Chapter 343

Chapter 343: The One-Strike Killing Cursed Blade

The unleashed Infinite Chains formed a cage-like sealed domain that completely trapped Lu Yun.

At first, he could still muster the energy within his body, struggling to break free from the Heavenly Lock Realm.

But the combined forces of Divinity of Silence, Root Word "Fixing," and Mu Lin’s comprehension of hell created an inescapable prison.

As time passed, the divinity silence grew stronger, gradually sealing both his magic and spells.

Deprived of magical power, Lu Yun became like any ordinary person.

In this state, he stood no chance against Yan Yunyu, who effortlessly sent him flying with a chain whip.

“First down.”

After defeating Lu Yun, Yan Yunyu remained on the stage. Her gaze swept across the northern aristocrats’ section, a sneer curling her lips.

This mockery wasn’t for herself – she sought to avenge Mu Lin’s honor.

“That’s it?”

“You dared insult Mu brother as a coward? I expected real strength, yet you can’t even defeat me. How dare weaklings like you mock him? If Mu brother’s feeble, what does that make you – trash?”

“Arrogant wench!”

Her scorn provoked a gloomy-faced man into action.

He leapt onto the platform before the Heavenly Lock Realm fully dissipated.

“One trinket doesn’t make you our equal! You’re unworthy!”

His figure vanished with a whoosh before he finished speaking.

Yan Yunyu jerked her head around in alarm, searching for her opponent.

A shadowy silhouette suddenly materialized from her own shadow – the attacker possessed shadow-teleportation abilities, aiming to kill her before the Infinite Chains could react.

His plan half-succeeded. By avoiding direct confrontation, he exploited the sealed space for his ambush.

Though lacking combat instinct, Yan Yunyu’s chains reacted swiftly. Sensing spatial disturbances, chains speared toward the shadow.

Thunk! The chain impaled the gloomy man… yet drew no blood. He’d transformed into shadow energy through Shadow Avatar, evading physical binding.

But within the Heavenly Lock Realm, the chains’ silencing power still affected him. The pierced shadow-body began flickering, showing signs of disintegration.

Continuous strikes could destroy this avatar – but time was scarce. The shadowy figure already loomed over Yan Yunyu.

“Die!”

A venomous dark dagger thrust toward her back.

Watching through Yan Yunyu’s perspective, Mu Lin sighed helplessly.

"Her combat awareness was too poor. The moment the enemy vanished, she should’ve immediately defended herself… But then again, Yunyu had never experienced real battle. Panic was inevitable when facing such a ruthless opponent."

Mu Lin thought this but didn’t intervene. Having shared his authority and glory, Yan Yunyu wouldn’t die easily.

"Thud!"

Before Yunyu could react, the shadowy dagger dripping with curses plunged into her back, drawing a bloodcurdling scream.

"Aah—!"

As she cried out, the prison chains clattered violently while retracting toward her.

"Vvrrrmm!"

The shrinking Heavenly Lock Realm tightened its grip, intensifying spatial suppression until the air itself seemed to solidify.

The dark man’s shadow-body flickered under this pressure, his power destabilizing. His Shadow Jump ability failed him now – the Root Word "Fixing" had anchored space itself. Earlier he’d exploited Yunyu’s unpreparedness, but targeted suppression left him no escape.

Yet Pan Gong showed no fear despite his trapped shadow avatar.

"Crunch!"

He viciously twisted the dagger deeper into Yunyu’s wound. "Too late," he sneered. "My curse already poisons your flesh, soul, and magic. You’re done. If I were you, I’d surrender. Stop using magic and you might survive. The more you struggle…"

"Whap!"

His gloating ended abruptly as Yunyu sent a dozen chains lashing at him. Trapped without Shadow Jump and weakened by the Heavenly Lock Realm, even his formidable skills couldn’t prevent several hits.

"Thwack! Thud! Crack!"

The relentless strikes dimmed his flickering shadow-form. Still, his cocky smirk remained – this challenger had real skill. Between his phantom movements and cursed blade, he dodged most chains despite suppression, retreating meters away with mere scrapes.

Though the tightening Heavenly Lock Realm and endless Infinite Chains would eventually silence him completely, Pan Gong only stared at Yunyu with deathly calm. To him, she already belonged to the grave.

“Fool! Heaven offered you a path, yet you charged through hell’s gates. I warned you earlier—had you surrendered immediately after being struck by my cursed blade, there might still have been a sliver of hope. But now, the forbidden shadow curse has seeped deep into your flesh, magic, and soul.”

“You’re doomed!”

Pan Gong declared coldly as he glared at Yan Yunyu.

He wasn’t alone in believing her fate was sealed.

In previous battles, Pan Gong’s cursed blade had already carved its infamy.

The clashes between Southern Prodigies and northern prodigies remained disputes, not outright war. Clan elders from powerful clans always supervised these fights.

Yet even under such oversight, Pan Gong had slaughtered two Southern Prodigies and left three others permanently maimed. The cursed blade’s dread was why southern talents had hesitated to challenge northern rivals.

Its horrors were undeniable: breaking spiritual defenses, shattering magic, corroding shadows, venomous corruption, curses of weakness and decay—all fused into one vile dagger.

A touch caused wounds; a scratch meant death.

Now this nightmare blade had plunged into Yan Yunyu’s back and twisted viciously. Pan Gong smirked, certain of her demise. Others agreed.

By the arena’s edge, spectators rose with furrowed brows.

“Trouble brews—Mu Lin and Yan Yunyu are close. If she dies, he’ll rage!”

“Not our fault. Had she died during our scheme, we’d face consequences. But she stepped forward willingly or by Mu Lin’s order. Her death will only turn his wrath toward the northern aristocrats.”

“Yuer’s done for… Our investments ruined!”

The arena erupted the moment the cursed blade struck. Some mourned; others sneered, scenting opportunity.

“Fool! No battle talent, yet you strut?”

“Arrogance kills. Who else but you deserves this?”

“With Yan Yunyu gone, Mu Lin’s side lies open…”

Noble young ladies coveted Yan Yunyu’s sudden rise in power. Though she now faced death, they didn’t blame Mu Lin—this was her own doing. Her earlier clumsiness proved her unfit for combat. Charging blindly into battle? She’d courted death.

…

A girl by the arena watched with shining eyes, eager for Yan Yunyu’s end. On the stage, Pan Gong dodged chain attacks while awaiting the curse’s eruption.

But after a dozen breaths… Yan Yunyu stood unharmed.

Instead, Pan Gong was driven to a desperate corner by the chains, almost completely restrained.

At this moment, Pan Gong sensed danger.

Yet he refused to accept reality, choosing to keep dodging while awaiting the curse’s eruption from Yan Yunyu.

"I don’t believe you’re alive! My cursed blade can kill even Transformation-stage experts!"

Clutching this belief, Pan Gong persisted for several breaths.

Yan Yunyu remained unaffected throughout.

Instead, Pan Gong became fully bound while the enraged Yan Yunyu kept lashing him with chains in her Rage.

"Whack!" "Whack!" "Whack!"

The brutal strikes tore Pan Gong’s flesh and shattered his bones.

Such injuries would cripple any ordinary person.

But Pan Gong ignored his wounds, staring at Yan Yunyu in utter shock.

"Impossible! My cursed blade’s strike should be unstoppable! How are you unharmed?"

The devastating backstab should’ve been fatal – Pan Gong knew he couldn’t survive it himself. Yet Yan Yunyu only screamed initially before showing no further effects.

This shattered Pan Gong’s understanding of the world.

The spectators shared his disbelief, especially those who knew the cursed blade’s power.

"Why?"

"Is Yan Yunyu’s defense that strong?"

"This isn’t just strong – it’s downright unnatural!"

While the crowd buzzed in confusion, clan elders from powerful clans understood the truth.

"Stop guessing. Her protection comes from the chains binding her own body, not physical defense."

"Binding herself… to seal injuries?"

Some quick-witted observers grasped the meaning.

"Exactly. Her jewelry – the wristbands, anklets, and necklace – are all manifestations of Infinite Chains."

"These chains seal any foreign energy entering her body. Pan Gong’s curse never activated – it’s been frozen inside her."

"But the back wound…"

"The injury was transferred elsewhere." An elder sighed admiringly. "You forget – Mu Lin’s true expertise isn’t offense or defense, but survival."

"He died over a hundred times in Grave Lord’s secret realm yet emerged unscathed. As his woman, Yan Yunyu inherited this – she’s harder to kill than Transformation-stage experts."

This declaration sparked envy among noble young ladies and southern aristocrats alike.

Survival meant everything. Unlike sheltered noblewomen, clan heirs risked death competing for resources. Yan Yunyu’s dual protections – energy-sealing chains and injury transfer – became their ultimate desire.

"What waste, giving such power to her!"

"Does Mu Lin really refuse male followers…?"

Some male heirs even considered switching allegiances. Amidst the envy, someone voiced a startling thought:

"With Infinite Chains and substitution ability… could Yan Yunyu defeat northern aristocrats before they even meet Mu Lin?"

"Hah! The northerners would be utterly humiliated!"

"More than humiliation – with Mu Lin’s existence, even if we southerners lose every other match, we still win. Their entire scheme collapses."

"Rumor says Mu Lin initially pitied the northerners, refusing to fight. Their arrogance forced his hand. I wonder if they regret it now?"