Perilous

The yellow Hundred Year Spirit Ring suddenly lit up.

Spirit Skill, Wind Piercing Thrust!

Taken from the Hundred-Year Soul Beast Wind Fierce Eagle, it was a charging skill that could be activated with extreme speed.

Pale azure currents of wind swirled around him. Xu Chi maintained a thrusting stance, the tip of his sword gleaming sharply like lightning tearing through space.

In an instant, he crossed several meters and thrust his sword at Fang Ling.

This skill, which looked like a retreat but was actually a sudden charge, was extremely difficult to defend against.

Many people had died to this kind of sudden attack.

That was also how he had earned the name "Heart Piercing Chi."

Fang Ling had been particularly wary of this, just as his own title, "Throat Cutting Ling," had come from cutting throats.

Xu Chi's title also reflected certain aspects of his fighting habits.

It matched what the host had said quite well.

For example, thrusting!

That sudden retreat set off a powerful warning in Fang Ling's heart.

The yellow radiance that abruptly entered his vision confirmed his judgment. Xu Chi was preparing something big.

The moment Xu Chi began his charge, Fang Ling did not think at all and instinctively dodged to the side.

The shriek of the wind was especially piercing.

The sharp sound was like countless blades slicing through the air, bringing with it a biting chill.

Xu Chi was immensely surprised to discover that his Wind Piercing Thrust, which had always been unstoppable and could sometimes secure victory in a single strike—

had merely cut through a layer of his opponent's skin.

"What fast reflexes!"

Clicking his tongue in amazement, Xu Chi pulled the tip of his sword aside. Borrowing the residual gust from his Spirit Skill, he thrust the black longsword at Fang Ling's heart once more.

This time, Fang Ling could not dodge in time. Though he had raised his sickle to block, his hurried response lacked strength, and he failed to completely deflect the attack.

A huge wound opened between the ribs beside his heart.

"Damn it!" Lin Tianyang's expression suddenly tightened as he watched the tense, thrilling battle.

He could not help but smack his thigh hard.

Fang Ling's reactions were quick, but he was a little short on strength. Once they returned, Lin Tianyang had to make him eat properly, then put him through targeted strength training!

If he survived, that was...

"Little Fang Ling!" Shu Manyun's eyes widened as she watched him suddenly fall into a disadvantage, crying out in disbelief.

"Heart Piercing Chi! Kill him! Charge!"

"Throat Cutting Ling is going to be killed!"

"He's going to die!" The audience erupted.

The one with thirteen consecutive victories was about to be killed by the one with ten consecutive victories. War King Academy's genius was about to be killed by the City Lord's younger son.

What a thrilling battle.

Fang Ling, the one who had been stabbed, looked pale.

The Black Gold Sword had pierced his lung. Intense pain and the sensation of struggling to breathe flooded his mind.

Fresh Blood dripped down his chest, while a strong, sickly sweet stench surged up his windpipe and into his nose.

He did not weaken from the pain. In that instant, Fang Ling's gaze became even fiercer.

That had been the closest he had ever come to death.

His heart had almost been pierced!

However, the brief pause after his opponent's movement ended also gave Fang Ling an excellent opportunity.

The sickle instantly vanished from his right hand and appeared in his left, continuing to deflect his opponent's attacks.

He stomped down with all his strength. Ignoring the sword sinking deeper into his body, he hooked the blade with his sickle and swung it outward.

The rapid rush of adrenaline made him ignore even the immense pain of the sword tearing through his body.

"How ruthless!" The audience cried out in shock.

"Hiss—!" Lin Tianyang could not help clutching his chest, his heart twitching violently.

Everyone saw Fang Ling twist his body in midair and unleash an extreme side kick.

That all-out kick struck Xu Chi on the side of the head.

Bang!

Fang Ling landed while clutching his chest, nearly collapsing to his knees under the explosive, near-death pain.

Xu Chi, meanwhile, flew several meters away, his body crashing violently into the ground.

That powerful kick had nearly shattered his skull and almost knocked him unconscious in a single blow!

Even though he had not completely lost consciousness, a huge bloody swelling had risen on his head, his skull had cracked, and his brain was inevitably still concussed.

Not only was his vision blurred, but his hearing had also been severely affected. His senses had been weakened to their limit.

Xu Chi tried to gather his scattered consciousness, but all he felt was the world spinning around him.

Covering the Fresh Blood gushing from the left side of his chest to prevent himself from losing too much blood, Fang Ling held his breath and advanced quickly.

Brain injuries were not so easily recovered from.

For a person, they were practically a death sentence.

This was a perfect opportunity. Before Xu Chi recovered, Fang Ling could kill him directly and end this dangerous battle.

"Kill!" Fang Ling shouted to mislead him, then staggered slightly as he changed direction.

Approaching from behind would be safer.

Xu Chi was still struggling. He swung the Black Gold Sword toward the sound.

But his impaired senses only allowed him to vaguely determine the direction.

Fang Ling's misdirection worked to great effect.

The Black Gold Sword struck empty air, but the sickle found its mark.

One slash across the throat.

Heart Piercing Chi, dead!

He had already won. His opponent was dead. There would be no more twists.

Without waiting for the host to announce the result, Fang Ling immediately ran toward his teacher and Shimu.

This time, his injuries were somewhat severe. His lung had been cut open, and he had lost a little too much blood. He needed treatment immediately.

Lin Tianyang hurried over, picked Fang Ling up, and carried him toward the lounge.

The Great Soul Arena's dedicated healing Soul Elder immediately followed. Using a Spirit Skill to stop the bleeding, he washed away the dirty blood with water before stitching the wound.

He also inserted a one-way drainage tube into Fang Ling's chest.

Meanwhile, Shimu Shu Manyun alternated between her First Soul Ring and Third Soul Ring, preventing Fang Ling's wound from becoming infected and allowing his injuries to heal quickly.

With both of them working together to save him, they finally pulled Fang Ling through without leaving behind any lasting complications.

"My duty ends here."

"I'll leave the rest to you."

The Great Soul Arena's Healing Spirit Master put away his tools and nodded to Shu Manyun and Lin Tianyang.

Amid their profuse thanks, he left the private lounge.

After resting for a long time—at least two hours—Fang Ling opened his eyes as he lay on the lounge bed.

Seeing the slightly worried faces of his teacher and Shimu, he forced a smile. "Shimu, Teacher, I won in the end."

"But Little Fang Ling, you nearly died!" Shu Manyun wanted to scold him, but in the end, she was simply speechless, genuinely worried for him.

This Life and Death Battle had been different from the previous ones. It had been far too dangerous.

If Fang Ling's reaction had been even the slightest bit slower and his heart had been pierced, he would certainly have died.

"I'm sorry, Shimu. I made you and Teacher worry."

Fang Ling forced a smile, his voice suddenly full of vigor. "I was born stubborn and unyielding, and I've endured countless trials. How could I possibly fall in a place like this!"

After saying that, he quickly weakened again.

Shimu clenched her fists tightly, tears glimmering in her eyes.

Fang Ling wanted to raise his hand and wipe away the tears at the corners of her eyes, but he had no strength in his arm.

So he found another way to comfort her.

"I have a feeling that after cultivating for a few more days, I should be ready to break through. Then I'll reach the Fifteenth Level!"

There had been a little left before, and he had gained a little this time.

In a few days, he would raise it.

Lin Tianyang had also been blaming himself. Hearing this, he froze for a moment and could only change the subject.

"Fang Ling, you made a mistake during the battle. The sickle is wide. You could have used it to block the front of the sword tip. Your reaction speed was enough for you to place the sickle in front of the Black Gold Sword's tip."

"I know this Martial Soul well. It is tough, but its Sharpness is not its strength. It could definitely have blocked it."

"Remember this: those with little strength have ways of fighting suited to little strength. Never use your own weakness to clash against your enemy's strength."

Fang Ling did not blink as he mentally simulated it. He found that it was indeed true.

"Never use my own weakness to clash against my enemy's strength."

He repeated the words and nodded lightly.

"Teacher, I'll remember this lesson deeply."

"As long as you remember it. Review the battle again when we return. You need to train harder afterward."

Fang Ling tried to sit up, only to find that not only his arms but his entire body was weak. He felt light and floaty, as if he had fallen seriously ill.

Shu Manyun tapped his forehead and said irritably, "Don't move. You lost a lot of blood, and your face is completely pale. Rest and recuperate properly for a while."

"Tianyang, carry Little Fang Ling. We're going back to the academy."

Hearing this, Lin Tianyang placed one hand beneath Fang Ling's back and the other beneath his knees, then lifted him into a bridal carry.