Having broken Lin Yun's Cold Flame Sword, Duan Heng was like a snake that had been struck at its vital point. His subsequent attacks grew even more ferocious.
It was a good thing the effects of the Tribulation-Crossing Divine Pill were so potent. Lin Yun did his best to block Duan Heng's attacks, but it was mostly a feeling of leaving it all up to fate. After a few more moves, he was once again seriously injured and sent flying.
Lying on the ground, Lin Yun watched Duan Heng walk toward him step by step.
Damn it all. Why haven't I broken through yet? Is my posture wrong?
No. Is it because I still have a trump card I haven't used?
Lin Yun thought of the leaf he had gotten from Hongxiu. At this point, that was his only option.
"Elder Hongxiu. Whether this disciple lives or dies is all up to you!"
Lin Yun struggled to take out the leaf.
Duan Heng, believing he had the situation under control, walked over step by step. "Junior Brother Lin, there's no need to struggle anymore. Today, let your Senior Brother send you on your way to the western heavens."
Duan Heng also saw the leaf in Lin Yun's hand. Although he didn't know what it was, what could possibly save Lin Yun's life now?
Duan Heng slapped the leaf out of his hand, then grabbed Lin Yun's neck with one hand and lifted him from the ground.
"Junior Brother Lin, don't blame me for being ruthless. Your very existence is a mistake. As your Senior Brother, the only thing I can do now is send you out of this world a little earlier."
Lin Yun looked at the green leaf that had fallen to the ground and wanted to curse. Damn it, that was my capital for a comeback! Hongxiu, oh, Hongxiu. Was this stupid leaf of yours just for laughs?
Sure enough, relying on a woman will only get you killed more miserably!
Lin Yun was completely powerless to fight back, able only to try and suppress the yuan qi continuously gathering inside him. But Duan Heng's grip grew tighter and tighter, and Lin Yun began to suffocate. Soon, the balance within his body was about to be broken.
Seeing that Duan Heng was about to snap his neck, Lin Yun used his last ounce of strength and kicked him in the groin.
Duan Heng's face changed, and he slammed a palm into Lin Yun's chest.
Pfft! Blood sprayed from Lin Yun's mouth.
The next moment, the yuan qi in Lin Yun's body exploded like a pack of dynamite. The gushing energy was like a stampeding horse, directly sending Duan Heng flying. At the same time, the leaf that had fallen on the ground was splattered with Lin Yun's blood.
Neither of them noticed that the moment a sharp sword qi appeared, it was enveloped by the surrounding yuan qi and merged into Lin Yun's body.
RUMBLE!
The sound of an explosion echoed throughout the entire Sunset Glow Valley. The aftershock was so powerful it flattened the ground.
Duan Heng looked at Lin Yun and frowned. "Junior Brother Lin?" Confirming there was no reaction, he carefully approached.
But just then, Lin Yun moved.
Damn it all. I almost kicked the bucket.
Lin Yun's heart was pounding furiously. He had never felt like this before. His body was filled with endless power. It was far beyond the Nascent Yuan Realm, but it didn't feel like the Yuan Sea Realm either.
At this moment, Lin Yun finally understood what the "Sword Cultivator's Yuan Sea Realm" was. It was completely different from the Yuan Sea Realm of ordinary cultivators. The Sword Cultivator's Yuan Sea Realm was stronger, but the requirements to enter it were much stricter.
Sword dao attainment, the "Primordial Chaos Sword Embryo" technique, and a powerful sword qi as a catalyst, coupled with the body's potential erupting on the brink of death. These elements were all indispensable!
He had just climbed up from the ground when he saw Duan Heng approaching him. To have survived such an ordeal, even Duan Heng had to admit that Lin Yun was incredibly lucky.
"Heh, although you were lucky enough to survive, your cultivation is now completely destroyed. I'm afraid you won't be able to cultivate anymore." Duan Heng confirmed there was no danger and quickly walked forward, thrusting his sword at Lin Yun.
But this sure-hit strike was blocked just as it was about to pierce Lin Yun.
The Cold Flame Sword. It had appeared once again. But this time, the icy flame energy wreathing it was even more potent. Before Duan Heng could even react, his right hand was already covered in a layer of frost. He hastily pulled his hand back. The way he looked at Lin Yun was now completely different.
Lin Yun held the Cold Flame Sword in one hand, feeling the strange changes in his body. "Senior Brother Duan. You've killed so many people. Have you ever considered that you were wrong?"
Duan Heng sneered. "You brat, I know you had a few small opportunities before, but that was in the past! Don't tell me you still think you can defeat me by relying on some blessing?"
Hearing Duan Heng's mockery, Lin Yun sneered back and wasted no more words. He swung his sword again.
It was still the first move of the Great River Sword Art. A torrential sword qi surged forth like a river flowing into the sea. The sound of thunderous shockwaves echoed throughout Sunset Glow Valley.
Duan Heng's face darkened. He had thought Lin Yun was a cripple, but he hadn't expected this. Although he couldn't see through Lin Yun's realm now, just from this one move of the Great River Sword Art, it was enough for him to understand that the Lin Yun of today was vastly different.
Duan Heng once again used his blood as a catalyst, summoning the massive blood skull. "Good Junior Brother, I never thought you would actually break through to the Yuan Sea Realm. But so what? You will die in the end. Are you still going to avenge the dead of Chen Family Fort?"
Duan Heng laughed loudly and pushed with both hands. The blood skull above him cackled sinisterly and instantly exploded, and thick blood rained down from the sky, corroding craters into the ground where it landed.
However, the moment it approached Lin Yun, several green sword qis scattered out. Duan Heng sneered. "So what if you've mastered three sword arts? Your skills are unrefined. I was prepared for this."
Sure enough, the green sword qi touched the falling drops of blood, but it only caused them to explode again, becoming even denser. It was impossible to defend against.
"Junior Brother Lin, just go and die with them," Duan Heng laughed smugly. He had made many preparations to guard against Lin Yun's tricks.
At this moment, the Great River sword qi roared towards him. A blood-red mist rose from Duan Heng's body, looking like some kind of special treasured armor. This one strike only caused the qi and blood in Duan Heng's body to churn, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. It was only a minor injury, not life-threatening.
But when he looked at Lin Yun, he saw him standing in place, dancing with his sword. One after another, sword qis were released from his body, forming a green lotus around him. The filthy blood couldn't even touch Lin Yun before it was shattered by the sword qi and then evaporated by the high temperature.
Duan Heng was dumbfounded. The sword art Lin Yun was using now was clearly not the Great River Sword Art or the Azure Origin Sword Art. To be proficient in four different sword arts... had this kid lost his mind?
Before Duan Heng could speak, Lin Yun smiled at him. "Senior Brother, it's over."
His figure moved. Before Duan Heng could even see clearly, Lin Yun was already in front of him. He slashed out.
Clang!
The Cold Flame Sword struck Duan Heng's body, but it only created a shower of sparks, leaving no damage.
Duan Heng spat out a mouthful of blood but still sneered. "Junior Brother Lin, I take exceptionally good care of myself. You can't hurt me with this collection of treasures I'm wearing."
Lin Yun looked up at him. "Is that so?"
The next moment, the Cold Flame Sword suddenly turned ice-cold. A layer of frost covered Duan Heng's entire waist. Not a moment later, it suddenly became intensely hot. The abrupt shift from cold to hot instantly caused his protective treasured armor to lose its effect.
And Lin Yun's one strike directly cut it in two. If Duan Heng hadn't retreated so quickly, that one strike would have sliced him in half.
Duan Heng, who had retreated to the side, looked at the bottomless sword gash behind him, and his heart trembled. Good kid. To have such terrifying destructive power at the Yuan Sea Realm. What if his realm gets any higher? Duan Heng didn't dare to imagine.
Meanwhile, Lin Yun was moving his body, quickly adapting to the Yuan Sea Realm that was exclusive to sword cultivators.
"Many thanks to Senior Brother for helping me break through. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't have been able to gather so many elements for the breakthrough."
Although Duan Heng was confused by what he was hearing, he knew that Lin Yun must have obtained some great opportunity and then, through the previous battle, had now achieved this incredible realm of cultivation.
At this thought, his teeth itched with hatred. Damn it, I'm so pissed!
But looking at Lin Yun, Duan Heng still couldn't understand. Could something so strange really happen in this world?