C15 The Difference in Strength

"Charge!"

"Attack!"

Provoked by Ling Yunfan, Zhuo Ruili, the leader of the Celestial Wolf Mercenary Group, finally erupted. At his command, the remaining members rallied to his side, encircling Ling Yunfan, who wielded the Cold Water Sword, and swiftly initiated their assault.

Confronted with the collective onslaught of over ten Body Refining Level Six warriors and a single Level Nine, Ling Yunfan was compelled to respond with utmost seriousness. In a battle where the few face the many, even a stronger combatant like him could fall to a surprise attack. To secure his safety, he promptly drew his Cold Water Sword.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

As soon as Ling Yunfan's Cold Water Sword was drawn, he deftly parried the combined attack of six or seven assailants. The clashing of metal echoed relentlessly through the mountains.

"Fighting like this is what makes it thrilling—I won't hold back now!" Ling Yunfan exclaimed, a surge of excitement within him as he was pushed back two steps. His speed exploded forth, and in the blink of an eye, he stood before two spear-wielding opponents. Without giving them a moment to react, his Cold Water Sword exuded a chilling aura. The moment they felt the intense cold, the blade had already run them through.

Yet, witnessing their fellows fall to Ling Yunfan's swift kills did not instill fear in the remaining mercenaries; they pressed their attacks with undiminished ferocity.

"Argh! Argh!"

Despite the numerical superiority of the Celestial Wolf Mercenary Group, sheer quantity was no match for the monstrous prowess of Ling Yunfan. Even Zhuo Ruili, a fellow Body Refining Level Nine, couldn't halt his advance, and those at Level Six stood no chance—they were mercilessly slain in moments.

In a brief span, seven or eight mercenaries had fallen to Ling Yunfan's blade.

As Zhuo Ruili watched his comrades fall one by one to Ling Yunfan, the regret in his heart was palpable. Why had he provoked such a killing deity? Had he not been so obstinately single-minded, they might have been spared this grievous fate.

With a guttural cry of anguish, Zhuo Ruili was still steeped in regret when the last Body Refining Level Six warrior of the Celestial Wolf Mercenary Group met his end under Ling Yunfan's sword, his throat pierced in a scream of agony.

"I'll fight you to the very end!" Zhuo Ruili's fury surged past the bounds of reason as he witnessed the complete annihilation of the Celestial Wolf Mercenary Group, the very group he had painstakingly built.

Amidst his roar, primal as a beast's, Zhuo Ruili unleashed the High Level Martial Skill "Vortex Slash," the same technique he had employed against the Azure Blue Explosive Essence Bear.

"I'm familiar with his Vortex Slash; its cutting prowess is formidable. I've only seen it used against the Azure Blue Explosive Essence Bear, and its true strength was not revealed. Now, it's my turn to experience its full might," Ling Yunfan mused, a slight smirk playing on his lips. He watched Zhuo Ruili grip his long sword, channeling a torrent of spiritual force that swirled with the surrounding winds into the blade, nearing full power.

Realizing Zhuo Ruili was gearing up for a do-or-die strike, Ling Yunfan wasted no time. He unleashed his own spiritual force, concentrating it into his hands and the Cold Water Sword, bracing for the impending assault.

"Prepare to meet your demise!"

Zhuo Ruili, now fully charged, unleashed a ferocious bellow and, mustering all his strength, delivered a devastating slash toward Ling Yunfan. A crescent-shaped sword energy, nearly transparent and brimming with lethal cutting force, surged forward with the swiftness of the wind.

As the sword energy tore through the air, it cleaved trees and leaves in its path, slicing them cleanly in two.

Ling Yunfan reacted swiftly, positioning the Cold Water Sword horizontally in front of him, his left hand reinforcing the blade to bolster his defense. He then channeled a surge of spiritual force into his stance, anchoring his feet firmly to the ground to better withstand the Vortex Slash.

With a resounding clang, the half-moon sword energy collided with Ling Yunfan's defense, thrusting him backward with immense force. Yet, due to his spiritual force anchoring him firmly to the earth, the blow failed to send him flying.

Even with his successful defense against the sword energy, Ling Yunfan nearly lost his grip on his long sword, and his entire body was sent reeling back several meters. His forced retreat left the ground marred with numerous cracks.

"Damn it..."

Zhuo Ruili lay on the ground, seething with frustration as he watched Ling Yunfan effortlessly block his all-out Vortex Slash.

The Vortex Slash, a low-level Profound Rank martial skill, demanded a high level of physical conditioning. An ordinary Body Refining Stage cultivator, even if capable of unleashing the full power of the Vortex Slash, would collapse under the strain it placed on their body.

"It's truly a low-level Profound Rank martial skill; its power is exceptional. Had I countered with Flaming Fist, I shudder to think if my hand would have survived," Ling Yunfan said to himself, a look of relief washing over his face as he approached the fallen Zhuo Ruili.

Without hesitation, he delivered a final sword strike to the still unconscious Zhuo Ruili, ending his life.

As Ling Yunfan concluded his skirmish with the Celestial Wolf Mercenary Group, the clash and his defense against the Vortex Slash had already drawn the attention of some nearby cultivators with significant strength.

"The battle's vibrations seemed to originate from the mountain range where Yunfan is. Aren't you curious to check it out?" Ling Jiang, the Third Elder of the Ling family, dressed as he always was, inquired of Ling Tianba with evident curiosity.

"I have faith in Fann. If he was behind those battle fluctuations, I'm confident he's already emerged victorious, even though I have no proof," Ling Tianba responded, his smile betraying a hint of pride.

Ling Jiang paused, taken aback for a moment, before slowly responding with a chuckle, "Well then, let's eagerly anticipate Yunfan's return in a few days. We'll see just how much he's grown and whether he truly qualifies to face Lee Xueer in the years to come."

"Regardless, I have unwavering faith in my child," Ling Tianba declared, his voice resonating with absolute trust in Ling Yunfan.

After dispatching Zhuo Ruili, the leader of the Celestial Wolf Mercenary Group, Ling Yunfan quickly rifled through his belongings and unearthed a Vortex Slash martial arts scroll. The rest of the group's members had little to offer, but fortunately, they carried a decent sum of silver taels—totaling over twenty thousand.

Ling Yunfan wasn't disappointed with the haul; considering the modest rank of the Celestial Wolf Mercenary Group, amassing such an amount of silver was an achievement in itself.

Yet, he wasn't fully content. Despite the value of a low-level Profound Rank martial skill, Ling Yunfan was convinced that greater treasures awaited within the bronze tent, potentially holding astonishing surprises for him.

Having devoured the remaining roasted meat in the camp, he made his way to the tent that housed the mercenary group's wealth. Upon entering, he scanned the interior to find it disappointingly mundane, indistinguishable from any other. However, his eyes were drawn to a large red chest at the far end.

"This chest must hold the treasures," he thought. Without a moment's delay, Ling Yunfan strode towards it, eager to discover what lay inside.