Legacy of Hatred

Chapter 401: Heavenly Sword Cult

Liam knew what his opponent was talking about but had to disagree. He probably was one of the few rooting experts in the entire world who could wield that opinion with confidence.

After all, Liam had actually fought a branching expert to the death. He knew that his black Qi was inferior to the superiority that the higher stage provided.

Liam also hadn’t seen his black Qi as strange. It was undoubtedly powerful, but rooting experts already learned to summon more of their dantian’s nature. He had also fought at Anastasia and Lancelot’s side, so he almost took that ability for granted.

However, the tall man’s reaction shed light on that misconception. The ability to transform the Qi so thoroughly, or rather, to show its true face, was rarer than Liam believed at the rooting stage.

Truth was, Liam had lived among elites for the most part. The Pale Moon Sect was one of the best environments that Outer Circle had to offer, and he hadn’t spent long on his own before meeting Lancelot.

So, Liam’s perspective on what was normal was quite twisted and inaccurate, but his opponent had revealed that mistake.

Still, there wasn’t much Liam could do about that. The black Qi was his power, his real strength. It had also been eye-catching enough to earn him a title on which he could build a fearsome reputation that would protect him and Grace.

Lying low had its advantages, but it also led to bullying. Liam could consider welcoming that if he were on his own, but his predicament was unique.

Liam wasn’t strong enough to deal with branching experts, let alone consistently, but his journey had also progressed to the point when looting cultivators in the rooting stage wouldn’t improve his finances at all.

It was an annoying middle ground that Liam planned to address in his imminent training session. However, his opponent had caught him when he was still stuck there.

To tell the truth, Liam also wasn’t sure he wanted to hide that much anymore. He just wasn’t that person anymore.

"My Dao partner and I settled on Liam," Liam responded, mimicking Grace’s fake lie despite knowing that wasn’t what his opponent had really meant.

The tall rooting expert didn’t look amused. He remained serious, wary, but not scared. He acknowledged his opponent’s worth and faced him with the respect he deserved.

"To reverse the river’s flow," The tall man whispered. "To cleave the snowy mountain."

The atmosphere shifted again, this time caused by the tall man. His whole presence shook, trembling similarly to the Qi Repulsion, but in anger. His energy lashed out wildly, seemingly escaping his control, but remaining inside his body.

The change affected the sword, too. The weapon didn’t shake, but Liam saw it. Its sharp edges had entered a state of frenzy that twisted his opponent’s figure.

It was becoming hard to look directly at the tall man. It was similar to staring directly at the sun, only applied to invisible tremors rather than blinding light.

Liam didn’t know what that was, but one thing was painfully clear. His black Qi wouldn’t delay anything. His hair stood on end, his animal instincts certain that whatever would come would be deadly.

Now that death had become a possibility so blatantly, Liam forgot all his reservations. Just like the tall man had faced Liam without fear, he would do the same.

’Will one step be enough?’ Liam calculated as he took a deep breath, straightening himself, lifting his left foot, preparing his Qi for the extreme energy build-up that would follow.

However, both Liam and his opponent looked up at the same time. A sword descended, stabbing the ground between them. The short rooting expert stood on its hilt on one leg, throwing a long look at Liam.

Liam’s stance hadn’t changed. He was still standing straight, his foot lifted. He was ready to unleash hell, but his gaze had moved to the short man on the sword.

"I’m Troy of the Heavenly Sword Cult," The short rooting expert announced. "He is Lucas, my martial Brother."

"Was it that bad?" Lucas groaned, his wild presence receding. He broke his battle stance, placing his sword on his shoulder, reaching Troy’s side, and addressing Liam. "Liam, was it? It seems my Brother thought I was in danger."

The mood had shifted, so Liam slowly lowered his foot. Even his black Qi receded, but his gaze darted beyond Lucas and Troy. He could sense those who had kept their distance getting closer.

"Poor beggars were waiting for a spectacle," Lucas announced, reading Liam’s face. "So, we introduced ourselves. What’s your offer?"

"It’s quite simple," Grace declared from behind Liam as she approached his side. "Why go after ingredients when you can obtain alchemical products?"

Lucas’ face lost its carelessness, wearing an empty smile as he looked up at his Brother. The two exchanged a glance, eventually prompting a comment out of Lucas. "The beautiful Sister truly has a way with words."

"You can call me Grace," Grace responded. She looked about to add something but stopped herself when Liam took her hand and glared at Lucas.

"My Unreasonable Brother, don’t get the wrong idea," Lucas lifted his hands in surrender. "Your woman isn’t my type at all. She looks like the kind of Sister who puts men on a leash."

Liam opened his mouth but didn’t say anything. Lucas was right, as highlighted by Grace’s following comment.

"A leash is too loose for my tastes," Grace chuckled, pointing her dangerous smile at Liam. "My dear, isn’t that right?"

"Scary, scary," Lucas shook his head before pointing his thumb behind him, at the still-distant audience Liam had glanced at earlier. "Shall we talk somewhere else? You were heading north, weren’t you?"

Liam held back a nod simply because he had no idea what Grace was plotting. Yet, she performed that gesture for him.

"We’ll escort you north for a while," Lucas said, jumping, letting his sword go so that it could fly under his feet. "Lead the way."

Troy performed a swift gesture with his feet, grabbing and lifting the hilt, freeing the sword from the ground so that he could resume flying on it. Clearly, they were ready to set off and shake off the curious pursuers.

Those flying swords weren’t common items. They might be in the Heavenly Sword Cult, but rank 2 versions that could be used both for flight and combat were unique tools. Grace’s weren’t meant for that, for example.

Liam believed that running would be enough to shake off the curious pursuers in his case, but he didn’t know about Grace. However, she sent him a silent message when she pulled his arm and placed it around her shoulders.

By the time Grace clung to Liam’s neck, he had already lifted her and summoned the fan, stepping on it to fly away at a speed Lucas and Troy could follow.

As for the young men, their eyes had gone wide at the appearance of the fan. They recognized the rank 3 weapon, putting a stiff smile on Lucas’ face.

"Brother, we might have bitten off more than we can chew," Lucas laughed awkwardly before the two flew after their newfound acquaintances.