Chapter 66: Instant Kill

As Lu Changfeng spoke, a surge of powerful force erupted from his two fingers.

Hum—!

A formidable wave of energy surged violently along the length of the longsword.

He Guangyao’s expression shifted slightly, his figure trembling as he rapidly retreated backward.

Boom—!

A powerful shockwave erupted from the space between the two men.

Gravel flew across the ground in all directions.

The ancient trees nearby snapped and fractured at that very instant.

"It's you!"

He Guangyao wore a gloomy expression, his sword-holding hand trembling slightly.

At first, he had not used his full strength when he struck. After all, He Jiaojiao had already been worn down to the point of being unable to counterattack.

Yet, he never expected that at the final moment, someone would actually step in to obstruct him.

Caught off guard, he had been blown backward by Lu Changfeng’s formidable energy.

"I haven't even sought you out, yet you dare to come here courting death?!"

He Guangyao gritted his teeth, his voice harsh as he shouted, "Today, I shall settle this once and for all with you!!"

In his eyes, the Lu Changfeng before him had humiliated the Heavenly Sword Peak far too many times.

This time, he was absolutely determined to reclaim his lost ground!

As he spoke—

Boom—!

The aura around him roared to life, his momentum climbing steadily upward.

"Lu Changfeng!"

Upon recognizing the newcomer, He Jiaojiao’s face lit up with joy.

Yet, almost immediately, her expression filled with profound worry. "Hurry up and run away!"

"He Guangyao's cultivation is already at the fifth heavenly layer of the Yuan Dan realm! Even if you and I combine our strength, we are no match for him!"

Lu Changfeng’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly turned his head to look at He Jiaojiao.

"Rest assured!"

With a wave of his hand, the Daoyi Sword appeared within his grasp. "He lacks the capability to defeat me!"

"Arrogant!"

Hearing this, He Guangyao’s face darkened, and he held his sword horizontally across his chest.

Swish—!

A fierce gale roared into existence, carrying with it a chilling murderous intent!

The next instant, He Guangyao stepped forward, leaving a trail of afterimages in his wake as his sword transformed into a piercing cold flash, slashing directly toward Lu Changfeng.

Lu Changfeng stood motionless right where he was.

Just as He Jiaojiao’s expression changed drastically and she opened her mouth to warn him—

Swish—!

The Daoyi Sword arrived ahead of time.

A brilliant sword beam materialized between heaven and earth, blinking into existence right in the path of He Guangyao’s charge.

Clang—!

Amidst the resounding chime of clashing metal, the two swords collided.

"Damn it!"

He Guangyao’s expression altered violently.

He felt his vision blur as his sword struck against the opposing blade as if crashing into an immeasurable mountain range.

The sheer magnitude of the force rendered him momentarily unable to maintain his grip on his weapon.

Boom—!

Under the impact of this overwhelming force, He Guangyao’s body was sent flying backward like a torn sack of cloth.

He staggered backward for a dozen zhang before he managed to barely steady his stance.

Once he stood firm, He Guangyao widened his eyes, abruptly lifting his head to glare fixedly at Lu Changfeng, who remained as steadfast as a mountain.

"This is impossible!"

He simply could not bring himself to believe that his own strike had been blocked so effortlessly. "My cultivation is at the fifth heavenly layer of the Yuan Dan realm!"

"You are merely at the first layer of the Yuan Dan realm! How could you possibly send me flying?!"

Lu Changfeng's expression remained undisturbed. Holding the Daoyi horizontally, he spoke with utter detachment, "The Second Senior Brother of the Heavenly Sword Peak?"

"You think you are worthy?"

At these words, He Guangyao’s face flushed a deep, mottled red.

Gritting his teeth fiercely, he shouted harshly, "Lu Changfeng, do not be so rampant!"

As he spoke—

Boom—!

The murderous intent emanating from him grew even more intense, and boundless spiritual Qi surged violently within his body.

The formidable aura whipped the surrounding ancient trees into a rustling frenzy.

Branches upon the ground were swept away in all directions by the gale.

Around He Guangyao’s body, strange ripples of liquid materialized, twisting and turning like serpentine water dragons.

The moment these water dragons appeared, dark clouds gathered thickly across the sky, and a fine, drizzling rain began to fall.

Simultaneously, an immense murderous intent seemed to lie hidden within those raindrops.

"To be able to die beneath my Spirit Rain Dragon-Transforming Sword Art, you can consider your death well-deserved!"

With a gloomy expression, He Guangyao once again lunged toward where Lu Changfeng stood.

His already swift speed surged to an even greater extreme, bringing him right before Lu Changfeng in the blink of an eye.

Swish—!

He swept his longsword outward, and the water dragons seemed to awaken completely, fusing into the sword art as they roared toward Lu Changfeng.

Roar—!

Familiar killing intent flickered within the pupils of the water dragons.

A thunderous roar of colossal power engulfed the space toward Lu Changfeng.

"Careful!"

He Jiaojiao’s expression changed drastically, and she cried out in warning, "That is an Earth-grade martial technique!"

"Run!"

Before her words had even faded, the sky-full of water dragons had already roared to within three zhang of Lu Changfeng.

At that speed, a cultivator at the first heavenly layer of the Yuan Dan realm would have no way to block or evade.

As the Second Senior Brother of the Heavenly Sword Peak, this was not He Guangyao’s first time entering the Daoyan Secret Realm.

Thus, he knew a secret unknown to the other disciples.

That was, under the suppression of overwhelmingly formidable power, the protective jade talismans meant to safeguard disciples had a very high probability of failing to react in time.

In such a scenario, the protected disciple would likely perish right here within this realm.

Yet, during the brief clash just moments ago, He Guangyao had already sensed the immense pressure emanating from Lu Changfeng.

"He has only been in the Daoyan Sect for a little over a year, yet he already possesses the ability to contend with me?"

"Since someone like this has already been offended, he must absolutely not be allowed to leave the secret realm alive!"

"Furthermore... he holds the Daoyi Sword!"

Driven by such thoughts, the killing intent within He Guangyao grew overwhelmingly dense.

In the eyes of the Heavenly Sword Peak disciples, Lu Changfeng had humiliated them for far too long.

He had to die!

The next moment, he widened his eyes, a triumphant smile seemingly flashing through his gaze.

Right at that instant—

Swish—!

Lu Changfeng’s figure trembled violently, and a tremendous surge of power erupted from within his body.

This terrifying force made He Guangyao feel as though he were standing face-to-face with Shen Jianxin of the Heavenly Sword Peak himself.

"Not good!"

His expression twisted in horror as he tried to pull back his sword to parry, but under the lingering influence of his own sword art, his reaction was delayed by a fraction.

"Crimson Flame Sword Art!"

Lu Changfeng’s expression remained unchanged as the Daoyi Sword in his hand erupted with blazing crimson flames, sweeping straight ahead.

The intense heat caused the surrounding leaves to curl up instantly, as though all moisture within them had been thoroughly evaporated in an instant.

The next moment—

Roar—!

The water dragons surrounding He Guangyao howled, their bodies thrashing wildly in mid-air as if enduring excruciating agony.

Meanwhile, the sword in Lu Changfeng’s hand trembled.

A lightning-fast piercing sword strike erupted.

Swish—!

The longsword pierced straight through He Guangyao’s neck.

The next instant—

Boom—!

A massive wave of fiery flame energy erupted from the Daoyi Sword.

"Ah—!"

He Guangyao’s eyes widened, the killing intent in his gaze vanishing instantly, replaced entirely by profound astonishment.

He wanted to say something.

"Gah—!"

Yet the moment he opened his mouth, boiling blood surged forth from within.

He glared fixedly at Lu Changfeng, his heart filled with bitter regret.

He had never imagined that Lu Changfeng’s cultivation would be so terrifyingly powerful.

Clearly only at the first heavenly layer of the Yuan Dan realm, he had nonetheless managed to kill him in a single instant.