The threatening voice was filled with killing intent.

Saintess Lin Lang had turned around at some unknown time and was staring straight at Lin Xun.

She was at the critical juncture of subduing the golden book and could not afford to let her focus sway. Hence, she could only verbally threaten him.

“I’ve already done the killing, do you still think that I’m afraid of your threats?”

Lin Xun answered with a composed expression as he continued to slaughter the Blood Lion Clan experts.

“You’re seeking death!”

Saintess Lin Lang’s face turned white with anger, and she clenched her jaw so hard she nearly shattered her teeth. Unfortunately, she was unable to deal with him at the moment and could only bear with it for the time being.

However, she had already given him the death penalty.

Without any hesitation, she focused on subduing the golden book by circulating her full power, activating a series of secret arts, and even spitting out a mouthful of essence blood. The blood-colored copper bell grew increasingly terrifying as it made the book powerless to struggle and only able to wail in agony.

Rustle~

The golden book soon fell silent and flipped open. Golden dao light overflowed, revealing pages filled with cryptic and profound ancient dao characters that seemed to squirm like worms.

Saintess Lin Lang was elated, realizing that the book had been subdued and was now hers.

Swoosh!

At this crucial moment, however, a stream of dao light suddenly arrived and grabbed the book.

Wonder-gold dao light!

After dispatching the Blood Lion Clan experts, Lin Xun had immediately taken action in order to seize the book.

He had originally wanted to kill Saintess Lin Lang first, but knew that she was extremely terrifying. If he failed to kill her in a single strike, it was very likely that the book would be lost to him.

“You’re asking for death!”

Saintess Lin Lang shook with anger as fire seemed to spout from her eyes. The blood-colored copper bell above her head released a thick soundwave that sought to lock the book in place such that it could not be taken.

However, she was soon surprised because the wonder-gold dao light could not be broken!

What kind of treasure is that?

Saintess Lin Lang’s eyes instantly locked onto the Nameless Pagoda in Lin Xun’s hand, realizing that it was also an unbelievable treasure. It was no weaker than her blood-colored copper bell.

Boom!

With a wave of her sleeve, blood-colored swords appeared and rained down like a waterfall.

Meanwhile, she wielded the bell with her full power in an attempt to take back the golden book.

“Hmph!”

Lin Xun sneered as he grasped the Broken Blade. Resplendent starlight blade qi swept forth and dissipated the blood-colored sword rain.

Meanwhile, he urged the wonder-gold dao light to seize the book, refusing to let go.

Although it seemed effortless, Lin Xun’s qi and blood violently heaved in his body, nearly causing him to cough blood. Saintess Lin Lang’s attack was frightening, to say the least, and contained imago power. Though he had neutralized it, he had suffered the repercussions that nearly injured him.

This made Lin Xun grow increasingly wary. Although the demoness only had initial Heaven Ascension cultivation, her combat power was unbelievably strong. In fact, she was likely more capable of matching even the likes of Xiao Ran, Su Xingfeng, Zhao Jingxuan, and the others!

Saintess Lin Lang was even more shaken by this turn of events, nearly unable to believe that a Spirit Sea youngster had so easily neutralized one of her killing moves.

Who is he?

When did such a monster appear among the humans?

Boom!

Blood-colored light overflowed from Saintess Lin Lang and surged around her like an ocean as her presence grew increasingly terrifying. She had realized the severity of the situation and knew she needed to deal with Lin Xun as soon as possible.

Radiant blood-colored light containing imago power descended like a blood-colored cloud.

Space began to distort as Lin Xun did his best to defend using the Moon-Catch technique. However, the recoil violently jolted his entire body, causing his blood and qi to churn. His face turned pale, and he nearly coughed blood.

In the end, he managed to withstand the onslaught.

Meanwhile, Lin Xun suddenly gritted his teeth and threw out the God Devourer Insects. They immediately turned into black blurs as they shot toward Saintess Lin Lang.

However, what happened next caught Lin Xun by surprise. The usually successful God Devourer Insects were stopped by a soundwave from the bell before they could get close!

It was the first time the God Devourer Insects had been thwarted!

The blood-colored copper bell was too mysterious and powerful. The power it released could not be neutralized by the God Devourer Insects.

Gurgle~

Saintess Lin Lang attacked again. Blood-colored light surged forth like a blood river from the depths of hell that sought to drown all life in the world!

Lin Xun did not dare to tarry and did his best to resist.

Rumble~

For a time, the temple was filled with surging blood light and rampaging blade qi, creating a horrifying scene that resembled the end of the world.

Amidst the intense back and forth, neither Saintess Lin Lang nor Lin Xun gave up on trying to seize the golden book.

One of them controlled the blood-colored copper bell while the other wielded the Nameless Pagoda. However, neither could wrench away the golden book, resulting in a deadlock.

“Friend, if you back down, I promise that I will let you live and not make things difficult for you. What do you think?”

Saintess Lin Lang proposed, feeling somewhat anxious. Lin Xun’s strength had greatly surpassed her expectations, and there would be too many variables if this continued.

“How about you give up instead, and I’ll let you walk out of this place alive?”

Lin Xun was unmoved.

They exchanged dozens of blows as they spoke. Lin Xun was just barely able to defend himself, but his complexion had turned extremely pale from the recoil, and he nearly coughed blood several times.

The demoness was far too powerful. Her foundation and combat power were clearly a cut higher than his.

Lin Xun might have been able to subdue her if he was at the Heaven Ascension stage. For now, however, even counterattacking and surviving was difficult, let alone subduing.

This made Lin Xun somewhat anxious. If this continued, he would only be put on the back foot more and more and very likely lose the competition.

I’ll need to employ some special strategies!

Lin Xun inwardly gritted his teeth.

Meanwhile, Saintess Lin Lang made an internal decision to kill Lin Xun at all costs.

“Die!”

“Toady! It’s all up to you!”

Saintess Lin Lang and Lin Xun made their moves at the same time.

Saintess Lin Lang sent out a strange, blood-colored thunder bead. It was charged with densely packed lightning that would make anyone’s scalp turn numb.

Almost at the same instant, the pretty-boy Jin Duyi appeared in his green robes. He maniacally laughed the moment he appeared like someone who had been locked up for far too long. “Kid, you’ve made a very wise decision. When this king appears, who can possibly compete? ……Aiyah! Grandmother trucker, why is it always a Heavenly Blood Thunder Bead!?”

Jin Duyi shrieked the moment he saw the blood-colored lightning, and his hair was soon shocked upside down as he hugged his head and scurried away like a mouse.

“Who? Who is using such a taboo weapon? Ow, ow, damnit, you’re pissing me off!”

Jin Duyi was furious. Even his skin had been burnt by the blood-colored lightning, making him look like a miserable piece of charcoal. There was no longer any trace of his handsome face and proud mannerisms.

Lin Xun was speechless. He and Jin Duyi had originally discussed and agreed to study the golden book together if they managed to obtain it.

Who could have imagined that Jin Duyi would be sent running like a frightened rat the moment he appeared? He wasn’t even helping, but instead making things worse!

Saintess Lin Lang’s eyes widened in surprise as her heart shuddered. The Heavenly Blood Thunder Bead was one of her most powerful trump cards.

Any other ordinary Heaven Ascension expert would have been blasted to death long ago. Who could have imagined that the green-robed fellow would be able to somehow withstand it all!?

Although he was screaming in agony, he was clearly nowhere near dead!

This was far too astonishing. Who was this person who could survive even the Heavenly Blood Thunder Bead? His tenacity was way too outrageous!

“Stinking woman! How dare you bully this king. Just you wait, I will strip you naked and give you a vicious beating that will make you kneel and call me uncle!”

Jin Duyi screeched as he furiously cursed.

However, everything he said was ignored.

By this time, Lin Xun and Saintess Lin Lang were locked in combat again. They both knew that the Heavenly Blood Thunder Bead and Toady were not going to be of any use.

In the end, they would have to fight it out and win!

Kill!

The fight grew increasingly desperate as they continued their dangerous tug-of-war for the golden book.

However, neither party could have anticipated that a chain would suddenly shoot out from the dao platform amidst their battle. Suffused with gorgeous dao light, it interjected in the battle and wrapped around the golden book in order to bring it back to the dao platform.

The sudden turn of events caught both individuals off-guard, nearly allowing the chain to succeed.

“Blast it!”

Both of them immediately stopped fighting and instead channeled all of their focus into taking the golden book.

They had already realized the situation had changed. It seemed as if the sleeping lifeform in the jade rock had awakened a sliver of consciousness and would not tolerate them taking away the golden book.

Moreover, the chain was crackling with terrifying restriction power, making them not dare to split their focus for anything else.

Crack! Crack!

The golden book was locked in place by the soundwaves from the blood-colored copper bell, the wonder-gold dao light from the Nameless Pagoda, and the chain from the dao platform. All three parties were pulling it in different directions.

“Abominable! If not for you, the book would already be mine!” Saintess Lin Lang gnashed her teeth in anger, her beautiful face white with rage.

“If your Blood Lion Clan’s hadn’t been acting that arrogantly, would I even be here? The book has no owner anyways, so it will belong to whoever obtains it. You can rage all you want, but it will be useless.”

Lin Xun’s expression remained calm, refusing to give an inch in at this juncture.

“Don’t worry, after I secure the treasure, I will personally capture you and torture you until you beg for death!”

Hate seethed from between Saintess Lin Lang’s tightly clenched teeth.

Just as Lin Xun was about to retort again, the situation abruptly changed―

Rip~

The chain suddenly increased its power, and the book was torn into three parts that flew toward the three parties!

A third of the golden book was forced into the Nameless Pagoda by the wonder-gold dao light. Lin Xun was momentarily taken aback before his expression rapidly changed as he shouted, “Toady, hurry up and leave! The demoness is going crazy!”

With a wave of his sleeve, the still screaming Jin Duyi was shoved back into the Nameless Pagoda as Lin Xun sprinted out of the temple.

“Trying to leave? Fat chance, I will make you pay for everything you’ve done today!”

Saintess Lin Lang’s expression had turned frighteningly cold and cruel. There was absolutely no way she was going to let Lin Xun off.