Dust still swirled where the first ambush had struck.
Li Xuan turned sharply.
Cold light flashed in his eyes.
Then—
Three figures stepped from the darkness.
The black-robed cultivator.
And his two companions.
All wearing devilish smiles.
Their swords gleamed faintly in the dim cave light.
Li Xuan narrowed his eyes.
"...You idiot again."
His tone was calm.
Almost mocking.
The black-robed cultivator's smile twitched.
Then turned colder.
"Yes."
"This idiot…"
"Is going to take your life."
The three advanced together.
Slowly.
Predatory.
Steel rose in their hands.
Then—
They moved.
Three swords cut through the air at once.
Fast.
Merciless.
Li Xuan stepped aside—
Dodging the first strike.
A second blade swept toward his neck.
He lowered himself and avoided it by inches.
The third came from behind.
He twisted away again.
Their attacks were relentless.
Designed to leave no opening.
But Li Xuan remained unnervingly calm.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then—
He saw it.
A flaw.
A brief opening in one companion's guard.
His eyes flashed.
He moved.
Like a sudden shadow—
He slipped through the attacks.
And struck.
Bang—
His fist drove hard into the companion's abdomen.
A heavy impact echoed in the cave.
The man's eyes widened in shock.
His body staggered backward several steps.
Pain twisted his face.
For the first time—
The black-robed cultivator's smile faded.
The three pulled back.
Shock flickered in their eyes.
Then—
A cold smile returned to the black-robed cultivator.
"Interesting."
"But this ends here."
His aura surged.
Spiritual energy gathered around him.
The air trembled.
He raised one hand—
And formed a seal.
At once—
Sword light erupted around him.
One became ten.
Ten became dozens.
Then—
Hundreds of phantom swords appeared in the air,
their sharp tips all pointed toward Li Xuan.
The cave filled with killing intent.
Li Xuan's expression turned serious.
The black-robed cultivator smiled viciously.
"It's over."
He pointed at Li Xuan.
"Go."
Instantly—
Hundreds of swords shot forward.
Like a storm of steel.
Li Xuan moved at once.
Running through the passage as blades rained toward him.
Slash—
Slash—
Sword shadows tore through the air around him.
He dodged desperately,
twisting past one strike after another—
Barely surviving by inches.
Ahead—
A massive stone jutted from the cave wall.
Without hesitation—
He rushed behind it.
Boom!
The first wave struck.
The stone trembled violently.
Then shattered into countless fragments.
Even solid stone could not endure the sword rain.
Shards exploded through the air.
Li Xuan was forced back into the open.
The second wave came.
Too fast.
Too dense.
He avoided most—
But not all.
Slash—
A sword of condensed energy cut across his shoulder.
Blood sprayed.
Another sliced past his side.
Then—
A sharp pain erupted from his arm.
One sword struck the hand where his old wound had yet to heal.
The bandaged flesh tore open.
Fresh blood flowed instantly.
"Agh—!"
Pain surged through him.
Instinctively—
He grabbed the wounded hand with his other hand.
But the sword rain did not stop.
More blades rushed toward him.
Relentless.
Li Xuan gritted his teeth—
And ran again.
Dodging.
Stumbling.
Blood marked his path.
His breathing grew ragged.
His movements slower.
Yet the swords kept coming.
Unending.
Merciless.
A grim thought surfaced.
(At this rate…)
(I won't last long.)
From a distance—
The black-robed cultivator watched.
A cruel smile spread across his face.
"This…"
He said coldly to his companions,
"is the fate of anyone who dares offend me."
Then he raised his hand again.
A violent purple glow condensed at his fingertips.
Li Xuan sensed danger.
But before he could react—
The black-robed cultivator pointed.
A purple beam shot forth.
Fast as lightning.
It struck—
Not Li Xuan—
But the cave ceiling above him.
Boom!
The upper rock wall exploded.
Cracks spread instantly.
Then—
Collapse.
Dozens of massive rocks broke loose.
Falling toward Li Xuan.
His eyes widened.
Too sudden.
Too much.
No room to dodge.
The first boulder crashed down.
Then another.
And another.
Thunderous impacts shook the passage.
Dust erupted in all directions.
Stone after stone buried the place where he stood.
Until only a mound of broken rock remained.
Silence.
Heavy.
Cold.
No movement.
Nothing.
The black-robed cultivator and his companions stared for a moment—
Then laughed.
Cold.
Satisfied.
One companion smirked.
"Buried alive."
"Not even a corpse left whole."
Another shook his head.
"All that struggle…"
"For this."
To them—
Li Xuan was already dead.
The black-robed cultivator stepped forward,
stopping before the mound of rubble.
He looked down with contempt.
A sneer appeared.
"This…"
His voice turned cold.
"Is where trash belongs."
His companions burst into laughter.
The cave echoed with their mockery.
And still—
The pile of rocks remained silent.