Qi Hao no longer hesitated.
He mobilized the terrifying spiritual power within him, surging like a raging tidal wave, and poured it explosively into the Ice Immortal Sword.
In an instant, the sword's blade erupted with a dazzling white light, and a piercing chill tore through the air like a tangible force, condensing in the sky into a massive white ice spike.
At the same time, Lin Jingyu's aura surged violently.
He channeled his spiritual power madly into the Dragon-Slaying Sword, and the verdant green sword intent soared into the heavens, wrapped in the roaring power of wind and thunder, causing the surrounding clouds to churn and the world to change color.
A flash of resolve appeared in both their eyes.
Their figures shot forward like arrows loosed from a bowstring, dashing toward each other at full speed.
As they drew close, a thunderous boom exploded behind Longshou Peak, the terrifying sound of impact spreading in all directions like muffled thunder.
Mysterious Dao arts and fierce sword techniques clashed violently, unleashing a terrifying force.
The ground of the rear mountain was blasted into deep craters. Soil and stones flew through the air, and the entire mountain forest trembled violently.
This commotion quickly caught the attention of Daoist Cang Song on the front side of Longshou Peak.
Sensing the strange aura coming from the rear mountain, Cang Song’s expression changed drastically.
With a flash, his figure sped toward the back mountain.
In the midst of the fierce battle, both Qi Hao and Lin Jingyu had sustained numerous injuries, yet remained evenly matched.
Their killing intent not only hadn't diminished, it had grown even more intense, as if they each wished to annihilate the other immediately.
After yet another collision—
Seeing that the stalemate could not continue, Qi Hao knew he couldn't drag this out any longer. His internal condition had become extremely dire.
The injuries he'd previously suffered were becoming harder to suppress. If he couldn't finish this quickly, continued depletion would likely lead to his defeat.
Qi Hao didn’t hesitate any longer. He suddenly leapt into the air, tightly gripped the Ice Immortal Sword, and recited in a sharp voice.
『Nine Heavens Profound Slaughter, transform into Divine Thunder! Majestic Heavenly Might, guided by the sword—descend!』
Driven into a corner, he decided to unleash the Divine Sword Lightning Summoning True Art, attempting to end Lin Jingyu with one strike.
Upon seeing this, Lin Jingyu's face turned deathly pale.
He had always hidden his true strength and had never revealed his real cultivation level to Cang Song. As a result, he had never learned this overwhelmingly powerful Divine Sword Lightning Summoning True Art.
Now, watching Qi Hao summon the celestial anomaly, a chill filled his heart—if this technique were fully unleashed, he would undoubtedly perish!
In desperation, Lin Jingyu poured all his strength into the Dragon-Slaying Sword, the blade turning deep emerald like an abyss.
His figure dashed forward, trailing a heaven-shaking sword gleam, slashing straight toward Qi Hao, attempting to interrupt the spell before it completed.
The sword light roared down, aiming to kill Qi Hao in a single blow—but at that moment, a hint of disdain appeared at the corner of Qi Hao’s mouth, as if mocking Lin Jingyu’s overconfidence.
Seeing that trace of disdain, Lin Jingyu's heart jolted. He couldn't help but wonder.
‘Did I forget something important?’
But the arrow was already on the bow, and he had no choice but to release. With a mighty slash, he struck down.
“Boom!”
The sword light struck heavily against a faintly glowing protective shield.
As it turned out, when casting the Divine Sword Lightning Summoning True Art, a resilient protective shield would automatically form around the caster.
Although Lin Jingyu’s all-out strike caused the shield to tremble violently, it failed to shatter it, instead costing him precious time.
Seeing this, Lin Jingyu couldn't help but cry out silently.
“This is bad!”
At that moment, dark clouds blanketed the sky, and thunder raged like silver serpents dancing madly.
Terrifying lightning energy rapidly gathered, all surging into Qi Hao’s Ice Immortal Sword, brewing a force powerful enough to destroy heaven and earth.
Lin Jingyu stared at the scene in despair, filled with sorrow.
Was he truly going to die here today? After all his careful planning, how had he ended up in such a predicament?
Just as he was about to fall into utter hopelessness, a familiar, powerful aura approached rapidly from afar, followed by a thunderous shout.
“Stop!”
Hearing it, Lin Jingyu rejoiced—it was his master, Cang Song!
His taut nerves relaxed slightly in an instant.
But Qi Hao, upon sensing Cang Song’s aura, suddenly froze mid-action.
Gazing at the soon-to-be-slayed Lin Jingyu, a fierce internal struggle erupted within him.
If he struck now, he could surely gravely wound—or even kill—his opponent. But in doing so, he would inevitably suffer Cang Song’s harsh punishment;
If he chose to back down, then with Lin Jingyu’s talent, it would only be a matter of time before he surpassed him.
At that point, he would be the one backed into a corner.
In a flash, Qi Hao’s eyes turned ruthless, and his killing intent surged forth completely.
He gripped the Immortal Sword tightly, injecting the last of his spiritual power into it—this strike must be delivered, no matter what!
Qi Hao clenched the Ice Immortal Sword fiercely and unleashed his full strength, slashing mercilessly toward Lin Jingyu.
A terrifying sword gleam, wrapped in bone-chilling frost and the might of ten thousand thunderbolts, roared through the air like a raging dragon, tearing through the sky as it lunged toward Lin Jingyu.
Lin Jingyu's expression changed drastically, his eyes filled with horror.
Not daring to hold back the slightest, he channeled all his remaining spiritual power into the Dragon-Slaying Sword and swung it in defiance with all his might.
A verdant green sword beam tore through the sky, clashing head-on with Qi Hao’s Divine Sword Lightning Summoning True Art.
Two terrifying forces collided with a deafening boom!
“Boom!!”
The earth and sky trembled from the impact.
In Lin Jingyu’s shocked gaze, the sword light he had unleashed with all his might was instantly torn apart like fragile paper under Qi Hao’s overwhelming sword glow.
The flood of destructive energy surged mercilessly and struck his body head-on.
Lin Jingyu was sent flying like a kite with a broken string.
His internal organs felt as if they had been smashed to pieces by a giant hammer. Agony surged like a tidal wave, drowning his senses.
His consciousness began to fade in that moment of impact. In the midst of chaos, every inch of his skin felt like it was being sliced apart by a thousand blades.
Just as Lin Jingyu thought he was surely going to die, a strong and warm force surged from behind him.
A familiar voice rang out just in time, filled with urgency.
“Jingyu, are you alright? Quickly, take this pill!”
A rich medicinal aroma drifted to his nose.
Though his consciousness was muddled, Lin Jingyu instinctively opened his mouth and swallowed the pill.
The moment the pill entered his stomach, a surging vitality exploded within him, rapidly repairing his nearly shattered body at an astonishing rate.
Lin Jingyu immediately realized—Cang Song had saved him at the final moment.
A surge of relief washed over him. Though gravely wounded, he had at least clung to life.
But in the next moment, hatred toward Qi Hao surged like a tidal wave—he had schemed and waited for the perfect moment to strike, only for it all to be in vain. How could he not hate him?
As his consciousness completely slipped away, Lin Jingyu passed out.