9: Chapter 9: Perilous Situation

After the Grade Challenge Tournament concluded, Lin Wu's reputation within the academy reached its Peak.

Defeating numerous supernatural geniuses with martial arts, and even triumphing over the senior elite Chu Tianjiao in the finals—such achievements made every student look at him with newfound respect.

But Lin Wu did not become arrogant or complacent because of this.

He knew his own strength was still far from enough.

Being at the first level of the Qi Refining Realm was indeed considered top-tier among the academy's freshmen. However, looking across the entire Huaxia Alliance, or even globally, there were countless beings far more powerful than him.

To give just one example, Gu Cangwu alone was a powerhouse at the Peak of the Grandmaster Realm. He could crush him with a single finger.

"I must improve my strength as quickly as possible!"

Lin Wu secluded himself in the bamboo hut, Cultivating in seclusion, continuously absorbing Spiritual Qi to consolidate his cultivation at the Qi Refining Realm.

Gu Cangwu watched Lin Wu Cultivating diligently, his eyes filled with approval.

"This child has a steady Heart-Nature, neither arrogant nor impatient. He's promising material," he evaluated silently.

But at that very moment, Gu Cangwu's expression suddenly changed.

He sensed an immensely powerful aura rapidly approaching. That aura was sinister and evil, feeling both familiar and repulsive to him.

"Someone from the Dark Night Organization?"

Gu Cangwu's figure flickered, disappearing from the bamboo hut.

In the next instant, he appeared above the academy, his gaze coldly fixed on the distance.

There, a black figure was striding through the air towards them.

It was a man dressed in a long black robe. His face was pale, his eyes were sinister and fierce, and he exuded a dense aura of darkness.

"Ye Wuhun!"

Gu Cangwu's pupils constricted as he recognized the newcomer's identity.

Leader of the Dark Night Organization, an S-class shadow-type Ability User, a terrifying existence ranked within the top ten of the global wanted list!

"Gu Cangwu, it's been a long time," Ye Wuhun stopped opposite Gu Cangwu, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Ye Wuhun, you dare to intrude into the Huaxia Supernatural Academy?" Gu Cangwu said coldly. "Aren't you afraid you won't be leaving?"

"Heh, since I dare to come, naturally I have my confidence," Ye Wuhun said indifferently. "Gu Cangwu, I came here for one person."

"Who?"

"Lin Wu."

Gu Cangwu's heart tightened.

As expected, it was for Lin Wu!

"What do you want with him?"

"He took my martial dao stele fragment and injured my subordinates," Ye Wuhun's eyes turned cold. "This debt must be settled."

"The martial dao stele fragment never belonged to you in the first place," Gu Cangwu snorted coldly. "Ye Wuhun, I advise you to leave immediately, or don't blame me for being impolite!"

"Impolite?" Ye Wuhun laughed heartily. "Gu Cangwu, do you think I'm still the person I was back then?"

"Shadow Domain, open!"

Ye Wuhun shouted loudly. A dense darkness instantly enveloped the sky above the entire academy.

Gu Cangwu's expression changed. He felt his movements were greatly restricted, as if he had sunk into a quagmire.

"Your strength..." Gu Cangwu stared at Ye Wuhun in shock.

"That's right, I've already Brokenthrough to the Peak of the Legendary Realm!" Ye Wuhun laughed triumphantly. "Gu Cangwu, today is your day of death!"

"Shadow Devour!"

Countless black shadows surged from all directions, winding towards Gu Cangwu.

Gu Cangwu snorted coldly, his entire body erupting with golden light.

"Martial Dao True Essence, break!"

The golden light, sharp as swords, severed all those black shadows.

"Some skill," a flicker of surprise passed through Ye Wuhun's eyes, but he immediately sneered again. "But this alone is far from enough!"

The battle between the two shook heaven and earth, alarming the entire academy.

Lin Wu was jolted from his Cultivation. Sensing the terrifying aura coming from above, his face changed dramatically.

"Master!"

He rushed out of the bamboo hut and looked up. He saw two figures engaged in a fierce battle in the sky.

One was radiant with golden light, the other was shrouded in a diffuse black shadow.

Every collision caused space to tremble, as if trying to tear the heavens and earth apart.

"That's... Ye Wuhun?"

Lin Wu recognized the identity of that black shadow. A powerful sense of unease surged in his heart.

Ye Wuhun had personally taken action. Could his Master withstand him?

"All students, evacuate to the safe zone immediately!"

The academy broadcast sounded. Instructors began organizing the student evacuation.

But Lin Wu did not move.

He stood in place, his gaze fixed intently on the battle in the sky.

He could not leave!

His Master was fighting Ye Wuhun to protect him. How could he abandon his Master and flee alone?

"Lin Wu, why are you still here? Evacuate, quickly!"

Su Qingxue ran over, grabbing Lin Wu's hand to pull him away.

"I'm not leaving," Lin Wu broke free from her grasp, his gaze resolute. "I will stay here and watch. I will watch Master defeat that guy!"

"Are you insane? That's a powerhouse at the Peak of the Legendary Realm! Staying here will only get you killed!"

"Even if I die, I will be with Master!"

Su Qingxue looked at the determination in Lin Wu's eyes. Her heart shook.

She had never seen someone so steadfast.

"Fine, I'll stay with you," Su Qingxue sighed and stood beside Lin Wu.

"You..."

"Don't misunderstand. I just don't want to owe you a favor," Su Qingxue said lightly, but a flicker of worry passed through her eyes.

The battle in the sky grew increasingly fierce.

Although Gu Cangwu was also at the Peak of the Grandmaster Realm, equivalent to a Legendary Realm Ability User, Ye Wuhun's shadow-type abilities were too bizarre. Moreover, he had already Brokenthrough to the Peak of the Legendary Realm, making him slightly stronger than Gu Cangwu.

Gradually, Gu Cangwu began to fall into a disadvantage.

"Gu Cangwu, your era has passed!" Ye Wuhun laughed wildly. "Today, I will end the martial arts inheritance!"

"Shadow Annihilation!"

Ye Wuhun unleashed his strongest attack. A massive black pillar of light descended from the heavens, crashing towards Gu Cangwu.

Gu Cangwu's expression turned grave. He knew the power of this strike. If hit, even he would be severely injured.

"Martial Dao True Essence, Indestructible Golden Body!"

Gu Cangwu's entire body erupted with golden light, transforming into a golden war god as he charged towards the black pillar of light.

"Boom!"

A deafening, earth-shattering roar erupted, shaking the entire academy.

The golden light and the black pillar collided, generating a massive shockwave that obliterated everything in the surrounding area.

When the light faded, Gu Cangwu's figure plummeted from the sky.

"Master!"

Lin Wu's eyes nearly burst from their sockets. He shot upwards, catching the falling Gu Cangwu.

"Cough..." Gu Cangwu coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face as pale as paper.

"Master, how are you?" Lin Wu asked anxiously.

"I'm fine... I won't die yet..." Gu Cangwu forced a smile. "Lin Wu, run... quickly... you're no match for him..."

"Thinking of running? Too late!"

Ye Wuhun slowly descended from the sky, looking down at Lin Wu and Gu Cangwu from above. His eyes held mockery and cruelty.

"Lin Wu, hand over the martial dao stele fragment. I can give you a quick death."

Lin Wu handed Gu Cangwu over to Su Qingxue for care, then stood up, his gaze fixed coldly on Ye Wuhun.

"Want the fragment? In your dreams!"

"Heh, you've got backbone," Ye Wuhun sneered. "But backbone can't fill your stomach. In the face of absolute power, you are nothing!"

He raised his hand. A black shadow shot towards Lin Wu, coiling around him.

Lin Wu wanted to dodge, but Ye Wuhun was too fast. He couldn't react in time.

"It's over..."

Lin Wu's heart sank.

At this critical juncture, a white figure suddenly appeared in front of Lin Wu.

"Ice Seal Ten Thousand Miles!"

Su Qingxue had made her move!

Her entire body erupted with ice-blue light. A massive Ice Wall materialized out of thin air, blocking Ye Wuhun's attack.

"Oh?" Ye Wuhun raised an eyebrow. "The little girl from the Su Family? You want to throw your life away too?"

"Lin Wu is my friend. I won't let you harm him!" Su Qingxue said coldly. Even though she knew she was no match for Ye Wuhun, there wasn't a trace of retreat in her eyes.

"Friend?" Ye Wuhun laughed heartily. "What touching friendship! Unfortunately, in the face of power, friendship is nothing!"

He attacked again. This time, the power was several times greater than before!

Su Qingxue's Ice Wall shattered instantly. She herself was sent flying, blood spraying from her mouth.

"Su Qingxue!"

Lin Wu was horrified. He hurriedly caught Su Qingxue.

"I... I'm fine..." Su Qingxue said weakly. "Lin Wu, run... quickly... run..."

"Run? None of you are running anywhere!"

Ye Wuhun stepped closer, his eyes filled with killing intent.

Lin Wu gently placed Su Qingxue on the ground, then stood up, his gaze locked onto Ye Wuhun.

His eyes burned with raging fury.

His Master was severely injured. Su Qingxue was severely injured protecting him. All of this was because of this man!

"Ye Wuhun, I will definitely kill you!"

Lin Wu roared to the heavens. The Martial Dao True Essence within his body surged wildly.

The Ancient Martial Scripture automatically circulated. An ancient, powerful force awakened within him.

"Hmm?" Ye Wuhun frowned, sensing the change in the aura emanating from Lin Wu.

"This is... Martial Dao True Intent?"

Gu Cangwu's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

Martial Dao True Intent was a Profound Truth that Martial Artists could only comprehend after reaching a certain Realm. It represented the essence of the Martial Dao, the embodiment of a Martial Artist's will.

Had Lin Wu actually comprehended Martial Dao True Intent at this life-and-death moment?

"Nine Revolutions Golden Body, Fourth Revolution!"

"Heavenly Collapse Fist, Seventh Form—Heaven Breaking!"

Lin Wu's entire body erupted with golden light as he threw a punch.

This punch contained all his rage and will. Its power far exceeded his usual level!

"Interesting," a flicker of surprise passed through Ye Wuhun's eyes, but he sneered again. "But this alone still can't hurt me!"

He casually waved a hand. A black barrier appeared in front of him.

"Boom!"

Lin Wu's fist slammed into the barrier, producing a deafening roar.

The barrier trembled violently but ultimately did not shatter.

"See? This is the gap in power!" Ye Wuhun sneered. "In my eyes, you are like an ant. I can crush you with a flick of my finger!"

Lin Wu didn't speak. He just stared fixedly at Ye Wuhun, the fire in his eyes blazing hotter.

"What? Not convinced?" Ye Wuhun said mockingly. "Then let me send you on your way!"

He raised his hand. A black light gathered in his palm.

This strike was enough to utterly obliterate Lin Wu!

At this critical moment between life and death, an aged voice suddenly rang out:

"Ye Wuhun, you've gone too far!"

A figure descended from the sky, placing itself in front of Lin Wu.

It was an elderly man dressed in a white robe. His beard and hair were white, but his spirit was vigorous. He exuded a powerful aura.

"Li Changfeng!" Ye Wuhun's expression changed.

The Dean of the Huaxia Supernatural Academy, a Legendary Realm space-type Ability User!

"Ye Wuhun, you have trespassed into my Huaxia Supernatural Academy without permission, injuring my academy's instructor and students. Today, you will not leave!" Li Changfeng said coldly. "Spatial Lockdown!"

An immense spatial force instantly enveloped the entire academy, trapping Ye Wuhun within.

"Damn it!" Ye Wuhun's face darkened. He knew he couldn't succeed today.

"Gu Cangwu, Lin Wu, consider yourselves lucky this time!" Ye Wuhun said coldly. "But next time, you won't be so fortunate!"

"Shadow Escape!"

Ye Wuhun's figure transformed into a black shadow, disappearing into space.

"Trying to escape?" Li Changfeng snorted coldly. Just as he was about to give chase, Ye Wuhun had already fled beyond the range of the spatial lockdown.

"He got away..." Li Changfeng frowned, then turned to look at Lin Wu and the others.

"Are you all alright?"

"Thank you, Dean, for your rescue," Gu Cangwu managed a slight bow.

"No need for formalities," Li Changfeng waved his hand. His gaze fell on Lin Wu, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes. "You are Lin Wu? That punch just now was quite impressive."

"Thank you for your praise, Dean," Lin Wu said respectfully.

"Cultivate well. The future world belongs to you," Li Changfeng said. Then, his figure flickered and vanished.

Lin Wu looked in the direction Li Changfeng had departed, then at his severely injured Master and Su Qingxue. A powerful sense of frustration welled up in his heart.

Strength!

His strength was still insufficient!

If he were strong enough, his Master wouldn't be injured, and Su Qingxue wouldn't be severely wounded protecting him!

"Ye Wuhun, just you wait!" Lin Wu clenched his fists, his gaze fixed firmly on the distance. "One day, I will defeat you with my own hands!"