327: Shadow Mingkong

Although Ying Bohao easily dispersed the golden light finger strike with a wave of his hand, his face completely darkened.

A Golden Core junior actually lasted ten breaths, twenty breaths… In a blink of an eye, over a hundred breaths passed under his hands!

Although the opponent was struggling, constantly in peril, he was never taken down!

The black-robed youth even stood with his hands behind his back the entire time, not even raising an eyelid!

Humiliation!

Immense humiliation gnawed at Ying Bohao's heart like a venomous snake!

He could feel that the gazes of his Junior Brothers behind him had changed; from initial fawning and flattery, they had turned to astonishment, doubt, and even a hint of strange… amusement?

“Useless! Die for me!” Ying Bohao completely exploded in rage, his reason drowned by fury.

He no longer cared about the shame of bullying a junior or using a weapon, and with a furious shout, a long sword, completely dark with a blade that seemed to flow with liquid shadows, instantly appeared in his hand!

The sword cried out mournfully, and a terrifying Evil Qi, far surpassing anything before, erupted!

Earth-Grade Spiritual Artifact — Shadow Evil Sword!

“Shadow Devourer · Void Breaker!”

Ying Bohao injected his Nascent Soul magic power into the sword without reservation, and the sword's shadow instantly swelled, transforming into a giant dark shadow blade that tore through space!

This sword strike contained his full cultivation and the sinister Evil Qi of the Shadow Evil Sword itself, its speed was extreme, and its power was enough to instantly kill an ordinary Early Stage Nascent Soul cultivator!

Where the sword pointed, a cold killing intent firmly locked onto Wang Xianzhi, who felt as if all the blood in his body was about to freeze. The shadow of death instantly enveloped him completely; let alone resisting, he didn't even have time to raise the thought of dodging! In his eyes, only the all-consuming dark sword light remained!

“Brother!” Wang Xianyu, behind Xiao Zhuo, couldn't help but exclaim.

Just as the dark shadow blade was about to devour Wang Xianzhi—

Xiao Zhuo finally made his move.

There was no earth-shattering Aura eruption, no complex and profound spell light and shadow.

To be precise, he wasn't even making a move; he merely glanced indifferently at the dark shadow blade.

It was as if time and space solidified at this moment.

“Disperse!”

The faint voice was like a divine whisper.

Wang Xianzhi's pupils constricted, his body soaked in cold sweat at some unknown point.

But he was firmly enveloped by the killing intent, completely unable to dodge, able only to await death.

As Xiao Zhuo's bland but supremely majestic word “Disperse” fell, the terrifying dark shadow blade, powerful enough to tear apart a Nascent Soul, along with the Yin Evil Qi, killing intent, and even the rampant magic power infused by Ying Bohao, was wiped away as if by an invisible giant hand.

It instantly disintegrated and dissipated, transforming into the most primitive Spiritual Qi particles, silently merging into the mountain wind.

Only the Main Body of the lusterless Shadow Evil Sword remained, falling to the dust with a soft “ding” sound, its blade trembling slightly, as if also in fear.

Wang Xianzhi's entire body was drenched in cold sweat, and the feeling of exhaustion after escaping death made him almost unable to stand steadily.

Ying Bohao, however, was struck by lightning, his face instantly turning ashen white as paper, his pupils wide with an expression of unbelievable horror.

His killing move, the full-power strike of an Earth-Grade Spiritual Artifact, was actually effortlessly neutralized by that person with a single word “Disperse”?

This was no longer a matter of cultivation gap; this was simply… a miracle!

The immense fear and mental shock caused his internal magic power to churn violently, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood with a “puff,” his Aura weak and his body swaying precariously. His gaze towards Xiao Zhuo was now filled with pure terror.

The several Ying family Disciples behind him, who had been so arrogant, were now as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to breathe loudly. They rushed forward to support the tottering Ying Bohao, their gazes towards Xiao Zhuo filled with awe and dread.

“Fellow Daoist! After watching for so long! Why not invite this humble one inside for a cup of tea?” Xiao Zhuo's voice remained calm, yet it clearly penetrated the Restriction in the mountain belly, echoing deep within the Myriad Shadow Sect.

After a brief silence, a gentle yet boundless Aura emanated from the deep cave entrance.

Space subtly twisted, and an old man, dressed in simple gray robes, with a gaunt face and eyes as deep as an abyss, appeared out of thin air on the platform.

His hair and beard were all white, and his Aura was restrained, as if he had merged with the White Rock Mountain Range and this world. He was none other than the Old Ancestor of the Myriad Shadow Sect — Golden Immortal Ying Mingkong.

“I have neglected a distinguished guest, and my Disciples have been impolite. This old man, Ying Mingkong, apologizes to Fellow Daoist on behalf of the Myriad Shadow Sect.” Ying Mingkong slightly cupped his hands, his tone gentle, without any pretense of being a Golden Immortal, but rather with a hint of sincere apology.

His gaze swept over the dispirited Ying Bohao on the ground, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, then he said to the Disciples, “Take Bohao down to rest and recuperate. He is to be confined to the Shadow Cave for three years to reflect on his actions.”

“Yes, Old Ancestor!” The Disciples, as if granted a great pardon, hurriedly helped the dazed Ying Bohao and retreated into the depths of the mountain cave as if fleeing.

Ying Mingkong's gaze then returned to Xiao Zhuo, filled with scrutiny and solemnity.

With his Late Stage Golden Immortal cultivation, he actually couldn't see through the depth of this black-robed youth!

The opponent's Aura was ethereal and unpredictable, at times untraceable like a Mortal, and at other times seemingly containing the mighty power to create heaven and earth, so profound that even he, an old monster who had lived for 120,000 years, felt a shock in his heart.

What made him even more apprehensive was the opponent's method of neutralizing the Shadow Evil Sword, which had touched upon the level of the Great Dao; even he himself couldn't have done it so effortlessly!

This person was unfathomable!

Although the Myriad Shadow Sect was reclusive, it was by no means ignorant of current affairs.

Ying Mingkong instantly made a decision — they absolutely must not offend him, and even had to try their best to befriend him.

“Fellow Daoist speaks too seriously. A spar between juniors is harmless.” Xiao Zhuo smiled indifferently, as if the thunderous strike just now had never happened, “This humble one, Xiao Zhuo, has presumptuously come this time only to seek the Dao and truth, and to witness the demeanor of a reclusive Immortal Sect.”

“It is truly an honor for Fellow Daoist Xiao to grace our humble sect. Please!” Ying Mingkong turned sideways, making a gesture of invitation, his attitude extremely polite.

With Ying Mingkong's movement, the space Restriction at the cave entrance silently opened, revealing not the dark cave as imagined, but a vast Immortal Cave that was like a Small World!

Strange rocks stood tall, spiritual springs and waterfalls flowed, pavilions and towers were built against the mountain, and the rich Spiritual Qi almost condensed into a tangible mist.

At this moment, several powerful Auras rapidly approached from deep within the Immortal Cave, instantly landing behind Ying Mingkong.

One Middle Stage Profound Immortal, two Late Stage Heavenly Immortals, and four Peak True Immortals, all core high-ranking members of the Myriad Shadow Sect, had appeared!

They were clearly startled by the commotion on the platform and the Old Ancestor's attitude. Their gazes towards Xiao Zhuo were now filled with shock and awe, and they all bowed in salute: “Greetings, Senior (Fellow Daoist)!”

Xiao Zhuo nodded slightly, as a response.

Wang Xianzhi took a deep breath, suppressing the surging shock in his heart, and pulled his equally dazed sister, Wang Xianyu, to follow closely behind Xiao Zhuo, just one step away.

Under the personal guidance of Ying Mingkong and the escort of the core powerhouses of the Myriad Shadow Sect, Xiao Zhuo and his two companions slowly stepped into this mountain belly Immortal Cave.

Along the way, what they saw was abundant Spiritual Qi and exquisite Formations, indeed possessing some of the heritage of a reclusive Immortal Sect.

Ying Mingkong introduced several iconic landscapes and Legacy sites of the sect as they walked, his attitude gentle and unreserved, as if he were truly hosting a close friend.

Wang Xianzhi and his siblings were dazzled. Although they came from an extraordinary background, they had never been to such a reclusive Immortal Cave, and everything seemed strange to them.

After a tour, Ying Mingkong led everyone to the highest mountain Peak within the Immortal Cave — the summit of Shadow Peak.

The Peak was leveled, and an ancient and elegant pavilion, named “Shadow Viewing Pavilion,” was built there. It was Ying Mingkong's usual place for quiet cultivation and comprehending the Dao.

Inside the pavilion, stone tables and chairs, and a pot of clear tea were already prepared, with Spiritual Qi mist swirling.