C108 Golden Crow

The Killing Saber sang with a chorus of metallic rings.

"Zheng!" "Zheng!"

"Zheng!"

Its blade turned an unfathomable shade of black, radiating a palpable desire to kill. A blood-red hue flickered in and out of visibility along the center of the blade.

Qin Buyi unleashed two swift slashes, producing a pair of blade lights.

One blade light was a mix of both the tangible and the intangible.

The other was pitch-black, exuding an overwhelmingly domineering presence.

Both blade lights zeroed in on the raging inferno, swiftly converging upon it.

Mid-flight, they coiled around each other like twin dragons, merging into one. In the blink of an eye, they became a single dark blade light with a hint of blood-red.

The raging fire's face took on a hint of gravity as he extended his right hand once more and declared, "Raging Fire, Eclipse the Sun!"

A colossal palm ablaze with wild flames materialized in the sky, seizing the oncoming black blade light.

"Zhi!" "Zhi!"

Whisps of white smoke rose from the palm's core.

With a slight furrow of his brow, the raging fire clenched his palm and commanded, "Shatter!"

"Bam!"

The once unstoppable black blade light fragmented in an instant.

From within the remnants of the shattered blade light, a blinding radiance surged forth within the fiery palm, challenging its might.

The raging fire exclaimed, "Such formidable power. Had your cultivation not been so limited, preventing you from unleashing its full potential, even I might have succumbed."

Despite Lie Huo's open admiration for the combined might of Annihilation and Immortal Slashing, Qin Buyi felt no joy. His most potent strike had been effortlessly parried—this spelled trouble.

The flame palm continued its struggle against the force of Annihilation.

Sensing an opportunity, Lie Huo bellowed, "Snuff it out!"

The palm's power surged, and within moments, the force of Annihilation was utterly extinguished.

Lie Huo remarked, "Impressive technique. It would be far more entertaining if you were just a bit stronger."

Though Lie Huo's face was the picture of ease, he discreetly concealed his hand within his sleeve cuff. A subtle tremor shook his palm, and from a thumb-sized wound at its center, blood steadily flowed.

Lie Huo's divine consciousness halted the blood, preventing it from spilling beyond his sleeve.

"Mentor Lie Huo truly lives up to his top ranking. He thwarted the opponent's fiercest assault as soon as he engaged."

"Qin Buyi is impressive as well. To unleash such might at the Combination Stage is a rarity seen once in a millennium."

"Both are prodigies of extraordinary talent. If today demands one of them to perish, my bet is on Qin Buyi."

"I'm with you on Qin Buyi. He's mercilessly slain two of our College of Ming Dynasty's senior mentors. His cruelty is downright demonic."

"Laughable, really. Dean Wang set the rules from the start with no intention of sparing Qin Buyi's life."

"So, it's permissible for you to kill, but not for him to fight back?"

After deflecting Qin Buyi's strike, Lie Huo saw no subsequent move from him.

With a tone of disappointment, Lie Huo remarked, "Sigh, it seems that was your most formidable technique."

"I had hoped for more from you, but now, I'm quite let down."

"Kid, if you've run out of surprises, it's my turn to attack."

"Lie Huo, Eclipse the Sun!"

Above Qin Buyi, a giant palm ablaze with flames emerged, descending upon him.

"Killing Swordsmanship: Obliteration, Immortal Slashing!"

Qin Buyi, taking no chances, unleashed the combined might of Obliteration and Immortal Slashing once more.

"Zheng!" "Zheng!" "Zheng!"

The Killing Saber's blade trembled, its ringing echoing through the air.

The once cold, gleaming blade now turned pitch black.

A sinister red hue flickered within the dark steel.

Gripping the Killing Saber, Qin Buyi swiftly unleashed two arcs of light.

The blade light, infused with the force of Obliteration, was half visible, half ethereal.

The blade light, embodying Immortal Slashing, was starkly black.

In the sky, the two arcs pursued one another, fusing together and surging towards the fiery palm.

"Clang!"

The collision of blade and palm resounded like the clash of iron.

"Hmph, don't bother with the same old tricks," Lie Huo scoffed.

"Shatter!"

At Lie Huo's command, the flaming palm crushed the blade lights as if they were brittle twigs, bearing down on Qin Buyi with relentless force.

"Killing Swordsmanship: Slaughter!"

In the midst of the rapidly unfolding battle, Qin Buyi had no choice but to hastily raise his Killing Saber in defense.

"Clang!"

"Bang!"

The fiery palm struck the Killing Saber, sending a tremendous force through the blade.

This force surged from the saber into Qin Buyi's body, traveling down to his feet.

For the first time since the fight began, the arena floor beneath Qin Buyi started to crack.

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

More fissures spread, and Qin Buyi's calves were now fully embedded in the stage.

Veins on the arm gripping the Killing Saber stood out starkly.

"Bang!"

Unable to withstand the immense force, the blood vessels in his arm burst, staining his body with blood.

"Bang!"

Gritting his teeth, Qin Buyi continued to resist the onslaught of the flame palm.

His knees creaked ominously.

Lie Huo glanced at his palm, nearly healed but marked with two white scars, his expression darkening.

His gaze shifted back to Qin Buyi, who was desperately holding on, and his face grew even more somber.

"Lie Huo: Golden Crow Sun Apex!"

Behind Lie Huo, the faint outline of a three-clawed Golden Crow began to emerge.

Spiritual energy from within Lie Huo flowed into the Golden Crow's apparition, which slowly took on a more solid form.

"Go!"

Once the Golden Crow's image had fully materialized, Lie Huo directed it towards Qin Buyi.

"Chirp!"

At the signal, the Golden Crow let out a piercing screech and swooped down on Qin Buyi.

Having already exhausted his strength against the flame palm, Qin Buyi had no energy left to counter the Golden Crow.

Just then, Azure's voice reached Qin Buyi's ears: "Master, allow me to emerge and endure this lethal strike for you!"

As a pet whose life was intertwined with Qin Buyi's, Azure instantly sensed the peril her master faced.

Hearing her offer, warmth flooded Qin Buyi's heart. Although Azure was at the same level as him, her physical form was nowhere near as resilient.

If Azure were to take this hit, there was a very high chance it would not survive.

Qin Buyi simply couldn't bring himself to sacrifice Azure for his own survival.

"Master, please release me," Azure's voice came through, tinged with urgency.

A wry smile crossed Qin Buyi's lips as he responded, "Don't worry, Azure. Your master isn't going to die."

In the midst of their exchange, the Golden Crow's attack reached Qin Buyi.

"Chi!"

The Golden Crow extended a claw, viciously ripping a chunk of flesh from Qin Buyi's abdomen.

"Chirp!"

Following a piercing screech, the Golden Crow's sharp beak dove down into Qin Buyi's chest with brutal force.

"Chi!"

A gaping hole was torn through Qin Buyi's chest.

Spreading its wings, the Golden Crow's feathers glinted with a chilling light as they sliced through Qin Buyi's body.

"Chi!" "Chi!"

"Chi!"

In an instant, Qin Buyi's upper body was a blur of blood and mangled flesh.