Meanwhile, Wang Ping sat leisurely on his chariot, his hands resting beneath his chin. He lounged in a majestic manner, clearly showcasing his esteemed status. The nine dragons pulled the chariot smoothly through the clouds, their massive bodies cutting through the air like blades through silk. Not a single bump or tremor disturbed his comfort.
The Sect Leader and the elders flew slightly ahead of him, pointing the direction toward the Azure Sword Sect, guiding him through the mountain ranges that stretched across the landscape like the spine of a sleeping giant. Dense forests carpeted the valleys below, and rivers glittered like silver ribbons in the sunlight.
Yet the Sect Leader could not stop trembling uncontrollably.
Every time the dragons breathed, he felt like an ant standing before a giant. The sheer pressure emanating from these divine beasts pressed against his very soul. He knew it was not an illusion. These dragons could kill him anytime they wished. A single flick of their tails, a single exhale of their breath, and he would cease to exist.
What was good was that he had accepted the young man sitting upon these dragons as his master. This was clearly a fortuitous encounter for him, the greatest opportunity he had ever received in his entire life. Just thinking about it made him forget the fear crawling up his spine.
While lost in these thoughts, his instincts suddenly screamed.
He sensed danger.
Without hesitation, the Sect Leader flung himself backward, his body blurring through the air as he pushed his cultivation to its limit. His robes tore from the sudden movement, and he landed several dozen meters away, his heart pounding like a war drum.
At the spot where he had been standing just a moment ago, a huge explosion of light erupted.
Boom!
Everything within a radius of thirty meters was destroyed. The air itself seemed to shatter. Rocks turned to dust. Clouds evaporated into nothing. A massive crater now gaped in the ground far below, and the shockwave rippled outward like the hand of an angry god.
The Sect Leader breathed a sigh of relief. Because of his quick judgment, he had saved his own life. If he had been just a second late, he would have undoubtedly died. He was extremely clear about the power of that attack. It had been a surprise assault, executed with terrifying precision and force.
His eyes narrowed. He recognized the level of that strike.
"Half step Soul Transformation realm," he growled, his voice cold and filled with fury. "Who is it? Come out. With your cultivation, yet performing such a shameful act, do you not feel ashamed?"
As he spoke, a laughing, villainous voice sounded from all directions, echoing through the mountains like the cackle of a demon.
"Hehe, it does not matter whether you want to know or not. Anyways, dead men tell no tales. Today is the day you, along with most of the elders of your sect, will die. I am Chen Wutian, the Sect Leader of the Ten Thousand Soul Sect."
Hearing the words of the other party, the Sect Leader's face turned ugly. The other elders of the Azure Sword Sect also paled, their hands moving instinctively to their weapons. Their eyes darted through the sky, searching for the hidden enemies.
At that moment, an old man in a purple Daoist robe appeared in the air before them. He had a long, unkempt beard that reached his chest, and in his right hand he held a dark flag that seemed to weep with the faces of tormented souls. His face twisted into an evil smile, full of boundless malice. His eyes gleamed with cruel intelligence, and the air around him felt cold and dead.
Along with him, twelve other figures also appeared, each one radiating a powerful aura. They formed a semicircle around the Azure Sword Sect members, their eyes hungry like wolves surrounding injured prey.
The Sect Leader looked at the old man and his entourage, then spoke through gritted teeth. "Hmph. So you have come with your full force."
Then, a mischievous smile spread across his face. His fear vanished, replaced by something that looked almost like pity.
He glanced back toward the chariot where Wang Ping still sat lounging against the cushions, watching the scene unfold with an expression of mild curiosity, as if he were observing children playing in the mud.
The Sect Leader's smile grew wider.