Chapter 58: Slaying a Dao Fusion Stage Cultivator
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
Amidst the chaos of battle, blood splattered in all directions.
The surrounding disciples of the Immortal Sect watched with their mouths agape as the Dao Seeking Sect disciples fell one after another. None could understand how someone at the peak of the Lower Three Stages could single-handedly turn the tide of the entire conflict.
The most troublesome aspect was the five hidden swords. Once launched, they would drop to the ground, masquerading as the swords of fallen disciples. Yet, at unpredictable moments, they would spring back to life, aiming directly for the necks of their unsuspecting targets. It was impossible to guard against them.
“Hey, why is it only the Dao Seeking Sect disciples getting killed?”
“You’re right! That’s strange!”
“Something’s off here. Could the Dao Seeking Sect have been set up?”
Hearing the murmurs around her, Ding Yao gritted her teeth and barked, “Gong Shu Chou, stop holding back and kill that peak Lower Three Stages cultivator immediately!”
At her command, the Dao Fusion Stage cultivator fully unleashed the spiritual essence he had been suppressing. His aura surged, waves of energy rippling out in all directions.
Ji You had managed to control Gong Shu Chou—a cultivator two realms above him—primarily because of his superior spiritual energy circulation. He could afford to use his spiritual energy extravagantly, as his recovery rate was extraordinarily fast. Gong Shu Chou, on the other hand, had been holding back, attacking at half-strength for fear of depleting his reserves. But with the battle turning so sharply against them, continuing to restrain himself would be foolish.
Gong Shu Chou raised his sword and stomped forward, his aura reaching its peak as he poured all his remaining spiritual energy into his blade. The sword roared like a tiger, unleashing a horizontal slash that seemed like a bolt of lightning tearing through the night sky. The overwhelming sword aura swept across the battlefield, suppressing everyone present.
“Junior Brother, dodge it!”
Ban Yang Shu shouted, his face pale with fear. A fully unleashed strike from a Dao Fusion Stage cultivator, even if it was their last effort, would be fatal to someone at the peak of the Lower Three Stages. The disparity in realms was simply too great to bridge with skillful swordplay or abundant spiritual energy.
Before the echo of Ban Yang Shu’s warning faded, Ji You had already felt the immense pressure. The sword intent hurtled toward him like a storm. Yet, to everyone’s shock, Ji You chose to meet the attack head-on, raising his sword to slice through the incoming sword aura and directly collide with Gong Shu Chou.
From Gong Shu Chou’s perspective, his strike would shatter Ji You’s blade, allowing him to follow through with a diagonal slash that would split Ji You in two.
“I’ve been waiting for this.”
“Watch out—the flying dagger is coming.”
Ji You spoke softly, his expression calm. Meanwhile, Gong Shu Chou’s pupils suddenly constricted. Ji You’s sword had left his hand.
It wasn’t a sword strike but sword control!
Gong Shu Chou’s heart sank. The sword that had appeared to be held by Ji You was, in fact, under his spiritual control. After leaving his hand, the sword continued along its original trajectory, slicing through Gong Shu Chou’s attack. At the same time, Ji You used extreme movement techniques to slip past Gong Shu Chou. In his left hand, a black spike, wreathed in spiritual energy, was thrust toward Gong Shu Chou’s chest.
Boom!
Ji You detonated the spiritual energy in his palm, driving the spike cleanly through Gong Shu Chou’s heart and pinning him to the stone wall behind him. Blood gushed from Gong Shu Chou’s chest as he collapsed to the ground.
The battlefield fell into a stunned silence.
Standing amidst the carnage, the white-robed swordsman wiped the sweat from his brow and stood tall, sword intent surging around him. A peak Lower Three Stages cultivator had killed a Dao Fusion Stage cultivator. Even though Gong Shu Chou had been holding back initially, the feat was still unimaginable.
Ban Yang Shu and Wen Zheng Xin, frozen mid-battle, turned to stare at Ji You in shock, unable to find the words to express their feelings. Moments ago, it seemed Ji You would meet his demise. Yet, the Dao Fusion Stage cultivator had fallen instead.
“Junior Brother, are you okay?”
Ban Yang Shu’s face was pale, worried that Ji You had paid too steep a price for this victory.
Ji You waved his hand dismissively. “The sword I held was never truly in my grasp; I was controlling it with spiritual energy from the start. I intended to bait his attack. My left hand concealed a spike, waiting for the right moment.”
The onlookers shivered as the realization dawned on them. Ji You had been waiting for Gong Shu Chou to fully unleash his strength, ensuring he had no reserves left to protect himself. By switching from holding his sword to controlling it, Ji You redirected Gong Shu Chou’s full-force strike and exploited the opening to deliver a fatal blow.
This technique could be considered a sneak attack, one that would only work once. If his opponent had been on guard, it would have been impossible to execute.
The preceding seven strikes, the hidden swords, and the injuries inflicted were all part of Ji You’s setup for this decisive move. The Azure Clouds Dominion had been peaceful for too long. Most cultivators had devoted themselves to their Dao without preparing for life-and-death struggles. Even the grand Dao Discussion Tournaments often relied on realm suppression rather than skill.
But Ji You was different. From the moment he decided to pursue dual cultivation in martial and Daoist arts, he had resolved to tread the path of battle. If he ever left the Heavenly Script Academy, he would walk the way of a warrior.
Every sword technique he learned was meant for killing.
In a simple sparring match, a lower-realm cultivator could never triumph over someone in a higher realm. But life and death battles were a different story. There were countless ways to kill someone.
Ding Yao stared at Gong Shu Chou’s lifeless body, her face ashen.
[His sword is strong.]
She suddenly remembered Zhuo Wan Qiu’s words during their search in the mountains. As an inner court disciple of Spirit Sword Mountain, Ding Yao had scoffed at the remark. The man had been so passive during the search, letting them frisk him without resistance. She hadn’t even considered him worth killing, believing it would be a waste of effort.
Only now did she understand his true strength. It wasn’t just his sword, nor his spiritual senses, but even his spiritual essence—it surpassed that of a Dao Fusion Stage cultivator. Yet she couldn’t fathom why he hadn’t fought back when they first encountered him.
Looking up, she saw that the peak Lower Three Stages cultivator had summoned his swords back to him. Suspended in the air, they hummed faintly as he surveyed the remaining, exhausted cultivators with an icy gaze. Alone, he had encircled them all.
“Senior Brother, take everyone and leave,” Ji You said.
“Understood,” Ban Yang Shu replied. He sheathed his sword and quickly ordered others to carry Pei Ru Yi and retreat into the forested mountains.
Wen Zheng Xin stayed behind to cover their retreat. She intended to leave only after everyone else was safe. However, Ji You’s voice suddenly broke the heavy silence.
“If you all attack together, there’s a good chance you could kill me. After all, I’m not that strong.”
“But why bother?”
“Even if Senior Sister Wen and I die here, we can still take down several of you before we go. Maybe a dozen. Perhaps… you.”
He pointed at a few cultivators. “You might think it won’t be you. But why wouldn’t it? You were sent here as cannon fodder, so why fight so desperately? How much are they paying you?”
The disciples of Spirit Sword Mountain and the Dao Seeking Sect remained silent for a long time.
And so, a single peak Lower Three Stages cultivator, with seven faintly humming swords, held the line against them all.
It should have been easy for the two remaining injured Dao Fusion Stage cultivators and their disciples to kill him. But none dared to step forward.
Wen Zheng Xin, who had spent years in the inner court, was unfamiliar with Ji You. Now, looking at his bandit-like demeanor, her feelings grew complicated. Before entering the mountain, Ban Yang Shu had suggested leaving a peak Lower Three Stages cultivator to provide support. She hadn’t thought much of it, doubting such a cultivator would make a difference.
Yet, the sight of seven swords dancing in the air had completely overturned her understanding of the Lower Three Stages.
Under the gaze of the crowd, the two of them sheathed their swords and departed. Just then, a muffled groan broke the silence. The crowd turned to see Gong Shu Chou’s trembling right hand rising from the pool of blood.