Chapter Fifty-Four: Decisive Execution

Assimilation of Wind and Thunder!

Taking advantage of his earlier momentum, Ye Jingming descended vertically, bringing the Wind Thunder Staff down heavily onto the arena floor. As the powerful recoil surged through him, blood trickled from the corners of Ye Jingming’s mouth. At that moment, the Wind Thunder Staff in his hands shattered instantly. The arena was immediately engulfed in dense purple mist, and countless explosions of lightning echoed throughout.

The Wind Thunder Staff’s most formidable killing move—destroying the staff to annihilate the enemy—was Ye Jingming’s strongest attack. Though his exchange with Lin Xiaobao had lasted only two brief rounds, Ye Jingming was already deeply convinced by the teachings of his master, the Fourth Elder, from the previous night.

Now that Lin Xiaobao’s power surpassed his own, victory could only be achieved by using the Assimilation of Wind and Thunder. Although it meant sacrificing the staff, the rewards of defeating Lin Xiaobao would far outweigh the loss in the future.

Initially, Ye Jingming had not taken his master’s words seriously, but now he could not help but admire the elder’s foresight.

Watching Lin Xiaobao, suspended in midair with no chance to evade, Lin Tian suddenly rose from the spectator stands, casting a glare at the Fourth Elder beside him. If it weren't for this man's prior instruction, Ye Jingming would never have unleashed such a move at the very start of the match. Now, Lin Tian could not help but worry about Lin Xiaobao.

The Wind Thunder Staff was forged from Wind Thunder Iron, and now, with immense force, the lightning contained within the iron was unleashed. Lin Xiaobao felt as though he were enveloped in a sea of purple shadows; the hair all over his body stood on end, and a sense of danger welled up in his heart.

The tremendous commotion instantly drew the attention of nearly half the Everwatch Hall. Watching Lin Xiaobao in peril, almost everyone clenched their fists, their hands tightly locked together, though even they couldn’t tell who their hearts were cheering for.

Dragon Soars Through the Void!

Sensing an unprecedented crisis, Lin Xiaobao finally unleashed the third move of the Dragon-slaying Sword Technique—the most powerful attack available to him at the pinnacle of the Ninth Stage of Innate Power.

Channeling spiritual energy into the sword’s hilt, the Seven-Star Sword’s potential was activated, bursting forth with a rainbow of light. Lin Xiaobao’s right hand swung the blade swiftly, countless sword flashes forming a massive protective barrier around him. At the same time, his body sank, rapidly falling toward the ground.

As his sword moved faster than imagination could grasp, the sword light contracted, as though his entire form was shrinking.

“Do you think this is the end?” Ye Jingming laughed wildly, pouring all his mental strength into his hands. With a forceful wave, the purple shadows flooding the arena gathered at his command, forming a lightning bolt several meters in diameter that crashed toward Lin Xiaobao.

A tremendous explosion erupted behind Lin Xiaobao as soon as he landed, billowing smoke engulfed the area, and shards of stone pierced the arena’s protective shield. Had it not been for the nearby elders’ quick intervention, many observing disciples would have been injured.

As the smoke cleared, a massive crater—dozens of meters across—appeared in the arena, carved from the sturdy Heavenly Stone. Yet within the pit, not a trace of Lin Xiaobao could be seen.

Where had Lin Xiaobao gone?

As they stared at the empty arena, many disciples wondered this and worried for Lin Xiaobao. Had he been obliterated by that last strike, leaving not even a remnant behind?

Even the formal disciples who felt no affinity for Lin Xiaobao were filled with regret. A genius like Lin Xiaobao only needed time; in the future, he could easily become a pillar of the Wind Snow Pavilion. But now...

Ye Jingming, barely standing atop the arena, looked as though he could collapse at any moment. Having depleted his mental strength with the final blow, his face was pale to the extreme. Staring at the empty pit before him, he too felt a sense of unreality.

Did I really kill Lin Xiaobao? Despite the evidence before his eyes, Ye Jingming could not shake the feeling that it wasn’t real.

“Is it over for you? Now it’s my turn!” Suddenly, an angry shout rang out from above. Lin Xiaobao was truly furious this time.

At the last moment, sensing lethal danger, Lin Xiaobao instantly deactivated the thousandfold gravity formation on his body, launching himself skyward with ghost-like agility when the purple lightning struck. Even so, the residual shock sent him flying high, his organs tumbling inside.

Though he had intended only to teach his opponent a lesson, he had not expected Ye Jingming to use such a deadly move from the start. Lin Xiaobao’s vengeful nature was immediately ignited.

Since you wished me dead, you can’t blame me for what follows!

Propelled into midair, Lin Xiaobao continuously circulated the True Fire of Taiyi to neutralize the force invading his body. As inertia faded and he began to fall, Lin Xiaobao twisted, sword before him, body behind, descending headfirst toward Ye Jingming like an inverted spear.

Ye Jingming, stunned by Lin Xiaobao’s shout, could only stare as the rainbow-glinting sword tip grew larger between his eyes.

A chill swept over his head, darkness clouded his vision, and consciousness left him.

At that moment, the entire Everwatch Hall, which had been debating Lin Xiaobao’s fate, fell silent. Terror swept over everyone as they watched the scene atop the arena. Many disciples even bent over and vomited.

Confronted by Ye Jingming, who had truly intended to kill, Lin Xiaobao’s killing intent surged. With his long sword, he cleaved the stunned Ye Jingming from head to toe.

The arena, stained with blood, was littered with Ye Jingming’s innards. His heart, freshly severed, still pulsed weakly on the floor.

Lin Xiaobao, covered in blood, stood sword in hand atop the arena, red-eyed like a god of slaughter. Not only others, but even Lin Xiaobao’s own heart surged with tumultuous emotion.

He had killed someone. He had taken a life! Though Lin Xiaobao had long anticipated that his path of cultivation would inevitably be stained with blood, imagining it was one thing; doing it was another. The sight of so much blood made him feel nauseated.

But he forced himself to endure, knowing he had to. He must show, through action, all who bore ill intent toward him: those who offend me will be destroyed!

The disciples of Wind Snow Pavilion in the audience, raised in the sect since childhood and immersed in endless cultivation, had rarely witnessed a killing—let alone such violence as Lin Xiaobao had displayed today. For the first time, their hearts were filled not with shock, but with endless fear.

“Lin Xiaobao, your opponent was already unable to fight back, yet you delivered the killing blow. Do you think the sect rules cannot restrain you?” Seeing his beloved disciple fall in an instant, Second Elder Zuo Yuxuan stood in the stands and shouted, “Grand Elder, I ask you to handle this matter impartially!”

Just recovering from his shock, Lin Xiaobao retorted, “Second Elder, how do you think this should be handled? Everyone saw Ye Jingming’s last attack—had I hesitated even a moment, would you call for fairness? I suspect you’d simply say I was defeated by skill. Since he intended to kill me, why can’t I do the same?”