The massive warship of the Jade Fire Sect loomed above Shaurya and his two disciples. Standing firmly on the ground, they stared up as Huo Ling rose from his throne and walked to the front of the ship.
Shaurya and Huo Ling's eyes met.
Shaurya appeared calm, but deep down, he was shocked by Huo Ling's intimidating presence. The man looked no less than a beast.
Without wasting time, Huo Ling roared, "Attack!" ordering both the inner and outer disciples to descend. Thirty inner disciples and fifty outer disciples began their assault, with the outer disciples jumping down first.
Shaurya calmly asked the system, "Among them, who is the strongest?"
The system replied, "Only one is at Qi Initiate Level 3. Forty are at Level 1, and nine are at Level 2."
Shaurya frowned.
"Why are they so weak?"
The system answered, "Their sect is dominant only in this city. Overall, they are weak."
Understanding the situation, Shaurya spoke out loud,
"You all are too weak. Step back or die."
His words ignited fury among the Jade Fire disciples. The leader of the outer disciples, Mo Yan, stepped forward, unsheathing his sword.
"I, Mo Yan, leader of the outer disciples, will kill you!"
As he charged at Shaurya, Xiao Rui intercepted him and, with a single punch, sent Mo Yan flying. Mo Yan crashed to the ground with his face crushed—dead.
Shock rippled through the crowd.
Even Jiang Lin—the disciple who had bullied Xiao Rui and triggered this confrontation—was stunned. He realized that Mo Yan, the strongest among the outer disciples, had died instantly.
Xiao Rui looked up at the ship and locked eyes with Jiang Lin, offering a deadly smile that sent a chill down Jiang Lin's spine.
Twenty disciples rushed at Xiao Rui in revenge, but Rui dispatched them all with single, precise strikes.
Shaurya watched in awe.
"Wow… this kid killed all 20 with one strike each. He is One Punch Man—with hair! Hahahah!"
The remaining outer disciples hesitated, terrified. They knew that if they ran, their sect leader would kill them anyway. Desperate, they charged.
Suddenly, icicle daggers rained down, piercing their bodies. They fell instantly.
It was Xiao Lian—Xiao Rui's sister—revealing her latent power. Even she was amazed by the strength she had unleashed.
Within minutes, all outer disciples were wiped out.
Enraged, Huo Ling commanded the inner disciples to attack.
Shaurya asked again,
"What about them?"
"Three are at Qi Initiate Level 6, two at Level 4, and twenty-five at Level 3," the system reported.
Shaurya was surprised.
"No wonder they're inner disciples. But… against my disciples, they are too weak. They are no match."
Xiao Lian unleashed her ultimate technique—Ice Spheres of Death.
Seven glowing spheres flew out, striking and killing seven disciples instantly—three of whom were among the strongest. Two were Level 4, and two Level 3 disciples were also killed.
Frightened but desperate, the rest of the inner disciples rushed forward.
Xiao Rui jumped in with an ice sword given by his sister, slicing through enemies like fruits. Beside him, Xiao Lian summoned Blizzard, Ice Mist, and Ice Rain—a trio of devastating ice attacks—ending the rest in less than two minutes.
The battlefield fell silent.
Now enraged beyond measure, Huo Ling flared his aura. Fifteen core disciples leaped from the ship. Shaurya checked their levels.
"Strongest: Wei Hang—Qi Initiate Level 10. Ten are at Level 8, four at Level 7."
Shaurya was stunned.
"These guys are on another level."
He stepped forward.
"You two did well. Now leave them to your master."
Wei Hang mocked him.
"You think you're a match for us?"
Shaurya smiled devilishly.
"If we go head-on… of course not. But…"
He raised his hand.
"Soul Destroying Array—ACTIVATE!"
With a snap of his fingers, a deafening hum pierced the air. A glowing formation covered the battlefield. The core disciples froze in place, panic setting in.
One elder jumped in to save them but was repelled. Two Grand Elders followed—but their attacks did nothing.
Screams echoed as the core disciples' souls were torn apart. Their bodies turned to ash.
Ninety-five disciples. Gone in minutes—outer, inner, and now core.
Huo Ling's face darkened.
He jumped down from the ship, bringing six Grand Elders with him. Jiang Lin also followed, grinning inwardly. Despite having lost his cultivation, he was now the last surviving disciple.
Shaurya and his two disciples now faced Huo Ling, eight Grand Elders, and one regular elder.
3 vs 10.
The regular elder stepped forward in rage and attacked. Shaurya checked the system.
"Elder: Wei Lan, uncle of Wei Hang. Qi Initiate Level 8."
"So he's the uncle of that core disciple. No wonder he's that angry."
Shaurya calmly retrieved his Meteorite Sword from system storage. With one clean strike, he sliced Wei Lan in half.
Huo Ling was horrified.
"That sword… I am unable to find its level, but I'm sure it's not normal."
Then Shaurya asked the system in a puzzled voice,
"Hey, System. If I'm right, whenever I complete your tasks or defeat my enemies, I get experience points, right?"
"Yes, Host. You're completely right," the system replied.
"Then where are the experience points, and when will you give them to me?" Shaurya asked angrily.
The system replied,
"Host, you never asked for them."
Shaurya's face fell. He took a deep breath, but before he could say anything, Huo Ling unleashed his aura, and eight Grand Elders stood side by side with him.
With an angry voice, Huo Ling said,
"You killed all of my sect's disciples. Now you will pay for it!"
"Oh really? Then sorry to disappoint you. I'm completely broke, so I have nothing to pay you."
Huo Ling was stunned by this answer.
Then a Grand Elder stepped forward and said,
"Oh? Really? Then you have your life to compensate."
Shaurya replied,
"Tsch. And who is going to take my life? You weakling?"
Grand Elder:
"You—!"
Then Shaurya asked the system,
"How much can you level me up with these experience points?"
"You can break through to the next stage with these experience points," the system replied.
Shaurya was overjoyed. A smile appeared on his face.
Everyone was confused—but not Huo Ling. It only enraged him even more.
Shaurya pointed his sword forward, oozing swagger.
"Bring it on."
TO BE CONTINUED…