The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 947: Frost Heaven!

Frost Heaven! . . .

Over the course of two years, a staggering ninety-five percent of the deaths within Saint Sunlight Sect could be attributed to the fearsome individual known as Xiao Monarch.

For the members of Saint Sunlight Sect, the passing of Xiao Monarch was viewed as a stroke of immense luck. The mere thought of his continued existence filled them with apprehension and dread. They silently thanked their stars that he had been rash and confrontational, for he had brazenly challenged them face to face, unable to conceal his anguish and resorting to that fateful clash, which ultimately culminated in his death.

They couldn't help but reflect, contemplating the grim alternative. Had he chosen to remain hidden, lurking in the shadows like the elusive Shadowless Assassin, the outcome would have been disastrous, sparing them no quarter.

Their assumptions were not without basis. The strength of a solitary individual, no matter how formidable, could only go so far. It was when Cha Eun Xiao was alive, or rather, when people believed him to be alive, that a network of supporters transformed into a formidable fighting force, capable of rivaling the combined might of the three factions.

Xiao Monarch had left an indelible legacy, a name so dreadful that it struck terror into the hearts of disciples from the three factions.

As the Saint Sunlight Sect disciple who had been slain by Cha Eun Xiao witnessed the Monarch's Sword Move, panic seized him, prompting an abrupt cessation of his attack. However, his pause was nothing short of fatal, for within the span of a mere second, he lost his life.

It was in combat that every second was a matter of life and death, and the world-shaking Monarch's Sword Move left no room for mercy. Even though the Saint Sunlight Sect disciple was a cultivator at the second level of Dao Origin Stage, holding an advantageous five-level lead over the one who unleashed the sword move, he met his end.

The overpowering aura of Xiao Monarch, combined with the might of Monarch's Sword and the peerless Stars Sword, rendered the Saint Sunlight Sect disciple's resistance futile. As his terror escalated even before the sword had reached his head, his demise became an inescapable certainty.

The dying words he uttered sent shockwaves through the minds of the four onlookers.

The three other members of Saint Sunlight Sect, poised to attack Shadowless Assassin while one of their own confronted Cha Eun Xiao, were paralyzed by the three words that had passed the dying disciple's lips. They were rendered frozen in place, gripped by fear.

As for Han Bingxue, he too was stricken dumb. His eyes sparkled with awe as he riveted his gaze upon Cha Eun Xiao. The opportunity to dispatch the three Saint Sunlight Sect members had presented itself while they were temporarily immobilized, but he abstained from doing so, completely absorbed in his thoughts.

Cha Eun Xiao, on the other hand, remained the picture of composure, seemingly undisturbed by the shocking revelation.

For it was he who was the rightful bearer of the two words that had sent shockwaves through the others – Monarch's Sword. The long-lost Monarch's Sword had made its resurgence, leaving an indelible impression on their hearts.

Cha Eun Xiao's inheritance of the Monarch's Sword and his succession to Xiao Monarch's legacy was a prospect that could not be denied.

Cha Eun Xiao struck down his adversary with a single decisive blow, yet he did not pause to revel in his success. Instead, he advanced with the swiftness of a surging tide, sword brandished before him. Simultaneously, he called out to the onlooking Han Bingxue, chastising, "What are you waiting for? Are you incapable of action? Do you wish for them to return and inform others?"

Before his words had fully resonated, he had launched dozens of relentless attacks upon the three Dao Origin Stage cultivators of Saint Sunlight Sect. Dazed and befuddled, the trio found themselves unable to retaliate. Their reactions were purely instinctual, and their attempts at defense proved wholly ineffectual.

It was a stark and bewildering spectacle – three second-level Dao Origin Stage cultivators, their prowess widely acknowledged, being systematically outmatched by a young man of the seventh level Dream Origin Stage.

The cacophonous clang of swords repeatedly rent the air, as the three men hastened to draw their longswords. Yet, they fared no better, as Cha Eun Xiao's Stars Sword sliced through their weapons as though they were no more than flimsy parchment. A gruesome torrent of blood was soon to follow.

The searing, incisive edge of the Stars Sword made it a veritable instrument of destruction. Few weapons in existence could compare to its cutting power, for it had a propensity for slicing through any material with ease.

Their swords now broken and bloodied, the three men were left grievously wounded. They had been wholly unprepared for the sheer sharpness of Cha Eun Xiao's weapon. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ɴovᴇl_Firᴇ.ɴet

At this juncture, Han Bingxue had an epiphany. Cha Eun Xiao's exhortation spurred him to action, rousing him from his stupor. "He's right," Han Bingxue realized, "I must attend to the pressing matter at hand. I cannot permit these men to return to Saint Sunlight Sect and divulge the information."

It was a moment of resolve.

And so, with a luminous glint in his eyes, Han Bingxue unsheathed his sword, unleashing a pervasive chill that instantly enveloped the entire valley.

"Kill!" he bellowed.

In an instant, a deluge of sword lights converged upon the three men, resembling tempestuous torrents within the heart of a raging sea. The presence of Frost Heaven, his formidable technique, now flooded the battlefield. Up until this point, Han Bingxue had refrained from revealing it, all in the effort to protect his identity. But now, in the name of silencing the witnesses, he acted without hesitation.

Amidst the icy onslaught, it was the oldest-looking of the three who staggered backward, a bleeding chest wound his final testament. Slowly and with a gaze filled with incredulity, he croaked, "You... You are... Han..."

"Han Bingxue... You... Shadowless Assassin..."

And as he strained to complete his utterance, he collapsed to the ground, his silence eternal.

Yet the other two had met their demise before him. Han Bingxue had deftly dismembered them, leaving behind only two skeletal remnants. The air of the valley grew heavy with the scent of blood, and not a hint of life remained.

Han Bingxue, his countenance as cold as ice, resheathed his sword. Gazing stoically at the three lifeless figures before him, he uttered matter-of-factly, "I may have sustained injuries, but I am well capable of recovery."

For whom these words were intended remained a mystery, as the three individuals, now reduced to lifeless husks, could no longer bear witness to the world. In their company, it was death that had the final say.

Cha Eun Xiao then addressed his fellow fighter, instructing, "Conceal your frost qi. We must not attract undue attention."