Ling Tian Sword God

"Such powerful sword qi; it's incredibly sharp."

A hint of surprise appeared in Lin Ya's beautiful eyes. Ling Chen's sword strike was truly astonishing; no words could adequately describe it.

"Damn it, I don't believe this!"

Compared to their delight, Liu Sha's face turned extremely ugly in an instant. He watched as Ling Chen's sword qi not only tore through his saber's aura but also drew the fallen Long Knife into his grasp. His majestic true energy surged within his body, finally condensing on the blade.

WHOOSH!

Liu Sha gripped the Long Knife tightly with both hands and violently slashed downward. The potent energy concentrated on the knife's edge was like the sharpest killing weapon, the blade wind ripping a crack several feet wide across the ground.

"Be defeated!"

Ling Chen slammed his palm onto the sword's hilt, and the sword qi abruptly intensified, shooting out.

In the moment of contact, the unstoppable sword qi was released. Liu Sha's blade aura failed to offer any resistance and was shattered. The terrifying force then poured entirely onto his body.

SPLAT!

Liu Sha's face instantly turned deathly pale, then a flush of red surged up as he spat out a mouthful of blood. His body was sent flying by the massive force, skidding across the ground for dozens of meters before crashing heavily against a stone pier.

The outcome was decided in the twinkling of an eye. The crowd only saw two sharp glints of light flash past before Liu Sha was already retreating in utter disarray.

HISS!

Seeing Liu Sha, bloodied and in a miserable state, the atmosphere in the arena fell silent for a moment, quickly followed by a series of sharp gasps.

They had never imagined that even the leader of the Black Dragon Gang would be no match for Ling Chen!

"This fellow's strength... It's terrifying!"

Many experts of the Black Dragon Gang were profoundly shocked. Even a formidable figure like Liu Sha had fallen to Ling Chen today; the others would likely stand no chance against him.

"Quick, help me leave!"

Defeated by Ling Chen's single sword strike, Liu Sha dared not linger a moment longer. With Mo Feng absent, no one could restrain Ling Chen.

"Still thinking of leaving?"

The words had barely left Liu Sha's lips when Ling Chen appeared before him, sweeping aside several Black Dragon Gang members with a single swing of his sword.

"Young man, I have no grievance or enmity with you! I was coerced by Mo Feng and had no choice but to act against you. Surely, you wouldn't kill the innocent?"

Seeing Ling Chen draw closer, Liu Sha's expression changed slightly, and he instinctively backed away.

"Of course, I wouldn't kill innocents indiscriminately. However, you are no innocent. Considering all the vile deeds committed by the Black Dragon Gang, dying ten times over wouldn't be enough for you."

Ling Chen advanced step by step towards Liu Sha, his face devoid of any pity.

Some people can be spared, but for those who have committed excessive evil, there is no reason to grant them clemency. They deserve to die.

"Damn it, you wretched brat! Die!"

Seeing Ling Chen had no intention of sparing him, Liu Sha flicked a poison needle from his sleeve, aiming it straight at Ling Chen's face.

DING!

Ling Chen flicked the poison needle away. His figure flashed, and in an instant, he was behind Liu Sha. He then struck Liu Sha's back with his right palm.

The next moment, a terrifying suction force erupted from his palm.

Under this devouring power, Liu Sha's True Qi instantly reversed its flow. The True Qi in his Dantian surged backward, rushing towards Ling Chen's palm.

"How is this possible?"

Liu Sha's face filled with horror as he felt the True Qi rapidly draining from his body. He struggled desperately, but in his current state, he was powerless to break free from Ling Chen's grasp, unable to move even a muscle.

"Kid, what kind of evil art are you practicing? How can you absorb another's True Qi?" Liu Sha's face was a mask of terror. The True Qi he had painstakingly cultivated was being siphoned away by Ling Chen, bit by bit.

"That's not for you to know, because the dead don't need to know much. Since the True Qi in your body is only used for evil, you might as well give it all to me. Consider it your final good deed before you die!"

A smile touched the corners of Ling Chen's mouth.

"No!"

Liu Sha watched in horror as Ling Chen's sword slashed across his throat, severing it. Blood gushed out like a fountain.

With Liu Sha dead, the remaining Black Dragon Gang members scattered like startled birds and beasts. Hunted down by the Baiyue Trade Association, they were utterly routed; some were killed, while others fled, leaving a field of corpses.

It took about the time to brew a cup of tea after the battle concluded for Ling Chen to finish absorbing most of Liu Sha's cultivation power.

Even with the Absorption Technique, one could not absorb all of a person's power, only a portion at most. This depended on the strength of the practitioner's own True Qi.

Moreover, Ling Chen had only recently mastered the Absorption Technique, so the process took him longer.

BANG!

After completing the absorption, Ling Chen pushed Liu Sha's corpse aside and began to consolidate his True Qi and regulate his internal breath.

Raising his palm, Ling Chen felt that the True Qi within his body had become considerably richer. However, the True Qi absorbed from Liu Sha could not be used immediately. It had to be refined again to remove its impurities and be converted into Lingtian True Qi.

"You absorbed his cultivation power?"

Lin Ya walked over to Ling Chen, glanced at Liu Sha's corpse, and asked with surprise.

"Yes. However, regarding the Absorption Technique, I hope Young Master Lin Ya can keep this secret for me. Otherwise, I fear countless eyes in the Jianghu will be upon me."

Ling Chen cupped his fists in salute to Lin Ya. He was merely making a request; if Young Master Lin Ya insisted on revealing it, he had no way to stop her.

"Alright, I'll keep it a secret for you."

Lin Ya nodded gracefully, her pretty face turning serious. "However, you should use this Absorption Technique sparingly. Firstly, this Secret Method is rather demonic. If others discover it, you might be branded an Evil Cultivator. Secondly, such a Secret Method—absorbing another's cultivation power for your own use—is simply unheard of. If it truly had no side effects, I fear everyone in the Jianghu would covet it. Should it be exposed, it would undoubtedly bring lethal disaster upon you."

"I understand. I will be careful when using this Secret Method."

Ling Chen nodded. This Secret Method was not without side effects. After all, it was another's True Qi, the fruit of their cultivation, laden with numerous impurities and even Heart Demons. If he couldn't thoroughly refine it all after absorbing it into his body, Heart Demons could easily arise.

Besides, Ling Chen wouldn't use the Absorption Technique on anyone unless they were someone like Liu Sha, who deserved death.

"Let's go. If Mo Feng recovers and pursues us, I'm afraid another fierce battle will be unavoidable."

With that, Lin Ya led the people from the Baiyue Trade Association, hastily departing from the ancient city.

Ling Chen searched Liu Sha's body, collected his belongings, and then followed.

While the leader of the mere Black Dragon Gang probably didn't possess much wealth, to Ling Chen, every little bit counted; nothing should be passed up.