Book 2: Chapter 24: A ruse

Book 2: Chapter 24: A ruse

With a swift flicker, Murong Lin materialised before the group, his blade descending with the third technique of the 《Heaven and Earth Blade Art》:

“Dark Sky style!”

In that fleeting moment, bystanders struggled to comprehend the events transpiring, but the terror etched across the faces of the encircling cultivators was unmistakable.

All those surrounding Murong Lin found themselves engulfed in the effective radius of his third blade, their primordial spirits ensnared within. Within this dark and boundless realm, only their thoughts seemed to persist, but in the very next instant, it was as if their thoughts had never existed.

A wave of terror swept through them.

Yet, Murong Lin remained unaffected, relentless in his assault within the darkness. His figure reappeared behind a robust man, the blade descending upon his neck.

“Pu!” The man’s sizable head was sent soaring into the sky, his lifeless body instantly converted into a blood crystal that Murong Lin stowed within his Bloody Poisonous Insect Acupoint for absorption.

Murong Lin’s blade continued its steady and graceful strikes, landing with deadly precision. It pierced through another opponent’s back, the tip emerging from the man’s chest as life ebbed away, denying his primordial spirit any chance of escape.

This efficiency stemmed from the fusion of Murong Lin’s blade intent, ‘Emotionless’, and his Manifestation form, ‘Evil of lifelessness, lawlessness, and formlessness’, onto his blade.

Escape was futile.

As the darkness dissipated, only a handful of survivors remained on the field. Murong Lin, still clad in green, stood on the sidelines, a subtle smile gracing his tilted head, a blade firmly in hand.

A Cognizance realm expert, initially fearful, now observed Murong Lin with growing glee. Believing that Murong Lin had depleted his spiritual talismans to conjure the earlier darkness, the expert rallied the remaining few.

“Quick! He’s out of spiritual talismans! Everyone, charge!”

As the others started to shake off their fear, some, catching the peculiar expression on Murong Lin’s face, panicked.

“I’m sorry! I don’t want it anymore! I concede!” cried out one in fear.

As they attempted to flee, Murong Lin’s silhouette flickered, materializing before them in a sudden assault.

“Everlasting style!”

A seemingly unending blade light manifested before them, persisting stubbornly as it pierced through their bodies, tearing them apart. In that instant, their souls were extinguished, leaving no opportunity for their primordial spirits to escape.

The expressions of the remaining individuals twisted dramatically, their eyes seemingly ready to bulge out of their sockets. Swiftly, they summoned their Manifestation forms, brandishing weapons and activating spiritual arrays and talismans. Together, they launched a coordinated attack against Murong Lin.

Yet, Murong Lin remained unfazed, his blade swinging effortlessly.

Zhou Xuan Tong felt his spiritual powers seeping from his body, a consequence of Xiao Dong’s Abhijñā, ‘Devourment’.

In that moment, he knew without a doubt: that this individual could not be allowed to live!

Prepared to resume his battle with Xiao Dong, Zhou Xuan Tong was taken aback when he observed Xiao Dong hurling toward a purple-coloured spiritual item after their clash. Xiao Dong, too, seemed bewildered, staring at the spiritual item shooting itself toward his chest in a bid to annihilate him. Swiftly, he swiftly activated his power of Devourment to capture it.

With a glance, he identified it. It was the ‘Great Annihilation Fruit’!

Xiao Dong’s expression went through a series of transformations as he glanced at Zhou Xuan Tong, who had the same strange expression, as his own turned into one of mocking.

Simultaneously, Murong Lin arrived at their side. Tossing the ‘Blessed Enigma Cauldron’ toward Xiao Dong, he flew in the same direction, shouting, “Stop!”

Instinctively, Xiao Dong caught the hurled object—the Blessed Enigma Cauldron now in his hands.

His expression became even more dumbfounded as he looked at the higher Sky grade spiritual equipment in his hands and then at the rapidly approaching figure.

Instantly sensing the familiar aura surrounding Murong Lin and recalling the face that had humiliated him at the auction, Xiao Dong viciously shouted, “It was you?”

Unconcerned about Murong Lin’s changed appearance, Xiao Dong’s anger surged. Murong Lin, pretending to recognize Xiao Dong only now, shifted his expression and shouted, “Thief! Return that to me!”

Enraged, Xiao Dong darkened his expression. However, surrounded by Murong Lin and Zhou Xuan Tong, he had no choice but to choose escape. Activating his power of Devourment once more, he unleashed ‘Devourment’, creating a path for himself.

As he ran outside, Xiao Dong shouted, “Just you all wait! I will return this attack tenfold!”

“Quick! Chase him! Kill him!” Zhou Xuan Tong ordered the Zhou clan disciples.

After exchanging glances, the group pursued Xiao Dong. Zhou Xuan Tong, glancing indignantly in the direction of Xiao Dong’s escape, turned back to secure the remaining Barren grade spiritual items.

With few Barren grade items left, only one danced in the sky. Zhou Xuan Tong charged toward it, capturing it and compelling the pursuers to abandon their chase just by his presence alone.

At this point, the number of spiritual items in the sky amounted to no more than a thousand. Murong Lin also retreated after casually securing a higher Sky grade spiritual item. Apart from these items, the vast hall held nothing more of value to him.

Translator’s note

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