Chapter 482: Chapter 290: Wielding the Destiny of the Six Kingdoms, Welcoming the Ruler of the World, Appointing the New Queen of the Golden Crow
A gentle breeze swept through the valley.
However, the memory of Lu Mingyuan’s recent strike—an earth-shattering blow that could make gods and ghosts weep—was still seared into everyone’s memory.
An elderly man with a head of white hair, so old he seemed to have one foot in the grave, gazed at the lingering Sword Intent from Lu Mingyuan’s strike, a look of reminiscence in his eyes.
"I remember now. Could this be the legendary Dragon Slaying Nineteen Forms?"
The Direct Disciple at his side asked in surprise, "Sect Leader, are you referring to that renowned Sword Saint from a thousand years ago?"
"The very one."
The old Sect Leader squinted, continuing to reminisce. "With his Unparalleled Saber Technique, he slew three Throne Great Demons, including the infamously vicious Dragon Lord. His deeds became a monument at the Northern Great Wall. He rose from an unknown junior to achieve sainthood in one fell swoop, and people called him the Sword Saint."
"The Saber Technique he used was none other than the Dragon Slaying Nineteen Forms."
"The Sixth Form can kill anyone in the Seventh Realm. The Ninth Form can kill a Golden Core. The Twelfth can slay True Monarchs and Great Scholars. With the Sixteenth Form, even a Buddhist Arhat’s Golden Body can be shattered, and a Celestial Martial Artist’s physique becomes as fragile as paper. One could even put up a fight against a Saint. And after the Eighteenth Form, no Earth Immortal could stand before him. Even the Immortals in the heavens would have to be wary."
"That Swordsman once boasted, ’Whether it’s a Saint Ancestor Master or an Ascension Realm Sword Immortal, as long as I get to strike first, it’ll be a one-for-one trade at worst.’"
After hearing this, the Direct Disciple’s eyes filled with immense admiration. He muttered over and over, "No wonder, no wonder..."
"So, you’re saying Lu Mingyuan has inherited the legacy of the Sword Saint?"
"It’s highly likely."
As the old Sect Leader explained, the surrounding crowd gained a much better understanding of the origins of Lu Mingyuan’s Saber Technique.
The Middle Ages was an era that produced a great number of heroes and prodigies.
The Mythical Era had drawn to a close, and the War of Ascension launched by the Human Race had concluded.
In the Central Plains World, Cultivation Techniques flourished, and numerous prodigies were born.
The Sword Saint was one of the peerless figures who rose during this magnificent era.
Many people now looked at Lu Mingyuan with fear in their eyes.
As the New Emperor of Great Yan, Lu Mingyuan’s strength already surpassed that of many Emperors throughout history. He was destined to be an extraordinary figure.
"Martial Uncle!"
Luo Lingxiao watched Wanluo Sword Immortal Liu Tiandu turn away and sigh. In that instant, his eyes filled with utter despair.
His most revered Martial Uncle had actually lost to Lu Mingyuan.
This meant he was now at Lu Mingyuan’s mercy.
"Lu Mingyuan, kill me or torture me, do as you wish!"
Luo Lingxiao said through gritted teeth.
He was, after all, the ruler of a nation, and both his strategic mind and his strength were of the highest caliber. This time, his skills had been proven inferior. More words were useless; a loss was a loss.
Facing death, a surprising sense of calm washed over him.
"Who said you were going to die?" Lu Mingyuan said lightly.
"What? You’re not going to kill me?"
Luo Lingxiao could hardly believe his ears. A strange expression crossed his face.
Lu Mingyuan smiled faintly. "Rather than kill you, I’m more interested to see how you survive in this world after losing your Destiny and your Cultivation Technique."
Hearing this, Luo Lingxiao immediately burst out cursing, "You’re not just killing a man, you’re destroying his spirit! Lu Mingyuan, how vicious can you be!"
Lu Mingyuan reached out and placed a large hand on the top of Luo Lingxiao’s skull.
A vast, boundless current of Destiny surged from the other man’s body into his own.
「In an instant.」
Dragon Shadows swirled around Lu Mingyuan’s body as a Golden Light emerged.
It was as if golden dragons were swimming to life across his skin.
He discovered that, compared to Cao Zongxi and Chu Longxiang, Luo Lingxiao’s Destiny was far more abundant.
The Destiny from him alone was roughly equal to that of the other two combined.
’As expected of a prodigy who rose from humble beginnings, his Destiny is truly immense.’
’But he stood in my way. He can only blame his own misfortune.’
’If you just cripple someone’s Cultivation, they might be able to start over. As long as they possess Destiny, a fortuitous encounter could allow them to soar to the heavens once more. But once their Destiny is gone, they are reduced to nothing more than a common Mortal among the masses.’
Lu Mingyuan crippled Luo Lingxiao’s Cultivation and stripped him of his Destiny.
Luo Lingxiao would never be able to cultivate again.
He was a minor noble of the Golden Crow Royal Family who had struggled immensely to reach his current heights, becoming a renowned prodigy of his nation. All that, only for it to end like this.
How could he ever accept becoming an ordinary person again?
It was a punishment more agonizing than death.
’Truth be told, I don’t like overly complicated schemes. A direct kill would have been much simpler.’
’But I was worried the Wanluo Sword Immortal might resurrect Luo Lingxiao.’
’After all, Bright Moon Immortal, Zhenyuanzi, and the others were just trying to reclaim Cao Zongxi’s Flesh Body.’
’This proves that at their level, resurrecting the dead is not a difficult feat.’
So Lu Mingyuan had to prepare a contingency: strip Luo Lingxiao of his Destiny and Cultivation, but spare his life. This would test whether the Wanluo Sword Sect would abandon him.
’A King who has lost his Destiny is nothing but a pawn to be discarded.’
Besides, there was another benefit to leaving Luo Lingxiao alive.
It would allow Luo Qiufu to take power legitimately.
As the rightful heir of the Golden Crow Country, it would be far more legitimate for her to be the one to deal with him.
’When the time comes and Luo Lingxiao has outlived his usefulness, I can simply kill him then.’
A moment later, the absorption of Destiny was complete. Luo Lingxiao crumpled to the ground, looking as if his very soul had been torn from him. Streaks of white appeared in his hair, and he sat slumped on the ground with lifeless eyes.
Meanwhile, the aura around Lu Mingyuan surged once more.
Lu Mingyuan felt an unprecedented comfort in both his Sea of Consciousness and his Flesh Body. His Sea of Consciousness was clear, and every cell in his body felt brimming with vitality. Everything was thriving and renewed, like the sun at dawn. He had the feeling that even without the aid of his Fate Grid, his Cultivation had already reached the Late Stage of the Celestial Human Realm.
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