"Bang!"
Xu Beilin's sword, imbued with myriad sword energies, struck a strand of Zhou Jin's dense fist aura. A deafening roar erupted. Zhou Jin's fist intent was exceptionally potent, and his fist aura was formidable. With a single punch, he managed to block Xu Beilin's sharp sword strike. However, Xu Beilin was in the Star River realm. Although his cultivation was newly established and unstable, the fine sword intent continued to press down, leaving numerous fine sword wounds on Zhou Jin's arm. While not fatal, it was enough to prove that Zhou Jin was no match for Xu Beilin.
On the other side, Han Qian's heart wavered as a jade thumb ring flew out from her spiritual sea. It was her natal artifact. Blocking one of Xu Beilin's natal flying swords with the thumb ring, she unleashed a torrent of techniques from her palm, aiming to help Zhou Jin control one of Xu Beilin's natal flying swords. Without one natal artifact, Xu Beilin's power would be greatly diminished.
Wang Yan let out a furious roar and smashed a natal flying sword attacking Zhou Jin's back with a fierce punch. However, the price for repelling the flying sword was Wang Yan's fist breaking open, bleeding. The sword aura of a Star River realm sword cultivator was not to be trifled with.
For a time, Xu Beilin fought against three opponents, showing no fear, and even holding a slight advantage.
...
"Need help?"
Yu Wanning channeled her voice and said to Lin Zhao, "If I seize this opportunity to break through and attack, there's a high chance I can heavily injure Xu Beilin with a single punch, and perhaps even kill him in one go."
"Don't be impulsive."
Lin Zhao narrowed his eyes, watching the battle on the Ascension Stage, and said, "Miss Yu, why do you think Zhou Jin, Han Qian, and Wang Yan, three cultivators at the ninth realm, would dare to stir up trouble and attack Xu Beilin, a tenth-realm sword cultivator? Anyone who can reach this level of cultivation can't be that foolish. If they weren't almost certain of victory, they wouldn't do this."
"You mean?"
Yu Wanning's expression shifted slightly. "They have reinforcements?"
"Exactly."
Lin Zhao frowned. "Lin Chong, Luo Wanqiu, perhaps they are in league with the trio of Zhou Jin, and even that old scoundrel Qin Fei is likely with them. Think about it, Xu Beilin is the foremost expert in the world, and he's also a prince of the Xu Dynasty. Everyone knows Xu Beilin is hard to kill. Wouldn't these people have joined forces beforehand? Our presence in the small town below Lingze Mountain, eating and lodging, was no secret, yet Zhou Jin, Han Qian, and the others never approached us to discuss an alliance. This indicates they were already united."
Yu Wanning's brow furrowed.
Lin Zhao continued, "Consider this: if even Qin Fei is with Zhou Jin, they would have a total of five people. They'd join forces to eliminate Xu Beilin at a small cost, and then turn their attention to us. Chi Zhongyu being assassinated and heavily injured also spread throughout the town. These people clearly intend to have five of them fight against our three and a half. If we help them kill Xu Beilin now, it would play right into their hands, allowing them to eliminate Xu Beilin at an even lesser cost before turning to deal with us."
"I see..."
Yu Wanning felt a chill run down her spine. If not for Lin Zhao's words, she would never have thought so deeply. Lin Zhao's reasoning had no concrete evidence; it was merely a calculation of numbers on paper and a deduction of Zhou Jin's group's intentions, yet it hit the mark, with a high probability of being correct.
...
"Your Highness!"
Suddenly, two Golden Core realm assassins charged towards the Ascension Stage. "We are here to assist you!"
However, before the two could even land on the Ascension Stage, two fiery red flying daggers streaked through the air. With a "swish," they pierced their hearts. The attacker was Luo Wanqiu, a Nascent Soul realm spiritual cultivator. She retrieved her two natal flying daggers and sneered, "The Ascension Stage competition is only for those on the rankings to ascend. Are you trying to break the rules!?"
"You!"
A group of assassins was enraged.
Just then, a figure approached. It was Lin Chong, a Nascent Soul realm cultivator. He sent out a palm strike, and a sky-scorching inferno swept out, trapping more than ten assassins from the Xu Dynasty in the sea of fire, reducing them to ashes. His gaze was cold, and he said sternly, "Luo Wanqiu, let's finish them all and leave no loose ends!"
"Good!"
Luo Wanqiu's long skirt fluttered, but her actions were ruthless and merciless.
As Yu Wanning, Chu Xiantong, and Chi Zhongyu frowned, watching the two Nascent Soul cultivators kill, Lin Zhao looked up at the clouds and finally saw the person.
Wu Yuanzi, holding a patched oil-paper umbrella, his eyes filled with a calm demeanor.
Lin Zhao frowned. In his spiritual sea, the second Sword Cultivation Lake spun turbulently. The tip of the Han Niu Sword in the lake trembled slightly, and strands of golden text continuously appeared on its tip. The next moment, a strand of golden intent appeared in Lin Zhao's eyes, allowing him to see what he couldn't before. He saw that after the assassins and formation masters killed by Lin Chong and Luo Wanqiu perished, wisps of black energy floated up from their corpses, absorbed by Wu Yuanzi's oil-paper umbrella. Even above the heads of Lin Chong, Luo Wanqiu, and those on the Ascension Stage like Xu Beilin and Zhou Jin, faint strands of black energy rose and were eventually gathered by the oil-paper umbrella. A small vortex formed on the umbrella's canopy, refining the black energy and then evaporating it into drops of golden rain. Like falling water, it ascended into the sky, its destination unknown.
But at this moment, Lin Zhao's mind suddenly cleared, and he understood everything. Wu Yuanzi was not human at all, but merely a materialized heart demon. What Wu Yuanzi's natal oil-paper umbrella absorbed was none other than negative emotions, the "three worms" of Taoism, representing greed, lust, violence, cruelty, fear, despair, and so on. In other words, the worse the cultivators' state of mind, the more they killed, and the more chaotic the world became, the more potent the three worms Wu Yuanzi absorbed from them would be. As for what he did with these three worms, it remained unknown.
But Lin Zhao knew that if Wu Yuanzi could be killed in this world, it would undoubtedly be a good thing, as whatever Wu Yuanzi was plotting was clearly against the moral principles of the human world.
...
Not long after, Zhou Jin, Han Qian, Wang Yan, and others were all injured. Even Lin Chong and Luo Wanqiu joined the battle after killing Xu Beilin's escorts. Xu Beilin, fighting alone against five, was covered in wounds, his spiritual energy heavily depleted. After taking several more heavy blows from Zhou Jin and Wang Yan, his body became as weak as cotton. Even a Star River realm cultivator, facing a group of desperate Nascent Soul realm cultivators, could be overwhelmed by a barrage of random punches.
Moreover, Qin Fei remained on the sidelines, observing.
Lin Zhao began to strategize.
He gave Yu Wanning over ten Divine Speed Talismans and Valor Talismans, Chu Xiantong a thick stack of Divine Speed Talismans, Valor Talismans, and Immobilization Talismans, and then gave all his remaining Heavenly Thunder Talismans to Chi Zhongyu. He then transmitted his voice, saying, "It's almost time to act. Our goal is to heavily injure everyone so they lose their fighting ability, leaving us with room to deal with Wu Yuanzi. I will act first. When I control Xu Beilin's movements, Chu Xiantong, unleash your strongest sword technique and directly kill Xu Beilin. Leaving him alive is a constant threat. Yu Wanning, after you break through, use the Divine Speed Talismans to heavily injure Zhou Jin, Lin Chong, and their group. I will cooperate with you. Chi Zhongyu, you can break through. After I control Qin Fei, besides your sword, you can ignite a Heavenly Thunder Talisman to try and kill Qin Fei in one go."
"Understood."
The group nodded.
The next moment, Lin Zhao ignited a Divine Speed Talisman, and simultaneously, his entire body surged with fist intent. He entered the "Formation of Galloping Wind and Waves" state, with strands of white airflow swirling around him, moving at lightning speed. With a "bang," he appeared behind Xu Beilin, who was in the midst of battle. He ignited five Immobilization Talismans in succession and stuck them to the back of Xu Beilin's head. "Go in peace."
"You!?"
Xu Beilin was shocked and dismayed.
"Good opportunity!"
Zhou Jin and Wang Yan simultaneously threw punches, both fatal blows. At the same time, Chu Xiantong's sword descended from above. Xu Beilin's figure blurred slightly. A punch struck his chest, shattering his bones. Chu Xiantong's sword strike from above was the most fatal. The moment Xu Beilin's protective sword aura completely dissipated, the sword fell. A Star River realm sword cultivator's physical body, unprotected, could not withstand a fatal blow from a Nascent Soul realm sword cultivator. In an instant, the body of the eldest prince of the Xu Dynasty dissolved into a spray of blood in the wind.
The next moment, Zhou Jin's eyes turned cold, his fist intent locked onto Lin Zhao. As he approached, he swept out a punch, while Han Qian and Lin Chong simultaneously unleashed their techniques, their natal artifacts flying towards Lin Zhao's back.
However, in a flash of lightning, a surging fist intent exploded. Yu Wanning broke through, consuming a large amount of martial fortune, and officially became a Sea-Stepping realm martial artist. At the same time, she ignited a Divine Speed Talisman, her body turning into a bolt of lightning. With three consecutive "bangs," she broke Zhou Jin's right arm and sent Han Qian and Lin Chong spitting blood as they flew backward.
At this moment, Lin Zhao raised his Liquan Sword, a sword qi enveloping Qin Fei, the ancestor of the Fei Yun Sect, who was about to deliver a killing blow to Chi Zhongyu. Just as they collided, a "Dragon Ascending Slash" sent the body of the Fei Yun Sect ancestor flying into the air.
At this moment, a sky-piercing sword intent exploded. Chi Zhongyu successfully broke through and ignited a Heavenly Thunder Talisman, drawing dozens of golden lightning bolts that struck Qin Fei's body. This was a Heavenly Thunder Talisman activated by a Star River realm sword cultivator, naturally far more powerful than one activated by Lin Zhao. The smell of burning could already be detected. Following that, Chi Zhongyu brought down his sword, splitting Qin Fei's body in half. He was slain.
On the Ascension Stage, figures retreated. Yu Wanning, having just entered the Sea-Stepping realm and ignited a Valor Talisman, fought like an invincible war god, sending Wang Yan, Zhou Jin, Han Qian, and others flying. As they flew, their injuries were already so severe that they could no longer fight, having lost their chance to compete for the top three.
...
On the Ascension Stage.
Yu Wanning, Chu Xiantong, and Chi Zhongyu stood in a row. In front of them stood Lin Zhao, now clad in white, his eyes fixed on Wu Yuanzi in the sky. At this moment, Lin Zhao felt a resonance, and the ancient sword behind him hummed softly.
"Ah? Sister Bai?"
He was surprised, and his mind became clear. The time to unleash that sword strike had come, and it was the only strike he could make, otherwise, Yu Wanning, Chi Zhongyu, and the others would be at great risk of death.
He slowly raised his hand, sheathed the Liquan Sword, and then changed to another sword. With an open palm, he grasped the hilt of the ancient sword and slowly drew it. Instantly, strands of immortal energy erupted around the sword. He looked at Wu Yuanzi, his gaze calm, and murmured.
"I have a sword, long unsheathed..."