Chapter 111: Chapter 108: Heroic and Tragic, a Race of Life and Death
SHIIINK!
With one hand behind his back, Ling Tianxu casually pointed a finger. A Flame Sword Aura slashed down through the void, its sharpness unparalleled.
Even a casual strike from a Spirit Realm Martial Artist surpassed the Innate Limit.
Ten warriors at the Innate Limit would be no match for a Spirit Realm Martial Artist.
Furthermore, Ling Tianxu was from a Super Sect like the Celestial Sword Sect, and the Cultivation Techniques he practiced were Top Level. On top of that, he possessed a Sword King Body.
Someone with this constitution had Extraordinary combat power and was nearly invincible among those in the same Realm. For them, fighting above their Realm was as simple as eating and drinking.
Even if you gathered every person on the Innate List, they would be no match for someone like Ling Tianxu.
"Attack!"
Everyone fought with all their might, unleashing their strongest attacks. Majestic Innate Gang Qi surged forth and converged.
RUMBLE.
They were all going all-out, but they couldn’t stand against Ling Tianxu’s might even when united. Though it was just the power of a single finger, it was peerless, easily shattering their defenses.
*Pfft.*
Those with weaker Cultivation, like Liu Xianyu, Wei Yanran, and Ning Yu’an, immediately spat out a mouthful of blood.
The several Alchemy Masters from Kunlun had blood trickling from their lips and were forced back several steps.
The two Innate Limit Strong Persons, Liu Yuanlong and Wenhua City, didn’t fare well either, their faces turning pale.
They stood at the very front, so they naturally bore the greatest pressure.
’This is a Spirit Realm Powerhouse... Once you step into the Spirit Realm, your body transforms into a Spirit Body. It’s simply not something the Innate Realm can contend with!’
’Ten breaths... how is that even possible?’
The Martial Artists from the surrounding families looked on in horror. Wenhua City and the others couldn’t even withstand the might of a single one of Ling Tianxu’s fingers when they joined forces, so how could they possibly last for ten breaths?
That was only the first breath!
"Like an egg hitting a rock. You don’t know your own limits."
Ling Tianxu’s eyes were cold as he pointed a finger once more.
*Pfft.*
This time, even Liu Yuanlong and Wenhua City had blood trickling from their lips.
Ning Yu’an and the other two were struck as if by lightning, their pretty faces turning snow-white as they were sent flying several dozen feet.
The second breath passed.
"HAHAHAHA, again!"
Liu Yuanlong spat out a mouthful of bloody foam, his body’s Innate Gang Yuan boiling. He cultivated a Palm Technique, and he viciously thrust out his palm. The Innate Gang Qi condensed into a massive hand, dozens of feet wide, that shattered the air and created a violent explosion the moment it appeared.
Wenhua City slashed out with his sword, his Innate Gang Yuan erupting wildly. From the tip of his blade, a Sword Aura shot forth like a falling meteor, its Sword Qi vast and endlessly powerful.
The entire space seemed to be sliced by the sword, becoming incredibly sharp.
The others also used their own methods, unleashing their strongest Martial Techniques.
"Insignificant tricks. Ants will always be ants."
Ling Tianxu snorted coldly. He stood there, motionless, as his long, jade-like finger ignited with flame. He pointed out once more.
The air became scorching hot. A single breath was enough to feel a burning sensation in one’s throat.
*PFFT!*
Everyone spat blood in unison. Among them, Wei Yanran’s Cultivation had not yet reached the Innate Realm; she was only at the Postnatal Peak. She was the most heavily injured, her slender body swaying precariously.
Ning Yu’an’s own Cultivation wasn’t high either, but she had later cultivated the Purple Qi Creation Technique and consumed a Lotus Seed from the Heaven-Devouring Demon Lotus. Her Cultivation had also reached the Postnatal Peak, so her condition was slightly better than Wei Yanran’s.
That was only the third breath!
"It’s impossible! There’s no way we can last for ten breaths!"
"He’s just toying with them. He’s not using his full strength at all."
Someone said in a trembling voice. Numerous gazes fell upon Ling Tianxu. He was high and mighty; from start to finish, he had only used a single finger.
’How much of his power is in that one finger? Fifty percent? Sixty? Or even less?’
What made many people’s hearts turn cold was that Ling Tianxu wore a sword on his back. He was clearly a Sword Cultivator.
A Sword Cultivator’s true, terrifying power is only revealed when they draw their sword.
"He’s a Spirit Realm Martial Artist, so his Weapon is probably a Spiritual Artifact as well. If he were to draw his sword, with a single strike... forget Wenhua City and the others, even if all of us here were added to the mix, we wouldn’t be able to block it."
Someone clenched their fists, a bitter smile on their face.
BOOM.
The fourth collision occurred. At that moment, Ning Yu’an, Wei Yanran, and Liu Xianyu were bleeding from their Seven Apertures.
The several Alchemy Masters also looked ashen-faced, feeling as if their internal organs were about to shatter.
The two at the Innate Limit, Wenhua City and Liu Yuanlong, coughed up several mouthfuls of blood.
The fourth breath!
"No matter how many ants there are, they are still just ants."
Ling Tianxu’s expression was cold, his eyes devoid of emotion. In his eyes, why would he care about the lives of ants?
He pointed out for the fifth time.
"This is bad! After this strike, I’m afraid Wei Yanran and the others will die," someone exclaimed. Wei Yanran and the girls were clearly severely injured and had reached their limit.
It was like the straw that broke the camel’s back!
"Elder Wen, watch my sword!"
Just at this incredibly perilous moment, a long cry rang out, like a crane’s call echoing through the Nine Heavens.
It was Xie Baichuan.
He transformed into a long rainbow, achieving Body and Sword Unity as he shot forward. He was like a white rainbow piercing the sun, a bird diving into a forest, an Eagle Strikes the Sky.
Like a lone army fighting to the death, a final breakout strike, burning all his bridges.
His eyes showed he was ready to face death, pressing forward with courage.
His aura was one of self-sacrifice, cutting off all paths of retreat.
With this sword, he risked everything. It was victory or death.
He cast aside life and death, cast aside everything.
’What is there to fear in death?’
"Kill!"
Under this forward-rushing, incomparably firm conviction, Xie Baichuan felt as if his very soul had merged with his sword, becoming one. He could almost hear the sword breathing.
’So... this is Heart-Sword Control.’
His heart was filled with the joy of enlightenment, with satisfaction, with delight.
To hear the Dao in the morning and die in the evening is acceptable.
"A fine sword!"
Wenhua City laughed heartily. He knew that under the stimulation of this life-and-death situation, Xie Baichuan had finally achieved a breakthrough and stepped into the state of Heart-Sword Control.
From this day on, there would be another Sword Sect master in the world.
"A moth to a flame. Courting death."
Ling Tianxu’s Flame Sword Aura and Xie Baichuan’s sword collided. It might have been an instant, or it might have been an eternity.
CRACK, CRACK.
The sword in Xie Baichuan’s hand shattered inch by inch. Even though he had broken through at the final moment, he still could not withstand Ling Tianxu’s finger.
SQUELCH.
He was sent flying hundreds of yards, spraying a mist of blood from his entire body before crashing into the lake, his fate unknown.
The fifth breath!
"I’ll go!"
Du Wanqing stepped forward, his face tragic yet resolute. He swallowed a blood-red pill. In an instant, the Gang Qi in his body began to boil, rising steadily until it was actually no weaker than Liu Yuanlong’s or Wenhua City’s.
"A Blood Burning Pill."
Deep sorrow filled Wei Yanran’s beautiful eyes. That was an Elixir that burned all the blood in one’s body, allowing one to exchange it for immense power in a short period of time. But afterward, one’s life would be in peril.
As everyone watched, Du Wanqing took a step forward. He was like a righteous martyr marching to his death as he charged toward Ling Tianxu.
BANG.
With a loud bang, Du Wanqing sprayed a bloody mist from every pore, turning into a man of blood before falling into the lake.
He had bought them the sixth breath!
"Hahaha, Du Wanqing, though we can’t compare to you in Alchemy, we will also fight to the very end, even if it means sacrificing our lives!"
Fei Yanqing and the other Alchemy Masters laughed loudly. They too took out a Blood Burning Pill, burning all the blood in their bodies, their skin turning crimson.
The seven of them looked at each other and laughed, then charged toward Ling Tianxu with no regard for their own safety.
RUMBLE!
With a massive explosion, Lü Dong’s arm was pulverized, Highland’s abdomen was pierced, and half of Fei Yanqing’s body was burned by the Flame Power. All seven Alchemy Masters were heavily injured and fell into the lake with a few splashes.
That was the seventh breath!
"Brother Wen, if I don’t die, you have to let me buy you a drink afterward."
A miserable smile appeared on Liu Yuanlong’s face. He activated his strongest Palm Technique, erupting with the limits of his body’s power.
At the same time, a powerful aura shot up from his body into the sky.
"He’s burning his Innate Gang Yuan! That’s destroying his own foundation! Even if he survives, his Cultivation will plummet!"
A Martial Artist said with difficulty.
Burning one’s Innate Gang Yuan was an extremely drastic measure. The price was a drop in one’s Realm.
But Liu Yuanlong had no other choice.
"Mountain-Shattering Palm!"
Liu Yuanlong roared in fury. His Innate Gang Yuan transformed into a massive palm, its every detail clear. It was unstoppable, smashing forward with the force of a landslide, instantly creating a vacuum in a radius of several dozen feet.
"Pathetic."
Ling Tianxu still only used a single finger.
SQUELCH.
The massive palm only lasted for a moment before being crushed. Liu Yuanlong’s body was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string.
The eighth breath!
’What a pity. I’m afraid I won’t have the chance to witness his growth.’
Wenhua City glanced at Ning Jiang, his eyes filled with regret. He truly wanted to know what heights Ning Jiang would reach in the future.
"Do you dare to receive my sword?"
Wenhua City gripped his Treasure Sword, its edge exposed, and instantly burned his Innate Gang Yuan.
"Green Blood and Blue Ink Sword!"
He thrust his sword, his aura filled with tragedy. He was like a loyal courtier watching his country fall to invaders, the situation beyond saving. He attacked in righteous fury, a blood sacrifice to the heavens, his despair indescribable.
Even if he couldn’t save the day, he would still spill his own loyal blood upon the land.
"Using a sword in front of me? You’re teaching a fish to swim."
A flash of disdain crossed Ling Tianxu’s face. He possessed the Sword King Body, a natural prodigy of the Sword Dao. How could he possibly be impressed by Wenhua City’s sword strike?
He pointed a finger, and the Flame Sword Aura swept through everything like it was dead wood.
Wenhua City was struck as if by lightning. The Top Grade Treasure Sword in his hand trembled and nearly broke. He was sent flying hundreds of yards, a gash torn across his chest so deep that bone was visible.
That was the ninth breath!
The only ones left were Ning Yu’an, Liu Xianyu, and Wei Yanran—three women.
’There’s only one breath left. Is it all going to be for nothing?’
The surrounding Martial Artists held no hope for the three of them.
Even powerhouses like Liu Yuanlong and Wenhua City couldn’t stop Ling Tianxu. What could three weak women possibly do?
"Lingwei, what are you doing?"
In the distance, Zhou Lingwei’s father’s expression changed as he stared in astonishment at his daughter walking out.
"Dad, I’ve already made a mistake once. I don’t want to live with regret again."
"You’ll die!"
"I know," Zhou Lingwei smiled, "But at least I won’t have any regrets!"
’Damn it, I’ll risk it all.’ Old Master Song of the Song Family, Song Tianzheng, also walked out. ’If we succeed, he will surely not forget the kindness of our Song Family.’
"Clan Leader, what are you doing?" Over at the Bai Family’s side, several people exclaimed.
"A Sword Cultivator must press forward bravely, fearing neither life nor death. Without a heart that can face death calmly, I would never have walked the path of a Sword Cultivator. If I die, let Bai Feng take my place." A hint of shyness flashed in Bai Yueru’s eyes as she continued, "Don’t laugh, but I think I might have actually fallen for this White Head Sword Sect master." She then stepped forward, one step at a time.
"Father, back in the Demon Mist Mountain Range, he led me out of the Maze Array and even taught me about Arrays. I owe him a debt. I’m going too," Yan Shuangying walked out.
"I still haven’t heard him play the zither," Liu Shiyi followed right after.
But even more people chose to watch coldly from the sidelines, secretly shaking their heads.
"All of you can just die."
Seeing people step out one after another, Ling Tianxu’s eyes grew colder and colder.
At that moment, he thrust out a palm. A giant flame palm tore through everything, shaking the heavens and the earth!
This strike was far stronger than any before, powerful enough to kill everyone present.
But at almost the exact same time, the most dazzling divine radiance erupted from the void!
