Translator: Silavin
Yi Buyan was dead!
No one could have anticipated that Yi Buyan would actually be killed.
Even more unimaginable was that he had been slain by a new Disciple who had merely reached the Early Stage Martial Emperor Realm!
Looking at the now lifeless Yi Buyan, reactions varied among the crowd.
Those Senior Disciples displayed shock and astonishment. When they looked towards that figure within the duelling platform, their eyes were filled with trepidation and fear.
Who could have predicted that Yi Buyan, holding a massive advantage at one moment, would die miserably upon the duelling platform the next?
The new Disciples were overwhelmingly excited, wanting to cheer aloud. However, upon seeing that furious Martial Ancestor, they forcibly swallowed their words.
“Dong Yu, do you know what you’re doing!?” The Martial Ancestor roared, his voice reverberating throughout the entire Northern Brilliant Hall, drawing every gaze.
Upon seeing Yi Buyan’s corpse upon the duelling platform, they roughly understood the reason for his fury.
“Of course I know what I’m doing.” Facing his rage, Dong Yu continued standing before him, his voice neither cold nor warm.
Clearly, he intended to protect Qin Yichen.
Among those present, perhaps only he alone understood Qin Yichen’s importance. Setting aside his Alchemy capabilities, the fact that he was a Heavenly Martial Artist alone warranted his intervention.
The reason Heavenly Martial Artists struggled to reach their full potential was primarily due to difficulty in advancing their Spiritual Energy cultivation. Once that lagged behind, manifesting a Heavenly Martial Artist’s full potential became impossible.
However, this youth before him not only maintained pace in his Spiritual Energy cultivation, but it actually exceeded his Martial Arts cultivation.
This was a genuine Heavenly Martial Artist!
The importance of a true Heavenly Martial Artist to the Sacred Land was something clearly Dong Yu understood.
“Dong Yu, do you know that Yi Buyan was someone Hall Master Xu wanted!?” The Martial Ancestor questioned coldly. Particularly when imagining that great personage would learn of Yi Buyan’s death in his Northern Brilliant Hall, and the potential consequences falling upon him, he broke into a cold sweat.
Originally, this had been a favourable assignment.
So long as he protected Yi Buyan’s safety, he might have gained Hall Master Xu’s favour, perhaps even allowing him to enter the Inner Sect. Who could have anticipated such a catastrophic turn of events?
“Hall Master Xu?!”
“Heaven, could the rumours actually be true? Yi Buyan was noticed by an important figure within the Inner Sect, who wanted to take him as his Personal Disciple…”
“This is serious!”
“That new Disciple is finished. No one can protect him now!”
Brilliant Sky Sacred Land’s Inner Sect also had Four Halls, corresponding to the four Outer Sect Halls. Their four Hall Masters were the Sacred Land’s four pillars, each possessing overwhelming power.
Hall Master Xu, as Inner Sect Northern Brilliant Hall’s Hall Master, was naturally the strongest expert among the four Hall Masters.
Now that Qin Yichen had killed someone he valued, it was essentially equivalent to disregarding him entirely.
Dong Yu’s expression also changed slightly. Clearly, he knew this fact, which was why he had first chosen to seek reinforcements from the Inner Sect.
“Dong Yu, personally kill that boy yourself, then go before Hall Master Xu to plead guilty. Perhaps Hall Master Xu might spare your life. Otherwise…” The Martial Ancestor’s voice turned icy as he looked upon Qin Yichen on the duelling platform as if viewing a corpse.
However, Dong Yu remained unmoved, standing firm before him, stating calmly. “Today, while I, Dong Yu, am here, no one shall take him away!”
Though he said this, his heart raced with anxiety. With this incident, the Inner Sect’s Northern Brilliant Hall would certainly be alerted. If the Inner Sect experts from their side arrived, even he could not protect Qin Yichen.
He could only pray that those Elders from the Inner Sect Southern Brilliant Hall would see that Pill soon.
Upon the duelling platform…
Qin Yichen watched this scene coldly.
After hearing Hall Master Xu’s name, his brow furrowed involuntarily.
However, having seen Yi Buyan’s Mutated Martial Soul, he was not particularly surprised.
Mutated Martial Souls were exceedingly rare. Being noticed by a Hall Master was entirely normal. However, even knowing this now, he felt no regret for killing Yi Buyan!
If Yi Buyan had merely defeated Li Yuanba, he would have nothing to say. But Yi Buyan’s behaviour clearly demonstrated intent to kill Li Yuanba, eliminating future trouble.
Such a person, if left alive, would definitely pose a hidden threat!
However, seeing that at this moment, Dong Yu, an Outer Sect Manager, still stood before him, Qin Yichen felt grateful.
Had Dong Yu not intercepted that Martial Ancestor just now, perhaps he would not even have had the opportunity to kill Yi Buyan.
*Hmph!*
The Martial Ancestor snorted coldly, glancing sideways at Dong Yu. “Dong Yu, you think too highly of yourself. You cannot stop me!”
He had to bring that boy’s corpse from the duelling platform before Hall Master Xu to plead guilty. Otherwise, punishment would surely fall upon him!
*Rumble…*
As he spoke, a magnificent aura expanded from his body like collapsing mountains and surging seas, rolling forth. Surrounding observers were blasted away, one after another. Those with lower cultivation even crashed down pitifully.
“Dong Yu, you’re courting death! Don’t blame me for this!” With these words, he raised his palm, condensing a mass of terrifying energy that pressed down towards Dong Yu.
Under normal circumstances, he would never offend Dong Yu over such a minor matter. He was the Outer Sect Southern Brilliant Hall Manager. But at this moment, he couldn’t afford such considerations.
*Boom!*
As a thunderous explosion reverberated, an energy surge like a tsunami erupted from between him and Dong Yu. All around, duelling platforms crumbled and shattered.
*Hmph!* Dong Yu merely grunted, forced backwards, blood trickling from his mouth as he crashed heavily into the duelling platform where Qin Yichen stood.
“Manager.” Qin Yichen looked towards him with concern.
“Don’t come out. I’m fine!” Dong Yu forcibly swallowed the blood rising in his throat. Then, an equally terrifying Spiritual Energy expanded outward. Rather than retreating, he attacked proactively.
As an Alchemist, he was inherently weaker than that Martial Ancestor opposite him. But he could not retreat now, nor could he yield. The moment he did, Qin Yichen would certainly die.
“Fool!” The Martial Ancestor, seeing Dong Yu persistently entangling him, flew into genuine rage. Under his control, the shattered stone fragments actually defied gravity, converging towards his palm.
In an instant, stone blocks resembling a small mountain suspended above his palm. Subsequently, this mountain, carrying the might of his Yuan Energy’s might, pressed down towards where Dong Yu and Qin Yichen stood.
“Damn it!” Seeing this mountain descending, Dong Yu’s expression changed. Too late to protect Qin Yichen, he could only expand his Spiritual Energy, barely impeding the mountain’s crushing momentum.
*Boom!*
Amidst a tremendous crash, both Dong Yu and Qin Yichen were suppressed beneath that mountain, their fates unknown.