"Hiss!"
A cavalryman's spear pierced the air, its tip carrying a wisp of thin True Qi, aimed directly at Lang Xing's heart.
"Seeking death?"
The Star River realm demon race sword cultivator's expression turned ferocious. Without a second thought, he raised his sword. Instantly, the cavalryman's spear shattered into iron dust, and his body, along with his warhorse, dissolved into a shower of blood. The wrathful strike of a Tenth Realm sword cultivator was incredibly potent; a mere First Realm martial artist stood no chance.
But as Lang Xing beheaded the cavalryman, a golden copper coin and a Buddhist prayer bead, imbued with dense spiritual energy, flew towards him from mid-air. These were the attacks of two accompanying cultivators, one Fourth Realm and the other Fifth. In the army, they were considered quite skilled and respected, but before a Star River realm sword cultivator, they were nothing.
As Lang Xing's thoughts raced, wisps of sword intent condensed into a sword aura, guarding his surroundings. A sinister grin played on his lips, "With just you lot!?"
However, at that very second, a stream of sword energy from the jungle behind him enveloped Lang Xing's forehead. He felt an ominous premonition. Indeed, in the next moment, that damnable Level 40 Apprentice Swordsman returned. A sword energy impact slammed hard into Lang Xing's body, causing the Star River realm sword cultivator to tremble. He was once again stunned, his protective sword aura instantly collapsing. Two bloody holes were then punched through his chest by the golden copper coin and prayer bead, his health bar dropping by another 18%.
He finally realized that this brat was vastly different from the Great Shang cavalrymen and accompanying cultivators. He possessed some kind of Heavenly Dao protection. This was why he couldn't kill him. But such protection had its limits. So, in this moment, Lang Xing gritted his teeth. He would kill this brat first, then slaughter all these Great Shang cavalrymen!
"Come on, I'll play with you!"
Lang Xing abruptly turned, his blade flicking. A stream of sword energy descended from the heavens, blanketing Lin Zhao's head. Immediately, dozens of sword energies whistled down. This was Lang Xing's proudest killing move, honed through his travels in the demon realm: "Sword Qi Descends from Heaven!"
Bad omen!
Lin Zhao retreated without a second thought, his left hand gently sweeping. Sword intent surged from within him, transforming into sword auras to guard his surroundings. He even preemptively downed a large health potion. In the next second, with explosive roars, streams of Star River realm sword energy smashed against Lin Zhao's protective sword aura. In an instant, the thin Level 4 protective sword aura seemed on the verge of shattering. His nearly 8,000 health points plummeted to less than 3,000!
Too ruthless! Da Feng Novel Network
He raised his eyebrows sharply, realizing that the Level 48 Dark Gold boss, Lang Xing, couldn't be treated as a mere Level 48 boss. He was a major character in the questline, a demon race sword cultivator with Star River realm power! His offensive might far exceeded that of a Level 48 Dark Gold boss!
"Hurry!"
Han Yi, brandishing his steel spear, thrust it forward. The spear tip pierced Lang Xing's back, leaving a bloody mark. But Lang Xing ignored Han Yi's attack and the assault from the Great Shang cavalrymen, focusing solely on channeling his sword intent and sword energy, relentlessly attacking Lin Zhao, who was almost fleeing in disarray.
"Still not dead!?"
Lang Xing let out a piercing cry and shot into the air. A straight thrust aimed for Lin Zhao's heart. Simultaneously, a flying sword shot out from Lang Xing's Sword Reservoir, transforming into a frost imbued with ice and snow power. It circled behind Lin Zhao, launching a fatal blow towards his back. This was undoubtedly a pincer attack, intended to instantly kill this troublesome opponent.
His body felt as if it had fallen into an ice cellar. A sense of impending death enveloped Lin Zhao. But at this moment, he did not panic. He hadn't panicked when facing the Thirteenth Realm Great Demon Bai Lan on Xueyu Tianchi in the past. Even if he died now, it wasn't a true death, so why should he panic? In the next second, just as Lang Xing's sword and flying sword were about to pierce his body, Lin Zhao suddenly unleashed a horizontal "Draw Sword Slash"!
The damage of Draw Sword Slash was irrelevant; it wouldn't hurt Lang Xing. But the 3-yard displacement effect could save his life!
"Swish!"
In an instant, Lin Zhao completed a short horizontal movement. The moment he shifted his body, a flying sword shot through the air, and Lang Xing's sword also danced in the air, forming a dazzling sword flower. Unfortunately, both attacks missed.
"You dare toy with me!?"
Lang Xing raised an eyebrow and once again swung his sword at Lin Zhao.
This time, Lin Zhao no longer intended to solely evade. Under the horrified gazes of the Great Shang cavalrymen and accompanying cultivators, he raised his sword and charged forward. The moment he took a sword blow on his shoulder, the Blazing Flame Necklace around his neck glowed. It activated its special skill, "Silent Blade." Instantly, a purple aura enveloped the tip of the Qinglu Sword, and it struck Lang Xing's body, causing a question mark to appear above his head. He had been silenced and could no longer use any skills!
"What are you waiting for!?"
Lin Zhao retreated with quick steps, shouting, "Attack with all your might! Throw out all the Demon Suppressing Talismans!"
"Quick!"
Han Yi raised his steel spear and roared, "Listen to him! Listen to him!"
In the next second, countless Great Shang cavalrymen hurled their lances and swung their swords. Several accompanying cultivators "swish-swish-swish" unleashed over thirty Demon Suppressing Talismans, bombarding the demon race sword cultivator of the Star River realm.
"???"
Lang Xing stood in place, utterly bewildered. He couldn't understand why the spiritual energy within him had suddenly stopped circulating. He also couldn't comprehend why his two Sword Reservoirs seemed to have been sealed and vanished in an instant, feeling nothing at all. What kind of ability was this? How did this brat achieve it? This should be a Heavenly Dao suppression that only occurred with an absolute realm disparity! Who was this brat? Could he be the reincarnation of the God of War, Ding Muchén?
While Lang Xing was deep in thought, he had forgotten to dodge. He was instantly struck by countless arrows, javelins, and dense Demon Suppressing Talismans. In a moment, this Star River realm sword cultivator was covered in bloody wounds, his health bar dropping in a straight line to only 15%. Lin Zhao seized the opportunity, disappearing into the jungle, frantically downing health potions.
"Han Yi, leave the rest to you!" he yelled.
Han Yi cupped his fist towards the jungle with his steel spear, "Please leave it to us, thank you, young hero!"
At this moment, Han Yi looked at Lang Xing with immense respect. This was a young man who dared to fight and to strive; he would surely achieve greatness in the future!
Lang Xing, covered in blood, turned to look at the figure escaping into the woods. He couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu. That fellow's appearance, that demeanor… it seemed familiar.
A hundred years ago, during the decisive battle at Xueyu Tianchi, General Yu Zhi, the commander of the demon race's Third Army, led five military camps to lay a grand formation and attack the Tianchi military camp. In that battle, Lang Xing was just a mere Third Realm wolf demon, hiding in the crowd and watching from afar. He saw Chu Huaixi of the Great Chen Dynasty fall in battle. He saw the white-robed youth who used Xueyu Tianchi as a furnace, plotting and winning a hundred years of peace for all humanity – Lin Baiyi of Xueyu Tianchi… For some reason, Lang Xing subconsciously linked this young swordsman before him with the famous Lin Baiyi of Xueyu Tianchi from that year. In some obscure way, the two seemed to overlap.
But it was impossible. It had been a hundred years. Lin Baiyi had definitively died and turned to ash. Even if he had survived, he couldn't be this young. After all, Lin Baiyi primarily cultivated the martial path, and martial cultivators aged very quickly. A hundred years of time would make him at least middle-aged.
However, Lang Xing overlooked something. Regardless, he shouldn't be thinking about these things now. He should be thinking about how to kill the enemy, how to destroy the hundreds of Great Shang cavalrymen before him. His state of mind was already chaotic. By the time he realized it, it was too late. His body was riddled with steel spears and arrowheads, like a porcupine.
"I am not reconciled!"
Lang Xing roared, dragging his remaining 5% health, and swung his sword. Instantly, over a dozen cavalrymen turned into bloody rain. Sword intent surged from his body, and his eyes held hatred.
Just then, that despicable fellow from the jungle reappeared. After his sword energy impact cooldown was ready, with a "bang," he once again stunned Lang Xing. He then followed up with a combo of "Sweep the Army," "Heavy Slash," and "Heavenly Casting," immediately using Draw Sword Slash to get behind Lang Xing for a rear attack.
Accompanied by falling arrows and spells, Lang Xing's last bit of health was depleted.
Beyond his unyielding resentment, there was also a hint of suspicion.
"Thump..."
The moment Lang Xing's health bar dropped to zero and he knelt on the ground, his brows furrowed. He looked up at the young swordsman in front of him, holding the Qinglu Sword and carrying an ancient sword on his back. He became even more dazed, his voice trembling as he said, "May… may I ask you a question?"
"Hmm."
Lin Zhao nodded slightly and walked forward, lowering his voice, "Ask."
"Are you him?"
"Yes."
"..."
Lang Xing's body crashed down. As his face buried in the dirt, a look of relief appeared on his features. With his last strength, he murmured, "This humble one… this humble one, formerly the Centurion of the Twenty-seventh Battalion of the Eighth Army of the Demon Race, Lang Xing, pays his respects… pays his respects to Commander Lin..."
Lin Zhao was the only one present who heard these words. Looking at the dead demon race sword cultivator of the Star River realm lying on the ground, he also felt a sense of a bygone era. If not for the ancestral feud, this Lang Xing might have been a good friend.
...
"Finally, it's over..."
Han Yi, the guard captain, walked forward with his steel spear, looking at Lang Xing's corpse on the ground, then at the incomplete skeletal remains of the Great Shang cavalrymen scattered around. He couldn't help but angrily kick Lang Xing's corpse.
Lin Zhao took a deep breath. Lang Xing was dead, but it wasn't his kill. A Level 48 Dark Gold boss, it was a pity he was just a character in a questline, not fully adhering to the player-killing-boss mechanism. But it didn't matter; he had still obtained the rewards for this S-rank main quest.
In the next moment, a chime sounded, and the quest awarded its rewards—
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations on completing the main quest [Slay Lang Xing] (S-rank). Rewards: Current level experience +45%, Gold coins +100, Reputation +300, Charm +1. Additional reward: [Autumn Water Ring] (Dark Gold equipment)!
...