C107 The Inferno!

Qin Buyi responded, "Mr. Zhi, I'm grateful for your concern, but I won't back down from this fight."

Ying Zhi, observing Qin Buyi's resolve, let out a sigh and remarked, "Mr. Qin, the gap in strength is substantial. I fear this battle bodes more ill than good."

Qin Buyi firmly stated, "Mr. Zhi, my decision is final."

Ying Zhi sighed once more and fell silent.

Just then, a guard approached from behind First Prince Ying Ye and inquired, "Has the message been sent out?"

The guard reported, "Your Highness, the message has been disseminated."

Ying Ye gestured dismissively, indicating the guard could withdraw.

With the guard gone, Wang Chengfeng ventured, "Your Highness, was that about..."

Ying Ye chuckled and revealed, "Exactly as you surmised, Dean Wang. I leaked the details of the third match to Ying Zhi."

"The decision is set. Informing my younger brother beforehand will serve to dampen his spirits."

"Dean Wang, just look at the anxious look on Third Brother's face. It's quite gratifying, isn't it?"

Wang Chengfeng glanced over as Ying Ye suggested and indeed, there sat Ying Zhi with a look of deep concern.

Ying Ye went on, "Third Brother's newly acquired formidable ally is about to fall. I'd be worried too if I were in his shoes."

"However, it's not my plight. I can't help but feel a rush of exhilaration."

Listening to Ying Ye, Wang Chengfeng silently scoffed, "You're spared because I've taken the blows."

"The College of Ming Dynasty has lost two senior mentors at the enemy's hands. You may not grieve, but their loss weighs heavily on me."

Soon, the time for the third battle arrived.

Wang Chengfeng soared onto the stage, announcing, "Now, let's welcome the challenger, Qin Buyi."

Once Qin Buyi took his place on the stage, Wang Chengfeng introduced the next combatant,

"Please greet the College of Ming Dynasty's third contestant, the senior mentor, Lie Huo."

No sooner had Wang Chengfeng finished speaking than a man in a red robe, with hair and eyebrows to match, emerged from below.

With a light tap of his toes, the man ascended to the stage.

At the sight of him, the crowd of teachers and students below hushed, then erupted into an uproar of excitement.

"Lie Huo, the top-ranked among the eight elite mentors at the academy."

"Years ago, Mentor Lie Huo's cultivation had already reached the pinnacle of Tribulation Crossing. With all the time that's passed, he might have already ascended to the next level."

"There's a rumor that at the height of his Tribulation Crossing Perfection, Lie Huo once defeated a gravely wounded Mahayana practitioner from the Qin Dynasty on the battlefield. Whether that's fact or fiction remains uncertain."

"Chances are, it's true. The bounty on Mentor Lie Huo within the Qin Dynasty has soared to several million Top Grade Spirit Stones over the years."

"Who would have thought that Lie Huo would be the one to step up for the third duel? We're in for quite the spectacle."

Unlike Shao Hu, Suo Hu, and Sha Jian, Lie Huo didn't even spare a glance at Qin Buyi upon his arrival.

He addressed Wang Chengfeng directly, "Dean Wang, may we begin the battle? I'm eager to return to my cultivation."

His tone completely dismissed Qin Buyi, as if defeating him would be as trivial as having a meal.

Wang Chengfeng could only muster a wry smile in response to Lie Huo's words.

Lie Huo had been in seclusion for years, and it was Wang Chengfeng who had summoned him with a message to come out and confront Qin Buyi.

Respecting Wang Chengfeng's request, Lie Huo had promptly made his way to the battle without hesitation.

"The third match is now officially underway," declared Wang Chengfeng.

As soon as the announcement was made, Qin Buyi preemptively unleashed his most powerful offensive.

"Eight Nine Profound Arts: Law of Heaven and Earth!"

In the blink of an eye, Qin Buyi's stature surged to a hundred feet tall, and his Killing Saber grew to several dozen feet.

Lie Huo's eyes tightened in astonishment, "A grand divine power!"

Both Wang Chengfeng and Ying Ye, who had just descended from the stage, rose to their feet in shock, exclaiming in unison, "How could he possess such an extraordinary divine power!"

Ying Ye, gazing at the towering figure of Qin Buyi, remarked, "The Law of Heaven and Earth is a legendary divine power that even in ancient times was known by only a select few."

"To think he's had the fortune to inherit such a formidable legacy."

"This certainly sheds light on the fearsome saber technique he wields."

"However, if someone with such a terrifying legacy were to die here, I fear the consequences would be endless," Wang Chengfeng observed Ying Ye's hesitation and offered his counsel, "First Prince, since we've already crossed him, we might as well finish what we've started."

"Besides, if he truly had an earth-shattering background, the Third Prince wouldn't have been able to recruit him," Wang Chengfeng continued. "I suspect this young fellow just stumbled upon his inheritance by sheer luck." While speaking, he made a throat-slitting gesture.

Ying Ye, upon hearing this, slowly resumed his seat and sighed, "Let's hope that's the case." Despite his words, Ying Ye's confidence waned.

Seeing this, Wang Chengfeng felt compelled to bolster the First Prince's resolve, "Your Highness, once we eliminate this man, we can easily undermine the Third Prince's influence. The throne will surely be yours."

"If you hesitate now, Your Highness, it may only lead to more complications." With the mention of the throne, Ying Ye's doubts seemed to dissipate. He turned to Wang Chengfeng and said, "Perhaps I have been overly cautious. You're right, Dean Wang."

On the arena, the battle raged on.

"Killing Swordsmanship: Death Domain!" The gloomy domain expanded rapidly across the entire arena, centered on Qin Buyi.

"Killing Swordsmanship: Extermination!" A blood moon ascended, casting its crimson glow over the arena. Within it, the near-tangible shadows of Killing Sabers emerged, hurtling towards their fiery target.

The flames scoffed at the display, "Trivial parlor tricks." With a stretch of his right hand and a commanding shout, "Disperse!" the shadows within the blood moon shattered to nothingness with a series of explosive "Bangs!"

"So powerful," Qin Buyi acknowledged inwardly.

"Killing Swordsmanship: Soul Dispersing!" Divine Consciousness and the essence of death from his sea of consciousness infused the Killing Sabers, which shrank to palm-sized blades—half shrouded in darkness, half gleaming gold—soaring towards the flames.

"A commendable attack of Divine Consciousness, but it's a pity you're outmatched by my level of cultivation," the flames taunted. "Were we equals, this technique might trouble me. But as things stand, it's hardly a concern." The flames critiqued, undaunted by the assault.

As the Killing Saber neared the inferno, a mere ten feet away, the flames vanished in the blink of an eye.

They reemerged instantly, now before the Killing Saber, pinched deftly between two fingers.

Frozen in the grip of the inferno, the Killing Saber was rendered immobile. With an effortless flick akin to tossing a dart, the inferno hurled it towards Qin Buyi.

"Whoosh!"

Despite the seemingly nonchalant throw, the Killing Saber rocketed back at a velocity that left Qin Buyi no chance to react.

"Chi!"

The blade pierced the air, stopping just an inch short of Qin Buyi's heart.

"Boom!"

A thunderous explosion erupted within Qin Buyi, leaving a gaping wound—thirty to forty feet across—on his colossal frame.

Qin Buyi extended his hand, summoning the Killing Saber back to him.

In his grasp, the Saber shifted, resizing into a myriad of lengths.

Surveying the grievous damage to his body, Qin Buyi bellowed with resolve:

"Killing Swordsmanship: Obliteration, Immortal Slashing!"