Chapter 381: The Price

Chapter 381: Chapter 381: The Price

Atop the giant red gate of the Alchemy Dao Arena, the great figures of the Alchemy Dao looked down, filled with emotion as they watched Yi Xiaoyao reach the final stage.

They were particularly astounded when they witnessed Yi Xiaoyao’s battle in the final trial against a sixth-layer Void-Entering realm foe. His courage to trade his life for his enemy’s left even these great figures shaken.

"This Yi Xiaoyao... so young, yet he possesses such astonishing Alchemy Mastery. His ability to fight above his station is just as incredible. He’s truly a monstrous talent!"

"But his youth is also a disadvantage here in the Alchemy Dao Arena."

"Indeed. Lu Zhan is the one with the greatest advantage in the Alchemy Dao Arena. Yi Xiaoyao is at a severe disadvantage against him."

Seeing Lu Zhan charge toward Yi Xiaoyao to kill him, the great figures on the giant red gate sighed, their faces full of pity.

Just as they had said, the Alchemy Dao Arena suppressed the power of anyone over the age of twenty-five, making it fairer for the younger generation.

However, being *too* young created an unfairness of its own.

Yi Xiaoyao, for instance, was nineteen, while Lu Zhan was exactly twenty-five. There was a six-year age difference, but since neither had their strength suppressed, Lu Zhan naturally held a massive advantage.

Therefore, these great figures of the Alchemy Dao all concluded that Yi Xiaoyao’s death was now certain.

After all, Yi Xiaoyao had just needed to trade his life to barely defeat an opponent at the sixth layer of the Void-Entering realm. How could he possibly win against Lu Zhan, who was at the seventh layer?

But in the next moment, these same sighing dignitaries were once again left utterly shocked by Yi Xiaoyao.

They weren’t the only ones who were stunned. Yi Lu, who had been approaching the Inheritance Palace, was now gaping in horror.

Because Lu Zhan, who had just charged at Yi Xiaoyao, was now sent flying backward like a kite with a snapped string, crashing to the ground right in front of Yi Lu.

"What?"

"How is that possible!"

"Lu Zhan... was knocked back?"

The two young men beside Yi Lu stared in astonishment as Lu Zhan slowly climbed to his feet, the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth starkly visible.

Within the Alchemy Dao Arena, Lu Zhan’s strength was supposed to be absolute. Who could possibly send him flying and injure him?

Following Lu Zhan’s solemn gaze, Yi Lu and the two men turned to look back.

Their eyes fell upon Yi Xiaoyao, his face a mask of ferocity.

A moment ago, Lu Zhan had charged at Yi Xiaoyao. Now, Yi Xiaoyao stood in the same spot, while Lu Zhan had been sent flying back.

The implication was self-evident.

Suddenly, Yi Lu recalled what Yi Xiaoyao had told her: ’If I’m forced into a corner, you won’t be able to stop me from taking the inheritance, but I’ll pay a heavy price for it, too.’

Clearly, Yi Xiaoyao’s current agony was the price he had spoken of.

Yi Xiaoyao glared at Yi Lu and her companions, his face contorted in rage. The source of his agony was the activation of the Soul Burning Forbidden Technique.

But this time was different. He was now burning the soul within his Nascent Soul!

Normally, activating the Soul Burning Forbidden Technique would only raise Yi Xiaoyao’s Cultivation by a single layer. This was because upon reaching the Void-Entering realm, one’s own soul was no longer enough to unleash significant potential.

Only by burning the soul within the Nascent Soul could the Forbidden Technique regain its former might.

It was common knowledge that the Void-Entering realm was a stage of soul cultivation. One had to constantly refine their soul, merge it into their Nascent Soul, and increase their Cultivation by strengthening the Infant Soul.

The price and consequence of Burning an Infant Soul was a drop in one’s Cultivation.

Yi Xiaoyao had been unwilling to take this step. That was why he had tried to negotiate with Yi Lu, even promising to share the inheritance with her.

But Yi Lu had completely ignored him, rejecting his offer with cold indifference.

Worse, Lu Zhan, at the seventh layer of the Void-Entering realm, had even attacked with the intent to kill him.

Thus, backed into a corner, Yi Xiaoyao had no choice but to burn his Infant Soul, unleashing his strongest power and raising his Cultivation by three layers.

"He sent Lu Zhan flying with a single punch!"

Behind Yi Xiaoyao, the two men who had been crushed by Lu Zhan earlier cried out, their faces aghast.

It was just as they saw: Lu Zhan had attacked, only to be sent flying by Yi Xiaoyao’s counter-punch.

Lu Zhan seemed utterly enraged by this. He wiped the blood from his lips, a Flame Sword materializing in his hand. With a furious roar, he slashed at Yi Xiaoyao once more.

"You dare to injure me? Die! Red Fierce Burning and Swallowing Sword!"

An extreme Flame surged from the sword in Lu Zhan’s hand. As he swung it, a terrifying Sword Aura erupted, as if slashed straight from Purgatory itself. Fiery whirlpools materialized around the light of the blade.

Killing Intent flashed in Yi Xiaoyao’s eyes. A cyan light exploded from his Bloodthirsty Sword as his Vitality Power surged to its absolute peak.

"Eternal Life Sword!"

He slashed out. In an instant, the single beam of sword light split into two, then four, then eight, then sixteen.

"Slash!"

The sixteen beams of cyan sword light formed a line before Yi Xiaoyao. With a low shout, he brought his sword down, and the entire row screamed through the air.

BOOM!

With a tremendous bang, the cyan and red lights clashed. The shockwave from the impact caused the entire Alchemy Dao Arena to shudder.

However, the cyan Sword Aura had split into sixteen, its might simply astounding. The Red Flame Sword Light couldn’t even begin to compare.

A series of sizzling pops echoed as the strikes of Cyan Wood instantly shredded the Fiery Flame Sword Light and pierced through its fiery whirlpools.

"No! I am the eldest son of the Lu Family of Red Flame City! If you kill me..."

Seeing the sixteen cyan sword auras hurtling toward him with undiminished power, Lu Zhan roared in terror, trying to use his family’s name to make Yi Xiaoyao hesitate.

Yi Xiaoyao didn’t even let him finish. His expression was glacial as he spoke.

"I told you that you would pay with your life for forcing my hand!"

"Kill!"

The cold light and Killing Intent in his eyes exploded. With a chilling command, the overwhelming sword light descended.

"NO!!!" Seeing the terrifying sword light descending upon him, Lu Zhan’s face went deathly pale. He roared and desperately condensed a demonic face made of flame in front of him.

The swords fell like rain. The cyan sword light transformed into sharp blades of Cyan Wood, instantly riddling the demonic flame face with holes.

SCHLICK SCHLICK SCHLICK SCHLICK SCHLICK SCHLICK SCHLICK...

The sixteen sharp swords pierced Lu Zhan’s body, pinning him to the ground. A blade of cyan light protruded from his head. His face was frozen in a ferocious, terrifying mask.

Lu Zhan, the invincible existence within the Alchemy Dao Arena, was dead.

’If I’m forced into a corner, you won’t be able to stop me from taking the inheritance!’

Yi Xiaoyao’s words still lingered, echoing endlessly in Yi Lu’s mind.

Yi Lu’s once-icy face was now deathly pale, her eyes wide with a horror that left her speechless.

Before, when Yi Lu had heard Yi Xiaoyao’s attempt to negotiate, she had thought it was utterly ridiculous—a daydream. She hadn’t believed him for a second and had dismissed him with contempt.

But now, right before her eyes, Yi Xiaoyao had used overwhelming, crushing power to annihilate her greatest support!

Whether Yi Lu believed it or not, she had no choice but to accept it now.

...