From a Martial Arts Sect to an Immortal Cultivation Sect

Chapter 257 : Li Qingqiu Battles Great Demon Luo

Pu-chi—The Tianhong Sword pierced straight through the Ghost Hyena’s throat, and deep-black ghost blood splashed between Li Qingqiu and the Ghost Hyena.

The Ghost Hyena immediately transformed into streaks of blood arrows, shooting off in different directions to distance itself from Li Qingqiu.

After landing, those blood arrows rapidly expanded, actually condensing into Ghost Hyena bodies. In an instant, it split into thirty-six clones, all staring fiercely at Li Qingqiu.

“So fast a sword. You should be Li Qingqiu, the sect master of Clear Sky Sect, right?”

One of the Ghost Hyenas spoke, its tone filled with wariness.

That sword strike just now had been impossible to dodge. No wonder Great Demon Luo held Li Qingqiu in such high regard.

Li Qingqiu swept his gaze around but did not answer the Ghost Hyena.

The Sixteen Evil Ghosts sought to establish the Ghost Dynasty, and Clear Sky Sect had already reached a point of irreconcilable opposition with them. Compared to talking, Li Qingqiu wanted to finish off this evil ghost as quickly as possible.

Seeing Li Qingqiu refuse to respond, the Ghost Hyena grew furious. Another of its clones let out a savage roar, and all thirty-six clones charged toward Li Qingqiu at once.

“Enough!”

Li Qingqiu could not determine the true body with the naked eye and decided to end it in a brutal manner.

A thought flashed through his mind. Li Qingqiu immediately raised his sword, sword light surging upward from below, illuminating the night sky and even cleaving open a gap in the falling snow overhead.

The Ghost Hyena felt its vision flooded by the sword light and instinctively blinked. When it opened its eyes again, sword-energy figures appeared before it, every single one bearing Li Qingqiu’s form.

Almost instantaneously, all thirty-six Ghost Hyena clones were cut down by Li Qingqiu’s sword-energy clones.

Li Qingqiu’s spiritual sense finally locked onto the Ghost Hyena’s soul aura. He appeared out of thin air behind a Ghost Hyena clone that had been cut in half at the waist. With his left hand, he took out the Soul Refining Banner, infused it with vital energy, and swiftly waved it, intending to seize the soul.

A tyrannical force suddenly dragged the Ghost Hyena’s soul into a grand hall ahead, causing Li Qingqiu’s Soul Refining Banner to grasp at nothing.

Li Qingqiu halted his move and turned to look toward that great hall.

Shen Yue and the Four-Armed Old Man, who were still exchanging blows, were both shocked by Li Qingqiu’s overwhelming power.

“Was that Jiang Zhaoxia’s divine art? He mastered it so quickly… and his sword has become even faster…”

Shen Yue was secretly alarmed. He had already trained with all his might, yet the gap between him and Li Qingqiu only continued to widen.

If not for Jiang Zhaoxia and the others bearing witness, he would have truly suspected that Li Qingqiu was an ancient monster who had lived for centuries in disguise.

Fear filled the Four-Armed Old Man’s heart even more. He knew the Ghost Hyena’s strength well. Among the Sixteen Evil Ghosts, their ranking was determined entirely by real combat, and the top three were absolutely unshakable.

That man had nearly annihilated the Ghost Hyena with just two moves!

The Four-Armed Old Man realized that this Clear Sky Sect Master was by no means an ordinary figure. No wonder he dared to establish an Immortal Cultivation Sect in the lands of the Nine Provinces.

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Yue stamped his right foot and unleashed Ten Thousand Swords Returning to the Sect. Sword phantoms condensed around the Four-Armed Old Man from all directions, piercing into his body and immobilizing him completely.

Li Qingqiu glanced back at Shen Yue and asked, “Don’t force yourself. Do you need me to intervene?”

With his back to Li Qingqiu, Shen Yue replied, “Your opponent is inside. Don’t compete with me for this one. My end may be miserable, but I believe I can destroy him.”

Li Qingqiu looked deeply at Shen Yue, then walked toward the massive palace hall.

Inside the palace hall.

The Ghost Hyena was slumped in a kneeling position beneath the steps, gasping for breath. His face was filled with terror, as was that half-wolf face.

Although Great Demon Luo had saved him, Li Qingqiu’s divine art had inflicted tremendous damage upon him.

Seated cross-legged above, Great Demon Luo slowly opened his eyes. His gaze fell upon the palace doors, his eyes unfathomably deep.

“Weren’t you arrogant earlier? Hurry up and stand. Stop embarrassing yourself!”

Great Demon Luo spoke, his tone displeased.

Hearing this, the Ghost Hyena snapped out of it and shakily rose to his feet.

Footsteps echoed from the palace entrance. The Ghost Hyena turned to look, his expression still tense.

Li Qingqiu’s figure appeared at the doorway, sword in hand as he approached.

“May I ask, Daoist friend, which sect do you hail from?”

Great Demon Luo asked, his voice hoarse.

Standing within the darkness, Li Qingqiu countered, “Then where do you think my lineage comes from?”

“If not from the Azure Dragon Domain, then you must have obtained the legacy of the Supreme Sword Sect.”

Great Demon Luo’s tone carried no emotion—no anger, no unease, and no fear.

Supreme Sword Sect?

Li Qingqiu thought of the Supreme Sword Controlling Technique obtained by Yang Jueding. It seemed that the Supreme Sword Sect had once been an Immortal Cultivation Sect dominating the Nine Provinces. Otherwise, how could Great Demon Luo even mention it?

“You wish to establish the Ghost Dynasty. Why must it be on this land?”

Li Qingqiu asked, while his spiritual sense had already spread outward.

Great Demon Luo stared at Li Qingqiu and said, “If you know of the Ghost Dynasty, then it seems my brothers were slain by your hand. But the fact that you ask this question shows that you understand nothing of this world.”

He slowly stood up. Rolling ghostly energy spread from beneath his feet, covering the steps and surging toward Li Qingqiu.

“To the north of the Northern Border lies a land of calamity, where true terror slumbers. To the west is the Azure Dragon Domain, where Immortal Cultivation Sects stand in abundance. Your Clear Sky Sect placed there would not even rank as third-rate. As for heading east to the sea, the dangers there far surpass those on land. Thus, I can only advance southward.”

“Li Qingqiu, considering that founding a sect is no easy feat, I shall give you a chance. Take your disciples and retreat immediately. I will allow your Clear Sky Sect to continue standing in the Nine Provinces, sharing heaven and earth’s resources with the Ghost Dynasty. But if you persist in your delusion, then your Clear Sky Sect shall all enter the Ghost Dynasty as soldiers.”

Great Demon Luo’s aura rose continuously with his words. By the time he finished speaking, his presence had reached its peak, causing the palace to tremble.

Vast ghostly energy surged forth like raging waves, sweeping toward Li Qingqiu.

This was an incomparably terrifying ghostly energy!

At this moment, throughout the entire city, all Clear Sky Sect disciples could feel it. Their hearts trembled as they turned to look.

Meanwhile, the ghosts grew frenzied, their assaults becoming even more ferocious.

Rumble—

Thunder erupted in the night sky. Within the rolling dark clouds, a pitch-black, ferocious flood dragon emerged.

Sensing Great Demon Luo’s dreadful aura, the unease in the Ghost Hyena’s heart dissipated. He felt pleasantly surprised, never expecting Great Demon Luo’s cultivation to have recovered to such a level.

He looked again at Li Qingqiu, wolf face savage, human face mocking.

Li Qingqiu revealed a shocked expression, which only made the Ghost Hyena even more smug.

“A Spirit Perception Realm cultivator cannot possibly shake this power. Why don’t you kneel and beg for mercy now?”

The Ghost Hyena laughed wildly.

Great Demon Luo stood atop the steps, back straight. His aged body slowly grew taller, white hair billowing as he stood like a demonic god within his own ghost domain.

The shock on Li Qingqiu’s face vanished in an instant, replaced by icy killing intent.

That sudden change caused the Ghost Hyena’s arrogant laughter to stop abruptly.

“Such terrifying power… letting you remain in this world would leave me unable to sleep or eat in peace.”

Li Qingqiu’s voice rang out. As his words fell, wisps of sword energy overflowed from the Tianhong Sword in his hand, rapidly thickening like blazing flames, rising higher than his head.

Chu Jing’s soul body condensed into form, likewise gripping a sword shadow identical to the Tianhong Sword.

He stood behind Li Qingqiu, towering two zhang tall. His aura erupted, scattering the surrounding ghostly energy.

“So this is the master’s vital energy…”

Entering the Sword Soul state, Chu Jing did not reveal his true appearance. As he felt the vast, boundless vital energy within his body, he was utterly shocked.

He had never seen such terrifying vital energy. Suddenly, all the schemes he had plotted in life felt laughable.

Before such overwhelming power, no amount of intrigue or calculation mattered.

Seeing Li Qingqiu summon the Sword Soul, Great Demon Luo frowned. In the next instant, four figures burst forth from the ghostly energy before him. Entirely black, they resembled ghost generals clad in armor, wielding various weapons as they slashed toward Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu raised his sword and pointed it remotely at Great Demon Luo.

Chu Jing felt an irresistible controlling force compel him to swing his sword.

With a single slash, a horrifying sword energy tore through the palace walls, annihilating everything ahead—including the four ghost generals.

Boom—

Great Demon Luo raised his hand and blocked Li Qingqiu’s sword energy with his own ghostly energy. His brows furrowed, and anger ignited in his eyes.

“Do you truly think I dare not kill you?”

For the first time, Great Demon Luo’s voice carried fury, like the might of heaven itself, echoing through the shattered palace.

As his words fell, the entire palace exploded apart. Billowing dust rose skyward, crashing into the falling snow.

Shen Yue, who was still fighting the Four-Armed Old Man, was flung away by the overwhelming force. He was hurled out of the Inspector-General’s Residence and finally landed on a rooftop, his left hand gripping the roof beam tightly as he gritted his teeth and stared back toward the residence.

“What kind of power is this…”

Shen Yue’s blood essence churned under the pressure, and even his sword intent was nearly dispersed.

Even Jiang Zhaoxia turned his gaze in shock. Despite being more than ten li away from the Inspector-General’s Residence, he could still feel Great Demon Luo’s oppressive presence.

Just sensing that ghostly energy alone told him he stood no chance against Great Demon Luo.

Clear Sky Sect’s disciples likewise turned their heads in fear, to say nothing of the soldiers.

Zhao Zhen, Ji Ya, Li Yang, Yan Daozong, Yun Cai, the Three Xiao Brothers, Sword Solitary, Xue Jin, and many others all revealed expressions of terror and disbelief.

Immediately after, all Clear Sky Sect disciples saw two figures burst out from within the Inspector-General’s Residence, shooting into the night sky like two meteors colliding at extreme speed, continuously sending out powerful shockwaves.

Li Qingqiu swung his sword rapidly, his sword moves fierce, sword energy overflowing.

Great Demon Luo wielded a sword condensed from ghostly energy. His sword techniques were not inferior to Li Qingqiu’s at all. At this moment, his body was shrouded in ghostly energy. That aged face was melting away, accompanied by flickering sparks as white bones were revealed.

Boom—

One man and one ghost crashed down from the sky, smashing through building after building in the city, kicking up rolling snow mist and dust.

Li Qingqiu raised his left hand and unleashed the divine art Moving Mountains to Suppress Gods. Stone slabs and courtyard walls from an entire street rose into the air, crashing down toward Great Demon Luo like a collapsing mountain range.

Great Demon Luo stared at Li Qingqiu. His ghost sword trembled, erupting with countless blood-red lightning bolts that pierced through the mountain-crushing assault.

He transformed into a streak of lightning and charged at Li Qingqiu, his speed far surpassing before.

Li Qingqiu immediately executed the Extreme Movement Technique, evading the ghost sword. As Great Demon Luo slashed out, a black sword energy swept across the long street, stretching half a li. Many Corpse Ghosts hiding in the shadows were shredded by that sword energy, and some of Liu Jing’s soldiers were also caught in the aftermath.

The might of Great Demon Luo’s casual sword strike caused Shen Yue’s and Jiang Zhaoxia’s pupils to constrict sharply.