“How is that possible?” Lu Qi exclaimed, his face showing astonishment. Lin Xiao’s fist had actually withstood his great axe?
Moreover, the force was evenly matched, pushing him back?
The three young men watching from the sidelines were equally shocked. Defeating Xu Rong was one thing, as Xu Rong’s cultivation was a level below Lu Qi’s. But for Lin Xiao to repel Lu Qi, a seventh-level Martial Venerable, did that mean Lin Xiao’s strength had reached a level capable of matching Lu Qi?
“As expected of someone who stirred up the three great families, truly formidable!” the three thought to themselves.
In truth, Lin Xiao was also slightly surprised. The second-ranked genius of the Lu family was indeed extraordinary. Such raw power! If Lu Qi went all out, Lin Xiao, in his current state, would likely struggle to win.
“Hmph, let’s see how long you can hold out,” Lu Qi snorted coldly. His massive axe unleashed a surge of energy, swinging towards Lin Xiao again. Lin Xiao’s petrified power erupted, and he struck back at the axe.
With his physical body and petrified arm, he feared no weapon attacks.
Since Lu Qi wanted a head-on clash, Lin Xiao didn’t mind dragging it out. Once an hour passed, the effects of the Body-Penetrating Forbidden Essence Powder would wear off.
By then, he wouldn’t be so restricted.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The two clashed fiercely, the piercing sound of metal striking metal ringing out continuously. Neither gained the upper hand.
However, after only a brief exchange, Lu Qi seemed to realise Lin Xiao was stalling. He immediately abandoned close combat.
After a hard strike, he leapt back, his vital energy surging. His axe glowed with brilliant white light as he unleashed a powerful martial technique.
The dazzling white light carried unmatched force, like a giant blade cleaving the sky, radiating terrifying fluctuations and eerie whistling sounds as it slashed towards Lin Xiao.
Seeing Lu Qi’s sudden powerful strike, Lin Xiao frowned. He fully activated his Heaven-Sealing Stone Hand, and immense petrified power burst from his stone fist. The stone-like fist energy, as if petrified itself, erupted like a towering stone pillar, colliding with the blinding white light.
Boom!
A thunderous roar echoed as waves of stone energy and white mist surged outward. The immense shockwave sent both fighters reeling back.
“Heaven-Moving Axe, Sky-Splitting Strike!”
Seeing Lin Xiao block his powerful martial technique, Lu Qi grew serious. Gripping his axe with both hands, he channelled vast power into it. A ferocious strike was unleashed, condensing into a radiant axe over ten metres long.
The glowing axe seemed almost tangible, slicing through the air and cutting through the lingering shockwaves of the previous strike. It hacked towards Lin Xiao, making the sky tremble as if the void itself was about to split.
“Sky-Splitting Strike, the second core technique of the Lu family!”
“Lu Qi’s using Sky-Splitting Strike already!” the three onlookers exclaimed.
“Heaven-Sealing Stone Hand!” Sensing the strike’s power, Lin Xiao hurriedly activated his technique again. His fist unleashed immense energy, carrying eerie and terrifying petrified force, blasting towards the giant axe formed by the condensed power.
Boom!
A deafening explosion rang out. Lin Xiao’s petrified power shattered, turning into waves of stone energy. The weakened axe, though diminished, continued its relentless advance.
Lin Xiao was prepared. His mind surged with spiritual energy, and he activated the Heaven-Devouring Art. A dark cyan vortex formed in front of him, radiating terrifying devouring and incinerating power.
Crack!
The giant axe struck the vortex and vanished within it.
Soon after, the vortex disappeared as well.
“The gap in cultivation is still too wide,” Lin Xiao thought.
With his petrified power, he was only equivalent to a third-level Martial Venerable. His unleashed force couldn’t match Lu Qi, a seventh-level Martial Venerable. Only by combining his advanced fourth-grade spiritual energy with the Heaven-Devouring Art could he fully counter Lu Qi’s powerful technique.
Relying solely on his fourth-grade spiritual energy and petrified power, defeating Lu Qi would be difficult.
Of course, he still had his four bone inscriptions, unaffected by vital energy restrictions, as another trump card.
However, he couldn’t be sure if Lu Qi had an even stronger trump card. If so, victory would still be uncertain.
Moreover, there was Cao Xueqing nearby. If she used her trump card and fought desperately, Lin Xiao might not last an hour.
Thus, Lin Xiao had no intention of prolonging the fight with Lu Qi.
Lu Qi wasn’t his true target.
At this moment, Lu Qi’s face showed deep shock. Only he knew how powerful that strike had been. Few among his peers could withstand it.
Yet Lin Xiao’s strange powers and spiritual techniques had effortlessly neutralised it.
“You do have some skill. It seems I can’t kill you without using my ultimate move!” Lu Qi’s expression darkened, his aura rising. His axe radiated blinding white light, and terrifying fluctuations surged from it.
“Heaven-Moving Axe, Titanic Force!” With Lu Qi’s thunderous roar, an even larger axe, dozens of metres long, tore through the sky. Carrying overwhelming force, it slashed towards Lin Xiao, as if it could annihilate the void.
Lin Xiao’s brows furrowed. This strike was too powerful. He had no choice but to use the Immortal Skeleton Art.
The four bone inscriptions in his spine activated, unleashing a sea of malevolent power.
Waves of white mist erupted uncontrollably from his spine, surging through his body in all directions. A terrifyingly evil aura radiated from his bones, dominating the surroundings. Lin Xiao punched forward, and countless skeletal apparitions appeared in the void—headless skeletons, broken skeletons, and beast skeletons. Ghostly wails echoed, creating a horrifying scene, as if the world had plunged into the depths of the underworld.
Whoosh! A white force erupted from Lin Xiao’s fist, carrying waves of malevolent white energy, surging towards the incoming colossal axe.
