C9: Defying the Sect Leader

The core region of the Heavenly Cloud Sect was a world apart. Majestic floating palaces connected by golden bridges, dense spiritual mist, and ancient formations that could crush Core Formation experts. But tonight, the sacred grounds ran red with blood.

Lin Xiao led his forces forward like a conquering emperor. His long black hair, tied in the signature high ponytail, flowed dramatically behind him. Red and black chaotic lightning crackled continuously across his body, making him look like a young demonic sovereign descended from the heavens.

Su Mei walked on his left, wearing a new black-and-red robe he had gifted her, while Murong Xue stayed on his right, her cold beauty now carrying a hint of possessive pride. Both women had fully submitted after the previous night’s conquest.

【System Notification】
【Follower Loyalty System Active. Su Mei Loyalty: 92%. Murong Xue Loyalty: 87%. Potential for dual cultivation synergy detected.】

Lin Xiao glanced at them with satisfaction. *Good. They know their place. Power is the only language that matters.*

Flashback – Fifteen months ago.

During a grand sect recruitment event hosted at the Lin Clan, the Heavenly Cloud Sect Leader’s personal disciple had visited. Lin Xiao had been forced to stand in the rain for hours as a “servant.” When he accidentally met the disciple’s eyes, the man had ordered Lin Feng to break his legs as punishment for “disrespect.”

Lin Feng had happily complied while the important guests watched and laughed. “See? Even our clan’s former young master is nothing but a dog for the Heavenly Cloud Sect,” they had mocked.

That memory burned like fuel as Lin Xiao stepped onto the central core plaza. The final resistance had gathered here.

At the head stood Sect Leader Yun Tianhao — a late Core Formation Realm powerhouse with a long white beard and eyes full of killing intent. Flanking him were four Grand Elders, each at mid to late Core Formation, and the sect’s top geniuses.

“Young man,” Yun Tianhao spoke with suppressed rage, “you have slaughtered hundreds of my disciples and elders. Even if you are a demon genius, today you will pay with your life. Surrender and I will grant you a painless death.”

Lin Xiao laughed arrogantly. The sound echoed across the plaza.

“Painless death?” He stepped forward, red and black lightning intensifying. “You protected bullies and tyrants. You allowed your people to trample the weak for centuries. Now you want mercy? I reject your offer. Today, I take your sect, your treasures, your women, and your life.”

The Sect Leader’s face twisted in fury. “Insolent fool! Kill him!”

The final battle erupted on a scale that shook the entire mountain range.

Two Grand Elders attacked first. One summoned a massive azure dragon phantom, the other unleashed a storm of thousand sword qi.

Lin Xiao activated Heaven Defying Slaughter Domain at its strongest. The red and black lightning domain expanded to sixty meters, severely weakening everyone inside it. He then used **Minor World Projection** to reinforce the domain, creating a temporary hellish battlefield filled with corrosive chaos.

He charged straight at the dragon phantom user.

Chaos Emperor Sword Art — Fourth Form: Primordial Annihilation!

His sword slash birthed a gigantic red-black lightning dragon that collided with the elder’s azure dragon. The explosion destroyed several palaces. Lin Xiao followed up ruthlessly, closing the distance and plunging his hand into the elder’s chest, plundering him alive while the man screamed.

The second Grand Elder tried to save his comrade but was intercepted by Murong Xue and Su Mei, who had grown significantly stronger through dual cultivation with Lin Xiao the previous night. They bought him precious time.

Lin Xiao finished the first elder and immediately turned to the second. The fight was fast and brutal. He severed both the elder’s arms, then crushed his dantian.

【Double Major Plunder!】
【+28,000 System Points.】
【Cultivation breakthrough to Mid Core Formation Realm!】

Power surged through him. His aura became even more oppressive. The chaotic lightning around his body now formed faint coiling dragon shapes that roared silently.

The remaining two Grand Elders attacked together in desperation. Techniques that could split mountains rained down. Lin Xiao fought like a mad demon, his ponytail whipping wildly, sword and fists moving in perfect harmony with God-tier Comprehension.

One elder landed a heavy blow that broke several of Lin Xiao’s bones. Pain exploded through his body, but he only grinned.

“Is this the best the mighty Heavenly Cloud Sect can do?” he roared arrogantly. “Pathetic!”

He retaliated with full force, using the Slaughter Domain to trap both elders. Red and black lightning chains bound them while he systematically dismantled their defenses. The detailed exchange lasted over a hundred moves, with Lin Xiao sustaining heavy injuries but refusing to retreat even one step.

In the end, both Grand Elders fell. Their cultivation bases were completely plundered.

Only Sect Leader Yun Tianhao remained.

The old man’s face was pale. He had lost his most powerful supporters in mere minutes.

“You… what exactly are you?” Yun Tianhao asked, voice shaking slightly.

Lin Xiao wiped blood from his mouth and stood tall, breathing heavily but filled with killing intent.

“I am the result of eighteen years of your sect’s arrogance and cruelty,” he said coldly. “Every time your disciples humiliated outsiders, every time you turned a blind eye to bullying, you created me.”

He pointed his sword at the Sect Leader.

“Now… die for me.”

The final duel began.

Yun Tianhao was stronger — peak Core Formation with centuries of experience. He used forbidden secret techniques, summoning a gigantic cloud sword that could cleave mountains.

Lin Xiao fought with everything he had. The sky lit up with red-black lightning and golden clouds. Explosions rocked the core region. Palaces collapsed. The ground split open.

Despite being pushed back multiple times and sustaining grave injuries, Lin Xiao’s God-tier Comprehension and Plunder Module kept him in the fight. Every small wound on the Sect Leader allowed him to steal tiny fragments of power.

After a long, destructive battle that left both men bloodied and exhausted, Lin Xiao found the opening.

He burned his own blood essence temporarily and unleashed the strongest attack he could muster.

Chaos Emperor Sword Art — Ultimate Form: Eternal Grind Annihilation!

A colossal red and black lightning sword hundreds of meters tall descended from the sky, infused with all his accumulated hatred and power.

Yun Tianhao’s final defensive technique shattered like glass.

The Sect Leader was struck directly. He screamed as the chaotic energy devoured him from within.

Lin Xiao flashed forward and completed the kill with a point-blank Plunder.

【Legendary Plunder Success!】
【+45,000 System Points.】
【Major cultivation breakthrough to Late Core Formation Realm!】
【Acquired: Heavenly Cloud Sect’s Core Techniques + Sect Leader’s Hidden Treasury Key.】
【Main Quest “Rise from the Ashes” – 45% completed.】

Power unlike anything he had felt before flooded Lin Xiao’s body. His injuries healed rapidly. The red and black lightning around him stabilized into a majestic, dragon-like aura.

He stood victorious in the destroyed core plaza, surrounded by kneeling survivors and his loyal followers.

Su Mei and Murong Xue rushed to his side, supporting him even though he no longer needed it. Their eyes were filled with worship and desire.

“Young Master… you really did it,” Su Mei whispered.

Murong Xue added softly, “The Heavenly Cloud Sect… has fallen.”

Lin Xiao looked at the ruins around him and laughed arrogantly toward the sky.

“Fallen? This is only the first sect I grind. The entire Tianyuan Continent will follow.”

He claimed the Sect Leader’s treasury, gaining mountains of resources, rare pills, and ancient inheritance jade slips. With God-tier Comprehension, he began absorbing them instantly.

That night, in the former Sect Leader’s grand palace, Lin Xiao celebrated his victory by fully claiming both Su Mei and Murong Xue. The dual cultivation session not only strengthened their bonds but boosted all three of their cultivations significantly.

As dawn broke, Lin Xiao stood on the highest palace roof, looking out over the conquered sect.

Eighteen years of suffering repaid with oceans of blood.

But he knew this was far from the end. Stronger forces across the continent would soon hear of what happened here. True experts from higher sects and ancient families would come.

And he would be ready.

The Eternal Grind continued without pause.