Demon Transformation

Cloud Concealing Mountain Mist seemed like a nimble saber technique, yet amid the clouds and mist lay the crushing weight of mountains.

As the blade swept out, all three Xiantian Realm experts were forced back a step by that single strike.

A tree trunk two feet thick that stood in the blade's path snapped in response.

If that strike landed on anyone's body, they would inevitably be cut cleanly in two.

Cloud Concealing Mountain Mist had only just begun when the second move, Turning Peaks and Roads, had already been unleashed.

The long saber swept to the left, its edge chasing after the black-armored middle-aged man. Midway, the saber light shifted again, turning to slash at the spear of another Xiantian Realm expert rushing in to provide support.

"Clang—"

That Xiantian Realm expert took a step back, the spear in his hand trembling.

"Kill—"

Having succeeded with one strike, Yu Lin turned his steps and used the force of his waist to swing the saber. Its edge was like a bolt of silk.

The saber in his hand was not a waist knife like Zhang Yuan's. Its blade was narrow and long, while its hilt measured five feet—the battlefield saber of war.

He wielded it with both hands, and the saber light layered endlessly upon itself.

Saber Qi!

When Xiantian True Essence merged with a masterful saber technique, one's True Essence could reach the blade itself. That was Saber Qi.

Saber Qi looked like a thin stream of light, yet it carried unimaginable sharpness and a weight no object could bear.

Only those who could infuse True Essence into swords, sabers, and other weapons, condensing Saber Qi or Sword Qi, were truly powerful among the Xiantian Realm.

"Boom—"

With one slash, the spear in the hands of the retreating Yan Army Xiantian Realm expert could not withstand the blow and snapped apart.

His body was also sent flying by the slash. He crashed into a tree trunk behind him and spat blood.

Yu Lin laughed loudly. His saber followed his enemy's body as he struck again.

Layered Greenery of Yue Peaks.

Rivers Rushing.

Distant Mountains and Rivers.

Flying Waterfalls and Flowing Springs.

Jade Waters Around Peaks.

Yu Lin's saber never left the Xiantian Realm expert he had driven back with one strike, utterly ignoring the other two behind him as they sought to relieve the pressure.

"In a fight to the death, you still dare let your mind wander? You're seeking your own grave!"

"You really think you're so formidable, treating this old man as a stepping stone."

"Kill—"

Yu Lin's voice brimmed with wild arrogance.

Zhang Yuan knew that Yu Lin was warning him: in a life-and-death battle, one had to give everything.

At the same time, he was telling him that Yu Lin would act at a critical moment and buy him and Duan Hong a chance to escape with their lives.

Zhang Yuan tightened his grip on the saber hilt and clenched his teeth. Lowering his head slightly, he watched the battle ahead only from the corner of his eye.

Within his mind, the black-armored phantom wielding a saber cycled continuously through its movements.

So Yu Lin had only comprehended this Mountain Yue Saber Technique to the Great Accomplishment Level as well.

In cultivation, bringing martial skills and combat techniques to Great Perfection required true talent and opportunity.

Reaching Great Accomplishment in a cultivation method was basically the limit for cultivators in this world.

"Kill—"

Yu Lin's long saber suddenly swept horizontally, sending the middle-aged Xiantian Realm expert holding the broken spear flying seven or eight zhang away. He fell to the ground, blood spilling from his mouth.

Behind him, Young Master Ouyang thrust his sword into the shoulder armor on his back. The blade pierced through his left shoulder, and blood streamed down.

"Get lost—"

With an angry roar, Yu Lin reversed his long saber, cutting off the sword in Young Master Ouyang's hand and knocking his body aside.

The Xiantian Realm expert on the other side seized the chance to sweep his spear shaft across Yu Lin's waist, forcing Yu Lin back three steps.

Yu Lin stopped, grabbed the blade of the broken sword lodged in his shoulder, and pulled it out inch by inch.

Zhang Yuan slowly stood up from behind the pine tree.

He knew that Yu Lin's shout of "Get lost" had been directed at him.

Yu Lin had severely injured one Xiantian Realm expert. Now, by facing off against two Xiantian Realm experts, he was creating an opportunity for Zhang Yuan to leave.

"Kid, go first." Duan Hong panted heavily, one hand pressing against the wound at his waist as he spoke with difficulty.

Zhang Yuan's gaze fell on Duan Hong.

He himself could leave, but Duan Hong could not.

Leave, or not?

Zhang Yuan slowly raised his head and looked towards the Yan Army Xiantian Realm expert who had fallen to the ground and was struggling to rise.

At that moment, he pushed his Chaos Auxiliary Battle to its utmost limit.

Every tree, weed, and scattered stone before his eyes turned into nothingness.

Before him, there was only that Xiantian Realm expert lying on the ground.

The moment he took a step, he could hear the wind howling around him.

His left hand pressed down on the scabbard, his right gripped the hilt. His feet pounded forward, and before his eyes there was only one man.

"Zhang Yuan, you—"

Duan Hong grabbed the tree trunk beside him and stared fixedly at Zhang Yuan as he charged out.

He knew Zhang Yuan was unwilling to leave alone, which was why he had acted so boldly.

But Zhang Yuan was facing a Xiantian Realm expert!

Yu Lin narrowed his eyes, a sharp gleam flickering within them.

The Xiantian Realm expert opposite him and Young Master Ouyang, who was at the Half-step Xiantian Realm, both changed expression.

They had long noticed Zhang Yuan and Duan Hong.

But everyone beneath the Xiantian Realm was an ant. They had not cared at all.

As long as they killed Yu Lin, they could seize Fengtian County City outright. Everyone and everything else was insignificant.

Only when Zhang Yuan shot forward did they realize that his cultivation seemed far from weak.

But even if Zhang Yuan's cultivation was not bad, he was merely a somewhat stronger ant.

Someone like him wanted to take part in a battle among Xiantian Realm experts?

He did not know the height of heaven or the depth of earth.

The Xiantian Realm expert lying on the ground had already risen. Looking at Zhang Yuan rushing toward him, the corner of his mouth twitched, and a cold killing intent shone in his eyes.

He was no match for Yu Lin, but that did not mean just anyone beneath the Xiantian Realm was qualified to challenge him.

He raised the broken spear in his hand and slightly spread his feet, the killing intent in his eyes condensing into substance.

Three zhang.

Zhang Yuan drew his saber.

"Shing—"

The instant the long saber left its sheath, the expressions of the two men facing Yu Lin changed.

Zhang Yuan's saber technique was smoother than they could have imagined!

The long saber left its sheath, slashing with the force of his forward charge.

It was not a chop. He lowered his waist, and the saber moved with his body.

Mountain Yue Saber Technique, Cliff-Cleaving Cloud.

The Yan Army Xiantian Realm expert's expression shifted slightly. He drove the broken spear downward, following the momentum to block Zhang Yuan's saber.

"Clang—"

As saber and spear collided, Zhang Yuan's seemingly casual slash carried Thousand Jin Strength!

The Xiantian Realm expert, who had hastily pressed down his spear, felt his hand tremble.

In an instant, Zhang Yuan had reached his left side, his blade turning back.

Mountain Yue Saber Technique, Turning Peaks and Roads!

Blood sprayed!

The blade grazed the Xiantian Realm expert's waist and abdomen, passing beneath his right armpit. It slipped past the armor, severed the leather straps binding it, and sank five cun into flesh.

A Xiantian Realm expert had been wounded by a single slash from someone in the Houtian Realm!

The originally grave expression on Yu Lin's face, as he stood at an angle, revealed a trace of surprise. Unconcealed delight filled his eyes.

Opposite him, the two Yan Army experts had already widened their eyes.

Leaning against the tree trunk, Duan Hong watched Zhang Yuan sweep his long saber and muttered under his breath, unable to believe it.

"Rip—"

Having landed a strike, Zhang Yuan turned his long saber back. The saber followed his body, circling and slashing through the air.

Mountain Yue Saber Technique, Jade Clouds Around Peaks!

Spraying blood scattered down. Before the Xiantian Realm expert could respond, Zhang Yuan's blade had opened several wounds of varying depths across his body.

The saber technique and cultivation Zhang Yuan displayed surpassed everyone's expectations!

That already severely wounded Xiantian Realm expert might truly be slain by him!

"Young Master Ouyang, go kill him!"

The Xiantian Realm expert confronting Yu Lin had already sensed that something was wrong. With a low shout, he thrust his spear toward Yu Lin.

Young Master Ouyang flicked away the broken sword in his hand, drew a flexible sword from his waist, and rushed toward Zhang Yuan.

But the instant he moved, Yu Lin burst into hearty laughter, his long saber crashing down.

The situation had changed. The side that had originally been passive now seized the initiative instead.

Yu Lin swung his long saber, blocking only Young Master Ouyang and the other Xiantian Realm expert. Meanwhile, Zhang Yuan hacked and slashed with all his strength, determined to kill the severely wounded Xiantian Realm expert.

No one had expected Zhang Yuan to possess such combat power, enough to suppress a Xiantian Realm expert.

The Physical Strength of a Xiantian Realm expert surpassed the Strength of One Ox. Every movement was empowered by Xiantian True Essence; it was simply not something those beneath the Xiantian Realm could withstand.

Yet Zhang Yuan did not clash with him head-on. As he wheeled about with his Great Accomplishment saber technique, he had already left dozens of wounds, deep and shallow alike, upon that Xiantian Realm expert.

"Yu Lin, you will die today—"

The Xiantian Realm expert blocked by Yu Lin roared in fury. The aura around him changed instantly, and a savage force surged up.

That power was blazing and impure, stirring his Xiantian qi. Patches of black scales emerged over the arm that held the spear.

"Bang—"

The spear smashed down. Yu Lin blocked it with his long saber, his feet retreating against his will.

"Demon Transformation!"

Blood sprayed from Yu Lin's mouth, and the sword wound in his left shoulder split open again.

Demon Transformation.

Three hundred years ago, the Marquis of Yanbei had been beguiled by demons and fiends, declaring himself independent and establishing Yan.

The Yan State revered the Demon Race and passed down demonic arts.

Cultivating demonic arts could grant a long lifespan and great power, but the price was that one would no longer be human.

Bloodthirsty. Frenzied.

"Die—"

The Xiantian Realm expert who had undergone Demon Transformation gave a low shout. His black-scaled arm clawed at Yu Lin's chest.

If that blow landed solidly, Yu Lin's chest and abdomen would be pierced through, his body shattered.

"Kill—"

Yu Lin raised his head, which had been hanging low. His eyes were filled with wild arrogance.

The aura around him changed from swirling qi force into a pillar that shot straight into the heavens!

Mid-stage Xiantian Realm!