At the summit of Dharma Combat Mountain, where the Golden Gang Sword Hall stood.
Lin Changkong, who had stood with his hands behind his back and a calm, composed expression all this time, finally showed a change in expression. He stared at Lu Ming, his brows slowly furrowing.
He had never imagined that a hunt so certain of success would encounter such an unforeseen development.
While everyone was still reeling in shock, Lu Ming did not pause for an instant. Lightning flashed beneath his feet, and he turned into a streak of lightning that shot straight at Lü Xiao.
Lü Xiao could not help but look alarmed when he saw Lu Ming charging at him. He stared at the dark golden fire blade in Lu Ming's hand, his eyes full of apprehension.
Although he could sense that the Primordial Qi fluctuations Lu Ming gave off were not as powerful as his own, that Perfection Realm Flame Blade posed far too great a threat.
A Flame Blade at that level was an unstoppable weapon of slaughter in the Bone Refining Realm.
Lü Xiao no longer dared underestimate Lu Ming in the slightest. Facing his headlong charge, he pushed off with his toes and rapidly retreated, trying to open up some distance.
At the same time, blood-red flames rose from both his palms.
The intensity of his Blazing Fire Palm was clearly a great deal stronger than Gong Hu's had been.
Lü Xiao's cheeks suddenly bulged, and firelight flashed. In the next instant, a great mass of scorching red sand swept out like a storm. Passing through the blood-red flames rising from his palms, the sand grew even hotter.
Major Accomplishment Realm, Flying Sand Art!
Lü Xiao truly lived up to his reputation as the strongest of Red Sand Hall's young disciples. His Major Accomplishment Realm Blazing Fire Palm paired with his Major Accomplishment Realm Flying Sand Art was a trump card.
The billowing red sand swept toward Lu Ming with the force of a wildfire racing across the plains.
Lu Ming, however, merely swung the dark golden Flame Blade, some ten feet long, and slashed down.
A charred blade mark dozens of feet long appeared instantly on the ground ahead. The air was completely evaporated by the intense heat, and the billowing red sand sweeping toward him was burned away along with it.
Before the Perfection Realm Flame Blade, Lü Xiao's techniques could not impede him in the slightest.
Boom!
Lu Ming's expression was icy. Lightning flashed beneath his feet, and his speed abruptly soared. He appeared directly in front of Lü Xiao and slashed down without hesitation.
The dark golden fire blade swept through the air with a shrill, searing whistle.
Lü Xiao's scalp went numb. Driven into a corner, he could only roar and draw on all the Primordial Qi in his body. His palms turned an extraordinary shade of red, and his flame Primordial Qi thickened, covering them like layers of crimson magma.
Middle Divine Ability, Red Sand Iron-Melting Hand!
Faced with the threat Lu Ming posed, Lü Xiao no longer dared hold anything back and unleashed his strongest technique.
Lü Xiao's eyes were bloodshot. Like a gambler, he laid all his cards on the table. He did not know how Lu Ming had cultivated the Flame Blade to the Perfection Realm, but, whatever the case, Lu Ming had yet to complete his third round of bone refinement, leaving his own Primordial Qi somewhat lacking in strength.
The Perfection Realm Flame Blade consumed an enormous amount of Primordial Qi, so as long as Lü Xiao held out a little longer, Lu Ming would surely exhaust his Primordial Qi.
Then his predicament would resolve itself.
With that thought, Lü Xiao hesitated no longer. His palms, covered in what looked like crimson magma, met the descending dark golden fire blade head-on.
Clang!
Metal rang against metal the moment they met. Magma splattered and fell to the ground, burning tiny black holes into the earth.
Violent Primordial Qi surged fiercely.
Lü Xiao braced both palms firmly against the dark golden edge of the Flame Blade and roared, "Come on! I can hold it back!"
Sizzle!
The Flame Blade's edge and the molten rock on Lü Xiao's palms steadily ate away at each other.
Lu Ming fixed Lü Xiao with a gaze as sharp as a blade and slowly said, "I told you just now, I'd strike hard."
Primordial Qi roared within his body, and the Fire Lotus Mark on his Divine Ability Bone grew brighter.
Dark golden firelight suddenly erupted.
The blade slashed down, cutting through the magma-like crimson Primordial Qi on Lü Xiao's palms as though it were grease. Before Lü Xiao's horrified eyes, Lu Ming swept the blade through and severed both his hands.
Lü Xiao screamed as he was sent flying backward, crashing to the ground.
Lu Ming's gaze was icy, but the dark golden Flame Blade in his hand did not stop for an instant, chopping straight down at Lü Xiao's head.
"Ah! I surrender! I surrender! I surrender!"
The ruthlessness Lu Ming had shown made Lü Xiao's scalp go numb. Big brother, this is just a sparring match. You're chopping off my hands and going for my head-is that really necessary? This kid looks so refined and gentle, so why does he fight like a killer?
The dark golden fire blade did not slow, but when it was half an inch from Lü Xiao's forehead, its light suddenly dimmed. It shattered into countless scattered flames that fell and set his hair alight.
In an utterly sorry state, Lü Xiao hurriedly put out the flames on his head and stared, still shaken, at Lu Ming, who had finally stopped in front of him.
Lu Ming looked at the dissipating Flame Blade and frowned slightly. "I'll spare your life this time," he said coldly.
Lü Xiao's expression flickered. Your fucking Primordial Qi ran out, didn't it? That last slash was clearly meant to kill me.
But Lu Ming had frightened him so badly that his lips trembled, and he did not dare argue.
Enduring the agony, he put his severed hands away. Although the injury was troublesome, it could at least be treated and healed.
Lu Ming paid him no further attention. Instead, he turned to look at the three people still standing on the field: Gao Yu, Yuan Da, and Gong Peng of Red Sand Hall.
All three were staring at him with somewhat numb expressions.
Who could have imagined things would turn out like this?
Gao Yu had thought this would be a bitter fight, but before she had even properly exchanged blows with Lü Xiao, Lu Ming had suddenly erupted with power, revealing a Perfection Realm Flame Blade. One slash each, and he had crippled Gong Hu and Lü Xiao in two blows.
"Lu Ming, you... you hid your strength far too well..." Gao Yu finally came to her senses with great difficulty and spoke.
"You two take care of him." Lu Ming pointed at Gong Peng, who could still fight.
Almost reflexively, Gao Yu and Yuan Da obeyed his instruction, closing in on Gong Peng from the front and rear.
Gong Peng glanced at Lü Xiao and Gong Hu, who had lost the ability to fight. A bitter smile appeared on his face, and he sensibly crouched down with his hands over his head. "I... I surrender too."
Gong Peng knew there was no point struggling alone, and he was also afraid Lu Ming would turn ruthless again. He had already seen it: once this kid made a move, blood was bound to be spilled. He was a ruthless one.
With the three of them surrendering, the outcome at the lower flag had actually been decided.
It was just that the result was truly far too unexpected.
Everyone had thought Red Sand Hall should have some advantage at the lower flag and a strong chance of capturing it. Once they succeeded, Lu Qingyan and Lu Jinglei at the middle flag would have used up most of their Primordial Qi, making it difficult for them to stand against Zhu Lian and his companion from Red Sand Hall.
That would have cost Thunderfire Hall two flags outright. There would have been no need for Shi Tong and Lu Jin, the two hall masters, to clash; the second hall seat would have changed hands then and there.
But... who could have imagined that Thunderfire Hall, which had been at a disadvantage at the lower flag, would instead end the fight with the force of crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood?
And so, as things stood, Thunderfire Hall had taken the first win instead.
Even if Red Sand Hall went on to defeat Lu Qingyan and Lu Jinglei and capture the middle flag, they would have only one win and one loss. If Red Sand Hall wanted to claim the second hall seat, they would have to count on their hall master, Shi Tong, defeating Lu Jin head-on.
But could Shi Tong do it?
If he could, Red Sand Hall would not have been held down by Thunderfire Hall for so many years.
Thus, the situation had suddenly come back to life for Thunderfire Hall.