Killing intent surged in Zhang Ling—he would slay both Lin Yu and Yu Weiwei. If Yu Weiwei survived and returned to Profound Heaven, he would die.
He raised his sword, channeling spiritual energy until dazzling cyan light swirled around him, forming willow-leaf blades. These cyan blades swam like koi, carving crisscrossing gullies into the ground.
"Die!" Zhang Ling sneered, slashing at Lin Yu. A torrent of sword qi surged forth, like a raging river. As a Myriad Manifestations Second Grade expert, this full-powered strike would reduce Lin Yu to powder.
The swirling cyan blades merged with the sword qi, an unstoppable force bearing down on Lin Yu. The forest howled with激荡 (churning) sword qi, slicing through ancient trees, which were instantly pulverized, clearing a ten-zhang path to Lin Yu.
Lin Yu looked up, flicking a finger. Wind sword intent whistled from his指尖 like a cyan rainbow, colliding with the sword qi.
Bang!
The wind intent shattered Zhang Ling's attack, devouring the hundreds of cyan blades until they vanished. Sharp cyan ripples radiated outward,腰斩(Execution by cutting in two at the waist)ing trees that collapsed, scaring away monsters and birds for miles.
"Wind sword intent..." Zhang Ling's face paled. His full-powered strike had been effortlessly defeated. Now he realized Lin Yu's might, panic setting in.
"Wind sword intent... Could it be..." Yu Weiwei gaped at Lin Yu, recalling legends of Great Han's national guardian. A clue clicked, and her gaze fixed on him.
"You... Weren't your dantian and qi seas crippled? You're supposed to be a failure! How can you be this strong?" Zhang Ling was astonished—he'd never heard of someone cultivating after a crippled dantian.
Who said a crippled dantian forbids cultivation? Nothing is impossible in this world. Lin Yu glanced at Zhang Ling, summoning the Wind Controlling Sword from his mind. With a thought, it shot toward Zhang Ling like a rainbow.
"Sword flight! No!" Seeing Lin Yu施展 (use) the Nine Heavens Sword Controlling Art, Zhang Ling truly grasped his power. Panicking, he channeled all spiritual energy into his sword, slashing at the incoming blade.
Cyan light bloomed, forming crashing waves to block the strike.
Boom!
His cultivation paled in comparison, and the Nine Heavens art was too powerful. The waves shattered, and the Wind Controlling Sword pierced through, slashing Zhang Ling's chest. He was sent flying, crashing to the ground in a human-shaped indentation.
Zhang Ling lifted his head with difficulty, a gruesome wound nearly splitting him in two. Blood poured out, his aura fading.
"Myriad Manifestations Fifth Grade... You're Myriad Manifestations Fifth Grade!" He stared at Lin Yu in disbelief. "How? Your dantian was crippled! How did you reach Myriad Manifestations Fifth Grade?"
"That's a question you aren't worthy to ask." Lin Yu stood over him. He wouldn't reveal his Saint Emperor Sword Body, especially with Yu Weiwei—now free from Zhang Ling'scoercion—watching.泄露 (Revealing) the secret would invite trouble.
Lin Yu waved, and the Wind Controlling Sword landed in his hand, radiating scorching heat as flames burst from the blade.
"Fire... Fire sword intent! You've comprehended fire sword intent too?" Zhang Ling gaped like a frog in a well gazing at the moon. Comprehending even one intent at Myriad Manifestations was a prodigy's feat. Lin Yu, so young, had mastered both wind and fire—Profound Heaven's millennia of heritage had never seen such a monster.
Lin Yu raised the sword toward Zhang Ling's forehead.
"Third Prince, you can't kill me! I'm a Profound Heaven elder with a soul-bound life lamp. Kill me, and the sect will know immediately! They'll hunt you down. Can you rival a Void Formation expert?" Zhang Ling hissed. "Spare me, and I'll forget this. I'll release Yu Weiwei. We'll never cross paths again. I—"
Lin Yu didn't let him finish. The sword landed on his forehead, intent bursting forth. A wisp of red flame entered Zhang Ling's mind, annihilating his soul.
"Lad, keep the body! It's a Myriad Manifestations Second Grade cultivator—don't waste it!" Cauldron Lord stopped Lin Yu from incinerating the body with fire intent.
Lin Yu smiled wryly, turning to Yu Weiwei, who still stood stunned.
"Third Prince... No, Lord Lin, I swear by the Heavenly Dao I'll never breathe a word of this!" Sensing Lin Yu's gaze, Yu Weiwei shivered and swore an oath never to betray him.
"Remember your oath. Go." Lin Yu hadn't expected her to be so tactful. He hadn't planned to kill her anyway—she was the catalyst, and if she was smart, she'd stay silent. Leaking the truth would cost her life.