C11 The Chance to Live

"I'm curious to see what you're truly capable of!"

With a thunderous shout, Huang Qingyu unsheathed a gleaming silver longsword.

"Prepare to die!"

In a flash, he lifted his hand and delivered a swift, downward slash!

Swoosh!

The blade's light flickered, transforming into a streak of silver that hurtled straight toward Zhang Binn!

Huang Qingyu's strike carried an awe-inspiring force, far surpassing Zhang Binn's earlier attempt.

The fellow disciples watching from behind sneered at the display. They were intimately familiar with Senior Brother Huang's prowess.

Their gazes fell upon Zhang Binn, seeing nothing more than a man walking towards his demise.

Whoosh!

Huang Qingyu exuded a fierce, murderous energy!

Zhang Binn, equally alert, stirred the Hidden Dragon Sword to action.

"Profound Nether Nine Swords! First strike, unleash!"

Buzz!

The Hidden Dragon Sword arced from left to right in a sweeping motion!

Bu Xinyu and the others, still shaken from the previous encounter, watched from a distance.

Yet Huang Qingyu remained unflustered.

His swordplay was formidable; a typical seventh-level Body Tempering warrior would instinctively dodge such might.

But Huang Qingyu was no ordinary contender. He stood at the pinnacle of the seventh level, a mere step from ascending to the eighth!

His confidence in his abilities was unshakable.

"Shatter!"

Huang Qingyu's voice boomed.

Dang!

Swords clashed, sparking a burst of flame!

An immense shockwave radiated from the epicenter of their clash, scattering leaves and drawing the fixed attention of the Spirit Martial Sect's members.

Zhang Binn's arm tingled from the impact, his stance faltered, and he was sent crashing into a boulder behind him!

Huang Qingyu, though unshaken, knitted his brows.

The clash had set his blood aflame. Had it not been for his years of disciplined cultivation, he might not have fared so well.

Still, Huang Qingyu's cold smile returned. "Is that all you've got?"

With a scornful look at Zhang Binn, he pointed his sword and declared, "Boy, if that's the extent of your skills, then today marks the end of your journey!"

"Senior Brother Huang truly is formidable; he quelled that upstart with a single sword strike!"

"Hehe, that loudmouth from the Heavenly Rotating Jade Sect was all bluster before. Let's see him swagger now!"

"With Senior Brother Huang on the scene, that kid's fate is sealed today!"

Huang Qingyu's lips curled into a slight smile as he overheard Bu Xinyu and the others behind him.

Zhang Binn steadied the roiling blood within him. Catching Huang Qingyu's comment, he flashed a grin and retorted, "Oh, really?"

Next, Zhang Binn bellowed, "Profound Nether Nine Swords! The second strike, unleash!"

The Profound Nether Nine Swords lived up to its name, each successive sword stronger than the last!

Swish!

Zhang Binn stepped forward and launched his attack in a flash!

This sword strike was fiercer than the previous one, its formidable power self-evident!

"Humph! The struggle of a trapped animal!"

Huang Qingyu let out a cold laugh as he too unleashed a sword strike!

Clang!

The swords met in combat once more, unleashing a massive surge of Qi!

After a few tense seconds, Zhang Binn was once again sent flying backward!

Huang Qingyu also retreated several steps, but he quickly regained his footing and advanced toward Zhang Binn, sword at the ready.

Bang!

Zhang Binn slammed into a rock, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

"Kid, I must admit, your swordsmanship is quite impressive. If I'm not mistaken, it's a Common Rank High Grade technique," Huang Qingyu said, his eyes gleaming as he spoke.

"A Common Rank High Grade sword technique!"

At Huang Qingyu's words, his fellow disciples showed looks of astonishment.

Bu Xinyu and the rest of the Spirit Martial Sect disciples had an epiphany. No wonder someone at the sixth level of Body Tempering could wield such tremendous power!

Greed quickly flickered across their faces; after all, they were in the presence of a Common Rank High Grade sword technique!

Naturally, they restrained their covetous thoughts, with Huang Qingyu standing right there.

At that moment, the glint of greed in Huang Qingyu's own eyes intensified.

It's common knowledge that for disciples like us at the Spirit Martial Sect and the Heavenly Rotating Jade Sect, getting our hands on a martial arts technique is incredibly tough. Only by advancing to the Qi Refining Stage and earning the status of outer sect disciples are we allowed to select a martial skill within the sect.

And even then, the prospect of acquiring a martial skill of Common Rank High Grade is virtually nonexistent!

The sword technique I used earlier in my clash with Zhang Binn was of a middle grade, and it cost me a considerable amount of time and resources to secure it.

"Kid, surrender the sword technique manual, and I might just let you live today," Huang Qingyu said with a smirk, locking his gaze on Zhang Binn.

Bu Xinyu and the rest couldn't help but sneer at Huang Qingyu's words.

They were all too familiar with Huang Qingyu's tactics; even if Zhang Binn gave up the sword technique manual, his chances of survival were slim to none.

"Ding dong! The system has detected damage to the host's body. Would you like to initiate repairs?"

At that moment, the system's alert chimed in Zhang Binn's ears.

"No repairs!"

Zhang Binn declared without a second thought.

A minor injury like this was hardly a concern for him, especially since his experience points were precisely enough for an upgrade – he couldn't afford to waste them on something trivial!

"System! Elevate me to the seventh level of the Body Tempering Stage!"

With a fierce determination, Zhang Binn fixed his stare on Huang Qingyu, who stood just a few paces away, and commanded inwardly.

"Ding dong! The host has successfully ascended to the seventh level of the Body Tempering Stage! 700 experience points have been expended!"

Boom!

In an instant, Zhang Binn felt a thunderous roar within his soul, followed by a surge of power coursing through his meridians and converging in his dantian – Body Tempering Stage Seven!

A sharp glint flashed in Zhang Binn's eyes.

"Kid, don't say I didn't offer you a chance to save your skin. My patience is wearing thin. Are you handing over the sword technique manual or not?"

Huang Qingyu's eyes glinted with an icy light as he saw Zhang Binn remain silent, his sword's glow ready to strike.

If Zhang Binn refused, Huang Qingyu was prepared to deliver a fatal blow without hesitation.

"A chance to live?"

Zhang Binn let out a cold, mocking laugh, his gaze sweeping over Huang Qingyu, Bu Xinyu, and the other Spirit Martial Sect disciples. His voice was icy and resolute, "Today, none of you will leave here alive!"

Bu Xinyu and his fellow disciples couldn't believe their ears, each of them gaping at Zhang Binn with wide-eyed shock.

"Holy crap! Has this guy lost his mind?!"

"He's knocking on death's door and still has the nerve to be this defiant!"

"Brother Huang, take him down now!"

The Spirit Martial Sect disciples soon erupted into a chorus of jeers.

"Ding dong! Rage +60 from Bu Xinyu, Rage +65 from Zhang Lengtian..."

Huang Qingyu's expression turned icy, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.

"Ding dong! Killing Intent +80 from Huang Qingyu!"

"If you're so eager to die, I'll oblige you!"

Huang Qingyu advanced with a menacing presence, his arm quivering before he unleashed a ferocious sword strike!

"Bring it on!" Zhang Binn roared, countering with his own sword!

"Profound Nether Nine Swords! Strike!"

Swish!

A formidable power, as if to cleave through all in its path, burst forth from Zhang Binn's Hidden Dragon Sword!

"Heh! I've said it before, if your ace in the hole is that swordplay, then your time to die..."

Huang Qingyu's words hung unfinished as the smug grin on his face solidified, his features gradually morphing from confidence to sheer terror.

"How... How can this be!"

Fear and incredulity were etched across Huang Qingyu's face.