<h4>Chapter 101 - Unjust Bullying!</h4>
A gentle hum filled the air. Lin Chen unsheathed the white Sword Soul, his sword sheath thudding against the ground, a faint azure light shimmering from within.
Yun Xiao had heard of this—the Azure Kite Sword Sheath. It was a wondrous item from the Heavenly Realm, vastly valuable, equating to at least ten Azure Spirit Cauldrons. In the entire Sea of Swords, only one existed.
It possessed the ability to nurture Sword Souls. A Sword Soul left within it for an extended period might experience a jump in its quality!
Lin Chen was the brightest young individual in Sword Heaven, a true swordsmanship prodigy of the Sea of Swords, surpassing other Sword Princelings. His light attribute Holy Radiance Sword Soul was ranked Upper grade, making it one of the highest quality Sword Souls in the Sea of Swords. It even surpassed Ye Guying’s Mid grade Sword Soul and was second only to Yun Xiao’s Star grade Sword Soul!
“These Sword Rings... must contain Demon Cores of at least five thousand years old!”
Yun Xiao’s Sword Rings, in contrast, merely contained thousand-year-old Demon Cores! He needed only a nce to realize how overpowering Lin Chen''s two Sword Rings were!
One blue, one red, both brimming with colossal demonic power and chaotic demon magic. Under Lin Chen’s will, one Sword Ring faintly transformed into a blue dragon coiling around the sword, while the other morphed into a two-headed me snake—clearly the forms of those two five-thousand-year-old Demon Emperors!
The power of the Sword Rings, while distinct from Sword Aura, was not to be underestimated!
Lin Chen, with fiftyyers of Sword Aura, wasplemented by these two five-thousand-year Sword Rings.
<i>HUM! </i>Harnessing the power of the Sovereign Dragon Realm and holding the Holy Radiance Sword Soul pointed towards Yun Xiao, the demon magic within the Sword Rings activated automatically. The blue Sword Ring turned into a surging tidal wave, wrapping around the Holy Radiance Sword Soul, while the red one ignited, enveloping Lin Chen entirely, transforming him into a deity of water and fire!
“Lin Chen, I presume the three Sword Princelings were killed by you, weren’t they? You’re really going all out to annihte me, huh?” Yun Xiao uttered with a frosty smirk.
“Sure, right. It was I who killed them!” Lin Chen said sarcastically, not bothering to entertain him any longer. The fury within him had already peaked. No sooner had his voice fallen than he whisked forth the Holy Radiance Sword Soul, shing it toward Yun Xiao with a tumultuous wave of might!
“Hold on, Yun Xiao, until Brother Feng arrives!” Ning Yan whispered a prayer within her heart. Just two days prior, she had been Yun Xiao’s Dao Protector, yet now, as these two prodigies shed, to intervene would be to court death.
<i>KLANG KLANG! </i>Lin Chen, harnessing the power of the Sovereign Dragon Realm, funneled his might into the Holy Radiance Sword Soul, inciting the Demon Cores to unleash their malevolent energy!
He appeared abruptly before Yun Xiao, his sword poised to decapitate. When the Sword Soul shed down, a zing demonic magic assaulted Yun Xiao, and that Holy Radiance Sword Soul, as heavy as a coursing river, threatened to swallow him whole like a surging sea.
“Quite strong!” With a fierce, swift movement, Yun Xiao parried using the hundredyer Sword Aura of his Heaven Burial Sword Soul.
<i>BOOM! </i>When the two Sword Souls collided, a thunderous roar echoed, not the expected scraping!
Lin Chen’s strike sent Yun Xiao hurtling backward, his white-robed form mming into a wooden pir. The column splintered with a thunderous crash, causing several rooms of the East Tower to copse.
“His Sword Ring is forming a protective veil, shielding the surface of his Sword Soul and preventing my Sword Soul from shattering it?” A shiver ran through Yun Xiao’s heart. A worthy opponent atst! Throughout his cultivation journey, a tempestuous path of frenzied ughter, even Ye Tiance had been rapidly dismantled by him!
“Lin Chen has been prepared all along!”
“That demon magic, Thousand Waters Lure actually nullified the sharpness of the hundredyer Sword Aura!”
“Lin Chen’s magic power is somewhat more profound!”
“He''s afraid of Yun Xiao ascending to the Sovereign Dragon Realm. So, he''s taking the initiative to strike now. Could it be...”
As thoughts raced through the crowd, a sudden tremor passed through their hearts, whispers echoing in hushed voices, “Could it really be Lin Chen who killed Ning Bei and the others, using this as a pretext to exterminate Yun Xiao?”
As their thoughts spiraled into chaos, Lin Chen, sword gleaming menacingly, unleashed a flurry of swift strikes! Having suppressed Yun Xiao with one sword stroke, empowered by his Sovereign Dragon Realm power and demon magic, he pressed toward Yun Xiao once more!
<i>Upper grade Flying Sword technique—Holy Light Assault, 18 shes!</i>
Employing a light attribute Sword Soul, in tandem with this kind of light attribute Flying Sword technique, was a veritable weapon of murder!
This technique, akin to Ten-Step Scale yet intensified manifold, was unleashed as Lin Chen extended his hand, the Flying Sword shing brilliantly eighteen times in mid-air, reaching the pinnacle of speed!
“You''re truly domineering.” Yun Xiao uttered with a cold chuckle, the azure Flying Sword in his hand jetting forth, daring to meet Lin Chen''s sword with sword!
<i>Ten-Step Scale!</i>
Fourteen resounding echoes pierced the air!
Single-handedly, Yun Xiao had not only mastered this Flying Sword technique but also daringly modified it, pushing its limits even further!
<i>WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!</i> The Ten-Step Scale howled, its hundredyer Sword Aura surging skyward with a shrill, piercing cry, colliding vehemently with the nearby Holy Radiance Sword Soul.
<i>BOOM! </i>Yet another thunderous explosion ensued!
The two swords, shing and shuddering against each other, unleashed a forceful wave of magic power, causing the water in the lotus pond to ssh and sprinkle in all directions.
"Yun Xiao, his Sword Aura is mighty, his sword technique versatile!"
"But Lin Chen has better Sword Rings and a strong cultivation base to back him! Moreover, his Upper grade Flying Sword technique far surpasses the Ten-Step Scale..."
During this rapid, fierce sh of Flying Swords, everyone thought Yun Xiao would capitte. However, following the violent collision, the Holy Radiance Sword Soul, although it managed to deflect the azure Flying Sword, failed to strike Yun Xiao, instead plunging into the east tower!
<i>CRASH CRASH CRASH! </i>Amidst the sweep of the Thousand Water Lure and Ghostly Inferno demon magics, the entire east tower of the Wind Listening Pavilion copsed on the spot, with the powerful shockwave further propelling Yun Xiao backward, leaving him a tad disheveled.
A sight dusted with both defeat and defiance!
"To withstand two strikes from Lin Chen, Yun Xiao''s natural talent is truly remarkable! He''s four years younger than Lin Chen!"
Although suppressed, Yun Xiao''s resilience still stirred a wave of murmurs and exmations.
Witnessing such ughter at the Spirit Treasure Walk, apart from Ning Que who had seen with his own eyes, it was a first for everyone else to witness Yun Xiao inbat!
A fourteen-step Ten-Step Scale? This was heaven-defying!
However, this did nothing to daunt Lin Chen, whose momentum burgeoned even more fiercely! Retrieving his Holy Radiance Sword Soul with a cold smirk, he transformed into a phantom once again, mercilessly lunging at Yun Xiao.
"You have some skills! But that''s all! If not for the hundredyer Sword Aura, you''d be dead already!"
Lin Chen''s words fell, his form advanced, Sword Aura menacing, and struck out with another sh!
Once again, another Top grade sword technique!
<i>Palm Sword technique—Heavenly Light Chasing Star!</i>
Aligning his light-attributed Sword Soul with his sword technique, as he brandished his sword, light gleamed and shifted with explosive speed, turning him into a dazzling sun, unbearably blinding.
<i>First Form, Heavenly Descent!</i>
Lin Chen''s sword shed downward, its tip plummeting like a falling star, pointed directly at Yun Xiao’s crown.
"Every sword of yours reeks of animosity. How much do you despise me?" Yun Xiao chuckled. He held the three-foot azure de, each stroke soared like an azure dragon reaching for the heavens, spawning five dragon heads that ferociously snapped at the falling meteor!
"I don''t despise you, I merely find you repugnant! Do you really think your insignificant me can rival the heavens?" Lin Chen scoffed. As he drew more power from his cultivation base, his swordy grew even more brutal!
<i>BOOM! </i>With his Thousand Waters Lure, Lin Chen was able to neutralize the sharpness of Yun Xiao''s hundredyer Sword Aura. He took advantage of his superior magic power to restrain Yun Xiao!
<i>CRACK! </i>The very stone floor Yun Xiao stood on shattered!
"Lowly Sword Cultivator of Azure Spirit, kneel before me!!" Lin Chen once again asserted his dominance. In his frenzied state, his demon magic and sword intent descended once more.
<i>HUM! </i>Yun Xiao hastily brandished his sword to resist this crushing strike!
Lin Chen’s force weighed down like a giant mountain!
Yun Xiao had no choice but to dodge, leaving Lin Chen''s sword to strike nothing but air, forcing Yun Xiao to recklessly avoid, nearly stumbling to the ground!
"So Yun Xiao, this is all the skill you''ve got?" Lin Chen coldly jeered, a murderous intent shing across his face.
He once again marshaled his magic power, unleashing his grade Palm Sword technique!
<i>Heavenly Light Chasing Star! Second Form, Sun Sword!</i>
The light of his sword splintered, transforming into a sun disc, which made Lin Chen shine brilliantly like the sun, his radiance spanning ten thousand feet.
In contrast, Yun Xiao looked as inconspicuous as the grass under this divine glimmer!
The oue was clear!
The crowd bore witness to this and concluded. Lin Chen would be victorious, Yun Xiao was fated to die!
"The Sword Lord is yet toe..."
Everyone coldly watched Lin Chen''s fatal sword strike aiming for Yun Xiao—the sword intent was unstoppable!
"Lin Chen! If you continue to force me, I will fight back!" Although Yun Xiao was at a disadvantage, his eyes still burned fiercely!
"Fight back?" Lin Chen sneered before bursting outughing. His sword aim intensified towards Yun Xiao’s throat, at the same time he barked, "Go ahead, show me your unfriendly side!"
"I was showing mercy since you''re the Sword Lord''s son! Also, the Sword Lord granted me a profound favor, that''s why I''ve been lenient! Don''t push your luck!" Yun Xiao roared, his eyes smoldering with fury.
As his words rang out, everyone, including Second Uncle Lin and Murong Li, burst intoughter. Was he flustered? Who would speak such words in this position? Howughably insolent!
When Lin Chen heard this, he too broke into hystericalughter. "Please, go ahead, kill me! If I die, it''s my bad luck, it has nothing to do with my father!"
Yun Xiao, enveloped in the radiant onught of swordy, had no choice but to retreat relentlessly.
Lin Chen, transforming into a scorching sun descending, unleashed the explosive might of his Sun Sword. His sword, akin to a brilliant sun, cast a looming shadow over Yun Xiao’s head, while two formidable demon magics—the Thousand Waters Lure and Ghostly Inferno—unleashed tumultuous seas and booming explosions, respectively, their lethal intent locked unyieldingly upon Yun Xiao!
“Yun Xiao, an orphan like you dares to kick up a fuss in my Sword Heaven?” Lin Chen''s voice dripped with scorn. “So what if I bully you because you are rootless, drifting duckweed?”
Lin Chen’s murderous intent pressed down with his sword.
“Die, you fly!” With a ferocious yell, his sword thrust toward Yun Xiao’s skull, seeking to pierce through!!
“Fine! Everyone has seen it! You forced me, showing no reason, leaving me no way to live!” Despite the frustration visible on Yun Xiao’s face, the corners of his mouth unexpectedly curled into a mocking smile.
Enough ying. The time was ripe. These people were all waiting to watch him die!
At the instant when Lin Chen''s killing blow was merely a breath away, Yun Xiao, with his fingers pinching the violently surging Heaven Burial Sword Soul, shockingly swung it out while at point-nk range!
In that split second, the Heaven Burial Sword Soul unleashed a blinding, azure light!!
<i>KLANG! </i>A piercing, crisp sound suddenly exploded!
Everyone was struck with a severe ear pain, instinctively covering their ears in astonishment!
And in the brief moment when they were clutching their ears, they astonishingly saw a dazzling azure light soaring out at a terrifying speed!
The sttering azure beam, in the twinkling of an eye, significantly surpassed the speed of Lin Chen''s sword swing!
<i>STAB! </i>An azure light abruptly prated Lin Chen''s forehead!
<i>HUM! </i> That azure light directly shot through to the sky above!
A testament to its speed, the clouds were pierced, leaving a gaping hole aloft!
“Sun Moon Divine Light, Rainbow Through The Sun!” Second Uncle Lin’s throat nearly split, shouting these eight words that he’d yearned for all his life with utmost astonishment!
Sun Moon Divine Light was the supreme Star grade sword technique of Sword Heaven!
It did not contain a Sovereign Sword technique, only the twin killing techniques of the Sun and Moon, and the <i>Sun</i> was the Star grade Flying Sword technique Rainbow Through the Sun!
A sword that prated the sun! Such was its might!
Unlike Ten-Step Scale, Rainbow Through the Sun stressed the utmost speed, the utmost ferocity. It was the fastest light, and even more, it had been the foremost murderous sword atop the Sea of Swords since ancient times!
Second Uncle Lin’s mind went nk! He saw it so clearly!
“This is a Flying Sword technique only the Sword Lord of Sword Heaven is qualified to cultivate!!” Second Uncle Lin quivered as he looked towards Yun Xiao.
This white-robed young man, by now, had caught his azure Flying Sword, retreating three steps!
“Uh...” Then, Second Uncle Lin, following closely, realized another heart-wrenching matter! He swiftly turned to Lin Chen!
Lin Chen, stood before Yun Xiao! He was frozen in ce, sword pointed at Yun Xiao, but himself unmoving! His eyes were wide open! And on his forehead, above those eyes, appeared a bloody hole... A bloody hole, from the brow, piercing through to the back of his head!
In the next moment, a mix of red and white things slowly trickled from Lin Chen’s brow and the back of his head. His eyes seemed to still be looking at Yun Xiao! However, soon, he stiffly fell backward with a ssh into the lotus pond. For a time, theke began to redden.
Wind Listening Pavilion, at this moment, plummeted into a sheer silence!
All eyes widened, gazing at the ripplingke surface, tongues trembling, yet words unspoken.
After a long, long time, the crowd then shakily shifted their gazes towards that white-robed young man, eyes filled with blood vessels, whether out of awe or resentment, it was unknown.
The young man spread his hands, saying, “No choice, my hand was forced!”