Chapter 468: Intimidating the Valley of Heartless Affection
"Regardless of what he was before, it's now certain he has succeeded in awakening his spirit and stepped onto the immortal path."
Master Miejing spoke expressionlessly, though her divine sense continuously swept around Chu Xuedao.
She had sensed that terrifying power earlier—it was absolutely impossible for such might to come from a mere newly awakened cultivator.
The youth before her clearly had a powerful existence behind him, one whose strength was not inferior to their Supreme Elder.
The senior members of the Valley of Heartless Affection also released their divine senses, sweeping through the surroundings. Some even locked their senses directly onto the young man before them.
Chu Xuedao could naturally feel countless gazes falling upon him, yet he was utterly unafraid.
In his eyes, with his mother and two aunts watching from above, the entire Valley of Heartless Affection could not possibly harm him.
He straightened his back and looked up at the valley's masters with a composed expression. "Liu Jiahui, haven't you always wanted to sever our bond? I have come to the Valley of Heartless Affection. Where are you?"
As soon as those words fell, the faces of many valley cultivators changed slightly.
Their sect had never severed emotional ties with other cultivators before.
After all, every cultivator had their own background and allies; no one could be sure that the person they wished to sever ties with did not have a terrifying backer.
The Valley Master frowned. It had been quite some time, and he still hadn't detected any powerful presence. Could it be that this boy had merely been bluffing?
He glared at the youth and said coldly, "Fellow cultivator, since you are here, why not reveal yourself? Do you mean to humiliate my Valley of Heartless Affection by hiding behind a junior? If so, do not blame this old man for bullying the weak."
At that moment, a disdainful female voice floated down from the sky.
"Old man, this immortal lady is standing right above your head. You've simply taken too long to notice me."
The Valley Master's entire body trembled. The other party had been directly above him, yet he hadn't sensed a thing.
That could only mean her cultivation surpassed his own—or that she possessed a treasure capable of concealing her aura.
Either possibility was enough to prove that her background was extraordinary.
The cultivators of the Valley of Heartless Affection all raised their heads. The clouds parted, revealing four young and strikingly beautiful women standing atop a magnificent, multicolored peacock, gazing down upon them from above.
Being looked down upon in such a manner filled the valley's disciples with fury.
If not for the Valley Master's presence, many would have already stepped forward to teach these audacious women a lesson.
When Liu Jiahui saw Li Yingying standing on the peacock's back, her face turned pale once again.
"How could that little girl have also stepped onto the immortal path? How could the Li siblings be blessed with such fortune?"
As she spoke, a deep bitterness rose in her heart. She had exhausted every means to gain entry into the immortal path.
Why was it that the Li siblings could so easily obtain what she had long dreamed of?
The Valley Master finally spoke, his tone cautious. "May I ask which honored ones you are, and for what reason you have chosen to act against my Valley of Heartless Affection?"
His words lacked conviction. He could not see through the cultivation of the three female cultivators, but he had no choice but to maintain composure.
"Hmph."
Chen Qianqian snorted coldly. "Old man, you lowly worldly cultivators are unworthy to know our names. Be sensible and hand over the woman named Liu Jiahui to my junior nephew. Otherwise, your Valley of Heartless Affection will have no reason to exist."
Her words instantly ignited the fury of all the valley's cultivators.
They glared at Chen Qianqian, their eyes filled with killing intent. Many drew their swords and shouted, "Valley Master, allow us to strike down this demoness!"
"That's right! They're only four female cultivators. Since when has our Valley of Heartless Affection ever been afraid?"
The Valley Master's expression darkened to the extreme. He had ruled over the Valley of Heartless Affection for more than a hundred years and was a hegemon across a vast territory.
He had always been treated with deference and respect, yet now these unknown young women dared to flaunt their power before him.
Such humiliation was intolerable. "What arrogant words. Today, this old man shall see how you intend to make my Valley of Heartless Affection cease to exist! Sword, come!"
At his furious shout, a sharp metallic clang rang through the sky.
A chillingly bright sword flew out from deep within the valley and landed in the Valley Master's hand.
The disciples' faces lit up with excitement, and one of them cried out loudly, "The Valley Master is finally serious! Once the Severing Sword is drawn, these insolent fools will surely perish here today!"
Chen Qianqian looked at the sword in the Valley Master's hand, a faint expression of disdain appearing on her face. "I thought you might have some impressive treasure," she said lightly, "but it turns out to be nothing more than a top-grade magical artifact. Even the weakest of my junior nephews in the academy wouldn't bother to look at such a thing."
"Demoness, stop boasting. Today, this old man will let you witness the power of my Severing Sword!"
The Valley Master roared, thrusting his sword toward Chen Qianqian.
One Sword of Severed Affection!
Seeing this, Chen Qianqian casually dropped the black chess piece in her hand.
Tap!
With the sound of the falling piece, the heavens and earth suddenly changed. The fog-covered sky transformed into a massive chessboard.
The moment the black piece appeared, a colossal, demonic hand emerged from the sky, descending upon the Valley of Heartless Affection.
Before the hand even struck, its wind pressure shattered the Valley Master's sword aura completely.
"No!!!"
With a scream, the Valley Master was struck down by the immense hand.
Boom!
A thunderous crash erupted, sending dust and debris rolling across the valley entrance.
When the sound finally faded and the dust settled, the entire valley fell silent.
The disciples of the Valley of Heartless Affection stood frozen in place like statues, staring blankly at the massive palm-shaped crater where their Valley Master now lay motionless, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Whoosh—
A gentle breeze passed, not cold, yet it sent shivers through every cultivator's body.
"Valley Master!"
Someone in the crowd finally shouted, snapping the others out of their stupor.
Cries of alarm filled the air, but not a single person dared to step forward, afraid they might end up like their fallen leader.
Chen Qianqian looked down at the scene, her expression calm and her voice indifferent. "So, who among you still wishes to test this immortal lady's power?"
Silence.
The only response was the sound of the wind whistling through the valley.
Chen Qianqian smiled faintly. "No one? Then this immortal lady will assume all of you are eager to witness it."
As she spoke, another black chess piece appeared between her fingers. Just as she was about to let it fall, an aged voice echoed from within the valley.
"Immortal Lady, please wait!"
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