As the magic power gathered, the four pairs of golden wings behind Shangguan Ruolin became increasingly larger, covering the sky with their grandeur.

The people of the Whirlwind stronghold and the purple-robed cultivator below were all shivering with fear.

Many people, witnessing the eight-winged sword, couldn't help but kneel down.

The purple-robed cultivator was the first to react, desperately trying to escape from the Whirlwind stronghold. However, before he could fly out of the stronghold, a black hand grabbed him, instantly stripping him of his defensive magic tool.

A golden sword mark appeared between Shangguan Ruolin's eyebrows. She rose into the sky with her sword, the four pairs of wings slowly folding in and spinning with her. With a sudden closure, the wings stretched out to both sides. With a resolute look in her eyes, she shouted, "Evil-Breaking in hand, justice spans the land!"

Whoosh!

The Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword was thrown from her hand like a streak of golden lightning slashing down.

Boom!

The Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword struck the center of the Whirlwind stronghold, a strong wave of golden light ripping open a massive rift in the earth. Everyone in the stronghold was sent flying into the sky by the golden wave.

Yet, it wasn't over.

The four pairs of wings behind Shangguan Ruolin followed closely, their golden blades raining down on the stronghold like a storm, turning anyone caught in the golden rain into golden ashes.

From his high vantage point, Shu Han looked down at the cracked mountain and the golden dust pervading the stronghold, drawing a sharp breath.

The magic treasure of the late Foundation Establishment stage was so terrifying!

The first round was a powerful focused strike from the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword, followed by the devastating rain of swords.

Shangguan Ruolin had used this move against mere mortals, partly to demonstrate to Shu Han, and partly because she was truly angered.

This move directly wiped out all the people in the Whirlwind stronghold. Luckily, the purple-robed cultivator had been held in Shu Han's dark hand, sparing him from the disaster. Seeing such a terrifying offensive, he was scared into fainting.

Shangguan Ruolin beckoned, and the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword returned from the ground to her hand. At this point, she was trembling, nearly collapsing in mid-air. Shu Han quickly moved forward to support her.

"Too much magic power was used." Shangguan Ruolin, panting, wiped away the mark of the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword, turning it into a masterless object. She placed it in Shu Han's hand and said, "This sword has accompanied me through the long Foundation Establishment stage. Now I give it to you. You must make good use of it."

Shu Han hesitated, "Linlin, this..."

Shangguan Ruolin laughed, "With my current cultivation, I no longer need this sword. Hurry up and accept it! Don't force me to get angry!" With that, she bit one of Shu Han's fingers and then pointed it at the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword.

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The Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword absorbed Shu Han's blood, immediately connecting with his spirit. They became one.

"This..."

A trace of blood-stained Shangguan Ruolin's lips as she smiled triumphantly at Shu Han, "You stay here and interrogate that cultivator from the Purple Sun Sect. I'll go and rescue the children trapped in the cellar."

"I'll go! You're too tired."

Shangguan Ruolin shook her head, "They all know you, but they haven't seen me in this form." With that, she broke free from Shu Han's hand and flew into the Whirlwind stronghold. Watching Shangguan Ruolin's departing figure, Shu Han could only shake his head helplessly.

Next, he put away the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword and brought the unconscious purple-robed cultivator in front of him with the black claw.

Shu Han released a chill of millennia-old profound ice from his finger, instantly awakening the man.

Seeing Shu Han, he immediately knelt down in mid-air, "Thank you, senior, for saving me. I'm forever grateful."

Shu Han smiled, "You are a cultivator from Purple Sun Sect?"

The man replied, "I am a cultivator of Purple Sun Sect, named Xu Zimo, and my master is the mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator Cheng Yuhuan. I wonder who that lady was just now, why did she attack the Whirlwind stronghold? Could senior inform me, so I can apologize when she returns."

Shu Han asked, "First, answer my question, Xu Zimo. As a member of the Purple Sun Sect, why are you controlling the gangs here?"

Xu Zimo replied, "Replying to senior, I was dispatched by my sect to collect snow lotus from the snow mountain for pill refining. After a while, I realized that even mortals could do this work. Instead of wasting my cultivation time, it was better to hand over this hard labor to the mortals."

Shu Han nodded, "You're clever, controlling the gangs to make the mortals here work for you."

Xu Zimo chuckled, "It's just a little trick, not worth mentioning."

"How old are you this year? When did you reach the eleventh level of Qi Refining? What's your position in the sect? Who are you friends with, and who are your enemies? What supernatural abilities and spells do you master? Come, tell me everything, no detail is too small."

"Eh? Why is senior asking these questions?"

Shu Han's tone turned cold, "When I ask, you answer. What gives you the right to question me?"

Xu Zimo was immediately startled and quickly began to answer Shu Han's questions one by one.

Noticing that Shu Han was interested in his life, Xu Zimo thought that the senior wanted to befriend him. So, he spoke enthusiastically about his life, recounting both big and small events to Shu Han in detail.

Shu Han followed along, making up a bit of his own stories, guiding Xu Zimo's conversation.

The two seemed like friends with no secrets, chatting about everything under the sun.

Listening to this conversation, Shu Han couldn't help but laugh. He thought it was a miracle that someone as naive as Xu Zimo could survive in the deceptive world of cultivation.

Taking a sip of tea, Xu Zimo said, "...So, I temporarily left the blessed land of Purple Sun Sect to experience the vast mortal world. Fortunately, I found these mortals to help, so my cultivation didn't fall behind. Ah, hearing about all the wonders in the cultivation world, I really hope to make a fortune one day and return to the Purple Sun Sect in glory, to slap those who looked down on me."

Shu Han couldn't help but laugh. Then, he calmly said, "Collecting snow lotus is a task that, if you did it yourself, would just be a bit time-consuming, with no danger to your life. But those mortals, carrying the chill of snow lotus, climbing the cliffs, can easily fall to their deaths if they're not careful. I wonder how many mortals have lost their lives for your leisure."

Xu Zimo was taken aback, "What does it matter if mortals die? What does it have to do with cultivators like you and me?"

Shu Han nodded approvingly, "That's right. If I didn't know these mortals, I might ignore what you're doing. But unfortunately, these mortals have saved me and taken me in, so I have to consider things from their perspective. From their perspective, you're the culprit who killed their husbands, fathers, sons."

Hearing this, Xu Zimo became agitated and retorted, "Senior... You... Where are you getting this from?! I've basically been sitting in this stronghold meditating and drinking tea... It's not my fault!"

Whoosh!

A chill erupted from Shu Han's chest, instantly freezing Xu Zimo into an ice sculpture.

"Zhang Village was unfortunate to encounter you, and you were unfortunate to encounter me. Be smarter in your next life."