"If you want to fight, then we will fight!"
Xiao Yi looked impassively at Huihai Sword Master and Yang Kun. The fire of battle in his eyes blazed like the fierce sun.
Shadow Demon and others followed closely, never leaving or abandoning him, each one of them also carrying towering battle will.
Especially Shadow Demon and Zhang Ling a few, who were originally slaves in Beast Emperor City, held captive in the dungeons where daylight never reached, living lives that were less than human.
It was Xiao Yi's arrival that had rescued them from the darkness.
They owed him their very lives.
Zhang Ling, who had the most explosive temper, took a step forward, his sword-like eyebrows fierce, his deadly gaze locked on Yang Kun: "You filthy mongrel, my master is so generous, and yet you oppose him at every turn. If you're brave enough, come at me! Even if I can't beat you, I'll take you down with me in a suicide attack. Do you dare?"
"Hahaha, Zhang Ling, if there's going to be an explosion, it won't be your turn! If anyone explodes, it should be me first!" said Shadow Demon with a grin.
resounded a clanging determination, as steadfast as metal.
Yang Kun's face fluctuated between shades of green and white; his eyes seethed with a venomous and cold light: "Since you all seem eager to court death, then I will oblige. Liu Chun, kill him for me. I want his heart to accompany my wine..."
Behind the Huihai Sword Master, a bald man touched his shiny head and, with a twisted smile, walked forward, his sanguine tongue licking his lips, his gaze fixed intently on Zhang Ling, "So you're the one seeking death, right?"
Beneath Liu Chun's feet, a green halo emerged, undulating and flickering with a dazzling green light.
It radiated outwards in waves, dispersing in all directions.
Zhang Ling's pupils shrank slightly, betraying a deep sense of solemnity and wariness: "This person's cultivation is at least the fifth level of Dharma Manifestation Realm. It seems we really must prepare for a mutual destruction!"
Although Zhang Ling had greatly improved both his resources and martial skills during his time at Xiaoshanhe Institute,
he was only at the peak of the second level of the Dharma Manifestation Realm.
Compared to Liu Chun, he indeed fell short. To achieve victory, the only way was to stake his life. Zhang Ling turned to look at Xiao Yi, with a grin saying, "Master, I'll go ahead..."
Zhang Ling leaped up, intending to ascend the sacrificial altar.
A fair hand landed on his ankle, and Zhang Ling's figure stalled, then crashed face-first onto the ground with a thud. He fell embarrassingly into the dirt, his face covered in dust, and he looked up at Xiao Yi in a daze: "Master, what are you doing?"
Zhang Ling felt deeply wronged!
He was about to ascend the altar; how could he be dragged down just like that?
Yang Kun squinted at Xiao Yi: "What's the matter? Is the mighty Headmaster Xiao willing to surrender without a fight?"
"If you don't speak, nobody will take you for a mute!"
Xiao Yi spared him a glance, then walked over to Zhang Ling and lightly patted his shoulder with a smile, "As long as I'm here, there's no need for any of you to risk your lives."
"Master, you mean..." Zhang Ling was startled.
Shadow Demon quickly stepped forward, grabbing Xiao Yi and said in a grave voice: "Master, you are our pillar. As long as you're in Xiaoshanhe Institute, it won't fall. You must not risk yourself; leave this to us!"
"Master, if it weren't for you, none of us would have today. Now that someone dares to target you, it's only natural that we lead the charge!"
"Please, let Zhang Ling go!"
The people pleaded one after another.
Xiao Yi smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "Since you all call me 'Master', naturally, I have a duty to protect you. Just stand here and watch."
"Master, you mustn't!"
"Master, they're dying for you to make a move, you can't fall for it!" Jin Feiyan's eyes brimmed with pleading, tugging at Xiao Yi's sleeve, begging desperately.
Xiao Yi rubbed her head, smiling and said, "It's okay, they're just a bunch of chickens and dogs, why should I be afraid?"
Xiao Yi leaped up and landed on the altar.
He beckoned Liu Chun with a curl of his finger, a sneer on his face, "Come up here and meet your death!"
Liu Chun snorted coldly, rubbed his head, and said with a sinister smile, "People say how powerful you, Xiao Yi, are. I want to see if you're as formidable as the rumors claim..."
Liu Chun's feet bloomed with lotuses as he ascended step by step, landing firmly on the altar, and proudly said, "Xiao Yi, I saw how you guided Ye Heng in battle earlier; it seems you have ample combat experience. Just don't know if you can react as quickly when you're fighting yourself!"
Xiao Yi, impatient, flicked his hand and the sword moved through the air, "Star Breaker!"
A point of cold light gathered at the tip of his finger, as brilliant as a star, turning into a hexagram that shot out. Everywhere it passed, stars arrayed across the sky, dragging a bright and luminous comet trail.
The hexagram spun faster as it flew, growing larger by the moment.
Whirlwinds churned across the surface of the star light, cutting through everything in front of it with extreme sharpness.
"Just a minor trick..."
Liu Chun's face was full of disdain.
With a tap of his foot, energy dissipated outward.
The ground in front of him roared, and it suddenly burst open, a green tree rising from the earth, its roots like black serpents entwining around chunks of rock, blocking his front.
Below the altar, Yang Kun said proudly, "Liu Chun is a rare possessor of the Wooden Spirit physique, cultivates the 'Jianmu Divine Skill,' and can manipulate the power of trees and plants. This tree is the Iron Dragon Wood, extremely durable, and even someone at the Dharma Phase Realm Peak would struggle to break through its defense, Xiao Yi cannot possibly..."
Before he could finish speaking.
Suddenly, the sound of air breaking through filled their ears, and the Huihai Sword Master grabbed Yang Kun and retreated explosively. Where Yang Kun had been standing, a broken tree branch had penetrated Liu Chun's chest and slammed to the ground with a thud.
Drip-drop, drip-drop!
Blood slid down the tree and dropped to the ground, splattering into clusters of plum-like red stains.
Yang Kun swallowed hard with a stunned look on his face, staring towards the altar, where the Iron Dragon Wood that he claimed was impossible for Xiao Yi to break had been cleaved apart at the waist by him.
Jin Feiyan's high-hanging heart relaxed as a radiant smile spread across her pretty face, challenging Yang Kun, "Dear Prince Yang Kun, didn't you say the Iron Dragon Wood was indestructible? How come my master sliced it in half with just a flick of his finger?"
Yang Kun's face turned shades of red and white, too angry to speak.
"Fei Yan, how can you speak to Prince Yang Kun like that? Apologize to the prince right now!" Xiao Yi said sternly.
Jin Feiyan was taken aback, puzzled by why Xiao Yi suddenly asked her to apologize to Yang Kun, her eyes reddening with a touch of grievance. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Xiao Yi loudly say, "Prince Yang Kun, Fei Yan has been spoiled by me, speaks her mind without hiding anything, I hope your highness can forgive her."
Yang Kun blinked, completely confused.
As he gazed at Xiao Yi, his eyes grew stranger—was this guy about to back down?
But he soon realized he had thought too much...
Xiao Yi looked at the experts from the various major powers behind Yang Kun, waving his hand and said, "Are there any more fighters like Liu Chun? I can take on a hundred of such fighters! Or perhaps, would you like those few behind you to come at me together?"