“I’m curious. You kill every opponent with one strike—do you ever use a second?” On the life-and-death stage, Lin Xiao didn’t rush to attack, instead asking with genuine curiosity, partly to gauge the Asura Butcher’s strength.
This was a question on everyone’s mind. Did the Asura Butcher’s one-strike kills use his full power, or did he have a second or third killing move? If so, that would be terrifying.
“I kill with one strike because I only know one move—World-Extinguishing Asura, first form. I haven’t even begun the second form…” the Asura Butcher explained honestly.
“Hiss!” The crowd gasped. This wasn’t what they expected. They thought a single-move limitation might be less daunting, but his words made it even more terrifying.
World-Extinguishing Asura sounded fearsome, and even a prodigy like the Asura Butcher had only mastered the first form. How horrifying would the second form be?
Yet, relying on just one move, he could kill top contenders. This was an anomaly in the cultivation world.
One devastating killing move, and nothing else…
No wonder he killed with every strike and always fought on the life-and-death stage.
“However, I can adjust the power of my strike to match the opponent’s strength,” the Asura Butcher added. “As for you, I can’t gauge your limits, so I’ll use my full strength.”
His tone carried a warning, and his words implied that even his killing of Mo Fei hadn’t used his maximum power.
“Good. Then I’ll use my strongest sinister power to test your World-Extinguishing Asura!”
Lin Xiao’s expression grew serious. The Immortal Skeleton Technique surged within him, unleashing an ocean-like wave of sinister power. Rolling evil aura seeped from his bones through his body, spreading across the heavens.
At that moment, Lin Xiao seemed like an evil god, his boundless sinister aura enveloping all directions, white mist surging endlessly, his presence twice as formidable as before.
Opposite him, the Asura Butcher moved, raising his blade and slashing down in a simple motion.
A black blade arc, like a dark rainbow from the depths of the underworld, carried world-destroying power, accompanied by eerie Asura wails, slashing towards Lin Xiao.
Their powers were somewhat akin—one Asura, one evil.
Feeling the terrifying attack, Lin Xiao acted. He threw a punch infused with the power of two bone runes. Twice as many skeletal apparitions appeared—headless skeletons, armless skeletons, bizarre beast skeletons—swirling in a chilling cacophony of ghostly shrieks.
A fierce, sinister white force, carrying a torrent of river-like evil aura, surged towards the Asura Butcher.
“Boom!”
A series of explosive clashes rang out. As their powers collided, towering waves of energy erupted between them, evil and killing intent spreading in all directions. Shockwaves shook the heavens, and the defensive barrier flickered repeatedly.
“Swish! Swish!”
Finally, the two forces cancelled each other out, the world clearing. Lin Xiao and the Asura Butcher stood unscathed, their figures revealed to the crowd.
Seeing them, the crowd’s faces filled with shock. Both were unharmed?
Their powers were evenly matched?
“For the first time, I’ve seen a killer show restraint,” Lin Xiao said, smiling at the fierce-looking Asura Butcher. At the moment of attack, he had sensed the Asura Butcher’s explosive aura weaken slightly.
It was clear the Asura Butcher had held back, likely to avoid killing a rising genius like Lin Xiao.
But unfortunately for the Asura Butcher, even his full strength wouldn’t have endangered Lin Xiao’s life.
“You held back too,” the Asura Butcher said calmly. “I have only this one move, while you still haven’t used your thunder power, which counters Asura. No matter how you look at it, I’ve lost.”
The Asura Butcher conceded, surprising everyone. The one-strike killer had failed against Lin Xiao.
The match ended in a draw—or rather, with the Asura Butcher admitting defeat, without a fight to the death.
“Then, I accept your concession!” Lin Xiao clasped his fists, keeping words brief with the taciturn Asura Butcher.
Stepping off the life-and-death stage, Lin Xiao returned to the main arena, sparking excitement in the crowd. Was Lin Xiao going to keep fighting?
Who would be next?
If he chose a strong opponent, only three remained. If he picked others, he could sweep through them. Aside from Xiahou Jing, Gu Xuanyuan, and Gu Juejin, no one dared face him.
“Brother Gu must be eager by now. Come, let’s fight.”
Lin Xiao’s calm, confident voice rang out, and the crowd’s eyes lit up. Lin Xiao was indeed continuing.
Could Gu Juejin, who had defeated top disciples, match Lin Xiao?
The crowd’s curiosity surged again.
“I’ve been looking forward to this fight!” Gu Juejin said little, his face maintaining its serene, unreadable expression.
Stepping forward, a soaring battle intent radiated from him.
“Hmph, Lin Xiao, no matter how strong you are, you’re still no match for my brother,” Gu Han said coldly from the crowd, his face tense.
“Exactly. Brother Juejin is here to claim the championship. Lin Xiao isn’t enough to beat him!” Yang Jian chimed in, though inwardly he lacked confidence, having never seen Gu Juejin’s strongest attack.
“Go for it! Beat that smug guy!” Hu Yue shouted excitedly from the sidelines, her term “smug” referring to Gu Juejin’s perpetually calm demeanour, which she saw as pretentious.
“Damn it, leave some spotlight for your grandpa Ma! You’re stealing all the glory!” Ma Bi yelled “encouragingly,” drawing sharp glares from Hu Yue and other Tianmen disciples.
“Crush that smug guy easily!”
Ma Bi added, redirecting the group’s attention to the arena.
At that moment, Gu Juejin and Lin Xiao stood facing each other.
Gu Juejin drew a Heaven-Measuring Ruler, his aura erupting. A majestic, unparalleled presence swept across all directions, dominating the entire space.
Gu Juejin seemed transformed into a peerless master of ancient times, his aura like mountains and peaks, oppressing eternity. Each step felt as if it could shatter mountains and split the earth.
