Born to Die

"Ugh!"

Duan Yi's savage grin froze instantly. A streak of silver light flashed across his neck, and to the horror of all watching, his head tumbled to the ground with a dull thud.

"Bastard, die!"

Seeing this, the woman in red went mad. She shrieked, her entire body twisting as she lashed out wildly with her long whip at Lin Yiqing, as if she had completely lost her sanity under the blow.

Yet, relying on his powerful spiritual energy, Lin Yiqing dodged every one of her attacks with perfect timing. Not far away, the Refined Iron Dagger circled and danced like a swimming dragon.

"Slash!"

After a few exchanges, a flash of brilliance crossed Lin Yiqing's deep eyes; he had finally caught the opening he needed.

The Refined Iron Dagger traced a bizarre arc, piercing through the woman's smooth forehead and kicking up a spray of blood-red mist.

As for Zhou Han, the moment he stumbled, Tie Hu cleaved him in two with a single strike of his blade.

"Hiss, good heavens. A late-stage Earth Origin Realm cultivator cutting down three Heaven Origin Realm experts in a row—this kid is truly terrifying!"

While Old Smoke Ghost gasped inwardly, he wore a flattering expression and said aloud, "Young Master Lin's talent is truly peerless. Your strength is so unfathomable that this old man looks up to you like a mountain. Thank you for saving my life today, Young Master Lin!"

"Yeah, yeah! Young Master Lin is truly amazing! I have to thank you too!"

Hearing this, Tie Hu, who stood nearby, hurriedly offered his thanks as well. Had it not been for Lin Yiqing's help, he would have long since died under the encirclement.

"Now is not the time for thanks. We must retreat immediately! It will be troublesome if that Origin Pellet expert catches up."

Lin Yiqing dared not continue listening to their flattery; if the battle on the other side ended, the enemy would likely come hunting them down.

"Boom!"

Before he could dwell on it, a figure was sent flying from the woods, slamming heavily into the ground. It was clear the man was on his last breath.

Lin Yiqing took one look and recognized him as one of the several late-stage Heaven Origin Realm experts who had been accompanying them.

"Young Master Lin, this old man has a suggestion. Instead of the three of us retreating, it would be more appropriate to go and help!"

Old Smoke Ghost's expression shifted, and after a moment of thought, he added, "I have heard of this Duan Wuxin. He should have only just broken through to the Lesser Origin Pellet Realm."

"Lesser Origin Pellet Realm... That is indeed worth a try."

Hearing this, Tie Hu's eyes lit up. He gripped his long blade, looking at the two of them with high spirits.

"Exactly. Rather than letting them finish off the caravan and then hunt us down, we should all attack together. Besides, with Young Master Lin here, our chances of winning are much higher!"

Lin Yiqing felt a stir in his heart; Old Smoke Ghost's analysis made sense.

"Lesser Origin Pellet Realm..."

He secretly compared their strength. This was indeed the best course of action for now.

"Indeed. The Origin Pellet Realm is divided into three levels. The first level is for cultivators who have just ascended to this realm, known as the Lesser Origin Pellet Realm."

Although Old Smoke Ghost knew Lin Yiqing likely understood this, he patiently explained, "After the Lesser Origin Pellet stage, there are the Minor Completion and Great Completion levels of the Origin Pellet Realm. Our Wanjin Chamber of Commerce's president is a powerhouse at that level."

"Our Wanjin Chamber of Commerce..." Lin Yiqing keenly caught the inconsistency in the man's words.

One had to realize that the vast majority of people in this caravan were supposed to be hired mercenaries, yet the man's phrasing suggested otherwise.

Unless this Old Smoke Ghost is actually a member of the Chamber of Commerce himself, hiding within the ranks.

Thinking this, Lin Yiqing gave him a deep look. Come to think of it, he had yet to see the man fight with his full strength.

"In that case, I will follow your advice, Senior! Let us go and provide support immediately!"

Lin Yiqing kept his suspicions to himself, his face impassive as he turned and sprinted toward the center of the battle.

"Boom!"

Not far away, the sound of Origin Power colliding grew increasingly intense. The three of them exchanged glances and rushed forward to assist. The scene was chaotic, with fighting erupting everywhere.

At this point, everyone in the caravan was like grasshoppers on the same string—if one prospered, all prospered; if one perished, all perished.

"Haha, Old Dog Xia, is that all you've got? Didn't you love to throw your weight around before?"

On the field, several corpses of Heaven Origin Realm experts lay strewn about. Steward Xia was crawling on the ground, disheveled and covered in blood, while behind him, the blood-stained Duan Wuxin let out bursts of wild laughter.

"Steward Xia!"

Seeing this, Lin Yiqing's expression turned grave. A Lesser Origin Pellet Realm expert was truly terrifying!

Without further thought, the three of them charged at Duan Wuxin. Lin Yiqing waved his palm, his spiritual energy enveloping his sword as he thrust it toward the enemy.

Duan Wuxin raised his right hand, unleashing a blood-red palm print several dozen feet wide that swatted the sword away. He then glared at Lin Yiqing with murderous intent; if these three were here, Duan Yi and the others were likely dead.

"Hmph! You brat is courting death!"

With that, Duan Wuxin lunged at Lin Yiqing, raising his right palm to strike. Seeing this, Tie Hu hurriedly swung his blade at Duan Wuxin's arm.

The latter spun around and slammed his right palm out, the blood-red glow of his Origin Power glaring in the night.

Lin Yiqing gripped his sword, channeling his Greater Yin True Essence into the blade and unleashing several sword shadows. On the battlefield, life and death were decided in an instant; he could not afford to be careless.

Duan Wuxin frowned, the blood-red light in his hand growing brighter. He intended to take these sword shadows head-on.

"Bang!"

The shockwave of colliding Origin Power rippled outward. Lin Yiqing took the opportunity to put some distance between them, while Old Smoke Ghost seized the moment to fling several yellow lights from his sleeves.

"Armor-Piercing Yuan Dagger!"

Lin Yiqing finally realized that Old Smoke Ghost was actually a hidden Rune Master, and at least a Second Seal Rune Master at that!

Yellow light flashed. Sensing danger, Duan Wuxin rolled to dodge, immediately blasting out several blood-colored palm prints to collide with the yellow light.

"Bang... bang!"

Lin Yiqing then discovered that those yellow lights were actually tiny yellow daggers, each about the size of a thumb, all inscribed with armor-piercing and yuan-breaking runes. Clearly, this was Old Smoke Ghost's lethal weapon.

"Thousand River Moon Reflection Sword!"

Lin Yiqing desperately circulated the Taiyin Scripture, causing the Greater Yin True Essence within his body to boil. Strands of silvery-white moonlight emerged from the sword's blade. He raised his sword to draw a large lunar arc in front of him, pouring all his yuan power into it.

Soon, a dim, incomplete lunar arc appeared before him. Lin Yiqing flicked his sword tip, and the lunar arc transformed into a silvery-white sword shadow several zhang long, slashing toward Duan Wuxin in the arena.

"Fourth-grade martial art, Ten Thousand Jun Heavy Strike!"

Tie Hu also seized the opportunity, his broadsword emitting an earthy-yellow glow as he swung it toward the center of the arena.

"Boom!"

The collision between the silvery-white sword shadow and Duan Wuxin triggered a violent explosion. The surrounding heaven and earth yuan power dispersed wildly, and the scattering sword qi tore through the ground, kicking up thick dust in the arena.

"Cough, cough, cough! You ants actually dare to wound me! Blood Shadow Slash!"

A shrill voice rang out from the dust, and immediately, a blood-colored sword beam struck Tie Hu, carving a large gash across his chest.

Blood sprayed out, and the sword beam nearly split Tie Hu in two.

"Uncle Tie!"

Lin Yiqing couldn't help but shout in a panic, though he knew he had to keep his eyes on his opponent, or he would be the next one to fall.

Duan Wuxin walked out of the dust with a ferocious expression. He was covered in blood and appeared heavily wounded, holding a strange, entirely red longsword that made him look quite sinister.

Intense pain radiated throughout his entire body; he couldn't even remember the last time he had suffered such an injury.

"Little brat, I will definitely skin you alive!"

The killing intent in Duan Wuxin's eyes as he looked at Lin Yiqing was almost tangible. He raised his blood-colored longsword, flashed forward, and lunged fiercely at Lin Yiqing.

At this critical moment, Lin Yiqing's heart became as still as water. Since he couldn't avoid it, he would meet the challenge head-on. A faint glow flickered in his eyes as mental power surged from his Mud Pill Palace, slamming ruthlessly toward the opponent's sea of consciousness.

Immediately following, his longsword shimmered with silver light, and Greater Yin True Essence surged into the blade. When narrow paths meet, the brave shall prevail!

"Bang!"

The two sword beams collided with a roar. In that instant, the mental power in Lin Yiqing's Mud Pill Palace boiled, compressing rapidly until it formed a needle shape and pierced fiercely toward the opponent.

"Spirit-Grade Mental Secret Technique, Spirit-Transforming Needle!"