ROAR!

The cry of a dragon shook the world as a sword rose into the sky. The entire world was illuminated by a clear, brilliant sword light.

Jia Jianguo and the others gaped in shock, watching in disbelief as an arc of light erupted from the ground. It streaked across the sky faster than lightning, striking upward.

Like an aurora!

Immediately after, the sword transformed into a Gigantic Dragon!

A dragon, tens of meters long, spanned the heavens and the earth, charging straight into the clouds. High above, a colossal spear, also tens of meters long, plunged down. The clouds were torn asunder, the air was pierced, and the starlight was obscured.

The two forces met in absolute silence.

Then, the colossal spear was shattered by the dragon and cleaved apart by the sword's light. The dragon surged forward, unstoppable, until it finally pierced through the figure that resembled the Fire God.

"No!" a shrill scream, a painful wail.

All the disciples of the Fire Cloud Sect watched with wide eyes as their Sect Leader was impaled through the chest by the sword and began to plummet.

"Sect Leader!"

The Great Elder's eyes nearly split with rage as he rushed out to catch Fan Li.

PFFT!

The terrible force of the fall transferred to him, breaking the Great Elder's arms and causing him to spew blood.

THUD!

The Great Elder was violently thrown aside, forced to watch helplessly as Fan Li smashed into the ground.

The earth quaked and the mountains shook. All the buildings of the Fire Cloud Sect collapsed.

The sound carried for dozens of miles.

Everyone in Jiangling was startled, staring in panicked horror toward the Fire Cloud Sect.

COUGH! COUGH!

As the dust settled, Fan Li slowly stood up from the giant crater. His body swayed, covered in countless wounds from which blood flowed freely. On his chest was a ghastly wound that had nearly cleaved his body in two. He was a truly tragic sight.

He looked at the young man who stood with his sword sheathed, his expression desolate, a bitter taste in his mouth.

"I have lost."

With a long sigh, Fan Li looked up at the sky as two lines of tears rolled down from the corners of his eyes.

"Lin Wudi, may I ask one thing of you?"

Fan Li glanced at his disciples, then looked back to Lin Mu, his face showing a hint of pleading.

Lin Mu said, "Speak."

"Could you spare my disciples? After all, they are innocent." A trace of guilt flickered in Fan Li's eyes.

"Those who abolish their cultivation may live."

Lin Mu's voice was as calm as ever, but to everyone who heard it, it was filled with ice-cold killing intent.

"Thank you."

Fan Li nodded and looked toward the disciples of the Fire Cloud Sect, his expression growing even more guilt-ridden.

"Sect Leader, if you die, we don't wish to live on without you!" the Great Elder cried, while the other disciples wept inconsolably.

"We don't want to live alone!"

"Sect Leader, don't leave us!"

Seeing his crying disciples, Fan Li smiled.

Then, beams of firelight burst forth from his body, striking every single disciple of the Fire Cloud Sect. Painful screams rose and fell, and then all of them collapsed.

Their cultivation was utterly destroyed.

COUGH! COUGH!

Fan Li seemed to be at the end of his tether, barely able to remain standing.

"Sect Leader!"

The Great Elder supported Fan Li, his face contorted in pain.

Fan Li gave a bitter smile. "Martial Uncle, after I die, disband the disciples. Let them live as ordinary people."

"No!"

The Great Elder's eyes were bloodshot as he said coldly, "They are all disciples of our Fire Cloud Sect! As long as our people live, the sect lives!"

"Martial Uncle!" Fan Li gripped the Great Elder's arm tightly. "They are still just children!"

The Great Elder looked at the disciples slumped on the ground and let out a long sigh. "Very well. Since you insist, Sect Leader, I will do as you ask."

"Thank you... Martial Uncle..."

After saying this, Fan Li closed his eyes and passed away.

"Sect Leader!" the Great Elder roared, his expression a mask of grief and indignation.

All the disciples of the Fire Cloud Sect knelt on the ground, weeping their hearts out.

Jia Jianguo and the others watched the scene in silence.

"From this day forward, the Fire Cloud Sect is no more."

Lin Mu turned and walked toward the mountain gate.

"Give the order: Bury Fan Li, the Sect Leader of the Fire Cloud Sect, with full honors. Disband the sect's disciples. If anyone dares to bully them... kill them!"

The icy voice drifted back, causing Jia Jianguo and the others to shiver as they hastily agreed.

「The next morning」

"Kid, you've caused a huge disaster!"

Lin Mu received a call from Han Xiaochuan first thing in the morning.

Lin Mu was noncommittal. "What disaster?"

On the other end of the line, Han Xiaochuan took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger. "Do you realize what you've done? You killed Liu Xiu and wiped out the Fire Cloud Sect! Now the Military Department and the Martial Alliance are both demanding your death!"

"My death?"

Lin Mu let out a cold laugh. "If they want to kill me, let them come. I'll be waiting for them in Jiangling."

With that, Lin Mu hung up.

「The Capital」

"Damn it!"

Han Xiaochuan stared at the disconnected call, seething with fury.

Does this bastard really think he's invincible?

"Commander, I will go to Jiangling myself," Han Xiaochuan said, taking a deep breath after having made his decision.

Elder Xiao was looking at a pile of letters that had been sent to him, all demanding a ruling on Lin Mu. With a casual glance, he tossed the letters aside as if they were garbage.

"Why go to Jiangling? To find that kid?" Elder Xiao looked at Han Xiaochuan. "What are you worried about? He killed Xing Zirong and destroyed the Fire Cloud Sect single-handedly. In this world, who would dare kill him? Who could kill him?"

Han Xiaochuan said urgently, "Commander, you can't keep spoiling him! Killing Xing Zirong and destroying the Fire Cloud Sect can be chalked up to conflict between martial artists. But he killed Liu Xiu! The Military Department is up in arms over it!"

"Up in arms?"

Elder Xiao snorted. Though he had no cultivation, a domineering and sharp aura radiated from him, making even Han Xiaochuan tremble.

"What, does the Military Department belong to the Liu family?"

Elder Xiao picked something up from his desk and tossed it to Han Xiaochuan. "Go. Tell them Liu Xiu deserved to die. If they continue to harp on this matter, I will personally go and have a word with them!"

Han Xiaochuan hurriedly caught the object, and his expression changed drastically.

The Tiger Talisman!

This was the token for mobilizing troops. The Commander held one half, and the supreme leader held the other.

Is the Commander... going to protect Lin Mu no matter what?

"Well? Aren't you going?" Elder Xiao barked impatiently when he saw Han Xiaochuan still standing there stunned.

"Yes!"

Clutching the Tiger Talisman, Han Xiaochuan hurried out the door.

After Han Xiaochuan left, Elder Xiao leaned back in his chair and sank into thought for a long moment before suddenly smirking.

Good kid!

He opened a drawer and looked at the secret reports inside, a gratified smile appearing on his aged face.

The likes of Yun Xu and Xing Zirong deserved to die. But Fan Li was a passionate and honorable man. You gave him a worthy burial and even put his disciples under your protection. It seems this old man's judgment isn't so bad after all.

Elder Xiao slapped the desk sharply and muttered, "If you can achieve a total victory against Zhang Daoyun, then I'll throw everything away to get you into the Military Department!"

His eyes glinted as he suddenly said, "Make the arrangements. I'm preparing to go to Jiangling."

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