Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Leave the Rest to Me
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
In an instant, countless brilliant lights swirled around Ling Shuanghua. An endless, murderous Sword Intent surged to the heavens, letting out a series of whooshes as it tore through the air.
A relentless storm of Sword Intent erupted throughout the dense forest, toppling large swaths of towering trees.
Twelve types of Sword Intent!
A hint of surprise flickered in Shen Daoxing’s eyes. He hadn’t expected Ling Shuanghua to have comprehended twelve types of Sword Intent. Although it was fewer than Lin Haitao’s fourteen, many of hers were of a higher tier.
Compared to the bone-chilling sharpness of Lin Haitao’s Sword Intent, Ling Shuanghua’s was far more murderous and glacial. Just watching from a distance, Shen Daoxing felt an invisible sense of suffocation.
Ling Shuanghua was a master at the Ninth Layer of the Grotto Heaven Realm, just one step away from entering the Spirit Transformation Realm. More than that, she was a Swordsman with twelve types of Sword Intent. Her Power of Slaughter was unstoppable, making her peerless among those in the same realm. Aside from the dean of Celestial City Academy, not even the two vice-deans, Chen Guanggu and Bai Bo, were her match.
After all, as a member of the Sword Institute, if she wasn’t strong enough, she would have long since been killed by someone from Celestial City Academy.
The cloaked man shook his head and laughed. "To comprehend twelve types of Sword Intent at such a young age is impressive indeed. But before me, you’re still far too green!"
As he spoke, the cloaked man made no move to dodge or evade!
He simply pushed his palm forward, and a giant handprint materialized out of thin air.
Ling Shuanghua’s relentless storm of Sword Intent was like a sheet of flimsy paper before it.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
The twelve Sword Intents shattered one after another against the massive handprint, offering no resistance whatsoever.
In a flash, the giant handprint was right in front of Ling Shuanghua.
Ling Shuanghua was horrified.
"BOOM!"
A deafening roar echoed.
A Blood Arrow shot into the air as a chaotic torrent of energy erupted in all directions, felling the surrounding trees.
Even Shen Daoxing felt a thick, heavy wave of energy wash over him. The blood in his body churned violently, and he was sent flying high into the air before crashing back down to the ground.
’That’s Spiritual Qi.’
’The cloaked man before me... he’s a Spirit Transformation Realm master!’
The Spirit Transformation Realm! It was a realm where a cultivator’s Primordial Energy was converted into a purer form—Spiritual Qi. It represented a qualitative leap in power.
From the Ninth Layer of the Grotto Heaven Realm to the first layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm—though it seemed like a single small step, it was an incredibly difficult chasm to cross. Many spent their entire lives unable to make the breakthrough.
The difference in strength between the two realms was like that between heaven and earth. No matter how much of a genius a person at the Ninth Layer of the Grotto Heaven Realm might be, they stood absolutely no chance against a Spirit Transformation expert.
"Wang Rong! I should have known it was you!"
Ling Shuanghua stared coldly at the cloaked man, having guessed his identity.
She was now covered in blood, like a person sculpted from it. Her longsword was broken, and it was clear she had suffered no small injury.
The cloaked man smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying. "A dead person has no need to know so much."
Wang Rong. He was once one of the strongest contenders for the position of dean of Celestial City Academy. After losing to the current dean, Ren Changfeng, he had furiously entered secluded cultivation. That seclusion had lasted ten years, and now, unexpectedly, he had emerged.
Ten years ago, Wang Rong was already a Spirit Transformation Realm master. He could only be stronger now.
The people from Celestial City Academy knew Ling Shuanghua was with Shen Daoxing, and that she would be difficult for an ordinary person to handle. That was why they had called upon Wang Rong to act.
Within Wudou Imperial City, Celestial City Academy still had to show some deference to the Royal Family and wouldn’t dare to attack members of the Sword Institute so carelessly. But out here in the desolate wilderness, who was there to stop them?
"Shen Daoxing, run!"
Ling Shuanghua made an immediate judgment and turned to shout at Shen Daoxing.
It was obvious they stood no chance against Wang Rong. Their only hope was to flee. As long as they could make it back to the Imperial City, Celestial City Academy wouldn’t dare to move against them openly due to the Royal Family’s presence.
Shen Daoxing hadn’t yet reacted.
"Trying to run?"
The corner of Wang Rong’s mouth curled up. With what looked like a simple step, he appeared directly in front of Shen Daoxing. "No one can escape from the palm of my hand."
As he spoke, he abruptly raised his palm. A massive, illusory handprint descended from the sky with thunderous force, pressing down on Shen Daoxing.
"What are you standing there dazed for? Run!"
Alarmed, Ling Shuanghua ignored the pain wracking her body, spun around, and thrust her broken sword at Wang Rong with reckless abandon.
This scene was all too familiar; she had seen it far too many times. She refused to let another disciple of the Sword Institute die before her eyes.
To that end, she threw all caution to the wind to stop Wang Rong’s attack. Though she was no match for him, she could still risk her life to buy Shen Daoxing a chance to escape.
"BOOM!"
The illusory handprint descended, slamming into Ling Shuanghua’s body.
"Urgh!"
Countless Blood Arrows burst from Ling Shuanghua’s body, her figure tracing a tragically beautiful arc through the air.
But the illusory handprint had been stopped by Ling Shuanghua’s desperate block.
"Run!"
Twisting her head in mid-air, Ling Shuanghua looked at Shen Daoxing, her eyes filled with grim resolve.
"You want to die that badly? Then I’ll grant your wish!"
Wang Rong snorted coldly. Without any hesitation, he raised his palm high, and another massive, illusory handprint fell from the sky, crashing down with the force of a tidal wave.
He intended to smash Ling Shuanghua to pieces.
In that critical moment, Shen Daoxing got to his feet. But instead of turning to flee, he resolutely reached out, caught Ling Shuanghua in mid-air, and lunged to the side, narrowly dodging Wang Rong’s palm strike.
Ling Shuanghua froze. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as she lifted her tragically beautiful face, stunned.
She had never expected Shen Daoxing to do this. A strange feeling of being touched washed over her, but in the next instant, another thought struck her. "You idiot! Now neither of us will be able to get away!"
Shen Daoxing gave a faint smile and said nothing more. He carried Ling Shuanghua to a large tree and gently propped her against its trunk.
"Don’t worry. Leave the rest to me."
Saying this, Shen Daoxing reached out and wiped the blood from the corner of Ling Shuanghua’s mouth. He then turned with a flourish and stared coldly at Wang Rong.
Ling Shuanghua was stunned for a moment, then she suddenly realized what Shen Daoxing intended to do. "Don’t do anything foolish!" she cried out in alarm. "You’re no match for him! Run! Fighting him head-on is just suicide!"
Ling Shuanghua pressed her hands against the ground, trying to push herself up to stop him, but a wave of excruciating pain washed over her. She had no strength left. After blocking Wang Rong’s palm strike, multiple bones in her body had been shattered, leaving her completely immobile.
"Oh?"
Wang Rong laughed with disdain. "A mere Martial Artist who hasn’t even reached the Grotto Heaven Realm dares to challenge me? Talk about a mantis trying to stop a chariot. You don’t know your own limits."
Wang Rong had no intention of showing mercy just because Shen Daoxing’s cultivation was low. He immediately raised his palm, and the very air seemed to be crushed in his grip, letting out a thunderous BOOM.
Instantly, ripples spread through the air in front of him. A surge of Fist Force, coalescing into a giant, illusory palm, rushed forward. The ground cracked and split everywhere it passed, a testament to the terrifying power it contained.
