Chapter 135 One Strike Kills

Countless black sword shadows flew out from the blade, dense as a swarm of locusts, finally condensing into a massive Sword Prison that trapped Lin Yue within.

This Sword Prison was over fifty zhang tall, its walls woven from billions of black sword shadows. Each shadow spun frantically, emitting a piercing hum. The fine Sword Intent splashing from the collisions of the shadows was enough to tear apart the Physical Body of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Even more terrifying was the thick Divine Soul Erosion Mist permeating the Sword Prison. The grey mist followed the breath into the Sea of Consciousness, attempting to disrupt the Cultivator's mind. Even if a False Core Cultivator were trapped inside, they would need to expend most of their spiritual power to resist; the slightest carelessness would result in their Divine Soul being shattered.

Jian Huang hovered outside the Sword Prison, a cruel sneer curling his lips: "Lin Yue, this Sword Prison is a Sect-suppressing secret technique of my Yujian Sect. It contains three thousand six hundred killing swords within and is covered by Divine Soul Erosion Mist on the outside. It can trap and kill even a False Core Cultivator! You, a Foundation Establishment ant, are doomed to die today!"

Before he could finish speaking, a brilliant pale-gold spiritual light suddenly erupted from within the Sword Prison. The Star-Moon Dao Body around Lin Yue's body operated to its limit, the Star-Moon Mark on his forehead shining as bright as a scorching sun. A He's Vegetation Vitality surged through his body, turning into streams of green warmth. Not only did it grant him immunity to the effects of the Divine Soul Erosion Mist, but it also made his aura increasingly majestic.

His eyes were like torches as Ling Wei's insights into the Dao of Formations rapidly processed in his Sea of Consciousness. In an instant, he perceived the core flaw of the Sword Prison—the walls of the Sword Prison seemed flawless, but in reality, there was a weak point in the energy connection every three hundred and sixty sword shadows. This was an inevitable flaw in the operation of the Formation.

"Break!" Lin Yue shouted low, his right fist infused with Su Qingyuan's true intent of the Sword Dao. Sharp, bluish-gold Sword Intent instantly wrapped around his pale-gold fist. As the wind from his punch whistled, it carried a momentum that could cleave heaven and earth. He stepped forward, his figure weaving through the dense sword shadows like a phantom, each punch accurately striking a weak point of the Sword Prison.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Three consecutive punches, each hitting a vital spot. As the first punch's force struck, dozens of black sword shadows instantly shattered, and a gap several feet wide appeared in the wall of the Sword Prison. The second punch followed, expanding the gap several times over, and the grey Divine Soul mist leaked out like a tide. The third punch carried Luo Ningshuang's Poison Technique Origin; the black poison force invaded the energy Meridians of the Sword Prison through the gap, instantly corroding a patch of sword shadows and causing the operation of the Sword Prison to stagnate.

Jian Huang's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly channeled his False Core power in an attempt to repair the Sword Prison: "Impossible! How could you possibly see through the flaws of the Sword Prison?!"

Lin Yue ignored his exclamation. The spiritual light around him surged, and he spread his arms like a great roc spreading its wings, throwing both fists out simultaneously. This punch gathered all the strengths of the four women—Formation Dao to perceive flaws, Sword Dao to add sharpness, Poison Technique to penetrate defenses and corrode, and Vitality to support the Physical Body.

The pale-gold Sword Gang, carrying bluish-gold Sword Intent and black poison force, was like a wild Dragon emerging from the sea, violently crashing into the core hub of the Sword Prison.

"Boom—!"

After a world-shaking explosion, the massive Sword Prison instantly collapsed. Billions of black sword shadows turned to ash, and the grey Divine Soul mist was completely blown away by the wind from the punch. The aftershocks of the Sword Prison's collapse swept in all directions, causing the surrounding ancient swords to bend in unison. Rocks shattered and flew, and the entire Sword Tomb trembled violently.

Jian Huang was knocked back repeatedly by the aftershocks, coughing up a large mouthful of black blood—Luo Ningshuang's poison technique had already invaded his False Core, causing his spiritual power to become disordered. His eyes were full of madness and despair as he watched Lin Yue slowly walk out of the ruins, as if he were looking at an invincible deity.

"I refuse to accept this!" Jian Huang roared, suddenly burning his False Core. His aura abruptly surged, briefly breaking through to a level close to the Golden Core stage. The Soul-Severing Sword in his hand let out a mournful hum, the black spiritual light expanding several times over, and the blade became ethereal and transparent, clearly operating under an overload.

"Soul-Severing World-Destroying Sword!" Jian Huang leaped into the air, pouring all the power gained from burning his False Core into the Soul-Severing Sword. A black Sword Gang dozens of zhang long condensed, surrounded by a destructive aura, and slashed toward Lin Yue with a momentum that could tear the sky apart. This was his final trump card; a strike exchanged for burning his False Core was enough to heavily injure an ordinary Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator.

Lin Yue's eyes were calm, and he didn't even dodge. The spiritual light of the Star-Moon Dao Body flowed around him, his Physical Body strength reaching its Peak, and a glaze-like luster appeared on his pale-gold skin. Facing this world-destroying sword strike, he merely slowly raised his right hand, palm facing the Sword Gang, as pale-gold spiritual light and bluish-gold Sword Intent intertwined to form a solid barrier.

"Clang—!"

The black Sword Gang struck Lin Yue's palm fiercely, producing a loud metallic clang and sending sparks flying. Shockingly, Lin Yue's palm was completely unharmed. The pale-gold spiritual light only fluctuated slightly before completely dissipating the force of the Sword Gang.

The bluish-gold Sword Intent flowed back along the Sword Gang, instantly tearing through its energy structure. The black Sword Gang crumbled inch by inch, turning into countless tiny specks of light.

Jian Huang's pupils shrank, and the madness on his face was instantly replaced by extreme fear. He wanted to retract the Soul-Severing Sword, only to find that the blade was already locked by the Sword Intent in Lin Yue's palm, unable to move. Lin Yue applied a slight pressure with his fingers, and with a crisp "crack," the Semi-Immortal Artifact Soul-Severing Sword was snapped by him. The broken blade turned to ash and dissipated into the air.

"No—!" Jian Huang let out a desperate howl.

Lin Yue's figure flashed, appearing before Jian Huang in an instant. He raised his hand and threw a punch, striking him hard in the chest. This punch had no flourishes, only pure, crushing power. The force of the punch penetrated Jian Huang's protective spiritual light, shattered his Meridians, and even directly dispersed his half-burned False Core.

Jian Huang felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He flew backward like a broken kite, crashing heavily into a giant rock deep within the Sword Tomb. The rock collapsed, burying him beneath it, leaving only a limply hanging arm visible. His aura was completely severed—his False Core was shattered, his Meridians were broken, and all his vitality was gone.

Above the Sword Tomb, the Nascent Soul Elder of the Yujian Sect suddenly stood up, his face as pale as iron, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white. He stared fixedly at Lin Yue on the Secret Realm crystal screen, his eyes filled with disbelief and deep wariness. He murmured in a hoarse voice: "The Foundation Establishment Stage... his Physical Body is actually strong to such an extent, and he can even fuse the four types of Dao charms: Formation, Sword, Poison, and Wood... This boy is terrifying! If he is allowed to grow, he will surely be a catastrophe for our Yujian Sect in the future!"

The Elders of other Sects around also showed their emotions, their gazes toward Lin Yue filled with shock and greed. A Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator who possessed the strength to crush a Peak False Core; such a Prodigy had not been seen in the entire Cultivation World for thousands of years!

The people from the Qingyun Sect crowded around, their faces filled with smiles of shock and wild joy.

Ling Wei clutched her chest, looking at Lin Yue's back, her eyes full of admiration and pride. Su Qingyuan stepped forward, gently taking Lin Yue's hand, feeling the warmth of his palm, and said softly: "Lin Yue, you've worked hard."

Lin Yue shook his head, the spiritual light around him slowly receding, and the aura of the Star-Moon Dao Body gradually calming. He looked at the four women beside him and smiled: "With you all here, I will never feel it's hard."

Luo Ningshuang stepped forward and handed him a healing Medicinal Pill, her tone carrying a hint of concern: "Although your Physical Body is strong, taking a strike from a burning False Core head-on just now must have caused some internal injuries. Quickly, take this."

A He also nodded, channeling her Vegetation Vitality. A stream of green warmth was injected into Lin Yue's body, helping him regulate his aura.

Lin Yue took the pill and swallowed it, feeling the warmth surging within him, his heart filled with warmth.

He looked up toward the outside of the Sword Tomb, his gaze firm: "The Top 8 Battle is won. Next is the Top 4! No matter what opponent we face, I will lead everyone and walk to the very end!"

Within the Sword Tomb, the flag of the Qingyun Sect fluttered in the wind, making a snapping sound.

Sunlight pierced through the Sword Intent barrier of the Sword Tomb, shining on everyone and reflecting faces full of hope and determination.

As all members of the Yujian Sect lost their combat capability, the teleportation Formation of the Secret Realm battlefield slowly lit up. Under the gaze of countless complex eyes, the people of the Qingyun Sect slowly stepped into the teleportation Formation, continuing forward on the path to the Top 4.