Chapter 57

“Lin Da… Lin Leader?!”

Seeing Lin Que, Ao Xinyu instinctively wanted to call out his nickname but suddenly realized the inappropriate occasion and immediately corrected herself.

But the slight tremble in her eyes was enough to prove her shock.

She indeed did not expect Lin Que to appear here, and at such a critical moment.

On the other side, the moment Liu Yongge saw Lin Que, his previously arrogant demeanor instantly vanished, and his overwhelming aura suddenly stiffened.

Even his hands were trembling slightly.

“Lin Que… Lin Chief! What are you doing here!”

Liu Yongge’s eyes widened in disbelief. Despite the years that had passed, Lin Que had grown from a boy to a young man, but he was still recognized at a glance.

He had never fought Lin Que before. During the Eastern Region competition, he was defeated by the Holy Son of the Divine Sword Sect and stopped at the top sixteen.

But… Liu Yongge had seen how dazzling Lin Que was on the martial stage, how he defeated the Holy Son and Holy Maiden of the Divine Sword Sect, and finally won the title of Chief.

That sharp sword intent and the unparalleled sword light were something Liu Yongge would never forget in his lifetime.

It was an existence he thought he would never have the chance to face, and at this moment, that Chief appeared right in front of him.

Lin Que ignored Liu Yongge, turned his head to look at Ao Xinyu, sighed, and said helplessly, “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

“I…”

Ao Xinyu lowered her head like a child who had done something wrong, momentarily forgetting to think about why Lin Que was here.

“I didn’t want you to get hurt again.”

“The path of cultivation is never smooth. Getting hurt or even dying is common. If I truly die on the way, it can only be blamed on my lack of strength.”

Seeing Ao Xinyu’s timid appearance, Lin Que couldn’t help but find it amusing, but he also understood her feelings. He just smiled and patted her shoulder, “It’s okay.”

Feeling the warmth of the broad hand on her shoulder, Ao Xinyu looked up at Lin Que’s gentle smile and returned a smile, “Yes, after all, Chief Lin is very strong.”

Despite all the worries she had before, when Lin Que stood in front of her and said those words, Ao Xinyu’s emotions stabilized as if she had taken a calming pill.

This sense of reassurance was something no one else could compare to.

Just as the atmosphere was getting better, a discordant voice appeared.

“Are you done chatting?”

Liu Yongge, who had been left aside for a long time, finally came to his senses, glaring angrily at Lin Que, then sneered and mocked.

“Former Chief, disappeared for years, and your cultivation hasn’t progressed at all. How ridiculous!”

He was indeed stunned by Lin Que’s appearance for a long time, but when he looked closely, he found that Lin Que’s cultivation was still stuck at the Golden Core stage, which gave him some confidence.

It seemed that Lin Que’s severe injury at the Sword Inquiry Sect was true…

So what if you were the Chief in the past? Years have passed, everyone has progressed, except you. Cultivation is like rowing a boat upstream; if you don’t advance, you retreat! Being the strongest in the past doesn’t necessarily mean you are still the strongest now!

The more he thought about it, the more confident Liu Yongge became.

“Stop talking nonsense, sign the life-and-death contract and get on the martial stage.”

Lin Que rarely engaged in pre-battle trash talk and went straight to the point.

One sentence, and Liu Yongge, who had just gained some confidence, was silenced again.

Life-and-death contract on the martial stage? Is this for real…

Wanbao City belonged to the Xia Shang Dynasty, and naturally, it had laws. It strictly prohibited cultivators from killing each other within the city. Even if someone was killed on the main road near Wanbao City, the cause would be thoroughly investigated.

However, for cultivators, especially those who follow the path of combat, it is inevitable to carry the temperament of a martial artist. Therefore, the Xia Shang Dynasty specifically set up a martial stage in the center of Wanbao City.

The solution provided is simple and crude. If there is a conflict, just go to the martial stage and fight it out. If it is a mortal enemy, then sign a life-and-death agreement. Once the agreement is signed, life and death are no longer considered.

Seeing Lin Que casually mention the life-and-death agreement, Liu Yongge immediately became suspicious.

As the leader of the younger generation of cultivators in the Eastern Region, could Lin Que’s cultivation really have stagnated for several years? Even if the rumors were true, his calm demeanor at this moment did not seem to be an act.

Was he bluffing? Or did he truly have confidence?

Liu Yongge was filled with doubt and fear. He did not dare to gamble, for if he lost, it would cost him his life.

Seeing him hesitate, Lin Que frowned.

“If you don’t sign the life-and-death agreement, then kneel down and kowtow three times, apologize, and I will spare your life.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire audience was in an uproar. The guards and guests whispered among themselves, none of them expecting such a dramatic turn of events.

Just moments ago, Liu Yongge was arrogant and unrestrained, like a fierce tiger. Now, he seemed like a dog with its tail between its legs, barking incessantly.

Noticing the change in the crowd’s attitude from fear to amusement, Liu Yongge’s temples throbbed, and he clenched his fists, feeling humiliated. His face turned red with anger.

“Then let’s go to the martial stage! We’ll see who is truly skilled!”

He pointed at Lin Que and shouted angrily.

However, he did not mention the life-and-death agreement again.

Lin Que felt a bit disappointed but didn’t mind. He considered it a warm-up before dinner.

The sun was setting.

At the martial stage.

Lin Que and Liu Yongge stood at opposite ends of the stage, facing each other. Below the stage, the crowd was bustling with excitement. Many cultivators and mortals had gathered to watch the spectacle.

Some even set up betting pools, wagering on the outcome.

“Lin Daqi, Liu Yongge is skilled in the Wild Flame Blade Technique, which is powerful and heavy. You must attack quickly to disrupt his rhythm. Do not let him build up his blade momentum.”

Ao Xinyu clutched the hem of her clothes and whispered to Lin Que, explaining the characteristics and weaknesses of Liu Yongge’s blade technique.

During the Hundred Sect Competition in the Eastern Region, she was also a spectator, cheering for Lin Que from the sidelines. Naturally, she had observed the battles of other prodigies, including the one between the Holy Son of the Divine Sword Sect and Liu Yongge.

At that time, the Holy Son discovered the weakness of the Wild Flame Blade Technique and easily defeated Liu Yongge by interrupting his rhythm with quick attacks before he could build up his blade momentum.

“No worries.”

Lin Que smiled confidently, and Ao Xinyu stepped off the stage, looking at him with concern.

“Please be careful. Otherwise… I won’t be able to explain it to Sister Wanyuan.”

“Mm.”

Lin Que nodded and looked towards the horizon.

At this moment, the setting sun was gradually sinking behind the western mountains, and the last rays of light were about to be swallowed by darkness.

“It seems I’ll be returning late today.”

He sighed and spoke slowly.

Turning his head, he looked at Liu Yongge, who was grinning ferociously at the moment.

“When Ao Ge Zhu bit your ear just now, he must have told you the weakness of my Wild Flame Blade, right? Unfortunately, in the years since I was defeated by Gu Minghao, I have long overcome this weakness. Her information is outdated!”

Lin Que did not answer. He had never intended to defeat Liu Yongge using such a method; otherwise, it wouldn’t even count as a warm-up.

“Enough talk, let’s begin.”

What Lin Que took out was not the flying sword he had thrown earlier, but the sword wrapped in chains that had not yet been unsheathed.

“Not unsheathing it? Are you looking down on me?!”

However,

Lin Que still did not respond. He just inserted the sword into the floor tiles behind him, then slightly moved his wrist, clenched his fist, and seemed to intend to fight barehanded.

“Good, good, good! As expected of the former champion, truly arrogant!”

Liu Yongge also casually swung his hand, deeply embedding the horse-cutting saber into the ground. He clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking loudly, his muscles bulging explosively, veins popping out, and his already huge figure expanded more than twice its size.

He stood opposite Lin Que, his enormous shadow slanting down like a small mountain standing there.

Anyone could see the physical disparity between the two and could tell how fierce Liu Yongge’s body refining technique was.

In contrast, Lin Que, not only was his cultivation level a whole realm lower, but even his physique looked ordinary, with nothing special about it.

As the audience below the stage discussed, the last ray of the setting sun was swallowed by darkness.

Night fell.

The battle was about to begin.

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Liu Yongge was the first to attack, his leg muscles tensed, his feet suddenly exerted force, stepping on the floor tiles, and in an instant, he advanced to Lin Que, throwing a punch. The strong wind from the punch even lifted several floor tiles behind Lin Que.

He thought Lin Que would dodge the punch no matter what, but who would have thought that Lin Que would not retreat but advance, stepping forward with a bow, and his left fist directly met the punch.

Bang!

A huge collision sound suddenly exploded, stirring up dust all over the ground. Amidst the layers of dust, a huge figure retreated, it was Liu Yongge.

He looked at his trembling right fist, his pupils shrank, and his eyes were full of disbelief.

One must know that Liu Yongge was a whole realm higher than Lin Que! Moreover, he prided himself on having a physique that was not inferior to any cultivator of the same realm, yet he was forcibly punched back.

Liu Yongge’s proud physique actually lost!

But this was not the end. Lin Que seized the moment of Liu Yongge’s panic, flashed to his front, and just when everyone thought Liu Yongge was going to take a heavy blow, Lin Que suddenly turned his fist into a palm, and a crisp, loud slap resounded through the martial stage.

Slap!

The slap sounded, and the whole audience fell silent.

Liu Yongge dazedly reached out to touch the spot where Lin Que had slapped him. It was already swollen high, the palm print was clearly visible, and even blood was seeping out, showing how forceful the slap was.

“You humiliated me!”

“Those who humiliate others should be prepared to be humiliated in public.”

Lin Que spoke indifferently, this was the first sentence he uttered while standing on the martial arts stage, “If you are not convinced, then fight back, but… do you have the ability?”

Lin Que rarely talks trash, but that doesn’t mean he can’t.

Facing his taunt, Liu Yongge’s white teeth gritted, making a creaking sound.

Below the stage, the younger sister shopkeeper excitedly pointed at the stage, and said to her elder sister who was applying an ice pack to her face, “Sister, look quickly, it’s Chief Lin standing up for you!”

To this, the elder sister Cui’er didn’t say anything, just smiled slightly, but a trace of warmth unconsciously rose in her heart.

“Well done!” Ao Xinyu cheered for Lin Que from below the stage, just like during the Eastern Region competition years ago.

“I will kill you!”

Liu Yongge no longer fought with fists and feet, but leaped up, drew the Zanbatō from the ground, and slashed at Lin Que with rage.

However,

This slash ultimately missed, Lin Que sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the slash by a hair’s breadth, the blade once again smashed into the ground, Liu Yongge felt something was wrong, wanted to draw the blade and slash again, but suddenly found Lin Que’s foot stepping on the back of the blade, making him immobile.

‘Not good!’

Almost at the moment the sense of unease arose, Lin Que, with lightning speed, slapped his face.

This time, it was the left cheek.

After the slap, Lin Que did not pursue the victory, just turned around and kicked Liu Yongge in the chest, sending him flying several meters, finally stopping at the edge of the martial arts stage.

“You!”

Liu Yongge only felt a surge of blood, he changed his blade stance, raised the Zanbatō above his head, using his waist as an axis, rotated the Zanbatō around his body, the blade aura danced densely, like an impenetrable barrier.

‘It seems this is his method to counter the attack.’

Lin Que stood outside the range of the blade aura with his arms crossed, not in a hurry to attack, just calmly observing and analyzing.

‘By consuming a large amount of spiritual energy and physical strength to accumulate blade momentum, it seems he wants a quick battle.’

The blade aura danced, instantly raising the temperature of the entire martial arts stage, and a flame wind rose from the Zanbatō.

“With the appearance of the wild flame, who can resist!”

The Zanbatō, wrapped in waves of heat, quickly cracked and shattered the surrounding floor tiles, as if melting gold and burning iron in an instant.

Liu Yongge stepped forward again, slashing at Lin Que’s waist, intending to cut him in half with one stroke.

But,

Lin Que once again dodged this waist slash with some strange movement, not only avoiding the blade’s edge, but even the rolling heat waves on it did not touch his clothes.

Another slash missed.

The audience below the stage was all tongue-tied.

To achieve such an exaggerated feat, how precise must the control of distance be? Strong divine sense and astonishing courage are indispensable.

At this moment, many cultivators below the stage had already recognized Lin Que’s identity, he was the chief who dominated the Eastern Region, Lin Que.

They couldn’t help but quietly remember this matter in their hearts.

Before they could continue to be shocked, Lin Que had already taken advantage of Liu Yongge’s post-swing to rush in, breaking into the inner circle, and slapped him on the face again.

Humiliation! Unrelenting humiliation!

“Too much bullying, too much bullying!!!”

Liu Yongge’s eyes were about to burst, and in his furious eyes reflected the calm figure of Lin Que.

In a fit of rage, he suddenly swung dozens of knives, each one stronger than the last. If it weren’t for the protective formation of the martial arts stage, it would have been shattered by a single blow.

However,

In this fierce attack like a storm, Lin Que managed to remain unscathed, dodging every blow while still being able to slap Liu Yongge in return.

Finally, with his knife momentum and anger reaching their peak, Liu Yongge let out a roar, leaping into the sky, stepping on the void, and overlooking the martial arts stage below.

He raised his horse-cutting knife high, the blade’s fierce flames capable of melting gold and iron surged, instantly transforming into a flame blade dozens of feet long, towering into the clouds, the firelight enveloping the entire martial arts stage, as bright as day.

“Lin Que, do you like to dodge? Let’s see how you dodge this blow!”

Finally, he was using his full strength.

Lin Que took a deep breath, and with a gesture of his left hand, the long sword stuck in the ground flew into his palm.

At the moment he grasped the long sword, Lin Que’s aura changed dramatically, the sharp sword intent even causing the audience below to feel uncontrollable palpitations.

He stood against the wind, unmoving, with only his sword intent rising steadily.

Finally, the huge flame blade in the sky ignited a blinding arc of fire, crashing down with the force of a mountain.

Lin Que did not dodge or evade, pointing his sword at the sky, his sword energy sweeping across the sky.

The two collided suddenly.

In the next second, the mountain-like flame blade shattered like glass, the sparks turning into a brilliant rain of fire, like a magnificent fireworks display.

The sword energy did not diminish, directly shattering the horse-cutting knife in Liu Yongge’s hand, along with his arms, which could not bear the weight and broke on the spot.

Liu Yongge didn’t even have time to scream before he fell heavily to the ground with the rain of fire, embedded in the ground, losing consciousness.

And Lin Que stood in the air, looking down at everything below.

At this moment, he truly looked like an otherworldly sword immortal, ethereal and unattainable, yet making people yearn for him.

“Is this… Lin Que, the top leader?”

The younger sister shopkeeper Ping’er looked at Lin Que, blinking after a long time, then turned to look at her sister, finding a hint of admiration in her eyes.

As for their pavilion master Ao Xinyu? She had long since turned into a little fangirl, cheering and applauding for Lin Que.

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