After the long night had passed, a ray of dawn pierced the thick clouds, and the Imperial City of Shi Country welcomed the bright sunshine once again.
In front of the Earth Temple in the east of the city was a wide, flat clearing, surrounded by knee-high weeds that almost completely enveloped the structure, forming a relatively isolated and distinct area.
The place was dilapidated and desolate. Even the deity statue enshrined inside was thick with dust, its true form obscured; clearly, no worshippers had come to tend to it in a very long time.
Yet for Qin Haotian, it was simply an excellent place for temporary shelter and martial arts practice. Moreover, the lodging was free, making it ideal for someone who was currently penniless.
At this moment, he was holding his breath and concentrating, wielding a pitch-black longsword against the wind. His figure flashed and shifted, graceful and agile, and with every single move, a fierce and pervasive aura flickered with cold light.
Last night, Qin Haotian had committed the entire set of formulas and key points of the Supreme Emotion-Severing Slash to memory. What he was practicing now was precisely the opening first form: A Sword Apart from the World! Accompanying him, naturally, was the bloodthirsty Netherworld Demonic Sword.
The sword was over four feet long, broad and majestic in design, its surface carved with delicate and abstruse runic patterns. Its entire body was as black as ink, surrounded by deep purple arcs of electricity, yet the blade and edge were covered in notches and cracks, clearly having suffered severe damage and destruction in some great battle, its former majesty no longer present.
Additionally, a snow-white, jade-like bead was embedded in the hilt—smooth and round, casting a faint scarlet glow whenever Qin Haotian executed a move.
By now, he had bound it with his blood, allowing him to wield it as naturally as his own arm, gradually achieving the synergy of man and sword as one.
"Hah—!"
With a long roar, Qin Haotian leaped into mid-air, channeling all the energy within his body and swinging downward with mighty force. The Netherworld Demonic Sword descended with unstoppable momentum.
In an instant, a boulder weighing several hundred catties shattered with a roar, turning into countless tiny dust particles and debris that flew into the air, drifting everywhere in the turbulent morning wind.
With this, the first form of the Supreme Emotion-Severing Slash was finally mastered!
"As expected of the top-tier peerless art of the Ruthless Sword Dao!"
"Such tyrannical power is truly terrifying!"
Landing back on the ground, as the dust cleared away and he looked at the destruction he had wrought with his own hands, Qin Haotian could not help but gasp, secretly startled.
An ordinary martial artist of the Xiantian Realm could never unleash such a terrifying sword technique. This was largely thanks to the might of the Supreme Emotion-Severing Slash, as well as the massive improvement brought by the Hunyuan Heaven-Repairing Pill, which had laid a solid foundation.
"At this rate of cultivation, it won't be long before I can roam the world unhindered and go wherever I please!"
Achieving such brilliant progress in just a single day left Qin Haotian thoroughly satisfied.
Feeling emotional, he turned back into the dilapidated temple, found the idle Devouring Demon Gourd, bit his index finger, and pressed it against the gourd to drip his blood upon it.
Just like the Netherworld Demonic Sword, because it was a system reward, it already belonged to Qin Haotian. The refinement process was effortless; with just two soft hums, the gourd obediently submitted and acknowledged him as its master.
Having secured two major assets back-to-back, Qin Haotian's confidence soared, and he prepared to practice the subsequent sword techniques.
Right at that moment, his gaze sharpened as the sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside, accompanied by conversation.
"Could anyone possibly live in a dump like this?"
"Is the information even reliable? Don't waste our time for nothing!"
"It's correct. I heard that brat was driven out of the manor and has nowhere to go."
"If he doesn't want to sleep on the streets, he can only take shelter in a broken temple like this."
"Qin, we know you're inside. Get out here right now!"
Hearing this, Qin Haotian immediately understood that these people had come for him.
"Since you've all arrived, what business do you have with me?"
With that, holding the Netherworld Demonic Sword, Qin Haotian walked out of the temple doors with an air of defiance.
Several burly men surrounded the dilapidated temple, their eyes filled with malice.
"Qin Haotian, it really is you, brat!"
"You still owe a hefty tab for wine at Zuixian Tower. Isn't it time to settle it now?"
"We're here today to settle this score with you!"
Hearing this, Qin Haotian frowned.
Over the past three years, the original body had indeed frequently gone to Zuixian Tower to drink, but Zuixian Tower had never once asked him to pay for the alcohol.
The original body had assumed the other party was currying favor out of respect for War King Manor.
Now that he had been cast out of War King Manor, they were in such a rush to cause trouble?
Naturally, Qin Haotian did not know that Zuixian Tower enjoyed a prestigious reputation within the Imperial City of Shi Country.
Those who frequented it were high-ranking officials, nobles, and powerful aristocratic clans. Its true owner was none other than the Li Family, a top-tier aristocratic clan in the Imperial City. Just as these men said, the former Qin Haotian had indeed eaten and drank for free at Zuixian Tower, never paying a cent, which resulted in a mountain of debt.
In fact, there was another hidden reason: these shady dealings were all secretly manipulated by Third Princess Shi Luoyan.
Her aim was to make Qin Haotian indulge in false flattery and compliments, living a carefree life of free meals and drinks while sinking deeper into exorbitant debts that he could never repay.
Now that she knew Qin Haotian had been kicked out of the manor, she was seizing the opportunity to strike. Shi Luoyan's ultimate goal was to force Qin Haotian to leave the Imperial City so she could carry out her plans.
Qin Haotian also sensed that something was amiss.
Indeed, there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
Yet, being completely penniless at the moment, he naturally had no money to pay them back.
"You've wasted a trip. I don't have any money on me."
As soon as those words fell, the man standing on the left clenched his fists, stepped forward, and shouted aggressively.
"No money?"
"Before we came, our boss gave us instructions. If you can't pay up, we're to beat you half to death and then drive you out of the Imperial City."
It seemed things could not be resolved peacefully today.
"Then why don't you give it a try?"
Without wasting words, Qin Haotian raised the Netherworld Demonic Sword and flicked it with his finger, producing a series of crisp dragon-like hums.
"This sword hasn't tasted blood since it came into my hands."
"Today, since the opportunity has presented itself, I'll use the few of you to break it in!"
To their surprise, the men from Zuixian Tower burst into loud laughter, their faces full of mockery and disdain.
Naturally, they had long since learned that Qin Haotian was a good-for-nothing who had never practiced martial arts.
Wielding a sword now—who did he think he was trying to scare?
"Qin Haotian, if you have the guts, kill us."
"I'd like to see what skills a piece of trash like you actually has!"
This was the first time in his life Qin Haotian had ever heard such a request.
"Since you insist, I'll oblige you."
Before his words faded, Qin Haotian's hand lightly pressed against the hilt, and a razor-sharp edge crept across his bright face.
Instantly, he pivoted his body and executed the sword technique he had just mastered.
A Sword Apart from the World! Before those men could even react, a violent gust of wind whipped up across the open ground, and an invisible sword qi accompanied by a tearing sound lunged straight toward them.
In a split second, they became ghosts beneath his sword, perishing instantly! Perhaps none of them had even managed to see what method Qin Haotian used to send them to their deaths.
They would simply have to take their questions to the King of Hell.
Immediately afterward, Qin Haotian abruptly noticed that the white jade pearl on the hilt was acting strangely, turning blood-red and shining brilliantly at a visible speed.
With a soft hum, the air at the blade's edge began to twist and churn, forming a tiny whirlpool that drew in transparent points of light drifting from the three corpses, absorbing them in an instant.
Qin Haotian quickly realized that the Netherworld Demonic Sword was absorbing their souls to repair its own damage and enhance its power.
"Truly extraordinary!"
The surprises didn't end there. Before long, a wave of energy surged back through his palm, flowing into his body like a clear stream.
Nourished by the power of the souls, Qin Haotian felt as refreshed as if he were bathed in a spring breeze, and a wicked smile gradually spread across his face.
Tasting the sensation of killing for the very first time produced a subtle shift within his heart.
The next moment, a message echoed in his mind.
"First kill in the Houtian Realm, Slaughter Value +1!"
A look of astonishment crossed Qin Haotian's face before he quickly returned to normal.
So, killing yielded Slaughter Value.
No wonder it was called the Ruthless Sword Dao!
Once this path was chosen, one was destined to wield slaughter!