Ren Xing lunged at Lin San with lightning speed, his long sword gleaming as it thrust toward him!
But Lin San's reflexes were just as sharp. In a flash, he drew his Demon-Slaying Sword, meeting Ren Xing's blade head-on.
Clang!
The two weapons clashed with a resounding echo, sending both men skidding backward.
"You've reached the fourth stage!?" Ren Xing's eyes widened with surprise. He hadn't expected Lin San's strength to have advanced this far!
Lin San, however, only sneered, ignoring Ren Xing's shock. Now that the sect had been destroyed, Ren Xing clearly had no more reason to hold back—he would kill him without hesitation.
Not willing to wait for that moment, Lin San tightened his grip on his sword, pouring his source energy into the Demon-Slaying Sword.
[Berserk Healing]!
The moment the skill activated, Lin San's power surged as his energy drained into the blade, boosting his strength.
"This sword... it's definitely not ordinary," Ren Xing muttered, his gaze fixed on the Demon-Slaying Sword. The energy coursing into the sword caused its blade to glow with a blinding white light, radiating immense power.
With a low growl, Lin San lunged forward, not waiting for Ren Xing to strike.
Whoosh!
The Demon-Slaying Sword sliced through the air, emitting a sharp whistle. Ren Xing's expression darkened, and he quickly funneled his own energy into his sword, raising it to block the oncoming attack.
Clang!
The metallic clash of swords echoed as sparks flew.
"You think you can match me in swordsmanship?" Ren Xing laughed, his voice thick with arrogance. "I've mastered the Tianqiong Sword Technique. You can't possibly surpass me!"
Ren Xing was a high-ranking instructor in the sect, having trained in the Tianqiong Sword Technique for years. His proficiency with the sword was unmatched—or so he thought.
"But my sword technique is faster!" Lin San shot back coldly, his blade striking again.
The light sword technique he used increased his speed with every attack, gradually overwhelming Ren Xing.
However, Ren Xing was still a fifth-stage warrior, his strength formidable. Before long, Lin San found himself riddled with cuts from Ren Xing's swift counterattacks.
"This old man is really strong," Ye Fan muttered. "He's a fifth-stage warrior, after all. Lin San might not be able to beat him… could he really die here?"
The thought of losing his current sword master made Ye Fan uneasy. He didn't want to go through the hassle of finding a new one again.
"Die already!" Ren Xing roared, his sword slicing through the air with immense power.
Though Lin San managed to block the strike, the impact sent him flying backward, deep gashes forming across his body as the sword energy cut into him.
His clothes were soon soaked with blood.
"Damn it!" Lin San gritted his teeth, pushing himself to keep attacking. Thanks to his light sword technique, his attacks were growing faster and faster.
"This brat… why won't he back down?" Ren Xing growled in frustration. Lin San's speed was only increasing, forcing him on the defensive. His strikes became harder to block with each passing moment.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The relentless clash of blades filled the air as Ren Xing struggled to keep up. To his horror, a crack began forming on his sword's blade.
His sword was about to shatter!
Realizing this, Ren Xing's face turned grim. Once his sword broke, his strength would be significantly reduced—even as a fifth-stage warrior.
"Kill him already!" Ren Xing bellowed.
"Heh, I thought you had this under control, old man," one of Ren Xing's companions jeered, stepping forward with a smirk.
"Shut up and finish him off!" Ren Xing snarled.
His allies wasted no time, rushing toward Lin San with their weapons raised.
Damn!
Lin San cursed under his breath. While he might have had a chance against Ren Xing alone, the addition of these new opponents left him at a severe disadvantage. Their power levels weren't low either, with several of them at the fourth stage.
Seeing them charge toward him, Lin San narrowed his eyes and immediately activated one of the Demon-Slaying Sword's skills.
[Phantom Dance]!
In a blur of motion, Lin San's form split into multiple shadows, deftly dodging and parrying their attacks.
Clang! Clang!
Two of Ren Xing's men were too slow to react, and Lin San's blade swiftly found their necks, painting the ground red.
[Absorbed the blood of a third-stage warrior. Energy point gain: 0.3 points.]
[Absorbed the blood of a third-stage warrior. Energy point gain: 0.3 points.]
[Killed third-stage warrior. Evolution point gain: 300 points.]
[Killed third-stage warrior. Evolution point gain: 300 points.]
Ye Fan couldn't help but chuckle as the system notifications rolled in.
"What a bunch of idiots," Ye Fan sneered. "Third-stage warriors are no match for Lin San now."
Still, even as Lin San fought, Ye Fan could sense that the fight was taking its toll. Lin San couldn't hold out much longer.
"It's time to show you the new skill," Ye Fan thought, sending the information directly into Lin San's mind.
Clang!
At that moment, Ren Xing's powerful strike sent Lin San flying backward, his body hurtling toward the edge of a cliff.
As he tumbled, the information for the new skill flooded his mind.
[Nether Flame Soul Slash]!
The timing couldn't have been more perfect. Lin San gritted his teeth, drawing on all the energy he had left.
"You want me dead? Fine, let's see if you can handle this!" Lin San shouted as Ren Xing's men charged forward.
Ren Xing, eyeing his shattered sword, was just as desperate. "I need to get my hands on that sword of his!"
Without hesitation, Lin San funneled every drop of source energy into the Demon-Slaying Sword.
In an instant, the blade flared with an overwhelming surge of power.
[Nether Flame Soul Slash]!
With a mighty swing, Lin San unleashed the full force of the skill. A blazing white flame erupted from the sword, tearing through the air with devastating intensity.