people watched.

"You... You’re actually in the Venerable Realm?"

Qi Qingshan stared intently at Qin Yang, his face ashen. As he sensed the aura radiating from Qin Yang, he felt like a complete clown...

’If Qin Yang is in the Venerable Realm right now...’

’Then all that pressure that made Qin suffer so much back then...’

’It was all an act!’

’This is outrageous!’

"Fine! You junior certainly know how to act. I truly misjudged you."

Qi Qingshan gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury. "Back then, Wushuang said you were as cunning as a monkey, and I didn’t believe him. I never imagined your acting skills had reached the Transformation Realm—you even fooled me!"

"Heh, you thought you could hurt me with that pathetic excuse for a Sword Dao?"

Qin Yang raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms as he met Qi Qingshan’s gaze without a trace of fear. "It’s not that I’m trying to be difficult, but I could close my eyes and still point out a ton of flaws in your technique."

"Your Sword Qi seems sharp, but it’s all bark and no bite!"

"The Sword Dao of people like you... is only fit to be a sword! You’ll never be the one who wields it! If you don’t wield the sword, how can you ever break through? I’d say you’re destined to be that old geezer’s dog for the rest of your life!"

"You brat! How dare you try to disrupt my Dao Heart!"

Qi Qingshan’s defenses shattered instantly upon hearing this. He roared in fury, his face turning the color of pig’s liver. He clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his flesh, and his shoulders trembled violently.

’He had pursued the Sword Dao his entire life, all to reach the Celestial Venerable Realm!’

’And now Qin Yang was insulting him right to his face!’

’And by a junior, no less!’

’This slap to the face really stung!’

"What? You don’t accept it!?"

Qin Yang ran two fingers along his Ziwei Divine Sword, seemingly sensing Qi Qingshan’s emotions. He retorted with a smile, "Someone who only knows how to bully juniors—is that your Sword Dao?"

That last sentence was like a bombshell, instantly igniting Qi Qingshan’s rage!

BOOM!

"You’re courting death!!"

Qi Qingshan’s face twisted, veins bulging on his neck. He immediately opened his Star Ring and took out his spare sword, its sharp edge pointed directly at Qin Yang!

"I will take your head today!"

"Qingshan, don’t be rash..."

Seeing the situation escalating, Liu Wushuang slowly drifted forward to intervene, wanting to play the peacemaker.

But he had only taken a few steps.

Suddenly!

"Get back here!"

A furious shout erupted!

Meng Tianxuan shot him a look and stepped forward to block him, saying coldly, "This battle is unavoidable. The only way for Qingshan to overcome his Heart Demon is to kill him!"

"But, Alliance Leader..."

Liu Wushuang was about to say more, but he was cut off mid-sentence.

"Let them settle this themselves. It’s useless for you to get involved."

Meng Tianxuan looked toward Qin Yang, then glanced at Liu Wushuang out of the corner of his eye, his voice growing even colder. "What? Liu Wushuang, are you going to defy my orders now?"

"I wouldn’t dare!"

Hearing this, Liu Wushuang wanted to change the subject and try to persuade him again.

But even as they spoke.

SHING!

A sharp sword was unsheathed!

A streak of sword light flashed past. Unable to hold back any longer, Qi Qingshan drew his sword and charged straight for Qin Yang, his eyes rapidly turning bloodshot as he roared:

"A dead genius is no genius at all!"

"Today, I’ll send you to meet the Jianghai Sword God!!"

Killing intent surged forward.

"Took you long enough."

Qin Yang held the Ziwei Divine Sword at an angle, already prepared. He immediately sheathed his sword, his vast Star Force converging, then instantly unleashed the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique combined with the Sword-Opening Celestial Gate!

The next moment.

CLANG!

Twelve consecutive streaks of sword light flew out!

"How is this possible!?"

Qi Qingshan’s pupils shrank to pinpricks. He touched a thin line of blood that had appeared on his neck; just the edge of the Sword Qi had instantly broken through his defenses.

Immense fear spread rapidly through his heart.

’I can’t beat him!’

’One move is all it takes for an expert to know!’

’Whether it was his Sword Intent Realm, the level of his Divine Weapon, or even his Star Force fluctuations, Qin Yang was on a completely different level, absolutely crushing him!’

’I can’t even get close, so how the hell am I supposed to fight?!’

"Alliance Leader, save me!"

Without a second thought, Qi Qingshan cried out to Meng Tianxuan for help while dodging Qin Yang’s pursuit, scrambling around like a stray dog.

His powerful roar echoed out!

It shook the heavens and resounded in all directions!

In that instant, everyone heard his plea for help—the toughest-sounding words used to say the most cowardly thing.

"..."

The Venerable Alliance Leader’s face darkened. He was speechless at this cry for help. He had just praised Qi Qingshan for having the courage to overcome his Heart Demon, and now he was being completely humiliated.

"You useless piece of trash!!"

"You can’t even fight a junior! What use does the Venerable Alliance have for you?"

"I..."

Qi Qingshan was so busy dodging Qin Yang’s pursuit and fleeing in disgrace that he was too embarrassed to even speak.

’Shame is shame, but under everyone’s gaze, he couldn’t care less. Only by surviving would he have a chance at revenge!’

’If Qin Yang killed him now, he would be forever nailed to the pillar of shame, becoming a laughingstock for the entire world!’

"Go!"

The Venerable Alliance Leader understood this as well. He thrust his palm out toward the space between Qi Qingshan and Qin Yang. In the vast emptiness, a giant hand suddenly appeared and slowly pressed down.

RUMBLE!

A terrifying aura swept out, blocking the path between them.

"Tsk! You old coot can’t handle losing!"

Qin Yang was speechless. He turned and retreated, evading the attack’s range. The sword light struck the giant palm and dissipated.

"Th-Thank you, Alliance Leader, for saving my life!"

Cold sweat poured down Qi Qingshan’s back. He touched his neck where a line of blood had appeared. If he had been a step slower, he would be dead! ’That kid surnamed Qin really doesn’t hold back. He was trying to kill me...’

’I can’t even compare to a Venerable Realm cultivator who’s just a rookie...’

’Could it be... that my Sword Dao has been wrong from the very beginning?’

He recalled Qin Yang’s taunts and fell into deep self-doubt.

"Stand down."

At this moment, Meng Tianxuan shook his head and ordered him to stop, pulling Qi Qingshan back from the brink of his Dao Heart collapsing. Otherwise, if this continued, his mental state would only deteriorate further. He said:

"Starting today, you are confined to the Alliance for five years. You are not to go out again!"

"Yes."

Dejected, Qi Qingshan retreated.

After dealing with Qi Qingshan, Meng Tianxuan cleared his throat and turned to Qin Yang.

"Kid, you’re quite impressive. Being able to kill someone in the Venerable Realm is truly extraordinary, but don’t get too arrogant!"

"Heh, Alliance Leader, that’s a boring thing to say,"

Qin Yang laughed coolly, flicking the blood from his Ziwei Divine Sword. "Youth is wasted if not wild. Old-timer... it’s not that I’m too arrogant, it’s that you all are just too old!"

"You only know how to stick to the old ways. You’re trapped within your own walls, destined never to reach a higher Realm!"

As his voice fell.

OM!

It was as if his words could awaken the deaf!

’That’s right, how can one break through by sticking to the old ways?’

Liu Wushuang murmured, pondering the meaning behind those words. His Dao Heart began to waver. He had always held absolute faith in the Venerable Alliance, but now, he was starting to have doubts.

’Is this truly the right path?’

’Seeing that another subordinate’s Dao Heart was about to be shaken!’

"Enough!"

Meng Tianxuan’s expression was dark and ugly. He reached out directly toward Qin Yang, and a Heaven-Reaching giant palm surged forward, instantly expanding in size.

"Let’s see how you dodge this!"

"Dodge?"

Qin Yang gripped his Ziwei Divine Sword. Facing the approaching palm, his expression was calm. "Isn’t the world a big place?"

The next moment.

OM!

The Sword God Domain opened!

His figure dissolved into the air. Before everyone’s eyes, his flesh and blood transformed into a sword, and he abruptly vanished, his sharp edge revealed, free to roam the heavens and the earth.

SHING! SHING! SHING!

In that instant.

The swords throughout all of Jianghai erupted in a riotous hum, ringing out in unison like a million-strong army, all pointing toward the sky above the apartment complex.

Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect!

On this day, the swords of Jianghai once again sang in unison!

"This is...?!"

Elder Li, who was watching the battle, saw this and his pupils suddenly shrank. He gripped his own sword, which was trembling ceaselessly in his hand, as if he remembered something!

Causing ten thousand swords to sing with a single hand... days ago, a similar scene had occurred in Jianghai City. That day had been a festival for all the city’s Sword Cultivators!

This moment was just like that one!

"So... it was Young Friend Qin who caused it..."

Elder Li said in admiration, slowly releasing the sword in his hand.

Drawn by the call, the sword moved.

It flew upward into the sky.

High in the sky.

Myriad streams of Sword Intent surged. Qin Yang’s figure had vanished and was now everywhere. Tens of thousands of swords churned like a sea, forming a torrent of metal that charged straight for the Venerable Alliance Leader.

’They’re coming for me!?’

The Venerable Alliance Leader was shocked and subconsciously raised a hand to block.

But soon,

he realized he was wrong!

Dead wrong!

"No! These swords aren’t aimed at me!"

The Venerable Alliance Leader reacted. He hadn’t felt any killing intent. His expression was one of horror as he suddenly looked at Qi Qingshan, who was several dozen feet behind him!

Right above his head!

Myriad strands of Sword Qi hung suspended, their sharp points facing inward, forming a fatal Sword Array. Qin Yang had actually bypassed him and gone straight for Qi Qingshan!

"You dare, you brat?!"

Meng Tianxuan roared at the sky, but he couldn’t see where Qin Yang was. All he could do was rage impotently!

At that moment, a calm voice suddenly responded!

"Descend!"

The next instant!

Tens of thousands of swords trembled and rang out in unison, then abruptly converged.

SQUELCH! SQUELCH! SQUELCH!

Flesh was pierced as tens of thousands of sword blades penetrated his body!

"Alliance Leader... save..."

Qi Qingshan reached a hand toward the Venerable Alliance Leader, trying to cry for help, but in an instant, dozens of swords tore through his throat, severing his foundation.

Ten thousand swords passed through his body!

In his final moments, his life flashed before his eyes: the beggar boy who came to the sect’s door seeking to learn the sword, the infinite glory of ascending to Earth Venerable, the admiration of thousands for slaying Star Beasts... if only he had never met Qin Yang.

’He should have become a Celestial Venerable...’

’Or reached an even higher Realm!’

’He was filled with regret!’

But there are no "what ifs" in life.

Death came in an instant.

’Born of the sword, died by the sword. This was his life.’

"Qingshan!"

The Venerable Alliance Leader was utterly horrified. He immediately reached for Qi Qingshan’s corpse, trying to retrieve the remains, his mind completely frantic.

’This disciple of the Sword God was absurdly decisive!’

But just then!

"You want his corpse!?"

"Dream on!"

Qin Yang roared, brandishing the Ziwei Divine Sword. The sky-rending storm of Sword Qi roiled and contracted, suddenly focusing on a single point and converging completely!

The wisps of Sword Qi contracted, crushing down upon Qi Qingshan’s corpse with the force of a thunderclap!

He was actually going to destroy the body and erase all traces!

"You dare!"

Meng Tianxuan, shocked and enraged, roared madly and unleashed his Star Force. A mountain-like giant palm shot out, attempting to block Qin Yang’s move.

A newly deceased Venerable’s life force had not yet dissipated. The Venerable Alliance had countless Secret Techniques; it wasn’t impossible for Qi Qingshan to be brought back to life using his corpse!

As long as the body remained!

But ultimately, it was too late!

BOOM!

The ferocious Sword Intent erupted with ten million times its normal pressure. Innumerable strands of Sword Qi crisscrossed the sky, all converging on one spot. Bones shattered and flesh scattered!

Qi Qingshan’s corpse was ground into dust!

Not even a complete corpse was left behind!

"A good death!"

Qin Yang floated above where Qi Qingshan’s body had been and pressed his advantage, activating the Flame Law with his full power!

WHOOSH!

A sea of fire blazed, evaporating Qi Qingshan’s blood and utterly annihilating the physical body he had left in this world, erasing every last trace of his existence.

’Back then, he had used Sword Intent to pressure me.’

’Today, I return it a thousand, ten thousand times over with my own Sword Intent!’

’Never mind pieces of a corpse, not even a speck of blood remained!’