Ling Tian Sword God

BOOM!

The heavy door of the secret chamber burst open with a thunderous noise, and a figure shot out like a phantom.

The figure was none other than Ling Chen, who had just finished healing his injuries.

After scouting the vicinity for some time, Ling Chen found no one around. A moment's thought led him to conclude that everyone must have ventured deeper into the ruins.

His injuries had delayed him for several days. During that time, much must have transpired within the ruins.

Racing towards the center of the ruins at top speed, Ling Chen arrived before an enormous Stone Palace within an hour.

The Stone Palace stretched as far as the eye could see. Beyond it lay numerous courtyards and mountains in the rear. Though ancient and dilapidated, it still exuded an imposing grandeur.

Constructing a palace of this magnitude would have required hundreds of thousands of skilled craftsmen working tirelessly day and night, aided by many warriors.

This must be the core main hall of Tienzong,

Gazing at the grand hall before him, Ling Chen felt a sense of awe. Tienzong was truly unfathomable; its ruins were terrifyingly vast. No wonder it had been able to unite both the righteous and demonic paths three hundred years ago, becoming a colossus that dominated the Martial World.

Without further thought, Ling Chen dashed into the grand hall.

***

Meanwhile, in a large hall within the colossal palace, several Sky Void Palace disciples were rummaging through chests and cabinets. Suddenly, they unearthed a treasure chest. Inside lay a pair of snow-white gloves. They were crystalline and translucent, as if condensed from ice and snow, emanating a cool, extraordinary ripple of energy.

"Sister Xu, look! A pair of gloves!" a Sky Void Palace disciple exclaimed, picking them up with delight. He hurried over to a stunningly beautiful woman and presented the gloves.

"Sister Xu, these are Ice Silk Gloves!" another Sky Void Palace disciple chimed in excitedly. "They're legendary rare treasures! Light as a feather, they allow the wearer to lift heavy things as if they were light and can double the user's True Qi output!"

"These Ice Silk Gloves are probably beyond compare, even to those famous weapons renowned in Jianghu; those wouldn't even be one ten-thousandth as good!" another disciple added, his eyes shining.

Treasures and weapons in the world are categorized as Famous Items or Marvels. Famous Items include swords like the Juechen Sword, Jinghong Sword, and even Ling Chen's Cloud-hidden Sword.

Above Famous Items are Marvels. So-called Marvels are exceptionally rare treasures. For instance, Ling Chen's Heavenly Emperor Heavy Sword and Heavenly Mansion Sword are Marvels.

As for the Blood Jade, it likely transcends the category of Marvel.

These Ice Silk Gloves were indeed Marvel-grade treasures.

"Are you all really willing to let me have something so precious?" Xu Ruoyan asked, though she had already slipped the Ice Silk Gloves on, clearly captivated and unable to put them down.

"Of course! Who else but Sister Xu would be worthy of these gloves?" the Sky Void Palace disciples chimed in eagerly, vying with one another.

As long as they could curry favor with Xu Ruoyan and win her smile, what was a mere treasure in comparison?

Just then, from an unnoticed corner, a scruffy-looking mouse scurried in. Its eyes darted around as it let out a few squeaks.

Why is there a mouse here? Xu Ruoyan's beautiful eyes fell upon the creature. It lingered for only a few breaths before darting back into its hole.

Perhaps I'm just being overly suspicious, Xu Ruoyan thought, a sense of foreboding creeping over her.

"Since we've found the treasure, fellow disciples, let's leave this place," Xu Ruoyan said to the others, then turned to head out of the hall.

"Thinking of leaving? Hand over the gloves first." Just then, five or six figures abruptly appeared outside the hall. They wore the attire of the Shocking Death Sect, and their leader was none other than Wang Yan, the "Extinguishing Life Saber."

"Insolence!" As soon as Wang Yan finished speaking, a Sky Void Palace disciple stepped forward and berated him, "You dare to try and snatch things from us, the Sky Void Palace disciples? A mere second-rate sect like the Shocking Death Sect? Are you courting death? Scram! If Senior Brother Feng Piaoliu arrives, none of you will even have a place to be buried!"

PFFT!

Before the Sky Void Palace disciple's words even faded, his head flew high into the air. Blood gushed like a fountain from his severed neck, and his headless corpse crashed heavily to the ground.

"Hmph. What an idiot. Did you think I'm easily frightened?" Blood dripped from Wang Yan's saber. He grinned, a chilling smile on his face. "Right now, the top ten experts on the Heavenly List are all in Tienzong's Book Collection Pavilion, vying for Tienzong's supreme cultivation arts. Who has time to bother with the likes of you?"

Hearing this, Xu Ruoyan's willow-like brows knitted together. She said coldly, "Wang Yan, our people discovered these gloves. Are you truly planning to seize them by force?"

"I am indeed planning to seize them by force. What can you do about it?" A mocking glint flashed in Wang Yan's eyes. "Xu Ruoyan, you're the cherished pearl of the Sky Void Palace. I don't want to hurt you. But if you insist on being stubborn, then I'll have to get rough. I'll count to three. Hand them over obediently. One... Two..."

Want the gloves? Dream on! Xu Ruoyan was not one to yield. Usually, others deferred to her; no one had ever dared to snatch something from her. She was rather curious to see what this fellow could actually do to her.

"Since you refuse to do this the easy way, Miss Xu, you'll have to learn the hard way!" Wang Yan tilted his Extinguishing Life Saber and then fiercely slashed it towards Xu Ruoyan.

"Protect Sister Xu!" The remaining Sky Void Palace disciples rushed forward, trying to intercept Wang Yan.

"Get lost!" Wang Yan swept his long saber, sending all the Sky Void Palace disciples flying. None of them could withstand a single strike from him.

Xu Ruoyan's expression turned grave. She drew her Cloud and Water Sword and swung it to meet his attack.

"Blood Slaughter Heaven and Earth!" Wang Yan roared, unleashing a violent killing intent. A crimson glow suddenly enveloped his saber, making its edge incomparably sharp, its baleful aura surging to the heavens.

Xu Ruoyan countered with her Cloud and Water Sword, parrying Wang Yan's blood-red saber energy, but the force still knocked her backward.

The next moment, Wang Yan lunged forward. He flashed before Xu Ruoyan and slashed down with his saber again.

Her jade-like foot tapped lightly on the ground, and Xu Ruoyan leaned back, narrowly evading the saber's edge.

Just then, a cunning smile flashed across Wang Yan's face. He suddenly opened his mouth and spat out a jet of black gas. It exploded in front of Xu Ruoyan, instantly spreading into a cloud of black smoke.

The black smoke was clearly highly poisonous. Xu Ruoyan inadvertently inhaled some, and her consciousness immediately began to grow hazy.

You despicable villain! Xu Ruoyan bit her silver teeth, but the feeling of vertigo intensified.

SWOOSH! Wang Yan suddenly closed in on Xu Ruoyan and threw a palm strike. The powerful force of the palm, even before it landed, sent Xu Ruoyan flying backward.

"Haha, all's fair in war," Wang Yan sneered, a mocking look on his face. "Miss Xu, you're still too naive. Even if I hadn't used a trick, you wouldn't be my opponent now."

Wang Yan squatted down and gently lifted Xu Ruoyan's snow-white chin, carefully examining her exquisite face. His eyes lit up with astonishment. "Marvelous!" he laughed. "I've long heard that Lord Xu's cherished daughter is as beautiful as a celestial fairy. Seeing you today, you truly live up to your reputation!"

"Audacious fiend! What do you intend to do to Sister Xu?" The remaining Sky Void Palace disciples glared, their eyes practically splitting with rage, as Wang Yan continued to manhandle Xu Ruoyan.

However, they were blocked by the Shocking Death Sect disciples, unable to get close, and could only glare helplessly.

"Do? Naturally, I'll do something you all wish you could do but don't dare," Wang Yan sneered, ignoring the Sky Void Palace disciples. A lewd glint flashed in his eyes.