Ling Tian Sword God
Chapter 118 - 117: Misalignment_1

Chapter 118: Chapter 117: Misalignment_1

With the death of Gao Jie, the bandit leader, the remaining bandits scattered and fled. Most were killed, with only a few escaping, no longer a significant threat.

"I’ve seen this man before. He is Gao Jie, a renegade warrior from the Chiyu Mountain Manor in Fire Country. He betrayed Chiyu Mountain Manor three years ago and vanished without a trace," Elder Bai Kui said, staring at Gao Jie’s corpse in deep thought. I didn’t expect him to flee here.

"So he’s a renegade disciple of Chiyu Mountain Manor. I heard Chiyu Mountain Manor put out a warrant for his arrest long ago but never found him," Elder Shen next to him said, his expression one of sudden realization. No wonder they couldn’t find him; he actually fled to Wind Country.

Elder Bai Kui shook his head. "It’s just his bad luck that he ran into us." If this Gao Jie hadn’t actively sought us out, we really wouldn’t have had time to deal with him.

"Alright, we don’t have time to waste here. Black Wind Ridge is just ahead," the Great Elder said to Bai Kui and the other elder. "I will lead the top twenty True Disciples to the north side. You two will take the remaining disciples to the west side for a seven-day trial."

"Understood."

Elder Bai Kui and the other elder cupped their hands. The Black Wind Ridge area was divided this way because the northern side is far more dangerous than the western side. The strength gap between the two groups of True Disciples is considerable, so their trials will be conducted separately. This was decided in advance.

"The top twenty True Disciples, follow me."

With a sweeping glance over the True Disciples, the Great Elder rode his horse north.

Nie Wu Xiang and nineteen others immediately followed.

As she was leaving, Yu Qingxuan gave Yun Tianhe and Zhan Yu a look, saying, "I’m leaving this matter entirely to you two."

"Rest assured, Senior Sister Yu. A small matter like this is a piece of cake for me," Zhan Yu said with a brilliant smile, a fervent gleam in his eyes. "But after this is done, you absolutely cannot go back on what you promised me."

Yu Qingxuan had promised him that if he could complete this task beautifully, she would consider dating him. If not for this, he wouldn’t have taken the risk to do such a treacherous thing as harming a fellow sect member. But to be with Yu Qingxuan, to win the beauty he dreamed of, it was worth it.

"We’ll discuss that once you’ve accomplished the task," Yu Qingxuan replied coldly, then caught up with the group heading north.

Zhan Yu, left standing there, felt his heart burn with excitement.

Hmph, a toad lusting after a swan’s flesh. Does he think he’s worthy of dating my Senior Sister?

Seeing Zhan Yu’s drooling expression, Yun Tianhe felt immense disdain. If he didn’t still need Zhan Yu to deal with Ling Chen, he would have said it out loud.

"It looks like you’re in trouble," Xiao Muyu murmured softly, having observed the situation and approached Ling Chen.

"’We’ll counter soldiers with generals, and earth with water. Since we’re already here, we can only react as things happen,’" Ling Chen said, shaking his head. This kind of trouble is unavoidable. All I can do is prepare in advance. As long as my opponent isn’t Yu Qingxuan herself, things aren’t too bad.

"Let’s set off as well."

Elder Bai Kui beckoned to the remaining True Disciples. They would part ways with the Great Elder’s group here and reconvene at this spot in seven days.

「On the western side of Black Wind Ridge.」

The group had arrived at the entrance of Black Wind Ridge.

"Ling Chen, Li Liuxing, Xiahou Lin, you three newly promoted True Disciples, go in first," Elder Bai Kui ordered.

"Yes."

Ling Chen, Li Liuxing, and Xiahou Lin stepped forward from the crowd and then leapt into Black Wind Ridge.

Ling Chen had set out slightly earlier than Xiahou Lin and Li Liuxing, so after entering Black Wind Ridge, he could no longer see any trace of the other two.

Upon seeing Ling Chen enter Black Wind Ridge, Yun Tianhe immediately moved to follow but was stopped by Elder Bai Kui.

"Elder Bai Kui, what are you doing?" Yun Tianhe was anxious. If he waited too long, Ling Chen would get away!

Elder Bai Kui said calmly, "These are the trial rules: enter in batches. I haven’t called your name yet. Stand down."

Yun Tianhe’s face fell, but he didn’t dare contradict Elder Bai Kui, so he could only step back.

Damn it, when did they set such a rule? Yun Tianhe fumed inwardly. Previous True Disciple trials weren’t this strict.

Elder Bai Kui narrowed his eyes. The True Disciples participating in this trial had to enter one by one; this was his idea. Of course, the reason he had suddenly set this rule was that Ling Chen had told him someone planned to scheme against him in Black Wind Ridge. To prevent this, he had come up with this method: new disciples with lower strength would enter first, while older disciples with higher strength would enter later. This way, it could prevent disciples from killing each other. After the weaker disciples entered, they could immediately head for the depths of Black Wind Ridge or hide themselves. If strong disciples entered first, they might wait somewhere near the entrance, hide, and kill the weaker disciples who followed.

At this point, Zhan Yu walked over, patted Yun Tianhe’s shoulder, and whispered, "Don’t worry. We’re just letting the kid live a little longer. Black Wind Ridge is only so big. He can run, but he can’t hide."

"Damn it, that bastard is too lucky! Even Elder Bai Kui is helping him. When I catch him, I’ll personally thrust my sword into his heart!" Yun Tianhe said, grinding his teeth.

At this moment, Ling Chen had already entered Black Wind Ridge.

However, not long after Ling Chen entered Black Wind Ridge, he felt dizzy—a sign of poisoning. The miasma in the mountains was very strong. Fortunately, Ling Chen carried an Antidote Pill with him, which blocked most of the miasma. Otherwise, even if he had only inhaled one breath of miasma, Ling Chen would have fainted on the ground due to poisoning.

Ling Chen circulated his Lingtian True Qi through his meridians for one Zhou Tian, immediately purifying the poisonous gas in his body and recovering. Executing Wind Shadow Step, Ling Chen reached his top speed, like an agile ape leaping on precipitous cliffs, rushing towards the depths of the mountain range.

Although Elder Bai Kui had agreed to use the rules to stagger Ling Chen’s entry time into Black Wind Ridge from Zhan Yu’s and Yun Tianhe’s, there wasn’t much of a lead. They would likely enter in about ten minutes.

Although Ling Chen wasn’t entirely without confidence against Zhan Yu, who could guarantee the other party didn’t have some hidden killing move? Once inside Black Wind Ridge, any method could be used; it wouldn’t be as simple as a martial arts contest. Of course, Ling Chen also had his Silver Thunderbolt as a trump card, but he wouldn’t use it unless it was a last resort. Since he could temporarily avoid Zhan Yu, why fight him now? Wouldn’t it be better to wait until he was sufficiently confident before taking the initiative to defeat the enemy?

WHOOSH... WHOOSH...

As Ling Chen went deeper, the sound of the wind around him became like ghostly wails, and gusts of chilling wind brought an ominous premonition.