Chapter 970: Chapter 110 Showing off one’s proficiency with the axe before Lu Ban

The encirclement by Nether Ghost Path cultivators is much harder to deal with than Nascent Soul cultivators from neutral sects.

Not only are they disciplined and strictly obedient, but they also possess various strange spells. Even though Ling Yunpo’s cultivation level now far surpasses his peers, he doesn’t dare assume he won’t slip up unexpectedly.

Therefore, directly letting Ah Jing use a powerful teleportation technique to leave the enemies in utter confusion–“How did he disappear?”–is the strategic move Ling Yunpo decided on this time.

Of course, this strategy can only fool them for a while. As long as the Secret Realm continues transmitting his location, the enemy will reorganize and relentlessly pursue him sooner or later.

At the speed of Man-Sword Unity, Ling Yunpo began charging forward at full speed, his sword light tearing through layers of air, producing deafening sonic booms and shockwaves.

“Sword Master, why are you flying so fast?” the Suming Sword asked curiously. “Are you planning to outpace the pursuers this way?”

“But, the Secret Realm sends position updates periodically.”

“If you keep fleeing like this, won’t your True Yuan soon be depleted?”

“Of course, I can’t keep fleeing endlessly.” Ling Yunpo chuckled. “This is a tactic, understand? Oh, I forgot–since you’re a sword, you naturally wouldn’t understand such things.”

The Suming Sword fell silent for a moment, suddenly empathizing with the Kunlun Mirror’s frustrations with this guy.

Suppressing its irritation and impatience, it continued to ask curiously:

“Then, oh wise Sword Master, could you explain it to me?”

“Watch closely…” Ling Yunpo began, abruptly braking to a halt and ceasing his forward momentum, stopping in place.

“Ah Jing, scan the area.”

After a short moment, the Kunlun Mirror suddenly said:

“Three people are approaching… Was this within your expectations?”

“This is the weakness of organized pursuit teams.” Ling Yunpo laughed heartily. “As long as I move fast enough–so fast that most cultivators can’t keep up–the faster ones will become separated from the rest.”

“If it were an unorganized group, these cultivators, realizing they’ve been separated from the main force, would definitely worry about being picked off one by one and purposely slow down, ceasing their pursuit.”

“But since the pursuers are Nether Ghost Path cultivators, their commander will undoubtedly order them to quicken their pace and entangle me so that the main force behind them can catch up for an encirclement.”

“I see,” the Kunlun Mirror said, suddenly enlightened.

If these three could manage to pin down Ling Yunpo, this tactic might indeed work… But can they pin him down?

Don’t underestimate this guy’s strength!

The three Nether Ghost Path elders chasing from behind, upon spotting Ling Yunpo’s figure up ahead, responded swiftly.

One immediately halted his momentum and activated a defensive magical treasure, shrouding all three with a mist-like artifact. Another waved his hands repeatedly, releasing countless eerie ghostly figures from his sleeves, aiming to entangle Ling Yunpo.

The third formed seals, scattering numerous formation flags around the area. This guy dared to set up a formation in plain sight–clearly, he had great confidence in the techniques of his companions.

Ling Yunpo sneered, releasing the Thunder Punishment Sword and the Myriad Bamboos Sword from both sides. The former slashed horizontally to intercept the ghostly figures, while the latter transformed into thousands of blades, stabbing toward the three figures.

However, despite a few slashes from the Thunder Punishment Sword seemingly injuring the ghostly apparitions, their resilience was remarkable. Even with fragmented forms, they continued entangling the Thunder Punishment Sword–clearly ghosts specially designed to counter sword techniques.

The Myriad Bamboos Sword avatars pierced into the mist but were quickly annihilated without a trace, leaving no indication of what had destroyed them.

Raising an eyebrow in slight surprise, Ling Yunpo thought to himself that these three had clearly prepared tactics specifically tailored against a Shushan Sword Immortal.

Still, with such meager skills, they’re not nearly enough to be a threat!

He formed seals with his hands, and the Myriad Bamboos Sword returned. The Tai Yin Suming Sword swiftly shot forward.

Seeing the Divine Sword suddenly attack, the three Nether Ghost Path elders reacted with alarm and fear, hastily deploying every defensive measure they could muster–especially the elder forming the formation, who immediately dropped all remaining formation flags like spilling ink. With hands moving like blurring shadows, he frantically accelerated the activation of the formation.

The Tai Yin Suming Sword swept through, instantly reducing all the ghostly figures to ash.

It then plunged into the mist, producing an ear-piercing screech akin to nails on a chalkboard, as countless sparks flew off the sword’s blade–a thousand blades seemingly grinding harshly against its surface.

The deceptively delicate and thin mist concealed a deadly, heavy menace!

Yet the Tai Yin Suming Sword remained unscathed, pressing forward through the cutting and grinding attacks, inexorably pushing toward the three Nether Ghost Path elders.

Still, the mist artifact’s cutting resistance slowed the sword’s momentum. The elder forming the formation finally completed its full activation.

In an instant, the space within the mist’s shrouded range underwent subtle and nearly imperceptible distortions.

The Tai Yin Suming Sword continued charging toward the three elders, but its speed steadily decreased… until it was apparent that it wouldn’t reach them.

“Sword Master?” the Suming Sword inquired through their qi connection.

“Hmm, it’s likely a Minor Sumeru Formation,” Ling Yunpo replied calmly. “A simplified version of the Mustard Seed Sumeru Formation, able to stretch space.”

“This formation is generally used at the entrances of Secret Realms to block unwelcome intruders.”

“So now I’m the unwelcome intruder?” the Suming Sword grumbled. “I’m helpless against spatial techniques–think of something quickly!”

“Hmph.” Ling Yunpo snorted coldly. “These Demon Cult scum came well-prepared.”

“Their techniques, magical treasures, and formations were all meticulously selected to counter my Sword Immortal’s means… But alas, against absolute power, all preparations are futile!”

He rapidly formed seals, and the Suming Sword adjusted its trajectory.

The new target was a seemingly empty spot, yet the elder controlling the formation turned pale, his hands frantically forming seals to restructure the formation.

Ling Yunpo shifted his sword formula again. The Tai Yin Suming Sword changed direction once more, targeting another vacant area.

With each alteration of the sword’s course, the elder’s expression grew more vivid, progressing from tension to panic to outright despair. Finally, there was a sharp crack as the Tai Yin Suming Sword swept through an empty area, severing a formation flag that dropped to the ground.

The mist-shrouded space distorted briefly before returning to normal, the formation clearly broken.

Ling Yunpo sneered openly, thinking to himself: “With such petty tricks, do you dare display them before me?”

This formation didn’t even use a Cauldron Vessel as its core, relying entirely on formation flags to maintain its structure. And formation flags, as magical artifacts, are far inferior to a Cauldron Vessel in durability. Of course, they could easily be destroyed with a casual move.

He showed no mercy, forming the final seals. The Tai Yin Suming Sword streaked like a beam of light, piercing through the three immobilized Nether Ghost Path elders, cutting them into beams of fading white light.