Zhu Yan chuckled as he reached the Half Step Meridian Opening Stage and he gained an additional Tiger's worth of strength placing him above Xiao LingYue in physical prowess.
LingYue's breathing became even more hurried as the quality of his heart must have gone up after this breakthrough Zhu Yan experience.
His mind was solely on taking the heart as his eyes watched his every move.
Though Zhu Yan was currently a Half Step Meridian Opening Stage cultivator, he was also severely wounded.
His martial prowess would not be at its peak which only then makes their prowess equal once again.
*************
The wind blew as the sunlight peaked through the eerie cloud cover periodically.
The wind caressed their skin with an icy embrace.
The illumination of the sun which would give them some respite against the cold came and went, as the blood flowing from Zhu Yan's arm began to slow.
Zhu Yan's slowly exhaled as his breath formed a slight mist as the temperature continued due to the setting sun.
His grey eyes concentrated in front of him as he darted forwards, his muscles full taut as his outstretched arm reached for LingYue's blade.
LingYue's eyes widened as his gaze hardened, and his chest shifted as the blow that was originally aimed at his chest hit his left shoulder.
He had made a mistake, he took into account his opponent's strength, but not their speed leaving him slightly disadvantaged.
Upon taking that blow, his arm released Humble DayDream as his hands formed a claw.
Their bodies entangled as his fingers shot forth, his fingers digging into the chest of his opponent as his head bashed Zhu Yan in the nose!
His fingers sunk deep, subjecting Zhu Yan to an abnormal amount of pain as his fingers grasped his flesh, Xiao LingYue smirked as he used a move he didn't use so far.
[ Feral Crane's Agile Claw Third Movement: Grand Severing Claw!]
His fingers formed a claw as they sunk deep into Zhu Yan's cheat cavity, his screams shocking the crowd.
Their gasps rang out as they stood, watching the brutality of the fight. LingYue's arm grasped Zhu Yan's heart as he fought back, punching and clawing with everything he had.
LingYue's body became tattered and bloody as he focused only on one goal in mind.
'I'm taking this.'
His hand clutched the heart as he tore it out, storing it quickly within his embroidered pouch as he delivered a swift kick to the chest of Zhu Yan sending him hurtling through the air as he slid along the floor leaving a shocking trail of blood behind him.
His body was truly strong as even then he still fought to get back up, his body trembled as he grasped the floor, convulsing as he spat blood beneath him.
The deacons and elders above were all shocked by the turn of events, especially with the strength and ferocity that this youth had displayed.
Elder Jiang smiled as he stood, his cane resting on the platform beneath him as he nodded.
*Cough*
"Wait.. "
*Wheezeee*
" Wait, I can still"
*Cough*
"Fight!"
Zhu Yan saw his surroundings darkening as he tried his best to speak, his desperation evident as he clawed on his stomach towards the direction of Elder Jiang.
Upon seeing Elder Jiang's face, he trembled. The stoic, disappointed look in his eyes that looked down on him made him feel like he fell into an icy cavern.
He tried grasping at any life-saving straw he could as he turned to the deacon who made the exception for him to join the Blood Gate Cult.
Zhu Yan stabbed around his heart as he closed certain acupoints to live just a little longer.
"Deacon Jiao! Uncle Jiao please!"
*Cough*
"You took me in as repentance to my mother !! You can't let me die!" He screamed at the top of his lungs.
Deacon Jiao's face changed as his eyes turned stern, multiple eyes focusing on him as they wondered what he would say or do.
"I had already taken you in, it was you who didn't cherish the chance given to you," he said with a scoff, his eyes glancing across Xiao LingYue.
Though he said that, LingYue could still detect that trace of killing intent levied against him for that small moment.
Knowing this Deacon had killing intent towards him, LingYue had his wariness raised as he slowly walked towards his Humble DayDream as he grasped it, looking at his reflection in the blade as a small smirk appeared on his face.
*Tat*
*Tat*
*Tat*
His footsteps rose and fell as he walked slowly towards Zhu Yan who was currently kneeling in the direction of the elders.
His ears pricked as he heard the approaching sound.
He wanted to look back but a hand suddenly gripped his hair as it bent his head forwards. . .
"Wait! Wait!"
He begged but to no avail, as a blade gleamed above before it swung down with all its might.
The wind screeched as it came downwards, slicing flesh and dismembering limbs.
The head fell to the floor as it was picked up by its hair, the facial features coated in a thick layer of fear as blood dripped from its neck.
The bright and startling colour of the bloody headless body was a stark difference in comparison to the greyed surroundings, its frame still kneeling within the arena like a reminder to all who underestimated this youth.
Xiao LingYue's eyes focused solely on Deacon Jiao as stared directly into his eyes, as he was named winner of this challenge.
There wasn't any part of him that wasn't wounded but his will stayed strong and his face stoic like there wasn't an ounce of happiness within him.
In prime demonic cultivator fashion, his hand held the head high like a vivid warning of what would happen if anyone thought of going against him. . .