Chapter 938: The End of the Plot Reveals the Dagger

Lu Ye clearly saw the person deliberately blocking Xiao Xinghe as he retreated. He also clearly overheard their conversation! That person had originally intended to use another's hand to kill! If Xiao Xinghe hadn't been strong enough to shift his body at the crucial moment, he might have been impaled through the heart by now.

Lu Ye knew perfectly well that the Haotian Alliance was not monolithic. Where there are people, there are conflicts; this is unavoidable and doesn't disappear just because they belong to the same faction. The same held true for the Myriad Demon Ridge. Previously, several cultivators under Lin Yue in the True Lake realm had been completely wiped out in an ambush. When Lu Ye himself went to Haotian City to report, he encountered many dangers along the way.

But while conflicts were inevitable, some things simply went too far. Such a blatant act of using another to kill was truly despicable! Lu Ye didn't know what grudges or conflicts existed between his third senior brother and that person. If he hadn't seen it, he might have ignored it, but since he had, he naturally felt compelled to intervene on his senior brother's behalf. Coincidentally, his identity as Li Taibai, a Myriad Demon Ridge cultivator, made this action convenient.

"You... are you challenging me?" The cultivator at the seventh level of the True Lake realm looked at Lu Ye with surprise, not expecting this Myriad Demon Ridge cultivator to be so audacious.

"Is there anyone else capable of fighting besides you?" Lu Ye asked calmly, gazing at him. With five wins in five battles, even Zhang Youlin from the Northern Profound Sword Sect had been defeated. Among the Haotian Alliance members, the only one stronger than Zhang Youlin was this sole cultivator at the seventh level.

All of Lu Ye's previous actions had been careful preparations, leading up to this moment where his true intentions were revealed. In this situation, the person couldn't possibly refuse Lu Ye's challenge; otherwise, he wouldn't even be able to face himself.

"Very well!" The cultivator's gaze turned sharp, and anger churned within him, coupled with a subtle feeling of being underestimated.

"Senior Brother Qin, teach him a lesson!" said a cultivator standing beside him.

"I certainly will... teach him a good lesson," the cultivator surnamed Qin replied with a sneer, slowly stepping forward.

"Junior Brother Taibai... why are you so reckless!" Tong Shuyao was furious. She couldn't believe Lu Ye was so insatiable. Although he could defeat cultivators at the sixth level, within the four major realms of cultivation, the fourth and seventh levels were critical thresholds. Once broken through, one's strength significantly improved. Despite only being one minor realm apart, there was a vast difference in power between the sixth and seventh levels of the True Lake realm.

This was also why cultivators above the seventh level rarely participated in these arena battles. If it hadn't been to bring Lu Ye here to watch the spectacle, Tong Shuyao wouldn't have come at all. As for those at the eighth and ninth levels, they would certainly not appear in such an event.

Therefore, even if Lu Ye had defeated a sword cultivator at the sixth level, he might not win against a seventh-level cultivator. Moreover, Lu Ye had clearly expended a great deal of energy in the previous fight, so no one knew how much strength he could display now. Tong Shuyao wished she could go up and knock Lu Ye out and drag him away. However, if she intervened in such a matter, it was highly likely to provoke a direct confrontation between the cultivators of the two major factions. At that point, it wouldn't be as simple as one or two deaths; if such an incident were to truly occur, no one could bear the responsibility.

Many Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators also looked at Lu Ye with tension and worry. Lu Ye had never imagined that he, the infamous "Exterminator Leaf" of the Myriad Demon Ridge faction, would one day make them so anxious and concerned. In contrast, some people in the Haotian Alliance wished to get rid of him as quickly as possible.

Indeed, life was full of uncertainties... But this did not diminish the resolve in his heart. This situation was one he had encountered; there were undoubtedly many more he hadn't. His third senior brother might have dodged one calamity, but he might not be able to avoid more. Therefore, there was only one way to ensure his third senior brother's safety!

The cultivator surnamed Qin had already taken his stance ten *zhang* in front of Lu Ye. For a True Lake realm cultivator, such a distance was extremely dangerous. He remained fearless because his cultivation was four minor levels higher than Lu Ye's. Even though Lu Ye had performed exceptionally well just now, he still believed he could defeat him.

Lu Ye politely cupped his fist again: "Dark Moon Forest Pass, rogue cultivator, Li Taibai!" No matter what, he needed to find out this person's background. A True Lake seventh-level cultivator would never act like that unless someone was backing him up, most likely his sect!

The cultivator surnamed Qin gave a faint smile. Although he wished he could kill Lu Ye immediately, he didn't want to lose his composure in front of everyone. So he casually returned the greeting: "Tian Yuan Sect, Qin Shu!"

Tian Yuan Sect! One of Bing Province's ten first-rank sects.

As early as before he formally joined his sect, a woman named Yu Xiaodie had told him about these in the Evil Moon Valley. "One Palace, Two Halls, Three Gates, Four Sects" referred to the ten first-rank sects of Bing Province. The "One Palace" was Azure Cloud Palace; the "Two Halls" were Senluo Hall and Yuanhong Hall; the "Three Gates" were Righteousness Gate, Azure Jade Gate, and Rakshasa Gate; and the "Four Sects" were Boundless Sect, Scarlet Moon Sect, Northern Profound Sword Sect, and Tian Yuan Sect. Five of these belonged to the Haotian Alliance and five to the Myriad Demon Ridge, standing in rivalry.

Later, Lu Ye learned that the Tian Yuan Sect was not originally a first-rank sect, but only second-rank. It had only been promoted due to the decline and desolation of the Azure Blood Sect. In other words, the Tian Yuan Sect filled the void left by the Azure Blood Sect. Thus, this sect's foundation was somewhat weaker compared to other first-rank sects. However, it was still much stronger than second-rank sects. Regardless, the Tian Yuan Sect was now recognized by the Heavenly Mechanism as a first-rank sect, and it boasted a multitude of powerful cultivators.

Lu Ye thought it over and realized that since the beginning of his cultivation, he hadn't seemed to have any dealings with anyone from the Tian Yuan Sect... A sense of reassurance immediately settled in his heart.

"No need for further nonsense. Rest assured, I'll give you a quick end!" Qin Shu, with his extraordinary background and solid foundation, had every right to be confident. Being challenged by Lu Ye in front of so many people, he came with the intent to kill.

Lu Ye smiled: "I just want to say one thing to you."

"What?" As Qin Shu spoke, he drew his spiritual artifact. This person was also a blade-wielding martial cultivator, and the flowing light on his long blade clearly indicated it was a magic artifact, and no ordinary one at that.

"There won't be a next time!" Lu Ye spoke softly, in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"What?" Qin Shu clearly didn't understand. However, the next moment, his face changed drastically. Accompanied by a humming sound, overwhelming sword qi suddenly permeated the air, and a chilling sword intent and killing aura enveloped him like a tangible entity.

The opponent in front of him shed his previous languid appearance, becoming terrifying and ferocious, and the power emanating from him was unprecedentedly intense. A mere True Lake third-level cultivator, yet in this instant, he brought forth a sense of heart-palpitating dread. Qin Shu suddenly realized that in the previous few battles, his opponent had never used his full strength. Even in the big fight against Zhang Youlin, he had held back. Yet, now, facing him, he was going all out.

This guy... he was targeting him! How had he offended him? And what did he mean by "there won't be a next time"? Even as these thoughts raced through his mind, Qin Shu remained composed in the face of the sudden change.

He was, after all, a True Lake seventh-level cultivator, no less distinguished in background than Zhang Youlin, and exceptionally strong himself. So, although caught off guard by Lu Ye, he remained calm and collected. However, just then, a sharp pain shot through his mind.

Divine Sense! Qin Shu's expression changed dramatically.

He had faced the might of Soul Sea realm Grand Cultivators before and had been swept by the residual waves of their Divine Sense attacks. Naturally, he knew what he was encountering now. "Is there a Soul Sea realm Grand Cultivator hidden nearby?" A shock ran through his heart. Although he wore a treasure that protected his spirit, like Lu Ye's golden lock, its effect wasn't very good, offering only slight resistance. He thought a Soul Sea realm Grand Cultivator was secretly attacking him from nearby, unaware that the Divine Sense attack originated from Lu Ye himself.

This was also the first time Lu Ye had used his Divine Sense to attack an enemy since nurturing his Spiritual Pool. While he didn't fear a True Lake seventh-level cultivator, killing one wasn't easy. However, with the aid of a Divine Sense attack, it would be different. Therefore, Lu Ye went all out, almost instantly exhausting his own Divine Sense.

Suddenly facing such a drastic change, Qin Shu's spiritual power dispersed around him, his pupils dilated slightly, and driven by instinct, the blade he swung towards Lu Ye became limp and powerless. Perhaps it was a final surge of clarity, or the immense crisis stimulating him, but in the moment before his death, his mind became clearer than ever before. He finally understood what Lu Ye's earlier words meant.

After he had secretly attacked Xiao Xinghe, Xiao Xinghe had told him: "There won't be a next time." And he had replied: "What if... there is?" That's why, before making his move, this person named Li Taibai had said to him: "There won't be a next time." He was standing up for Xiao Xinghe. Why? Why him? He couldn't understand it anymore, as boundless sword light surged forth, completely engulfing him.

When the sword light dispersed, everyone stood rooted to the spot, staring dumbfounded at the scene. A blood-soaked corpse, completely devoid of life, plummeted from the air. All eyes followed the falling body. When the corpse hit the ground with a heavy thud, breaking into pieces, everyone's heart seemed to lurch.

The cultivators of the Haotian Alliance were incredulous. The cultivators of the Myriad Demon Ridge were equally incredulous. The sword light had been so fierce that no one clearly saw how Lu Ye and Qin Shu had fought. Yet, in just a brief moment, life and death had been decided. And the one who died was Qin Shu, a True Lake seventh-level cultivator, while Lu Ye, though pale and swaying, was completely unharmed!

Was he that strong? When Qin Shu stepped onto the stage, no one believed Lu Ye could win. Even so, Lu Ye had already brought great glory to the Myriad Demon Ridge. Now, even greater glory had arrived. Six battles, six victories. Each defeated opponent had a higher cultivation level than the last, and many were from first-rank sects. In the final battle, he had even slain a True Lake seventh-level cultivator, truly overcoming four minor realms to defeat his enemy.

Such a fantastical feat, only heard of in legends, had unfolded right before their eyes, leaving everyone feeling as if they were in a dream. It wasn't until a gasp of alarm broke the silence that everyone's minds were pulled back to reality.

"Senior Brother Qin!" Several people who had been with Qin Shu cried out in grief, rushing forward. Some angrily charged at Lu Ye, while others rushed towards Qin Shu's corpse on the ground. The scene instantly descended into chaos.