Chapter Twenty-Seven: Taking a Maidservant, Slaying the Black Dragon

An Miaoling did not answer; instead, she gazed at the beautiful woman with stubborn defiance.

"It seems I must get serious," the woman remarked. As she spoke, she condensed a massive palm in the air.

"Prisoner-Dragon Palm!"

The giant palm lunged toward An Miaoling. Instantly, she activated the Time-Space Token, and Qin Tian’s spiritual form emerged from within.

Boom!

The woman’s palm dissipated into nothingness. She wore a look of apprehension; even her own father could not manifest such a formidable spiritual entity.

"Who are you?" the woman demanded.

"Since you insist on bullying the weak, I will show you what it truly means to bully the weak."

Without another word, Qin Tian charged forward.

"Ancestral Dragon Claw! Ancestral Dragon Ascending to Heaven!"

He unleashed a flurry of powerful martial techniques upon the woman. Though she was a formidable expert at the second level of the Saint Realm, she could not withstand Qin Tian’s high-tier Emperor-grade techniques. She was coughing up blood after the very first exchange.

Just as Qin Tian prepared to continue his assault, the woman relented. "Senior, I was wrong. Please show mercy."

Qin Tian halted and said coldly, "Serve me as a handmaiden, and I will spare your life."

A handmaiden? The woman was stunned. She was a prestigious second-level Saint Realm expert and the Grand Elder of the Yiyuan Sect—and he wanted her to be a servant?

"Senior, isn't that request a bit excessive?"

"Excessive? Why didn't you talk about being excessive when you attacked my disciple?" Qin Tian retorted coldly. "If you refuse, I will kill you and annihilate your sect."

The woman’s expression turned bitter.

An Miaoling sent a telepathic message: "Master, you aren't actually interested in her, are you?"

"Do you think your master is that kind of person?" Qin Tian replied. "This woman has decent potential. If we cultivate her, she can assist you with your revenge in the future."

"Really?" An Miaoling was still skeptical.

"Of course. We will recruit others with potential for our Hidden Sword Peak, and she can be stationed at the Spirit Sword Pavilion. We will keep the Hidden Sword Pavilion for ourselves," Qin Tian explained.

"May I ask who you are, Senior?" the woman asked.

"I am Qin Tian. Have you decided? I don't have much patience left." Qin Tian’s spiritual form could not last long, and he had no desire to waste time.

The woman gritted her teeth. "I can agree, but I need a fortnight. In half a month, I will come to find you."

"Very well. Come to the Hidden Sword Peak of the Kunlun Sword Sect in fifteen days."

The woman nodded in agreement. She knew of the Kunlun Sword Sect, but according to her intelligence, their strongest member was only Xu Ming, a first-level Saint Realm expert. Where did such a powerhouse come from? Perhaps only seeing him in person would provide the answer.

"What is your name?" Qin Tian asked.

"Shangguan Ya!"

Qin Tian nodded, and his spiritual form retreated into the Ice Glass Sword and vanished. Now, only Shangguan Ya and An Miaoling remained; as for Mo Xiu, he had long since fled in terror. The two women stood in silence, waiting.

Awoo—!

Suddenly, three dragon roars echoed, and a fierce gale swept across the area. One black dragon and two golden dragons descended rapidly, tumbling through the air before transforming into three burly men clad in dragon robes.

"Shangguan Ya, the Dragon Cave claims this Holy Spirit Fruit. You may leave!"

Shangguan Ya’s beautiful eyes widened. "I did not expect all three Saint Dragons of the Dragon Cave to appear," she said gravely.

An Miaoling gripped her Ice Glass Sword, looking worried, as the Time-Space Token could only be used once in a short period.

"When will Senior arrive?" Shangguan Ya whispered.

"It should be soon; I notified him earlier."

"Perhaps we should retreat," Shangguan Ya suggested. "The black dragon is a third-level Saint, and the golden dragons are second-level. I am no match for them."

An Miaoling nodded and prepared to leave.

"Wait, little girl, you cannot leave."

An Miaoling looked over to see greed shining in the black dragon’s eyes. She realized with a sinking heart that her ancient bloodline had been discovered.

"Hahaha! An ancient Ice Phoenix bloodline combined with a Holy Spirit Fruit—Heaven truly favors me! It seems my path to the Emperor Realm is finally open," the black dragon exclaimed excitedly.

Hearing this, Shangguan Ya realized the significance of An Miaoling’s identity. She felt compelled to protect her; otherwise, she would face a terrible fate once Qin Tian arrived.

"Three Saint Dragons, this girl is the disciple of a powerful senior," Shangguan Ya warned. "That senior is someone I cannot afford to offend, and I hope you three will be cautious and let her go!"

"Let her go? Do you think that is possible?" the black dragon sneered. "Once I absorb her bloodline and ascend to the Emperor Throne, who in the Eastern Continent will be able to oppose me?" He looked utterly crazed.

The black dragon lunged toward An Miaoling, followed closely by the two golden dragons. Just as the black dragon was about to reach her, a sword streaked through the air and embedded itself in the ground before her. A potent aura of death radiated from the blade.

The three Saint Dragons stopped in their tracks, shocked.

"This... is this an Emperor weapon?"

The black dragon could not believe it. The aura of the sword before him surpassed his very understanding. Even the Dragon Emperor’s own blade was inferior to this one. Shangguan Ya was equally stunned; she began to look forward to meeting her future master.

Under their expectant gazes, Qin Tian emerged from the forest with a faint smile.

Seeing Qin Tian, a beautiful curve formed on An Miaoling’s lips. Shangguan Ya and the three Saint Dragons turned their eyes to him.

"Spirit Realm?" They looked behind Qin Tian, assuming he could not be the master of such a sword—the true owner must be an Emperor-level powerhouse. Shangguan Ya felt a sense of relief; serving an Emperor was something she could accept.

But they were disappointed. Even as Qin Tian walked up to An Miaoling and pulled the sword from the ground, no one else appeared.

The black dragon was overjoyed. Did I strike gold? Eat the fruit, absorb the bloodline, reach the Emperor Realm, and obtain a powerful Emperor weapon? He laughed aloud at the thought!

"Is this dragon a fool?" Qin Tian asked with disdain.

Hearing this, Shangguan Ya could not help but cover her mouth to stifle a laugh.

"Brat, you are courting death!" The black dragon threw a punch.

Qin Tian activated the second level of the Indestructible Body of All Things, his physique becoming incredibly powerful. He raised his hand, caught the dragon's fist, and countered with an elbow strike that sent the black dragon flying. The two golden dragons were stunned—a boy in the Spirit Realm had knocked their leader away with a single move?

The black dragon transformed into his true form and flew back, filled with rage. He had only been testing the boy before and hadn't used his full strength.

"You're quite durable! I hope you can give me more surprises."

"Dragon Transformation!"

Qin Tian utilized his "Self-Manifestation of All Things" technique, his body shrouded in a black dragon phantom. Moreover, the dragon he manifested emanated a more imposing aura than the black dragon himself.

The black dragon’s eyes bulged. "Impossible! This is fake, it's just an illusion!" He charged at Qin Tian in a frenzy.

Qin Tian remained calm and began to deploy the Dragon Clan’s secret arts.

"Ancestral Dragon Claw! Ancestral Dragon Ascending to Heaven!"

A series of attacks left the black dragon coughing up dragon blood. In truth, had he used the Life-Death Sword with his sword techniques, he could have slain the black dragon in two strikes. But he refrained; he preferred the raw, visceral feeling of physical combat.

After a few exchanges, the black dragon was beaten into submission. Seeing an opening, he tried to turn and flee. Qin Tian flicked his mind, and the Life-Death Sword shot out, piercing the black dragon's skull instantly.

The sight terrified the two golden dragons, freezing them in their tracks.