The clamor was deafening, but as the life-and-death arena battle ignited, it gradually hushed.
Martial Emperor City's inner and outer disciples stared fixedly.
Unaware of Du Longyang's god-slay plan, Nie Changqing was just a sheltered infiltrator to them.
Without protection—dead.
Killed many—hatred natural.
City hall.
Empress seated, legs crossed—pale, long; laughed: "Interesting. Solid foundations—Second Stage suited three-revolution foe. Pity breakthrough to four—perfect spar to lethal."
Du speechless—saw Nie's intent to hone.
Breakthrough ruined plans.
"Fine. Near death—save. Can't derail god-slay for one."
Yuan Shang.
Talk brief—focused arena.
Arena.
Nie helpless—unanticipated breakthrough.
No retreat—fight!
Gripped knife, eyes ablaze—charged.
Blade intent surged, Dragon Slayer slashed myriad qi.
Blade compensated gap.
Heavenly Lock, vital blood—fight possible!
Clang!
Sparks endless.
Nie vs. Yang—spear vs. black blade.
Yang's weapon inferior, but suppressed—realm crush.
Nie Second Stage ≈ two-revolution, stronger but marginal.
Lu: Heavenly Lock shines late—excavates limits.
Body Storage unearths treasures; Heavenly Lock pushes extremes.
Boom!
Nie metal-attributed blade qi—destructive.
Slash tore ground.
Yang steady—knew strength, no underestimate.
Survived pursuits, counter-killed—formidable.
Battle perilous—fire ignited.
Nie suppressed, spear holes bled—wretched.
Stolen story; please report.
Outcome clear.
"Yang prepping Human List—prepared."
"Four-revolution early for List—tail at best..."
"Kill infiltrator—clarity, breakthrough!"
Viewers relaxed.
Obvious: Nie spent, propping.
No flip—List-aspirant cautious, stable.
Flawless—no chance.
...
City outskirts.
Snow whipped.
Mo Tianyu worried—unease growing.
Sat in snow, hat layered.
Divined minor auspicious—not great.
Sighed.
Tossed treasures—minor auspicious.
Annoyed—swatted.
Suddenly—body shook.
Nosebleed warm.
Strands fell.
Stunned—chest clutched.
Like island... backlash?
More.
Aura surged—vortex overhead.
Body Storage!
Mo dumbfounded.
What?
Backlash... breakthrough?
Last: Qi Core peak.
Now: crossed to Body Storage.
Painful breakthroughs?
...
City.
Nie blood-soaked white, grave unwilling.
Can't die!
Nie Shuang, Ru'er wait; Young Master too.
But Yang's power, stability—frustrating, turtle-shelled.
No strike point.
"Blade Control!"
Eyes condensed—roar.
Dragon Slayer upward—dazzling.
Yang rooted—spear raised, starry points.
Boom!
Qi exploded.
Nie skidded meters.
Dissipated.
Yang charged—spear to brow.
Killing intent endless.
Long-sought chance.
Fatal!
Outside.
Disciples excited—done.
Ye Qianxun bored, rose to leave.
Du sensed—sighed.
Ended.
Arena.
Yang eyes fierce—spear straight to brow, nail dead.
Nie crisis—death chill.
Bone-cold.
Instinct: gripped Dragon Slayer, slashed spear.
Yang ignored hasty blade.
Vs. condensed fatal—how compare?
Outcome: pierced dead.
Clang!
Long fights—spear notched.
Hasty slash hit weak notch.
Crack...
Spear broke.
Yang stunned—momentum stalled, horse legless.
Blood spewed.
Nie stunned...
Instant: seized, killing intent exploded.
Vital blood, spine roar—blade air-burst!
Puchi!
Decisive—awakened beast, cleaved head.
Yang dazed break—thunder slash decapitated!
Dead silence.
Outside.
Leaving disciples froze.
Ye turned—saw head fly.
How?
Yang's fatal—peak power, timing—flipped?
How?
Hall.
Du stunned.
Face ashen.
"Luck..."
"Hasty slash hit vulnerability—broke spear, momentum. Else... dead."
Shocked counter-kill.
Not strength—Nie weaker; momentum backlash—chance, one-strike.
Too fast intervene.
Empress, Yuan Shang odd.
Luck indeed.
Arena.
Nie heaved.
Leaned Dragon Slayer, rose.
No joy.
Too weak—luck broke spear, stalled, backlash.
Else loss...
Luck always?
Wiped blood—bloodman, exited.
Disciples uproar—anger.
Ignored.
Staggered out.
Blockers.
But...
City thunder: "Enough!"
"Shame not enough?!"
Du.
Disciples chilled—no block.
Unwilling.
Ye watched vanish—eyes rippled.
Nie no look back.
Staggered snow—gone gate.
Outskirts.
Mo saw bloody Nie—joy, supported flee—fear pursuit.
"Won?"
Nod.
Mo eyes flickered—backlash?
Won via.
Kong Nanfei survived great auspicious; minor less potent.
Brighter—excited, found path!
"Next?"
"Recover, return."
Trial tower flaws, improve.
Return city.
Win fair next!
"Good!"
Mo nod.
Doubts—consult Young Lord Lu.
Mysterious—only he.
Cave.
Five days immobile.
Nie healed; Mo consolidated.
Finally.
Exited.
Snow to ruined Bodhisattva Temple.
Entered air wall—South Prefecture.
...
Roaring river splashed.
Currents: spirit converged—hatted mini-Lu on leaf, surfing.
Domain near Great Qian.
Five days river—edge.
Leaf: gray sky grave.
River black mist—eerie aura.
"Demon qi?"
"Polluted spirit."
Mumbled.
Leaf boat—dived mist.
Thick.
Wails, roars.
Crystal mini-Lu—out place.
Half day—exited, entered domain.
Tianyuan forbidden, demon lands.
Flat—no peaks, valleys.
Demon qi vortex center.
Tower: tall, ragged—jagged stones.
Heavenly Demon Tower.
Uninterested.
Scanned: creatures stared.
Four-legged beasts—primitive.
Upright demon-formed—demons.
Few, emaciated, wilted—death's edge.
Mini-Lu leaf, chin—gold eyes scanned, collected samples.
Suddenly.
Tower top: demon qi maelstrom.
Mist: black flame eye—contracting devour.
Turned.
Locked mini-Lu.
Shriek.
Black claw spanned void—grabbed!
Scanning mini-Lu blank—snatched into tower.
Beiluo Island.
Lu sipping plum—nearly spat.
Who so enthusiastic?
