Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The atmosphere at Ling Yun's end was extremely intense.

The strength of the opponents were overwhelming. There were three Houtian Realm Level Nine a.s.sa.s.sins, He Xingyan, who was at the pinnacle of Houtian Realm Level Eight, and Priestess Heartless, who was at the beginner level of Houtian Realm Level Eight. They peered down sn.o.bbishly at their easy prey.

Ling Yun's team consisted of Dugu Mo, who was at the pinnacle of Houtian Realm Level Eight, Ling Yun, who was at Physique Tempering Stage Level 3, and Miao Xiaomiao and the nine-tailed celestial fox, who were both at Houtian Realm Level Six.

The rest were no different from normal people in the eyes of the opponents.

Zhuang Meifeng was reduced to tears. She struggled internally before making a crazy decision. Zhuang Meifeng bit her lips in determination and declared, “Everything started with me, so it should end with me! I am willing to marry Sun Xing, even as his mistress. Please, just let Ling Yun go!”

Everyone in Ling Yun's camp including Miao Xiaomiao and Zhuang Meina were dumbfounded by Zhuang Meifeng's resolution. They gawked at her, speechless.

Earlier Zhuang Meifeng had said that she would rather die than to marry Sun Xing. Was she going to abandon everything — her life, her love and her chast.i.ty — in exchange for Ling Yun's life?

Zhuang Meifeng steadied herself and started walking down the stairway to prove her point.

However, Ling Yun smiled and gently pulled her back into his arms. He gave her a charming smile and said with great affection, “Silly girl, those three newcomers are a.s.sa.s.sins that came just for me. They have no relations.h.i.+p with the Sun Family. I wouldn't be Ling Yun if I were to exchange my wife for my life!”

Ling Yun handed Zhuang Meifeng over to Xiao Meimei's care for the time being. He then addressed the sea of beauties. “You are all to stay here obediently unless I am dead. Anyone who does otherwise will be spanked!”

Ling Yun flashed a cheeky grin at the crowd before entering the battlefield alone against the five masters.

“Brat, your courage impresses me, even though I have to kill you!”

Tian Jiu's sharp eyes sparkled with surprise and admiration.

“Bring it on, don't sprout nonsense!” Ling Yun maximized the strength of his Stellar Condensation Technique and Dragon Fish Phantom Ability. He appeared directly in front of Tian Jiu and invoked the Vault of Heaven Fist!

Tian Jiu snickered and met Ling Yun's attack with his palms!

“Pu…” The strong force from Tian Jiu's palms forced Ling Yun backwards by eight meters. Ling Yun spat out blood!

“Ling Yun!” The sea of beauties cried out in horror!

Tian Jiu stood smiling at the same spot. “Ling Yun, your technique is indeed unique. It allows you to be on par with someone at Houtian Realm Level Eight. However, didn't your Master educate you that the gap between Houtian Realm Level Nine and the pinnacle of Houtian Realm Level Eight is not simply an increase of your level?”

The pinnacle of Houtian Realm Level Eight and Houtian Realm Level Nine was an extensive qualitative leap; just one step away from the Xiantian Realm. It was a whole new ground in the cultivation of martial arts!

Ling Yun took the initiative to attack, but was injured with just one stroke from Tian Jiu. This was unprecedented for Ling Yun!

The difference in their levels was just too immense. Currently at Houtian Realm Level Five, Ling Yun was four major realms below Tian Jiu. It was akin to a three-year-old toddler fighting against an adult. The winner was apparent.

“Incredible! He can probably take on seven or eight of He Xingyan by himself!” Ling Yun determined Tian Jiu's strength with a glance.

Little White, Dugu Mo and Miao Xiaomiao appeared beside Ling Yun's side with a whoosh.

Tian Jiu was a heaven-ranked killer, highly skilled yet cautious. He summoned his comrades as well when he saw Dugu Mo and the rest coming forward. His sole purpose was to kill Ling Yun.

Tian s.h.i.+er, Tian s.h.i.+san and He Xingyan came forward, leaving Priestess Heartless with Niu Fenjiao and Sun Xing to protect them in case Ling Yun chose to sneakily attack them.

“s.h.i.+er, you deal with the guy with the sword. s.h.i.+san, you deal with the girl. Be careful of her golden silkworm. As for you, old man He, the white fox is a spiritual beast. Do your best to capture it.”

Tian Jiu was good leaders.h.i.+p material with his brilliant mind. He quickly a.s.signed an opponent to each to his teammates and also a.n.a.lyzed the enemy's attributes for them to be wary of.

Then, Tian Jiu smiled and went straight for Ling Yun with a punch!

Tian Jiu was too simply too fast. Ling Yun could not dodge in time and simply returned his attack with the Tiangang Demon Fist!

“Boom!” Two fists met. Ling Yun was thrown more than ten meters away and coughed up blood once again!

The rest were engaged in their own battles. After less than ten seconds, Miao Xiaomiao let out a painful howl!

Even though she was well-versed in the use of poison and Gu, they were just too unevenly matched. Her right arm was sliced open with a dagger by Tian s.h.i.+san.

Miao Xiaomiao's arm would have been disabled if Tian s.h.i.+san had not been avoiding the attack from the superior golden silkworm.

Ling Yun stood back on his feet only to see Little White yelping in pain. Its beautiful white coat of fur was dyed red with its own blood after being hit by He Xingyan's deadly coin.

Dugu Mo was also having a hard time fending off Tian s.h.i.+er with his two daggers slicing at him!

Ling Yun had less than ten percent of his spiritual energy after only two attacks!

Ling Yun wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth. His eyes burst with murderous intent and he pulled out the mystical brus.h.!.+

“Eh… Isn't this?!” Tian Jiu's eyes flashed with uncontainable excitement like a beggar who saw a huge bun after going hungry for three whole days.

Tian Jiu came to Ling Yun's side immediately. He aimed his right fist at Ling Yun's chest while making a grab at the mystical brush with his left.

Ling Yun knew that he would not be able to dodge Tian Jiu's attack. He hurriedly invoked his Stellar Condensation Technique to move his body slightly to avoid taking the hit directly at a vital. Ling Yun waved the mystical brush like a sword towards Tian Jiu's impending hand.

The Formless Sword Technique!

The brush embodied the reasonings of Heaven and Earth. A strong gust of wind formed at the nib of the brush. It followed a mysterious trajectory and pierced right into Tian Jiu's palm!

s.h.i.+…

Peng…

At the same moment, Tian Jiu's right first landed squarely on Ling Yun's chest!

Ling Yun flew even further away this time. His body landed limp on the floor, depleted of spiritual energy.

“Ah!” Tian Jiu cried out in pain, his eyes flas.h.i.+ng with murderous intent. A huge hole had appeared on Tian Jiu's palm where the mystical brush pierced him. Blood gushed out.

“Ah —”

“Ling Yun!”

The spectators in Ling Yun's camp cried out in horror as their comrades fell one by one.

Tian Jiu inspected the big hole in his palm and started laughing like crazy! He lifted his head towards the sky and smiled. “I guessed it correctly; that is really it! I got it without expending much effort!”

Tian Jiu casually sealed two acupuncture points on his arm to stop the bleeding. He then strolled towards Ling Yun.

“Am I really going to die?”

Ling Yun tilted his head towards the Heavens and asked himself!

In the distant dark woods, a s.e.xy woman in black suit sighed and was about to join the fight!

However, the dynamics started changing again in the arena!

Ling Yun was unwillingly preparing himself for death as he laid sprawled out on the cold ground. To his delight, a ma.s.sive amount of spiritual energy started pouring into him from the mystical brus.h.!.+

It was… the Immortal Spiritual Energy! The brush contained more Immortal Spiritual Energy than the amount that it absorbed from Ling Yun!

However, Tian Jiu had already stopped in front of the immobile Ling Yun.

Tian Jiu ecstatically bent down in a bid to wriggle the mystical brush out of Ling Yun's grip.

Tian Jiu's body suddenly shot dozens of meters away like a bullet with a loud pow .

What happened?! How did the immobile Ling Yun manage to send Tian Jiu flying with his injury?

“Stop fighting those your opponents. Kill Ling Yun first! He has the Emperor Brus.h.!.+” Tian Jiu ordered Tian s.h.i.+er and Tian s.h.i.+san.

“What?!”

“What?!”

“What?!”

Everyone who had the faintest idea of what the Emperor Brush was stopped in their tracks and looked towards Ling Yun incredulously.

“Stop gawking! The Emperor Brush has already pledged its allegiance to Ling Yun and recognized him as its Master. Ling Yun has to die before we can lay our hands on the Emperor Brus.h.!.+”