Chapter Twenty-Seven: Return to the Sect

Whoosh!
Whoosh!
The world before Su Yizhao’s eyes suddenly emptied—both men vanished at the same instant!

What was happening?

He gazed upward in astonishment. Those two, one a body cultivator, the other a soul cultivator, were each formidable in their own right. Even one-on-one, he could not guarantee victory. Yet now, both had departed in haste.

“Spirit stone mine?”

The realization struck him. Though the two had come to hunt Wang Zhian, upon discovering the spirit stone mine, they must have rushed back to report to their sects.

Su Yizhao pondered only for a moment before settling his mind. He sat cross-legged and began circulating his cultivation technique. Instantly, bubbles surged from the depths of the sea, streams of spiritual energy flooding into his body. The Bagua mark on his chest absorbed the nourishment like a powerful tonic, growing rapidly!

His wounds gradually healed, and the Bagua mark trembled upon his skin. After an hour, a flash of purple light appeared at the corner of his eye, and a Bagua pattern leapt from his chest.

“The second realm of the Profound Energy Creation Technique!”

As before, once the Bagua pattern decomposed, it reformed into a page of a book. This time, he was spared the agony of losing all his cultivation. Once again, a scroll containing three techniques appeared before him—Creation Technique, Boundary-Breaking Technique, and Illusory Derivation Method.

Ten days later, above the Profound Energy Sect, a cultivator in green robes hovered in the sky. He surveyed the endless mountain range below, contemplation flickering in his eyes.

It was Su Yizhao.

Nine days earlier, deep beneath the sea, he had used the abundant spiritual energy to cultivate the second realm of the Profound Energy Creation Technique to completion. The day before, driven by pure spiritual energy and his breakthrough, he not only advanced to the Fifth Divine Realm but surged directly to its mid-stage.

A whole major realm!

From the Profound Realm to the Divine Realm—a qualitative leap!

The greatest difference: he could now cast ordinary spells without forming hand seals; a mere thought, and the spell was unleashed. Though he had not yet reached the level where words command the law, his casting speed had increased dramatically.

Of course, he now masked his cultivation, showing only the peak of the Fourth Profound Realm.

This morning, he had perfected all fourth-grade spells, including the Flying Sword Technique. His dantian had transformed from a square to a regular pentagon, with surging profound energy rolling within.

He was certain that, should he encounter Wang Zhian now, he could slay him in a single stroke.

The perfected Flying Sword Technique now surpassed its former power and speed by more than double—even a high-grade shield could not withstand it.

This was the foundation of his calm gaze and his boldness to appear openly here.

And, of course, the peerless technique he possessed.

“Which hall are you from? How dare you fly into the sect gates?”

Few disciples dared fly above the Profound Energy Sect’s gates, but he could not wait any longer.

“Su Yizhao, inner disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall, has an urgent message of utmost importance! Delay, and your head will roll!”

The words had barely left his lips when he vanished with a whoosh.

"Utmost urgency?" The gatekeeper was clearly intimidated, then, realizing something, whispered to himself, "Su Yizhao? He—he dares return?"

Three communication talismans shot off in different directions.

A low shout came from the Liu family: "Su Yizhao? No matter where he is, kill him on the spot!"

The Huang and Mu families issued similar orders.

Su Yizhao slowed his pace upon entering the sect. He knew the three families would not let him off easily, yet he remained unfazed.

With his unique skill in hand, once he reported to the sect, they would not dare act rashly—he must first hand in his mission.

"Su Yizhao of the Law Enforcement Hall, reporting task completion!"

The disciple took the severed head, verified it carefully, then laughed, "So it’s really him! Daring to betray the sect, he deserves death. Here, your forty contribution points!"

He inscribed Su Yizhao’s identity token and handed it back, chuckling again, "Rumor has it he’s advanced to the Fifth Divine Realm—surely that’s not true!"

Su Yizhao cursed inwardly.

If such rumors existed, why hadn't anyone told him at the time?

He knew, of course, that sect information was always accurate. The disciple was not at fault; rumors were never regarded as official information.

"This fellow not only failed to advance, but was severely wounded—a stroke of luck for me!" he replied with a steady expression.

"Ha! Most people aren’t so fortunate; I’ll remember you!"

As Su Yizhao turned to leave, he suddenly sensed something and asked, "Is it permitted to kill freely in our sect?"

"Junior brother, what are you thinking? This is the Profound Energy Sect. Whoever strikes first is lawfully killed—it's considered legitimate self-defense, not only without fault but as merit. Besides, who would dare—"

Before the words were finished, a roar echoed from outside the gates: "Su Yizhao, prepare to die!"

Whoosh, whoosh...

Over a hundred beams shot at his back.

Su Yizhao’s lips curled in a smile; his fingers moved, and six flying swords were simultaneously unleashed.

Clang, clang, clang...

Squelch...

The crowd in the hall reacted instantly, alarmed.

Seeing flesh and blood splatter at the entrance, panic seized them further.

Behind the counter, the disciple’s mouth hung open; four or five drops of blood landed directly in his mouth.

Su Yizhao beckoned with his right hand, and the six flying swords whirled like silver light around his fingers.

"Would you say that counts as legitimate self-defense?"

The disciple swallowed the blood, hastily replied, "It counts, it counts..." Suddenly, noticing the remnants of a robe on the ground, he corrected himself, "No, no—it doesn't..."

"Ha! So which is it?" Su Yizhao knew he would not get an answer, turned, and shot out of the hall. Passing the gate, he snatched up the storage pouch from the ground and hung it at his waist.

The slain man bore the brocade insignia of the Liu family.

Since blood had been spilled, let the three families taste the edge of the Law Enforcement Hall’s golden badge!

He soared into the sky, and from both left and right two more figures approached.

Before they drew near, they shouted, "Su Yizhao, surrender your life! Invoke!"

The flying swords they unleashed looked to Su Yizhao as slow as snails.

After all, few had mastered the Flying Sword Technique to perfection.

He hadn’t even revealed his Fifth Divine Realm cultivation; a mere thought, and his flying swords flashed silver, shooting out like meteors in two streams, stabbing swiftly.

Clang, clang...

A flurry of sharp sounds; the incoming sword lights vanished, leaving only silver meteors.

Squelch...

Squelch...

The meteors pierced through bodies, trailing streaks of blood!

Su Yizhao’s form flickered, splitting into two and shooting off in both directions.

He took the storage pouches from the corpses, returned to his original spot and merged again—only then did the bodies finally collapse!

Three storage pouches hung at his waist; there was no time to count their contents.

Hundreds of cultivators on the ground stared up at him, their eyes dazed with shock.

He oriented himself and flew toward the heart of the mountains.

Huang family.

"What? He wasn’t killed—he struck back? Send someone at Fifth Divine Realm!"

Liu family.

"Send someone at Fifth Divine Realm; if you fail, bring your own head back!"

Mu family.

"Useless! He’s headed for the sect’s main hall; send someone at Fifth Divine Realm to intercept and kill him on the way!"

Su Yizhao seemed unhurried, leisurely flying toward the main hall.

The main hall lay at the center of the mountains, more than twenty thousand miles away; at this pace, it would take him three or four days to cross.

Cultivators below took to their swords and soared after him, keeping their distance.

Word spread quickly, and more and more learned that someone was challenging the Liu, Huang, and Mu families.

The world was vast, yet a single family could drive ordinary disciples into exile—let alone offending three at once.

Curiosity drew ever more disciples.

Within moments, tens of thousands followed in his wake.

And from three directions, three figures sped toward him...