Li Xiaoyao, an unknown outer disciple at the eighth level of Qi Martial Realm, wielded the martial arts techniques "Nine Waves" and "Thunderbolt Sword Technique."

Jing Yan, at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Martial Realm, was far stronger than most outer disciples and ranked sixth. His most glorious achievement was defeating three ninth-level Qi Martial Realm warriors with just a single sword.

The two were completely unmatched in strength. However, in front of everyone, Li Xiaoyao forced Jing Yan back and killed the man Jing Yan was protecting, Jiang Yong, slapping Jing Yan's face metaphorically. Just as the crowd anticipated Li Xiaoyao suffering Jing Yan's wrath, Li Xiaoyao took the initiative to step onto the life-or-death stage, with a demeanor that showed he held everyone in contempt, challenging Jing Yan.

"Maybe he knows Jing Yan won't let him go and has decided to fight to the death," the crowd thought. After all, Li Xiaoyao was just at the eighth level of Qi Martial Realm, and his strength was far inferior to Jing Yan's.

At that moment, Jing Yan's face turned pale and then red with fury. Humiliation—since entering Canghai Sect, he had never experienced such disgrace.

"Since you seek death, I'll grant your wish." Jing Yan hated Li Xiaoyao to the bone. After seeing Li Xiaoyao's Thunderbolt Sword Technique, he knew that Li Xiaoyao wasn't lying; Han Feng must have been killed by him.

Li Xiaoyao had not only killed his brother but also brought him shame.

As Jing Yan stepped onto the life-or-death stage, a powerful sword aura erupted from him. Behind him appeared a phantom sword pointing angrily toward the sky—his Sword Martial Soul.

"Jing Yan is directly using his Martial Soul! It seems he intends to kill in a grand display," the crowd immediately understood. Jing Yan wanted to demonstrate his overwhelming power to everyone.

"Draw your sword. I'll let you strike three times." Jing Yan stood with his sword in hand, radiating the aura of a sword master.

A cold smile appeared on Li Xiaoyao's lips. His body flickered, and his sword unleashed several sword shadows. When they reached Jing Hao, they combined into a single strike. Thunder roared, deafening everyone.

"So strong! He's actually mastered the Thunderbolt Sword Technique to this level!" The crowd was shocked, hearing the thunderous sound akin to real thunder, a testament to the immense explosive power.

The disdain in Jing Yan's eyes vanished—this sword strike was enough to earn his respect.

His sword hummed as thunderclaps echoed, and sword shadows appeared. The powerful burst of energy nearly broke through Jing Yan's sword defense.

"One strike!" Jing Yan counted as he parried the blow.

Li Xiaoyao's gaze remained steady and resolute. Thunder rolled like an unending river, as the second sword strike, accompanied by its domineering thunderclap, was thrust forward.

Jing Yan continued to stay on the defensive, his sword shadows resembling a water curtain, prepared to block any attack.

However, just as Li Xiaoyao's fierce sword was about to strike Jing Yan, he suddenly let go of his sword. The sword, accompanied by the sound of thunder, shot forward and broke through Jing Yan's sword defense.

"What is he doing?"

Everyone watching was stunned. Li Xiaoyao had poured all of his power into the sword, increasing its might to break through Jing Yan's defense. But if Jing Yan managed to block the strike, Li Xiaoyao would lose his weapon. This seemed like a foolish tactic.

After a brief moment of shock, Jing Yan smiled. "Indeed, seeking death."

Jing Yan took a slight step back and spun his sword in front of him, creating a wall of sword shadows.

At the same time that Li Xiaoyao's sword shot forward, his body moved as well. Like a flicker of light, he sprinted towards Jing Yan.

"Two strikes," Jing Yan counted calmly as he watched Li Xiaoyao approach, unfazed. At the same moment Jing Yan's voice fell, Li Xiaoyao's sword struck, but Li Xiaoyao himself had already closed in.

"Seeking death." Jing Yan thrust his sword forward with a burst of thunderous force. Since Li Xiaoyao had lost his sword, his attempt at close combat would mean certain death. Jing Yan had no need to wait for a third strike; this blow would take Li Xiaoyao's life.

But just then, Jing Yan heard two words from Li Xiaoyao's mouth—simple yet powerful: "Enough."

As those words fell, as if answering the call of thunder, a flash of lightning streaked across the crowd's eyes. The dazzling light was imprinted on their retinas for just a moment before it disappeared.

Jing Yan's throat tightened. He seemed to understand the meaning behind the words "enough." The last words he would ever hear in his life were: "Enough distance."

"Three strikes."

Those words came from Li Xiaoyao, who now stood with his back to Jing Yan. His voice wasn't loud, but in the silence that followed, everyone heard it clearly. As the words fell, so did Jing Yan's body, collapsing to the ground with a thunderous crash.

Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief. Jing Yan... had lost?

How did Li Xiaoyao do it?

"Drawing Sword Technique," someone in the crowd murmured. Some of the inner disciples watching had recognized the flash of light—it was the glow of a sword. But the sword light had been so fast that it looked like lightning cutting through the sky. Many hadn't even realized what it was.

The crowd erupted into a frenzy, all talking about the brilliant strike that had cut through the air. Jing Yan, ranked sixth among the outer disciples, had been defeated by Li Xiaoyao in three strikes. And the result of that defeat was death.

"Who is he?"

That was the question on everyone's minds. Li Xiaoyao had challenged someone a whole level above him, and not just anyone—Jing Yan, a ninth-level Qi Martial Realm master. Li Xiaoyao was undoubtedly a genius, and this battle would surely make him famous in Canghai Sect.

At the same time, several figures high above the canyon were discussing Li Xiaoyao's sword strike as well.

In a pavilion leaning against the cliff of the canyon, an old man's lips curled into a faint smile as he muttered, "A soft sword. So it's that kid. No wonder he dares to practice the Drawing Sword Technique. This little fellow is quite gifted!"

The old man was the guardian of the Sun and Moon Pavilion. Wind Valley was a training ground for the sect's disciples, and in a way, it reflected the strength of Canghai Sect's inner disciples. He had come to observe during his leisure time and unexpectedly witnessed the life-or-death battle on the stage. The soft sword Li Xiaoyao used was a gift from him, so he naturally knew who Li Xiaoyao was.

Apart from the old man, Jingxiang, and Han Kui, there was another person who recognized Li Xiaoyao. This person was Guo Zifan, the same man who had threatened Jingxiang with Han Feng's death and ended up being injured by Li Xiaoyao in a single move. Guo Zifan had sought out Jing Yan, remembered what Li Xiaoyao and his companions were wearing, and tracked them down in Wind Valley, setting up a plot to kill them.

Seeing that Li Xiaoyao had even killed Jing Yan, Guo Zifan was terrified and began to quietly sneak away.

"Leaving now? Isn't it a bit too late?" Li Xiaoyao had long noticed Guo Zifan hiding behind Jing Yan, and upon seeing him trying to flee, he spoke coldly.

Guo Zifan's steps froze, and he felt a chill down his spine.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Guo Zifan turned around and forced a smile that was more painful than crying.

"It has nothing to do with me. I didn't do anything."

"Is that so?" Li Xiaoyao sneered, his killing intent undisguised.

"This is Wind Valley, not the life-or-death stage!" Guo Zifan, feeling Li Xiaoyao's murderous intent, spoke with a trembling voice.

"I know," Li Xiaoyao replied indifferently. A surge of his Nine Waves technique blasted Guo Zifan, who didn't even resist. After all, if Li Xiaoyao could kill Jing Yan, what use was resistance?

Li Xiaoyao grabbed Guo Zifan and dragged him back to the life-or-death stage, tossing him onto the ground. Then he picked up the sword that had fallen to the floor.

"Now, you're on the life-or-death stage."

The crowd once again froze, speechless as they stared at Li Xiaoyao. This guy... was ruthless.

"I didn't come up here on my own. You're breaking the sect's rules! How dare you violate the sect's rules?" Guo Zifan never expected Li Xiaoyao to do this, and the fear of death made his whole body tremble.

A flash of sword light, and Guo Zifan's voice abruptly stopped.

"Does the sect really have rules?"

This thought crossed Li Xiaoyao's mind, but he didn't speak it aloud. If the sect truly had rules, would Zhao Xinyi dare to shoot an arrow at him? If the sect truly had rules, would inner disciple Yu Hao dare to strike at him with a killing blow?

Rules are always dead. They are made only for some people. When you are strong enough, when your talent is high enough, some rules no longer apply to you.

Li Xiaoyao was not a bloodthirsty person. In his previous world, killing was punishable by death. But in this world, time and again, people had tried to kill him for flimsy or non-existent reasons. This made Li Xiaoyao realize that this was a world of the strong, a cold world. Therefore, for those who wanted his life, he would show no mercy and strike them down. If you don't kill, someone will kill you.

Li Xiaoyao stepped forward and approached Han Kui. Han Kui grinned at him and said, "I always believed you could do it."

"I believe it too," Li Xiaoyao smiled back. Then, he hoisted Han Kui onto his back, gave Jingxiang a glance, and left under the gaze of the crowd.