A strange ripple of light, centered on Li Shuang, instantly spread outwards.
The demonic cultivators who were rushing towards Li Shuang suddenly seemed to daze for a moment.
Then.
The pupils of all the demonic cultivators touched by the ripple instantly became unfocused.
Thud, thud.
The sound of bodies falling filled the courtyard.
The once incredibly noisy courtyard fell into an eerie silence.
But the silence lasted only for an instant.
The other demonic cultivators, who had already lost their minds, continued to charge towards Li Shuang.
However.
As soon as any demonic cultivator entered the range of Li Shuang's sword domain, their expressions would become unfocused. And once the Soul Severing move was unleashed, another pile of corpses would appear.
This scene.
It was simply too bizarre.
Ye Zhaozhao's lips trembled involuntarily.
"System! What is this!" Ye Zhaozhao's voice quivered.
Even the system fell silent for a moment.
After a long pause.
The system slowly said, "This is... a Soul Art."
Ye Zhaozhao's pupils suddenly constricted.
Soul Art?
What is a Soul Art!
The system explained: "The inheritance in our world is incomplete. Most of the secret manuals passed down focus on using spiritual energy, but there are almost no methods for using soul power. In the Central Continent, there might be sects with inheritances spanning tens or even hundreds of thousands of years, who have repaired ancient secret manuals and restored Soul Arts."
"But in this Southern Azure Continent, currently, there is no complete inheritance of Soul Arts. Even if there is, it's incomplete."
"A Soul Art is the development of soul power. Not a superficial application, but a true manifestation of this power."
"Before, Luo Mingyue's soul detection on you wasn't a Soul Art; it was merely the crudest form of soul pressure. Unless the difference in soul realm is too vast, or it's a case of a spirit possessing a body, the opponent wouldn't be significantly affected."
"Li Shuang's sword move... is a true Soul Art. Her soul realm has reached the mid-stage Nascent Soul, and these demonic cultivators specialize in body refinement. Their greatest weakness, however, happens to be their soul."
"This sword move directly targets the soul. In the future... anyone whose soul realm is inferior to Li Shuang's will likely be affected by this move. Li Shuang... has forged a new path."
After speaking, the system couldn't help but sigh.
Li Shuang's talent was originally only considered top-tier in the Southern Azure Continent.
But now.
She had comprehended a Soul Art, and this was just the first form. If she continued to comprehend, and further researched the second and third forms, her future achievements would be immeasurable.
Even the top geniuses of the Central Continent would probably be no more than this.
Ye Zhaozhao's expression subtly changed.
What Soul Art!
What soul realm!
What new path!
She only half-understood, but she could hear the emotion in the system's words.
Did the system also think Li Shuang was amazing?
It's just a sword move!
Is it really worth such praise!
Ye Zhaozhao's face darkened: "It's just a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse."
The system sighed again: "I hope you can stumble upon one too, someday."
Ye Zhaozhao immediately became furious: "What do you mean? Are you saying I'm not as good as her?"
The system immediately stated: "I didn't say that, you did."
Ye Zhaozhao couldn't help but tremble with anger.
This damn system!
If she didn't still need it, she would slice it up and eat it!
While Ye Zhaozhao was talking to the system.
In the courtyard.
Bodies lay strewn across the ground.
All the attacking demonic cultivators were annihilated.
Li Shuang's few sword strikes left those around her with wide-open mouths.
"Li, Fellow Daoist Li..." Ye Qing'er stammered, "Your sword move..."
She wanted to say something, but after a long pause, she could only manage three words: "So powerful."
Li Shuang smiled at her: "Thank you."
Ye Qing'er's face flushed slightly.
Li Shuang glanced at Liu Bai's body, which was slowly disappearing on the ground, and hesitated before speaking: "Your Dao Companion..."
Ye Qing'er looked at Liu Bai's body, remained silent for a moment, then said: "He's no longer my Dao Companion."
When he tricked her into coming here.
When she personally thrust that sword, their entanglement had already been severed by her own hand.
Now Liu Bai was dead, but she was alive. This could only be attributed to the different choices they made.
And she, in fact, was not out of danger.
But this time, regardless of life or death, if she died, she would have a clear conscience, and that was enough.
Li Shuang nodded, then walked towards the trembling cultivators opposite them.
These cultivators had not entered the demonic path, but they also hadn't chosen to stand with her.
They were not affected by the bloody aura and still retained their rationality. When the demonic path had the absolute upper hand, they had not hesitated to strike from the sidelines.
Later, seeing that the situation was not right, they hid to the side and watched.
Now.
The attacking demonic cultivators were annihilated by Li Shuang alone.
The expressions of these people became fearful.
"Fairy, Fairy Li! We are also innocent victims who were deceived! Our actions against you earlier were completely out of necessity!"
"Yes, yes, with our meager cultivation, we couldn't possibly harm the Fairy."
"I heard that the Sword Sect is a righteous sect and would never harm ordinary people like us."
"If the Fairy spares us this once, we will surely follow your lead from now on!"
These people spoke over each other.
Their lives now rested solely on Li Shuang's whim.
Li Shuang looked at them calmly: "You are indeed not demonic cultivators."
These people breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yes, yes, we haven't joined the demonic path."
Li Shuang said calmly: "I said, anyone who stands against me will be killed without mercy."
The expressions of these people changed.
Li Shuang drew her sword and thrust it down expressionlessly.
However.
The next moment.
A figure blocked the sword. The Black Abyss Sword pierced directly into Ye Zhaozhao's chest.
Li Shuang narrowed her eyes and withdrew her sword.
Ye Zhaozhao clutched her wound, looking weak: "Fellow Daoist Li, it's best to be merciful when you can! They are just victims. Now that we are all safe, why must you kill them all?"
Li Shuang looked at her expressionlessly.
Ye Zhaozhao put on a gentle and kind facade: "Fellow Daoist Li, I know you are not a bloodthirsty person. Too many people have died today. Please give me some face and spare these innocent people."
Seeing someone plead for them, those people echoed her words.
"Yes, we are actually victims too."
"You can't kill us."
Li Shuang suddenly smiled at Ye Zhaozhao.
Ye Zhaozhao was stunned for a moment.
The next moment.
Sword light flashed.
The sword light swept past her shoulder, and strands of broken hair fell.
Ye Zhaozhao's face instantly turned pale.
She turned around somewhat stiffly.
Behind her...
The people who had been shouting moments ago were now also corpses.
Their eyes were wide open, as if they had never expected Li Shuang to strike so suddenly.