Without the slightest hesitation, Ian Song stepped into the room.
By the window stood a white-robed old man. As Ian Song entered, the man slowly turned around.
His hair, beard, and eyebrows were all white, giving off an immortal-like aura—this was Ian Song’s first impression of the old man.
His second impression: the old man’s cultivation was extremely high—already at peak Foundation Establishment Realm, a full tier above the Three Holy Lords, likely on par with the founders of the Three Great Empires and Three Great Holy Lands.
Black Heaven Cult Master, is it? What advice do you have for me?
Ian Song walked straight to the chair by the table, sat down, and poured himself a cup of tea as he asked. Kara Moran, upon hearing Ian reveal the old man’s identity, was visibly stunned—the mysterious Black Heaven Cult Master was standing before them.
The old man wasn’t surprised Ian Song had guessed his identity. He said calmly, "I hope you’ll join the Black Heaven Cult."
Ian picked up the teacup, took a sip, frowned, and spat it out. "This is top-grade tea, but it doesn’t suit my taste."
"If it doesn’t suit you, drink it a few more times and you’ll get used to it!" the Black Heaven Cult Master said with a smile.
I may just be a bandit, but I’ve got a picky mouth. Anything that doesn’t suit me, I spit out—never force myself to get used to it.
The Black Heaven Cult Master frowned slightly. "But you owe me a life! How do you plan to repay it?"
Naturally, I’ll repay life with life. But I’ve only got one—if you want it, you’ll have to take it yourself!" Ian said coolly.
Are you sure you won’t reconsider? If you join my Black Heaven Cult, I’ll treat you as my successor!" The Black Heaven Cult Master frowned even deeper.
Ian replied without hesitation, "Nothing to reconsider. We’re not the same kind of people—and as for being your successor, ha! I’m not interested. Here’s some advice, old man: don’t test my patience, or you’ll regret it. That’s all. Susie, Kara, let’s go!"
The Black Heaven Cult Master was thoroughly enraged, his face turning bluish. "Easy to enter, hard to leave. Young friend, I advise you to reconsider."
Ian turned back and flipped him the middle finger. "Listen up, old man—if I dared step in, I’m sure I can walk out. Threaten me again and I’ll cut you down!"
"I don’t believe it!" The Black Heaven Cult Master shook his head, then formed a hand seal. Instantly, the loft’s space twisted, and an invisible barrier shrouded the room.
As soon as the barrier appeared, Ian’s expression changed slightly. He found his sword essence growing heavy, circulating at less than half its normal speed.
It seemed the purpose of this array was to drastically slow an enemy’s true essence.
You feel it, don’t you?
The Black Heaven Cult Master said smugly, "Under this grand array, no one in the world can be my opponent. If you submit to me now and become my slave, I’ll spare your little life!"
What a load of crap! We’re leaving!
Ian Song reached out and grabbed Susie, Kara, and Hannah, flying straight out of the loft with them. The Black Heaven Cult Master didn’t try to stop them—in fact, he looked a little amused.
Not even a mid Heaven-and-Man expert could break this array by force, let alone someone at the late stage.
But in the next instant, his eyes went wide—because Ian Song, carrying the three women, passed through his grand array without the slightest resistance.
"How... how is that possible?!"
The Black Heaven Cult Master’s eyes were full of disbelief.
Since courtesy demands reciprocity—Black Heaven Cult Master, take a move from me!
Once outside the array’s range, Ian Song summoned his bronze flying sword, took the three women into the sky, and drew his Azure Lotus Sword. He called down, Sword Essence Slash roaring with Sovereign Sword Intent.
This was his biggest, strongest attack.
A flash of silver-white sword-light streaked out and vanished. In the next moment, the barrier around Moonview Pavilion’s loft shattered, and the entire top-floor pavilion seemed to age and erode in an instant, crumbling into dust.
But one figure shot out from the ruins like lightning, fleeing far into the distance.
"Is he an immortal?"
"He’s flying on a sword in the sky! That’s definitely an immortal’s trick!"
Countless people craned their necks, staring up at Ian Song and his group in awe.
To escape alive from my strongest attack—well, that’s at least a little impressive! Ian Song snorted, and directed his flying sword to chase after the Black Heaven Cult Master.
Sword-riding flight!
"Young master, is this really happening? Are we actually flying in the sky?" Susie clung tightly to Ian Song’s arm, asking in shock.
Kara Moran, beside her, was not only stunned but also looked at Ian Song with a hint of envy in her eyes.
"Of course it’s real. What, did you think you were dreaming?" Ian Song lightly tapped Susie’s nose as he teased her.
"Young master, are you an immortal?" Susie asked again.
"Of course not! I’m still a hundred thousand miles away from being an immortal—but one day, I’ll be both immortal and divine!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ian Song sped up, and within a few breaths, he caught up to the Black Heaven Cult Master.
"Black Heaven Cult Master, I’ll give you a chance too—become my slave, and I’ll spare your life!" Ian shouted down.
Pfft!
Hearing Ian Song’s words, the Black Heaven Cult Master spat out a mouthful of old blood. He’d calculated everything—except that Ian’s strength would be this terrifying, not only breaking his array but also badly injuring him.
When the old man didn’t answer, Ian Song casually slashed out a few sword strikes.
Sword-qi roared down, forcing the Black Heaven Cult Master to dodge in a frantic, humiliating scramble.
When the sword-qi faded, Ian Song chopped out another casual strike, sending the Black Heaven Cult Master leaping and ducking all over again. Kara Moran watched, growing suspicious—was this really the legendary Black Heaven Cult Master?
"Ian Song, if you have the guts, just kill me! Why keep humiliating me like this?"
The Black Heaven Cult Master roared up at the sky.
Ian Song sneered, "Please. If you’d stop dodging, a single sword-qi would be enough to finish you off. You’re the one scared of dying, and you blame me for humiliating you? The older you get, the thicker your skin!"
"...You...!"
"Wah!"
The Black Heaven Cult Master spat out another mouthful of old blood, pointing at Ian Song, "You’re going too far!"
Ian Song’s face turned cold. "Am I? Seems to me you’re the one who started this. I was about to leave, but you thought you had me in the bag. Now look—hoist with your own petard! You deserve every bit of this!"
"Wah wah!"
This time, the Black Heaven Cult Master spat blood and rolled his eyes, fainting on the spot.
Activating Clairvoyant Vision, Ian Song checked and confirmed the old man wasn’t faking. He landed with Susie, Kara, and Hannah beside the unconscious Black Heaven Cult Master, quickly tapping out five layers of Puppet Mastery Divine Art into his sea of consciousness.
The Black Heaven Cult Master was seriously injured.
He’d barely escaped Ian Song’s Sword Essence Slash, but was gravely wounded. Only his powerful zhenyuan let him flee dozens of miles, but after Ian’s taunts and attacks, his injuries flared up and he fainted from blood loss.
Enslaving the Black Heaven Cult Master was even easier than expected.
Next, Ian Song used Radiance of Life to heal his wounds. The old man slowly regained consciousness.