Chapter 358: Seven Kill Sword, Lin Ping'an
Hiss…
The noisy crowd suddenly fell silent. Many instinctively drew in sharp breaths, then turned toward the direction of the voice.
They wanted to see who dared, on such a celebratory day, to provoke Senior Brother Cao.
Everyone knew that Senior Brother Cao was infamous for his dominance. Though he was always gentle toward his peers, those who faced him as opponents all met miserable ends.
From within the crowd, a young man holding a long sword slowly walked toward the ceremonial stage.
He wore the attire of Wendao Academy's stewards.
His pace was not quick, but with each step, the killing intent around him grew denser. Wherever he walked, the air itself seemed filled with slaughter.
In the eyes of many, this man looked as if he had emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
"Lin Ping'an!"
"It's Senior Brother Lin Ping'an! Who would have thought—after disappearing for over ten years, he would return with such terrifying strength? Where exactly has he been?"
…
The exclamations and discussions around him did not affect Lin Ping'an in the slightest. These years, he had trained in the Killing Grounds of the Xuantian Continent.
He had long perfected the Seven Kill Sword, becoming Wendao Academy's chief steward within that slaughtering realm.
The elder overseeing Wendao Academy's presence there even intended to cultivate Lin Ping'an as his successor.
Originally, Lin Ping'an had not planned to return. He wanted to wait until he was qualified to compete for the position of Holy Son before setting foot in Wendao Academy again.
The last time he lost to Cao Youqian, he realized that to kill that man, defeating him was not enough—he would have to suppress all of Wendao Academy's prodigies.
That included Xiao Chen. In Lin Ping'an's eyes, only Xiao Chen was worthy of being his opponent.
During his years in the Killing Grounds, he had faintly heard rumors of Xiao Chen—the Invincible Sword. That title alone stirred within Lin Ping'an the urge to challenge him.
Yet what shocked him was that Cao Youqian had become a Holy Son.
Unbearable! How could that wastrel be qualified? This battle, he would drag Cao down from the altar and let the world remember his name.
The cultivators who had come to witness the ceremony all revealed strange expressions upon hearing the name Lin Ping'an.
Someone muttered instinctively, "That's the Seven Kill Sword, Wendao Academy's number one murderous blade. They say whoever witnesses his seventh strike dies."
"To think that aside from Xiao Chen and Cao Youqian, Wendao Academy still has such a genius."
"Indeed. Though his reputation is fierce, his strength is unquestionably first-rate."
On the high platform—
Chu Feng looked at the young man and his lips curved into a faint smile. "This boy truly holds grudges."
"Master, you know that murderous-looking fellow?"
Chen Qianqian asked curiously.
"I do. Back then, your Senior Brother Cao once suffered a loss to him. Without this man, you might never have seen today's Great Qian."
As Chu Feng spoke, his thoughts drifted back to over ten years ago.
Standing behind him, Ye Beixuan frowned slightly at Lin Ping'an. Inwardly he thought, So he's still alive. I had almost forgotten him in this life. In the last life, it was this man who crippled Second Senior Brother.
He had even competed with Ye Beixuan for the Holy Son position, but in the end, his excessive bloodlust led to his defeat.
In this lifetime, he would have no such chance.
Tap, tap, tap…
Lin Ping'an stepped forward toward the ceremonial stage. Wendao Academy's higher-ups showed no intention of stopping him.
His gaze never left Cao Youqian. If eyes could kill, Cao Youqian would already be a corpse beneath his sword.
Cao Youqian looked at the man before him with a confused expression.
Beside him, Xiao Chen said, "Junior Brother, I'll leave this to you."
He himself did not recall this fierce-looking fellow, but Xiao Chen was not the least bit worried that Cao Youqian might lose. A junior in the Spirit Nurturing Realm—no matter how monstrous—could not possibly be a match for Great Qian.
"Alright."
Cao Youqian thought long and hard, yet could not figure out where this person had come from. In the end, he stopped trying.
Once Lin Ping'an stepped onto the platform, he halted and asked, "Do you still remember me?"
Even though Cao Youqian was a Path Union cultivator, Lin Ping'an showed no fear. In the Killing Grounds, he had slain countless Path Union cultivators. Now, he stood only a single step away from that realm himself.
Moreover, his Seven Kill Sword Intent was only half a step from perfection. Today, he would use Cao Youqian's head to push himself into full mastery of the Seven Kill Sword!
Cao Youqian tilted his head and asked, "Why should I remember you?"
The words were arrogant, yet when spoken by him, no one present felt they were out of place.
The Peerless Tyrant Fist ought to be like this. Aside from the Invincible Sword, he placed no peer in his eyes.
"You!!!"
Lin Ping'an's voice rose several pitches, his eyes brimming with killing intent.
"It seems even after so many years, you remain unrepentant. Do you remember that outer disciple you humiliated twice, and from whom you stole a fiancée?"
At this, the faces of all present filled with anticipation, hungry for gossip.
They had not expected that by attending the Holy Son Ceremony, they would hear such explosive news.
"You'd better not speak nonsense. My fiancée is a disciple of Yunlan Sect, not some outer disciple of Wendao Academy."
Cao Youqian's expression grew stern.
"Hmph!"
Lin Ping'an snorted coldly. "As expected, someone like you will never learn. Then today I will refresh your memory!"
As his words fell, his aura burst forth. A sky-piercing murderous intent engulfed the entire stage.
Cao Youqian remained unmoving, watching with interest. "Some strength… but if this is all you have, you are not qualified to challenge me."
His words were nothing less than fuel on fire.
Enraged, Lin Ping'an drew his sword in a sudden motion, slashing down at Cao Youqian.
"Loveless!"
With that strike, the sky filled with killing clouds. Crimson clouds, lit by the sun, dyed the heavens and earth in blood.
Behind the blood-red sword light, one could faintly discern the shadow of a killing blade, the embodiment of sword intent.
"The Seven Kill Sword Technique!"
An elder of Wendao Academy, seeing this strike, could not help but exclaim.
The crowd erupted in murmurs.
"His sword intent is at perfection. No wonder Lin Ping'an became chief steward of the Killing Grounds."
"Too bad… he chose to challenge Cao Youqian."
…
Cao Youqian simply crossed his arms before him, making no move to strike back, allowing the sword to fall upon him.
Boom!
With a thunderous crash, dust and smoke exploded across the platform…
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