Immortal Refiner

Up to this point in the battle, Li Qing had not even touched the corner of Yan Huizhi’s robes.

It seemed the outcome of the battle was already decided. No one believed Li Qing had even the slightest chance of victory.

”Still refusing to give up?” Yan Huizhi frowned. He felt Li Qing was merely putting up a desperate front, and that he had already shown him more than enough respect. To continue this performance of unwavering perseverance on the platform now seemed utterly pointless.

”Give up? I’d say the battle has only just begun,” Li Qing replied with a smile.

”Hmph! To avoid wasting any more time, it seems I’ll have to send you off the stage myself.” Yan Huizhi’s gaze gradually turned cold.

Boom!

The aura of the late Void Refinement realm erupted from his body as he drew a massive saber that clashed violently with his refined demeanor. The imposing weapon looked completely out of place in Yan Huizhi’s hands, creating a jarring sense of incongruity.

With a single step, Yan Huizhi charged forward, the pitch-black saber slashing directly at Li Qing. The terrifying blade’s mere unsheathing tore through the very fabric of space, as if it would cleave the world before him in two.

Just as everyone assumed Li Qing was about to perish under this single strike, a brilliant golden light erupted.

Clang!

The next instant, an even sharper aura erupted between heaven and earth!

Li Qing held the Immortal Slaughtering Sword horizontally in one hand, solidly blocking the blade’s strike.

Standing inches away, Yan Huizhi felt the sword’s razor-sharp intent with terrifying clarity. If he hadn’t been holding his Ink Saber to block, he would have been decapitated by now.

The Immortal Slaughtering Sword, having already merged with the Metal Attribute Strange Light, had long since evolved into a true Earth-Grade Spiritual Treasure. After Li Qing advanced to the Void Refinement Realm, it had undergone further tempering through a Heavenly Tribulation. Now, even among Earth-Grade Spiritual Treasures, it stood at the absolute pinnacle.

”Kill!”

Li Qing roared, his mana boiling within his body as he poured it all into the Immortal Slaughtering Sword.

Shu—!

A razor-sharp wisp of sword qi erupted from the blade. Yan Huizhi’s expression shifted as he retreated hastily, saber in hand. Yet the golden sword qi followed relentlessly. Unable to dodge in time, he could only raise his great saber to block.

Clang!

A deafeningly loud vibration rippled outward. Yan Huizhi’s face turned deathly pale. His lifebound spiritual treasure had been damaged, a notch sliced into it by the sword qi, and he himself suffered a backlash from the impact.

”What a sword!”

”Hiss... A killing sword this sharp must be at least an Earth-grade spirit treasure, right?”

”To think this man possesses such an extraordinary spirit treasure. He must have some significant background.”

”This sword has the potential to grow into a heaven-piercing spirit treasure. In the future, it might even ascend to the Chaos Myriad Spirits Ranking.”

At the mention of the Chaos Myriad Spirits Ranking, many spectators outside the field narrowed their eyes, their gazes turning intensely serious as they swept over the golden killing sword in Li Qing’s hand.

In its normal state, the Immortal Slaughtering Sword’s sharpness was concealed, revealing nothing unusual.

But the moment Li Qing channeled his power, the sword’s edge erupted, showcasing the true majesty of a peerless killing sword.

”It is indeed a peerless sword. This young man’s luck is truly remarkable. I can see a Golden Baleful Qi emanating from the blade; I suspect it has fused with an Extraterrestrial Lumina known as the Golden Essence Baleful Light.”

”An Extraterrestrial Lumina! Such Heavenly Light is as fleeting as a shooting star, yet he managed to obtain one and refine it into his sword.”

”In the early years, His Majesty also attempted to capture the Heavenly Light that streaked across the night sky, but unfortunately, he failed.”

”...”

Li Qing held the Immortal Slaughtering Sword at a slant, the mana within his body still surging. Behind him, a pair of pitch-black wings had materialized without anyone noticing.

The next moment, he raised the sword high, simultaneously activating the Golden Thread Treasure Robe to grant himself a power boost.

His aura suddenly surged, climbing step by step, as the mana within his body poured out and flooded into the Immortal Slaughtering Sword.

At this moment, Li Qing also mobilized the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth, drawing it toward the sword’s blade with his willpower.

A dazzling golden light erupted from the Immortal Slaughtering Sword, its brilliance even eclipsing the scorching sun in the sky.

Sensing the imminent danger, Yan Huizhi’s face turned deathly pale. His hands continuously formed seals as he muttered a mantra.

”Heaven and Earth Conjunction Classic: Reverse Refine Yin-Yang, Smoothly Turn Qian and Kun...”

But Li Qing simply spoke slowly:

”White Emperor Golden Sovereign Slash!”

This single strike nearly split the entire world in two. The once-indestructible Dao Discussion Platform, now under the sword’s sharp edge, developed a multitude of cracks, and the restrictions upon it crumbled inch by inch.

The high platform, specifically built for Dao discussions and martial arts demonstrations, was now on the verge of collapse.

”Oh no!”

”Act now, or the entire Imperial Palace will be cleaved in two!”

”This boy is truly astonishing!”

”...”

Even the Empress rose from her Phoenix Carriage. A soft glow emanated from her hands as she cast a protective veil over the entire Dao Discussion Arena.

The terrifying golden light unleashed by Li Qing’s sword tore through the air, obliterating everything in its path.

Before the golden sword qi could even reach him, Yan Huizhi—who had been attempting to activate a forbidden secret technique—suddenly spat out a mouthful of crimson blood. His white robes instantly shredded to pieces.

In the next moment, a hideous sword wound tore across his body. Even the protective treasure armor he wore had failed to withstand the strike.

Only after the Body Integration Realm experts intervened did the terrifying sword qi finally cease its rampage, sparing the lands beyond the Dao Discussion Arena.

But the arena itself was utterly destroyed. Li Qing’s sword strike had been simply too devastating.

Yan Huizhi lay unconscious, his aura utterly depleted. He had clearly suffered a grievous wound.

”You dare! To strike a lethal blow in a mere sparring match... You cannot be allowed to live!”

Prince Huai’s long hair whipped wildly in the wind. His eyes flared with fury and shock as the Black Iron Token, so close to being his, vanished from his grasp.

Consumed by fury, Prince Huai struck out with a palm strike directly at the culprit.

Li Qing’s hair stood on end. A terrifying pressure descended upon him, pinning him in place and leaving him unable to dodge.

Yet, the next instant, a hearty laugh rang out.

”Hahaha! Third Uncle, what’s the rush? The Young Master of the Yan Family is still alive, isn’t he? Just preserve his divine soul and send him to the Imperial Physician for treatment. Why resort to lethal force?”

Before Prince Ning’s laughter had even faded, his towering figure had already stepped in front of Li Qing.

BOOM!

Prince Huai’s murderous strike was blocked dead.

”You...” Prince Huai’s eyes narrowed, but he said no more.

The next moment, he turned and bowed to the Empress, whose face remained cold. ”Your son has lost his composure. I apologize for making a spectacle of myself before Mother.”

The Empress, her head crowned with the phoenix coronet, showed no sign of softening. ”You’ve thrown away the last of the royal family’s dignity,” she said coldly. ”Withdraw at once.”

Prince Huai’s face went pale as he retreated without a word.

Silence fell over the entire court.

Every gaze fixed on Li Qing was filled with shock and disbelief.