Lin Xun’s figure peaked out through the clouds of dust and smoke.
His figure was graceful and ethereal with a pale azure glow bathing his body. In his hand, the Violet Soul Blade produced a brilliance unique to an aeth treasure and accentuated his extraordinariness.
Inexplicably, many people trembled inwardly. Their scalps felt numb, and their souls shook. The blow was too terrifying.
They couldn’t imagine what kind of blade could produce such earth-shaking, apocalypse-like visions.
The influential figures of the older generation were also emotionally moved.
Imagery Power!
They had seen the power unique to the Heaven Ascension Stage from a teenager at the Spirit Sea Stage!
Unbelievable!
Previously, the Marquis of Rising Sky’s magnificent strike combined the power of heaven and man, encompassed the force of heaven and earth, and contained a wisp of imagery power.
But it wasn’t true imagery power!That was obvious when compared to Lin Xun’s blade art.
“I didn‘t expect your strength to have reached such a level, but do you think you can defeat me?”
The Marquis of Rising Sky rose to his feet, his face ashen. He had already sustained heavy injury and coughed up blood.
However, those injuries were nothing when compared to the anger and rage in his heart.
Lin Xun had repeatedly refused to bring out a weapon, but once he did, the blade art he performed turned out to be so tyrannical!
“Die!”
The Marquis of Rising Sky launched another attack, refusing to let Lin Xun suppress him. In other words, he didn’t believe that Lin Xun could compete with him!
He would never tolerate losing even if it wasn’t for the bet.
Rumble—
The golden halberd swept through the air, and waves of golden light raged across the area.
However, Lin Xun’s blade instantly crushed them all.
“Do you think I’ll give you another chance?”
As Lin Xun uttered indifferently, he performed the Hornless Ice Dragon Step. His imposing bearing soared and the Violet Soul Blade produced a cheering cry in his hand before it shot out.
Boom!
A crack suddenly split the void open, and the Marquis of Rising Sky’s figure blasted across the air, dripping with blood.
The power of the sharp blade ripped apart his skin.
The audience inhaled sharply. Lin Xun resembled a sword immortal. An attack without any showy movements had such tremendous earthshaking power.
It could both defend and attack!
That was true marvellousness of imagery power. Even the tiniest wisp contained terrifying power.
It was as though a Spirit Sea cultivator had suddenly mastered the skills of a Heaven Ascension cultivator.
“Argh!”
Marquis of Rising Sky seemed to be going berserk. He couldn’t accept the blow. Despite his severe injury, he rose to his feet and continued to fight with all his strength.
However, regardless of how he counterattacked, Lin Xun easily dissolved his attacks. His injuries worsened, and his entire body was dripping with blood.
The scene shook many people. The Marquis of Rising Sky was always tyrannical and domineering, and he was seen as invincible against cultivators of the same realm.
However, Lin Xun had completely suppressed him. Many people couldn’t help but pity him.
Rumble—
In the end, just as Marquis of Rising Sky collapsed to the ground, Lin Xun thrust his blade into his throat. The murderous intent spewing out from the tip of the blade snapped him awake from his murderous rage, and he didn’t dare to struggle again.
His face turned deathly pale and was contorted with unwillingness and bewilderment. He couldn’t believe that a rune grandmaster would defeat him!
Five years!
He had fought on the battlefield for five years. He had thought he could regain his prestige and receive recognition from the Ancient Wasteland Domain when he returned to the Forbidden City, but…
He had been defeated!
Utterly defeated!
The audience was shocked into silence. Everyone stared wide-eyed at the martial arts arena, where Lin Xun was standing like a sword immortal. Emotions roiled uncontrollably in their hearts and wouldn’t calm down.
Lin Xun had already stunned the audience when he defeated Chi Cangfeng.
Now, he made another strong counterattack. He had unbelievably suppressed the mighty Marquis of Rising Sky.
After all, who would imagine that a teenager at the initial Spirit Sea Stage would become so strong in half a year?
The Marquis of Rising Sky was a genius who had long made a name for himself. The guests who had attended the empress’ birthday banquet were all top figures, but only a few could compare to him.
Lin Xun had defeated such a powerful person!
Who wouldn’t be shocked?
Who would have imagined it?
”Kneel and apologize to Miss Qingyan!”
Lin Xun said calmly in the arena, his voice filled with unquestionable authority.
Even though everyone had heard about the wager, they were still shocked to hear Lin Xun demand that the Marquis of Rising Sky needed to keep the terms of the bet.
That kid is…so fierce!
The Marquis of Rising Sky was a member of the imperial family. It would be incredibly humiliating for him to kneel and apologize at the birthday banquet of the empress.
As expected, the Marquis of Rising Sky turned ashen-faced. How could he accept such a shameful humiliation?
It was worse than death!
“Lin Xun, you have already won. It’s good to have mercy. Why go so far?” an influential figure advised Lin Xun in a deep voice as he couldn’t stand his arrogance.
“Who are you?” Lin Xun frowned.
“I am Zuo Tianshuo,” stated the man, his voice filled with majesty.
There was no doubt that he was a member of the Zuo Clan, one of the high clans.
Most importantly, Lin Xun suddenly thought of the bloody tragedy on Mind Cleansing Peak more than ten years ago. The Zuo Clan was one of the forces that had taken the wealth and properties of the Lin Family back then!
“Have you not heard?” Lin Xun said rudely, “This is a bet between the Marquis of Rising Sky and me. Outsiders shouldn’t interfere!”
“Little junior, you’re so arrogant!” Zuo Tianshuo’s face darkened.
“Lin Xun, don’t act rashly. It won’t be good for you.”
The corners of Lin Xun’s lips quirked in a light smile. “I won, but you guys are trying to persuade me to let it go. If I had lost, which one of you would stand up for me?”
The audience looked at each other dumbly.
Indeed, Lin Xun’s status was too low. He might be a young rune grandmaster and the master of Mind Cleansing Peak and an instructor at Qinglu Academy, but he was considered a nobody compared to the influential figures present.
Undoubtedly, they would be happy to see Lin Xun keep his promise and fulfill the bet if he had lost the duel. They wouldn’t have spoken up for him.
That kind of double standard was commonly accepted but Lin Xun refused it openly.
Many people were speechless. This kid is such a troublemaker. He doesn’t know what the rules are at all!
“Are you going to kneel down or not?” Lin Xun shifted his gaze to the Marquis of Rising Sky, his eyes flashing with a murderous glint.
“You…” The Marquis of Rising Sky’s face was livid. He was so furious that he almost crushed his teeth.
Many youngsters’ expressions dramatically changed. Lin Xun is so fierce. Is he not afraid of angering people?
Suddenly, a prince of the imperial family said threateningly, “Young man, sometimes it is a blessing to suffer a loss. I advise you to stop in time and not make a mistake!”
The imperial family would lose face if the Marquis of Rising Sky was forced to kneel.
“Is it a blessing to suffer a loss?”
Lin Xun snorted, “Then may you be as blessed as the East Sea!”
His remark was full of thorns.
That prince quivered with anger. When had he ever been provoked by a junior?
The descendants of the younger generation couldn’t help but gasp. They could tell that Lin Xun was ready to risk everything. He is so crazy that he attaches no importance to the influential figures of the imperial family!
“Elder Sister Qingyan, please persuade Lin Xun to stop. Otherwise, he will offend many powerful people. If that happens, how can he establish himself in the Forbidden City in the future?”
A maiden of a noble family couldn’t help but anxiously ask Liu Qingyan, “Lin Xun has stood up for you, do you want to watch him jump into the fire pit?”
“It’s no use.”
However, Liu Qingyan took a deep breath and stared at Lin Xun. “Wouldn’t it be more embarrassing for him for me to tell him to leave the matter at that? Since he has made a decision, I fully support him. Even if he displeases everyone, I will bear the responsibility with him.”
Her voice was calm, but there was unwavering determination.
Liu Qingyan was an extremely intelligent woman, but also a woman with emotions. It would be a lie to say that the youth’s action hadn’t touched her.
However, she was different from other women. She knew what to do and what choice to make to help Lin Xun protect his dignity.
Even if the path ahead was pitch-black, she would still walk side by side with Lin Xun!
That was Liu Qingyan’s decision.
“You guys…are crazy!”
The maiden stomped her feet in anger.
The atmosphere turned tense. Lin Xun’s reckless attitude surprised and puzzled everyone.
No one thought that Lin Xun would not consider the situation as a whole, but they couldn’t say that he was wrong.
After all, the Marquis of Rising Sky had lost!
Lin Xun had done nothing wrong to follow up on the bet!
Although Lin Xun might offend many people, he didn’t seem to care.
The Marquis of Rising Sky’s face dimmed. He knew that, from Lin Xun’s attitude, he either had to die or had to kneel and apologize!
Amidst dead silence, a gentle and calm voice suddenly sounded, “If you lose, you have to fulfill your promise. How can a man of my imperial family give up on their reputation to protect their face? How would the world view our imperial family if this matter spreads out?”
The empress had voiced her opinion!
Everyone in the audience inhaled sharply. They didn’t expect Lin Xun’s decision would make the empress speak out in person!
To their surprise, the empress didn’t reprimand Lin Xun for his disrespect and for crossing the line. Instead, she believed that the Marquis of Rising Sky should keep his promise.
However, the empress had no other choice but to do so, and it was the most correct decision given the circumstances.
Everyone’s gazes changed when they looked at Lin Xun.