"Lin San..."
Feng Wutian clenched his fists as he watched Lin San standing on the platform. His eyes were filled with unwillingness and resentment.
He had been eliminated, and Feng Wuqiang had also lost to Lin San.
Feng Wuqiang suffered the most—his arm was severed, and even his sword was broken.
Especially that sword... Feng Wutian could already imagine the punishment Feng Wuqiang would face when he returned to his family.
Zhao Xiaoling also stared at Lin San on the platform with venomous eyes.
The stronger Lin San became, the more it felt like a slap to her face—a painful one at that.
At this moment, Lin San was on the platform, drawing lots for the next match.
The two finalists would face off after the winners of the semifinal matches were decided.
"Lin San versus Tang Shiwu!"
The draw results came out quickly.
"Tang Shiwu..."
Lin San frowned as he looked at the name.
Tang Shiwu was a fourth-stage martial artist—a formidable opponent.
Unlike most of the other Heavenly Sky Sect disciples who used swords, Tang Shiwu wielded a weapon of choice: a long, crimson battle blade.
"The first place is mine," Tang Shiwu, a tall and muscular man, said coldly as he glared at Lin San.
"Is that so?" Lin San chuckled.
During his previous battle, Lin San had sustained injuries, but by absorbing his opponents' source power through the Demon-Slaying Sword, which converted it into healing light energy, his wounds had completely healed!
The only evidence of his previous battles was the bloodstains on his clothes.
"Lin San, can you do it?"
Zhang Tiansha, who had been observing Lin San's fights, asked with a hint of concern.
Although he had previously ignored Lin San, now that Lin San had regained his strength, the situation had changed.
"Yes," Lin San replied with a slight nod.
As he looked at Zhang Tiansha, a cold smile played at the corners of his mouth.
Ever since his meridians became blocked and he could no longer progress, Zhang Tiansha had paid him no mind. Now, Zhang Tiansha's renewed interest was clearly because he saw Lin San as useful again.
"Lin San versus Tang Shiwu!"
"Both fighters, prepare!"
The elder serving as the referee announced loudly.
Lin San gripped the Demon-Slaying Sword tightly and focused his gaze on Tang Shiwu across the platform.
"Although Tang Shiwu and Feng Wuqiang are both fourth-stage martial artists, Tang Shiwu is much stronger."
"Lin San was injured in the last fight—this won't be easy for him."
"He's just holding on by sheer willpower."
The surrounding disciples began to murmur among themselves.
Ignoring their comments, Lin San remained highly focused.
"Hurry up and finish this already. This is getting tedious," Ye Fan, the spirit within the Demon-Slaying Sword, grumbled.
After watching so many battles, Ye Fan was growing bored—none of them were particularly exciting.
"The platform... it's just like the life-and-death stage."
Tang Shiwu grinned wickedly as he looked at Lin San. In the next instant, he moved, charging directly at Lin San!
Tang Shiwu's movement technique unleashed tremendous speed, and he closed the distance in an instant!
Lin San's eyes narrowed as he saw this.
Whoosh!
He swung the Demon-Slaying Sword in a flash.
Clang!
The clash of their weapons echoed across the arena.
"Not an A-grade weapon."
In that brief exchange, Lin San quickly realized that Tang Shiwu's weapon wasn't an A-grade weapon.
But the strange appearance of the blade suggested it was no ordinary weapon either.
"What, you like my weapon?" Tang Shiwu noticed Lin San eyeing his weapon and sneered.
In the next moment, he swung his crimson blade at Lin San again, each strike carrying tremendous power.
For a while, Lin San was forced on the defensive, unable to counterattack.
Moreover, Tang Shiwu's blade emitted a bloody aura, an eerie energy that felt ominous.
Killing intent.
The aura on Tang Shiwu's blade was as menacing as the one on the Demon-Slaying Sword.
"Eh? Why does this blade have killing intent like mine?" Ye Fan was surprised.
His own killing intent was due to the sword's evolution, but this blade seemed to have accumulated its killing aura through the sheer number of people it had killed.
This person is dangerous!
Lin San could clearly sense something was wrong. He quickly leaped back, dodging another of Tang Shiwu's powerful slashes.
Boom!
Tang Shiwu's blade struck the spot where Lin San had just been standing, leaving a massive gash in the platform.
"Tang Shiwu's blade... it's turning red!"
Some of the onlookers noticed that Tang Shiwu's weapon was unlike any ordinary blade—it was infused with a sinister, blood-red energy.
The sight was unsettling, sending shivers down their spines.
"What is that blade...?"
Even the sect leader, Zhang Tiancong, frowned as he observed the battle.
Tang Shiwu's weapon was undoubtedly unusual. The malevolent aura it emitted was palpable, even from a distance.
Standing on the edge of the platform, Lin San could also feel the abnormality.
Without hesitation, he channeled his source power into the Demon-Slaying Sword.
Healing Frenzy activated, and Lin San's strength surged visibly.
"That's a demon blade," Ye Fan said, recognizing the weapon in Tang Shiwu's hand.
The power of this demon blade seemed formidable.
Phantom Dance!
Lin San, now fully alert, unleashed a powerful sword technique, his blade moving with such speed that it appeared to create multiple afterimages.
"You're courting death!" Tang Shiwu snarled as he swung his blade wildly.
But Lin San's sword dance was too fast, even for a fourth-stage martial artist like Tang Shiwu.
Soon, Tang Shiwu's body was covered in wounds, his blood soaking through his clothes.
Absorbing blood from a fourth-stage martial artist... Energy points gained: 0.4.
Ye Fan received the system notification.
"This guy feels strange," Ye Fan noted. Despite being only a B-grade weapon, Tang Shiwu's blade was incredibly durable.
It was almost as if it was cursed.
"Ha ha ha!"
Instead of despairing at his injuries, Tang Shiwu burst into laughter.
Blood from his wounds flowed down his arm, merging with the demon blade.
A surge of power erupted from Tang Shiwu's body, his strength growing even more terrifying.