From bone collectors to the supreme ruler of humanity

Lin Yan took a deep breath, gripped the long sword in his hand, and then looked at Murong Chong.

Murong Chong, still leisurely with his arms crossed, said to Lin Yan, "Lin Yan, I heard you killed quite a few barbarians at Zhenbei Pass. Too bad you can't even hold a sword properly now, can you? You're injured like this and still want to fight me? Do you have a death wish?"

Lin Yan completely ignored Murong Chong's mockery.

He's struck again!

This time, all nine forms of the [Mysterious Blade Technique] were unleashed simultaneously, while the triple power of the [Layered Wave Force] was poured into the blade. The long blade in his hand resembled layers upon layers of waves, continuous and unbroken.

Lin Yan slashed nine times in succession, and Murong Chong retreated nine steps.

Seeing that Lin Yan's sword strike showed no sign of stopping, Murong Chong realized that he could no longer retreat. He dropped his arrogant demeanor and drew his long sword with a whoosh.

The blade gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and the curve of the edge shone like a crescent moon.

Murong Chong held his knife differently from others.

While others hold their knives in their palms, he grips them with his hand reversed, pinching the end of the handle with three fingers.

This grip allows for faster knife draws, but it is also more difficult to control.

However, with the help of the Cloud Leopard Dharma Image within his body, things that are difficult for others are easy for Murong Chong.

Lin Yan's [Aura Observation] skill instantly detected the changes in the spiritual energy within Murong Chong's body.

The spiritual energy in his dantian twisted, the twist being 20% ​​larger than before.

The knife is here.

Murong Chong's curved blade slashed from the side, its angle as cunning as a snake as it slithered past Lin Yan's ribs.

Lin Yan parried with his sword, and the two swords clashed, sparks flying.

Murong Chong's knife didn't stop, sliding past Lin Yan's blade until the tip was aimed straight at Lin Yan's throat.

Lin Yan leaned back, the tip of the knife grazing his chin, the sharp blade actually shaving off a few stubble strands.

After having his stubble shaved off, Lin Yan didn't retreat but advanced, raising his foot and using his right knee to strike Murong Chong's lower abdomen.

Murong Chong sheathed his sword and used the hilt to block Lin Yan's knee.

The two then distanced themselves again.

In the stands, the Second Prince Li Zhengming leaned back in his chair, watching this scene with a smile on his face.

With his keen eye, it wasn't hard to see that Lin Yan was indeed seriously injured, and every move he made seemed to be done with great difficulty.

Based on Li Zhengming's own judgment, Lin Yan would definitely be defeated within three moves.

"Lin Yan will be defeated within three moves," Li Zhengming said to Zhou, the strategist beside him, his face full of confidence.

Zhou Moushi did not respond.

Because he was looking into Lin Yan's eyes.

The fighting spirit burning in those eyes was not the look of someone who was about to collapse.

In the arena, Murong Chong attacked Lin Yan again.

This time, he didn't continue testing the waters; he went all out from the start.

The scimitar drew an arc in the air, and the blade's energy reached Lin Yan first.

In a panic, Lin Yan hurriedly parried with his sword. The blade struck the sword with a muffled thud, and Lin Yan was jolted back three steps, his feet leaving three shallow tracks in the ground.

Murong Chong didn't stop; his hands moved without pause, and the leopard's dharma form within him roared wildly as he followed up with a second slash.

Lin Yan blocked again, and took three steps back.

When the third strike came down, Lin Yan almost dropped the knife.

He knelt on one knee on the sand, holding the knife horizontally in front of him. His hand was split open, and blood dripped down the hilt of the knife.

Someone in the stands stood up and shouted:

"Lin Yan is going to lose!"

"It's already quite good that he's held on this long, considering how badly General Lin was injured before."

"Come on, Murong Chong hasn't even used his full strength yet."

In the arena, Murong Chong walked up to Lin Yan with his knife in hand, looking down at him.

"Give up, your injuries are too severe. If you hit someone again, people will laugh at me for bullying a cripple."

Lin Yan raised his head and looked at Murong Chong. Although his face was very pale, Murong Chong felt a pressure.

"I don't acknowledge it."

Murong Chong frowned slightly and asked, puzzled, "Why?"

Lin Yan did not answer Murong Chong's question, but slowly stood up, leaning on his knife.

"Again."

Lin Yan made a move.

He took a step forward, using the Swimming Step technique, and his true energy surged within his dantian, continuously flowing through his meridians to nourish the blade. His meridians, which had only recently been repaired, began to ache again, but Lin Yan did not hesitate, and more and more true energy gathered on the blade.

First layer... second layer... third layer... fourth layer

Four and a half!

With a large amount of true energy being drawn from his body, Lin Yan's face became even paler, and he swayed unsteadily like a drunkard, almost falling over.

The vital energy is still gathering!

[Skill Advancement: Layered Wave Force (Mastery) (2000/2000) - Layered Wave Force (Mastery) (1/3000)]

[Layered Wave Force] Fivefold!

Five layers of true energy covered the blade, and the originally bright blade surface seemed to have layers of ripples like ocean waves. When the long sword was slashed out, there was a muffled sound, and an amazing blade light flew straight towards Murong Chong!

The power of this move was so astonishing that Murong Chong's breathing became rapid, and his spiritual energy surged violently. A silver-gray cloud leopard dharma image appeared behind him and roared in Lin Yan's direction.

"Fine," Murong Chong sneered. "Very well. I underestimated you."

"Today I'll show you what the true Transformation Realm is! Innate Divine Power, Dharma Body Possession, activate!"

With Murong Chong's roar, the Cloud Leopard Dharma Image's innate divine power was activated at this moment. The Dharma Image disappeared, turning into a large amount of spiritual energy that surged into his limbs. His figure became blurred in the blink of an eye. Murong Chong lowered his body and pounced towards the blade like a beast.

To Murong Chong's surprise, the power of the fifth level of the Overlapping Wave Force was so great.

The first and second forces were blocked, the third followed, the fourth shook his hands off, and the fifth broke through his defenses and struck his right ribs solidly.

Murong Chong was sent flying backward, rolling several times on the ground before coming to a stop.

The entire event was met with uproar.

Many people in the stands stood up.

Murong Chong stood up, looked down at his right side, where his clothes were torn open with a large gash, the flesh of the wound rolled back, and blood dripped down.

Murong Chong's face was filled with rage, and his figure was like a blur as he pounced on Lin Yan again.

Such speed! Lin Yan truly did not expect that the Dharma Aspect's innate supernatural power was so abnormal. Even the five-fold force that Qi the镖师 (bodyguard) had never seen before only injured him.

Lin Yan's attack almost exhausted his internal energy. Facing Murong Chong, he only had time to parry with his sword. A huge force hit the blade, causing him to stagger back several steps.

Murong Chong appeared to his left, the curved sword that had been knocked away was now in his hand again, the tip of the blade thrusting from the side, aimed directly at Lin Yan's lower back.

Lin Yan turned to the side, the tip of the knife grazing the fabric and leaving a bloody gash.

"You dodged pretty fast." Murong Chong's voice had barely left my ear when he was already behind me.

Lin Yan turned around, raised his sword to parry, and there was another loud bang.

Murong Chong's speed increased rapidly, the Cloud Leopard Dharma Form roaring behind him, each landing kicking up a cloud of sand. The curved blade constantly changed angles, aiming straight for Lin Yan's vitals from all directions.

Those in the stands could no longer see what the two were doing.

Only the glint of swords and the shadows of people crisscrossed the sand, accompanied by the continuous clanging of metal.

In just a few breaths, Lin Yan had already suffered seven or eight cuts on his body.

The blood was not deep on the left arm, right shoulder, or back, but it had already soaked through most of the clothes.

He knew that if he continued fighting like this, he would undoubtedly lose.

Murong Chong was too fast. Even with the precise perception of [Qi Observation], Lin Yan's injuries made it difficult for him to defend himself.

Then let's try a different approach.

Lin Yan sheathed his sword and switched to palm strike.

Black Tiger Fist Technique

He learned this boxing style from Cao Yan. Although it is not considered profound, it has one characteristic: using the opponent's force against them, using minimal force to overcome great strength.

Murong Chong's curved blade came slashing down again. Lin Yan did not continue to parry. He turned to the side to avoid the blade, slapped Murong Chong's wrist with his left hand to deflect his blade, and then swung his right hand back to strike Murong Chong's throat.

Murong Chong dodged to the side, then thrust his knee toward Lin Yan's abdomen.

Lin Yan took the knee strike head-on, grunted, grabbed Murong Chong's collar with his right hand, and slapped the wound on his right rib with his left palm.

Murong Chong gasped in pain, slashing horizontally with his curved blade. Lin Yan released his grip and leaned back, the tip of the blade grazing just above his nose.

The two retreated at the same time, and then rushed forward at the same time.

Lin Yan abandoned defense, and for every strike he couldn't dodge, he would take it with his body, then retaliate with palm techniques during the gaps when Murong Chong sheathed his sword.

The Black Tiger Fist technique allowed him to neutralize some of Murong Chong's force, while he absorbed the rest with his body.

But when his palm strikes landed on Murong Chong, each strike aimed at the opponent's right rib.

Murong Chong was enraged by this reckless fighting style.

"Are you crazy! Are you out of your mind?!" He plunged a knife into Lin Yan's shoulder.

Lin Yan did not dodge. Enduring the excruciating pain of the blade tearing through flesh, he once again raised his palm and struck Murong Chong's right rib.

Murong Chong spat out a mouthful of blood, drew his curved blade, and slashed at Lin Yan's thigh again.

Lin Yan knelt on one knee, his right fist thrusting upwards towards Murong Chong's lower abdomen.

Black Tiger Palm Technique - First Form!

[Black Tiger Steals the Heart]!

After a muffled thud, the two men fell to the ground simultaneously.

A cloud of sand rose from the sandy ground.

The entire room fell silent.

After a few breaths, Lin Yan slowly got up, supporting himself with the knife. The injury to his leg made him unsteady, and he leaned against the knife, his trouser leg soaked in blood.

Murong Chong also got up. His face was covered in blood, his chest was heaving violently, the cloud leopard dharma image on his back had dissipated, and his spiritual energy was almost exhausted.

He glanced at Lin Yan, opened his mouth as if to say something but no sound came out, and then collapsed to the ground again.

Lin Yan couldn't hold on any longer; everything went black, and he collapsed forward.