The situation was growing increasingly dire for Zuo Leng. His true essence was depleting rapidly, yet his opponent seemed unaffected, still wearing a faint smile. This forced Zuo Leng to change tactics, opting for a single decisive strike to avoid prolonging the fight.
“Black Sun Explosion!”
Zuo Leng abruptly leaped back, the electric glow on his sword vanishing, replaced by raging black flames. As he retreated, he lightly tapped a rock, his body rebounding with even greater speed than before.
“Finally using a martial technique after all this time.”
“Bring it on!”
Ling Xiao swiftly drew his Piao Xue Sword and thrust it forward.
Giant Spirit Kill!
In that instant, the surrounding vital energy seemed to be absorbed by the remnant soul of the giant sword, fully merging into this single strike.
Boom!
The swords hadn’t even clashed, but their terrifying true essence forces collided first. Giant Spirit Kill had never been blocked so easily before. In the air, snowy white true essence clashed with black-red true essence, producing a harsh “crackle” that grated on the ears.
Swoosh!
Ling Xiao’s body shot backward, retreating dozens of steps in an instant. He had lost the exchange. It was clear that Zuo Leng had pushed his true essence output to over ninety percent, nearly maxing it out. In this scenario, his superior cultivation shone through.
Having landed a successful strike, Zuo Leng showed no mercy. He pursued like a shadow, his black-flame-wreathed sword trembling as it stabbed toward Ling Xiao.
Giant Spirit Kill couldn’t overpower the opponent—likely due to a disadvantage in martial soul. Ling Xiao made this judgment as he retreated. If that was the case, he’d face the enemy with a complete martial soul!
In an instant, the giant sword remnant soul behind him vanished, replaced by the clearer Blood Shadow Martial Soul. This was Ling Xiao’s highest-grade martial soul, a second-tier complete soul—Virtual Body.
Blood Blade Shadow King Kill!
A slash unleashed a dance of blood-red light. Ling Xiao’s figure flickered, almost intangible.
Ding!
This strike precisely hit the weakest point of Zuo Leng’s sword, finally halting his relentless assault. Even so, it didn’t harm Zuo Leng. Both sides were still evenly matched, unable to overpower the other.
“Black Sun Explosion Sword, paired with Heavenly Illumination Black Flame Technique, is a near-mortal sword art! Together, its power rivals entry-level mortal martial techniques!”
“Indeed, this sword carries Heavenly Illumination Divine Fire, incredibly domineering. Yet Ling Xiao blocked it!”
“He blocked it by relying on technique. Otherwise, that strike would’ve defeated him!”
Master Bai Yun’s voice rang out, revealing his disappointment in Ling Xiao’s obsession with technical skill. Perhaps this was why he harbored a dislike for him.
“Let’s see how you block this!”
Zuo Leng retreated again. Behind him, his ninja spirit drew a strange, massive bow. Zuo Leng’s exquisite treasure sword, wrapped in black flames, became the arrow for this bow.
By now, Zuo Leng had realized his techniques were superior in power, while Ling Xiao relied on skill to cope. Thus, he needed a move so flawless that even Ling Xiao couldn’t exploit its weaknesses—a mortal martial technique he was now preparing.
A terrifying force locked onto Ling Xiao, the oppressive pressure mounting. He sensed that this move couldn’t be evaded or blocked with mere technique. It demanded a head-on clash!
Boom!
The mountain shook violently as the sword shot through the air, aimed straight at Ling Xiao.
Heavenly Illumination Divine Arrow!
Ling Xiao had faced many opponents, but none as troublesome as this. Still, he wasn’t surprised. How could a disciple favored by Bai Yun lack strength? Especially since Zuo Leng was at Martial Vein Ninth Layer, Early Stage, while Ling Xiao was only at Martial Vein Eighth Layer, Late Stage.
Even so, he never considered losing. Just a mortal martial technique? He had one too!
These thoughts flashed in an instant as he decided his next move. Holding the Piao Xue Sword in his right hand, he pointed it at Zuo Leng. Without any flourish, he thrust it forward lightly.
Swoosh!
No one could describe the speed of this strike! By the time they saw Ling Xiao’s hand twitch, a sword light had already shot forth. Condensed with terrifying Snow Lotus True Essence, it froze the air in its path. A barely visible white light split the black flames in two. The flames, as if meeting their nemesis, solidified into ice and fell to the ground.
Pfft!
A red dot appeared on Zuo Leng’s forehead, a trickle of blood seeping out. He didn’t even react!
Snow Lotus True Essence paired with Snow Lotus Sword Art was a perfect match. This was why Ling Xiao hadn’t used his higher-grade true essence.
“What sword art is this? How can it be so fast, so powerful?”
After the strike, the Cliff of Life and Death fell silent. Moments later, someone exclaimed in shock.
Bai Yun had already rushed to Zuo Leng, desperately trying to save him. Even he hadn’t reacted to Ling Xiao’s sword, a testament to its terrifying speed.
“You killed him!”
Despite his efforts, Bai Yun achieved nothing. Zuo Leng was lifeless. That sword hadn’t just pierced his head—it had destroyed his soul. Even a divine immortal couldn’t save him, let alone Bai Yun, a mere mortal martial artist.
In his fury, Bai Yun’s terrifying aura surged, paling the faces of everyone around. Ling Xiao, most at risk, had already used Cloud Dragon Divine Steps to retreat dozens of yards. He knew Bai Yun’s bias well. Despite the agreed life-and-death duel, killing Zuo Leng would push the old man to the edge. Ling Xiao wasn’t foolish enough to stay and face his wrath.
“Yes, I killed him. But this is the Cliff of Life and Death—fate decides life or death. Does Master intend to avenge him?”
Ling Xiao’s heart was heavy, his words sharp.
“Ling Xiao, don’t add fuel to the fire!”
Dai Yuling, anxious, spoke up. As Ling Xiao’s friend, she didn’t want to see him slain by an enraged Bai Yun.
“Let him speak!”
Bai Yun’s beard trembled, his anger barely contained. Ming Tian and Zuo Leng were his prized disciples, and losing one was unbearable.
“Master, you approved this life-and-death duel. You thought his higher cultivation would let him kill me, didn’t you? Sorry to disappoint you!”
Ling Xiao’s face dripped with sarcasm.
“Don’t call me Master. I have no disciple like you!”
Bai Yun roared.
“Hmph, I don’t care to be your disciple. A biased, unjust man like you disgusts me!”
Ling Xiao snorted, preparing to flee. Even if it meant a complete break, so be it.
“I’ll kill you!”
Bai Yun moved, unleashing a terrifying palm strike—a mortal martial technique meant for wolf-like beasts.
—
Meanwhile, the black-clad man’s ultimatum hung in the air. Ming Tian’s hesitation was palpable, his loyalty to Bai Yun warring with the allure of a brighter future under the Demon Flame Heavenly Sovereign. The other disciples watched, tension thick, as the quarter-hour deadline loomed.
Ling Xiao, standing at a safe distance, observed silently. His expulsion from Bai Yun’s tutelage left him unbound, but the black-clad man’s arrogance grated on him. Still, the promise of the Moon Blossom Sect and the Heaven-Human Realm was tempting. If the offer extended to him, he might consider it—not out of disloyalty, but out of necessity. Strength was everything, and today’s events proved it.
Bai Yun, struggling to rise, glared at the black-clad man. “You dare manipulate my disciples in my presence? Even if I’m no match for your master, the Moon Blossom Sect has rules!”
The black-clad man laughed. “Rules? In the face of absolute power, rules bend. Ming Tian, time’s ticking. Choose wisely.”
Ming Tian clenched his fists, his mind racing. To stay with a weakened master or seize a chance at greatness? The weight of the decision pressed heavily on him.
Ling Xiao’s eyes narrowed. Whatever Ming Tian chose, Ling Xiao knew one thing: he’d carve his own path, no matter who stood in his way—Bai Yun, the black-clad man, or even the Demon Flame Heavenly Sovereign himself.
