Chapter 1730: Fifth Level of Destiny
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Inside the ruined grand hall, every genius from the Dongling Region stood firm, not a single one showing any intention of backing down.
Although Shi Haoxuan was deeply worried that many of the Dongling Region's martial practitioners might lose their lives here today, he understood one thing clearly. Running away would solve nothing.
The people from the Dragon Sword Heavenly Manor had made it abundantly clear that they had no intention of letting them leave alive.
His thoughts drifted to Ling Feng, who had entered seclusion several days ago. Perhaps when he emerged, there might still be a chance to turn things around.
At present, Ling Feng was the last remaining hope in everyone's heart.
Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from outside.
"Hehe, the Dongling Region sure has some nerve!"
A cold, sharp voice rang out, causing every genius in the hall to stiffen. They immediately turned toward the entrance.
Seven or eight figures strode inside.
Among them were Long Tengyuan and Long Shan, the two men who had left earlier.
Alongside them were four or five sword cultivators dressed in the robes of Dragon Sword Heavenly Manor disciples. Leading the group was a man whose expression was as cold as ice.
An oppressive chill radiated from him.
His eyes resembled those of a ferocious beast. Anyone who met his gaze felt a wave of cold qi rise from the depths of their soul, leaving their entire body trembling uncontrollably.
The cold-faced man remained expressionless, his hands clasped behind his back as he followed behind Long Tengyuan. From beginning to end, he did not spare the people of the Dongling Region a second glance.
"Hehe, so this is what the people of Dragon Sword Heavenly Manor are like? When you can't win, you run off and bring reinforcements? And you call yourselves geniuses of the Xijian Region? What a joke!"
Ao Jue could no longer hold back. Staring at Long Tengyuan, he openly cursed him.
The geniuses of the Dongling Region were all burning with righteous anger.
They had already prepared themselves for death today. Since that was the case, there was no reason to bow and scrape before these people.
"Impudent!"
The cold-faced man's eyes narrowed.
His gaze locked onto Ao Jue.
Instantly, an overwhelming pressure crashed down upon him.
Ao Jue's body shook violently as he staggered backward three consecutive steps. His face turned deathly pale, as though he had suffered a severe internal injury.
Just a single glance had forced back one of the Dongling Region's strongest geniuses.
The cold-faced man's strength was terrifying beyond measure.
Everyone in the hall felt their expressions change.
Perhaps this man alone was enough to slaughter every genius gathered here.
"Hehe, are ants really qualified to bark like this?"
Long Tengyuan stepped forward and fixed his eyes on Shi Haoxuan before bursting into laughter.
"You're Shi Haoxuan, right? Weren't you acting pretty arrogant just now? What's wrong now? My Senior Brother Li has arrived, and suddenly you don't even dare to utter a word?"
Shi Haoxuan clenched his fists tightly.
At present, less than forty percent of his strength remained. He simply did not have the power to deal with opponents of this level.
"What exactly do you want?"
He forcibly suppressed the fury in his heart.
If only his own life were at stake, he would fight to the death without hesitation.
But now, his decision concerned the lives of every Dongling Region martial practitioner present.
He could not afford to act recklessly.
"The Dongling Region is nothing more than a mob of rabble. In my eyes, you're no different from ants. Frankly, lowering myself to argue with ants damages my status."
Long Tengyuan casually glanced at Shi Haoxuan before a sinister smile slowly spread across his face.
"You want to settle this peacefully? That's not impossible."
The cruel smile at the corner of his lips grew wider.
"The conditions remain unchanged. Hand over every storage spirit ring you possess, and I'll let you go as if you were nothing more than a fart in the wind. I won't pursue the matter any further."
His gaze suddenly settled on Shi Haoxuan.
"However, you injured my men, so you must pay the price. If you take your own life right here, I won't make things difficult for the others. Otherwise, every single one of you will die."
The moment those words were spoken, the Dongling Region martial practitioners clenched their fists until their knuckles turned white.
Not only did Long Tengyuan want all of their accumulated wealth, he also wanted to force Shi Haoxuan to commit suicide.
His disgusting face and manner made everyone sick to their stomach.
"You want me to kill myself?"
Shi Haoxuan stared at Long Tengyuan, his expression darkening completely.
"Hehe, Junior Brother Long is only asking an ant like you to take your own life while sparing everyone else. That's already exceedingly merciful. If I were the one handling this matter, I would wipe every last one of you out."
The cold-faced man suddenly stepped forward.
His gaze swept across the crowd.
A piercing sound erupted from him as an immense aura exploded outward and slammed into the Dongling Region geniuses.
The pressure was simply too powerful.
None of the Dongling Region martial practitioners could withstand it.
Their bodies swayed violently. Faces flushed red. Some collapsed directly onto the floor and coughed up blood.
Shi Haoxuan was already heavily injured.
After being struck by this terrifying aura, he spat out another mouthful of blood. His body teetered on the verge of collapse as he stared at the cold-faced man in horror.
His throat felt unbearably dry.
"F-Fifth Level of Destiny!"
"Not bad. At least you have some eyesight."
The cold-faced man sneered.
"If you're smart, do exactly as Junior Brother Long says. People like you aren't even worthy of making me personally take action. But once I do act, not a single blade of grass will remain standing."
His cold voice delivered a cruel reality.
It was as though he were personally announcing the death sentence of every martial practitioner from the Dongling Region.
At that moment, despair filled the faces of all the Dongling Region geniuses.
Against an opponent of this caliber, even if Ling Feng emerged from seclusion, he probably wouldn't be able to change anything.
There was no hope left.
The only thing waiting for them was death.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot the good news."
Long Tengyuan pointed at Shi Haoxuan and let out a vicious laugh.
"If any of you can slash him once or stab him with a sword, this young master might be in a good enough mood to let you keep your storage spirit ring. Hehe. Think it over carefully."
"Bah! You shameless, disgusting bastard! Do you think everyone is as vile as you are? You want us to turn on each other? Keep dreaming!"
Ao Jue stepped forward and positioned himself in front of Shi Haoxuan.
With Shi Haoxuan gravely wounded and Ling Feng still in seclusion, he had effectively become the strongest person remaining from the Dongling Region.
"Shameless scum. If anyone's getting cut down, it'll be you!"
Yue Huaqing drew her blade.
Her phoenix eyes blazed with fury as she stared unflinchingly at the disciples of Dragon Sword Heavenly Manor.
Even if they died today, the geniuses of the Dongling Region would never lose their dignity.
"Hmph. Fools who refuse a path to survival."
Long Tengyuan casually waved a hand and glanced at the cold-faced man beside him.
"Senior Brother, I'll leave them to you."
His tone was calm and indifferent, as though he were discussing the slaughter of a few chickens rather than human lives.
The lives of the Dongling Region martial practitioners meant absolutely nothing to him.
"Very well. A pack of worthless trash isn't worth wasting time on anyway."
The cold-faced man let out a cruel smile.
He did not draw his sword.
Instead, he raised his left hand and pressed his index and middle fingers together.
A strand of elemental force condensed at his fingertips, radiating an incredibly sharp aura.
"Then I'll start with you."
His eyes settled on Shi Haoxuan.
With a flick of his fingers, the condensed elemental force shot through the air toward him.
The cold-faced man's attainments in the Sword Dao had already reached an extraordinary level.
Even a casual finger strike carried an almost irresistible sword will as it crushed forward.
Facing that attack, even someone as powerful as Shi Haoxuan felt utterly helpless.
It seemed that no matter whether he fled to the heavens above or burrowed into the earth below, there would be nowhere to escape.
He had the distinct feeling that in the very next instant, the attack would pierce straight through his forehead and end his life.