Though the upright sects branded the Sun Moon Sect as the Demon Sect, no one could deny its might and influence, making it fair to call it the world's greatest sect. Otherwise, why would the Five Mountains Sword Sect band together to oppose it?
After Dongfang Bubai and Alex reached an agreement, the vast machinery of the Sun Moon Sect roared into action.
At this time, Linghu Chong rallied thousands of martial artists, a massive force, and marched toward Shaolin Temple with unstoppable momentum.
Now, Linghu Chong, cast out by Yue Buqun, was truly free.
That day, Alex had copied the blocking skill to Linghu Chong in Huashan Sect's main hall, but Yue Buqun, misled, thought it was a supreme sword technique that controlled the sword with qi. So, after Alex left, Yue Buqun demanded it from Linghu Chong, who had nothing to give.
This sparked Yue Buqun's suspicion that Linghu Chong was hiding the sword skills for himself.
Moreover, Linghu Chong wielded the Dugu Nine Swords, a peerless swordsmanship matching what Alex showed that day. With Alex's title of Ghost Hand Sword Saint, Yue Buqun naturally assumed Linghu Chong and Alex had been scheming together for a long time.
Finally, Yue Buqun's jealousy of his disciple's talent fueled the fire.
These factors collided, and when Linghu Chong grew close to the Sun Moon Sect's Saint Aunt, Ren Yingying, Yue Buqun's anger erupted. He expelled Linghu Chong from the sect without hesitation.
Meanwhile, in a quiet forest far from prying eyes, a silver-haired old man in his sixties, dressed in a long black robe, sat cross-legged, practicing qigong to steady his breath.
Beside him stood a man in his fifties, clutching a long sword, keeping watch.
After a long while, the silver-haired old man opened his eyes, their red glow burning with hatred. He stood and declared, "Xiang Wentian, I've finished my breathing. Let's head to Blackwood Cliff now. I can't wait to tear Dongfang Bubai to shreds!"
"Leader!" The man with the sword knelt at once. "Leader, your injuries are barely healed—it's unwise to fight now. Besides, alongside Dongfang Bubai, the Sun Moon Sect now has Ghost Hand Sword Saint Alex, whose skills and martial arts rival Dongfang Bubai's."
"Hmph, Ghost Hand Sword Saint Alex?" Ren Woxing scoffed at Xiang Wentian's words. "He's just a youth in his early twenties. How strong can he be? With my reputation, I'll stir things up at Blackwood Cliff, and many will turn from darkness to light, bowing to me!" He waved a hand, his voice thick with impatience.
For over a decade, Ren Woxing had been caged in Meizhuang, his hatred for Dongfang Bubai growing daily. Now free, he burned to kill Dongfang Bubai, both for revenge and to reclaim his leadership.
Though he knew Dongfang Bubai's strength made retaking the leadership tough, he could wait no longer.
"But, Leader…" Hearing Ren Woxing's stubbornness, Xiang Wentian's face twisted with worry, ready to plead again.
"Wait, someone's coming…" Ren Woxing suddenly raised a hand, cutting Xiang Wentian off.
They leaped into the tree canopy, hiding among the leaves.
Soon, a middle-aged man stumbled through, panic etched on his face. Sword wounds crisscrossed his body, blood dripping as he ran, heedless of his injuries, as if fleeing a relentless predator.
"Who's this? Yu Canghai, head of the Qingcheng Sect? A sect leader, yet so terrified?" Ren Woxing and Xiang Wentian, concealed in the canopy, exchanged stunned glances.
Yu Canghai's martial arts marked him as a top-tier master in the martial world, didn't they?
Swish!
Before Ren Woxing and Xiang Wentian could ponder long, a figure darted through the trees, catching up to Yu Canghai.
The pursuer was a young man in his twenties, clad in the tight black robes of a Sun Moon Sect disciple.
"Yu Canghai, where do you think you're running? Let's see how much blood you've got left!" Lin Pingzhi snarled, gripping a fine steel sword, its blade stained red with blood, as he blocked Yu Canghai's path.
"Huh?A mere disciple chased Yu Canghai into this mess? Could this be the Ghost Hand Sword Saint Alex?" Ren Woxing, peering from the canopy, froze, his mind racing with surprise.
"Leader, that's Lin Pingzhi, Alex's disciple," Xiang Wentian whispered. "They say his family's Fuwei Escort Agency once wielded the unmatched Sword Technique, but Yu Canghai slaughtered them all…"
Xiang Wentian quietly explained Lin Pingzhi's background and story to Ren Woxing.
"Lin Pingzhi, you wretched !" Yu Canghai spat,eyes wide with shock and fear. "I never thought you survived back then, and you've mastered your wretched Sword Technique so well…"
Truth be told, Lin Pingzhi's inner strength was weak, but his swordsmanship was extraordinary. To Yu Canghai, Lin Pingzhi must have secretly honed the Exorcism Sword Technique—how else could he be this strong?
"Hmph, my swordsmanship isn't some wretched Sword Technique," Lin Pingzhi shot back, his face twisted with rage. "It was taught by my master, Ghost Hand Sword Saint Alex. Didn't see that coming, did you? I, Lin Pingzhi, have my day of reckoning. You coveted our Lin family's Exorcism Sword Manual and wiped out my kin. Today, I'll hack you to pieces to avenge my parents."
As he spoke, Lin Pingzhi tapped his toes, lunging forward, his long sword weaving a deadly web around Yu Canghai's body.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
As head of the Qingcheng Sect, Yu Canghai's swordsmanship was no joke, but against Lin Pingzhi's masterful Dugu Nine Swords, he was outmatched from start to finish.
In barely a dozen moves, Lin Pingzhi's blade sliced Yu Canghai's wrist, severing the tendons. Yu Canghai's sword clattered to the ground, his hand useless.
True to his word, Lin Pingzhi followed with precise strikes, nearly carving Yu Canghai into fragments.
"Father, Mother, I've finally avenged you…" After bearing such deep hatred for so long, Lin Pingzhi collapsed to his knees, roaring to the heavens, his face wild with grief.
From the tree canopy, Ren Woxing watched the clash between Lin Pingzhi and Yu Canghai. He saw the brilliance of Lin Pingzhi's Dugu Nine Swords, and his expression darkened.
Through Xiang Wentian, Ren Woxing knew Yu Canghai had massacred Lin Pingzhi's family not long ago. How much time had passed? Yet, under Alex's guidance, Lin Pingzhi could now slay Yu Canghai single-handedly?
In mere months, Alex had molded Lin Pingzhi to this level. Just how fearsome was the Ghost Hand Sword Saint Alex?
The thought chilled Ren Woxing.
"By the way, Xiang Wentian, did you notice? Lin Pingzhi's swordsmanship matches Linghu Chong's," Ren Woxing said, his voice low, his face grim.
"Leader, I've heard that some time ago, Alex went to Huashan Sect himself and taught Linghu Chong swordsmanship," Xiang Wentian replied, head bowed, his voice a whisper.
Ren Woxing: "..."