The atmosphere was filled with tension..
Wu Ming appeared, his robes fluttering in the breeze, his eyes sharp with fury.
Huang Hui's face paled. He quickly bowed, his voice trembling.
"Senior, he was being disrespectful, so I only taught him a lesson on your behalf..."
"When," Wu Ming interrupted, his voice like thunder, "did I ever need you to teach my people the rules?"
He took a step forward, spiritual energy beginning to churn around him.
"I made the rules of Qinyun Sect myself. I alone decide who breaks them and who doesn't. Not you, not Elder Mo, not even the sect leader himself."
He took another step. The pressure in the air suddenly thickened like a mountain falling from the sky.
Boom!
A terrifying pressure crashed down on Huang Hui, and he crashed flat onto his face. more blood splashed out of his mouth.... as his body trembled under the weight of Wu Ming's fury.
Wu Ming took another step forward a beam of energy shot out from his body, roaring through the air like a dragon unleashed. It surged straight toward Huang Hui who was laying on the floor, unable to move.
But just as the energy was about to hit—
Clang!
A sword tore through the air, colliding with the energy Sparks erupted, and the energy shattered into fragments before it could touch Huang Hui. The sword spun furiously in the air, humming like it was alive. With a sharp whistle, it slashed down and struck the crushing pressure blanketing Huang Hui.
Boom!
The weight vanished instantly.
In the blink of an eye, a figure landed in front of Huang Hui. It was Elder Mo. His face was dark with rage, and the sword flew calmly into his hand.
"Wu Ming, what do you think you're doing?!" Elder Mo shouted, his voice echoing across the courtyard like thunder.
"I am simply finishing what you started," Wu Ming said calmly, his eyes fixed on Elder Mo without the slightest ripple of emotion.
Elder Mo's expression darkened. He pointed his sword directly at Wu Ming and said in a threatening tone, "Are you not afraid of the consequences of your actions when the sect leader comes out of seclusion?"
"You dare threaten me with your sect leader?" Wu Ming's voice turned ice-cold. Without another word, he stomped his foot on the ground.
Boom!!
A surge of spiritual energy burst from his body like a storm and shot straight toward Elder Mo. The air cracked under its pressure.
Elder Mo's face paled. In a hurry, he raised his sword and formed a barrier in front of him.
But it was useless.
The energy slammed into him like a tidal wave.
Bang!
His barrier shattered into glowing fragments, and his body was flung backward like a rag doll.
Crash!
He hit the ground hard beside Huang Hui, coughing blood as he rolled across the stone pavement.
The difference in their strength was overwhelming.
Elder Mo was only at Core Formation mid-stage, while Wu Ming stood tall at Nascent Soul middle-stage. The gap between them was as vast as heaven and earth.
Elder Mo quickly got up from the ground with blood sipping out from the Conner of his mouth, and grabbed Huang Hui.
"Let's go," he said hurriedly. With a wave of his hand, the two of them vanished from the spot in a flash of light.
Wu Ming remained still, his face calm as ever. He turned slowly toward Li Cheng and said,
"I only brought you here as my servant, but it seems they still aren't satisfied. Very well… since it has come to this, I will take you as my disciple. From now on, I will take full responsibility for you."
Li Cheng froze, stunned by the words.
Wu Ming's eyes narrowed. "Li Cheng, what are you waiting for? Bow to your master now."
Li Cheng's eyes widened in shock, but he quickly regained his composure. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward and dropped to his knees before Wu Ming. With both hands extended respectfully, he said in a steady voice,
"Master, please accept my bow."
He lowered his head and kowtowed deeply, his forehead striking the ground three times with a crisp sound before rising to his feet.
Wu Ming nodded. "From this moment on, you are officially my disciple."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Wu Ming stamped his foot and soared into the sky with a burst of wind. He hovered high above the sect with his hands clasped behind his back, his long robes fluttering in the wind. Waves of spiritual energy radiated from his body, sending ripples through the clouds and shaking the mountain peaks around Qinyun Sect.
His voice echoed like thunder across the sky.
"Everyone, hear me clearly! From this day forward, I, Wu Ming, have taken Li Cheng as my personal disciple. Anyone who dares to harm him will face the wrath of this old man. I don't care who you are—no one is exempt!"
he said and his voice echo with a powerful force and it sent ripples of energy across the whole place.
Later That Evening
The sun had long dipped behind the mountain ridges, casting a soft indigo hue over the Qinyun Sect. The wind whispered gently through the pine trees as two figures stood face to face in a quiet courtyard—Wu Ming and his new disciple, Li Cheng.
Li Cheng now wore the official disciple robes of the Qinyun Sect
"From today, you will start learning from me as your master," Wu Ming said. He stretched out his hand, and a sword appeared in his palm with a flash of light. Without warning, he threw it toward Li Cheng.
Startled, Li Cheng instinctively stepped aside. The blade struck the stone floor with a metallic clang, sending small sparks flying.
"You… you little brat. What are you doing?, Why didn't you catch it?" Wu Ming scolded.
Li Cheng walked over and bent down to pick up the sword with a composed expression. His fingers closed around the hilt, and he stood up straight.
Wu Ming stretched out his hand again, and another sword appeared.
"Since you don't have a spiritual root, I will teach you sword techniques. Though no matter how skilled you become with the sword... in front of a cultivator, you are still powerless. But at least it's better than nothing. And right now, it's the only thing I can do for you."
Li Cheng nodded in understanding.
"Watch carefully," Wu Ming said.
He kicked the ground and shot forward like a gust of wind, his sword aimed straight ahead. His movement was swift and sharp, like lightning splitting through clouds. Just as he reached full speed, he suddenly pulled back, digging his heel into the ground to stop, sending a burst of dust into the air.
In one fluid motion, he turned his body sharply and slashed the sword vertically down with great force. The blade cut through the air with a high-pitched whistle.
Without pause, Wu Ming twisted his wrist and swept the sword behind him, as if warding off an enemy's ambush from the rear. His movements were smooth, precise—his body flowing in rhythm with the blade, like a man dancing with death itself.
He turned again, this time slashing horizontally, elicideting a loud steel cry from the sword , a loud, ringing clang echoing through the courtyard. Sparks flashed briefly as the sword struck a loose stone tile, but Wu Ming did not falter.
Li Cheng stood still, eyes wide, completely absorbed. He didn't dare blink, watching every motion as if each one carved itself into his mind.
Then, with barely a breath, Wu Ming jumped high into the air, spinning backward in a perfect arc. He floated for a moment, suspended by the force of his movement. Still midair, he tossed the sword upward.
The blade spun above him, and with the palm of his hand, he struck the flat surface of the sword mid-flight. The sword whistled violently as it spun around him like an angry dragon set loose.
Finally, with a sharp motion of his arm, Wu Ming caught the blade as it came down, landing gracefully on the tips of his feet. His robes fluttered as the wind surged around him.
Shannnn!
The sword gave off a fierce hum, vibrating in his hand as if it had come to live.
"Kid… now follow my movements. I'll slow them down so you can see clearly," Wu Ming said calmly, lowering his stance as he raised his sword.
Li Cheng nodded, gripping his own sword tightly. His eyes were sharp, focused. He stood opposite his master, mirroring his stance.
Wu Ming began to move. His steps were steady, his sword slicing through the air with deliberate precision. Every swing, every footfall was slower than before, each motion like a lesson carved in stone. Li Cheng followed closely, copying every movement to the best of his ability. Though his steps were unsteady at first, he grew more fluid with each time that passes.