Scenes from the battle at Li Shui Lake instantly went viral.
Netizens watched as the Bloodthirsty Leeches steadily gained the upper hand. Their city's Innate Realm experts were in constant retreat, the tide clearly turning against them. Even the library's Hall Master had been poisoned by the creature's blood.
Countless Postnatal Realm Martial Artists plummeted from the sky.
The defeat was a complete rout.
In that moment, despair spread through the hearts of everyone watching.
After all, the Star Martial Artists sent into this battle were Jianghai City's strongest fighters, the very core of the city's defense.
If even they were defeated...
Who else could possibly save Jianghai City?
Watching this unfold, everyone felt a sense of hopelessness. Countless despairing comments flooded the live stream chat.
"Hang in there, Elder Li! Keep attacking!"
"It's too late! Look, Elder Li's face is deathly pale, and his sword hand is trembling! Is there anyone left to save us?!"
"Is this really how Jianghai City falls?!"
...
「At the same time.」
Outside Li Shui Lake, Qin Yang had finally arrived.
Using the Seven-Star Dragon Roaming Step, he ascended to the top of a skyscraper under construction. From this vantage point with its unobstructed view, he gazed out at the unfolding battle on the lake.
'This Blood Demon is a real handful, just as I thought!'
The Blood Demon's colossal body blotted out the sun, standing like a mountain in the center of Li Shui Lake. A thick mist of blood, dark as an ink cloud, spewed from its maw.
Anyone who touched the blood mist plummeted from the air. One after another, the Star Martial Artists fell like shooting stars.
'For its first appearance, the Blood Demon is already monstrously strong. How is it that five hundred years from now, it's still only an Emperor Level Star Beast?'
'It must have been severely wounded at some point. After all, humanity has its fair share of powerhouses.'
Qin Yang shook his head and mused, his mind already calculating the likely outcome.
If things continued on this path, once the Blood Demon gained total dominance, the other two top experts would be doomed as well.
If Jianghai City lost these top fighters who served as its bulwark, it would truly become an all-you-can-eat buffet for Star Beasts.
'And if that happens, the library where I work will be in trouble too.'
At this thought, Qin Yang continued to observe the situation, searching for the Blood Demon's weakness.
'Rushing in recklessly is not an option.'
'It's better to be cautious and well-prepared. Better safe than sorry.'
'If I'm going to make a move, I have to pinpoint the Blood Demon's weakness and ensure it's a one-hit kill.'
'Otherwise, a reckless attack would be ineffective, a thankless effort. I'd just end up like those other Star Martial Artists—all for nothing...'
'Tsk, a Blood Demon this strong... I wonder what kind of loot it'll drop?'
Qin Yang thought in anticipation, his hands already itching to make a move.
But just then!
A mechanical voice suddenly rang out.
"DING! Blood Demon detected. Extreme danger!"
"Warning! Host is advised to flee immediately and dispatch the female apprentice to slay the Blood Demon!"
The system's grating prompts repeated, quickly becoming irritating.
'Dammit, this useless system is yapping again!'
Qin Yang ignored the system's alerts, his gaze fixed on the fierce battle raging on the lake as he studied the Bloodthirsty Leeches' massive body.
Suddenly,
A familiar aura approached, speeding into the battlefield from the southeast.
'Hm? Is that...'
Qin Yang narrowed his eyes, focusing on the newcomer in surprise.
The one joining the fray was none other than Li Zixuan, the very same girl who had just been reading in the library!
The foolish girl had rushed over in such a hurry that she hadn't even changed, still wearing the same girl-next-door outfit of jeans and a T-shirt.
She had simply tied her hair into a high ponytail before grabbing her sword and charging into battle.
"Master, I'm here to help!"
Li Zixuan hovered above the surface of Li Shui Lake, the tips of her toes sending out faint ripples. Her figure was slender, her ponytail swaying gently.
The moment she appeared, she drew the gazes of every Star Martial Artist on the field.
"Xuanxuan, what are you doing here?! This is madness!"
Elder Li's eyes widened in shock at Li Zixuan's sudden appearance, and he berated her harshly.
The situation was critical.
Countless experts at the Late Stage of the Postnatal Realm had already fallen, and even an Innate Expert like himself was struggling just to stay alive.
And Li Zixuan, a mere Postnatal Eighth Layer Star Martial Artist who had never even been in a real battle—how could she possibly get involved in this?
How was this any different from suicide?
However, what happened next shocked everyone.
BOOM!
With a deafening roar, a massive wave erupted from the lake.
The Bloodthirsty Leeches itself suddenly moved. As if sensing a great threat, it changed direction and charged straight for Li Zixuan!
"What's going on?!"
"The Leech is actually moving?!"
"Oh no, it's going for Elder Li's apprentice!"
The other Star Martial Artists reacted, all staring in utter disbelief.
Why would the Leech suddenly change its main target?
Could it be that...
...this apprentice of his posed a greater threat than he, her own master, did?!
"Xuanxuan, fall back!" Seeing this, Elder Li had no time to think and screamed at Li Zixuan.
A mere Postnatal Eighth Layer Star Martial Artist was no match for the Bloodthirsty Leeches.
The other Star Martial Artists who had come as support looked on with pity, as if already seeing her gruesome end...
Geniuses may be rare in this world,
but stories of their fall are all too common.
It was as if the wind itself had stopped.
The Bloodthirsty Leech charged forward with overwhelming, unstoppable force.
A wave of nausea washed over Li Zixuan as she watched the leech charge at her, but her hands did not hesitate for a second.
She immediately unleashed the Sword Technique she had comprehended just days before:
One Sword Opens the Celestial Gate!
SCHWING!
As her sword left its sheath, sunlight glinted off the blade. A piercing, cold light flashed before everyone's eyes, as sudden as a bolt of lightning.
The sharp tip of her sword aimed straight for the leech's maw, cutting through the encroaching blood mist.
A majestic Sword Intent erupted from the blade, meeting the charge of the Bloodthirsty Leech head-on and instantly exploding with terrifying power!
A huge spray of water from Li Shui Lake erupted, obscuring both Li Zixuan and the Bloodthirsty Leeches from view, but it dissipated just as quickly.
The crowd of Star Martial Artists turned toward the sound, unable to believe their eyes.
They saw that the Bloodthirsty Leeches' massive body had been stopped in its tracks by Li Zixuan's single sword strike, momentarily held at bay.
And the only price she paid was the shattering of the longsword in her hand!
"Is that... the power of the Innate Realm?!"
Elder Li stood frozen, his eyes wide in astonishment.
'What kind of Swordsmanship is this?'
'When did I ever teach the girl such a powerful technique?!'
Countless questions flooded Elder Li's mind.
But this was no time to dwell on them.
An agonized, furious shriek tore through the air.
It was the roar of the enraged Bloodthirsty Leeches.
"Not good!"
A grim look crossed Li Zixuan's face. Gripping her Broken Sword, she tried to retreat.
That last attack had taken everything she had. The Mortal Weapon in her hand, unable to withstand the force, had been completely destroyed.
'I'm unarmed now! I'm no match for the Bloodthirsty Leeches!'
"Die..."
Speaking a human word, the Bloodthirsty Leeches lunged for Li Zixuan. The other Star Martial Artists rushed forward to help her escape, but it was too late.
"Xuanxuan!"
Elder Li pushed himself to his absolute limit, his exhausted body straining to keep up.
The three Innate Experts played all their trump cards, desperate to stop the creature.
But it was still too late.
A bloody light covered the skin of the Bloodthirsty Leeches as it closed in on Li Zixuan with terrifying speed. It opened its cavernous, blood-red maw, as if to swallow her whole.
However, just as despair settled over Elder Li and the others...
Suddenly!
A dazzling purple light flashed from the horizon, shooting straight into the clouds.
An almost tangible killing intent locked onto the Bloodthirsty Leeches' body with the force of a thunderclap, like a final brushstroke in the Book of Life and Death sealing its fate.
Sensing this terrifying Sword Intent, Elder Li and the others reacted instantly, their faces lighting up with excitement.
"It's that expert!"
"He's finally making his move!"