The sun gradually slanted westward, but the temperature in the training grounds seemed to drop to freezing point. The bloody scent left by three consecutive battles slowly permeated the air, intertwining with the killing intent of the upcoming fourth battle, forming a suffocating oppressive sensation. The Black Iron Rock surface of the arena had unknowingly been stained with mottled bloodstainsthese were traces left by previous battles, and also proof of today's cruel rules.

  Lin Chen stood on the arena, breathing slightly hurried. Three consecutive battles, especially the full-force confrontation with Feng Wuhen, had consumed nearly seventy percent of his spiritual energy. But what made him even more vigilant was the next opponentBlood Li. This name represented blood and death in the Outer Sect. Reportedly he cultivated the Blood Blade Sect's secret methods, each strike would see blood, opponents either died or were crippled. And today, he would face this baleful star.

  The gazes of the disciples below had shifted from shock to fear. When Blood Li's name was called from the referee's mouth, the entire training grounds instantly fell into dead silence. Even breathing sounds were deliberately suppressed. Everyone knew the true life-and-death battle was about to begin.

  "Blood Li... he's really here..." a disciple's voice trembled, "In the previous round against Senior Liu, he only used three strikes, Senior Liu just... just became a dried corpse..."

  "I heard his cultivated Blood Blade secret method can absorb opponents' essence blood to enhance himself, growing stronger the more he fights!"

  "Senior Lin may be powerful, but facing such demonic methods..."

  Fear spread like plague. Even some Inner Sect senior brothers and sisters frowned. "The Blood Blade Sect's legacy has actually infiltrated the Outer Sect... the sect's management has been too lax these years," an Inner Sect male cultivator said gravely.

  But no one dared to voice opposition. Because behind Blood Li stood the Blood Blade Secta demonic force that even the Azure Cloud Sect had to be cautious about! Not to mention, Blood Li himself was a terrifying existence ranked in the top three of the Outer Sect's combat power list!

  Blood Li's steps onto the arena were slow. Each step was heavy as a drum, pounding on everyone's hearts. He had a slender build, yet gave an intangible oppressive feeling. A blood-red robe, seemingly soaked with blood, emitted a faint bloody scent. Most eye-catching was the blade on his backthe blade body narrow and long, entirely dark red, with a grimacing skull embedded at the hilt. Within the skull's eye sockets, bloodlight seemed to flow, as if a living thing.

  As he approached step by step, the light around the arena seemed to darken slightly. That wasn't an illusion, but the blood demonic qi's erosion of heaven and earth spiritual energy! Where he passed, the ground even left faint blood-red footprintsthat was the blood demonic qi so concentrated it manifested substantially!

  Even more terrifying were his eyesdeep within those pupils, an eerie blood-red color shimmered, like two rotating blood-colored whirlpools. The moment they met gazes, Lin Chen actually felt his own blood and qi slightly agitated, as if about to be sucked out of his body!

  This was the terror of the Blood Blade Sect's secret methodintimidating the enemy before battle, eroding the opponent's will with blood demonic qi!

  Blood Li, ranked third on the Outer Sect combat power list, Condensation Stage Level 8 peak. But his true terror wasn't in cultivation realm, but in the technique he cultivatedthe Blood Blade Sect's signature ultimate art "Blood Demon Blade Art"! This was a demonic technique that nourished the blade with slaughter, cultivated with blood! Each person killed, the blood blade would absorb their essence blood, feeding back to the cultivator, causing their power to surge explosively!

  Reportedly when Blood Li first entered the Outer Sect, he was only Condensation Stage Level 5. But in just three years, through countless life-and-death battles, he had ruthlessly killed his way to Condensation Stage Level 8 peak! The Outer Sect disciples who died under his blade already numbered thirty-seven! Each one had their essence blood sucked dry, turned into dried corpses!

  Once an Inner Sect elder couldn't bear it, intervened to stop. But the Blood Blade Sect directly dispatched a Spiritual Light Realm elder to negotiate with the Azure Cloud Sect. Eventually, the sect could only compromise, establishing the "arena life death each follows fate" rule. From then on, Blood Li became even more unrestrained, becoming the Outer Sect's universally terrifying "Blood Butcher"!

  And today, his target was Lin Chenthis suddenly risen, stellar-power-bearing genius!

  In fact, Blood Li's targeting of Lin Chen wasn't accidental. Just yesterday, Steward Zhao secretly found him, promising: as long as he could "cripple" Lin Chen on the arena, he would gift a "Blood Soul Pill"a precious pill that could assist Blood Blade Sect cultivators break through bottlenecks! Even promising to pave his way in the Inner Sect later!

  Steward Zhao's purpose was clear: Lin Chen's rise had already threatened his plan. Must be thoroughly strangled before he grew! And Blood Li was the best blade!

  Blood Li readily accepted. Could obtain pills, could absorb stellar essence blood, killing two birds with one stone! As for Lin Chen's life or death? He didn't care at all. How many people died in the Outer Sect annually? One more "accidentally dead" genius was perfectly normal.

  For Blood Li, Lin Chen's essence blood would be the best nourishment for his blood blade! Even potentially allowing him to break through to Condensation Stage Level 9, or even... Spiritual Light Realm!

  "Lin Chen?" Blood Li spoke, voice raspy and unpleasant, like metal scraping, "I've heard of you. Being able to get here shows you have some skill. But it ends here." His tone was flat but carried undeniable confidence. Clearly, he didn't think Lin Chen posed any threat to him.

  Lin Chen didn't respond.

  He merely took a deep breath, his brow Star Pattern slightly warm, stellar power flowing within his body. Simultaneously, he secretly circulated his Chaos Star Vortex, compressing his remaining spiritual energy to the limit. Facing Blood Li, he had to give his all.

  "Begin!" The moment the referee's voice fell, Blood Li moved. Not fast as lightning, but eerie as a ghost. His figure shook, leaving three blood-colored afterimages at his original position, his true body already appearing to Lin Chen's left! Simultaneously, that blood blade soundlessly chopped towards Lin Chen's neck! The blade edge not yet arrived, a pungent bloody scent already rushed to his face, containing an even more bizarre power eroding life force!

  Lin Chen's pupils sharply contracted. So fast! So eerie blade technique! He had no time to evade, could only fully operate Star Body Refinement Technique, his skin surface emitting a faint silver luster, simultaneously his right fist condensing metal attribute source spirit qi, fiercely smashing towards the blade side!

  Clang!!!

  Fist and blade collided, erupting with piercing metal clash sounds! Lin Chen felt a cold, bloody, wildly erosive power madly rushing into his body along his fist! Where that power passed, meridians ached as if corroded, spiritual energy circulation even slowed! He grunted, retreating three steps, his right fist appearing a shallow bloody markjust one exchange, he was injured!

  The wound transmitted not simple pain, but tingling like myriad ants biting and erosion! The blood demonic blade qi was like a living thing, frantically drilling along the wound, attempting to corrode his meridians, devour his blood and qi! Lin Chen immediately operated stellar power, silver-white light flickering at the wound, fiercely opposing the blood-colored blade qi, emitting "hiss hiss" sounds!

  Below erupted with uproar instantly!

  "Just one strike! Senior Lin is injured!"

  "Blood demonic blade qi too terrifying! Even Star Body Refinement Technique can't block!"

  "It's over... this battle might end very quickly..."

  Intense pain surged like tidewater, the blood demonic blade qi madly eroding Lin Chen's meridians. But he clenched his teeth, his mind flashing father's figurethat man trapped in the Stellar Tower, who once told him:

  "Chen'er, remember. The stellar path lies in guarding one's true heart. No matter what darkness, what erosion you face, as long as your heart still shines, stars won't extinguish."

  "True strong ones aren't those who never fail, but those who can still ignite the fire of hope in desperate situations."

  Father's voice seemed to cross time and space, ringing in his ears. Lin Chen's gaze regained firmness. Yes, he couldn't lose! Father's freedom, mother's hope, his own fate, and... those enemies secretly watching, all awaited him to grow stronger!

  "Blood demonic blade qi... truly terrifying." Lin Chen silently recited, "But stellar power originates from chaos, embracing all things! Your erosive power, to chaos... is merely nourishment!"

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  He no longer resisted the blood demonic blade qi's erosion, instead actively guided a wisp of Chaos Star Vortex power, wrapping that blood-colored energy, beginning... devouring, transforming! Though slow, though pain doubled, this indeed verified his conjecturechaos could dissolve all foreign energies!

  Below, Liu Ruyan on the viewing platform, hands clenched, knuckles white. She could see how dangerous Lin Chen's situation was. Blood demonic blade qi's suppression of body-refining cultivators was almost fatal! But she couldn't intervene, this was arena tournament rulesunless Lin Chen conceded, or... died!

  Yue Liuli hidden in darkness, eyes complex. She both hoped Lin Chen could survive this trial, and worried he'd expose too many trump cards, attracting higher-level attention from Netherworld Palace. But now, she could only silently observe.

  Blood Li merely slightly shook, eyes flashing a trace of bloodthirsty light. "Star Body Refinement Technique? Quite interesting. But your body refinement realm still can't block my blood demonic blade qi!" Before his voice faded, he struck again! This time, the blood blade waved, blade edge drawing eerie blood-colored arcs, like blooming blood lotus flowers, completely enveloping Lin Chen! Each arc contained terrifying erosive power, air even corroded emitting "hiss hiss" white smoke!

  Lin Chen clenched his teeth, figure swiftly dodging, simultaneously fists continuously striking out, using Starfall Fist to forcibly withstand blade qi. But Blood Li's blade technique too eerie, angles tricky, speed extremely fast, even more terrifying that blood demonic blade qi, penetrating everywhere, constantly eroding his protective spiritual energy and body! In just over ten breaths, Lin Chen's body already had seven or eight wounds, blood staining his robe. Though wounds weren't deep, the blood demonic blade qi's erosion made his spiritual energy consumption accelerate drastically, movements gradually slowing.

  Below, all disciples held their breath, faces pale. They could see Lin Chen was completely suppressed! Blood Li's attacks like violent storm, while Lin Chen could only bitterly hold on, as if about to be swallowed by blood-colored blade light any moment!

  "It's over... Senior Lin is going to lose..."

  "Blood Li too terrifying! That blood demonic blade qi can even corrode spiritual energy!"

  "Senior Lin already injured, continuing like this..."

  Zhao Hu on the viewing platform, mouth corners hooked into a ferocious smile. "Senior Blood Li's blood demonic blade qi, especially restrains body-refining cultivators! Lin Chen, you must die today!"

  On the arena, Lin Chen gradually calmed down. Though injured, though suppressed, he didn't panic. His brow Star Pattern continuously warmed, Stellar Eye quietly opened. Within his vision, each of Blood Li's blade trajectories, each flow of blood demonic blade qi, became clear. Simultaneously, he also closely observed Blood Li's breathing, blood qi fluctuations, spiritual energy circulation patterns.

  Under Stellar Eye's full operation, each strand of Blood Li's blood flow, each wisp of spiritual energy circulation, was absolutely clear in Lin Chen's perception. He saw that intensely concentrated near-substantial blood-colored energy within Blood Li's bodythat was the core of the blood demonic qi, violently fluctuating with each blade technique execution.

  More crucially, Lin Chen discovered the blood demonic qi's operation wasn't flawless. Each time blade qi erupted, that blood-colored energy would violently expand, then rapidly contract. During contraction's instant, Blood Li's blood qi would have a brief "void"that was the transition gap between old force exhausted and new force not yet generated! Though only a fleeting moment, for experts, this moment was the distance between life and death!

  Moreover, Lin Chen noted a detail: when Blood Li used ultimate moves like "Demon God Slash," the blood-colored energy would first concentrate into the blood blade, causing temporary defensive emptiness within his body. That moment, his chest position had a clear "energy gate"that was the fatal weakness of the Blood Blade Sect's secret methods!

  Soon, he discovered a critical pointafter each blade qi eruption, Blood Li's breathing would have a momentary disorder, his blood qi would also appear a brief stagnation. Though only zero-point-something seconds, it indeed existed! Was that a side effect of the blood demonic blade qi? Or a flaw in the Blood Blade Sect's secret methods?

  Lin Chen's mind stirred. Perhaps this was the weakness!

  He no longer blindly withstood, instead began consciously adjusting tactics. When Blood Li erupted blade qi again, he didn't retreat but advanced, using Star Body Refinement Technique to withstand part of the damage, simultaneously closely observing Blood Li's blood qi changes. Indeed, at blade qi eruption's instant, Blood Li's blood qi showed clear fluctuations, though quickly restored, that instant, his defense would have brief weakness!

  "Now!" Lin Chen's eyes blazed with light. He no longer held back, Chaos Star Vortex madly rotating, remaining spiritual energy all condensed on his right fist! Fist tip, golden, silver, gray three-colored light interweaved, emitting terrifying chaotic aura! That was metal attribute source spirit qi, stellar power, chaos power fusion!

  This punch wasn't merely power eruption, but will condensation! Lin Chen poured all anger, unwillingness, hatred for father's imprisonment, challenge of his own fate, all into this punch! The three-colored light on his fist, now actually began slowly fusing, transforming into a gray chaotic colorthat was the manifestation of Chaos Star Vortex's original form!

  Chaos Star Vortex madly rotated, absorbing faint stellar energy from surroundings, even... the blood demonic qi emitted by Blood Li, was forcibly devoured, transformed! Chaos, originally the beginning of all things, could accommodate everything, could also dissolve everything!

  "This punch, is for myself to fight!" Lin Chen inwardly roared, "Also for all innocents killed by Netherworld Palace, by Blood Blade Sect!"

  Below, everyone felt that terrifying momentum. Air seemed to solidify, even breathing became difficult. Some disciples with lower cultivation, even had to operate all spiritual energy to resist that pressure!

  "Starfall Fist Second StyleShattering Stars!" Lin Chen roared low, one punch out! This punch, no gorgeous trajectory, but contained will to shatter stars! Where fist passed, blood-colored blade qi collapsed dispersing, like ice-snow meeting blazing sun!

  Blood Li's expression slightly changed. He could feel this punch's terror! But he didn't retreat, instead his eyes blazing with bloodlight, his whole body blood robe fluttering without wind, behind him even appeared a faint blood-colored demon god phantom! Simultaneously, the skull on the blood blade emitted mournful shrieks, the blade body bloodlight wildly surged, transforming into a zhang-long blood-colored blade radiance, meeting Lin Chen's fist!

  The "Blood Demon Blade Art" though terrifyingly powerful, had a fatal flaweach time executing ultimate moves like Demon God Slash, the practitioner would also suffer backlash! That backlash wasn't physical, but... soul-based! The stronger the blade technique, the more negative emotions absorbed, the practitioner's mind gradually eroded by killing desires!

  Historically, many Blood Blade Sect geniuses ultimately became slaughter-only demons, precisely because unable to withstand this backlash! Blood Li though cultivated to Condensation Stage Level 8 peak, he could feel his temperament becoming increasingly violent, increasingly bloodthirsty! Sometimes even during cultivation, producing auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations!

  This was the hidden danger of "Blood Demon Blade Art"the stronger the cultivation, the more violent the nature, ultimately completely losing sanity, becoming a true demonic cultivator! Blood Li knew this, but he couldn't stop. Because demonic cultivation's greatest temptation was... power! Once you taste the sweetness of rapid strength growth, no one is willing to slow down step by step again!

  In the face of Blood Li's overwhelming strike, Lin Chen's eyes also suddenly erupted with dazzling light! But that wasn't silvery starlight, but... a deep gray radiance, like primordial chaos's color! Within his dantian, the Chaos Star Vortex spun frantically, nine-attribute source spirit qi merging perfectly, transforming into chaos origin power!

  "Let's end it!"

  Lin Chen no longer dodged, instead faced the blood-colored blade radiance, punching out! Fist and blade light collidedBoom!!! Terrifying explosion instantly swept across entire arena! Protective light screen, which had already cracked, now completely shattered! Aftermath like a tsunami, madly surging outwards!

  Below, countless disciples were directly blasted off their feet! Even those Inner Sect senior brothers and sisters, had to hurriedly operate protective barriers to resist!

  And on arena, two figures, after the violent explosion, simultaneously flew backward!

  Thud! Thud!

  Both landed heavily on arena floor, vomiting blood!

  Outcomeevenly matched?!

  No.

  On arena floor, Blood Li struggled to stand, his blood-red robe already tattered, his chest sunken, evidently severely injured. But Lin Chen, although also vomiting blood, slowly stood up, his eyes still radiating that chaotic gray light!

  "I see... you used father's power."

  Lin Chen wiped the blood from his mouth, speaking in a low voice.

  Blood Li's face finally changed completely. He could feel, within Lin Chen's body, that chaotic energy now stabilized, even... started slowly repairing his injuries! How was this possible?! Just now, Lin Chen clearly exhausted all his strength, why could he still stand?!

  "Because... chaos within me, never left."

  Lin Chen took a step forward, the wounds on his body actually visibly healing! That was the miraculous effect of chaos origin powerable to devour all foreign energies, also able to repair the body itself!

  Blood Li instinctively retreated a step. For the first time, fear truly surged in his heart! This Lin Chen, too terrifying! He must leave! Immediately!

  But, just as he was about to turn and escape, a faint, cold voice suddenly sounded behind him:

  "You think... you can still leave?"

  Blood Li abruptly turned, his pupils sharply contracting!

  Because behind him, the black-clad girlYue Liuli, had appeared at some point! Her right hand, pressing lightly on Blood Li's back, that position precisely... was the fatal energy gate of the "Blood Demon Blade Art"!

  "How... how did you..."

  Blood Li couldn't believe it. Yue Liuli actually grasped his fatal weakness? How was this possible?!

  "Because, Star Moon Sect has studied demonic cultivation for three thousand years."

  Yue Liuli's voice was calm, but carried a bone-chilling coldness.

  "Including your Blood Blade Sect's 'Blood Demon Blade Art'."

  After saying this, she no longer hesitated, her fingers gently pressingPuff!

  Blood Li's body instantly stiffened. His eyes wide, staring unbelievably at the blood-colored hole appearing on his chest.

  That was... his own blood demonic qi, reversed, piercing through his heart?!

  "You... you are..."

  Before the words could finish, Blood Li's eyes lost all luster, his body slowly collapsing.

  Completely lifeless.

  Dead.

  Blood Li, Blood Blade Sect's Outer Sect number one, Condensation Stage Level 9 peak, died just like that!

  On arena, Lin Chen took a deep breath, the chaotic gray light gradually subsiding. He knew, this battle's victory, actually... relied greatly on Yue Liuli's last strike.

  But, this also provedcooperation's power.

  "Thank you."

  Lin Chen looked at Yue Liuli, sincerely speaking.

  Yue Liuli just nodded slightly, then glanced toward high platform.

  There, Steward Zhao's face had already twisted to an extreme.

  His hands clenched into fists, the killing intent in his eyes almost materializing!

  Blood Li... dead!

  His plan... completely failed!

  "Poison Elder... tomorrow... must kill him!"

  Steward Zhao growled through clenched teeth.

  "Even if... we have to expose ourselves!"

  "But... Star Moon Sect..."

  The black-robed man behind hesitated.

  "Star Moon Sect... can't openly interfere!"

  Steward Zhao coldly said.

  "Tomorrow... as long as Poison Elder can activate sacrificial array... Lin Chen... will definitely die!"

  "Yes..."

  The black-robed man bowed, retreating.

  On arena, Lin Chen also glanced toward high platform. His gaze, meeting Steward Zhao's, seemed to clash with sparks.

  Both knew... tomorrow's battle... will be final showdown!

  Either you die, or I perish!

  Storm... approaches!