Chapter 85 – Why Don't You Kill Me?
Chu Feng, Xiao Chen, and the others slowly walked toward the Life and Death Platform.
There were five of them in total, and although they weren't moving quickly, the crowd instinctively parted like a tide, creating a wide path for them.
Wang Baole had never witnessed such a scene before. Staring at the throng of people, he felt both nervous and excited.
Walking beside Cao Youqian, he asked in a low voice, "Second Senior Brother, when will I get to fight in front of such a huge crowd?"
Cao Youqian instinctively patted Wang Baole's shoulder when he heard that.
Though he didn't use much strength, Wang Baole nearly lost his balance and almost fell to the ground.
"Don't rush. In the next Outer Sect Competition, if you make it into the top hundred, you'll get to experience this kind of moment."
Wang Baole's eyes lit up with anticipation at those words. He thought to himself, 'I must cultivate diligently. In the next Outer Sect Competition, I'll definitely enjoy the cheers of the crowd.'
Chu Feng and the others soon pushed through the surging crowd and arrived at the base of the Life and Death Platform.
As soon as he stopped, Chu Feng felt a chilling gaze.
Instinctively, he looked in the direction it came from.
There, across from him, Elder Bing was glaring coldly at him. His eyes looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets.
Chu Feng ignored him and instead patted Xiao Chen on the shoulder.
"Go, Xiao Chen. It's time to cut off the past with your own hands."
Xiao Chen nodded slightly. "Yes, Master."
As soon as he spoke, he lightly tapped the ground with his toes and leapt onto the Life and Death Platform.
Across the platform, Qin Rou also jumped lightly onto the stage when she saw Xiao Chen appear, showing no hesitation.
Though once lovers, there was no trace of tenderness on their faces now—only cold indifference remained.
"Xiao Chen, I didn't expect you'd actually dare to fight me," Qin Rou said with a lofty tone.
With one glance, she had already seen through Xiao Chen's cultivation—merely at the eighth level of the True Fate Realm.
Xiao Chen remained calm. "Why wouldn't I dare? I'm not fighting today to prove anything to anyone. I'm here to refine my sword intent—and you are the whetstone."
Hiss—
The onlookers around them gasped.
They had already heard about the grudge between these two.
But no one expected both to be this ruthless.
Below the platform, Cao Youqian smiled and said, "Master, I've never seen Senior Brother so serious. That Senior Sister Qin is going to be in trouble this time."
Chu Feng murmured, "What a pity they didn't get married—otherwise Xiao Chen could've stacked the 'Kill Your Wife to Prove the Dao' buff."
Cao Youqian: "???"
Qin Qin: "???"
On the platform, Qin Rou's expression didn't change at all. She coldly said, "Xiao Chen, you're not even worthy. Today, I'll show you what true disparity looks like!"
As she spoke, her aura surged.
A powerful Heaven Origin Realm pressure instantly engulfed the entire Life and Death Platform.
Wherever Qin Rou's aura reached, a layer of frost formed on the ground, and the air filled with flurries of snow.
Seeing this, Xiao Chen slowly drew his sword.
"Give it your all. Let me see your progress over the past three years—don't disappoint me."
As he spoke, a terrifying aura erupted from Xiao Chen, soaring into the sky.
Within that aura surged a fearsome sword intent.
At this moment, he gave off the feeling of being one with his sword.
"No wonder Senior Brother Xiao is so revered. Even facing a Heaven Origin Realm pressure, his expression doesn't change."
"He could already challenge Heaven Origin cultivators when he first stepped into the True Fate Realm, let alone now when he's even stronger."
"Can outer Heaven Origin cultivators really compare to those from Wendao Academy? Especially from the Tianling Institute?"
Clang!
Qin Rou drew her longsword and slashed toward Xiao Chen.
"Flying Snow Across the Sky!"
With a flash of sword light, every snowflake in the air shimmered with sword energy, transforming into countless streaks of sword qi raining down.
Xiao Chen casually swung his sword, slicing through the air.
Boom!
The two sword auras collided on the platform and exploded.
As the aftermath dissipated, the falling snow on the platform ceased.
The dazzling sword light vanished too.
But in the next instant, the two figures on the platform moved simultaneously.
Clang! Clang! Clang!…
Amid a chorus of clashing swords—
On the stage, sword lights and figures crisscrossed.
The two exchanged blows evenly, matching each other move for move.
Bang!
After dozens of moves, Qin Rou blocked a strike from Xiao Chen but was forced to retreat several steps.
"Xiao Chen, so this is all you amount to. It's time we settle this."
Xiao Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, the corners of his lips curving upward. "Indeed, it's time to decide the winner."
Qin Rou twirled her sword and thrust forward sharply. "Frozen Lands for Ten Thousand Miles!"
That strike carried terrifying cold intent—wherever the sword qi passed, all things were frozen into ice.
Xiao Chen leapt up, slashing with the sword in his hand. "Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin!"
A single streak of sword light appeared first, followed by a downpour of countless sword qi like a rainstorm.
Rumble—!
The deafening roar echoed endlessly across the Life and Death Platform.
The explosion from the sword qi clash was so intense that for a moment, no one could see what was happening on the platform.
A long while later.
The sounds of the blast faded.
The mist and sword light on the Life and Death Platform gradually dispersed.
Everyone instinctively looked up toward the platform.
Qin Rou was half-kneeling on the ground, her sword already fallen from her hand.
A longsword was pointed at her throat, rendering her unable to move. Blood trickled from her throat, sliding along the blade's edge.
Across from her stood Xiao Chen, one hand behind his back, the other gripping his sword, eyes cold as he gazed at the woman before him.
At this moment, Xiao Chen's heart was calm. He had not chosen to kill her.
Because the moment his sword pierced Qin Rou's skin, the bond between them had already been severed.
The sword intent that had once been incomplete now reached perfection.
"You've lost."
"Why didn't you kill me?"
Qin Rou asked instinctively.
"I came here not to kill, but to sever the past."
Xiao Chen's voice wasn't loud, but in the silence, everyone present heard him clearly.
"I lost."
Qin Rou slowly closed her eyes, as if resigned to her fate.
The instant Xiao Chen's sword reached her throat just now, she had felt a fear like never before, and her heart had already given up all thoughts of resistance.
Hearing her words, Xiao Chen casually withdrew his longsword.
Then, without even looking back, he walked off the platform. Listening to the fading sound of his footsteps, Qin Rou slowly opened her eyes. Watching his retreating figure, a strange sense of loss welled up in her heart.
The area below the platform was deathly silent.
After witnessing such an intense battle, everyone present felt not only shock but also a lingering sense of awe.
"Qin Rou, we're leaving."
A cold voice suddenly rang out.
Hearing her master's voice, Qin Rou instinctively picked up her sword and prepared to leave.
Just then, a voice filled with amusement rang out.
"Elder Bing, did you and your disciple forget something?"
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