English Novel Style Translation:
Li Xiaoye's body trembled. She looked at Uncle Li, then at the Third Young Master, despair flooding her tear-filled eyes.
She didn't want to die.
She was just a girl in her prime—her beautiful life had only just begun. So many colorful dreams still danced in her heart, so many wonders she had yet to experience.
But she had seen Ximen Wudi kill. She had seen how Tu Hong, even surrounded by his loyal protectors, died helplessly and bitterly. She couldn't fool herself into thinking she'd be any luckier. In her eyes, Ximen Wudi had become an invincible demon god.
Supporting the unconscious Du Xiaoyan, Li Xiaoye found her legs too weak to stand. How could she support someone else?
Her hands gave out, and Du Xiaoyan's body collapsed against her. Tie Xuanxuan dashed forward to catch her just in time.
Then, like a blur of lightning, the Third Young Master lunged forward and wrapped Li Xiaoye tightly in his arms.
"Don't be afraid," he whispered into her ear. "I'm here. I will protect you. As long as I'm here, no one will hurt you. I promise."
He turned, eyes blazing, and shouted at Qiao Wei and Uncle Li, who had already formed a shield around them:"Think—now! What ranged techniques does Ximen Wudi still have?! We must stop him from striking again! Big Brother, strike now! Intercept him before he makes a move!"
"Immortal Dust Road? No—that's for large-scale combat... God-Slaying Finger? No, that's close-range..." Qiao Wei murmured, rapidly cycling through every known technique.
"Heaven's Polar Thunder? Impossible, the buildup takes too long... Myth of Doom? Too loud—we'd know if he was using it! Heaven's Descent Sword? No, that's a melee move..." Uncle Li was sweating, panic overtaking him. "Damn it! If only Old Qiao and the Third Young Master were at full strength—together, we might have a chance against him!"
But Qin Feng didn't need the Third Young Master to speak. He was already moving.
A golden light surged once more across his body—the light of the Celestial Sword Saint.
For the first time, he began channeling his energy before the enemy struck.
Then he launched forward like a thunderbolt, cutting through the air with a roar so loud it shook the entire street.
His fingers came together—middle and index—and between them burst forth a five-foot golden blade of pure energy.
With a twist of his arm, he drove it forward—his whole body becoming a blazing, three-zhang-long sword.
His fingertips were the sword's tip. The golden energy between them, the sword's invincible edge.
The Heavenly Sword sliced through the air. Wherever it passed, stone tiles cracked beneath its aura, leaving behind a groove an inch wide and two feet deep.
This strike far exceeded the one he had delivered in his duel with Lu Dingyuan.
The golden glow from the sword lit up the street like a second sun, streaking dozens of zhang into the sky. Every soul still awake that night saw that blinding flash.
Even Ximen Wudi let out a soft grunt of surprise as he saw it coming. "You've made another breakthrough... at such a moment?"
The Heavenly Sword—when drawn—drove all other blades into hiding. Even Ximen Wudi dared not face it directly.
Stronger in crisis, fiercer under pressure—that was the bloodline of the Qin brothers, sons of Qin Xiaoyao.
Just as the Third Young Master mastered the "Sky-Shadow Palm" when death loomed, Qin Feng pushed forward on the Heavenly Sword path under the overwhelming pressure of Ximen Wudi's presence.
And now, the sword was too fast to comprehend. The moment Ximen Wudi spoke, Qin Feng's strike was already upon him.
Yet... Ximen Wudi finished his sentence calmly—because just as the golden blade was about to strike—
—he vanished.
Not a dodge. Not speed.
The space around him simply twitched, then folded, and he was gone.
When the sword cleaved through where he'd stood, it instead struck Zhao Liyuan—one of the Four Great Guardians—who, thinking Ximen would block it, failed to react in time. The blade split him clean in two.
Then, as if nothing had happened, Ximen Wudi reappeared—standing exactly where he had been before.
"Such rapid progress," he murmured, his voice still composed. "And yet, you will not serve me. A pity. You've slain Zhao Liyuan too... seems I truly cannot allow you to live."
Qin Feng stood there, frozen. His sword—unleashed with all his might—could not be stopped. After slicing through Zhao Liyuan, the golden energy continued forward, cutting an entire stone-and-earth building clean in half.
He finally halted, panting heavily, hands and legs trembling. He didn't even have the strength to walk back to the street.
From the house behind him came a child's wail—abruptly silenced, likely muffled by a terrified parent.
Qin Feng turned slowly. The house had a massive wound down the center, roof to floor, as if a divine blade had split it from the heavens.
A deep gouge scarred the earth where the blade had passed. On either side of it lay a bed, cleaved in two.
A corpse—halved like the bed—lay across the floor, blood and organs spilling out.
Beside the bed sat a woman, wrapped in a bedsheet, trembling. One arm cradled a baby no longer than a foot and a half. The other hand clamped tightly over its mouth.
She looked at Qin Feng with a gaze of horror, hatred, and sorrow so deep it pierced the soul.
She and her husband had huddled in bed, praying the battle outside wouldn't reach them.
And yet—disaster had come crashing down like a divine hammer.
Qin Feng felt a piercing pain in his chest. Two tears rolled silently from his eyes.
He took a deep breath, then let out a furious roar:
"Martial might that violates justice must be abolished! I, Qin Feng, swear—one day, I shall rid the world of martial arts!Those who defy this order—shall be executed!"
He spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed.
For someone like Qin Feng—who had never taken an innocent life—this was a wound deeper than any blade. He had turned a woman and child into a grieving widow and orphan. It shattered him.
Even the strongest hearts have fragile corners. And this—this was Qin Feng's.
A shadow swept in and caught him—it was Liu Duanhun, one of the Three Killing Gods.
"Let's retreat," Liu said grimly. "Ximen Wudi... is no human."
Even he, who feared no man, could not stand before a being who defied all laws of motion and force.
Qin Feng raised his hand, pointing to the woman.
"Give her... money. Everything we have. No—it's not enough. I will abolish my cultivation to atone..."
"No, Young Master! You can't say that! If you destroy your martial path, how can you fulfill your vow?!" Liu's voice was firm.
Qin Feng's eyes lit with realization.
"You're right. If I give up now, my words will be nothing but lies."
He stood, with Liu's help, then bowed deeply to the woman. He placed all his valuables on the ground before her.
Then, shaking off Liu's support, he walked away on his own.
Liu sighed, adding his own valuables beside Qin Feng's, bowed low, and followed.
Yes, another had died under the Heavenly Sword—Zhao Liyuan—but to Qin Feng, every demon from the demonic sect deserved death. There was no guilt in that.
He walked back toward the center of the street, facing Ximen Wudi, eyes locked.
"Ximen Wudi!" he bellowed. "I, Qin Feng, swear upon the heavens—I will take your life in this lifetime. If I break this oath, may the heavens strike me down!"
Ximen Wudi laughed coldly. "Big words, Qin Feng. You can't even protect yourself. You killed that innocent family, not I. Even in hell, their spirits will hold you accountable."
Qin Feng nodded. "Yes. That's why—once I fulfill both my oaths—I shall abolish my martial arts forever, to honor the dead."
Ximen scoffed. "Ban all martial arts? That's harder than killing me. Only the supreme ruler of the realm could make such a decree. And you—Qin Feng—you'll never be that man."
Then came a cold voice—each word like a falling sword.
"My brother's vow is my vow.In the game for the throne... I, Qin Ren, claim my place."
Gasps rang out.
To Qiao Wei and the others, this was the first time the Third Young Master had spoken of seizing the realm—not in jest, not in fury, but with calm resolve.
For Ximen Wudi, it was a chilling omen.
The bearer of the Demonic Pupil of Shura had now entered the game.
And if Qin Ren were to claim the throne—there would be no place left for Ximen Wudi.
Whatever thoughts Ximen still had of recruiting Qin Ren vanished.
Killing intent surged.
But before he could act—
Qin Feng shouted: "Thunder God Bomb—release!"
In the same instant, Liu Duanhun grabbed Qin Feng and vanished into the opposite direction.