He just knew Fang Jidong wouldn't admit his defeat. But the outcome of this battle had been determined long ago. How could this man possibly be Lin Yun's opponent?
Watching Fang Jidong charge over again, Lin Yun could only shake his head.
"Ignorant?" he mused. "The truly arrogant and ignorant ones here are you."
This time, he didn't use his fist. Lin Yun joined his fingers to form a sword.
Yuan Qi and killing intent began to radiate from his body.
Murong Hongyi's expression was still one of utter shock. He couldn't believe that Fang Jidong's full-power attack had failed to harm Lin Yun in the slightest. And Xia Yijing had never imagined that this Lin Yun, the one Xiao Pingtian was so desperate to kill, was so extraordinary.
"No wonder so many in the Flowing Cloud Sect want him dead," she muttered to herself. "Making an enemy of someone like this is not a good thing. The faster his strength grows, the more terrifying he becomes."
In that moment, Lin Yun's talent was on full display. The future heights such a man could reach were immeasurable. Gu Xiande wanted him dead because he was afraid of him.
"I advise your Seven Fiends Gate to give up the idea of fighting him. If you release us now, it's not too late," Xia Yijing said, glancing at Murong Hongyi.
Murong Hongyi's face was ashen. This time, he, the experienced eagle, had truly had his eyes pecked out.
Meanwhile, Fang Jidong condensed all the Yuan Qi in his body. Behind him, the phantom of a fierce tiger seething with baleful Qi appeared. Without hesitation, he charged toward Lin Yun at extreme speed.
But in response, Lin Yun offered only a single sword-finger.
He swiped his fingers through the air, his eyes closed. In his mind, he replayed Fang Jidong's use of the baleful Qi. Whether it was baleful Qi or killing intent, both served to amplify one's power in battle. The Seven Fiends Fist technique was indeed impressive, but Lin Yun believed that a fist could not unleash its true power.
After a moment of rapid innovation in his mind, he began to use the concepts of the Seven Fiends Fist and execute them with a sword technique.
RUMBLE—
Dark clouds gathered in the sky, and purple lightning flashed.
Lin Yun stood his ground.
The moment Fang Jidong charged in, Lin Yun's sword-finger struck. This was a sword art born from his own epiphany after witnessing the Seven Fiends Fist. A towering wave of killing intent erupted from him like a volcano. At the same time, as the sword Qi was released, an intangible 'domain' formed around them.
Before Fang Jidong could even beg for mercy, he was devoured by the terrifying sword Qi. He was sent flying, crashing heavily into a pile of rubble, his life or death unknown.
After doing all this, Lin Yun slowly turned to look at the stunned crowd behind him.
"From the Seven Fiends Gate, who else wants to make a move?"
Although Lin Yun had used a sword technique, everyone present could see that it shared the same brilliant principles as their Seven Fiends Fist, and was even improved in some details.
A mere Origin Sea Realm sword cultivator dared to hold them in such contempt. This was intolerable.
With a grip of his hand, Murong Hongyi crushed the teacup in his hand to dust. "What a fine sword cultivator, to be able to kill Fang Jidong so easily. What is your name? I do not kill the nameless."
Xia Yijing looked at Murong Hongyi, who had clearly lost his mind with rage, and for the first time, felt a sliver of hope rise for Lin Yun. This man was truly strong. She had completely misjudged him before. No wonder Xiao Pingtian had seen him as such a threat. If it were her, she would never have allowed Lin Yun to remain in the Flowing Cloud Sect either.
Lin Yun just glanced coolly at Murong Hongyi. "You're about to die anyway. Is there any need for me to tell you my name?" he asked with a faint smile.
Murong Hongyi's face turned green. This kid was far too arrogant. "You're that confident?"
Murong Hongyi had come to the Spirit Realm this time hoping to prove himself. He never expected to run into an opponent as insolent as Lin Yun.
"Just from the way you people use the Seven Fiends Fist, I knew you wouldn't be my opponents," Lin Yun said, holding the Firmament Sword in one hand. "Whatever techniques you have, bring them out."
Murong Hongyi laughed. In all his years roaming the cultivation world, he had never met someone so arrogant. "Fine, boy! Since you're so confident in yourself, I have no reason to waste any more words with you. I will come at you with my full strength, and I will let you know just how powerful I am!"
Taking a deep breath, Murong Hongyi let out a great roar. The clothes on his upper body instantly exploded. Due to his years of practicing the Seven Fiends Fist, his body was covered in corded, rippling muscles. Rune-like tattoos were seared onto his skin, and as his Yuan Qi circulated, these runes seemed to breathe.
A faint smile played on Lin Yun's lips. "Now that looks a bit more like an expert. If you were all idiots like that other one, I would have been terribly bored." He shook his head with a smile, apparently satisfied with Murong Hongyi's current display. He wasn't a top-tier expert, but he was at least worthy of Lin Yun taking him seriously.
Murong Hongyi saw the expression on Lin Yun's face, and his own grew darker. He had considered the possibility that this man was strong, but this was the first time he had ever been looked down upon so completely.
"You're courting death!" Murong Hongyi strode forward like a meteor. He was stronger than Fang Jidong, and faster.
This time, Lin Yun once again raised the Firmament Sword and took a deep breath, recalling his application of the new 'Seven Fiends Sword Style'. He stomped his right foot.
An intangible killing intent spread out like a wave of cold air, forming a unique domain of slaughter around them.
Murong Hongyi instantly felt his speed begin to slow. The Seven Fiends Fist relied on superior speed and terrifying explosive power to instantly kill an opponent. No one had ever been able to face it head-on. He never expected his signature style to be completely ineffective against Lin Yun.
Even though he wasn't looking at him, Lin Yun could still sense Murong Hongyi's position. Relying on his superior speed, Murong Hongyi had only managed to get close to Lin Yun a few times at the very beginning of the fight. But he was quickly forced to create distance again.
And in the process, the Killing Intent Domain was becoming more and more refined. These were all techniques Lin Yun had practiced in real combat several times, and this battle was the perfect opportunity for him to perfect his domain.
Murong Hongyi didn't know what was happening, but Xia Yijing was completely terrified. An Origin Sea Realm cultivator fighting a peak Sky-Soaring Realm cultivator was something most people couldn't even imagine. But Lin Yun was doing it.
The most terrifying part, however, was that he was still actively refining his domain in the middle of the fight. And even so, Murong Hongyi still couldn't seize an opportunity to deal with him.
The gap between these two… wasn't it far too great?
Xia Yijing had been thoroughly and completely conquered by the powerful talent Lin Yun continuously displayed.
A genius like this… could only be befriended.