Chapter 568 - 378: The Twelve-Storied Tower of Cultivation

A flicker of emotion surfaced in Tang Yuchu's eyes.

She was surprised. Surprised that these ants, as insignificant as dust in her eyes, could remain so calm.

In her long life of cultivation, she had seen far too many people grovel and plead before absolute power.

So, when she witnessed this group's unyielding spirit—a willingness to die rather than submit—she was genuinely taken aback.

Her gaze slowly fell upon the blind man who had dared to draw his sword on her.

Sword Yi was half-kneeling on the ground, blood trickling from his lips, his aura feeble. The longsword that had been his companion for years was now dust, yet he held his spine straight, like a sharp blade that would sooner shatter than bend.

"You," Tang Yuchu began, her voice as cold as ever. "Submit to me. I can bestow upon you the Supreme Sword Dao and even... heal your eyes."

In her mind, nothing could be more tempting to a Swordsman than superior Swordsmanship and the return of his sight. She was confident no one could refuse such an offer.

However, what answered her was a sudden burst of laughter.

"Heh... heheh... HAHAHAHA!"

Sword Yi burst out laughing. It began as a low sneer, but quickly grew louder, more brazen, tinged with an unspeakable, sorrowful madness that echoed through the deathly silent underground space.

He laughed so hard he doubled over, his body shaking as if he'd just heard the most absurd joke in the world.

Tang Yuchu's brow furrowed. She couldn't understand what this dying ant was laughing about. His laughter filled her with a strange irritation.

Chen Guan's face changed, and he barked, "Insolent cur! You face death, yet you dare act so wantonly in her presence!"

Sword Yi's laughter came to an abrupt halt.

He slowly raised his head, his empty eye sockets seeming to focus with an infinite sharpness as he stared in Tang Yuchu's direction.

"Did you think," his voice was hoarse but unshakably firm, "that everyone in this world is willing to grovel and become your lackey?"

Every word landed with the force of a hammer blow.

In the command room, Old Ghost and the others stared blankly at the screen. At the sight of that blood-soaked but unyielding figure, their eyes began to well with tears.

Alina stared, mesmerized, at Sword Yi's profile. His face, normally cold as iron, was now so vibrant and brilliant she felt her heart skip a beat.

Master Jie Nian pressed his palms together and quietly chanted a Buddhist mantra, "Cyber Bodhisattva... Well said, well said." The disciples behind him also wore solemn expressions, their eyes filled with admiration for Sword Yi.

Tang Yuchu's expression grew progressively colder.

She nodded slightly, her voice flat, without a single ripple. "Very well. It seems you ants all possess a ridiculous sort of backbone."

She extended a slender finger, pointing to Sword Yi and the others behind him—Alina, Master Jie Nian—as if picking out lambs for the slaughter.

"Since you are so eager to die," a cold arc formed on her lips, her beautiful phoenix eyes holding no trace of mercy, only indifference and killing intent, "then, I shall grant you your wish."

The instant her words faded, a terrifying pressure, far more immense than before, erupted from her.

The pressure was tangible, heavy as a mountain, making the entire underground space groan under the strain. Sword Yi and the others felt their bones creak, as if they would be crushed to dust by the terrifying force at any moment.

In the command room, Old Ghost's eyes bulged with fury. He slammed his fists on the control console, frantically searching for any way to fight back.

However, it was all in vain.

In the face of absolute power, all technology, all intellect, seemed utterly useless.

"No!" Old Ghost despaired completely.

At the same time, on the screen, Tang Yuchu slowly raised her hand. A ghostly blue light began to coalesce in her palm, radiating a heart-stopping, destructive aura.

Just in the nick of time!

"Stop!"

A sharp command suddenly rang out!

Then, a figure shot down from the elevator shaft above, fast as a lightning strike, landing instantly in front of Sword Yi and the others.

"BOOM—!"

The ghostly blue energy sphere in Tang Yuchu's palm shot out, colliding head-on with the figure that had just appeared!

A violent shockwave of energy exploded outward from the point of impact, whipping everyone's clothes about. The weaker among them struggled to stay on their feet.

Dust filled the air and debris flew.

As the last of the energy dissipated, everyone could see that the person standing before Sword Yi and the others was none other than Wu Liangchen!

At this moment, Wu Liangchen was still in his familiar combat suit, but his entire aura had undergone a world-shaking change.

He stood there quietly, his posture as straight as a sword. As he blinked, a faint golden light shimmered in his eyes. An indescribable sense of majesty and pressure radiated from him, in no way inferior to that of Tang Yuchu!

He had taken Tang Yuchu's fatal blow. Although his body swayed slightly and he staggered back half a step, he quickly stabilized himself.

Tang Yuchu, on the other hand, wore a rare expression of utter astonishment. She stared at Wu Liangchen, her gaze intense, as if trying to see right through him.

"Devouring Spirit True Understanding?"

At these words, it wasn't just her expression that changed drastically—so did Chen Guan's, who stood behind her.

'How is this possible!'

After all, the Devouring Spirit True Understanding was infamous in their Celestial Profound Sect as a trash-tier Cultivation Technique!