Chapter 70: Either You Die, or I Live!
After assigning the tasks, Lin Yuan turned his head. Those dual pupils of his were as deep as an abyss as he stared straight at the Black Tiger brute before him.
"I've never liked causing trouble."
"But I'm not afraid of it either. With me, once you make the first move—especially if you harbor killing intent—"
"There's only one possible ending."
Lin Yuan paused, his voice turning incomparably cold.
"Either you die, or I live!"
The brute: "???"
The surrounding diners: "???"
Why did those words sound so familiar… yet somehow felt completely wrong?
The brute froze for a moment, then reacted. Anger turned into laughter as he bared a mouthful of yellowed teeth.
"Kid, what's the difference between what you just said?"
"Since that's the case, then I choose—you die, I live!"
"Prepare to die! First Soul Skill—Black Tiger Rips the Heart!"
The brute wasted no more words. The white soul ring beneath his feet flared as his body lunged forward like a tiger charging down a mountain, carrying a gust of wind as he clawed viciously toward Lin Yuan's chest!
However, at the very instant he leapt—
Lin Yuan moved.
A pitch-black spear, radiating an aura of destruction, appeared out of thin air in his hand.
The God-Killing Spear!
The moment the martial soul manifested, the temperature inside the tavern plummeted by nearly ten degrees!
That extreme killing intent made everyone feel as if a blade had been pressed against their throats.
"First Soul Skill—God-Killing Pierce!"
Lin Yuan didn't retreat. Instead, he advanced!
The yellow soul ring beneath his feet lit up brilliantly (as displayed outwardly). At the spear's tip, a point of heart-stopping cold light ignited.
Effect: Ignores 50% defense! Healing Forbidden!
Dawn Break!
"Die!"
Lin Yuan let out a low shout as the spear in his hand transformed into a bolt of black lightning, striking later yet arriving first!
"What?!"
The brute's pupils shrank violently.
He felt the threat of death!
A sharpness so terrifying that even activating a defensive soul skill would be useless!
"Third Soul Skill—Black Tiger Vajra Shield!"
Acting purely on instinct, he tried to activate his strongest defensive ability.
But it was too late!
Lin Yuan's spear was simply too fast!
Puchi!
A soft sound rang out. The brute's proud, protective soul power was as fragile as paper before that point of cold light.
The God-Killing Spear pierced straight through his throat. The blood didn't even have time to spray before it was evaporated by the destructive aura clinging to the spear.
The brute's movements froze instantly.
His eyes bulged wide as a "gurgling" sound escaped his throat, disbelief plastered across his face.
He was a Soul Elder!
How could he… be instantly killed by a soul master who looked like he only had one soul ring?
Bang!
Expressionless, Lin Yuan pulled out the spear and kicked the brute in the chest. That massive body crashed to the ground with a thunderous thud, kicking up clouds of dust.
Dead silence filled the room.
Everyone's mouths hung open. No one even remembered to breathe.
Instant kill?!
In a single exchange, the tyrannical Black Tiger boss was just… gone?
And at that very moment—
The battle on the other side erupted as well.
"Boss!!!"
Seeing this, the remaining mercenaries' eyes turned bloodshot as they waved their blades and charged toward Lin Yuan and Xiao Wu.
"You dare kill our boss! Fight them to the death!"
"Little bitch! You die too!"
Facing the encirclement of four or five Soul Grandmaster–level mercenaries, Xiao Wu stood in place, a sly, icy smile curling at the corner of her lips.
"Fight?"
"You think you're worthy?"
"Battle Armor—Attach!"
With Xiao Wu's clear shout, pieces of armor emitting a pink-gold metallic sheen instantly appeared and fused with her delicate body.
One-word Battle Armor!
This was Lin Yuan's masterpiece from the past year and a half.
After all, since he had obtained forging and cultivation skills, daily practice was inevitable. Instead of wasting that effort, why not craft a set of one-word battle armor tailored specifically for Xiao Wu?
With the battle armor equipped, Xiao Wu's aura skyrocketed!
Though she was only at rank eighteen, the soul power she now emitted directly overwhelmed the opposing Soul Grandmasters, approaching that of a Soul Elder!
"First Soul Skill—Waist Bow!"
Xiao Wu's figure blurred. Her speed was so fast that a pink afterimage was left behind.
Bang!
Before the leading mercenary could even react, a small foot clad in exquisitely crafted metal boots smashed violently into his chin!
Crack!
His entire body was sent flying straight into the ceiling before crashing heavily to the ground, knocked unconscious on the spot.
Next, Xiao Wu charged like a tiger entering a flock of sheep.
The Soft Techniques that originally relied on skill were transformed into killing techniques under the strength amplification and metallic hardness of the battle armor!
Shadowless Kick!
Bang bang bang bang!
In less than ten seconds—
The Black Tiger Mercenary Group, which had moments ago been full of swagger, was now completely sprawled across the floor.
Some had broken limbs. Others had crushed ribcages. Not a single one could even breathe properly.
"Hmph!"
"Utterly pathetic!"
"Th-This… what kind of soul tool is that?!"
The surrounding diners and the waiter were utterly dumbfounded.
They had never seen equipment that could be worn directly on the body and drastically amplify strength like this!
Lin Yuan retracted the God-Killing Spear and ignored their stares.
"Waiter, please throw this trash out. Then take us to our room."
"And remember—two tubs of hot water, and the house specialties."
The waiter snapped back to his senses. Looking at the pale-faced yet terrifyingly calm-eyed youth before him, he swallowed hard.
How would he dare show the slightest negligence?
"Yes—yes, of course!"
"Honored guests, please head upstairs! Right away! Right away!"
...
Second floor, private room.
Once the door closed, cutting off the noise outside, the two of them finally relaxed completely.
Lin Yuan walked to the table, poured himself a cup of water, and downed it in one gulp.
Yet the hand holding the cup was trembling slightly.
Though he possessed the soul of an adult and the resolve to kill decisively, this was still the first time across two lifetimes that he had truly taken a life.
The sensation of warm blood splashing onto his hand, the resistance as the spear pierced flesh, the moment life vanished before his eyes—
All of it assaulted his nerves relentlessly.
"Haa…"
Lin Yuan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning in his stomach. His face was a little pale.
"Brother," Xiao Wu said softly as she deactivated her battle armor and walked over. Her large eyes were filled with concern. "A-Are you okay?"
Her own face was also slightly pale.
Though she was a soul beast and had seen plenty of bloodshed in the Star Dou Forest—even eaten soul beast flesh—
Killing a person was also her first time.
She might be the so-called big sister of the forest, but that was only in relation to Da Ming and Er Ming. She did fight occasionally, but rarely killed soul beasts herself.
Most of the time, Da Ming and Er Ming handled that, satisfying their hunger.
As for humans, she usually stayed in the core area and truly had never killed one before.
Lin Yuan set the cup down and looked at Xiao Wu's worried gaze. He shook his head and forced a faint smile.
"I'm fine. This is the world of soul masters—survival of the fittest."
"If we weren't strong enough, the ones lying on the ground just now would've been us."
"We have to get used to it… sooner rather than later."
—
End of Chapter