Chapter 529: Chapter 529: Annihilated in the Same Way
Elder Xu could only imagine that the ghostly shadow behind Yang Tian must be related to his consciousness.
From the very first glance, Luo Tong’s use of Murong Longcheng’s divine transformation technique was plain for all to see!
He believed that although Yang Tian’s physical body was formidable, it still had vulnerabilities. Under Luo Dun’s divine transformation, he could be injured or even reduced to a mindless corpse.
But how does one explain the current situation?
Yang Tian suffered no harm at all. Instead, he used divine power to shatter Luo Tong’s blood sword—a manifestation of his divine transformation—inflicting severe anti-devouring damage upon Luo Tong.
Does this not suggest that both Yang Tian’s physical prowess and inner consciousness are far superior to those of his peers?
And yet, what flaws could such an existence possibly have?
At this thought, Murong Longcheng cast a respectful glance at Yang Tian’s face, finally revealing a trace of awe!
No matter the ultimate outcome of this battle, the fact that Yang Tian managed to reach this flawless realm was deserving of reverence from any monk!
As for Murong Yan, although her perception of this battle was less acute than her father’s, she knew one undeniable truth: Yang Tian had once again thwarted Luo Dun’s attack. Luo Dun, the master of the Luobulan Sect, had sustained injuries!
At this moment, she was at a loss for words to express herself!
But clearly, the battle was far from over!
From start to finish, it had been Tong Lin taking the offensive, while Yang Tian had only been defending passively!
And today, finally, it was time for Yang Tian to act!
Yang Tian’s gaze turned cold as he looked at Luo Tong. The ghostly shadow behind him immediately opened its eyes, fixing upon Luo Tong as if gazing at an ant or speck of dust.
In an instant!
Luo Dun found himself staring into endless darkness through the ghostly ancestor’s eyes.
And with the darkness came fear!
Yes, fear—it was undeniable!
As the master of the Rashamon Sect and a cultivator at the Late Soul Death Stage, Luo Tong had spilled the blood of countless individuals. Bearing the name Luo Tong, a blood stabilizer of Rashamon, he was now discovering an overwhelming terror at the sight of the devil ancestor’s phantom.
This realization left him incredulous!
But it also made him understand—it was an oppression beyond everything: from power, to realm, to spirit!
Faced with such suppression, Luo Tong’s centuries of experience made it clear that to fight back in this spiritually crippled state would undoubtedly lead to death!
With no other option remaining, Luo Dun immediately shook off Elder Xu and Mr. Lin’s grasp. His body transformed into a blood shadow, fleeing toward Tianyuan City at lightning speed.
And in that moment, he escaped!
Witnessing this scene, everyone’s jaws dropped in astonishment, even Elder Xu and the other Rashamon elder had not anticipated it.
But just then, Yang Tian spoke lightly: "Cut."
Slash!
As his voice fell, the shadow within those dread-inducing eyes unleashed the devil’s most agonized hatred.
A catastrophe meant for all of Tianyuan City ended with the death of Luo Dun.
Yet, Tianyuan City did not erupt with cheers and applause.
After all, whether in the mortal world or the cultivation realm, the essence remains unchanged.
Most people fear power beyond their comprehension.
And so, as the battle concluded and Yang Tian slowly fell to the ground, everyone lowered their heads in unison, kneeling as though welcoming the descent of a deity.
Even the family of Murong Xuecun, the city’s ruling clan, followed suit. They gazed at Yang Tian with reverence, save for Murong Yan, who was utterly dazed, seemingly unwilling to believe what had just transpired.
But for them, Yang Tian had no need to provide an explanation. He merely parted his lips slightly: "How long do you intend to stand above me?"
In the sky, Elder Xu and the other elder priest, still reeling from Luo Dun’s demise, trembled uncontrollably before collapsing to their knees like obedient servants. In unison, they fearfully pleaded, "Please... spare us!"
"Spare your lives?"
Yang Tian listened to their groveling, smiling faintly. His face exuded a blend of gloom and calmness as he replied to Xu Xian and the other elder, "Relax. If I truly wanted you dead, would you have lived to this day?"
"...Shang Xian, you won’t kill us?" Xu Xian raised his head upon hearing this, his expression filled with disbelief.
To him, they had followed Luo Tong with intense anger, repeatedly threatening Yang Tian’s life!
Now that Yang Tian had openly obliterated Luo Tong, how could he let them leave alive?
This was inconsistent with the cultivation world’s principle of uprooting threats entirely. Was someone so immensely powerful in realm, body, and spirit truly naïve enough to ignore the unyielding rules of the cultivation world?
But Murong Yan, standing off to the side, immediately understood Yang Tian’s reasoning after hearing his words!
She knew that Yang Tian was anything but naïve; sparing both Xu Xian and the other elder had its strategic value.
What value, you ask? Naturally, using them to obtain Rashamon Sect’s quota for entering the sacred realm!
After all, despite the current decline, Rashamon had once been one of the Four Great Strongholds. If Yang Tian killed off all of the Rashamon upper echelon, not only would he fail to secure the quota, but he would also draw the scrutiny of the Chenjian Sect, leading to an impediment in his plans to enter the sacred realm!
However, it was equally obvious that Yang Tian didn’t care what Murong Yan thought, nor did he bother about what she might say.
Because, in the end, strength was the ultimate bargaining power!
And now, it was clear that Yang Tian held such bargaining power!
Thus, he smiled at Xu Chang and said, "Very well! I won’t kill you, and I might even grant you a purpose."
"A purpose? What do you mean?" Xu Xian asked, bewildered.
Yang Tian’s voice remained calm as he declared, "Now that Rashamon’s master is dead, who do you suppose will be the next master?"
The next master?
At this, Xu Xian’s initial thought was that Yang Tian intended to claim leadership over Rashamon.
But that notion was instantly dismissed by Xu Xian!
After all, if Yang Tian truly desired to lead Rashamon, he could just eliminate them entirely—obliterating Rashamon’s entire upper echelon—and proceed to claim the sect without opposition. Who could possibly stop him?
Thus, since Yang Tian himself had no intention of becoming Rashamon’s master, Xu Xian realized what his true implication was...
Understanding this, Elder Xu froze for a moment before bursting into elation, promptly bowing before Yang Tian in reverence once more, saying, "Many... many thanks!"
"Excellent! A student worth nurturing!"
Yang Tian looked at how quickly Elder Xu grasped his meaning, while the other Rashamon elder remained bewildered. In his mind, Xu Xian stood out as a man of potential!
After all, certain matters required someone relatively intelligent to carry them out—a person smart enough to recognize what to do under specific circumstances!
That afternoon, having achieved his goal, Yang Tian naturally left Tianyuan City. Quietly, he walked to Rashamon Sect, accompanied by Elder Xu and his clan.
Upon arrival, Xu Yumeng almost immediately ushered Yang Tian into a sealed room, dropped to his knees reverently, and asked, "Yang Shangxian, is there anything you wish to instruct further?"
He was indeed a clever man!
Seeing Elder Xu’s behavior, Yang Tian couldn’t help but scoff internally.
Along the journey here, Yang Tian hadn’t disclosed his intentions, but Elder Xu evidently understood the unspoken truth—there are no free meals—thus arriving at the question at this very moment!
Old Liu, too, knelt beside him.