Chapter 76: This Kid is Truly an Actor!

Lu Jin’s opening performance drew sighs of disappointment from many disciples, while also causing the experts of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, Great Wind Hall, and Carefree Valley to look on with complex expressions.

“Could Young Friend Lu Jin’s combat strength really be this poor?”

“Is his spiritual Qi cultivation limited, and he only relies on a stronger mental power?”

“No, we have barely begun. He must have a trump card!”

Boom!

As the crowd murmured, another streak of sword light from Liu Ruyan slashed horizontally. Every single spirit sword Lu Jin had manifested was shattered into fragments. The chaotic aftershock sent his body stumbling backward, nearly pitching him off the Life-and-Death Stage!

This…

This scene left everyone in disbelief! Many were utterly disappointed by Lu Jin’s performance today. After this period of seclusion, should he not have significantly increased his strength just like Liu Ruyan? How could he be suppressed by her right from the start, showing no apparent ability to resist?

While the crowd stood dazed, Chu Tianxiong’s gaze remained exceptionally calm. To him, Lu Jin’s current behavior was nothing more than a game.

In the crowd, Long Xiwei’s face grew increasingly tense. The spiritual energy swirling between her fingers thickened by another layer.

After being forced back by Liu Ruyan’s strike, Lu Jin stood at the very edge of the stage and suddenly spoke: “Liu Ruyan! Even if I suffered internal trauma from rushing my cultivation, killing me today will not be that easy!”

Those words left the crowd stunned.

Internal injuries?

No wonder he was being suppressed! But to dare step onto a Life-and-Death Stage against the Saintess while injured… You are clearly just delivering yourself to the grave! The worry in Long Xiwei’s eyes deepened.

However, a group of disciples immediately began to mock him with malicious glee.

“This Lu Jin truly does not know the height of the heavens. He dares to take the stage while injured? Just how much misplaced confidence does he have!”

“His opponent is the Saintess! Who does he think he is? To slight the Saintess is to seek a one-way path to death!”

“So he is injured. It seems he won’t be walking off that stage alive today.”

The discussions rose and fell in waves. Some of Lu Jin’s supporters even looked ready to trade blows with Liu Ruyan’s followers.

On the stage, Liu Ruyan’s brow furrowed. “Heh. Lu Jin, since you stepped onto the Life-and-Death Stage, only life and death matter. Do you think that by claiming to be injured, this Saintess will show mercy? Keep dreaming!”

Boom!

Liu Ruyan’s gaze turned even colder. The spiritual energy swirling around the black longsword in her hand became more violent than before! Since Lu Jin was injured, she would take advantage of his weakness to end his life. She would leave no future troubles behind!

“Stop!”

Suddenly, from the highest seat of honor, Chu Tianxiong spoke. This move caught everyone by surprise. Originally, the Sect Master himself had promised that no one would interfere in this duel. Yet now, he seemed ready to intervene?

“Lu Jin, since you have injuries, we shall fight another day!”

His words left the crowd speechless. Liu Ruyan’s face became as unsightly as if she had swallowed a fly. If Chu Tianxiong stepped in to stop it, her chance to kill Lu Jin would vanish!

Master, how exactly did you die? If you were here, you could have helped me obliterate Lu Jin!

Liu Ruyan thought of Ji Yaoyue, having already heard the news that the soul lamps of several Peak Masters had extinguished.

The other Peak Masters and Elders were caught in their own internal dilemmas when they heard Lu Jin speak again: “Lord Sect Master! Today, I must settle this with her, even if it means death! You are afflicted with a lethal poison, and it is inconvenient for you to interfere. Your health is the priority.”

Huh?

Lu Jin’s words caused the faces of the crowd to shift once more!

The Sect Master was poisoned? Was he merely forcing himself to maintain a strong front?

Chu Tianxiong’s expression shifted slightly as he took a deep breath, looking quite helpless. “Indeed. Some incidents occurred within the sect recently, and I was struck by a lethal poison while handling them. Fortunately, the traitors have been purged! Though I cannot currently exert even the strength of a 7th-grade Jindan, I still have the confidence to stop the 6th-grade Saintess from killing you. Furthermore, the Saintess will surely give this Sect Master face!”

After saying this, Chu Tianxiong stole a glance at Lu Jin, thinking to himself: This kid is truly a natural actor.

The atmosphere turned strange. When did the high and mighty Sect Master ever need to actively “beg for face” from the Saintess? The only logical reason was that he truly was poisoned, and his posture had become humble because of it!

“So that is how it is…”

In the seating area for the Peak Masters, the head of Demon-Slaughtering Peak looked on with a dark expression before turning to Elder Chen Jiang. This Chen Jiang was the Master of Yang Dianfeng; although his cultivation had been abolished by Lu Jin, he still held a high status due to his disciple.

Hearing Chu Tianxiong’s words, a cold light surfaced on their faces.

“It seems Chu Tianxiong was indeed poisoned during his fierce battle with Wan Helai and the others! With his combat power decimated, let alone this Peak Master, even the Saintess could cut him down!”

“Correct, Peak Master Pang Ming. This is an opportunity. Not only can we avenge Wan Helai and the rest, but it is also the perfect time to seize total control of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect!”

“Secretly notify the other Blood Messengers in the sect. Prepare to move when the timing is right and take down Chu Tianxiong!”

An undercurrent of rebellion surged in the shadows.

Liu Ruyan’s expression also shifted slightly at Chu Tianxiong’s words. Her eyes scanned the stage, and after locking gazes with Peak Master Pang Ming, the two of them shared a subtle, knowing nod.

“Lord Sect Master, you were the one who personally said that no one was permitted to interfere in this life-and-death duel!”

“What, is the Sect Master going to go back on his word today?”

Liu Ruyan looked at Chu Tianxiong with cold eyes. It seemed that after his admission, her last shred of awe for him had completely vanished! After all, if he was poisoned and only had the strength of a 7th-grade Jindan left, she could obliterate him even if he were at the 8th or 9th grade!

“What? Is the Saintess refusing to give this Seat face?” Chu Tianxiong asked, his eyes turning cold.

Liu Ruyan’s voice was full of killing intent: “Today, Lu Jin must die. No one can stop me!”

Chu Tianxiong looked ready to argue further, but Lu Jin interrupted: “Heh. In that case, enough nonsense! Today, I shall settle our years of grievances once and for all!”

Clang!

As Lu Jin’s voice fell, spiritual Qi surged into his palm. He made a sudden grasping motion, and a crimson longsword radiating a majestic sword-might appeared in his hand!

“Ten Thousand Swords Sovereign Manual, Third Style: Sword Opens the Heaven Gate!”

Compared to the previous swarm of a thousand swords, this single blade lacked that massive scale but was infinitely sharper. Violent thunder rolled across the blade; Lu Jin was clearly unleashing a lethal trump card!

“Hmph. If this is all the power you can muster, you might as well commit suicide now to save yourself the trouble. If you remain stubborn, this Saintess does not mind letting you taste every agony before I cut you down!”