Chapter 1632

Ximen Wudi glanced around, then stepped into the second floor, where every corner was desolate.

"Master Mu Yun is indeed diligent—he hasn't even tidied up the Scripture Pavilion," Ximen Wudi sighed. "Such a vast Scripture Pavilion, aside from a few ancient secret scrolls, array diagrams, and martial insights, holds nothing but a handful of storage bags. How many years has it been since anyone came here?"

"Uncle, I'm back," Ximen Wudi muttered to himself, when suddenly a chill ran down his spine—he instinctively turned his head and saw a ghostly, eerie gleam slicing through the air behind him.

Without hesitation, he vanished in an instant, flipping onto the eaves, barely evading the attack; the strike missed entirely, crashing with a boom and collapsing the pavilion's roof.

"What the hell was that?" Ximen Wudi spun around, staring into the pitch-black void above the pavilion.

"Ambushes aren't prowess," came a faint, sinister laugh from the darkness.

With the voice, a figure slowly materialized—look closely, no need to say, it was Qin Yu.

At this moment, Qin Yu was disheveled, drenched in blood, his face twisted in ferocity, eyes bulging with bloodshot veins, like a beast radiating demonic malice, his entire body oozing killing intent. He stepped forward, shattering the void, lunging down from the heavens, clutching a pitch-black battle spear, its tip crimson and blinding, drenched in icy radiance, carrying annihilating force, piercing straight toward Ximen Wudi's chest.

1404 Mu Chen was even more terrifying.

Ximen Wudi frowned, ascending to flee—Qin Yu's aura was too terrifying, even more terrifying than Mu Chen before him; he couldn't even track his movements. Such a being—even with his Reincarnation Eye open—he could barely make out the trail. If he fought head-on, he'd likely lose, possibly get obliterated instantly.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Qin Yu chased after him, wielding the spear, repeatedly piercing Ximen Wudi's spiritual body, blood spraying everywhere. Though Ximen Wudi dodged desperately, he couldn't escape fate—each strike wounded him, and as he crossed the void, he tumbled out of it, nearly falling into a void fissure.

"Ant, where are you running?" Qin Yu roared, striking again and again.

"Get lost," Ximen Wudi bellowed, slamming out a palm, forcefully reversing Zhao Qiankun and hurling Qin Yu far away.

Qin Yu spat blood, steadied himself, then lunged again—his eyes shot icy light, he stepped on the void, appearing like a phantom, instantly closing in, thrusting his spear to pierce Ximen Wudi's left arm, nearly splitting him in two.

Ximen Wudi staggered back, clutching his bleeding right arm, heart pounding in shock—same realm, Pre-Sage King, yet the gap was this vast. He could slay a Pre-Sage King in one blow; Qin Yu could surely do the same, effortlessly.

In this instant, he finally understood Mu Yun's earlier words.

Pre-Sage King was far from as simple as he'd imagined.

At this moment, he finally grasped what Mu Yun meant by "training"—this trial wasn't about cultivation or cultivation level, but combat skill. If he survived ten days, he'd qualify for the Hidden Dragon Competition; if not, he'd be expelled from Hengyue Sect.

"Ant, take another spear from me," Qin Yu charged, thrusting his spear forward.

"Come on," Ximen Wudi sneered, meeting it with his golden fist—BOOM! Qin Yu staggered back, his arm exploding, revealing radiant golden bones; his mighty physical body couldn't even withstand a single thrust from a Pre-Sage King weapon.

Bang! Crack!

As Qin Yu's first spear landed, another struck—piercing his shoulder.

This spear obliterated half his arm, sending golden blood and bone flying. He was also counterattacked, spitting blood as he flew backward, crashing through a pavilion, rolling dozens of zhang across the ruins, finally stopping, stepping back—his foot crushed the cliff wall.

"Not bad! Still got up," Qin Yu wiped blood from his lips, smirking with mockery.

Ximen Wudi gritted his teeth, forcing himself upright, stepping forward to shatter the rock, slashing with his sword.

Zheng!

Spear met sword, sparks flew, both men recoiled.

Qin Yu attacked again, flicking Ximen Wudi's sword away with his spear, then closing in, swinging a club to knock Ximen Wudi down, smashing him through the pavilion floor and into the earth, imprinting a human-shaped crater.

Aaah…!

Screams filled the Scripture Pavilion—Ximen Wudi was knocked out, yet Qin Yu remained unscathed, standing in midair, iron rod in hand, watching the man in the earth with morbid curiosity.

Ximen Wudi crawled out of the earth, blood dripping from his lips, face deathly pale, his entire body crisscrossed with gashes, especially his abdomen—a gaping hole, sacred blood gushing uncontrollably, horrifying to behold.

"Still not submitting? I'll beat you until you submit," Qin Yu sneered, his battle spear humming and trembling, aimed at Ximen Wudi's forehead—if it struck, Ximen Wudi would vanish into the underworld.

"I say, are you stupid? A Pre-Sage King, really? How embarrassing," Ximen Wudi cursed. "Your pathetic skill—I see it at a glance."

"Die," Qin Yu roared, plunging his spear into the earth.

Bang! Crack! Crack!

Then came a strange sound.

It was the iron rod pressing against rock—Ximen Wudi had been captured, nailed to the stone, his body riddled with blood holes, while Qin Yu slowly, relentlessly crushed him with his spear.

"You bastard," Ximen Wudi roared, struggling to break free, but couldn't move at all—he'd finally seen it: Qin Yu wasn't just cruel, he avoided direct combat, targeting his weaknesses, leaving Ximen Wudi no chance to retaliate.

"I really underestimated you," Qin Yu muttered, surprised—this spear had channeled his full power, yet this peak Pre-Sage King Ximen Wudi had blocked it.

"I'm done playing with you. We'll talk another day," Ximen Wudi howled, sealing his meridians, channeling a dominant force to burst the chains, then leaping into the void.

"You think you can escape?" Qin Yu sneered, swinging his iron rod, charging straight for Ximen Wudi.

Ximen Wudi ignored him, fleeing relentlessly—multiple times he coughed blood. Qin Yu's speed was uncanny and unpredictable; every attack caught him off guard.

"Let's see who's faster—your legs or my spear," Qin Yu roared, like a demon, charging with spear in hand, thrusting it to summon wind and thunder, merging with dominant immortal light, blindingly radiant.

Puff!

As blood sprayed, Qin Yu's spear pierced through Ximen Wudi's left arm.

"Die!" Qin Yu thrust the spear through, then yanked hard, tearing off half of Ximen Wudi's arm, seizing his bloodline and essence, activating a secret technique to devour him into nourishment.

Ximen Wudi gritted his teeth, healing his wounds in the shortest time possible.

Then he transformed into a divine light, darting in all directions, avoiding direct clashes with the spear—it was a Pre-Sage King weapon; his Ancient Holy Body couldn't match its sharpness.

"Still running?" Qin Yu sneered, chasing after him, stabbing repeatedly, flipping him over multiple times—every drop of blood he touched, he absorbed, purifying it to replenish himself. Such a brutal technique—Ximen Wudi had never seen its like.

"You fucking bastard, no rules."

"Didn't your elders teach you to leave no survivors when fighting enemies?" Qin Yu sneered. "If you're going to kill me, kill me completely—save yourself the trouble of revenge later."

"That's a 99-point flex."

"Fucking hell," Ximen Wudi cursed inwardly, suddenly halting—Qin Yu had closed in too close. Before he could steady himself, the spear pierced his chest, then Qin Yu crushed his dantian with one hand, destroying his Holy Body, finally binding him with a secret method—no matter what technique Ximen Wudi tried, it was useless. His dantian was sealed, his tendons and bones locked, his soul imprisoned—leaving only a withered husk.

"I won this battle," Qin Yu licked his crimson tongue, dragging the spear slowly toward Ximen Wudi. "Got any memory crystals? Give me a few—I'll sell them for cash."

Ximen Wudi said nothing, lying still in the void, gazing at the ethereal, illusory stars, sighing softly, "Old Seven, I'm sorry."

With those words, he closed his eyes.

Qin Yu froze, instinctively turning his head, staring at the unconscious Ximen Wudi—something about his expression felt… off.

That feeling sent chills down his spine—was he scared? Had he fainted from fear?

In fact, he guessed right—he really scared the hell out of him.

You have to understand, this fight was on the battle platform, where his cultivation had been suppressed. Under normal circumstances, a mere Pre-Sage King wouldn't have been enough for him to beat. Even if the opponent had a Pre-Sage King weapon to assist, he still wouldn't have been a match for him. Yet today, he suffered a miserable defeat—defeated by a Pre-Emperor King, defeated utterly and completely.

【62】 Know this: this battle took place on the combat platform, where his realm was suppressed. In normal circumstances, a mere Pretender Saint-King would never be enough to challenge him—even if the opponent wielded a Pretender Saint-King artifact, he still wouldn't be his match. Yet today, he was crushed utterly, defeated by a Pretender Emperor-King, utterly and disgracefully.

【63】 1406 Ximen Wudi's crown of the head

"You…" Qin Yu frowned slightly, extended his hand, and pressed it upon Ximen Wudi's crown of the head.

Mmm…!

Ximen Wudi let out a muffled groan, his memories sealed.

"Sure enough, you're the only one who understands me." Qin Yu chuckled, yanked open Ximen Wudi's storage pouch, rummaged through it, and pulled out a jade tablet.

"Ximen Wudi? True Disciple of Hengyue Sect." Qin Yu murmured softly.

Saying this, he lifted his foot and stomped hard upon Ximen Wudi.

Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff!

Amidst drifting wisps of blood mist, Ximen Wudi, kicked over a dozen times, was crushed inch by inch, his soul-essence scattered to ash. The young Saint Body perished in the mountains and woods, leaving only a pile of shattered remains.

Qin Yu cast a glance, then turned and walked away.

Not long after he left, he suddenly halted, gazing far up at the heavens—as if he could see through ten thousand li to that slender figure, that figure being Yue Xin, who was swiftly flying on her sword.

Seeing this, he narrowed his eyes, stepped upward into the sky.

Clearly, she also recognized Yue Xin—perhaps she had recognized her long ago, but chose not to speak of it, because she had ties to Yue Xin. Though unaware of Yue Xin's origins, she knew one fact: Ximen Wudi had once loved Yue Xin—a deep, unforgettable love. For Yue Xin, he had slaughtered countless lives, each tale steeped in tragic sorrow.

His reason for stopping Yue Xin was not fear she would repay her debt, but that he did not wish Ximen Wudi to die in such disgrace. They were brothers—twin brothers born of the same mother. He could not bear to see Ximen Wudi's regret become an eternal, unhealable wound. That would be too unfair to Ximen Wudi.

"Are you following me?" Yue Xin suddenly stopped, cold and indifferent, her voice flat and heartless. Her exquisite immortal face was veiled in a thin frost; her aura, like a statue of ice—chilling to the bone—even her snow-white robes were frozen solid.

"I only wanted to tell you—you should wake up," Qin Yu said calmly. "Ximen Wudi is not dead. I saved him. Leave now. He doesn't need your rescue. I'll protect him."

At these words, Yue Xin staggered, nearly falling from the clouds. Her cheeks turned instantly pale; she could not believe it. Yet hearing Qin Yu's tone, she had no choice but to believe—because Ximen Wudi was indeed alive, hiding in the shadows, watching.

"I don't believe it—he must have met with disaster," Yue Xin cried urgently.

"He is a Primordial Saint Body. The Honghuang Clan dares not lightly provoke him," Qin Yu smiled.

"Who is he, really?" Yue Xin asked again.

"His surname is Ye, his given name is Chenyi. He hails from Hengyue Sect in Southern Chu. He is also called Ximen Wudi."

"His name is Ximen Wudi?" Yue Xin froze, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears. She stepped forward into the void sky—and vanished.