Chapter 19: Suppressing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with a Single Raise of the Hand
Chapter 19: Suppressing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with a Single Raise of the Hand
The group numbered well over a hundred, every one of them clad in dark robes, each radiating a powerful and domineering aura.
At their head stood an elderly man with long hair draped over his shoulders. His frame was gaunt and hunched, yet his aura was dense and overwhelming, carrying with it a faint but terrifying pressure.
Behind him, someone held aloft a banner that snapped and billowed in the wind, three golden characters embroidered upon it.
Linglang Sect!
Such a grand and imposing procession naturally drew the attention of everyone in Yunshui City, and a dense crowd of onlookers trailed far behind them.
Hearing the commotion, Xiao Yan and Zhuge Feng, who had been cultivating on the back mountain, came forward. When they caught sight of the banner, both of their expressions turned grave.
"The Linglang Sect — one of the Lingxiao Sect's vassal factions!"
Xiao Lingxi, Zhuge Feng, and Xiao Yan all shifted their gazes, clearly having heard of this sect before.
Only Ye Qingyao, who had just arrived, looked completely lost.
"Is this Linglang Sect really that formidable?" Su Bai asked with a smile.
"From what I know, the Lingxiao Sect has taken on several vassals to expand its sphere of influence, and the Linglang Sect is one of them," Xiao Lingxi explained slowly. "The Linglang Sect wields tremendous power. It has already entered the ranks of the Immortal Alliance and holds an extremely high standing throughout the entire Great Zhao Empire — no less than the family I come from."
"It is said that the Linglang Sect's founding patriarch has already attained the rank of a Core Formation True Master, though whether that is true or not, I cannot say."
"The Linglang Sect is truly that powerful..." Both Xiao Yan and Zhuge Feng were inwardly shaken.
"My Xiao family is considered a great clan in Yunshui City, with several Qi Refining cultivators — yet compared to the Linglang Sect, we are no more than ants!" Xiao Yan drew a sharp breath.
If the Linglang Sect was already this fearsome, just how powerful must the Lingxiao Sect be?
"Master... what do we do?" Zhuge Feng asked, his expression solemn.
"It's fine," Su Bai said lightly, his tone utterly casual.
His expression never changed. He gazed down the mountain, the gentle breeze tugging at the hem of his robe and the sash at his waist, tracing graceful, flowing arcs in the air.
In that moment, he looked every bit like a peerless exiled immortal, looking down upon all living things.
The group swaggered into the Heavenly Dao Sect's territory and climbed the mountain step by step.
A short while later, the elderly man at the front came to a halt.
He raised his gaze slightly and caught sight of Xiao Lingxi standing beside Su Bai. A faint, sinister glint stirred in the depths of his eyes.
"Miss Lingxi, we have had quite the time searching for you!"
The old man's voice rang out like a great bell, his authority crashing forward like a wave, involuntarily stirring a trace of dread in the hearts of all who heard it.
Foundation Establishment Stage!
The aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator was far too vast. Even simply standing there, it gave everyone the feeling of a mountain pressing down upon them.
Such a supremely powerful cultivator — even a single thread of his oppressive might was beyond what any Qi Refining Stage cultivator could withstand.
This small hill that was the Heavenly Dao Sect could likely be leveled by him in a single move!
"Miss Lingxi, please come with I to the Lingxiao Sect."
The old man continued.
His words were laced with the unmistakable flavor of a command, causing Xiao Lingxi to furrow her brow, displeasure surfacing on her beautiful face.
"And if she refuses?"
Su Bai stepped forward, placing himself in front of all the disciples. The moment he did, the oppressive aura the old man had been radiating vanished without a trace in an instant.
The old man's pupils contracted slightly. He fixed his gaze on Su Bai and said, "Who are you? Do you intend to meddle in the affairs of my Linglang Sect?"
Su Bai's lips curved into a faint smile. "Su Bai, Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Sect. You wish to take away my disciple — have you obtained my consent?"
"Heavenly Dao Sect? Su Bai?" The old man searched his memory at length but confirmed he had never heard the name Su Bai before.
Then his gaze swept past the group to the buildings behind them. Seeing that the Heavenly Dao Sect amounted to no more than two structures, he let out a soft, contemptuous snort.
He had thought it might be some powerful sect — it turned out to be nothing more than a third-rate outfit.
With that thought, the old man narrowed his eyes, a cold gleam flashing within them. "Yesterday, the bodies of several of my Linglang Sect's disciples were found outside Yunshui City. Do you know anything about that?"
"Indeed — I killed them," Su Bai said bluntly, without a moment's hesitation.
The crowd erupted in an uproar.
These were Linglang Sect disciples — and he had killed them just like that?
The members of the Linglang Sect instantly blazed with fury, drawing their Magical Artifacts and leveling them at Su Bai and his companions with murderous intent.
A flash of anger crossed the old man's face as well. He bellowed, "Bold! You dare kill members of my Linglang Sect — are you not afraid of incurring our wrath?"
"Ha ha ha..."
Su Bai threw his head back and laughed, his laughter bold and unrestrained. "The Linglang Sect? What is it worth? You dare provoke my Heavenly Dao Sect — never mind merely killing a few disciples, what would it matter if we wiped it out entirely!"
At those words, everyone froze.
Wipe out the Linglang Sect — said so casually!
Such arrogance — who did he think he was?
Down at the foot of the mountain, the onlookers who had heard Su Bai's words wore expressions of utter disbelief.
Who didn't know the name of the Linglang Sect?
The Heavenly Dao Sect... how many people had even heard of it?
"The Heavenly Dao Sect... I remember now — isn't that the ragtag sect that beat up the Lingxiao Sect's disciples yesterday?"
"Impressive. First they slap the Lingxiao Sect in the face, and now they're provoking the Linglang Sect. Whatever their strength may be, that kind of nerve alone is enough to make a name for themselves."
"But that's a Foundation Establishment Elder from the Linglang Sect — a great Foundation Establishment cultivator. The Heavenly Dao Sect might not survive the day."
The onlookers buzzed with discussion.
"You're seeking death!"
The Linglang Sect members erupted in rage, itching to tear this arrogant figure to pieces on the spot.
"Disciples, release your auras — let the world know that my Linglang Sect is not to be provoked!"
The old man swept his wide sleeve and roared in a low, thunderous voice.
Rumble...
In an instant, surging waves of momentum rose into the sky.
One great Foundation Establishment cultivator!
Two at the ninth level of the Qi Refining Stage!
Three at the eighth level!
Five at the seventh level!
Mid Qi Refining Stage cultivators above the fourth level — no fewer than thirty!
And every last one of the rest was a Qi Refining cultivator as well.
The combined auras of over a hundred Qi Refining cultivators tore through the clouds and churned the wind and rain.
Above, thunder cracked and lightning flashed, as though the end of days had arrived.
Everyone felt a shudder run through their bodies, as if they had been plunged into an ice cellar.
"Fall back! Fall back!"
The spectators at the foot of the mountain scrambled to retreat several hundred meters.
With this many cultivators clashing, even the shockwaves from a distance could tear an ordinary person to shreds!
Yet faced with so many cultivators, Su Bai remained utterly at ease, without the slightest trace of panic.
"Attack! Level the Heavenly Dao Sect — spare no one except Xiao Lingxi!" The Foundation Establishment elder let out a great roar and struck first.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh...
Streaks of blade radiance, sword light, palm imprints, and fist force came howling forward.
These attacks converged together, forming a brilliant, sweeping chain of destruction that came crashing down like a canopy.
Su Bai stood with his hands clasped behind his back, not moving an inch. He simply extended a single finger and flicked it lightly into the void.
Whoosh...
In an instant, every last one of the attacks shattered and collapsed.
What was more, the backlash from those attacks caused the members of the Linglang Sect to vomit blood one after another, staggering backward.
Then Su Bai moved. He raised one hand, palm facing the Linglang Sect members ahead of him, and pressed it down.
"Boom!"
With that single press, waves of invisible pressure instantly surged toward the Linglang Sect members.
Crack! Crack!
Every disciple of the Linglang Sect felt their body suddenly grow heavy, as though a towering mountain had been loaded onto their backs.
Then their knees buckled violently, and with a dull thud, every single one of them dropped to the ground on both knees.
This included the Foundation Establishment elder himself!
A Foundation Establishment cultivator suppressed with a single raise of the hand!