Chapter 270: Your Path Ends Here
"Heh…"
Xiao Ming let out a cold chuckle. Casting a sidelong glance at Li Xun, he spoke lightly, almost casually:
"Strong or not, we'll soon find out. I only hope that later, you won't lose your temper out of shame."
It was a subtle warning, laid down in advance.
Within his generation, Li Xun was already invincible.
Unless a Saint personally intervened, there was no one capable of restraining him.
And when Lu Qingxian died by Xiao Zhan's hand in the coming battle, who could say what Li Xun would do then?
After all, Li Xun had invested an enormous amount of effort into her—resources and treasures that even Xiao Ming himself, or perhaps even the Xiao Clan as a whole, would hesitate to offer.
If Lu Qingxian were to die here, all that investment would go up in smoke.
Anyone could imagine how furious Li Xun would become.
He would no doubt fly into a rage and strike at Xiao Zhan without hesitation.
That was precisely why Xiao Ming felt the need to "remind" him now—to preemptively lay down words that would give everyone a reason to intervene later, should Li Xun lose control.
Once those words were spoken, if Li Xun truly made a move, anyone could justifiably stand in his way.
And at that point, no matter how strong he was, could Li Xun really hope to slaughter everyone present?
"I'll be watching with interest," Li Xun said with a faint laugh, unbothered.
He turned his gaze toward the center of the battlefield.
. . .
Lu Qingxian stood in the air, and with a sharp clang, a clear metallic note rang out as a silver-white battle robe unfolded across her body.
It gleamed with metallic luster, flowing with five-colored light—a divine radiance that seemed almost alive.
Clang—clang—clang!
The ringing of metal filled the heavens.
The silver battle robe looked indestructible, its brilliance highlighting her ethereal grace and proud, slender figure.
Cloaked in divine armor, Lu Qingxian moved with lotus-light steps.
Above her head floated a delicate pagoda, emitting endless divine rays that illuminated the heavens and earth, so dazzling that few could even keep their eyes open.
Her gaze locked forward, cold and unwavering, a thread of killing intent flashing within—chilling across all ages.
"Trash will always be trash. Your path ends here."
Xiao Zhan's tone was icy as he spoke faintly.
He raised a single hand toward the sky—and above him, a massive black star emerged, pressing against the heavens with a low, rolling rumble as it descended toward Lu Qingxian.
The star was colossal, covering a radius of hundreds of li, like a dark comet falling from the endless void.
Even before it struck the ground, its oppressive might made it hard for anyone to breathe.
"This is my Xiao Clan's earth-level, lower-grade divine technique—Star-Plucking Technique," Xiao Ming explained from the sidelines with a smile.
"Its power is modest in itself, yet to think Xiao Zhan has mastered it to such a level of perfection is truly impressive."
The surrounding cultivators fell silent.
Still, in their hearts, they could not deny a flicker of awe.
To make a mere earth-level technique display such might—in Xiao Zhan's hands, it had already reached the level of a heaven-level technique.
And if he were to use an actual heaven-level divine technique… How terrifying would that be?
Even several Holy Sons present wore grave expressions as they watched.
"Good! Come!"
Lu Qingxian's battle robe rippled with the sound of clashing metal.
Before her, the pagoda hummed, unleashing countless beams of divine light that condensed into swords of radiance.
They surged forward like a galaxy of blades, slashing up toward the falling star.
Boom!
Under the onslaught of ten thousand divine swords, the massive black star lasted less than a second before it shattered into dust and scattered across the sky.
Within that storm of smoke and light, Lu Qingxian moved—swift as lightning.
Her fingers came together like a sword, divine light bursting from her hand, as though she wielded the sharpest weapon in heaven and earth itself.
With one stroke, she cleaved the very void in half, and her sword-light streaked straight toward Xiao Zhan's head.
"Courting death!"
Xiao Zhan's voice was cold.
He didn't panic. Instead, a long spear appeared in his grasp—and the moment it emerged, it drew in all the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
He swung his long spear, colliding with Lu Qingxian's fingers—
Clang!
A clear, sky-piercing note rang out, like the thunderous chime of a colossal bronze bell echoing through the heavens.
After that single strike, Lu Qingxian stood motionless. But Xiao Zhan was hurled backward.
His mouth split open, veins bursting as crimson blood trickled down the shaft of his spear, scattering into the void like a streak of tragic beauty.
'Such tremendous power!'
Xiao Zhan was utterly shocked.
He hadn't expected that the freshly ascended Lu Qingxian could be this terrifying.
What stunned him even more was her physical strength—to clash directly against a Dao Weapon with only two fingers and even gain the upper hand?
That was utterly unbelievable.
"The legends spoken in ancient times spoke true," someone murmured.
"The Ancient Immortal Sacred Physique user was famed for its peerless body. Even though Heaven itself restricts it, its monstrous nature clearly remains."
"She's only in the Life and Death Realm, yet she can resist a Dao Weapon barehanded. Once she becomes a Saint, or even an Emperor, who can imagine how terrifying that body will become?"
A hush fell over the gathered crowd.
An elder from a Holy Land spoke in a deep, thoughtful tone, his gaze shifting toward Li Xun, who was smiling faintly at the edge of the battlefield.
He couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration.
When it came to judging people, none present could compare to Li Xun.
Before Lu Qingxian's tribulation, almost no one had faith in her.
Yet Li Xun had invested vast resources to help her cross that calamity.
And now, it was clear he had been right all along—Lu Qingxian's future would not be so easily extinguished.
From her current display alone, it seemed even her future Saint Tribulation might not be able to stop her.
And a fully awakened Ancient Immortal Sacred Physique…
Just the thought of it made everyone's spine tingle with a faint chill.
Step
Lu Qingxian's hair flowed lightly, her crystalline skin radiant beneath a halo of divine light.
Each of her steps forward was calm and graceful, yet the oppressive aura surrounding her grew heavier with every movement.
She carried no trace of mortal dust—only an indescribable majesty that pressed down upon all hearts.
"The Heavenly Brahma Battle Body… is nothing impressive."
"Arrogant!"
Xiao Zhan roared.
His robes billowed violently as he surged forward once more, transforming into a streak of black light.
The long spear in his hand swept forth, stretching across tens of thousands of meters—like a celestial pillar connecting heaven and earth, stirring the very winds and clouds themselves.
Lu Qingxian lifted her gaze.
Her fingers formed a seal, and in the next instant, her body transformed into a Divine Phoenix wreathed in seven-colored light—a true phoenix descending from the heavens to clash with the incoming spear.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
In just an instant, the two had exchanged thousands of blows.
With every collision, Lu Qingxian's power surged further—until, by the final strike, her strength had reached a level beyond imagination.
'Wasn't the Ancient Immortal Sacred Physique supposed to be crippled? How can it still be this terrifying!?'
Xiao Zhan's eyes went wide with disbelief.
He could feel the overwhelming power pressing down on him, his arms shattering under the strain, his blood boiling in his chest—he was on the verge of coughing up blood.
Boom!
Another strike landed.
Xiao Zhan's Dao Weapon shattered in his hands.
In his widening pupils, he saw a jade-white hand rapidly enlarging—
"No—!"
Xiao Zhan roared in desperation.
He tried to retreat, but it was already far too late.
Slash!
A head soared skyward.
Blood erupted like a crimson fountain, splattering several meters high.
Everyone who witnessed the scene froze where they stood, as if struck in the chest by an invisible hammer—their minds blank, their bodies trembling.
Xiao Zhan—the so-called genius with the bearing of an emperor—was dead.
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