Atop the city wall.
The Imperial Guard Commander had climbed up, observing the battle.
“That Heavenly Sword Sect Leader, managing to fight the Gu family head evenly at fourth-rank Tribulation Realm, it’s rather unexpected, I recall the Sect Leader entered the Tribulation Realm much later than the Gu family head, shouldn’t he be around second-rank by now? Plus, the Heavenly Sword Sect’s resources pale compared to the Gu family’s, yet he’s already used two Saint Spirit-grade artifacts,” the commander remarked, watching the battlefield.
“Commander, will His Majesty intervene?” Master Hong turned to him.
Master Hong was a notable figure in Xingwu City, backed by Xiaoyao Tower, he had a good rapport with the commander, unlike others who wouldn’t dare probe such matters casually.
“His Majesty won’t intervene, after all, Lin Yun isn’t under the empire’s banner, had he chosen to join and serve the Xingwu Empire, this could’ve been avoided,” the commander said.
“His Majesty won’t step in? That’s troubling then.”
Master Hong gazed deeply at the battlefield’s swirling power, sighing.
“The Wanderer and Du Yuanzi’s intervention does help, but the situation’s still grim, they’re holding the upper hand with arrays and divine sense for now, but in a prolonged fight, once the enemy closes in, they’ll be at a disadvantage! Their strengths are clear, but so are their weaknesses.”
The commander also looked on, adding, “If the Wanderer and Du Yuanzi were facing just two or three sect leaders, they’d win easily, but the Zhutian Alliance has the numbers, they’re fine short-term, keep fighting, and they’ll lose ground.”
Inside the battlefield.
The fierce clash raged on.
The battlefield split into two fronts: the Wanderer and Du Yuanzi against the eleven sect leaders, and the Gu family head versus the Heavenly Sword Sect Leader.
Lin Yun watched the intense combat unfold.
This level of battle left him feeling profoundly powerless.
Though he’d injured Tribulation Realm foes with his three beads, that relied on external tools, he knew full well that with his own strength, he had no place in this tier of fight.
Right now, Lin Yun could only watch helplessly as the Wanderer, Du Yuanzi, and the Sect Leader battled the Zhutian Alliance, unable to lend the slightest aid, just standing by.
Sure, Lin Yun was a junior, years behind these sect leaders, not on their level, his peers were the younger generation, but that was no excuse, real enemies didn’t care about such things.
“Lin Yun, the spatial lockdown’s broken, the enemy’s tied up, now’s your chance to escape, you and Mo Qing go, you’ve both got Thousand Miles Vanishing Talismans! Your survival matters most, leave the fight to us, with the Wanderer and Du Yuanzi here, we might have a shot, don’t worry!”
The Sect Leader’s voice echoed in Lin Yun’s mind via transmission.
Clearly, his plan was to get Lin Yun out of danger first.
Just then, a new twist erupted in the battlefield.
The Gu family head, locked in a stalemate, pulled back after a clash, roaring.
“Third Elder, show yourself now, take out Lin Yun!”
With his shout, the Gu family’s Third Elder soared in from afar, charging into the fray, his first-rank Tribulation Realm aura unleashed without restraint.
Given Lin Yun’s showing at the Wanhua Tournament, only a Tribulation Realm expert could ensure his demise.
“Brat, today I’ll personally end you!”
The Third Elder strode through the void, his voice thundering, his momentum overwhelming!
As he spoke, he lunged at Lin Yun, his Saint Spirit-grade warblade flashing into a streak of light, slashing down with staggering force!
“Lin Yun!”
The Wanderer and Du Yuanzi saw this, but were powerless to help, fully entangled with the eleven sect leaders, they couldn’t break free.
“Lin Yun, run! There’s still time!” the Sect Leader urged desperately through transmission.
Lin Yun didn’t flee, instead pushing his inner strength to the limit, drawing his sword!
With this strike, he unleashed every ounce of his power, his strongest move.
*Clang!*
Blade met sword in a brutal clash, Lin Yun was forced back repeatedly by the impact.
“Again!”
The Third Elder gave no quarter, his warblade erupting with ferocious attacks, pressing the retreating Lin Yun.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
After several blows, Lin Yun spat blood, his face turning deathly pale.
“No good, the gap’s too wide!” a flicker of helplessness surged in his eyes.
He’d hoped a first-rank Tribulation Realm, the lowest tier, might be manageable.
But after clashing, he realised the chasm between Mahayana and Tribulation Realm was immense, even at full strength, he was no match.
From Mahayana to Tribulation Realm was a qualitative leap, the boost terrifyingly vast.
“Lin Yun, your end is here! Embrace death!”
The Third Elder’s warblade sliced through the air, under countless gazes, bearing down on the injured Lin Yun with fearsome power!
“Trouble!”
“Senior Brother Lin Yun can’t win, he’s already hurt, how can he hold on?”
Zhi Jin, Daniel, and the other Heavenly Sword Sect disciples watched, hearts in their throats.
“Lin Yun’s out of options this time, holding off a Tribulation Realm expert’s attacks for even a moment at second-rank Mahayana is impressive, even if it’s just first-rank, that’s still a full-fledged Tribulation Realm!”
“This dazzling genius might fall here!”
The distant crowd locked eyes on the battlefield, sighing.
In the battlefield.
*Clang!*
Facing the Third Elder’s onslaught, Lin Yun had no choice but to muster all his strength and meet it head-on.
After another collision, the warblade’s power flooded over him like a breached dam.
“Pfft! Pfft!”
Blood sprayed from Lin Yun’s mouth, his body hurtling back uncontrollably, his aura fading fast.
With a decent protective chestplate and his robust defences, he might’ve lasted longer.
But when choosing his reward earlier, how could he have foreseen this?
