Chapter 633: Soul-Annihilating Sword, Ma Ruoxi

“The Ancestor of the Shen Family once cultivated in the Holy Lotus Sect. Through generations of intermarriage with several of the Central Province’s most influential families, they’ve woven a massive web of connections. In the past, the Holy Lotus Sect had to consider its dignity as an Upper Sect, so they couldn’t press the Shen Family too hard, lest their subordinate powers become disloyal and estranged.”

Hong Xuan’s eyes darted, and he spoke again.

“True Man, you could alter your course slightly, deal with the Sanchuan County crisis later, and let the Shen Family fend for itself. When the time comes, you’ll be able to take the valley that produces the Profound Ice Wind Fruit for yourself.”

“This move wouldn’t damage the Upper Sect’s prestige. Moreover, under the pretext of avenging the Shen Family, you could win the hearts of the Sanchuan County cultivators. Their family has been entrenched in the prefecture for a thousand years, with numerous branches and a reputation for benevolence.”

“My master ordered me to swiftly annihilate the Tribulation Cultivators and restore peace to the Central Province… If I were to carry out such a rapacious scheme, it might seem like a huge gain, but I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”

Ma Ruoxi’s expression was grave. She held the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword before her and reverently performed a disciple’s salutation.

When she had unleashed the sword, her Divine Sense had followed it, her mind merging as one with the Thunder Radiance. From that lofty perspective, she had experienced the exhilarating feeling of crushing others with a superior Realm.

‘Against any one of those three Core Formation Tribulation Cultivators, she would have had a hard time winning.’

‘In all likelihood, even using every trick up her sleeve, she could only defeat one of them, without the ability to actually kill him.’

‘These Tribulation Cultivators were veterans of a hundred battles with extremely rich Combat experience. Every one of them had a trick or two for saving their own life.’

‘The power contained within the Thunder Radiance wasn’t actually that strong—far from the upper limit of the Core Formation Layer—but its speed was extreme.’

‘With a roar of thunder, though unleashed second, it arrived first—a marvel of endless variations.’

‘The three of them had used all their defensive measures, but they were all so pale and powerless before the Thunder Radiance Sword Threads.’

‘From an unbelievable angle, it found a flaw in their Spirit Light, pierced through their personal protective Magic, and took their lives before their astonished eyes.’

Through this opportunity of Sword Control, Ma Ruoxi had caught a glimpse of the supreme Realm of the Sword Dao.

Even if it was just a superficial understanding, it left her with a feeling of gazing up at a towering mountain.

She had always known her master’s Sword Dao Realm was unfathomably profound, but she never had a clear concept of just how powerful he was.

Only after borrowing his sword did she realize that even calling the gap between them “as vast as the heavens and earth” was an understatement.

She had a feeling that if she could just continue to hold the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword and use her Spirit Binder arts a few more times, she would have a chance to grasp the next Realm.

“‘There is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing more apparent than what is minute…’ Our Sect is the orthodox lineage of a Daoist Sect, the heritage of Immortals. Both of our Ancestors are noble and magnanimous figures who hold the entire world in their hearts. As their disciple, how could I tarnish their reputation? Such methods may deceive others, but can I deceive myself?”

Ma Ruoxi seemed to be answering Hong Xuan, but also speaking to herself.

“To sit by and watch millions of lives be engulfed in the flames of war, all for a single Body Refining Spirit Fruit… my heart would know no peace. What difference would there be then between our Sect and the Holy Lotus Sect? What right would we have to rule the Twelve Prefectures of the Central Province?”

“It was my oversight. I nearly ruined everything.”

Hong Xuan bowed low to the ground in feigned terror, but inwardly, he was dismissive.

‘In the Cultivation Realm, the strong have always been revered. Plenty of notorious and utterly wicked Nascent Soul Demon Cultivators still command large followings.’

‘No matter how noble your character, without enough strength to protect it, you’re just a paper window decoration—punctured with a single poke.’

‘But right now, the Qingfeng Sect is like the sun at high noon; whatever they say goes. My flattery just missed the mark, and I’ve played the villain for nothing.’

“It has nothing to do with you. Fellow Daoist Hong was acting in our Sect’s best interest. Your intention is commendable.”

Ma Ruoxi’s expression was complex, but her gaze gradually turned resolute.

“I am at a critical moment in my Sword Dao breakthrough. I need to achieve a Sword Heart that is pure and unstained by dust. I can’t even be sure myself if this decision truly comes from my heart’s desire to save the people from their suffering, or if it’s merely for my own Dao Practice, driven by selfish ambition.”

Her voice trailed off, and she fell silent.

「Ten days later.」

The Qingfeng Sect’s grand army engaged in a major battle with the largest band of Tribulation Cultivators in Sanchuan County outside the Shen Clan’s ancestral lands.

Ma Ruoxi faced off against the Four-Faced Monk, a well-known Tribulation Cultivator from Beiyuan. He had a Late-Stage Core Formation cultivation and was said to be a traitor from the Dharma Aspect Sect.

He supposedly betrayed the Sect and became a Tribulation Cultivator because he failed a character assessment and was stripped of the resources needed to reach the Nascent Soul realm.

The fact that the Dharma Aspect Sect had not killed him yet led to rumors that the No-Life Sect was backing him.

The rumors may or may not have been true, but the Four-Faced Monk’s strength was the real deal. He could basically be considered the pinnacle among Tribulation Cultivators.

Any stronger, and you’d be talking about Nascent Soul Level Tribulation Cultivators, who rarely appear. At most, they might make a guest appearance, but it would never be their main profession.

Take Zhuo Xiong, for example. He also had the secret identity of the Po Jun Star Monarch, which he used to handle matters that couldn’t be done out in the open.

Ma Ruoxi fought a bitter battle against the Four-Faced Monk for a hundred moves. It was fraught with peril, and several times she nearly fell into a desperate situation.

Finally, in the crucible between life and death, she found inspiration. A spark of insight flared, and she successfully broke through to the realm of Refining Sword into Silk.

She called upon the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword once more. The tangled mass of Thunder Radiance Sword Threads suddenly exploded, shattering the Buddha Treasure wreathed in sinister black light that the Four-Faced Monk had summoned. A hole was blasted through his forehead.

The Four-Faced Monk died with his eyes wide open. The Vajra Body he had painstakingly cultivated since childhood had offered no protection at all. Molten Golden Liquid slowly trickled from the edges of the sword wound.

After this battle, there was an uproar. The foreign Tribulation Cultivators basically saw which way the wind was blowing and fled.

They figured they had plundered enough over the years. A tough opponent had arrived in the Central Province, and it was clear that life here was about to get much harder. They might as well go back home.

Only the Tribulation Cultivators who were originally Sect Cultivators from the local area remained. They were rooted here and had nowhere to go even if they wanted to leave.

They were still secretly forming alliances, attempting to unite and resist the Qingfeng Sect together.

Of course, they didn’t dare hope to fight a Nascent Soul Sect. Their plan was based on the idea that the Qingfeng Sect would need the help of local powers to govern the Central Province.

Even the Holy Lotus Sect, due to manpower shortages, had to delegate some of its authority to the various prefectures. This was what led to the emergence of so many branches and Cultivation Families founded by retired Elders.