“If that’s your answer, don’t blame me for what happens next!” the black-clad man snorted coldly and raised his hand to strike.
Before could act, a terrifyingly violent aura burst from within the Eighth Hall.
Jared stepped out, accompanied by Jemima and Jhaelyn.
“You? You think you can lay a hand on the Eighth Hall?” Jared regarded the black-clad man with open disdain.
“And who are you supposed to be? A mere Wandering Immortal Realm Level Five cultivator dares to address me that way?” Confident in his own Wandering Immortal Realm Level Six cultivation, the black-clad man flatly looked down on Jared.
Jared merely smiled and, without even sparing another glance, turned to Braxton. “Father, leave these people to me…”
Braxton nodded, Jared’s cultivation realm had risen again, and the elder before them was clearly no threat.
“Jared, kill those b*stards! Let them know what happens when they covet the Eighth Hall!” Thorley shouted, emboldened the moment saw Jared arrive.
“Watch closely… This is a lesson worth learning,” Jared told Thorley.
“Arrogant whelp! If I don‘t demonstrate my power, you’ll never understand how small you really are!” the black-clad elder bellowed when Jared continued to ignore him.
Enraged, began to chant; the very heavens split open, and countless bolts of violet lightning crashed down. Each bolt was as thick as a barrel, blanketing the sky and land alike in oppressive might.
Braxton and the Eighth Hall disciples retreated again and again beneath the crushing pressure.
Jared, however, only offered a faint smile, eyes brimming with contempt as stared at the descending lightning. He didn’t so much as lift a finger.
When the violet lightning reached him, it simply vanished, gone as though it had never existed.
The sight left everyone momentarily stunned.
The black-clad elder’s brows knitted. “Not bad, kid! You do have some tricks!”
Then roared, “Way of Ten Thousand Arts!”
At his command, the ten thousand cultivators behind swung their weapons in unison toward the sky.
High above, the weapons fused and melded until they formed an unimaginably huge Divine Sword. That sword contained the combined celestial power of more than ten thousand cultivators. In the same instant, Jared’s Dragonslayer Sword erupted in golden light, and brought it down in a single, fluid arc.
In that split second, every one of the ten thousand cultivators lost their heads, which flew Skyward in a perfectly synchronized crimson fountain.
The spectacle was both horrific and awe-inspiring. The colossal Divine Sword disintegrated into a flash of light and vanished the moment its wielders fell.
Braxton and the others stared, utterly dumbfounded.
“Jared, you’re incredible!” Thorley shouted, unable to contain his excitement.
With a casual wave of Jared‘s hand, ten thousand item pouches rose into the air and then dropped neatly into his grasp.
“Father, take these resources. The Eighth Hall will need them.” Jared kept none of the pouches for himself; handed every last one to Braxton.
Face alight with joy, Braxton accepted the bounty and praised repeatedly, “You’re the best, Jared!”
When finished, Braxton turned to Jhaelyn. “Jhaelyn, be sure you take good care of Jared tonight, see that he’s properly looked after.”
“Dad…” Jhaelyn‘s face flushed a deep, rosy red.
At that very instant, the black-robed elder stood rooted to the spot like a wooden marionette, his blank eyes fixed on Jared, his mind completely blown.
One swing of the sword had decapitated ten thousand cultivators… Could a mere Wandering Immortal Realm Level Five cultivator truly be capable of such a thing?
“If you’ve got any other tricks, feel free to show them off…” Jared leveled a calm, penetrating gaze at the black-clad elder as spoke.
“N-No… Nothing at all! I surrender!” the black-clad elder stammered, his entire body quivering.
All hope had left the moment those ten thousand heads flew sky-high, from that second on, despair had consumed him. There was simply no way could ever stand against Jared.
“I have no need for your surrender.” Jared shook his head. “Do you understand why I didn’t behead you together with those ten thousand a moment ago?”
