C7 The Sword Left Its Sheath and Killed with One Strike!

Ling Dao's presence had thrown Jiang Zhong into disarray, causing him to reveal a fatal opening during his attack. The Black Assassin quickly took note and channeled her Genuine Qi, unleashing the most formidable sword strike she had executed thus far. Her intent was clear: to end Jiang Zhong's life. Ling Dao would be dealt with afterward.

"Now's my chance!"

Ling Dao capitalized on the Black Assassin's disregard for him. The less she paid attention to him, the greater his opportunity to strike. As the Black Assassin launched her mightiest attack, Ling Dao's eyes gleamed with anticipation.

In the next instant, a Three-Foot Blueblade materialized in Ling Dao's grasp—the Carefree Sword, a gift from King Carefree. With a steely expression, he fixed his gaze on the Black Assassin's back and, in a flash, the Carefree Sword was drawn.

Striking with the swiftness of thunder, he thrust the sword towards the Black Assassin's heart. His arm and the Carefree Sword aligned in a perfect line, and in a heartbeat, the blade penetrated the Black Assassin's heart. The formidable physique of a Zhenqi realm martial artist was no match for the Carefree Sword—it was as fragile as tofu.

Drawing and striking in one fluid motion, his actions were seamless and astonishingly quick. After completing the maneuver, Ling Dao gasped for air, the effort having taken a significant toll on his frail body.

"How can this be? Where did that sword come from?"

The Black Man looked down in disbelief at the bloodied sword tip protruding from his chest. The Carefree Sword had pierced right through him. He then collapsed with a thud, his life extinguished by that single strike. Even in his final moments, the Black Man couldn't comprehend how he had been slain by Ling Dao.

It all transpired in the blink of an eye—from Ling Dao drawing his sword to the Black Man's demise. The Black Man's blade had been a mere three feet from Jiang Zhong, who would have surely perished if not for Ling Dao's intervention.

"Your Highness?"

Jiang Zhong was profoundly shaken. He had envisioned many scenarios, yet this outcome had never crossed his mind. Amidst their life-and-death struggle, Ling Dao had delivered a sword strike of breathtaking brilliance, cutting down a Zhenqi realm martial artist. Should word of this feat spread, it would undoubtedly send shockwaves across the land.

Ling Dao himself was unfazed by the event; it was exactly what he had anticipated. In his past life, he was recognized as a Sword Genius, relentlessly honing his swordsmanship despite his modest origins. Among his peers, few could rival him.

In his current life, he began practicing sword techniques at the tender age of three. Regardless of his frailty, not a day went by without him refining his skills. Consequently, his mastery of the sword was considerable. When it came to sheer swordsmanship, the Black Assassin was leagues behind Ling Dao, the gap between them vast and insurmountable.

Yet, it was the Black Assassin's overconfidence and disregard for Ling Dao that proved to be his downfall. Had he taken Ling Dao seriously, it would have been nearly impossible for Ling Dao to dispatch him with a single sword strike. Firstly, Ling Dao's frail physique had not even reached the Body Tempering stage, while the Black Assassin was a seasoned Zhenqi realm martial artist. Secondly, seeing Ling Dao unarmed, the Black Assassin felt no threat and paid him no heed.

The initial phase of cultivation is the Physical Realm, also known as the Three Stages of the Body. This realm is categorized into three sub-stages: Body Tempering, Bone Tempering, and Blood Solidification. Given Ling Dao's physical state, he didn't even qualify for the Body Tempering stage.

For fifteen years, countless sword qi within him had accompanied Ling Dao's growth, tormenting him incessantly. Yet, he faced this adversity with a smile, his immense suffering hidden from the world.

"I owe a great debt to the Universe Ring my father bestowed upon me; without it, I could never have slain the Black Assassin."

Ling Dao caressed the emerald ring on his left thumb, a ring that no one would suspect to be the storied Universe Ring. The Black Assassin, in particular, likely had never even heard of its name, which explained his complete lack of vigilance against Ling Dao.

The Universe Ring held its own cosmos within, capable of containing various inanimate objects. The Carefree Sword, a gift from King Carefree, was always safely ensconced inside the ring, along with an assortment of clothes. Alas, it contained no provisions.

Ling Dao was able to draw the Carefree Sword in the blink of an eye thanks to his possession of the Universe Ring. The sword, capable of slicing through iron as if it were mud, was in a league of its own, far beyond the capabilities of any iron or fine steel blade. To a martial artist of the Zhenqi realm, their physical form was nothing but a laughingstock before the might of the Carefree Sword.

"Grandpa Jiang, are you okay?"

Snapping out of it, Ling Dao sheathed the Carefree Sword and hurried over to Jiang Zhong, whose shoulder was soaked in blood. Without hesitation, Ling Dao pulled out some cloth strips and began to bandage the wound.

Now that Jiang Zhong's cultivation was ruined, he was a shadow of his former self. Frail and elderly, with injuries still fresh, it was remarkable he had managed to hold on for so long. Had it not been for his strong foundation, he might have succumbed to his wounds much earlier.

"A mere scratch, hardly worth fussing over. If my powers hadn't been stripped away, dispatching such a foe would have been effortless. But alas, I've grown old and feeble!"

It was like a dragon trapped in shallow waters, toyed with by shrimp, or a tiger in the plains, harassed by dogs. Jiang Zhong, in his current state, couldn't even handle a lowly Zhenqi realm martial artist. With a self-deprecating chuckle, he approached the Black Assassin, curious to uncover the man's true identity.

Jiang Zhong quickly discovered a token on the assassin's person. The sight of the inscription caused his face to pale; as a former Great General of the Great Luo Dynasty, he was all too familiar with this notorious Killer's Organization.

"Your Highness, we must leave at once. If this assassin has allies nearby, we're in deep trouble!"

Jiang Zhong had believed this mountain path to be completely secure, yet they had been tracked down. It was fortunate that their pursuer was merely a Zhenqi realm martial artist—if they had faced a more formidable opponent, Ling Dao and Jiang Zhong might have been overwhelmed.

Ling Dao could tell from Jiang Zhong's grim expression that the situation was dire. A man who had once held the title of Great General wouldn't be easily frightened unless the threat was substantial. Recognizing the gravity of their predicament, Ling Dao wasted no time. After setting the Black Assassin's body ablaze, he swiftly departed the area with Jiang Zhong.

"Grandpa Jiang, may I take a look at that token?"

Given that it was this group of black-clad individuals who had annihilated the Carefree Palace, Ling Dao was naturally extremely concerned. Regardless of who the true mastermind was, these black-clad figures couldn't be absolved of their involvement. Jiang Zhong's face showed a flicker of emotion, and finally, he let out a slow breath and passed the token to Ling Dao.

The token was crafted from dark iron, with the character "命" (Life) on one side and "夺" (Seize) on the other. Merely seeing these two characters was enough for Ling Dao to recognize the origin of the Black Assassin. He whispered a phrase under his breath.

"In this world, life is at the mercy of others; as flowers bloom and wither, so does the Killing House claim lives!"