Chapter 125 123- A Dead Man Walking
*Rumble* *Rumble* *Rumble*
A thunderclap echoed overhead as the disciples in the Battle Arena waited in anticipation for the match-up between Bai Lu and Fei Yin.
The rain had begun to fall heavily some time ago and it was increasing in intensity over time. Disciples who weren't that worried about getting wet were standing below the stage, some using their Internal Qi to coat their bodies to avoid the rain soaking their clothes, while some just let it fall drenching them wet.
The disciples who found it annoying to stand in the rain had taken shelter among the many booths that line the Battle Arena. However, they have to settle with watching the battle from a distance, but they didn't seem to mind.
Xi Shen, Yang Su, and Lihua were among the crowd and Xi Shen was one of those persons who was letting the rain soak his figure. His slightly golden hair stuck to his face and as he stood there with his hands behind his back, his robes clung to his body which made the outline of his muscles become visible.
Xi Shen didn't mind the rain or his bare feet, he just took it in strides. Lihua and Yang Su however chose to coat their bodies with their Internal Qi.
This resulted in Yang Su having a fire red glow layer surrounding his body, each time a raindrop fall on him a sizzling sound would softly echo out. Lihua had a deep blue glow covering her figure, the effects of the raindrop falling on her were the opposite of Yang Su. They would meld into the layer of Qi around her.
This scene could be seen across the crowd, as disciples use their Internal Qi to cover their bodies their Qi Element could be ascertained from the glow they produced.
*Rumble* *Rumble*
Another lightning struck overhead, and Xi Shen couldn't help but raise his head to the sky.
"The heavens are weeping."
He softly murmured, before he lowered his head back to look at the stage.
Fei Yin was seated in the middle of the stage in a cross-legged position with his eyes closed. His figure was drenched, as his hands rested on the long-sword Low-Grade Spirit Weapon Artifact on his lap.
It was unsheathed and its black-colored body gave off an ominous black glow.
*Pitter Patter* *Pitter Patter* *Pitter Patter*
The rain suddenly increased in intensity and if not for the fact that everyone here was a cultivator, it would have been hard for them to see the stage.
Suddenly, a loud, piercing and long-lasting noise that sounded like a whistle drowned out the sound of thunder and the rain as it approach the Battle Arena from the sky.
All the disciples turn to the sound completely shocked.
Soon enough the cause of the sound appeared above the air space of the Battle Arena.
The disciples immediately erupted into a clamor of noise when they saw Bai Lu floating there in the air.
As he lowered himself down to the stage in front of Fei Yin, his expression was completely cold and filled with murderous intent.
"I can't believe it, Bai Lu actually reached the 9th Stage of the Foundation Realm! This Fei Yin is completely done for, who told him to arrange a match with Bai Lu?"
A disciple's shocked voice from the crowd echoed out.
"Right? He's only in the 7th Stage of the Foundation Realm, he might have been able to defeat Bai Shin who was in the 8th Stage, but there is no way he could bridge the gap between him and Bai Lu." Another disciple said.
"It looks like it is brother Bai Lu who will get his revenge in this match."
The voices from the crowd entered Xi Shen's ears but he was only calmly looking on. Yang Su by his side, however, got caught up in the crowd's words and a nervous expression appeared on his face as he looked at Fei Yin on the stage.
"Master, Fei Yin, will he be alright? Maybe he should have waited to battle Bai Lu?"
Hearing Yang Su's nervous and concerned voice, Xi Shen stared at Fei Yin as he sat there calmly. His eyes flickered with thought upon sensing a peculiar aura around Fei Yin. Xi Shen then opened his mouth and responded to Yang Su's question, "I don't know."
Yang Su, upon hearing Xi Shen's uncertain response, became even more nervous.
"No, wait, then isn't that bad? Shouldn't we stop junior brother Yin what if he..he.."
Yang Su stuttered out as he looked between Fei Yin on the stage and Xi Shen who was being way too calm in this situation.
"Yang Su, this is Fei Yin's decision. He knows better than to throw away the life I return to him."
Even with Xi Shen's words, Yang Su was still worried about the outcome of this match, but Xi Shen was right, this was Fei Yin's decision and he couldn't stop him.
Bai Lu's cold eyes didn't look away from Fei Yin's figure, as his muscular body landed on the stage with a loud bang.
The water gathered on the stage within a ten-meter radius of him was blasted away, along with the rain falling from the sky.
For that split second that area of the stage became as dry as it could be, before the rain once again began to fall there, creating puddles of water.
Bai Lu was cultivating an Internal Cultivation method as well as his family's Invincible Vajra Body Art. This made him a powerful Qi and Fleshly Body cultivator.
Bai Lu after landing on the stage took a step forward to Fei Yin and slowly began to walk towards him.
The crowd of disciples' breaths' hitched in their throats in anticipation of this match.
"I never thought I would have the chance to kill you with my own two hands. But to think you would foolishly come seeking death. All of the anger and hatred I'm feeling right now, I will take it all out on you. But I won't kill you immediately, I won't be satisfied with that. I'm going to cut out your tongue first so you can't forfeit and then I'm going to slowly break all your bones and torture you until your life gives out."
Hearing the brutal words uttered by Bai Lu, the disciples felt a cold chill go down their spines, and they couldn't imagine being on the receiving end of someone so angry and filled with the urge to kill.
Fei Yin slowly opened his eyes, and his gaze landed on Bai Lu.
Bai Lu's body freeze a bit upon seeing Fei Yin's gaze.
His gaze didn't hold hatred or the intent to kill, but rather he was looking at Bai Lu as if he was already dead. His gaze caused Bai Lu to be taken aback, but he snorted his heart and his steps continue towards Fei Yin.
In the past, Fei Yin was filled with the desire for revenge, so much so it consumed him entirely and almost sent his mind derailing off a figurative cliff.
He had wanted to die after avenging his family's deaths, but after being saved by Xi Shen a seed had appeared in his heart that was urging him to continue living. If not for his family, then for Xi Shen who had saved his life.
He had been on the two ends of extremes, life, and death.
His eyes had been opened and his mentality had reached a state that few people could understand or comprehend. The image he had of Bai Lu was that he was going to die. It didn't matter whether he was weaker or Bai Lu was stronger. The gap in strength didn't matter and nothing will change the outcome, he wanted Bai Lu dead and to Fei Yin the moment he wished it he was already a dead man walking.
Xi Shen's eyes suddenly flickered intensely when he sensed the strange aura increasing inside of Fei Yin.
'This…'
Xi Shen's heart was overcome with shock when he finally discern what this strange feeling was.
'He's having a Dao Realization!!'
Fei Yin slowly stood up from his seated position.
His dark sword was in hand as he stared at Bai Lu approaching him.
Bai Lu sneered at Fei Yin's posturing, but his guard was still up as he made his move.
He stomped on the stage causing tremors to occur due to the overwhelming strength of his physique. He disappeared from his position and appeared in front of Fei Yin sending out his sledgehammer-like fist towards his chest.
Fei Yin's sword moved. It was slow, very, very slow.
But before Bai Lu's fist could reach Fei Yin's chest, Bai Lu felt all the hair's on his body stood on end as Fei Yin's now green colored sword appeared against his neck ready to slice his head off.
Bai Lu felt completely shocked in his heart.
'Fast! This sword is too fast!'
Bai Lu cried internally before quickly leaning his head back, and his vision for a moment was blinded by a green light.
He wasted no time using his ability to fly to retreat faster.
His body paused ten feet off the ground, and about a hundred feet away from Fei Yin.
His gaze towards Fei Yin was one of horror.
The crowd of disciples below the stage and above in the booths saw this scene and was taken aback by what just happened.
Bai Lu was throwing out his fist but suddenly retreated, and then a green flash appeared where he was before.
It seemed as if he had dodged an attack approaching him way too quickly, like he was too scared of the attack to make his own. The scene was extremely perplexing to all who saw.
Fei Yin closed his eyes, and as the rain fell on him his voice echoed out, "With your death, I will be reborn anew. Like a withering tree in the desert that has received the blessings of the rain, I will thrive while you fall."
As Fei Yin said that, a green glow suddenly covered his body, and then like glass shattered into pieces before dissipating.
Fei Yin then opened his eyes and to the dumbfoundment of the crowd turned around and left the stage.
"Wha-what the hell is going on? Why is he leaving, the match isn't over."
The disciples in the crowd couldn't comprehend Fei Yin's words or his actions of leaving the stage so suddenly.
"What about brother Bai Lu?"
Hearing that, all eyes turned to Bai Lu who was floating in the air.
A disciple in the crowd below narrowed his eyes at Bai Lu and then realized his expression was frozen. His eyes went wide with shock before he cried out, "Oh my god!!!"
At the same time his shout reverberated out in the crowd, Bai Lu's head suddenly detached from his shoulders, and a fountain of blood spouted from his severed neck.
His body then fell out of the sky after a second or two.
The Battler Arena became deathly silent as Bai Lu's headless corpse landed on the stage with an audible thud.
All who saw this came to one conclusion. Fei Yin had somehow killed Bai Lu so quickly his body didn't even know he was dead until a full minute later.
This realization terrified all the disciples to their core.
'What kind of sword skill was that?!!'
A question that appeared in all of their minds.
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Word Count: 1927
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