C1 One Man and One Sword Killing Their Way to the Nine Layered Heavens!

"Today, I, Ling Dao, will drench the Purple Vine Holy Land in blood. I will not cease until death claims me!"

Atop the mountain's summit stood a towering figure, his white robe soaked in crimson. Beneath Ling Dao's feet lay a sprawl of corpses, each a formidable foe fallen to his blade.

"Presumptuous! Our Purple Vine Holy Land boasts an ancient lineage and profound strength, with innumerable mighty warriors. You think you can single-handedly decimate us?"

"Foolhardy child, our Purple Vine Holy Land commands respect across the Eight Desolations. Your Ling Family pales in comparison. On what grounds do you dare challenge us?"

From within the Purple Vine Holy Land emerged one venerable warrior after another, each a paragon of the elder generation. The young prodigies had come before, but none could withstand Ling Dao.

"On what grounds? Haha, by the sword in my grasp!"

With a hearty laugh, Ling Dao swung his sword and charged at the Purple Vine Holy Land's esteemed elders. His resonant and powerful cry was a declaration of war. Having struck at the Purple Vine Holy Land, he would spare no quarter.

Had the Purple Vine Holy Land not been so oppressively unjust, Ling Dao would not have resorted to such measures. They relentlessly pursued him for a worthless cultivation technique, and recently, they had even slain many from the Ling Family. Enraged by these acts, Ling Dao took up his sword and stormed the Purple Vine Holy Land!

"Delusions of grandeur!"

A Senior Powerful gripped a golden battle lance, lunging at Ling Dao with ferocity. The lance glowed with an endless edge, cleaving the air and sweeping through space, arriving at Ling Dao's chest in an instant.

"It is you who are deluded!"

The Three-Foot Blueblade erupted with a brilliance more intense than the sun itself, engulfing the battlefield in a sea of sword qi. In an instant, a sound like metal cleaving stone rang out as the golden battle lance was cleaved in two, and the head of a Senior Powerful soared into the air before bursting apart.

"This kid is ruthless. Everyone, join forces to take him down!"

The fall of the warrior wielding the golden battle lance sent shockwaves through the others. With a single stroke of his sword, Ling Dao had slain a Senior Powerful, a display of martial prowess that was both terrifying and beyond their wildest imaginations.

Rumors had pegged Ling Dao as a Sword Genius, but in the Purple Vine Holy Land, geniuses were as common as strands of hair on a cow, and Ling Dao was just another name among many. Nevertheless, upon discovering that Ling Dao had acquired a certain cultivation technique, the Purple Vine Holy Land dispatched numerous strong persons to assassinate him in secret. While Ling Dao remained unaware of the technique's origins, the elite among the Purple Vine Holy Land were all too familiar.

It was only today that they truly grasped the fearsome might of this Sword Genius. His sword light surged like mighty rivers of stars, challenging the very heavens and earth. As Ling Dao brandished the Three-Foot Blueblade, he seemed the very incarnation of a Sword God, with each strike transforming decay into wonder, a marvel of divine craftsmanship.

"Puff!"

His sword impaled a Senior Powerful through the chest, and with an elegant motion, Ling Dao withdrew his longsword as blood spurted forth like a fountain. Without hesitation, he bisected another Senior Powerful, the scene both bloody and merciless.

Before Ling Dao, these Senior Powerfuls were as insignificant as fish on a cutting board, utterly at his mercy. Once overlooked, Ling Dao now inspired deep-seated fear in their eyes.

"Who is this upstart daring to wreak havoc in the Purple Vine Holy Land?!"

A commanding voice echoed, bringing relief to the Senior Powerfuls of the Purple Vine Holy Land, who had been terrorized by Ling Dao. Without the support of a stronger ally, they feared they too would fall to Ling Dao's blade.

"Tower, retract!"

A formidable figure cradled a delicate jade pagoda in his hand, standing sentinel outside the Nine Layered Heavens of the Purple Vine Holy Land. The Purple Vine Holy Land was a force to be reckoned with, having crafted its own Nine Layered Heavens, each layer teeming with its own legion of powerful individuals. However, these were not the true Nine Layered Heavens, but merely a name coined by the land's ancient founder.

Ling Dao had reached the outskirts of the Nine Layered Heavens. Ascending further meant entering the Nine Layered Heavens themselves—a feat few had ever dared attempt throughout history. Ling Dao's actions today were enough to send shockwaves across the realm.

The emerald pagoda burgeoned with the wind, rapidly growing to an immense size before it bore down on Ling Dao with a crushing force. An unparalleled suction pulled Ling Dao into the pagoda's core in an instant.

"Humph, is this the extent of your skills, daring to wreak havoc in the Purple Vine Holy Land?"

A smirk of contempt briefly crossed the guardian's face, but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared. A silver sword tip emerged at the pinnacle of the pagoda, followed by a thunderous explosion that shattered the tower to pieces.

"How can this be?"

The jade pagoda was no ordinary weapon, and yet, Ling Dao had managed to smash it from the inside. The once haughty guardian now wore a look of utter dismay. Without hesitation, Ling Dao advanced.

"Any who stand in my way shall perish!"

A flash of his sword severed the guardian's head from his shoulders, and a whirlwind of sword qi shredded his body into countless fragments. He died in disbelief, unable to fathom the sheer might of Ling Dao.

More and more formidable figures gathered around Ling Dao, but they shrank back in fear, none daring to approach. The sight of Ling Dao's bloodied sword sent shivers down their spines, draining them of the will to confront him.

"Nine Layered Heavens... such arrogance!"

With a cold laugh, Ling Dao charged toward the Nine Layered Heavens of the Purple Vine Holy Land. Crossing the threshold felt like stepping into another realm entirely. Before him now stood four peerless warriors, their presence so imposing that even Ling Dao's demeanor grew solemn.

"He may not be particularly strong, but he sure has guts!"

"Enough talk. Just cut him down!"

A warrior with a flushed face brandished his war knife and lunged at Ling Dao. The crimson aura of his blade commanded the four corners, quaking the very earth. With immense power, his strike sent shockwaves through the air, transforming the arena into a veritable blood pool. Following his lead, the other three warriors joined the assault.

"The four of you together still don't make the cut!"

The Three-Foot Blueblade radiated with endless sharpness as Ling Dao got down to business. Each strike was lethal, for this was a battle to the death, with no room for mercy. A quarter of an hour later, Ling Dao advanced, leaving all four warriors lifeless. Yet, he too bore a fresh wound.

"To kill so many of our Purple Vine Holy Land's finest, even tearing you to shreds wouldn't satisfy the rage in my heart!"

As the true titans arrived, Ling Dao faced a pressure like never before!