Volume I: The Young Demon Lord, Chapter 34: A Single Sword Strike

Qi Yu nodded. "I understand."

Qi Yu and Zhang Wendian stepped out of the Trial Tower, only to find hundreds of people densely packed outside. They were all waiting for the City Lord to emerge, eager to see what had captured the attention of such a prominent figure.

When some cultivators noticed the two of them, they asked if they had seen the City Lord. Zhang Wendian replied directly in the negative and quickly led Qi Yu away.

Meanwhile, inside the Trial Tower, Huo Guanyang and Elder Yuan watched the two figures disappear. Elder Yuan suddenly asked, "City Lord, should I send someone to follow them and uncover that youth's identity?"

Huo Guanyang shook his head. "No need. If he wanted us to know his identity, he would have shown his true face inside the tower. By lowering myself to befriend him, he will feel gratitude, and he will surely lend me a helping hand in my future time of need. If we send someone to track him and he discovers it, it will only breed resentment."

"Furthermore, a genius is never destined to remain obscure. A golden dragon is not a creature to be kept in a pond. We need only wait quietly."

...

On the way back to the Sword Sect, Qi Yu turned his focus inward to his storage bracelet to carefully examine his new belongings.

There was a low-tier Earth-grade sword technique called "Phantom Sword Dance," which could unleash hundreds of strikes in an instant.

Qi Yu was astounded. "A low-tier Earth-grade technique!"

Earth-grade techniques were unimaginably valuable. In the entire Sword Sect, there were only two such techniques, and they were reserved exclusively for the Elders. Once, the Great Elder had been intercepted and hunted by ten experts from other sects while trying to secure an Earth-grade technique. He had returned to the sect barely alive and had to spend three years in seclusion to recover from his injuries.

In addition to the Earth-grade manual, there were several high-tier Yellow-grade techniques, along with one hundred spirit stones, ten medicinal herbs, and ten spirit-gathering pills. The purpose of spirit-gathering pills was to assist in cultivation speed, but since Qi Yu was intentionally suppressing his cultivation, they were of little use to him for the time being.

Upon returning to the Sword Sect, Qi Yu gave the Earth-grade manual to Liu Rouxue. After all, he already possessed the "God-Slaying Sword Art" and the "Stunning Sword Strike." Though these two techniques had no formal grade, they grew in power alongside his own development.

When Liu Rouxue received the manual, she was stunned and asked in a daze, "Brother Qi Yu, where did you get this?"

Qi Yu smiled. "I obtained it by chance. Just take it and practice, Sister Xue'er."

Liu Rouxue bit her lip. "But this is too precious..."

"Xue'er, you are the only family I have left in this world." Qi Yu interrupted her and smiled. "Tomorrow, I am going to the life-and-death arena with Zhen Xingfan."

Liu Rouxue’s expression immediately became tense. "Brother Qi Yu, you must be careful."

Qi Yu nodded. He could hardly contain his impatience. In fact, a month ago, when the life-and-death duel was first set, he had considered finding a way to kill Zhen Xingfan secretly, but he had been delayed by the opening of his meridians, which had granted his enemy an extra month of life.

...

In a certain secret chamber, a man lay on a stone table, wrapped from head to toe in white bandages. His chest heaved violently, appearing highly agitated.

"Haha, I was right about you! To pass the seventh level of the Trial Tower—your talent already surpasses ninety-eight percent of the cultivators in this dynasty!" The man said in a raspy voice. "I have a spiritual weapon, the high-tier Yellow-grade 'Moon-Seeking Sword'! Use that sword for your duel tomorrow!"

Zhen Xingfan’s lips curled upward. "With such a fine spiritual weapon, I will certainly send that piece of trash to meet his coward of a father tomorrow!"

The man coughed hard twice. "It is a pity I cannot be there in person to watch you slay that wretch, but as long as he dies, it will satisfy this old man's wish."

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Zhen Xingfan’s eyes. "For daring to compete with me for a woman, I will see to it that he dies without a burial ground!"

The man added, "Young Master Zhen, for Qi Yu to transform from a piece of trash into a fifth-stage Profound Realm cultivator in just one year, he must have had expert guidance. I worry he might employ some underhanded tricks, so you must finish the battle quickly tomorrow. Give him no chance to breathe!"

Zhen Xingfan replied, "Rest assured, I will leave him no chance of winning."

With that, Zhen Xingfan took out a pill from his robe. "Look at this."

When the man saw the pill in Zhen Xingfan’s hand, his eyes widened. "A Spirit Dragon Pill!"

The Spirit Dragon Pill was incredibly rare, costing tens of thousands of gold coins each. Its medicinal properties were heaven-defying; once consumed, for the next hour, any injury—so long as it was not fatal—could be recovered from in an instant!

Zhen Xingfan sneered, "This pill is priceless. My family went to great lengths to buy it at an auction. That piece of trash, Qi Yu, could never possibly inflict a fatal injury on me. Tomorrow, I will not only take his life, but I will toy with him, humiliating him before everyone before he meets his pathetic end!"

Zhen Xingfan narrowed his eyes.

...

The second day arrived as scheduled. As the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon, tens of thousands of Sword Sect disciples had already gathered before the life-and-death arena.

Even the Great Elder and Zhang Wendian were present, seated in the stands below.

The Great Elder narrowed his eyes. "A contest of skill is enough. If it reaches a life-or-death moment, we must intervene!"

Zhang Wendian remained silent. He was well aware of Zhen Xingfan’s extraordinary background. If Qi Yu actually killed him, it would inevitably invite unnecessary trouble, or even a death sentence.

Soon, a figure arrived on a flying sword and landed gracefully on the arena. It was Zhen Xingfan.

As a genius of the Sword Sect with a noble background, Zhen Xingfan had a large following. His appearance immediately caused a stir. Dressed in white robes, handsome and dashing, he stood silently on the arena, holding his sword in one hand.

Some noticed the longsword in his hand; the blade emitted a brilliant blue light.

"Is that a spiritual weapon?"

"It looks like one, and the grade must be quite high!"

"Senior Brother Zhen has family, looks, and cultivation. I really don’t know why the Saintess didn't choose him."

The disciples below whispered, mostly praising Zhen Xingfan, who clearly enjoyed the attention, his lips curving upward.

Just then, a powerful aura descended from the sky.

All the disciples immediately bowed. "Sect Master Chen!"

It was Chen Qingming. He smiled slightly. "No need for formalities!"

Chen Qingming took his seat below and looked toward the arena, saying nothing. Suddenly, two streaks of light—one cyan and one red—arrived from the distance. The red streak hovered above the arena.

Every male disciple’s eyes lit up with adoration at the sight. It was Liu Rouxue, the recognized beauty of the Sword Sect and the object of countless disciples' affection.

The cyan streak landed on the arena. It was Qi Yu.

Qi Yu’s arrival instantly silenced the crowd. Some disciples were so nervous they held their breath.

One was a genius among the core disciples of the inner sect; the other was a genius who had opened the Demon-Sealing Tower and received the inheritance of the first Sect Master.

The collision between these two geniuses was bound to be a battle for the ages!

Zhen Xingfan silently swallowed the Spirit Dragon Pill. His Moon-Seeking Sword let out a sharp, ringing sound as he pointed it at Qi Yu.

Qi Yu nonchalantly retrieved his Cold Cicada Sword from his storage bracelet. "Let’s start!"

Zhen Xingfan chuckled disdainfully. "Haha, Qi Yu, today I will show you that challenging me to a life-and-death duel is the most foolish..."

*Swish!*

Before anyone could react, Qi Yu’s figure vanished from where he stood!

*Chi! Chi!*

Two arc-shaped sword beams flashed.

Zhen Xingfan’s eyes widened. He had not expected Qi Yu to strike so suddenly. As he retreated, he frantically channeled his sword energy to protect his body. As long as Qi Yu’s strike failed to kill him, the Spirit Dragon Pill would allow him to recover instantly. Then, he would take Qi Yu’s life!

But Zhen Xingfan was wrong. Qi Yu’s first move was a lethal blow!

*Clang!*

The tip of the blade not only flashed with gold, but was also wreathed in several strands of bewitching red light!

Instant Slash, Stunning Sword Strike!

Below the stage, Chen Qingming’s pupils constricted. "That is Sword Intent!"

"No!"

Chen Qingming, the Great Elder, and Zhang Wendian all moved at once to intervene, but it was too late!

The red light flickered and struck. A sense of impending death washed over Zhen Xingfan.

*Swish!*

A head was sent flying high into the air, blood splattering the ground!

Zhen Xingfan’s body collapsed limply.

The disciples below were frozen in shock. The massive training ground was as silent as a grave.

One strike!

Qi Yu had killed the Sword Sect genius with just a single strike!

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Qi Yu, barely masking his excitement, ran over to strip Zhen Xingfan of all his belongings, tossing them all into his storage bracelet.