Chapter 49: I Am the Chief of Lingyun Sword Peak at the Sacred Realm of Lingxiao

“Heh, a disagreement right off the bat? That makes me seem rather unreasonable, doesn’t it?”

Li Tianyuan let out a light chuckle, his tone dripping with disdain.

“The leader of your Demon Sword Sect wanted to seize the treasure left behind by my disciple’s father and even planned to annihilate his entire family. Naturally, I had to kill him as a warning to others.”

Hearing Li Tianyuan’s words, the elder’s brow furrowed deeply.

He was well aware of Lin Xiaotian’s methods; the man frequently engaged in murderous treasure plundering.

Yet, the Demon Sword Sect was powerful, and since they hadn’t stirred up any major trouble, the elder often turned a blind eye, unwilling to intervene.

But unexpectedly, this time they had met their match. Not only did the opponent come knocking directly, but he also sliced Lin Xiaotian down with a single sword.

The elder’s thoughts raced. He knew nothing of Li Tianyuan’s true background. If the man truly belonged to a formidable force, acting rashly could bring disaster upon them.

Still, retreating now would mean losing face for the sect, making them a laughingstock among other powers.

After a moment’s contemplation, the elder looked up at Li Tianyuan and said, “You are young yet possess such strength; your background must be extraordinary. May I ask where you hail from and which faction you serve?”

He showed no hostility, instead probing cautiously.

“Since you ask, I shall tell you,” Li Tianyuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

Originally intent on killing these Demon Sword Sect members, he was dissuaded by the elder’s sincere demeanor and temporarily set aside his murderous intent.

“I am Li Tianyuan, the Chief Elder of Lingyun Sword Peak at the Lingxiao Sacred Land.”

His tone was calm, yet to those present, it struck like a thunderclap in clear skies, reverberating loudly.

The name Lingxiao Sacred Land was like a massive boulder thrown into a lake, stirring violent waves that shook their very souls.

Everyone exchanged glances, visibly shaken.

“What?”

“Ling… Lingxiao Sacred Land? Could it be that supreme lineage passed down through countless years?”

The disciples of the Demon Sword Sect were dumbfounded, as if their souls had fled.

They never imagined Li Tianyuan’s origins to be so terrifying, completely beyond their expectations.

Lingxiao Sacred Land was ancient, with profound heritage and overwhelming power, far beyond anything the Demon Sword Sect could match.

If the Demon Sword Sect was a third-rate force within Lizhou, then Lingxiao Sacred Land was a superpower, a behemoth overshadowing the entire region.

The gap between them was immense—like ants versus dragons—not even comparable.

“This is over, over! We have actually provoked Lingxiao Sacred Land. We’re doomed,” the Demon Sword Sect disciples panicked, filled with regret, wishing they could slap themselves.

Some trembled violently, bowing their heads, too afraid to even glance at Li Tianyuan, fearing he might slaughter the entire sect in a fit of rage.

Even if that happened, they wouldn’t dare utter a single word.

Such was the might of Lingxiao Sacred Land within all of Lizhou—invincible, without equal.

After all, to provoke Lingxiao Sacred Land was to provoke the whole of Lizhou. Unless one wished to forfeit their foothold there, no one dared offend them in the slightest.

The elder’s face grew grave, a glint flashing deep in his eyes.

Though he had long expected Li Tianyuan to be formidable, hearing his true origin still shocked him.

Not only was Li Tianyuan from Lingxiao Sacred Land, but he was also a Chief Elder—a presence the Demon Sword Sect could never hope to challenge.

“So it is the Chief Elder of Lingxiao Sacred Land gracing our Demon Sword Sect. Forgive my old eyes for their blindness and my discourtesy to Chief Elder Li. I beg your pardon!”

The elder drew a deep breath, speaking humbly and respectfully as if addressing an emperor, careful not to show the slightest disrespect.

Though he was a powerful figure at the Celestial Realm, in the face of a superpower like Lingxiao Sacred Land, he was as insignificant as an ant.

A single elder dispatched by Lingxiao Sacred Land could wipe out every member of the Demon Sword Sect with a mere gesture.

The elder’s heart was bitter. He never imagined that this time, Lin Xiaotian hadn’t just bumped into a brick wall but had collided with an unmovable fallen star, plunging their sect into crisis.

Fortunately, he hadn’t acted rashly earlier—there was still a chance to salvage the situation.

“Hmph!”

Li Tianyuan scoffed coldly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as his voice turned icy.

“A mere petty sect like the Demon Sword Sect—who gave you the audacity to covet my dear disciple’s inheritance? Do you not value your lives?”

The Demon Sword Sect members instantly paled, sweat pouring from their brows, legs weakening to the point of near collapse.

“Please, calm down, sir. We truly had no knowledge of your connection to the Ye family. Otherwise, not even ten of us would dare act as we did.”

The elder hurriedly explained, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, his heart pounding.

Watching the trembling sect members before him, Li Tianyuan smiled faintly, savoring the feeling of superiority.

Indeed, it was good to lean against a mighty tree!

That feeling of grandeur was truly exhilarating!

“Heh, regardless of the reason, since you have bullied my precious disciple, you must pay the price,” Li Tianyuan said, waving his hand.

“Now, tell me, how do you intend to resolve today’s matter? If I do not receive a satisfactory answer, the Demon Sword Sect will cease to exist.”

“Rest assured, sir, I guarantee a response to your satisfaction. You shall not be disappointed.”

The elder nodded vigorously, bowing repeatedly as he sought to appease Li Tianyuan.

“Oh? Then do tell—what will you offer as compensation?”

Li Tianyuan raised an eyebrow and asked.

Since the elder was so earnest, he saw no reason to haggle. But if the Demon Sword Sect couldn’t satisfy him, they would have no one to blame but themselves.

At these words, the Demon Sword Sect members breathed a collective sigh of relief, their hearts relaxing somewhat.

With room for negotiation, things might yet be resolved. Otherwise, if they angered him further, their sect would vanish forever.

“The Demon Sword Sect has been passed down for thousands of years, accumulating vast treasures, numerous secret arts, and countless precious items. If you do not mind, you may take whatever you wish,” the elder said, cupping his hands respectfully.

At that moment, a storage ring appeared in his palm.

This ring was the most treasured possession of the entire sect. If not for the urgency of the situation, he would never have parted with it, for the wealth within could sustain a small sect’s prosperity for a hundred years.

However, upon hearing this, Li Tianyuan could not help but sneer.

Anyone else might have believed it.

They would think the Demon Sword Sect’s long lineage meant countless priceless relics.

But to Lingxiao Sacred Land, such resources were but a drop in the ocean—utterly insignificant.

“Hmph. Do you think I am lacking in treasures?”

Li Tianyuan snorted coldly, eyes flashing with contempt, clearly dismissing the storage ring.

Trying to placate me with such trifles?

Ridiculous!