Yuelong Star Realm – over the endless Sea Continent ocean.
Heavenly Kill possessed supreme speed and concealment. Blood Five had near-invulnerable defence…
The battle dragged on endlessly — many spectators grew restless.
"To break Blood Five's defence requires overwhelmingly violent attacks. Heavenly Kill's mobility is terrifying — but he lacks destructive killing moves!" Tian Wanbao stroked his chin, concluding.
"Pavilion Master is right. If Heavenly Kill had Saintess's World-Annihilating Golden Eyes or Purple Sun Fairy's Sun Suppression, this fight might already be over!" Niu Wuba glanced at Seven Kills Cult and sneered.
"No joke. Weak and still stepped up to be humiliated — now giving Blood Emperor Domain breathing room!" Gui Ling Laoren mocked.
Seven Kills Cult had assassinated countless beasts on U Nguyen Continent — perfect chance to kick them while down.
"Part of it is Heavenly Kill's weapons are trash. If he had True-Rank weapons — Blood Five's turtle shell would be chopped to bits long ago!" Dwarf Clan Chief snorted, stroking his beard.
In moments — every faction with grudges against Seven Kills Cult piled on. The black-cloaked assassins stood like wooden statues — faces dark, unable to retort.
Heavenly Kill wasn't an emotionless assassin. He was young — proud.
Rare chance to fight openly before the entire cultivation world's elite — perfect stage to prove himself. So he stepped out without asking. Unfortunately — met his perfect counter. Now looked pathetic.
True-Rank weapons? Joke. Seven Kills Cult had no high-level Refiners. Other powers refused to sell. Where to get them?
Seven Kills Vice-Sect Master knew — if they lost this round, the cult's reputation would plummet. Secretly transmitted:
"Depending on the situation — use that move!"
Meanwhile — Beast Controlling War Sect Master Yu Yuhuang patted a masked youth's shoulder:
"Liner — don't fight this round. Avoid Heavenly Kill's mistake."
Yu Lin — Yu Yuhuang's son, young sect master of Beast Controlling War Sect. Already tamed Seventh-Order beasts at young age — bright future.
But most of his power came from beasts — not personal strength. Cultivation world didn't recognise that. Not qualified for Golden Board.
Yu Lin never accepted it. My beasts are my power! Different path — why deny me? He believed — with his methods — top 5, even top 3 Golden Board was possible…
Against Blood Emperor Domain — he had burned to prove himself, defeat a Blood Prince, force those old fogies to acknowledge beast taming as valid cultivation.
But seeing Heavenly Kill's blunder embarrass Seven Kills Cult — Yu Yuhuang forbade it. No need for Beast Controlling War Sect to be mocked too.
Yu Lin clenched fists — then dejectedly nodded.
His gaze drifted to Rear Palace women — Purple Thunder Lion-Eagle, Supreme White Star-Swallowing Serpent, Kun Mingyue… Eyes blazed with mad desire.
If I could make them my beasts… Who in the world would dare look down on me?!
Yu Yuhuang saw his son's expression — startled. Gravely transmitted:
"Drop that thought! Rear Palace is no longer something our Beast Controlling War Sect can offend. Don't forget — behind them stands Wu San Niang!"
Yu Yuhuang was no fool. He had drooled over Rear Palace beasts for ages — but knew his limits. His Eighth-Order Six-Winged Sky Snake was impressive — but not enough for Wu San Niang's fist…
Yu Lin sank into frustration — but greed in his eyes didn't fade. He even glanced at Hu Qingyu and others — fantasising:
If I tamed them as beasts… One day I could tame Niu Wuba, Gui Ling Laoren… Turn all U Nguyen Continent into my beast pen — how glorious?!
…
Heavenly Kill dodged bone blades like death scythes — carefully observing Blood Five.
He had heard Vice-Sect Master's transmission. But Blood Five's defence was too solid — hard to create an opening for that move…
"Wait…"
An extremely risky idea flashed in Heavenly Kill's mind. His eyes turned razor-sharp.
His moving body in space — suddenly stumbled — as if making a basic mistake.
"Not good!"
The crowd cried — no one expected Heavenly Kill, flawless in movement until now, to make such an elementary error.
Any movement art mastered to perfection became instinct — like breathing. Tripping was harder than moving correctly.
Yet Heavenly Kill — who had been perfect — suddenly slipped. Unbelievable.
"Too much pressure — caused a mistake?" the crowd guessed.
"Heh heh — heaven helps me!"
Blood Five wouldn't miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance.
The moment Heavenly Kill stumbled — countless bones pierced space — stabbing into his body, blood spraying — binding him, violently dragging him out of hiding.
"Sigh — Heavenly Kill is done for…"
Most sighed.
Blood Emperor Domain nodded in satisfaction — victory secured.
CLANG CLANG…
Heavenly Kill struggled violently — blood-soaked — scythe-blade frantically slashing at binding bones, trying to break free.
"Heh heh — useless… you can't break my bones!" Blood Five laughed in delight — loving the sight of prey caught. Especially rank 2 Golden Board.
"Damn it!" Heavenly Kill finally spoke — voice gritted with fear behind the mask.
This made Blood Five even more smug — laughing louder. Seeing Heavenly Kill completely immobilised — victory absolute. Greed filled his eyes:
"Devouring a Late Harmony cultivator — my cultivation will skyrocket again!"
With that thought — countless bones dragged Heavenly Kill from mid-air toward his face. Bone armour on his chest opened — his seemingly small mouth expanded grotesquely — ready to swallow this fat nutrient.
In that moment — Heavenly Kill's eyes blazed like never before. Inwardly: Been waiting for this!
Seeing Blood Five's mouth wide open — completely undefended — Heavenly Kill roared coldly:
"Nascent Soul Assassination Art!"
Before everyone's stunned eyes — Heavenly Kill opened his mouth. A tiny figure shot from his dantian — identical to him. Its tiny hands formed a blade of infinite killing intent — power no less than Heavenly Kill's full-strength strike — flying straight into Blood Five's throat.
"What the—?!"
Blood Five couldn't react — throat exploded. Then his head — split from inside out — even skull cleaved in two.
"AAAAAAA"
Blood Five could only scream inwardly. Meanwhile — Heavenly Kill's body went limp — eyes unfocused.
Only after the tiny Nascent Soul flew out of Blood Five's head and returned — did consciousness return. But he had no strength left — still impaled by bones…
"Did it work?" Many watched Heavenly Kill in fear and awe.
His move made their scalps numb. Seven Kills Cult actually had such a suicidal assassination art!
From Nascent Soul Realm — a miniature Nascent Soul formed in the dantian. It was a cultivator's life-saving treasure — boosting spiritual energy absorption and technique comprehension.
When the body was destroyed — memories and part of strength entered the Nascent Soul — escaping to possess another body.
Lan An had crushed countless fleeing Nascent Souls.
Nascent Soul was vital — but fragile. Normally — never exposed unless the body was destroyed.
Yet Heavenly Kill had voluntarily released his Nascent Soul — condensing all his power into one strike — assassinating from Blood Five's throat upward.
Insane!
Many had never imagined such a tactic.
This explained Heavenly Kill's "mistake" — all calculated. He risked his life — baiting Blood Five's arrogance — waiting for the moment Blood Five opened his mouth to swallow.
Blood Five's absolute defence was impenetrable externally. Only when he voluntarily opened his mouth — exposing his greatest weakness.
Heavenly Kill gambled everything — knowing Blood Emperor Domain loved devouring foes. If Blood Five hadn't tried to eat him — Heavenly Kill would have died.
Thinking this — many looked at Heavenly Kill with admiration.
Against Heavenly Kill's Nascent Soul's perfect assassination — Blood Five's throat to head was split from inside — gruesome. Even his skull — cleaved in two.
"Shameless!" Blood Envoys and Blood Princes snarled — furious at Heavenly Kill's method.
Yuelong cultivators ignored them — staring at Blood Five — hoping he was dead…
Crack…
Then — a horrifying scene.
Blood Five's supposedly cleaved skull — fused back together — reconnecting to his spine. From shoulders upward — only bone remained — no flesh, no features, no blood — just skeleton.
"As expected…" Tian Wanbao sighed — shaking his head. Not outside his prediction.
Heavenly Kill had done extremely well — but his attack power was still insufficient. He only split the skull — not shatter it or the entire bone frame. With a Bone Cultivator's terrifying vitality — Blood Five lived.
"True monster…" many experts' faces darkened.
"No need to worry. Though he lives — the energy cost was immense. He has no more battle power!" Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master evaluated.
"Heh heh — want to kill me? Dream on…" The skull and teeth clacked with eerie laughter. But he could only talk — no strength to control even one bone.
Clearly — Bone Cultivators weren't invincible. Damage the skull — they must expend energy to heal. Blood Five had lost combat ability.
Heavenly Kill was also spent — blood pouring. Condensing all power into his Nascent Soul wasn't easy — only Seven Kills Cult's secret art allowed it — at huge cost.
Plus — he had sacrificed much — letting bones impale him. He was spent.
Both Heavenly Kill and Blood Five fell into the sea — too weak to fly…
Both sides stared.
A Four-Heart Blood Envoy declared:
"This round — Blood Emperor Domain wins!"
"Bullshit! On what basis?! Clearly a draw!" Tian Wanbao and Yuelong experts jumped in rage. Never seen such shamelessness.
Both lost combat ability — yet they claimed victory?
"Haha — both lost combat ability… But Blood Five's bones are still inside Heavenly Kill. In time — Heavenly Kill bleeds out and dies. Blood Five can slowly recover. Not convinced?" the Four-Heart Blood Envoy laughed, analysing.
The crowd fell silent — faces ugly. He was right.
Blood Five's bones still impaled Heavenly Kill. Without immediate treatment — Heavenly Kill would die.
"This round — we lose. Quickly save Heavenly Kill!" Tian Wanbao took a deep breath — saying heavily.
Heavenly Kill had done his best — everyone saw. Blaming him now would only invite scorn. The field fell silent.
Seven Kills Vice-Sect Master cupped fists at Tian Wanbao — rushed to extract the bones from Heavenly Kill — bringing him back. Then turned to Dan Clan ancestors — politely:
"Please save his life!"
…