Chang Qing’s battle intent was soaring, and so was Lin Yun’s. They both sensed a monstrous level of combat power from each other. As fellow geniuses, alongside their will to fight, they also shared a mutual respect. The idiom "it takes a hero to know a hero" perfectly described what Lin Yun and Chang Qing were feeling.

However, the two were fated to never be friends. In fact, they had to fight to the death. Chang Qing could not disobey the Crown Prince’s command, and Lin Yun would certainly not give up his own life so easily.

"This is my strongest strike. Let’s use this to decide the victor," Chang Qing said, beginning to gently swing the longsword in his hand.

It moved faster and faster. After a few moments, an intensely sharp aura began to radiate from the longsword in Chang Qing’s hand. This aura made even the Royal Family’s Primordial Ocean Realm expert at the side retreat slightly.

From the longsword in Chang Qing’s hand, this Primordial Ocean Realm expert felt a threat to his life. In other words, Chang Qing’s strike possessed the power to kill a Primordial Ocean Realm expert.

’How monstrous. If these kids break through to the Primordial Ocean Realm, us old-timers will have to give them a wide berth,’ he marveled internally. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Since this was to be the deciding blow, Lin Yun didn’t plan on holding back either. He resolved to use the killing move he had originally saved for the top ten geniuses of the Yanhuang List on Chang Qing.

Thunderfire Bombardment was a killing move Lin Yun created by combining the Red Flame Spear Technique and the Wind Thunder Triple Flash. Its power was comparable to an Earth Level Martial Skill.

Intense flames erupted from the Bone Spear, interwoven with streaks of silver lightning. Standing less than ten meters apart, both fighters began to emanate a soul-shaking power.

As the two readied their strongest attacks, the Fifth Prince completely forgot his anger. The sheer power of their impending blows made his heart pound in his chest.

As the ninth-ranked genius on the Yanhuang List, the Fifth Prince’s strength was beyond doubt. Yet even he had to admit that he had underestimated Lin Yun time and time again.

If even the Fifth Prince was this affected, Kang Lai beside him was in a far worse state. Faced with their ultimate attacks, Kang Lai couldn’t even fathom resisting. Merely sitting in the stands, his face was already deathly pale.

One could imagine that if Kang Lai were on the arena stage right now, facing Lin Yun’s Thunderfire Bombardment, he would have likely surrendered on the spot.

"Come! Let this strike bring our battle to a close." After less than ten seconds, Chang Qing let out a low growl and thrust his longsword forward. A blinding light erupted from the blade.

Within the light was a pure, noble aura of righteousness, as if this single strike represented the justice of heaven and earth itself.

To meet Chang Qing’s strike, Lin Yun’s Thunderfire Bombardment surged forward. The shaft of the spear, wreathed in intense flame, faintly echoed with the sound of thunder.

If Chang Qing’s strike was the embodiment of noble righteousness, then Lin Yun’s spear was pure, unreasoning tyranny. Everywhere it passed, even the tough floor of the Martial Arts Arena was scorched black by lightning and flame.

"If I had a choice, I wouldn’t kill you." As Lin Yun’s voice faded, their two strongest attacks slammed violently into each other. BOOM! With a deafening roar, the entire Battle Arena trembled.

A thick cloud of dust and smoke swallowed their figures. No one knew the outcome. The entire crowd seemed to hold its breath, their eyes fixed on the Martial Arts Arena.

It was an absolutely soul-shaking collision. Even the Primordial Ocean Realm expert from the Royal Family stared dumbfounded at the Martial Arts Arena below.

The moment their attacks collided, he had flown high into the air just in time to avoid the shockwave from the explosion.

"Lin Yun, please be alright... please..." Clasping her hands tightly, Chen Xin prayed ceaselessly. From the very beginning of the fight, she had been a nervous wreck, terrified that some misfortune would befall Lin Yun.

The dust cloud lingered, refusing to settle. Many people, unable to contain their anxiety, had already risen to their feet, including the Fifth Prince and Kang Lai in the Royal Family’s exclusive gallery.

At this moment, the Fifth Prince had forgotten about killing Lin Yun. The only thing he wanted to know now was the outcome of this battle.

The battle had been simply too stunning. It was a fight on par with any duel between the top ten geniuses of the Yanhuang List. Both combatants had displayed the absolute peak combat power of Yanhuang Country’s younger generation.

Not a single person spoke. Everyone was waiting for the result of this battle. Slowly, the smoke and dust began to dissipate, and Lin Yun’s figure was the first to appear in everyone’s sight.

Lin Yun’s clothes were now in tatters, and blood seeped steadily from the wounds covering his body. But the most shocking sight was the longsword that had pierced clean through his chest—it was none other than Chang Qing’s Gentleman’s Sword.

He stood there, swaying unsteadily; his condition was clearly dire. COUGH! COUGH! COUGH! In front of everyone, Lin Yun coughed up several mouthfuls of blood.

’Did Chang Qing win?’ many people wondered. The wound in Lin Yun’s chest was undeniably grievous; the Gentleman’s Sword had run him completely through. Most assumed this meant Lin Yun had lost.

However, Chang Qing had yet to appear, so nothing was certain. The crowd could only suppress their burning anticipation and wait for the dust to settle completely.

Swaying on his feet, Lin Yun calmly gazed forward into the thick, swirling dust, which was now beginning to clear.

Under the watchful gaze of countless eyes, the last of the dust obscuring the view finally settled. When they saw Chang Qing, everyone’s eyes went wide as saucers.

The Bone Spear had pierced Chang Qing’s heart. He was constantly spitting out blood from his mouth. Chang Qing was already kneeling on the ground, looking like he wouldn’t live for much longer.

In that final moment of impact, Lin Yun’s Thunderfire Bombardment had clearly gained the upper hand. Just as Chang Qing’s longsword ran him through, Lin Yun’s Bone Spear had already pierced his opponent’s heart.

The outcome was clear. Chang Qing’s wound was fatal; not even the Royal Family’s own Earth Level Six-Stars Alchemist could possibly save him now.

"You... you won..." he managed to say, his voice broken.

"You are very strong, but you chose the wrong path," Lin Yun replied calmly, looking at Chang Qing.

Hearing this, a faint smile touched Chang Qing’s lips. It was not a smile of fear in the face of death, but one of relieved liberation.

With that smile still on his face, Chang Qing’s eyes slowly closed, and the last of his life’s breath faded away.

Looking at the dead Chang Qing, the faint smile still lingering on his lips, Lin Yun felt an indescribable emotion.

Chang Qing had truly lived up to his title, the Gentleman’s Sword. He was honorable and forthright; that was Lin Yun’s assessment of him. But, just as Lin Yun had said, he had chosen the wrong path.

’But is there really a right or wrong in this world? The Crown Prince took in Chang Qing, an orphan, and raised him. After developing such monstrous combat power, Chang Qing became the Crown Prince’s sharpest blade, never once questioning an order. Was that really wrong?’

Letting out a soft breath, Lin Yun thought to himself, ’He’s dead now. What does right or wrong even matter anymore?’

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