The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

Kill was unwilling to accept it. He couldn't understand how Lin Qian, who was supposed to be destroyed by him, could remain unscathed and even create such a miracle.

This battle should have been his stage, his time to toy with Lin Qian. The conclusion should have been Lin Qian, a prodigious genius, falling from grace, with Kill effortlessly claiming victory.

He, not Lin Qian, should have been the center of attention!

Kill! Kill! Kill!

In Kill's mind, only one thought remained.

Enraged, Kill charged toward Lin Qian, his body surrounded by crimson soul force, which flowed like a river of blood. The blood-red sword, formed through his soul force and bound to his very being, was gripped tightly in his hands. At this moment, Lin Qian was the only thing that existed in his eyes.

The raging river of blood converged onto Kill's body, transforming him into a massive blood-red sword aimed at Lin Qian.

Blood God Slash!

This attack, fueled by the majority of Kill's soul force, was incredibly powerful and overwhelmingly fierce. Even an ordinary Life and Death Realm warrior might not survive under its immense might.

However, this assumed that his opponent was an ordinary Life and Death Realm warrior.

But Lin Qian? A monster who had broken through four levels within a single cup of tea's time—how could he be ordinary?

Staring at the massive blood-red sword rushing toward him, Lin Qian's eyes narrowed, and his expression became solemn.

After all, Kill was a genius at the Life and Death Realm Strength Stage. If Lin Qian wasn't careful, the outcome could be disastrous.

Moreover, as a Life and Death Realm warrior, Kill's soul force had undergone a qualitative transformation, and the blood-red sword was brimming with overwhelming power.

"You had your chance, but you chose not to take it. Don't blame me for what happens next." Lin Qian raised the Stormbringer Sword in his hand, pointing it toward the massive blood-red sword. His eyes glimmered with crimson-gold lightning.

Crackle…

The crimson-gold lightning soul force once again transformed into nine thunder dragons, circling around Lin Qian. They coiled around him before shooting toward the massive blood-red sword.

Lin Qian followed closely behind the dragons, charging forward.

The sound of thunder and the dragon's roar echoed across the entire arena as the nine dragons collided with the blood-red sword.

Instead of directly clashing with the tip of the blood-red sword, only one thunder dragon collided head-on, causing the massive attack to falter momentarily.

At the same time, the other eight thunder dragons bypassed the sword's tip and targeted the body of the massive blood-red sword.

In an instant, the blood-red sword, which had been united as one, began to crack, covered in dense fractures before it shattered completely, revealing Kill within.

"Blood God Slash… shattered just like that?" Kill's face remained frozen in shock, staring at Lin Qian, who was closing in with the thunder dragons.

In the arena, devoid of any water due to Lin Qian's presence, the shattered blood-red sword dissolved into crimson light, scattering in all directions.

The crimson light and lightning clashed, exploding into a dazzling display.

At the same time, Lin Qian suddenly produced a crystal vial and crushed it with force. The colorless, transparent liquid within was enveloped by his lightning soul force, condensing into needle-like forms.

"An eye for an eye. This is my gift to you." Lin Qian whispered as he appeared before Kill, pressing his palm against Kill's dantian.

The needle-shaped, colorless liquid condensed by Lin Qian's soul force was driven into Kill's dantian by the force of his palm strike.

"What did you do to me?" Kill stared at Lin Qian, fear creeping into his voice.

He could feel something foreign entering his body, quickly dissolving and spreading throughout his system.

"This concoction has a special effect: for the next hundred years, your comprehension will be reduced by tenfold. In simpler terms, you'll become much more foolish than before."

"And after a hundred years, even if your talent recovers, it will be too late."

With that, Lin Qian delivered a powerful kick to Kill's abdomen, sending him flying across the arena and crashing to the ground, unconscious.

The outcome of the battle was clear.

Hovering in mid-air, Lin Qian looked down at the fallen Kill. If the rules of the tournament hadn't prohibited killing, Lin Qian would have ended his life right then.

Kill was narrow-minded and consumed by jealousy. Whenever he encountered someone with talent, his envy would drive him to ruin their future.

Making him dull for a hundred years, allowing those he once despised to surpass him—that torment would be a fate worse than death.

In the arena, Lin Qian calmly waited for the announcer to declare the result.

The various viewing platforms around the arena were silent. Everyone was still reeling from the shock of Lin Qian's performance.

Breaking through four levels during a battle, reaching the Void-breaking Realm Soaring Sky Stage, and defeating a powerful opponent at the Life and Death Realm Strength Stage with that newfound power.

At this moment, everyone had the same thought: Lin Qian defied common sense.

On the clan's viewing platform, Zhang Tianxin shook his head as he watched Lin Qian leave the arena. "Lin Qian is truly full of surprises."

"Indeed, but why is it black?" Zhou Yi'an murmured to himself, recalling the appearance of the Stormbringer Sword before Lin Qian's weaponry had dissipated.

On the East Branch's viewing platform, Zhang Qi could only chuckle and shake his head. "As expected of His Majesty Lin."

Beside him, Zhang Wenshan grabbed Yexin's hand and gasped in amazement. "Sister Ye, your fiancé is incredible! No wonder you were so confident he would win."

Yexin simply smiled and nodded. "Xiao Qian is indeed amazing."

"Even though Lin Qian is only at the Void-breaking Realm Soaring Sky Stage, his combat strength is probably not far behind ours," Zhang Zide remarked as he watched Lin Qian leave the arena.

Li Yunfeng nodded solemnly, his eyes filled with battle intent. "I can't wait to face him in this tournament. I'm really looking forward to it."

Behind them, Yexin chuckled softly.

From start to finish, Lin Qian had never used his full strength.

He had only utilized his lightning soul force, while his imperial soul force had only appeared briefly during his breakthrough.

Moreover, he had only displayed the power of nine rounds of nirvana.

Yexin believed that if Lin Qian unleashed all twelve rounds of soul force and used all three of his soul forces, with the Stormbringer Sword and Cloudpiercer Sword both in weaponized form, even if Zhang Zide and Li Yunfeng joined forces, they might not be able to defeat him.

"You all have no idea just how strong my Xiao Qian really is," Yexin thought to herself, brimming with pride.