The situation was taut.
The atmosphere was stretched to its absolute limit.
Qin Yu looked as though he were bathed in golden divine flames. Brilliant streaks of golden light tore through the sky like lightning, splitting open the heavens above Snow Mountain Palace.
The master of Xuanwang Palace.
The leader of Fuyue Sect.
The heads of the other top forces—
All of them quickly retreated, mockery flickering in their eyes. Once they were safely out of range, greed quietly surfaced.
The Holy Lands had ruled the Eastern Region for far too long.
Perhaps it was time for a change.
Xiao Rongyu had already been severely injured by a forbidden technique. If Chu Xun were to fall here as well, Donglin Sect would truly collapse.
Those who came to watch continued watching.
No one believed Chu Xun could turn the tables.
"Why go this far?"
Chu Xun spoke softly.
Since he had dared to come, he naturally had confidence. The power his talisman displayed outside the Yin Ruins had already proven everything—yet these people still refused to believe.
Qin Yu saw through his thoughts. His face twisted with mockery, golden radiance surging around him as killing intent gathered.
"If you're relying on that kind of trick paper to bluff people," he sneered, "then I'd like to see how many you have!"
A quiet sigh.
His cultivation had clearly been revealed.
Yet disbelief remained.
"So be it."
Chu Xun's voice was calm. His gaze drifted downward toward the snow-capped peaks below. With a thought, an invisible sword condensed in his palm.
He swung it down lightly.
"Tsk—!"
In an instant—
An unparalleled sword intent condensed, brilliant and vast, like the Milky Way pouring down from the Nine Heavens. The expressions of those still watching for entertainment changed dramatically.
A domineering, terrifying sword intent filled the sky.
Under its presence, the sect masters of the top forces felt as insignificant as ants before the heavens.
The sword did not fall immediately.
Yet the pressure alone made hearts pound wildly, as though the end of the world might descend at any moment.
"Tsk—!"
Qin Yu's pupils shrank violently.
The ridicule vanished, replaced by raw panic.
This sword… could kill him.
Without a second thought, he retreated madly.
Boom—
Ten miles.
Thirty miles.
One hundred miles.
Rumble—
The sword finally fell.
It did not strike Qin Yu.
Instead, it tore through the void, splitting the sky open. A terrifying abyss stretched across the heavens, sword intent lingering and raging within it, exuding peerless dominance.
The smile on the master of Xuanwang Palace's face froze.
He stared blankly at the scene. The sword had split the void itself, leaving behind an abyssal scar. When he glanced downward, a terrifying sword shadow reflected in his pupils.
He let out a muffled groan and shut his eyes instantly.
Blood trickled from the corners of his eyes.
Just from looking.
He wasn't even the target.
And yet merely gazing at the residual sword intent had injured him.
What if that sword had been aimed at him?
The leaders of Zhenwu Sect, Tianji Sect, Shenxing Sect, and Goddess Sect all shuddered when they saw this. They, too, glanced at the abyss, only to feel overwhelming sword intent surge toward them.
They quickly closed their eyes, circulating their cultivation to dispel it. Though they fared better than the master of Xuanwang Palace, it still took several breaths to recover.
When they opened their eyes again, unease and shock filled their hearts.
"Tsk, tsk…"
The remaining sword intent continued to churn.
The sky was silent.
There was no more ridicule. No more mockery.
Only solemn faces frozen in disbelief.
Some people even turned to look at Qin Yu.
"I…"
Qin Yu stood hundreds of miles away, golden armor still intact, golden spear still in hand.
But his battle intent had completely collapsed.
He had prepared himself for Chu Xun to draw the sacred weapon—the Ivy Sword. He had even brought out a holy weapon to counter it.
Yet Chu Xun had not used the Ivy Sword.
He had not used any holy weapon at all.
The abyss of lingering sword intent remained in the void.
Qin Yu's body trembled uncontrollably.
Again and again, he tried to rekindle his fighting spirit.
Again and again, it shattered halfway through.
That abyss—
Like an unbridgeable chasm.
It severed his will to win completely.
"He lost."
The leader of Fuyue Sect spoke with a complicated expression.
Who could have imagined this outcome?
There was no fair exchange. No prolonged battle.
Just as expected, it ended quickly—
But the result was the exact opposite of what they had imagined.
One sword.
That was all Chu Xun needed.
"Why?!"
Qin Yu roared from afar, humiliation and rage burning in his eyes.
He had been frightened into retreating a hundred miles by a single sword.
What made it worse was—
That sword had never been meant for him.
The leader of Tianji Sect looked at Chu Xun, his heart trembling.
If Chu Xun had truly intended to kill Qin Yu, escape would have been impossible. Even dodging would have come at a terrifying cost.
Fear?
Fear of retaliation from the Immortal Sect's saints?
The thought was dismissed the moment it arose.
For someone who had already slain countless Immortal Sect Human Emperors—and even killed Old Monster Zhao of the Ninth Realm with a talisman sword—fear was clearly not part of his nature.
Then why?
Disdain?
Unworthy?
Or simply not worth killing?
Chu Xun stood calmly in the void.
The mountain wind swept past him, lifting his hair. His expression remained indifferent as he said lightly:
"For the sake of Yin Ruins, I'll spare your life."
"There won't be a next time."
Qin Yu stood frozen, unable to respond.
The masters of Zhenwu Sect, Shenxing Sect, Goddess Sect, and Tianji Sect all felt their hearts tremble.
Just because they had helped Xiao Rongyu in the Yin Ruins—
No matter the motive, help was still help.
And that alone became the reason Qin Yu lived.
"I…!"
Qin Yu clenched his teeth.
He was young. He had the potential to challenge the saint realm in this lifetime. Pride ran deep in his bones.
He wanted to roar—
Why should I, Qin Yu, owe anyone a favor?!
But when he met Chu Xun's calm gaze, all his arrogance collapsed.
He wasn't sure.
Not sure that if he spoke another word, a green vine sword wouldn't descend instantly.
After saying his piece, Chu Xun turned and left.
His goal had been achieved.
There was no reason to stay.
Yet the sky above Snow Mountain Palace remained heavy.
Ragged breathing echoed in the silence.
One gaze after another returned to the lingering abyss of sword intent.
Finally, someone asked in a trembling voice:
"Just… what realm is his cultivation?"