Chapter 403
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Chapter 403: I Will Never Kill You with My Own Hands
“Senior Brother Duan, how’s your recovery? It’s your turn now!”
Ye Yun’s words exploded like thunder, jolting Duan Guangchen to his feet.
“Ye Yun! You swore you wouldn’t act! How dare you break your word?”
Ye Yun chuckled. “I said *I* wouldn’t act, and I’ll keep that promise. But someone else might. Take it up with Duan Chenfeng.”
Duan Chenfeng had recovered considerably. His cultivation level had originally reached the foundation establishment stage, but after being drained, it nearly dropped to the pinnacle of the Qi refining stage. Even with Duan Guangchen’s severe injuries, he shouldn’t be a match.
Earlier, Duan Guangchen had allied with Hualun to kill Ye Yun, only to be grievously wounded instead. Though he’d bought time to heal with pills, Ye Yun’s One Sword technique had wounded four Hidden Dragon Guards while Sword Energy struck Duan Guangchen himself. Though not bleeding openly, the blow worsened his injuries, leaving less than a tenth of his power.
As someone at the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment stage, even a tenth of Duan Guangchen’s strength should overwhelm Duan Chenfeng. Yet hearing Ye Yun’s declaration froze him with terror.
“Don’t worry—I won’t lift a finger to kill you. My word stands.” Ye Yun smiled, reading Duan Guangchen’s fear.
Duan Guangchen eyed both men warily before rasping, “Duan Chenfeng! My offer remains—the throne, the palace treasures, everything. Just let me live.”
Duan Chenfeng spread his palm, revealing a teal orb emitting gentle light—the Soul Nurturing Jade. “Without this, my soul would’ve shattered! How could I fight now?” He glared. “You beg for mercy *after* trying to murder us?”
“Wrong, Brother Duan.” Ye Yun interjected cheerfully. “He tried killing us *to* survive. Now he’s bargaining instead of fighting. Slight difference!”
Duan Chenfeng’s face darkened. A battle spear materialized in his grip, its tip leveled at Duan Guangchen. “Come. Die.”
Duan Guangchen’s expression twisted. “You can’t defeat me.”
Though reduced to a fraction of his power, facing Duan Chenfeng’s diminished cultivation, he still held the advantage. Yet he hesitated—daring not test Ye Yun’s patience.
“We’ll see.” Duan Chenfeng’s spear trembled with fury.
Duan Guangchen shot Ye Yun a pleading look.
“My promise holds.” Ye Yun raised his hands innocently. “I won’t kill you.”
Desperation flickered in Duan Guangchen’s eyes. Trusting nothing, yet seeing no alternative, he tensed for battle.
Ye Yun strolled aside and traced a ten-zhang-wide circle around them. “Fight here. Step outside, and you lose.”
Duan Guangchen blinked. Knocking Duan Chenfeng out without harming him might satisfy Ye Yun’s conditions…
Duan Chenfeng frowned at Ye Yun, who waved dismissively. “Just fight.”
With a roar, Duan Chenfeng lunged. Black light rippled along his spear as it tore through the air.
Duan Guangchen raised a finger. Invisible force lashed out, striking the spear’s tip.
*Clang!*
The impact numbed Duan Chenfeng’s hand. His spear nearly flew loose.
Duan Chenfeng’s face turned ashen. He hadn’t expected Duan Guangchen—already gravely wounded with his cultivation level plummeted—to shatter his killing move with a single effortless finger.
Little did he know, Duan Guangchen’s heart also burned with bitterness. He yearned to slay both Duan Chenfeng and Ye Yun yet found himself powerless. Even now, he feared striking Duan Chenfeng too harshly, settling instead for deflecting attacks until he could push the youth beyond the circle’s edge for a hollow victory.
Duan Guangchen’s greatest terror was Ye Yun abruptly changing tactics. One direct strike from that young man would end everything. Humiliation choked the monarch—a king reduced to having his life dangled by others’ whims.
Ye Yun stayed silent, observing both with an amused smile.
Duan Chenfeng steadied his breath, gathering true qi. Even if killing Duan Guangchen proved impossible, he’d test the man’s limits with a full-force strike.
More importantly, he knew Ye Yun. The guy nursed grudges like treasures. Letting Duan Guangchen walk free? Impossible. Whatever Ye Yun claimed about not intervening, tricks lurked beneath his words.
“Duan Guangchen! Catch this!” Duan Chenfeng roared, lunging two steps forward. His battle spear’s divine rainbow transformed into a streak aimed at the monarch’s heart.
Duan Guangchen frowned wearily. Though this attack could harm his weakened state, blocking it should’ve been simple. He shook his head and moved to intercept—
Then his legs turned to lead. His arm lifted sluggishly, as if the very air clung to his limbs, each motion draining true qi like a sieve.
Disaster. Already crippled, his cultivation barely a tenth intact, Duan Guangchen now faced true qi costs multiplied fiftyfold. Panic surged as he unleashed reserves recklessly, barely raising an arm. Dodging proved impossible. The spear’s black light grazed his limb before striking true.
Ye Yun’s earlier strikes had shattered Duan Guangchen’s defenses. The spear pierced clean through his right lung, bursting from his back.
Both men froze, disbelief mirrored in their eyes. Duan Chenfeng never imagined landing such a blow. Duan Guangchen gaped at the spatial trap draining his strength.
The monarch whirled toward Ye Yun, fury and confusion twisting his features. “You… cheated!”
Ye Yun shrugged. “I promised not to kill you. Said nothing about arrays.”
“What array?!” Duan Guangchen spat. Though the spatial stagnation had lifted, the gaping chest wound and drained true qi left him helpless.
“A petty spatial array. Master spatial laws, and it’s child’s play. Why else mark a circle?” Truthfully, Ye Yun had consulted the Ancestor of the Sword Path for this trick—a simple trap thickening space around one target, multiplying their qi costs while leaving others untouched.
“Oathbreaker! Mental Demons will devour you!” Duan Guangchen’s curses rang hollow.
Ye Yun waved dismissively. “Finish it, Senior Brother Duan.”
The battle spear flashed. Duan Chenfeng drove it through the monarch’s abdomen, true qi shredding five internal organs to fragments.
Duan Guangchen stared at his ruined gut, despair drowning defiance. “May… every breakthrough… haunt you… heavenly thunder… death and… spirit’s end…”
The fallen king collapsed. His body stilled, spirit scattering like smoke.
