Chapter 372: Tenth on the Heavenly List, Xing Zirong!
In midair, Xing Chong slashed down with a ferocious expression, wielding a massive, blood-red battle axe. A sea of blood-red light filled the sky, carrying a brutal and bone-chilling killing intent! In that instant, despair flooded Li Lingqing’s heart.
The Xing Tian Battle Axe was a totem passed down through the generations of the Xing Family. Only a direct descendant with a sufficiently potent bloodline could manifest it. Those who possessed this totem were blessed with exceptional talent and boundless future achievements. By summoning the battle axe in combat, their fighting strength would multiply countless times over.
Seeing Xing Chong successfully summon the battle axe, the Xing Family members were stunned, but their shock quickly turned into crazed excitement.
"After so many years, our Xing Family finally witnesses the return of the Xing Tian Battle Axe!" an elder of the Xing Family exclaimed, so moved that tears streamed down his face as he fell to his knees.
The others followed suit, kneeling on the ground and worshipping the battle axe in the sky.
"He truly is the Dragon of the Xing Family!" Xing Yong roared, his face contorted with maniacal joy.
Holding the battle axe, Xing Chong’s aura turned feral. Murderous intent exploded in his eyes as he ferociously slashed down.
"How dare you act so presumptuously with a mere spirit-borrowing technique!"
Just as the battle axe was about to strike Li Lingqing, a cold snort suddenly rang out. Li Lingqing felt a large hand wrap around her waist and pull her back several steps.
"Master!" Li Lingqing cried, looking at Lin Mu with a face full of worry.
"Just watch how your master slays him!" Lin Mu said, then instantly took a step forward.
Heavenly Emperor Nine Steps—One Step, Rivers Shatter!
The earth shook and the mountains trembled. Lin Mu suddenly appeared in midair and reached out with one hand.
Seeing Lin Mu’s action, the members of the Xing Family sneered contemptuously. The Xing Tian Battle Axe was the weapon of their ancestor, Xing Tian. Their ancestor had been slain by the Yellow Emperor, who decapitated him. All of Xing Tian’s resentment was sealed within the battle axe, merging into the bloodline of the Xing Family’s descendants through the generations. However, from ancient times to the present, very few had ever been able to summon it. With the Xing Tian Battle Axe in hand, a Half-step Grandmaster could slay a full Grandmaster! An Inner Strength Martial Artist could even fight a Grandmaster to a standstill! No matter how strong Lin Mu was, how could he possibly be a match for Xing Chong?
"Kid, die!" Xing Chong snarled, watching Lin Mu coldly. The killing intent in his eyes surged as he raised the battle axe and swung down with all his might.
"Master, be careful!" Li Lingqing couldn’t help but cry out in alarm, her pretty face turning pale.
"Hmph!" Lin Mu snorted. Facing Xing Chong, he showed no fear and threw a punch.
Deicide Fist!
The fist flew out and slammed directly against the Xing Tian Battle Axe. In that moment, it was as if heaven and earth had been torn asunder. The entire Hongfeng Lake trembled violently. Every member of the Xing Family stared, wide-eyed, at the figure sent flying backward.
It was Xing Chong!
"How is that possible?!" Xing Yong muttered in utter shock.
Xing Chong himself wore a ferocious expression, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"You were losing a fair fight, so you resort to a sneak attack? The Xing Family is nothing special after all!" Lin Mu exclaimed coldly, taking another step forward.
Heavenly Emperor Nine Steps—Four Steps, Stars Tremble!
Starlight cascaded from the heavens, forming a celestial road in midair. Lin Mu stood upon the path of stars and instantly appeared before Xing Chong, reaching out to grab him.
"You want to kill me?" Feeling the murderous aura radiating from Lin Mu, Xing Chong’s pupils contracted as he stammered in terror.
"Kill you?" Lin Mu said indifferently. "You call yourself the Dragon of the Xing Family. Today, I’ll see if you are a true dragon or just a worm!"
His five fingers clenched into a fist, which he abruptly threw.
BANG!
Xing Chong tried to raise his axe to block, but Lin Mu’s punch seemed to carry the might of heaven and earth as it ruthlessly smashed into the weapon.
CRACK!
A clear shattering sound reached everyone’s ears. Xing Chong’s eyes looked as if they would split from their sockets as he let out a wretched howl, "No!"
But it was too late. The battle axe flew from his grasp, shattering into countless pieces in midair.
PFFT!
Xing Chong violently spat out a mouthful of blood, his expression becoming deathly pale and vacant.
"You... you destroyed my bloodline?!" Xing Chong stared at Lin Mu, his face a mask of terror and venomous hatred.
The Xing Tian Battle Axe was the manifestation of his very blood essence. Yet, Lin Mu had pulverized it with a single punch. With the axe’s destruction, the totem on his body vanished. Xing Chong’s bloodline was utterly ruined! This was the very foundation of his power, the reason he was called the Dragon of the Xing Family, and the source of his confidence in pursuing the pinnacle of the Martial Way. Yet today, it had been destroyed.
"You dare to claim the bloodline of Xing Tian with such a thin and impure lineage?" Lin Mu said, walking along the path of stars toward Xing Chong, his expression utterly indifferent. "I heard you questioned my status as the Miao King and wished to challenge me? Today, I will give you that opportunity!"
As his words fell, a powerful aura erupted from Lin Mu.
Xing Chong’s pupils constricted, his heart pounding with shock. What a terrifying aura! He really is a Grandmaster! He’s really the Miao King!
"You dare harm my son? I will exterminate your nine generations!" Seeing the scene unfold, Xing Yong was so furious his blood boiled, and he roared out a threat.
"Exterminate my nine generations?" Lin Mu said with chilling coldness. "Then I will start today by exterminating your entire clan!"
With that, Lin Mu reached out his large hand. Before the horrified eyes of the Xing Family, he smashed his fist into Xing Chong’s chest.
"No!" Xing Yong bellowed, leaping into the air and charging toward Lin Mu.
But he was far too slow.
BANG!
The fist brutally struck Xing Chong’s chest. His eyes bulged, and blood streamed uncontrollably from his mouth as he plummeted from the sky like a falling star.
CRASH!
With a tremendous splash, Xing Chong slammed directly into Hongfeng Lake, sending up a colossal wave.
"You scoundrel, you’re courting death!" Xing Yong roared in fury, throwing a lethal punch of his own.
"Scram!" Lin Mu simply glanced back. A brilliant, divine light burst forth from his eyes.
PFFT!
As if struck by lightning, Xing Yong was sent hurtling toward the ground even faster than he had charged.
THUD!
The ground shook as a large crater formed. Xing Yong lay at the bottom, his state unknown.
"Family Head!" The faces of the Xing Family members contorted in fear.
Li Lingqing gazed at the figure in the sky, her eyes filled with fervent admiration.
"I once said that the day I emerged from my seclusion would be the day I brought my sword to the Xing Family!" Lin Mu’s indifferent voice echoed from above, sweeping across the entirety of Hongfeng Lake. "Today is the day your Xing Family will be annihilated!"
With a gesture from Lin Mu, a piercing sword intent suddenly erupted from his body.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The sky and earth changed color, as if heralding the apocalypse. The members of the Xing Family fell into despair.
"Xing Family Patriarch, where are you? Please, save the Xing Family!" one of the clan members suddenly cried out, kneeling on the ground in a desperate plea.
"Yes, Xing Family Patriarch, please take action! Kill this scoundrel!"
"Patriarch, hurry and strike! Kill this man!"
"..."
The members of the Xing Family knelt as one, bowing in every direction and crying out for the Xing Family Patriarch to save them.
"Sigh."
After a long moment, a sigh echoed from all around, its source impossible to pinpoint.
"It’s the Xing Family Patriarch!" The members of the Xing Family were invigorated and cried out with excitement.
RUMBLE!
Suddenly, the lake’s surface exploded. A figure shot out from the depths of Hongfeng Lake, standing atop a pillar of coalesced water. In his hand, he held a person.
It was Xing Chong.
At that moment, however, no one could tell if he was dead or alive.
The man gently released his grip. As if enveloped by an invisible force, Xing Chong’s body slowly drifted to the ground. Only then did the man turn his gaze toward Lin Mu.
"Sixteenth on the Heavenly List, Lin Wudi?"
Lin Mu’s eyes narrowed, his expression unchanging.
"Tenth on the Heavenly List, Xing Zirong?"