"Kill!"
A furious shout rang out.
The two inner disciples Xia Yu had driven back earlier charged forward again, their eyes bloodshot.
Four of them had intended to attack together, yet two fellow disciples had died in the blink of an eye. The remaining pair found that hard to accept.
One leaped into the air and flicked his longsword, unleashing countless streaks of sword light.
Streak after streak of sword light shot down from above like arrows.
He used the King Realm's ability to remain airborne briefly to close in on Xia Yu.
In an instant, Xia Yu could see nothing but a vast expanse of sword light.
The sword light was fierce, wreathed in raging flames that sent the air into a frenzy.
The other inner disciple stood within the glowing ring of his King's Domain and abruptly spun.
In that instant, it was as though countless longswords had sprouted from his body. As he spun, their gleams formed full moons, radiating cold in every direction.
The two first-level King Realm Sword Cultivators engulfed Xia Yu in an instant.
Xia Yu seemed frozen with terror, standing utterly motionless.
The Martial Saint Academy's outer elders and many of its disciples breathed sighs of relief.
This fellow was finally going to die.
Still, they felt it was only natural. This was the fate of anyone who dared provoke the Martial Saint Academy.
An indescribable pride welled up in their hearts.
"Watch out!"
Suddenly, Xu Weilin shouted, his piercing gaze sweeping the surroundings.
At the same time, the two inner disciples' attacks reached Xia Yu.
But the next instant, both men's expressions changed drastically.
They instantly understood why Xu Weilin had shouted a warning.
Their attacks had struck nothing solid at all. What stood there was Xia Yu's afterimage.
Both hurried to pull back their attacks, but how could that be easy?
Forcibly retracting moves launched with all their strength was like throwing a full-force punch at a rock, only to hit cotton instead.
The stifling frustration made them want to vomit.
Just as their breathing faltered, two cold gleams suddenly bloomed before their eyes like thunderbolts.
Xia Yu's fading afterimage abruptly became solid again.
Pfft!
Two sounds merged into one as both inner disciples' throats were pierced clean through.
"How dare you!"
Xu Weilin flew into a rage!
Four inner disciples had been killed right before his eyes. How could he possibly endure that?
With a flicker, he appeared before Xia Yu.
This time, Xia Yu did not hesitate. Rather than advance, he retreated.
As he retreated, the Sin Dragon Spear abruptly thrust forward.
"Xu Weilin, tell me, who's really shameless here? Four King Realm cultivators couldn't beat one Spirit Origin Realm cultivator, and you come running out when they're killed. How do you have the nerve to call anyone else shameless?"
Shen Yuxuan spoke loudly as he, too, suddenly appeared before Xia Yu.
He struck out with his palm, hitting Xia Yu in the chest.
Bam!
Xia Yu was sent hurtling backward, retreating more than a dozen zhang.
Yet that carried him clear of Xu Weilin's attack.
Boom...
Xu Weilin's fist struck empty air, blasting it apart.
Space shuddered!
Many people's vision swam. Those a little closer involuntarily stumbled forward a couple of steps, only to be driven back by the shock wave.
Blargh!
Those people spat blood.
What a powerful punch!
A trace of solemnity appeared in Shen Yuxuan's eyes as well.
This fellow had improved again.
He had been right. He really could not beat Xu Weilin.
Of course, Xu Weilin would still need to put in some effort to defeat him.
Most importantly, because of the contract, Xu Weilin could not attack him.
He stood directly in Xu Weilin's way and folded his arms.
When Xu Weilin moved left, he followed left. When Xu Weilin moved right, he followed right.
"Do you really think I wouldn't dare attack first?"
Xu Weilin frowned, staring at Shen Yuxuan with veins bulging on his face.
Shen Yuxuan smiled without answering.
"Do you really think I can't kill you?" Xu Weilin said coldly.
"You dare, and you can. But if you kill me, you'll either die yourself or suffer serious injuries. Are you sure you want to fight me?" Shen Yuxuan said with a smile. "If you do, you probably won't be able to enter the secret realm in three months."
"I imagine you're hoping to break through in the secret realm."
Shen Yuxuan wore a smile.
Xu Weilin narrowed his eyes. Shen Yuxuan had guessed his intentions correctly.
He intended to step into the Emperor Realm during the secret realm trial and become a top-tier powerhouse.
But if he truly suffered serious injuries, he would have no hope of securing a spot.
He looked quietly at Shen Yuxuan and said, "You think doing this leaves me without any options?"
"All inner disciples, step forward! Attack together and kill Xia Yu!"
Xu Weilin's voice suddenly rang across the whole of Martial Saint Mountain.
Today, he had to kill Xia Yu.
Since they had become enemies, he naturally had to cut them down to the last man.
Especially a genius like Xia Yu, who could kill King Realm cultivators while still in the Spirit Origin Realm. Even if he relied on a divine weapon, he could not be underestimated.
At the very least, back when Xu Weilin had been at that stage, he could never have killed a King Realm cultivator head-on like this.
Xia Yu had to die!
If he was given time to grow, he would pose far too great a threat.
"Yes! We obey the eldest senior brother's command!"
Within the Martial Saint Academy, figures shot into the sky and rushed down the mountain.
The eldest senior brother of the inner disciples held more authority in the Martial Saint Academy than even some inner elders.
Most inner elders had already reached the limits of their talent, and their futures were clear.
But the potential of a genius eldest senior brother like Xu Weilin remained unknown.
To a sect or academy, passing on its legacy was vitally important.
No matter how powerful the older generation was, without successors, its glory would last only a single generation.
At their eldest senior brother's summons, dozens of figures leaped down.
Most of them were in the King Realm.
The sight left Xia Yu dumbstruck.
In Huai City, a King Realm cultivator would unquestionably be the strongest expert. Yet here in Capital City, seemingly anyone who emerged was in the King Realm.
He could imagine that in the world beyond Wasteland Province, in those more prosperous places, King Realm cultivators probably walked the streets everywhere.
"Brother, there are too many of them for me to stop. How about joining our Dao-Seeking Academy?"
Xia Yu froze. You're asking me to join the Dao-Seeking Academy now? Aren't you afraid of bringing disaster upon your sect?
"Isn't your Dao-Seeking Academy afraid?" Xia Yu could not help asking.
"We are, but this is the only way to resolve the problem. Trust your big brother. Once you join the Dao-Seeking Academy, if they dare attack, just kill them. You'll absolutely be fine."
"Besides, with our Dao-Seeking Academy behind you, if a real fight breaks out, it'll be a battle between two academies. Who lives and who dies? That's far from certain."
Shen Yuxuan laughed heartily and spoke in a ringing voice.
Xu Weilin frowned. This fellow really was shameless.
Your Dao-Seeking Academy has been suppressed by us for centuries, and you have the nerve to say that?
"All right, I'll join! Big brother, you're not going to make me take you as my master, are you?" Xia Yu agreed immediately.
Life was easier with someone backing him, and he was no fool. Today's trouble was growing worse and worse. Facing an entire academy alone, even if his whole body were iron, how many nails could it be hammered into?
"Haha, brother, you're overthinking it. Naturally, you'll take my master as yours! Strange, why has my master been silent all this time? It seems there's something seriously wrong with your sister's body."
Before you continue