Almost at the same time, Sword Eight’s figure shot backward as he let out a furious roar.

At this moment, he was a pitiful sight to behold.

His clothes were reduced to tattered strips. Not only was everything down to his underwear riddled with holes, but his face was also swollen like a pig’s head, clearly the result of countless punches.

His body was also red and swollen, covered in conspicuous, bright red fist prints.

"Impossible, this is impossible!" Sword Eight had been beaten by Lin Hao so badly that he could only open his eyes to a slit, and that was with him trying his hardest to widen them.

His eyes, narrowed to slits, were now filled with utter shock.

No one knew better than him what had just happened.

Just now, that seemingly ordinary sword strike of his had a name—Phantom Kill!

With the Phantom Kill sword technique, the body of the sword remains still while the tip vibrates with an extremely faint arc, yet it can generate a sky full of Sword Qi, with every wisp being a killing move.

When this technique was trained to its peak, its speed was extreme—so fast that it was impossible to capture with the naked eye.

Ten years ago, when a sect attacked Mingjian Manor, Sword Eight was only at the first layer of the Elemental Realm, but he had killed over a thousand enemies with this very technique.

A single execution of the technique could claim over a dozen lives, and he had even once accomplished the incredible feat of slaying a master at the Third Layer of the Elemental Realm with it.

For the past ten years, he had practiced it tirelessly. He had long since trained this move to the peak of perfection.

Therefore, in that seemingly straightforward strike just now, the sword tip had vibrated an unknown number of times. That was what reduced Lin Hao’s clothes to a beggar’s rags and riddled the wooden posts behind him like a sieve.

And then Lin Hao had achieved the same effect with his fists!

In other words, not only had Lin Hao stolen his sword technique, but he had also used his burly fists to produce the Sword Qi that only a slender sword should be able to create.

Turning his arm into a sword!

In such a short time, Lin Hao had not only perfectly replicated his sword technique but had also achieved such a level with it. Lin Hao’s talent and comprehension were simply terrifyingly unparalleled!

Sword Eight had followed Zuo Wuque and witnessed countless geniuses and prodigies, but a monster like this? He had never even heard of such a thing, let alone seen one.

Now, suddenly witnessing this scene, he simply couldn’t believe his eyes.

"For me, nothing is impossible," Lin Hao replied indifferently, though a flash of pleasant surprise appeared in his eyes.

Just now, facing Sword Eight’s technique, Lin Hao had also been caught off guard at first.

Honestly, if not for his incredibly resilient body, he would have already met his end.

At that time, although Lin Hao had keenly sensed the strangeness of Sword Eight’s technique, he couldn’t see through it. He could only use his fists to disrupt the Sword Qi aimed at his face.

But waiting to be killed was not Lin Hao’s style, so he activated his Imperial Art at full power.

Under the effect of the Imperial Art, everything became clear. Then, Lin Hao saw the trembling of Sword Eight’s sword tip, though it still wasn’t very distinct.

On a whim, Lin Hao tried to channel a wisp of his Imperial Art into his eyes. Then, Sword Eight’s sword technique seemed to slow down countless times, and he could see every single minute movement with perfect clarity.

Lin Hao already had exceptional comprehension. After cultivating the Imperial Art, he was like a tiger with wings. On top of that, he had obtained the memories of a martial arts expert like Chu Tiandu. For him, perfectly replicating Sword Eight’s technique was child’s play.

At that moment, Lin Hao had no sword in hand, and it wasn’t practical to retrieve one from his storage spirit ring. So, he took an unconventional path and turned his arm into a sword!

"You have lost," Lin Hao said coldly, stating a cruel fact.

Sword Eight’s body trembled as if struck by lightning.

Not only had he been defeated and his personal longsword broken, but he had also lost to his own sword technique.

For a moment, Sword Eight fell into utter despair.

But he couldn’t die. Ever since he became a Sword Attendant, his life had no longer belonged to him.

"I lost... I am utterly convinced of my defeat. But don’t get complacent. The Young Master will not rest until he retrieves the Evil-Slaying Sword. Each of the top seven of the nine Sword Attendants has their own unique sword technique. Sword Nine is already contacting them. I’ll be waiting for the day you are dismembered by a single sword strike!"

After saying his piece, Sword Eight turned and left, a figure of utter dejection.

Just then, someone brushed past Sword Eight.

The newcomer was a Danling Sect disciple, his Daoist robe embroidered with a small, yellow tripod.

This was a third-generation disciple of the Danling Sect.

He curiously sized up Sword Eight for a moment, then saw Lin Hao in his beggar’s rags, and behind him, the wooden posts that were riddled with holes by Sword Qi.

"Young Master Lin, who is he?"

It was obvious that a fight had taken place here, and the result was just as clear.

the disciple asked Lin Hao curiously.

"A Sword Attendant from Mingjian Manor, named Sword Eight," Lin Hao replied.

"What?!" The disciple suddenly cried out in shock, his eyes widening.

As a disciple of one of the four major sects in the Southern Border Prefecture, this disciple’s knowledge of the prefecture far surpassed Lin Hao’s.

He naturally recognized the Sword Attendants of Mingjian Manor’s Zuo Wuque, the Southern Border Sword God, who were renowned throughout the Southern Border Prefecture.

A Sword Attendant famous for a decade had actually been defeated by Lin Hao. How could this disciple not be shocked?

"You were looking for me?" Lin Hao’s question brought the disciple back to his senses.

"Ah, Young Master Lin, the sect assembly is about to begin. My master sent me to find you." The disciple finally remembered his purpose for coming.

Lin Hao nodded. "I know. You go on ahead, I’ll be there shortly."

’I can’t possibly go dressed in these beggar’s rags.’

The disciple nodded.

Lin Hao was about to go inside when someone else arrived.

The newcomer grabbed Lin Hao’s hand and started to drag him away.

"Shan..." The person who had arrived was Master Shan Dan. Lin Hao had just managed to get one word out before he was interrupted.

"Little Ancestor, enough with the ’Shan’! Let’s go! Everyone is waiting for you. If the Sect Leader wasn’t tied up, he would have come himself!"

Shan Dan spoke like a string of firecrackers, rattling off a long speech.

He spoke as he pulled, and by the time he finished, he had already dragged Lin Hao out of the courtyard.

"My clothes..."

"It’s fine, you look great like this." Shan Dan had no time to wait for Lin Hao to change.

"What about Meng Qing?"

"I’ve already invited her to go. Little Ancestor, stop talking and let’s go!"

...

The Danling Sect’s Wind and Cloud Platform was carved from a single, massive boulder, measuring more than ten meters across.

Surrounding the Wind and Cloud Platform were tiered stone steps with long benches on them.

At this moment, the benches on the steps around the Wind and Cloud Platform were packed with people, and voices rose and fell in a chorus of discontent.

"What’s the hold-up? Why hasn’t it started yet?!"

"Exactly! In previous years, it would have already started by now, and we’d be at the auction part."

"The Danling Sect has some good pills this year, so they’re putting on airs."

"No, I heard they’re waiting for someone important."

"Waiting for someone? Is another major power coming?"

"Are you stupid? They said they’re waiting for one person. Would a major power send only one person?"

"Not necessarily. A major power sending just one person would already be giving the Danling Sect a lot of face. But I’m curious, is there a power in the Cangnan Empire greater than the five great divine sects?"

"We’ll find out soon enough."

Around the Wind and Cloud Platform, discussions rose and fell. In the front row of VIP seats closest to the platform, some people were also beginning to show their displeasure.

"Sect Leader Mo, why hasn’t the assembly begun? I believe even the Palace Master is growing impatient," a middle-aged man said with a dark expression.

"Hall Master Jin, please be patient. There is one more very important person. The assembly will begin as soon as he arrives," Sect Leader Mo said with an amiable expression.

Although the other party was only a Hall Master, he had to greet him with a smile, because this Hall Master Jin was from the Proud Moon Divine Sect, one of the five great divine sects.

"A very important person? In my opinion, the most important person here is the Palace Master. The sect assembly can begin now. If you won’t announce it, I’ll announce it for you." Hall Master Jin’s gaze once again drifted toward a certain woman.

The woman was dressed in yellow robes and wore a white veil over her face. Although her features were obscured, her graceful figure and alluring curves were still visible.

She sat there quietly, radiating an untouchable aura. No one dared to ignore her.

She was the Palace Master of the Misty Palace, Su Molixi.

This Hall Master Jin from the Proud Moon Divine Sect was clearly a smooth operator. He didn’t just speak; whenever he did, he would always manage to bring her into the conversation.

"Jin Bufan, if you run your mouth again, I’ll cut out your tongue!" A female disciple from Misty Palace, seated in the second row behind Su Molixi, spoke up.

Although Jin Bufan was a Hall Master of the Proud Moon Divine Sect, in the eyes of a Misty Palace disciple, he didn’t even have the right to speak to their Palace Master.

Jin Bufan smiled faintly and said no more, but he glanced at a middle-aged man sitting to his side.

The middle-aged man was startled, but then he chuckled and said, "I’ve long heard that the fairies of Misty Palace are no less heroic than men. Seeing you today, I’ve discovered that the fairies of Misty Palace also know how to joke."

"And who are you?" the Misty Palace disciple asked, sweeping a cold gaze over the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man smiled slightly and replied, "This humble one is Zhu Hongcai, from Xianyong County." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Never heard of you. With that smarmy smile, you can’t be anything good either." The Misty Palace disciple’s words were merciless.

Zhu Hongcai’s expression stiffened.

"Senior Sister, that name sounds a bit familiar. Oh! I remember now! I heard the Marquis of Xianyong County is named Zhu Hongcai." Next to the disciple, a girl of about sixteen or seventeen covered her mouth, her large eyes wide and round. She looked very cute.

Her features were very beautiful, and she even bore a slight resemblance to Meng Qing.

Hearing that she actually knew of him, Zhu Hongcai couldn’t help but feel a bit smug.

The girl’s attire was identical to that of a Misty Palace disciple, so she was clearly one of them. Moreover, she was exceptionally beautiful.

’She looks like she really admires me. If I had the time...’

Wicked thoughts began to stir in Zhu Hongcai’s heart.

"Little Junior Sister, you’ve never even left the sect. How would you know that?"

"I just do! A lot of the senior brothers and sisters who go out for training mention this name when they come back." The little junior sister who resembled Meng Qing tilted her head, her big eyes blinking.

"What do they say about me?" Zhu Hongcai’s heart tickled with curiosity. His face flushed, and he couldn’t help but ask.

A mischievous glint flashed in the little junior sister’s eyes as she giggled and said, "They say you’re sturdy and strong, have a great appetite, and well-developed limbs, but you go into heat at random."

At first, Zhu Hongcai was quite pleased hearing the beginning of her description, but the more he listened, the more something felt off. On second thought, wasn’t she just calling him a breeding hog?

His face turned green on the spot, but he didn’t dare to lash out.

The little junior sister laughed so hard she swayed like a flower in the wind.

’This girl—so pretty, yet with such a wicked heart. A complete witch!’

Zhu Hongcai made up his mind to stay far away from her in the future.

Just as he turned his head aside, he froze for a moment, and then his eyes suddenly lit up...