A streak of rainbow light flashed, gone in an instant! It seemed as if it had never materialized at all!

No one saw how that rainbow light appeared; all that remained hanging in the air was a spectral afterimage, like a faded rainbow! Speed was insufficient to describe it; the sheer grace of that fleeting moment!

This sword strike transcended human comprehension! Speed, power!

Technique—any concept related to the sword that one could think of seemed incapable of adequately defining this single strike! Luo Yan’s posture, halted mid-swing!

He froze instantly, his face a mask of bewilderment and shock! Why had he suddenly lost all sensation of his own body?

Then he saw it. A column of bloody mist shot skyward!

And he, along with that mist, was abruptly flung high into the air—what in the world was happening? Next, Luo Yan saw again, and saw a magnificent, stalwart figure standing there dumbly, only that figure was headless!

Clasping a great saber, it staggered a few steps in the training ground before finally collapsing. Only then did Luo Yan recall that rainbow-like gleam that had flashed past moments before!

So fast! Truly so fast!

What on earth was that? He couldn't even discern how that sword strike had manifested.

A wave of emptiness and numbness then submerged his consciousness. “Xingchen won!” Lu Zhao could scarcely believe his eyes!

“He killed Luo Yan,” Tong Lei murmured, “This… how is this possible?” “A terrifying strike,” Qing Long gasped, his voice heavy with dread. “That strike was absolutely beyond the scope of human power.” Whether it was Tong Lei or any of the roaming heroes present, everyone was utterly stunned by the sword strike that had manifested as a momentary rainbow flash!

“Born of the void, returning to nothingness!” Qing Long whispered, “That sword strike did not belong in this world at all.” “...............” Utter silence descended upon the assembly. Everyone stood dumbfounded!

Gazing upon the headless corpse on the field, and the solitary, somewhat lonely blue silhouette standing still beside it! The members of the White Tiger Alliance wore looks of ashen despair!

Two Sect Masters dead in a single day—this blow had struck them dumb with shock! But not for long, before earth-shattering cheers immediately erupted!

“Roar! Roar!

Roar! Blue Lightning!” “Blue Star!” “Xingchen!” “Binghe!” The booming cries shot straight toward the heavens, lingering long and ceaselessly!

“Xingchen!” Lu Zhao, unable to contain his wild elation, rushed swiftly toward the field! Qing Long and Tong Lei quickly followed suit!

“Xingchen!” “Binghe!” “Blue Lightning!” In my daze, I seemed to hear something! “Xingchen!” Like the chime of a hypnotist waking a subject!

My consciousness slowly returned. Yet, the chaotic, surging power of the Dou Qi within me was still raging, and in my mind, the terrifying, brutal urge to kill persisted!

The world before my eyes flickered relentlessly, alternating between a distorted red and blue, making it impossible to see clearly! Then, I saw three figures charging toward me!

My body instinctively raised its sword, and I could distinctly feel the Dou Qi, desperately straining to erupt, gathering madly onto the blade. Ah!

No! What does this body want to do!

Does it intend to kill Lu Zhao and the others? I struggled desperately to restrain the body’s actions, but it was as if this vessel had been seized by a demon, its gaze fixed firmly on the approaching figures of Lu Zhao and his companions!

No! This cannot happen!

Don’t come any closer! Don’t come!

I cried out internally with all my might, but not a sound escaped my lips. I could even feel the corners of my mouth twitching upward in a faint smile—a smile laced with brutality, bloodlust, and the desire for impending destruction ready to be unleashed!

“Killing intent!” Tong Lei exclaimed in alarm as a wave of murderous aura, like a raging tempest, swept toward them, far more potent and dense than when Luo Yan had unleashed Howling Sky earlier. “My heavens, what is this?” Don’t come closer!

Lu Zhao clearly saw Xingchen’s mouth seeming to speak, yet he heard nothing. His face was strangely contorted, his eyes constantly shifting between madness and anxiety!

“Stop, don’t go closer!” Qing Long was horrified. “Binghe’s killing intent is far too intense right now; do not approach.” Qing Long shouted loudly, having sensed something was profoundly wrong!

In duels between masters, aura is paramount; sometimes it can dominate a master’s spirit and will. When killing intent reaches its peak, a person’s mental fortitude enters a state of extreme frenzy, especially after a great battle.

Many masters cannot dissipate the accumulated killing intent even after defeating their opponent; approaching rashly at such a moment is exceedingly dangerous—even the closest family members might be struck down. Such incidents were not unknown in history.

Lu Zhao and Tong Lei realized this simultaneously and instantly understood. That’s right; following the previous grueling fight, Xingchen’s mental state had reached a terrifying pinnacle.

They could feel such a horrifying killing aura even from this distance. What would happen if they got any closer?

No one would be surprised. The three of them immediately!

Stopped dead! Thank goodness!

They didn’t come closer! I felt a wave of relief.

The world before my eyes began to blur and distort, then darkened, and my entire being felt enveloped by an immense emptiness and darkness! After that, nothing but a blank void.

........................ Thud!

Xingchen, who moments before had been bristling with killing intent, suddenly collapsed straight onto the ground, causing everyone to turn pale with fright. “Ah!

Xingchen!” Lu Zhao cried out in shock and rushed forward swiftly. “It’s alright, he’s just fainted from excessive exhaustion of both physical strength and spirit,” Tong Lei said after checking Xingchen’s pulse and breath.

The surrounding crowd finally let out a collective sigh of relief. On the other side, several elders from the Luo family rushed onto the field to collect Luo Yan’s corpse.

However, every one of them glared at Xingchen with undiluted killing intent. Everyone present subconsciously drew their blades!

Warily watching the entire White Tiger Alliance contingent! No one could guarantee that Luo Yan’s death wouldn't incite the White Tiger Alliance to turn hostile and fight everyone present without reservation.

“What?” Qing Long questioned in a deep voice. “Does the White Tiger Alliance intend to violate the promise made by the late Sect Master Luo?” “You may take the body,” Luo Xiao, the Second Elder of the Luo family, stated grimly.

“This debt will surely be collected on another day.” “Then, the junior members and I shall take our leave now.” Qing Long said, helping Lu Zhao support Xingchen as they prepared to depart. “Hmph!” Luo Kai, the Third Elder of the Luo family, immediately sneered, “After rescuing Old Man Lu, what are the plans of the Azure Dragon Gang?

Are you intending to destroy the Crimson Blood Demonic Sword, or monopolize it?” “Ah!” Luo Kai’s words instantly ignited an uproar among the onlookers! “We cannot allow him to take Lu Tong away!” The first person to step forward was Nalan Jingtāo, the Hall Master of the Astonishing Waves Hall of the Black Tortoise Alliance.

Not only him, but many from other factions also expressed great shock, stepping forward to shout and protest. If the Azure Dragon Gang were allowed to take Lu Tong away, who could guarantee what the Azure Dragon Gang might do once they possessed the Crimson Blood Demonic Sword?

After all, over the past two hundred years, that sword had brought forth too much bloodshed and chaos; no one could forget it. “Indeed, you may take Lu Tong away, but you must publicly disclose the whereabouts of the Crimson Blood Demonic Sword,” several Hall Masters from the Flying Fish Gang, who had come to offer congratulations, immediately declared loudly.

“Yes, reveal the secret of the Crimson Blood Demonic Sword!” The words of the Flying Fish Gang Hall Master were instantly echoed by the general consensus. Perhaps these people had been aligned with the Azure Dragon Gang before, but circumstances had changed, and pursuing their own interests at this juncture was not entirely unjustifiable.

“Hahahaha,” Luo Kai chuckled sinisterly. “Do you see?

I naturally have no objection to you leaving, but first, you must ask them.” It seemed Qing Long had anticipated this situation! He smiled slightly.

“Indeed, just as Yun Xi predicted.” “Esteemed sirs, it is not that the Azure Dragon Gang wishes to hoard the Crimson Blood Demonic Sword,” Qing Long announced loudly. “However, only Lu Tong knows this secret.

We had originally planned to have Elder Lu publicly disclose the secret before all of you.” After speaking, Qing Long looked back at Luo Kai and said gravely, “But as you can all now see, Elder Lu has been driven to a state of mental confusion by the White Tiger Alliance people, rendering him incapable of revealing the location of the Crimson Blood Demonic Sword.” “That still doesn’t mean you can take him away,” Nalan Jingtāo asserted. “Who knows when you might ‘cure’ Lu Tong?

Then you can force the secret out of him, and the result will be the same.” “Exactly!” Someone immediately chimed in support. “The Crimson Blood Demonic Sword must never fall into the hands of one faction alone, or the world will descend into chaos.” “Then what do you propose we do?” Qing Long asked, feigning helplessness.

“.” “Simply kill Lu Tong and put an end to it all,” Luo Kai said with a dark expression. “Ah!” Lu Zhao gasped in alarm!

And the surrounding crowd roared in agreement: “Kill Lu Tong! That way, no one gets the Crimson Blood Demonic Sword.” However, a significant number of people leaned toward Qing Long’s side—heroes from Azure Moon and Bitchi, as well as many Lightning Heroes native to the Demon Dragon Continent.

This group had been Xingchen’s most devout supporters previously, but now they spontaneously stood with Lu Zhao. As for the native Lightning Heroes, their stance was driven purely by adoration and defense of their idol.

Of course, the leader of this group was an elite member of the Yun family planted in Sū City; his purpose in stepping forward now was solely to sway the neutral parties whose allegiances were still wavering—many of whom were also Lightning Heroes. Sometimes a tiny detail can determine the outcome of the entire situation.

As this youth stepped forward, he immediately gained the backing of many other young heroes, and soon, quite a few of their older brothers were pulled into their ranks as well. The numbers in this faction suddenly swelled considerably.

At this moment, the two factions were nearly equal in number. However, factoring in the White Tiger Alliance members lurking nearby, Qing Long’s side still appeared outnumbered and weaker.

“No one is to touch Lu Tong,” declared Feng Qinglan of the Phoenix Family from Azure Moon. “Lu Tong is Xingchen’s uncle, and Xingchen is a friend of the Vermillion Bird Alliance.

Anyone who dares to move against them is making an enemy of our Vermillion Bird Alliance.” Feng Qinglan’s expression was resolute. It must be noted that the Azure Moon Vermillion Bird Alliance was universally recognized as the number one faction in the Mǎfǎ Hero World, especially after their victory in the Yellow Springs War, which had elevated their prestige to its zenith.

Even the Azure Dragon Gang’s momentum could not compare. Although Feng Qinglan was merely a young disciple of the Phoenix Family, her words represented the will of the entire Vermillion Bird Alliance; no one doubted this, and no one dared to lightly provoke the Vermillion Bird Alliance.

Furthermore, apart from the Vermillion Bird Alliance, Xingchen had many other Lightning Heroes in Azure Moon. If these individuals joined the fray, any faction would face immense headaches.

“That’s right, if you want to kill him, ask us first,” the heroes aligned with the Bitchi faction were represented by several disciples from Dragon Shadow Manor. Lu Tong shared a deep bond with Dragon Shadow Manor.

Previously, those few disciples from Dragon Shadow Manor, despite knowing Lu Tong was held by the White Tiger Alliance, were unable to mount a rescue due to their limited numbers and strength. Nevertheless, upon learning Lu Tong was in the hands of the White Tiger Alliance, they had already spread the news and secretly mobilized the personnel Dragon Shadow Manor had stationed on the Demon Dragon Continent, planning to rescue Lu Tong when the opportunity arose.

But the current situation was different; with the aid of the Azure Dragon Gang, Azure Moon, and the native Lightning Heroes of the Demon Dragon Continent, a rescue was now possible. Moreover, Xingchen’s valiant performance solidified their resolve for this rescue.

After all, Xingchen was a disciple of Dragon Shadow Manor—a fact he had personally admitted. Though they didn’t know the exact details, Xingchen being their martial brother was now undeniable.

He must also be a particularly important disciple of Dragon Shadow Manor, otherwise, he could not have learned the Dragon Shadow Sword Technique, let alone the fourth level of the Dragon Transformation Heart Method. Regardless of the cost, they had to rescue both Xingchen and Lu Tong.

This was the primary objective for the disciples of Dragon Shadow Manor. Perhaps the farthest continent from the Demon Dragon Continent, the strength of Bitchi’s Dragon Shadow Manor and its affiliated Star-Moon Alliance should not be underestimated.

If they joined forces with the hero world of Azure Moon Continent, then no faction on the Demon Dragon Continent would dare to lightly test their limits. Although separated by a vast ocean, the financial and material resources of the Star-Moon Alliance and the Vermillion Bird Alliance made launching an intercontinental operation not entirely impossible.

Such large-scale events had occurred in history. As for the native Lightning Heroes, their motivation was purely adoration and defense of their idol.

Of course, the leader of this contingent was an elite member of the Yun family planted in Sū City; his purpose in stepping forward now was solely to sway the neutral parties whose allegiances were still wavering—many of whom were also Lightning Heroes. Sometimes a tiny detail can determine the outcome of the entire situation.

As this youth stepped forward, he immediately gained the backing of many other young heroes, and soon, quite a few of their older brothers were pulled into their ranks as well. The numbers in this faction suddenly swelled considerably.

The situation had reached a point of equilibrium, yet the atmosphere was stretched to the extreme. Although many present desired to know the secret of the Crimson Blood Demonic Sword, and if they couldn’t have it, they wanted it destroyed, no one was willing to be the first to step forward and act.

However, a problem existed that required a solution, and clearly, Qing Long and Tong Lei had come prepared. “I can understand everyone’s concerns,” Qing Long said.

“In truth, the Azure Dragon Gang only wishes to prevent the White Tiger Alliance from obtaining the Crimson Blood Demonic Sword, as that offers us no benefit. Naturally, we are not arrogant enough to seek to monopolize the sword ourselves.” Qing Long’s words immediately eased the tense atmosphere considerably.

“But everyone is aware that killing Lu Tong might trigger a massive conflict among the hero worlds of the three continents. I believe such an outcome would benefit no one,” Qing Long continued.

“Indeed,” Nalan Jingtāo responded. “Our concern is merely the reappearance of the bloodshed caused by the Crimson Blood Demonic Sword sixty years ago; we harbor no other malice.” “Yes,” Nalan Jingtāo’s sentiment quickly received widespread support.

“The solution is actually quite simple,” Qing Long proposed. “What you all fear most is that the Azure Dragon Gang will take advantage of the situation to monopolize the Crimson Blood Demonic Sword.

To demonstrate our sincerity, I suggest we send Elder Lu to the Church of Holy Words in Demon Dragon City, where their priests can treat Elder Lu’s injuries. After Elder Lu has recovered, we will all assist him in destroying the Crimson Blood Demonic Sword.

Do any of you have objections to this arrangement?” “En! Hall Master Qing Long’s proposal is quite reasonable!” The young leader of the Lightning Heroes shouted.

“We support it.” “Support! Support!” The contingent of Lightning Heroes behind him cheered loudly.

“Hall Master Qing Long’s arrangement is the fairest,” Feng Qinglan stated. “We have no objections.” “I believe everyone can rest assured knowing that the Church will treat Uncle Lu’s wounds,” Disciple Jian Xuan of Dragon Shadow Manor said.

“Very well,” Nalan Jingtāo conceded. “If that is the case, we naturally trust it.

However, the escort of the person must be handled by us. I imagine Hall Master Qing Long has no objection?

Otherwise, once we leave Sū City, the outside will be filled with your men, and none of us will be able to hold you accountable.” “Brother Nalan speaks wisely,” Qing Long agreed. “Elder Lu will be escorted by you.

But for security, our men will follow behind, as no one can be certain if the Black Tortoise Alliance might be plotting the same thing as the White Tiger Alliance.” “Hahahaha,” Nalan Jingtāo laughed. “Let it be settled then.

The person will be escorted by the elite members of our Astonishing Waves Hall. If your people dare to seize the person en route, we will have no choice but to kill Lu Tong.” “It is settled then.” This resolution was arguably the fairest and the only method that could genuinely reassure everyone.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible for Qing Long and Lu Zhao, Tong Lei, to leave Sū City. As for the Astonishing Waves Hall escort—only just over a hundred elite members—they certainly couldn't easily snatch Lu Tong away from the Azure Dragon Gang.

However, if the Azure Dragon Gang tried to attack midway to steal the person, the Astonishing Waves Hall could simply slay Lu Tong instantly—a result that neither the Black Tortoise Alliance nor the Azure Dragon Gang would desire. Seeing their plan to instigate conflict fail, the Luo family elders could only look dejected, though resentment still lingered in their hearts.

Following today’s turmoil, the prestige of the White Tiger Alliance was destined to plummet to its lowest point, as even their strongest old Sect Master, Luo Yan, had been slain by a younger successor in a direct duel. Two younger members had also died because of him.

If it weren't for Luo Yan’s pre-duel promise, no one could guess what these old figures might have done. Of course, if they dared to act rashly now, the White Tiger Alliance might truly face eradication.

Even the most powerful factions, once they draw public outrage, face only one outcome: annihilation. Lu Tong was shielded in the center by the elite disciples of the Astonishing Waves Hall, with Lu Zhao staying close beside him.

As for Xingchen, he was carried on Tong Lei’s back. The group then proceeded to exit Sū City.