Chapter 68: The Grace of That Sword

Chief Cao was utterly stunned when he heard the words of Senior Official Sun. He glanced at the young man standing calmly in place. The youth’s eyes were as tranquil as a placid lake, betraying no fear despite facing a Martial Saint. That serenity was even more terrifying.

Chief Cao swallowed hard, a cold dread of Ling Xiao settling deep within him.

At this moment, Su Hong, hovering in midair, had become an object of frenzied adoration in the eyes of the onlookers. A man who could soar at will, standing loftily more than ten meters above the ground—such a miraculous being had already transcended the ordinary bounds of humanity.

Su Hong stood in the air, hands clasped behind his back, his expression haughty. “You are much younger than I am. If I strike first, people will say I bully the young. You may make the first move—I grant you three attacks.”

Arrogant as his words were, he had earned the right. The title ‘Martial Saint’ alone spoke for everything.

Ling Da burst into hearty laughter. “Ling Xiao, before my brother Su, you’re nothing more than an insignificant ant! Now that he’s letting you strike three times, you have three chances at life. After that, you’ll never breathe the air of this world again!”

Ling Da’s wife looked on resentfully. “Serves you right for hitting me. Now your family will be wiped out!”

Ling Xiao ignored these two fools, his face indifferent as he gazed at Su Hong suspended in the air. “Are you sure you want me to attack first?”

Su Hong lifted his chin, glancing down with supreme arrogance. “My word is my bond. Since I’ve said you may strike first, then so be it. No more nonsense.”

Ling Xiao sighed softly. “It seems there’s no more amusement to be had.”

With those words, he gently raised his right hand—a simple, unremarkable gesture, so ordinary it seemed devoid of any special meaning.

Upon seeing this, everyone present wore strange expressions. What was this? The opponent was flying, and he merely raised his hand—was he saluting?

Ling Da snorted with laughter. The difference in their abilities was obvious at a glance. Ling Xiao was still just a child, even if he truly was a major general in the Dragon Corps—what of it? Before Su Hong, he was still nothing but trash.

But just as this thought formed, Ling Xiao suddenly brought his hand down.

In an instant, winds howled and clouds surged, shrouding the sun. In the darkness, all anyone could see was a dazzling blue sword light shooting tens of thousands of meters into the sky.

With a single stroke, the wind ceased, the clouds dispersed, and all returned to calm.

Everyone stood dumbfounded, glancing at Su Hong, who remained motionless, and then at Ling Xiao, utterly bewildered.

Chief Cao couldn’t help but ask, “Is that it? What kind of technique was that? He just waved his hand? It looked even more casual than eating.”

Senior Official Sun narrowed his eyes. “I’m afraid he’s already won.”

“What? That’s impossible, isn’t it?”

“Look closely at Su Hong. Do you notice anything missing?”

Chief Cao followed his gaze, staring intently. After a moment, he murmured with some confusion, “Su Hong seems to be missing a hint of vitality...”

As soon as he uttered these words, Su Hong split cleanly in two in midair and fell to the ground with a dull thud.

“How is this possible?” Chief Cao’s glasses slipped off in fright. The whole crowd was struck dumb once more.

A true master—this was the power of a genuine master! Killing in a single, invisible stroke, regardless of how strong or arrogant Su Hong was. Ling Xiao had merely flicked his finger, and Su Hong was instantly sundered.

Ling Xiao was a prodigy beyond compare.

Ling Xue’s beautiful eyes widened in disbelief as she stared fixedly at Ling Xiao. So this was the strength he possessed? No wonder he could be so bold! The master who soared through the sky was nothing but an ant before him, obliterated in a single casual move.

Such means defied the very order of nature—who could rival him?

Ling Da collapsed to the ground in utter despair, his face ashen, mumbling to himself like a madman, “Impossible! Impossible! Impossible!” But Ling Xiao paid him no heed.

“Zhang Daochu, proceed,” Ling Xiao commanded.

“Yes!” Zhang Daochu briskly waved his hand, and several subordinates immediately seized Ling Da’s entire family.

Ling Da’s wife went mad with fear, wailing, “Spare us! Ling Xiao, please have mercy! It was our fault, blinded by greed for wealth, betraying your father for riches. I beg you, for the sake of family, spare us! We’ll give you all our property—please, please!”

Ling Xiao’s reply was edged with boundless sorrow and disappointment. “If only your motive had been nothing more than greed for our family’s fortune.”

To be betrayed by one’s own kin—what a bitter lesson. Especially for his father, who, even in his dying breath, likely never knew that his beloved elder brother was one of the true culprits behind his death.

The villagers, witnessing this, finally understood, pointing and whispering about Ling Da’s family. But now, no amount of censure would bring them mercy.

Zhang Daochu’s men acted swiftly—one move, and Ling Da’s wife was killed instantly. Watching his wife’s lifeless body fall, Ling Da came to a sudden, bitter realization. He let out a hollow laugh, full of self-mockery. “Heaven’s retribution can be survived, but self-inflicted sin cannot.”

Zhang Daochu sneered. “If only you’d known what you know now, would things have come to this?”

Ling Da shook his head. “If I had known today, I would not have acted as I did then.”

He knelt before Ling Xiao. “Ling Xiao, I beg you! This is all my fault. If you must kill, kill me—I deserve it, my sins are heavy. But Ling Ran and Ling Xin are still young. They had nothing to do with this. I beg you, spare them. Please.”

Ling Xiao calmly lit a cigarette. “Every banknote your family spent, every branded item they owned, was stained with my parents’ blood. They enjoyed it for three years—how can you call them innocent?”

Ling Da’s pupils contracted. “No—you can’t! Don’t kill them! Ling Xiao, I beg you! Spare them! If you don't, even as a ghost I won't forgive you!”

Ling Xiao didn’t spare him a glance, exhaling a single word: “Kill.”

“No—!” Ling Da screamed, but his son and daughter soon fell, lifeless in a pool of blood.

“Ling Xiao, you’re not human! You beast!”

Ling Xiao smiled indifferently. Three years ago, who was it that knelt and begged, head bloodied, tears streaming? Did Ling Da save his parents then? Ling Ran and Ling Xin were precious lives, but were his parents not lives as well?

Heaven's justice is never blind. Who has the heavens ever spared? If you fear retribution, do not commit evil.