[7.7K Words]

Time flashes back to before Qin Tian and Han Xiu's negotiation.

After Qin Tian led his men in pursuit of Han Xiu, only the Ziyun Alliance and the Taikoo Imperial Clan remained in the Ziyun Dao Realm.

The death of Tiger Huo, a member of the Tiger God lineage, in the Dao Sword Sect served as the catalyst.

The modern Tiger God, Hu Kuang, who had just awakened from his ancient slumber, arrived in the Ziyun Dao Realm with his clansmen.

During this period, the Ziyun Alliance had already engaged in several battles with the Tiger God lineage, but the Ziyun Dao Realm was too weak. With only four Quasi-Emperors, they were unable to contain the situation.

They were forced to retreat, ultimately retreating to the Dao Sword Sect.

In this once human capital, not a single living person was to be found. Instead, the terrifying presence of the towering tiger-like Taikoo Imperial Clan filled the air.

At this moment, the city was awash with skulls and bones, their flesh rotted into dust. Countless mutilated corpses piled up, their scarlet blood almost reaching their feet.

It was a sea of blood and corpses, the stench unbearable.

Hell on Earth was nothing more than this.

In the once magnificent palace, on the dragon throne, the symbol of human authority, sat a towering man, over three meters tall. His muscles seemed carved from rock, his eyes flashing with ferocity.

He had golden fur and a tiger tail on his back.

Hu Kuang held a half-carcass in his hands, chewing it relentlessly. Streams of blood and broken flesh and bones fell to the ground as he chewed.

"Human meat has become unpalatable."

Hu Kuang dropped the half-carcass in his hand, his eyes radiating an endlessly terrifying light. He gazed at his clansmen beneath the dragon throne and said, "Has the Dao Sword Sect not been taken yet?"

"My Lord Tiger God, the Dao Sword Sect is being defended by four Quasi-Emperors. We can't..."

A member of the ancient Tiger royal family hadn't finished speaking when his head exploded like a watermelon, blood, flesh, and brains splattering across the hall.

But in this hall of blood and flesh, he was just another corpse strewn across the floor.

"What a bunch of trash! I've been asleep for tens of thousands of years, and the Tiger Clan has become like this?" Hu Kuang withdrew his finger, and an ancient aura emanated from him.

The ancient royals in the hall trembled with fear, their faces pale and sweat streaming. They were tigers too, but at that moment, they felt that the one atop the dragon throne was the real tiger, and they were just lambs.

"What Son of God and Goddess? Where are they now?" Hu Kuang continued to ask.

"Reply...Reply to Lord Tiger God. They left not long ago and are probably no longer on this planet."

A member of the Tiger Clan said cautiously.

"Hahaha!"

Hearing that Qin Tian and Gu Qinghan had left, Hu Kuang burst into laughter. A hint of sarcasm and disdain crossed his face. He said, "So much for humanity's greatest prodigy? Absolutely ridiculous. They knew I was here, but they didn't even dare to see me and just ran away."

"Luckily they knew what was good for them, otherwise I would have kept them here forever, hmph."

After saying this, Hu Kuang sneered with disdain. The human race has always been this weak, born to be slaves to the domination of the powerful.

"Lord Tiger God is unparalleled in his majesty. Those sons of gods are terrified to see him in person, hahaha."

"That's right, what a bullshit son of gods! He's nothing but a human blood prey."

The tigers began to chime in.

Hu Kuang: "Go tell the Dao Sword Sect. Either I'll slaughter them all, or I'll let some so-called little sword immortal come out and challenge me."

Did Hu Kuang go to such a remote place like the Ziyun Dao Realm just to avenge Tiger Huo?

How could that be? He didn't care who died here; even if it was a dog, he'd come. He was after the things in Yan Qing's possession: the Heaven-piercing Sword Bone, the Companion Sword Soul, and the Flawless Sword Heart.

These valuables should be possessed by more powerful individuals, not by a single human.

Their Taikoo royal family is the ruler of this world; humans are merely blood prey.

"Lord Tiger God, if our rampant slaughter of humans were to become known to other great sects, immortal royal families, or the lineage of the Great Emperor, we'd be in serious trouble," someone kindly warned.

"What are you talking about?" Hu Kuang's eyes, a blood-red gleam that made one's soul tremble. He walked up to the speaker, pressed his massive hand against his head, and asked.

The overwhelming pressure made the man's legs go weak. He looked up, and what he saw was a massive, white-browed tiger staring back at him. He trembled with fear, a cold sweat pouring down his face, and he couldn't help but regret his words.

"My ancient royal family rules the world. Do we need to worry about retaliation from the other animals if we kill a few?"

"If you're not from my Tiger Clan, I'll eat you!"

With that, Hu Kuang strode out, crushing countless corpses along the way, sending up a shower of blood.

Seeing Hu Kuang leave, the man who had just spoken collapsed to the ground. He had just been closest to death.

But then his eyes turned disdainful, and he said, "Do you really think this is still the era of the Ancient Heavenly Court? Those who cannot recognize reality will sooner or later die at the hands of the human race!"

Indeed, the current Ancient Imperial Family is no longer the same as when the Ancient Heavenly Court still existed. They have fallen from the dominance of heaven and earth to the destitute, clinging to a small domain and struggling to survive.

But these ancient geniuses who have awakened from their slumber lived during the heyday of the Ancient Imperial Family, when humans were truly as humble as livestock, subject to slaughter and devouring.

But things are different now, sir. Times have changed.

"Alright, be careful he doesn't hear us. We just need to do our own thing."

At this time, the other companions also came over and said.

They also quite disliked Hu Kuang, but he was the modern Tiger God and a prodigy of ancient times. His strength and seniority far surpassed theirs. Disobeying him meant death.

He treated his own people in the same way, which shows how dark and cruel life was for the human race during the ancient Celestial Court.

Originally, the ancient royal family believed their ancient prodigies were invincible, and so they revered them as gods.

But ever since Qin Tian forcefully suppressed the Heavenly Phoenix Girl, subtle changes have taken place.

Especially Qin Tian's words.

"A bunch of losers, yet they have the capital to act arrogantly here."

Yes, these ancient prodigies were ultimately losers. Unable to compete with the strongest of their time, they chose to slumber, awakening in another era to continue their fight for the throne.

While not all prodigies who chose to slumber were losers, the majority were.

The number of people who could become emperors in a given era was limited.

The Great Emperors of the Great Thousand Dao Realm were achieved through the accumulation of countless generations.

Inside the Dao Sword Sect.

At this moment, the atmosphere within the Dao Sword Sect was heavy. Countless bodies were scattered, and the awe of death hung heavy in everyone's heart. They knew that the Ziyun Dao Realm could no longer withstand the next attack.

When that happened, they would all die.

In a small courtyard deep within the Dao Sword Sect's forbidden grounds.

"Father! Let me out! It's me that Hu Kuang is looking for. I can't let anyone else die for me."

Yan Qing shouted at his father. He felt so cowardly. Countless people had died for him, and yet he could only hide here, unable to do anything.

"You are the hope of our Ziyun Dao Realm. You cannot leave!"

Yan Qing's father was very determined, his eyes filled with a complex and resolute expression.

"Since I am the hope of the Ziyun Dao Realm, I must fight for it even more than I would if I were hiding here, watching my compatriots die at the hands of foreigners!"

Yan Qing said this, and was about to leave the courtyard.

But his father still blocked his way, beating him, "Qing'er! You can't leave!"

"Why?" Yan Qing couldn't understand why his father never let him leave the courtyard. He had unparalleled talent, and at the age of ten, he had been honored as a Sword Immortal.

But he had never left this door before him, never fought anyone.

"No reason. Qing'er, you are the only hope of the Ziyun Dao Realm. You must survive and become the Great Emperor!"

"But... for this, am I going to watch my father and everyone else die?"

"Yes, everyone in the Ziyun Dao Realm will perish, and the Dao Realm will be destroyed, but you must survive."

After hearing his father's words, Yan Qing took a few steps back. He had always listened to his father's words, but this time, he wasn't sure if he should listen to him again.

At this moment, a ray of purple light descended upon the courtyard. The person who arrived was an elderly man in a purple robe. He was one of the four Quasi-Emperors of the Purple Cloud Dao Realm, the Purple-Robed Taoist.

However, he was in a rather miserable state at this moment. Not only was his arm broken, but he also had numerous wounds that hadn't fully healed.

"Greetings, Senior," the father and son saluted simultaneously.

The Purple-Robed Taoist waved his hand, his eyes filled with fatigue. He was already struggling to handle the situation on his own. He had originally considered seeking the help of the Son of God, hoping to have him intervene.

But unexpectedly, not only Qin Tian, but also Gu Qinghan, had left the Purple Cloud Dao Realm, as if to avoid Hu Kuang.

Could it be that the two most powerful geniuses of the human race were afraid of Hu Kuang?

Thinking of this, the Purple-Robed Taoist's expression darkened even more. He glanced at Yan Qing. This was the only spark of his Purple Cloud Dao Realm. No matter what, Yan Qing had to survive.

Even the Son of God was afraid of Hu Kuang. If Yan Qing left, he would definitely be no match for Hu Kuang. "Yan Qing, listen to your father. We old bones may die, but you must live," the purple-robed Taoist said.

"This place is protected by a special formation. As long as you don't leave, Hu Kuang won't be able to find you. Live well, become a great emperor, and avenge us."

The purple-robed Taoist spoke earnestly. The Ziyun Dao Realm was now in a state of utter doom, and they could only prepare for the worst and preserve a spark of hope.

"But..." Yan Qing gritted his teeth, clenching his fists, his heart filled with unspeakable resentment and sadness.

"No buts. Now is not the time for you to act willfully. You must live with the hope of the Ziyun Dao Realm on your shoulders."

The purple-robed Taoist said.

For a twelve-year-old boy, this was too heavy, too cruel.

"That's right, that's all. Don't go out. Just like before, listen to father and stay here. Isn't that what I do best? I just need to become the Great Emperor. It's simple..."

A second voice began to grow within Yan Qing. It's okay. He just needs to listen to his father.

The purple-robed Taoist saw Yan Qing's expression and knew that this was too cruel for a child, but it was also a responsibility he had to bear.

"Even the Son of God fears Hu Kuang. If we don't confront him, we'll have to rely on ourselves. Let's go. The next attack from the Ancient Imperial Family is imminent." The purple-robed Taoist sighed to himself before leaving with Yan Qing's father.

"Brother Son of God..."

When Yan Qing heard the purple-robed Taoist mention Brother Son of God, he raised his head. His eyes, once lifeless and lifeless, began to sparkle with a little starlight.

At the same time, in his heart, Qin Tian's voice overwhelmed his inner demons.

"What is a sword cultivator?"

"As upright as a sword, as unyielding as a sword, as sharp as a sword!"

"A sword cultivator is all about the sword, all about the mind, all about me."

"No surrender, no cowardice, no retreat!"

"There is only the determination to forge ahead without turning back, to sacrifice everything, and to perish together!"

"That is what a sword cultivator is!"

"I won't turn back until I hit the wall! I'll break that wall! I won't give up until I reach the Yellow River! I'll boil the Yellow River dry!"

Yan Qing whispered, "I am a sword cultivator."

At that moment, Yan Qing's eyes were incredibly firm. He knew what he wanted, and this time he was going to listen to his own will!

"Swish!"

A sudden sound of breaking through the air echoed, and Yan Qing's figure transformed into a streak of sword light, speeding towards the courtyard gate.

"What!"

The purple-robed Taoist priest and Yan Qing's father, who had not yet left, were both shocked by this sudden change.

The purple-robed Taoist was the first to react. He stretched out his remaining arm, pretending to stop Yan Qing.

"Yan Qing, don't act rashly!"

But Yan Qing paid no heed. He quickly rushed in front of the purple-robed Taoist priest, then instantly split into sixteen figures, each one heading towards the gate from different directions.

"Sixteen layers of Wind-Walking Shadows!"

Yan Qing's father exclaimed in shock at this scene. Wind-Walking Shadows is a unique skill of the Dao Sword Sect. Each figure created is a layer, but throughout the Dao Sword Sect, the highest level reached was twelve layers.

Yan Qing was only twelve years old, and he could already create sixteen figures!

The purple-robed Taoist priest didn't dare attack Yan Qing, but with his one arm, he couldn't stop these sixteen layers.

Seeing this, Yan Qing's father drew his sword and attacked Yan Qing, forcing him to leave the courtyard!

Seeing his father thrust his sword towards him, Yan Qing didn't hesitate. He drew his own sword and struck his father with a single blow. Yan Qing's sword skill cleverly targeted his father's weaknesses, then sent the sword flying.

One move! Pointing his sword at his father's throat, Yan Qing said, "Father, don't stop me."

Yan Qing sheathed his sword and was about to push open the door he had never opened since he was born. As the door swung open, Yan Qing saw a second scene for the first time: what was outside the courtyard?

Just as he was about to step over the threshold and walk out...

"Qing'er!"

Yan Qing's father cried out in a mournful voice.

Yan Qing turned and looked at his father.

His father, watching Yan Qing about to leave the courtyard, no longer had the composure he had before. His face was filled with panic, and he trembled as he walked towards his son, his mouth trembling with words.

"Qing'er, no, you must not go out. Come back quickly!"

Yan Qing's expression shifted with complexity as he watched his father in this state, but his heart remained resolute. He said, "Father, stop trying to persuade me. I will kill Hu Kuang and restore peace to the Ziyun Dao Realm."

"Qing'er, Dad, I beg you, please come back." Yan Qing's father knelt down, tears glistening in his eyes.

Seeing his usually calm and serious father kneel down, Yan Qing was puzzled. He asked, "Father, why?"

"It's come to this. I won't hide it from you anymore," Yan Qing's father said tearfully.

"You are a natural swordsman, blessed with great fortune. You are destined to become an emperor in the future, but this comes at a price. When you were born, a master calculated your talent but lacked destiny. That's why this courtyard was specially created to ensure your survival. If you leave this door, you will surely die."

Yan Qing looked at his father. Had his father been protecting him all along?

Not letting him leave wasn't selfish, nor was it because he wanted him to become an emperor; it was simply a father's way of protecting his child.

"Father, I'm sorry, but there's something I must do."

Yan Qing bowed to his father, then transformed into a flash of sword light and vanished into the sky.

"Our Ziyun Dao Realm is finished," the purple-robed Taoist sighed, his expression more exhausted than ever.

Hu Kuang sat alone in a luxurious sedan chair, carried by several tall members of the Tiger Clan, as they marched towards the Dao Sword Sect.

But at that moment, a beam of silver-white sword energy burst through the sky, its radiant light seemingly slicing through the entire sky.

Countless dense sword energies descended like a torrential rain. This widespread attack enveloped nearly all of the ancient royal family.

Hu Kuang's expression changed slightly, and he immediately activated his spiritual power shield to block the incoming sword energy.

These sword energies couldn't harm him, but the same couldn't be said for others. Many of the weaker Tiger Clan members were pierced by the sword energy, falling into a pool of blood.

The Ancient Royal Family had experienced numerous tragedies, and coupled with their low fertility rate, there were very few talented young men left. Otherwise, these ancient prodigies wouldn't have been awakened.

This loss practically wiped out the entire Tiger God lineage's young bloodline.

Hu Kuang's eyes crimsoned at this. He had brought all the young Tiger Clan members along this time, precisely to show them his strength, to gain their submission, and to get them to fight.

But he hadn't expected that almost all of them would be killed here.

"Who!" Hu Kuang roared, his face filled with ferocity.

"Haven't you been looking for me?"

A slightly childish voice echoed, followed by another brilliant sword beam.

The sword light flashed.

Immediately, a terrifying sword energy slashed through the air. Hu Kuang quickly shattered the incoming force, but he realized it was only a feint. Just as he realized this, several more screams echoed around him.

Several more members of the ancient imperial family, the Tiger God, were beheaded by the sword energy.

The sword light faded, and a white figure emerged from the sky.

This figure, unparalleled in its whiteness, was filled with vigor and ambition. With a simple movement, it soared onto the sword and stepped into the void.

Now, he floated lightly in mid-air, a celestial aura emanating from his body.

The man looked only twelve or thirteen years old, his face still shrouded in childishness.

"You have hidden three feet of water, wishing to test your frost blade. I am Yan Qing."

This was Yan Qing's first time killing someone, but he felt no discomfort. Born to be a sword, he feared no slaughter.

"Damn it! I'm going to kill you!"

Hu Kuang pulled out a longsword from his magical storage. He was also a sword cultivator, otherwise he would have come to the Purple Cloud Realm to target Yan Qing.

In fact, many experts from the Tiger God lineage had also arrived. While no Great Emperors had come, several Quasi-Emperors had arrived. Otherwise, the Purple Cloud Realm wouldn't have been defeated so quickly. But after seeing Yan Qing slaughter the young Tiger Clan member, they didn't dare to attack.

They understood the current situation better than these ancient geniuses who had awakened from their slumber. If they dared to attack the younger generation, they would be breaking the rules. Even if no one in the Purple Cloud Realm could do anything to them now, they would definitely not survive.

Hu Kuang repeatedly sent messages to them to kill Yan Qing, but they only received a single reply.

"Lord Tiger God, we, the younger generation, cannot interfere. Please, Lord Tiger God, slay this child yourself."

Hu Kuang's face was grim. It wasn't that he was afraid of Yan Qing. To him, Yan Qing was just a child, and killing him was as easy as crushing a chicken. What concerned him was that the ancient royal family was so afraid of the human race today?

Or were these people so useless that they had been ruled by a mere human race. Now, even killing a few animals, they had to think about the consequences and were controlled by others!

"How dare you kill my people? How dare you!" Hu Kuang's aura soared crimson, his eyes glaring like a ferocious tiger stalking its prey.

"You've slaughtered so many people in my Ziyun Dao Realm, razed so many towns. Even if I kill a few of you now, it won't be enough to repay the blood debt you owe!"

Yan Qing held his sword in one hand, and a stream of nearly condensed sword energy swirled around him. His sword energy hummed, and he waved his hand casually.

Boom!

Boundless sword energy plummeted from the sky, like a meteor crashing down from outer space.

After the blow, smoke and dust billowed, but Hu Kuang emerged from the dust, unscathed.

"You ant!"

Yan Qing's repeated attacks, though ineffective against Hu Kuang, succeeded in enraging him. In his eyes, humans were mere food. How could you not be furious when attacked by food?

Endless rage rose from his chest, and Hu Kuang felt like he was about to explode!

How dare you, an ant, a domestic animal, challenge him!

"I won't kill you. I will torture you, humanity's most gifted prodigy. I will chop off your limbs and hang them on my warship, so that you, domestic animals, will realize that your master has returned!"

Boom!

Hu Kuang roared furiously, slashing at Yan Qing with his greatsword. A terrifying sword energy roared in all directions, tumbling the ground and tearing the sky apart wherever it passed. Everything in its path was instantly annihilated.

Countless cities, towers, and mountains, towering trees, were reduced to dust by this single sword strike.

Seeing this, Yan Qing dared not be complacent.

He knew Hu Kuang was far stronger than he was. If he wasn't careful, he would be defeated. If he lost, his father and the entire Ziyun Dao Realm would be doomed.

So!

He couldn't lose!!

Yan Qing's razor-sharp sword energy soared into the sky, his body shimmering with sword light, and several distinct immortal swords appeared.

Each sword blade surrounded him, its divine weapon aglow with shocking brilliance, its brilliance revealed.

"Ten Thousand Swords!"

The silver-white sword energy morphed into countless, crashing into the incoming sword energy like a torrent.

Boom!

The crimson sword energy and the dazzling silver-white sword energy collided, and suddenly the heavens and earth roared. The sun and moon became indifferent, and the entire world seemed to be divided into crimson and silver.

Yan Qing's figure rushed towards Hu Kuang at an extremely fast speed, transforming into sixteen overlapping shadows, attacking Hu Kuang from different angles.

"You dare to use such a low-level trick in front of me!"

Hu Kuang slashed directly at one of the overlapping shadows with a powerful force, with the power to split mountains and shatter rocks.

Yan Qing's eyes trembled. He didn't have time to consider why Hu Kuang had found his true form so quickly. He relied on instinct and blocked his body with his sword.

Bang!

The loud sound of metal clashing and grinding pierced his eardrums, and Yan Qing's face turned pale. He felt the irresistible force in his hand. Even if he gritted his teeth and tried his best to block it, it was useless.

With the sound of metal snapping, the longsword in Yan Qing's hand was instantly severed. Yan Qing spat out a mouthful of blood with a look of despair, flying backwards, smashing through several giant trees before stabilizing himself.

Wow...

Yan Qing clutched his chest and spat out another mouthful of blood.

He raised his hand slightly, looking at the broken sword in his hand, a trace of sadness crossing his face.

The Ziyun Dao Realm is a small place. Even if one tries their best, the spiritual swords they can obtain are limited, and their quality cannot compare to divine or immortal artifacts.

But Yan Qing loves swords. He had been confined to a small courtyard since childhood. He had no friends, and these swords were his friends.

"Qingliu, I'm sorry I hurt you."

Yan Qing touched the half-broken sword, now riddled with cracks and gaps, and murmured softly, as if comforting a friend.

"You can't even block a single strike from me. That's all the little Sword Immortal can do. Hahaha."

Hu Kuang smiled a cruel and contemptuous smile, as if mocking an ant that had leaped up to attack a vicious tiger.

An ant trying to shake a tree—ridiculous and overestimating its own capabilities.

Yan Qing stared at Hu Kuang intently, then stuck the broken sword, Qingliu, into the ground and said, "Just watch here. I'll avenge you."

"Wushuang, raise your sword!"

Yan Qing grasped at the air, and a golden longsword appeared in his hand.

The sword was two feet and one inch long, its blade made of 100,000-year-old black mica iron, thin and thin, emitting a faint cold glow. The hilt was adorned with a golden dragon carving, giving it an imposing presence. The blade was sharp, like autumn frost.

The words "Wushuang" were engraved on the blade.

The unparalleled sword rose, its energy surging like a wave. The ancient prodigy of the ancient royal family, dormant for millennia, and the future Great Emperor, the most gifted swordsman of the human race, were about to engage in their second clash.

This was the first battle between the ancient prodigy of the ancient royal family and the world-conquering prodigy of the human race!

Yan Qing vs. Hu Kuang.

Yan Qing stomped his foot hard, soaring into the air. With a piercing sword flash, he charged towards Hu Kuang once again.

Hu Kuang's sword energy surged through his body, an endless stream of immensely powerful sword energy surging from within.

He swung out another wave of sword energy, a crimson blade beam that unstoppably destroyed everything in front of him.

Yan Qing, unstoppable, charged directly towards the incoming sword energy.

Seeing this, Hu Kuang couldn't help but laugh, "That's a good choice. Dying directly under my sword will save you some suffering."

He thought Yan Qing, knowing he was no match for him, was planning to commit suicide.

After all, dying at the hands of an enemy's sword was a way for these human swordsmen to maintain some dignity.

But just as Hu Kuang's crimson sword energy sliced Yan Qing in two, Yan Qing's voice vanished in a ethereal blur.

"Duplicate shadows!" Hu Kuang was startled. Why hadn't he seen it this time?

Just as the duplicate shadows vanished, Yan Qing's figure appeared from the side, thrusting a sword towards Hu Kuang's head.

"Damn it! When did he get so close?!"

Hu Kuang quickly raised his sword to block, deflecting the incoming strike. But Yan Qing would not let him go. His unparalleled sword transformed into afterimages, continuously striking at Hu Kuang's vital points.

Hu Kuang, of course, was not afraid of him and unleashed his own sword moves.

Sword energy shone brilliantly, and the swords in both hands clashed, resonating with the sound of metal. Hu Kuang's sword moves were unstoppable, while Yan Qing's were agile and varied, and for a moment, they were evenly matched.

In the blink of an eye, the two sides had already exchanged several blows. The sharp sword energy clashed, seemingly filling the very world. Sword shadows crisscrossed, sword moves clashed, and both sides displayed their terrifying strength.

Yan Qing was still slightly at a disadvantage. Blocking each of Hu Kuang's sword swings proved extremely difficult, often leaving his palms numb from the shock, and he could barely hold his sword.

Hu Kuang was also surprised. Previously, he had been unable to block even one of his sword strikes, yet in just a short while, Yan Qing was already able to block several of his strikes, even transforming into overlapping shadows. He could tell the authenticity of such tricks at a glance.

But when Yan Qing used it a second time, he was completely deceived. The same move, yet the difference was profound.

It was as if Yan Qing was constantly evolving, constantly learning from his failures!

Thinking of this, Hu Kuang felt a sense of absurdity. This man's talent was truly terrifying. If this dragged on, he might actually be defeated by this human.

Growing through battle, evolving through failure—this was the terrifying quality of the most gifted human swordsman, the future Great Emperor.

Yan Qing's talent already surpassed many destiny-bearing protagonists; he was a model of peak performance from the outset.

But unfortunately, he had talent but no destiny...

At this point, every move from the two men wielded the might of annihilating heaven and earth, every sword strike unleashed the force of wind and thunder.

Yan Qing was already fighting tooth and nail. He gritted his teeth, tightly gripping the Wushuang Sword in his hand. The sword danced, slashing towards Hu Kuang. Suddenly, thousands of sword energies rushed towards him at an incredibly fast and short distance.

"The sword sea is boundless!"

With a single strike of his sword, a raging wave erupted, the sword energy transforming into a vast ocean, directly engulfing Hu Kuang. Yan Qing quickly retreated, putting some distance between them.

He panted heavily, his body trembling slightly. Strands of blood flowed from his palm, dripping down the tip of his sword.

Yan Qing stared at his now-broken knuckles. His hand, gripping the sword, was in agony, almost unable to hold it.

Yan Qing gripped the hilt tightly. Even with the pain, he couldn't let go. He worried that the next time he tried to take Hu Kuang's sword, it would slip out of his grasp.

Having a sword knocked out of one's hand was a disgrace to a sword cultivator, a sure sign of death.

Yan Qing panted as he stared at the sea of sword energy. He knew Hu Kuang couldn't be killed like this. He began to prepare his sword moves, preparing to counter the incoming attack.

As expected, Hu Kuang emerged from the sea of sword energy as if strolling leisurely in the garden, his body unscathed.

The gap between the two was still too great; Yan Qing was too young.

Hu Kuang had begun to respect Yan Qing; Yan Qing's talent was formidable.

You have to know that Hu Kuang had hundreds of years of cultivation, not counting the time he'd spent dormant, and Yan Qing was only twelve years old, yet he'd already reached this level.

If he were given another twenty years... no, ten, or even just five, he'd never be able to kill him.

But Hu Kuang wouldn't give Yan Qing that time.

"Raging Sword Qi—Fierce Tiger Blood Slash!"

Hu Kuang switched to holding his sword with both hands and slashed at Yan Qing through the air. Instantly, the crimson sword energy transformed into a scarlet tiger, its bloody maw gaping, ready to tear Yan Qing apart.

Yan Qing calmed his breath and, watching the enormous, scarlet tiger approaching, he didn't panic, but closed his eyes.

The Tongtian Sword Bone within his body emanated an endless, dense aura, flowing through his limbs and bones. The Tongtian Sword Bone burned, and he unleashed a power beyond time.

Every opportunity that Yan Qing had encountered was incredibly formidable, but like him, they were still in a stage of immaturity.

But the cruelty of the world would not allow them the time to grow.

The Tongtian Sword Bone wailed mournfully, as if expressing its unwillingness. The dense aura it emanated emanated from Yan Qing's body, and a celestial sword flew out from Yan Qing's crown. Millions of sword energies intertwined, lightning and thunder roared, and sword energy was like a rainbow.

An indomitable evil tiger.

A sharp sword that pierced through everything.

Yan Qing swung his sword, directly scattering the attacking scarlet evil tiger. Then, swirling the Wushuang Sword in his hand, he flung it towards Hu Kuang. The Wushuang Sword, imbued with endless sword energy and a dense aura, transformed into a ray of sword light and flew towards Hu Kuang. Hu Kuang wasn't afraid either. His sword, likewise surging with sword energy, thrust forward towards the incoming Wushuang Sword.

The two sword tips collided, their blades radiating like a tide.

In an instant,

The entire battlefield was enveloped in a double-colored sword aura. Hu Kuang's palm felt numb. Yan Qing's attack was several times more powerful than the initial one.

"You actually burned the Tongtian Sword Bone!" Hu Kuang roared!

Yan Qing quickly rushed to the Wushuang Sword. His eyes were fierce, and a sneer flickered across his lips. "It's mine. I can do with it as I please!"

With that, he spun in place and kicked the Wushuang Sword's hilt.

The Wushuang Sword erupted with immense force.

Bang!

The two swords collided, a violent collision erupting. The Wushuang Sword broke through the defense and stabbed directly at Hu Kuang.

Although Hu Kuang dodged quickly, he still sustained a gash on his face, and blood streamed down his face. "You deserve to die!"

The rage within Hu Kuang had already turned into actual fury. Brown hair began to grow on his body, and a "king" character appeared on his forehead!

He was furious, yet also afraid, for he saw that the ant before him had the power to harm him.

"I can't let you go."

Hu Kuang seized Yan Qing's opportunity. The Wushuang Sword was no longer in Yan Qing's hand, and he swung his sword directly at Yan Qing.

If this strike had hit, Yan Qing would have been dead.

In a moment of desperation, Yan Qing drew out his other sword, but it only blocked for a moment before Hu Kuang slashed it away.

Although the attack was stopped, Hu Kuang was determined to kill Yan Qing and would not let him go. He continued to advance, slashing at Yan Qing with his greatsword.

Yan Qing could only retreat, drawing his other swords to block.

But besides the Wushuang Sword, Yan Qing's other swords were no match for Hu Kuang's. Yan Qing continued to defend himself and retreat. The ground along the way was littered with broken swords.

"Wushuang!" Yan Qing roared!

The Wushuang Sword, originally stuck in the ground, seemed to mourn for its many brothers and sisters. Its sword energy surged into the Bull Fighting Blade, returning to Yan Qing's hand on its own.

Yan Qing held the Wushuang Sword horizontally, blocking Hu Kuang's attack.

But he ducked, his knees bent, and his calves dug into the ground, his bones cracking.

Twelve-year-old Yan Qing couldn't withstand such a powerful attack.

Wow...

Yan Qing spat out another mouthful of blood, but before he could react, Hu Kuang struck him with a punch.

Crack!

A chilling sound of ancient breaking echoed, and Yan Qing's face instantly drained of color. Hu Kuang had used all his strength in that punch.

Yan Qing's bones and internal organs were almost completely destroyed.

Wow... A large mouthful of blood, streaked with fragments of his internal organs, spurted out. Yan Qing took a few steps back, his body swaying and unable to stand.

His willpower was gradually fading.

His eyelids felt heavy, the sword in his hand felt heavy.

But Hu Kuang didn't let him go. He punched Yan Qing in the chest again, sending his small body flying backwards.

His spirit gradually withered, his body was in tatters, and his life force was so weak that it was undetectable.

He was defeated...

"I can't lose! If I lose, the Ziyun Dao Realm will be devastated. My father and my compatriots will die. I can't lose!!"

Yan Qing, still in the air, suddenly erupted with a powerful willpower. His body swung through the air and landed directly on his feet.

He plunged the Wushuang Sword into the ground, holding the hilt with both hands for support.

He looked at the broken swords scattered on the ground. These were his friends, good friends who had always been with him.

"I'm sorry..."

Yan Qing propped himself up, weakly apologizing to the scattered broken swords.

"You're not dead yet," Hu Kuang said, somewhat surprised, as he looked at Yan Qing, who was still standing.

Yan Qing stared at Hu Kuang and grinned, "You're not dead yet... I... How could I die..."

Yan Qing looked at the Wushuang Sword and said, "Wushuang, stay with me a little longer. We'll kill him."

Buzz buzz buzz...

The Wushuang Sword emitted bursts of chimes, as if responding to Yan Qing.

Yan Qing looked at the Wushuang Sword, now riddled with chips and cracks. He knew that both he and the sword had reached their limits. If the next strike didn't kill Hu Kuang, he would perish, his sword shattered.

"Very good! This is how I'll kill you. You've truly impressed me. For this, I'll use all my strength to grant you a death."

A red mist erupted from Hu Kuang's body, enveloping him completely.

Gusts of scarlet wind blew from the red mist, accompanied by the roar of a tiger.

Something terrifying seemed to lurk within the red mist.

Suddenly, a massive tiger paw emerged from the red mist, followed by a massive, three-meter-tall tiger.

Yan Qing was like a small rabbit before him.

Roar!!

The tiger roared to the sky, its massive body charging towards Yan Qing like a cannonball, its bloody maw wide open, biting into him.

How could Yan Qing move at this moment? He could only hold the Wushuang Sword horizontally before him.

Hu Kuang bit down on the sword, exerting force, its sharp, hard fangs sinking fiercely into the Wushuang Sword.

The Wushuang Sword, unable to bear the weight, broke in two with a wail of unwillingness.

But it wasn't over yet. Hu Kuang bit off the Wushuang Sword and continued to bite Yan Qing with his maw wide open.

The massive tiger's jaws bit down on most of Yan Qing's body, its fangs piercing his young frame.

Ah!

Yan Qing let out a shrill scream as he was gripped by the tiger's jaws. He rushed backwards, his legs plowing deep furrows into the ground.

"Ah!"

Yan Qing's face was filled with madness. He no longer cared about anything else. Holding the half-broken Wushuang Sword, he thrust it into the tiger's eyes.

Roar!

The tiger's eyes were pierced, and he let out a scream. This only fueled his ferocity. Biting Yan Qing, he charged forward at an even faster pace.

"Let me go!"

Yan Qing frantically stabbed the tiger's head with the broken sword, but in his tiger form, the tiger's fur was as good as a magical weapon. Yan Qing couldn't inflict any effective damage in his current state.

He had to break free from Hu Kuang's clutches quickly, or he would surely die.

"Tongtian Sword Bone, explode!"

The Tongtian Sword Bone within Yan Qing's body exploded without hesitation, a vast, dense aura filling his entire body.

"Not enough!"

"Companion Sword Soul, explode!"

A small figure flew out from Yan Qing's skull, sitting cross-legged in the air above him. The figure clasped its hands together and exploded, brimming with boundless spiritual power into Yan Qing's body.

"Flawless Sword Heart, explode!"

"Ahhhh!!!"

Yan Qing roared furiously, his heart pounding violently. Unprecedented power transformed Yan Qing into a blazing sun.

Roar!

Hu Kuang let out a mournful roar, his entire mouth shattered.

With this, Yan Qing finally broke free from the clutches of the tiger.

By this time, Yan Qing had become a bloody man, his eyes blinded by blood, and everything before him turned blood red.

"This is the last strike..."

By self-destructing his three companion items, Yan Qing gained the power to kill Hu Kuang. This strike would be a last-ditch effort, with all his might.

There was no further idle chatter, and neither of them had the energy to speak.

Almost simultaneously, Yan Qing, wielding the broken sword in both hands, charged at Hu Kuang. Hu Kuang lunged forward, raising a tiger claw and striking Yan Qing's head.

"Ah!"

"Roar!"

The massive tiger claw smashed half of Yan Qing's head, but Yan Qing didn't stop. What remained of his face, a single eye, stared intently at Hu Kuang.

He plunged the broken sword into Hu Kuang's heart.

The broken sword pierced his body, dedicating everything Yan Qing had to this single strike.

The terrifying sword energy raged frantically through Hu Kuang's body, completely obliterating his meridians and even his soul.

At the last moment, the unparalleled broken sword shattered into its remaining half, the shattered blade bursting forth from Hu Kuang's massive body.

Hu Kuang's eyes widened in disbelief. How could an ant kill him? He was the modern-day Tiger God!

He refused to accept, he refused to believe, he refused to submit!

But all this was meaningless. Hu Kuang's consciousness was fading, his majestic and terrifying eyes turning white as his massive body collapsed to the ground.

There was no life left.

Yan Qing knelt on the ground, his head bowed, blood dripping from his body as his thoughts gradually faded. He raised his head and gazed toward the sky, a smile breaking across the bloodied half of his face.

"Father, everyone in the Purple Cloud Realm, and Brother Shen Zi, Brother Yi Yu, Sister Yue Xiao, I... I won."

This was Yan Qing's first time in the world, his first time fighting, but it was also his last.

Yan Qing felt incredibly exhausted, his eyelids slowly closing.

"It hurts... Sleep... I guess it won't hurt after I wake up..."

Yan Qing knelt on the ground, his body limp, his eyes closed forever.

This battle, Yan Qing won!

A natural-born swordsman, destined to become an emperor in the future, at only twelve years old, he fought to the death against the ancient prodigy of the ancient royal family, ultimately perishing together.

He ultimately lived up to the title of future emperor.

He single-handedly defended the Purple Cloud Realm.

At this point, the Purple Cloud Realm had lost all hope. No one could become an emperor anymore.

.......

At Qin Tian's place.

"Ding, host, I got you something good."

"Hmm?" Qin Tian was stunned. The system had remained silent while inside the Absolute Soul Realm. He had assumed it could block his connection to the system.

"What is it?" Qin Tian asked.

"Ding, I used Han Xiu's Absolute Soul Realm to extract some goodies for you."

"Ding, rewards being distributed..."

"Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Great Emperor Cultivation Experience Scroll (30 minutes)"

"Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Innate Chaos God-Demon Body (Wonton Evolved Version)"

Wow, this was the system he was familiar with, so generous and magnanimous.

Qin Tian was delighted and asked in his mind, "System, are you free now?"

System: "For now, 'He's' is no longer watching me."

"Who are you?" Qin Tian asked the question he had always wanted to know.

"I'm the host's system. Providing benefits to the host is the system's duty. I'm just being generous."

The system's voice was as usual, full of life and emotion.

Qin Tian shook his head in amusement. The system refused to tell him, perhaps because the time wasn't right, and he didn't press the issue any further.

Just as he was about to ask about Han Xiu,

He suddenly looked towards the Purple Cloud Dao Realm.

In the direction of the Purple Cloud Dao Realm, a vast purple haze gathered, a sense of sadness permeating the sky.

"Yan Qing is dead," Qin Tian said calmly.

Gu Qinghan and Yue Xiao were both stunned by these words.

Yue Xiao immediately spread her spiritual sense across the entire Purple Cloud Dao Realm, and soon she saw Yan Qing.

Yan Qing's appearance at that moment made Yue Xiao cover her mouth, a trace of sadness crossing her face.

Gu Qinghan's brows furrowed slightly. How could Yan Qing be dead?

In his previous life, Yan Qing clearly survived and became a great emperor. Was my memory flawed, or was this world developing in a direction I wasn't aware of?

Qin Tian sighed inwardly. He didn't have much sympathy for Yan Qing. He was a villain, not a kindhearted person.

Yan Qing's talent even made him envious.

It was just that seeing Yan Qing's admiration for him, he hadn't taken action.

My mother, however, was somewhat saddened by Yan Qing's death.

Qin Tian took his mother's hand and said, "Do you want to go and see?"

My mother shook her head and said, "No."

People died every day in the Great Thousand Dao Realm, and even more so among the gifted prodigies. While Yan Qing's death was a pity, it wasn't enough to cause them to shed tears.

"Well, since he gave us a sword, let's help him one last time."

Qin Tian took out a palm-sized token engraved with the word "Qin" and threw it towards the Purple Cloud Dao Realm.

Then he channeled his spiritual energy and shouted into the void.

"Ziyun Dao Realm, from now on, will be protected by our Qin Clan. Any individual or force attempting to intrude upon our Ziyun Dao Realm will be considered a provocation by our Qin Clan. We will personally descend upon them and exterminate their entire clan!"

The resounding voice echoed throughout the universe, terrifying all other Dao Realm forces with ill intentions towards Ziyun Dao Realm, terrified to remain silent, fearing the Qin Clan would come after them.

It was all he could do.

"Let's go back."