"Cult Master...!"
Before the Elder Grand could finish his final plea, a dozen bolts of thunder coiled around him.
Sharp Sword Intent pierced his body, severing his spiritual soul and heart meridian—dead beyond all doubt.
Even after advancing to Void Transformation Realm, Lin Yu remained invincible within his realm.
Slaying a Void Transformation Realm Level 1 warrior was no longer the all-out effort it had been at Myriad Manifestation Realm Level 9; now it was as easy as cutting melons.
Moments later, the thunder dissipated. The Elder Grand collapsed like mud, his eyes filled with unwillingness and resentment.
He never expected the Netherworld Cult Master to not only send him to test Lin Yu but also count him as a blood sacrifice. The Cult Master could have blocked Lin Yu's strike, but he'd chosen to watch the elder die.
Lin Yu glanced at the Cult Master, sneering in disdain: "Demon cultivators... heh."
The Cult Master冷笑 (chuckled coldly). "It's been ages since I've seen such a young Void Transformation Realm Level 1 warrior. In decades, you're the first."
"What's your point?" Lin Yu eyed him coldly.
"Considering your exceptional talent and the hardships of cultivation, I'll give you a chance to live." The Cult Master paused deliberately, staring at Lin Yu with feigned curiosity.
But Lin Yu brushed it off, unimpressed.
"Let's be blunt, boy. Swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao to serve the Demon God and join the Netherworld Cult. From now on, you'll be our new Elder Grand—second only to me, above all others. Satisfied?" The Cult Master looked up, offering what he thought was an irresistible deal.
If he were Lin Yu, he'd agree instantly.
"Is that all?" Lin Yu scoffed. "After all that, you want me to join your cult? Heh—you talk too much."
As he spoke, he raised the Wind Control Sword, pointing it at the Cult Master.
Crimson flames surged from the blade, shifting from scarlet to gold with each "breath" of the sword. When the Fire Sword Intent peaked, Lin Yu struck first, slashing at the Cult Master.
The howling Fire Sword Intent merged with the Wind Spirit Meteor Gold's innate wind power in the sword—wind fanning fire, doubling the might!
Burning golden flames formed a dragon, charging straight for the Cult Master.
"Void Transformation Realm warrior?" The Cult Master's face shifted. He'd never seen such a prodigy in his years roaming Penglai Continent. But seeing Lin Yu was only Level 1, he relaxed.
Thankfully, just Level 1—manageable. Glaring at the oncoming golden light, he swung his saber. Tumbling devil qi merged with surging heaven-and-earth spiritual energy, forming a black blade light dozens of zhang long that smashed into the Fire Sword Intent.
The Fire Intent split apart, golden flames spraying outward and punching holes in the valley's devil qi shroud. The black light continued spreading, slashing toward Lin Yu.
"Void Transformation Realm Level 2 is indeed formidable." Lin Yu nodded, waving a Thunder Sword Intent to meet the black light.
Rumble!
Thunder Sword Intent unleashed countless silver sword lights in the valley, like a net entangling the black light, refining the devil qi until both vanished.
The Netherworld Cult Master, a Level 2, far surpassed the Han Emperor or the First Prince. That single strike would have incinerated any other Level 1—yet he'd faced Lin Yu.
"Your sword is a treasure, blocking my strike." The Cult Master eyed the Wind Control Sword. "After killing you, I'll melt it into my demon saber, making it a Void Transformation Realm treasure too!"
As he spoke, devil qi surged from him, black flames rising. Enveloped in qi, his form swelled into a black giant, wielding the saber and eyeing Lin Yu disdainfully.
"Boy, learn today that above Void Transformation, one realm is a chasm. Killing you is as easy as crushing an ant!"
He swung, devil qi flooding into the saber as his giant form shrank. The saber's black flames became a deep, all-consuming black light shooting at Lin Yu.
This light devoured everything within dozens of zhang—plants, trees, rocks—growing in might. By the time it reached Lin Yu, it was wrist-thick, wide enough to swallow him whole.
Lin Yu's eyes blazed with battle intent. The Cult Master's strength was expected, but he was no weakling. This fight would test his Wind Sword Intent, now near the Dao after fusing with Sword Heart Herb.
Boom!
The Wind Control Sword erupted with blinding cyan light, sword qi rippling outward and slashing through the air itself.
As the black light lunged to devour him, the sword shot forward, Wind Sword Intent surging into a rainbow that cleaved the all-consuming light.
Within the cyan rainbow, mysterious lines shimmered, each holding fragments of Wind Dao laws. Though the Wind Intent hadn't yet transformed into the Dao of Sword, its embryonic form gave this strike far greater power than before.
Boom!
The Wind Sword Intent, a thread of cyan light, struck the black light and split it like paper. The devoured plants, rocks, and flesh exploded, raining down.
In an instant, Lin Yu's strike sliced the black light from end to end, then surged onward toward the Cult Master.
"T-this is the Dao of Sword?" The Cult Master paled at the embryonic Dao laws in the Wind Intent.
Devil qi roared around him as he swung again, sending tidal waves of qi at the cyan light. He also activated a ring with a white gem, unleashing hundreds of冤魂 (ghosts) that merged into a giant head formed from上千 (thousands of) hideous, wailing faces.