Chapter 171: Ye Yun’s Tenth-Level Spirit Source! A Battle to the Death!
Moments earlier, while Lin Qi’an was engaged in an intense battle against the elites of the Tianhai Dao Domain, Ye Yun arrived unnoticed.
At that time, all eyes were fixated on the fierce fight unfolding. Seizing the opportunity, Ye Yun began systematically eliminating the spectators from his own Canglan Dao Domain.
He wasn’t merely defeating them—he was killing them outright. His goal was sinister: to absorb their spirit sources.
Approaching each individual under the guise of a fellow observer, he would strike suddenly, piercing their chests with his palm and incinerating their internal organs into charred remains.
Through this vile method, Ye Yun killed nearly ten people, successfully advancing to the Ninth-Level Spirit Source.
Most were too absorbed in Lin Qi’an’s battle to notice. However, as the duel concluded, a female cultivator stumbled upon the horrific scene of Ye Yun’s actions and screamed in terror.
“Ah!!!”
“Ye Yun has slaughtered many cultivators from the Canglan Dao Domain!” Her exclamation sent shockwaves through the crowd, as if a massive boulder had been thrown into a calm sea.
“What? Isn’t Ye Yun one of us?”
“Exactly! Why would he kill our own people?”
“He might have a grudge against Lin Qi’an, but what enmity does he have with others?”
When the gruesome truth became evident, it ignited an uproar among the Canglan Dao Domain cultivators. Their fury overshadowed even the joy of Lin Qi’an’s victory.
Ye Yun’s actions were seen as monstrous. To gain spirit sources, he had resorted to massacring his own allies.
Even Zhao Yunji, a prominent figure, was left aghast. Once, Ye Yun had been her loyal guard, but now he had turned into a devil, “This treacherous fiend! When he shows himself, I will kill him!”
“This man must not be allowed to live!”
“He is a disgrace to the Canglan Dao Domain!”
Countless influential figures prepared to eliminate Ye Yun. What they didn’t realize was that he had no intention of leaving the secret realm. His only objective was to defeat and kill Lin Qi’an at any cost, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.
Since cultivating the forbidden technique Black Yang, Ye Yun had become consumed by madness. The sole thought driving him was to humiliate and annihilate Lin Qi’an in front of everyone. Only then could he settle the unresolved grievances of the past.
The insignificant lives he claimed meant nothing to him. He harbored no guilt or hesitation.
—
Inside the secret realm, Lin Qi’an had just concluded his duel with the Tianhai Dao Domain when Ye Yun launched a sudden assault. A blazing sun erupted as Ye Yun wielded his sacred weapon, the Sunflare Sword, creating an explosion akin to a miniature supernova.
Ye Yun’s intention was unmistakable. He sought to absorb the scattered spirit sources from the battlefield and elevate himself to the Tenth-Level Spirit Source, achieving the pinnacle of power within the secret realm.
Only by attaining this ultimate boost could he stand a chance of defeating Lin Qi’an.
“This despicable creature…”
“He didn’t even assist the prince earlier, and now he’s ambushing him!”
“Wait, his target is the lingering spirit sources!”
The spectators outside were both furious and helpless. Bound by the limitations of the secret realm, they could do nothing but watch. Even the Tianhai Dao Domain cultivators were stunned, mocking the infighting among their enemies.
“Does Ye Yun bear some deep hatred for Lin Qi’an?”
“Haha, this is unexpected entertainment!”
“If Ye Yun kills Lin Qi’an, I’d thank his ancestors for eighteen generations!”
“Hahaha!”
Zhao Yunji clenched her fists, her icy expression revealing her rage. For the first time, she felt an overwhelming desire to personally end someone’s life. Unbeknownst to her, Lin Qi’an had grown increasingly significant in her heart.
Lin Liuli, on the other hand, could hardly restrain herself from rushing into the secret realm. However, she was forcibly held back. Intervening now would be futile, as they lacked the strength to alter the situation.
Meanwhile, Lin Qi’an’s maids and confidantes had unanimously placed Ye Yun on their must-kill list.
—
A terrifying scene unfolded.
Ye Yun succeeded in his vile ambition. After absorbing every available spirit source, he broke through to the Tenth-Level Spirit Source, reaching the secret realm’s ultimate limit.
His aura surged into the heavens, merging with the very fabric of the realm. His eyes gleamed with divine light, resembling the descent of a celestial god.
Every gesture he made shook the earth, causing mountains to tremble and all things to bow before his overwhelming might.
“Hehehehe…” Ye Yun’s laughter echoed across the heavens and the earth, “So this is what true power feels like? Absolutely marvelous!”
“Lin Qi’an, I should thank you for giving me such a wonderful opportunity.”
Suspended mid-air, Ye Yun looked down at Lin Qi’an with arrogance. Though his earlier sneak attack hadn’t injured Lin Qi’an, it successfully delayed him, providing Ye Yun the crucial window to absorb the spirit sources. Now, he had truly become the strongest in the secret realm.
—
“This is bad! Ye Yun has reached the Tenth-Level Spirit Source!”
“Your highness, retreat! You cannot face him head-on!”
“Yes, hurry and crush your pendant to escape! What are you waiting for? You’ll be too late otherwise!”
“This lunatic clearly has malicious intentions toward the prince—he must be stopped!”
The danger Lin Qi’an now faced far exceeded any of his previous battles.
“I’ve never seen a Tenth-Level Spirit Source in this secret realm before. How terrifying is it, exactly? Why can’t the prince fight him?”
“Exactly! The prince defeated so many elites already. How could he not handle just one person?”
Some younger cultivators voiced their confusion, blindly believing in Lin Qi’an’s abilities. Their ignorance made them fearless.
“You fools know nothing!” an elder with white hair spat, his voice trembling with passion. “The last time someone managed to absorb enough spirit sources to reach the Tenth-Level, do you know what happened?”
“That person, who was otherwise unremarkable in strength, single-handedly crushed every prodigy in the secret realm and seized the top prize!”
“Under the rules of this secret realm, a Tenth-Level Spirit Source wielder is akin to a god. There’s no possible way to contend with such power!”
Hearing this, the crowd finally grasped the severity of the situation.
“Even if he can’t win, it doesn’t matter! The prince can just escape!”
“Yes, he still has his pendant!”
“Once Ye Yun emerges from the realm, the rest of us will ensure he meets his end!”
“Ah, but that’s the problem… do you think the prince will choose to escape?”
Gu Jingyun remarked coldly, “Only those who understand when to advance and when to retreat can become true powerhouses. Lin Weixuan, did you fail to teach your son this principle?”
“…”
Lin Weixuan, the Sword Emperor, remained silent, unable to respond.
If Lin Qi’an chose not to retreat, Lin Weixuan himself doubted his son’s ability to win. Having once been crowned the champion of the Pilgrimage Path, Lin Weixuan understood the terror of the Tenth-Level Spirit Source.
It was as if one’s power was forcibly elevated by an entire major realm. Against those who had not reached this level, the result would be nothing short of a slaughter. There would be no suspense, only domination.
Moreover, Lin Qi’an had just emerged from a grueling battle, without even a moment’s rest, and now faced this overwhelming foe.
“Mother, will Brother be alright?” Lin Hongyu bit her lip, her large eyes filled with worry.
“Don’t worry, Qi’an knows what he’s doing,” their mother reassured gently, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.
—
Within the secret realm, Lin Qi’an stood calmly, his expression unchanging as he gazed at Ye Yun hovering in the air.
It seemed the time had come to kill this so-called “Destined Child.”
Ye Yun’s luck had long since dropped to zero. Killing him now would grant all the rewards that came with it. The only issue was the difficulty—it would be significantly challenging.
“Lin Qi’an!” Ye Yun sneered. “You’re bold enough to face me, so I assume you won’t crush your pendant to flee, right?”
His words were clearly meant to provoke, and the spectators cursed his shamelessness for such a tactic.
“What do you think?” Lin Qi’an countered with a faint smile.
“Such arrogance… good. I like your defiant attitude.” Before his voice had even faded, Ye Yun transformed into a streak of light, hurtling toward Lin Qi’an at a speed so incredible it defied belief.
The air split with a deafening sonic boom!
In an instant, the two crossed paths, their clash resounding like a thunderstorm. Neither emerged with a clear advantage from the exchange.
“Heh, so this is the famed Tenth-Level power? The prince doesn’t seem intimidated in the slightest!”
“Exactly! It doesn’t look so fearsome after all!”
“Wait… look closely!” someone exclaimed, their voice trembling.
In Ye Yun’s hand gleamed a pendant.
“It’s over! He stole the prince’s pendant!”
“That wretched lunatic! He’s cut off the prince’s only escape route. He plans to kill him in violation of all rules!”
“Considering he killed so many to absorb their spirit sources, it’s clear his ultimate target was always Lin Qi’an…”
“A madman! He’s an utter madman!”
The realization sent a chill through the hearts of countless onlookers.
Lin Liuli and others were so enraged that their nails dug into their palms, nearly drawing blood. Lin Qi’an had lost his final means of retreat.
This battle would truly be a fight to the death.