World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 354: Soaring Maiden

Members of the Dark Faction had flooded the city, yet they were now utterly confused. Were they really the rebels, or was it the cultivators of the Hua Republic?

When it came to the art of suffocating an opponent's spirit, the cultivators of the Hua Republic had these so-called rulers of the world utterly crushed.

In their eyes, though, there was no such thing as the Hua Republic.

For months, they had schemed in Gambi, preparing for this grand feast. However, since last night, troubling reports had been spreading. The long-silent Heavenly Tribulation Wielder had apparently reappeared on the African plains. He relentlessly hit the Jialington Group, destroying one devilish sword after another.

This, in itself, was not entirely unexpected. Most cultivators of the Hua Republic rarely moved about overseas, yet the Heavenly Tribulation Wielder was hailed as a symbol of righteous fury in this new age. For him to act this way was entirely within expectation.

That night, the Jialington Group urged the Dark Faction's high council to make its strongest experts lend support. They also repeatedly stressed the crucial importance of the devilish swords to their cause.

The Jialington Group's promises and their hatred for the Heavenly Tribulation Wielder successfully tempted a vampire princess who prided herself on her cunning. She vowed to intercept the cultivators of the Hua Republic for the sake of the Dark Faction's dignity.

An unfortunate vampire prince's pitiful example was still fresh in her memory, though. Since she prided herself on her cunning, she didn't even consider challenging Wang Sheng head-on. Instead, she used her connections to persuade an ancient vampire prince—one of the Dark Faction's true overlords—to intervene.

When the ancient prince appeared in Gambi, a thought stirred the hearts of the Dark Faction's cultivators just before they reveled in the spoils of war: if even the Blood Race's ancient prince could not stop Wang Sheng, then the Jialington Group might as well hand over the devilish swords and admit defeat.

To the Dark Faction's shock, the cultivators of the Hua Republic still reached the city. They descended from the skies, letting out mocking howls of challenge.

From their perspective, the Blood Race appeared to have lied. The ancient prince did not intercept the Heavenly Tribulation Wielder. Although most of the Dark Faction's members valued only their own gain, some still held to twisted yet unshakable beliefs.

As they prepared to rush out and surround the audacious cultivator of the Hua Republic, another piece of shocking news hit and made them freeze.

The ancient prince had been slain!

A prince of the Blood Race, gone. A duke had also been killed, and another had fled and vanished without a trace.

At that moment, those who had been ready to charge forward found their legs rooted to the ground.

The ancient prince of the Blood Race had lived for over two millennia. He was an immensely powerful being who ruled the Blood Race from the shadows, and he was one of the giants of the Dark Faction. Nevertheless, Wang Sheng had put a quick end to him. He died so easily that many began to suspect the Blood Race's fame was nothing but an empty reputation.

But the truth was right before their eyes. The Hua Republic's cultivator hovered in the air with a radiant ancient sword, his presence utterly unrestrained.

Within seconds of the news spreading, unanimous orders came from the leadership of the Dark Faction's sub-factions: retreat, scatter, or remain in hiding.

They had to avoid the sword of the Hua Republic, abandon the city, and wait for another chance. It was better to swallow their pride and survive than charge in like the dozens of Blood Race members whom Wang Sheng had already killed.

***

Wang Sheng hovered quietly in the skies as the city below slowly fell silent amid the chaos. Not one attack came. He snorted faintly as he pressed Flying Haze half a meter downward. It shot forward with a piercing shriek.

His spiritual perception had long locked onto the devilish sword's location. Flying Haze flew straight to a certain building.

Wang Sheng sheathed Spiritless. He then clasped his hands behind his back and walked in the air. A shallow disc of light appeared under his feet with every step, allowing him to press onward and chase after Flying Haze.

Hair bound and Daoist robe fluttering, he strode through the sky with a sword on his back. That image carved itself deep into the hearts of countless cultivators watching.

One step, then another.

As Wang Sheng advanced, many of the Dark Faction members who were quietly observing him began to feel their hearts crumble. They realized that the path they were walking held no hope at all.

The pursuit of cultivation was always about growing stronger, and that was no different for the Dark Faction's cultivators. They simply took the path of depravity, embracing the darkness without restraint.

However, the man before them had slain even one of the powerful and feared ancient vampire princes. It made them question if they had cultivated and grown stronger just to earn the privilege of being cut down the moment he glanced at them.

The cultivator of the Hua Republic, who looked barely past twenty, ignored them not out of disdain. Rather, in his eyes, they didn't even exist. If they were as strong as a Blood Race prince or duke, they would likely already be facing the cold brilliance of his sword radiance.

If Wang Sheng's heart had a color, then at that moment, it would be black.

He walked across several blocks, drawing closer to the building where Flying Haze had vanished—a six-story hotel that served as a rebel base. The devilish sword was in a room on the third floor, where more than a dozen men in camouflage uniforms already sprawled lifeless on the floor.

Wang Sheng quickly noticed that although he had slain these modified humans of the Jialington Group with his Sword-Controlling Art, their blood and souls had been sucked into the devilish sword, which was in the hands of a corpse. The one he had found before on Sakura Island only consumed those whose life its blade had taken. This one, however, had neither been altered nor reached a higher stage of evolution. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

It had to be destroyed.

At that moment, a dozen rebels suddenly rose from the rooftop. Shouting in a foreign tongue, they opened fire upon him. They had barely begun when multi-colour light swept across, silencing the rooftop once more. Inside, the remaining rebels were swiftly annihilated, while the civilians had long since fled.

Spiritless leaped from its sheath into Wang Sheng's hand. When he casually swung it, it unleashed a flash of moonlight-like immortal light.

The building before him split cleanly in two. Steel and concrete slowly collapsed to either side.

Dust billowed as a devilish sword floated into the air. Enveloped in blood-red radiance, it trembled violently, as if challenging Spiritless.

Spiritless answered with a ringing cry. In Wang Sheng's mind, he heard Yaoyun's cold snort. The next instant, Spiritless dragged him forward in a sudden burst of speed.

Seemingly springing to life, the devilish sword slashed sideways. It whistled through the air as it attempted to cut Spiritless.

Behind the hilt of the devilish sword, Wang Sheng thought for a moment that he saw a massive blood-red skull. However, he didn't get the chance to look closer. The swords clashed at their tips.

Ting!

The sword radiance from Spiritless shimmered, and the blood light cloaking the devilish sword shattered completely.

Cracks spread across the weapon. With another sharp clang, the devilish sword crumbled into fragments.

Wang Sheng recalled Spiritless and lowered his gaze.

"I didn't expect them to have refined a Blood-Dissolving Divine Sword to this extent," Yaoyun telepathically said. "Since you can't back out of this now, just hurry up and destroy them all. Instead of wasting your time on such trivial matters, you should focus on reaching immortality faster."

"Mm. Don't worry. I won't keep you waiting," Wang Sheng answered calmly. He turned and stepped onto Flying Haze, gliding away.

Their target here had been destroyed. It was time to move to the next location.

Wang Sheng did not interfere in the battle between the common men, who used guns and explosives. He simply pressed on toward his goal while keeping an eye out for any Dark Faction cultivators daring to attack him. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't find any. Except for a squad of rebels who tried to fire an anti-tank missile at him, no one dared to fight him, even when he deliberately flew low and slow.

Wang Sheng had suppressed an entire city without using heavenly tribulation.

He strolled grandly toward the city's edge to regroup with his companions. Huai Jing and Shi Qianzhang had hurried after him, eager for battle. However, since he had cut down the vampires, they encountered no further resistance.

Shi Qianzhang was eager to stir up trouble and rack up battle achievements against corrupt cultivators, but Huai Jing stopped him. After rejoining Liu Yunzhi and Dale, they helped civilians instead. As a compassionate monk, he could not ignore such suffering.

When the team gathered again, word arrived from the investigation unit. Their transport awaited ten kilometers away. They were to fly there, go past the battlefield, and head to the next target location.

Instead of wasting time chatting, they all prepared to fly. Huai Jing glanced at Dale, deciding it was safer for a monk like him to take her along.

"Daoist Master Wang!" Dale suddenly called out. Her eyes shone with anticipation. "Will you carry me, just this once? Please."

"Of course," Wang Sheng replied without hesitation.

He casually drew a sword core from his sleeve. It instantly transformed into a flying sword, appearing behind Dale and pressing against her back. Strands of Pure Yang Enchanted Power then bound her to the sword. Before she could protest, Wang Sheng formed a sword finger gesture with his left hand, raised it, and pointed ahead.

Dale shot into the sky.

Sword-Controlling Art: Soaring Maiden!

"Brother Sheng, isn't your way of rejecting her a little too direct?" Shi Qianzhang muttered, half laughing and half crying.

Wang Sheng smiled calmly. "Why should I give her false hope when I don't have any feelings for her? Senior Sister is the only one I find beautiful, and my sword is my closest companion. I don't need anyone else."

The three other men breathed sighs of relief. They had long worried for Mu Wanxuan, yet now Wang Sheng had spoken clearly.

Wait, isn't there someone in the sword?

"Let's go." Wang Sheng snapped his fingers and stepped onto Flying Haze, following after Dale.

The two Daoists and the monk exchanged glances. They once again began to worry about Mu Wanxuan.