The Legend of the Netherworld

Chapter 193 Poor Murong Rui

Lin Xiao gently wiped the blood from his hands, his eyes becoming calmer. He knew that even though today's battle went smoothly, it didn't mean tomorrow would be as easy. His goal wasn't just to pass the trial and secure a spot, but to find a breakthrough opportunity within this trial, allowing him to be even stronger in the upcoming challenges.

He looked around, confirmed that the enemy had been cleared, and began to sort out the spoils. Although these items were not particularly valuable to him, in this trial land, every item could mean the difference between life and death.

He shouldered his pack and continued on his way through the darkness. By this time, the sky had completely darkened, and the moonlight, like silver, cast a shadow across the empty plain. The hills and woods in the distance were shrouded in shadow, and the night wind, with a hint of coolness, blew across Lin Xiao's face.

"I'm afraid more people will come tonight," Lin Xiao thought to himself. He took every step more cautiously, knowing that every decision he made could determine his life or death.

Suddenly, there was a faint sound of footsteps ahead. Lin Xiao immediately blended into the surrounding shadows, holding his breath and listening carefully. The footsteps were not loud, but they were not to be ignored. He quickly determined that there were two people coming, and they seemed to be approaching quickly.

"It's actually them..." A hint of coldness flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes.

The arrivals were none other than Murong Rui and Xiang Shouyi. Lin Xiao had clashed with them several times before, and while on the surface, there was no deep grudge between them, their relationship was not harmonious. Murong Rui had a fiery temper, while Xiang Shouyi was a loyal and calm guard. Although both were formidable, Lin Xiao perceived them as having a dangerous aura.

"Looks like they've also come to this area," Lin Xiao muttered to himself, knowing that if these two found him, they would definitely not let him go. Especially Murong Rui, whose anger and determination probably made him a thorn in his side.

He retreated quietly, hiding under a large tree. Lin Xiao held his breath, quietly waiting for the two men to approach. He knew that if he engaged them directly at this moment, he might not be able to completely defeat them in such a short time, especially after Murong Rui recovered, his fighting ability was still not to be underestimated.

"Young Master, are you sure you want to continue chasing Lin Xiao?" Xiang Shouyi asked in a low voice, his tone full of worry.

"Of course." Murong Rui's tone was filled with anger. "He killed so many of my friends, stole my Amethyst Jade, and even walked away. How could I let him go so easily? Besides, Lin Xiao is too cunning. I can't let him live any longer."

"Young Master, you are seriously injured. If you really fight him head-on, I don't know if you can hold on." Xiang Shouyi reminded.

Murong Rui stopped, looked down at his injuries, his face darkened, and in the end he said nothing more, but just said coldly: "Let's go, keep chasing." His tone was full of determination, as if he had decided to fight with all his strength.

The two continued forward, their pace becoming increasingly rapid. Lin Xiao held his breath, his eyes narrowed slightly, waiting for the perfect moment.

Just as they were getting closer, Lin Xiao suddenly made a decision - he decided to take the initiative.

"Since you insist on seeking death, let me fulfill your wish." Lin Xiao smiled coldly, with a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

He suddenly leaped, his body vanishing from the spot like a ghost, and instantly appeared behind Murong Rui and Xiang Shouyi. Murong Rui and Xiang Shouyi didn't notice until Lin Xiao's sword light was approaching, and then they suddenly turned around.

"You are looking for death!" Murong Rui roared and swung the sword in his hand towards Lin Xiao.

Xiang Shouyi quickly used a defensive formation to try to block Lin Xiao's attack.

"Illusionary skill: Imitating phantom moves!" Lin Xiao shouted softly, and his body instantly split into three phantoms, like ghosts, elusive.

Sword lights and shadows intertwined, and sword energy collided fiercely in the air, emitting bursts of crisp sounds. Although Murong Rui and Xiang Shouyi's offensive was fierce, they still seemed slightly inferior to Lin Xiao's clever body movements and swordsmanship.

"Break it for me!" Murong Rui roared angrily, bursting out with powerful energy, and the sword light suddenly turned and pointed directly at Lin Xiao's chest.

Lin Xiao's figure suddenly disappeared. When he reappeared, he was already standing behind Murong Rui, with his sword piercing his back.

Murong Rui was startled and turned quickly, but he was already half a step too late. Lin Xiao's sword energy struck down like lightning, directly cutting through his defense.

"Cough!" Murong Rui spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turned pale, his body shook, and he almost fell to the ground.

Seeing this, Xiang Shouyi's heart tightened. He rushed forward, waving the long sword in his hand, trying to repel Lin Xiao.

"Shadow Spirit Sword Stab!" Lin Xiao sneered, and stabbed with his sword. The sword energy pierced into Xiang Shouyi's chest like a phantom.

Xiang Shouyi felt a sharp pain, and his whole body suddenly stopped, with an incredible look in his eyes. Just as he was about to counterattack, Lin Xiao had already drawn his sword, and the long sword was like lightning, piercing his heart directly.

Xiang Shouyi fell to the ground without any reaction, and there was no sign of life.

Murong Rui clutched his chest, his face livid, his eyes filled with anger and resentment. He struggled to stand up, glaring at Lin Xiao, gritting his teeth and saying, "Lin Xiao, you... you dare..."

Lin Xiao smiled coldly, and gently turned the sword to wipe away the blood on the sword. "Your death has long been destined."

He did not stop and quickly left the battlefield, continuing to walk deeper into the plain.

Lin Xiao walked lightly along the forest path across the plain, his steps still pounding with thoughts of last night's battle and his upcoming plans. While the defeats of his enemies had benefited him greatly, they had also made him more vigilant—the competition in this trial was far more brutal than he had anticipated.

He looked around and seemed to have reached the edge of the plain. The environment here was different from the previous place. The grass and trees were sparse, and a few towering peaks could be seen in the distance. Moonlight streamed down from the horizon, casting a thin silver glow on the ground. The air was refreshing, but also had a hint of oppression, making people feel an invisible crisis.

"It seems this is the real test tonight." Lin Xiao muttered to himself, a look of deep thought in his eyes. He knew that the real enemy was still ahead, and he had to do his best to improve his strength in order to cope with the next test.

He stopped, sat down gently on a big rock, closed his eyes and thought, preparing to use the short rest time to restore his strength and adjust his fighting state again.

At this moment, a sharp aura suddenly came over him. Lin Xiao immediately opened his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a knife. He quickly stood up, his body tense, staring intently at the darkness ahead.

"Someone is coming." Lin Xiao said in his heart.

A moment later, a figure appeared in his sight. It was a young man in a black robe, tall and strong, with a cold gaze and a steady gait. He was obviously an experienced warrior.

The man stopped and met Lin Xiao's gaze, a hint of surprise and alertness flashing in his eyes. Then, he raised his eyebrows slightly and sneered, "It seems that today is an unexpected gain."

Lin Xiao didn't respond directly, a hint of caution flashing in his eyes. He knew that this young man was no ordinary contestant. The aura he exuded was close to the ninth level of Jiayin. If he wasn't careful, he might get into trouble.

"Who are you?" Lin Xiao asked in a low voice. His tone was calm, but it revealed a sense of threat that could not be ignored.

The man didn't seem to be in a hurry to answer. Instead, he chuckled and said, "You are quite calm. In that case, why not test your strength?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the man suddenly attacked, his palm like a knife, rushing towards Lin Xiao with a terrifying gust of wind. Lin Xiao quickly retreated, and at the same time, he used the "Dragon Swimming Across the Seas" body movement. His body was as agile as a dragon, and he instantly avoided the fierce attack.

"Yes, your agility is remarkable." The man sneered, "But with just this, you may not be able to escape from me."

A cold light flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes. He took a deep breath, and his entire aura changed instantly. The energy in his body began to flow rapidly, and as he moved, his aura became stronger and stronger.

"The sword dances with splendor!" Lin Xiao suddenly drew his sword, the sword light was like the wind, and instantly rolled up a whistling sword energy and pounced on the man.

The man snorted coldly and crossed his hands. Suddenly, a powerful energy burst out from his body, forming a solid defensive barrier that blocked Lin Xiao's sword energy.

"Nice swordsmanship. I'm quite interested in it." The man said in a low voice, "However, I'm afraid your little tricks alone won't be enough to shake me."

Lin Xiao remained calm, analyzing his opponent's fighting style. He sensed that the man before him possessed not only formidable martial prowess, but also extreme caution and extensive combat experience. With his own swordsmanship and agility alone, it would be difficult to gain an advantage in a short period of time.

"However, this kind of opponent is exactly what I want," Lin Xiao thought to himself. He was not in a hurry to confront the opponent head-on, but planned to test him and find his weakness.

Seeing that Lin Xiao didn't attack again, the man frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure in his eyes. He suddenly accelerated and pounced on Lin Xiao like a beast. The sword in his hand flashed with a cold light and pointed directly at Lin Xiao's chest.

"Shadow Spirit Sword Stab!" Lin Xiao did not hesitate, and the long sword stabbed out like a shadow, with incomparable precision.

The sword energy and the man's blade intersected in the air, making a violent collision and sending sparks flying. Lin Xiao stared at the man closely, secretly trying to figure out his movements.

The man's sword moves were extremely swift, but Lin Xiao's swordsmanship was not much inferior. His clever sword moves combined with his flexible body movements allowed him to always maintain a distance from his opponent.

"It seems that you are stronger than I thought." There was a hint of approval in the man's tone, and then he flashed and quickly retreated.

Lin Xiao did not pursue him, but watched the man's every move vigilantly, constantly analyzing his next move in his mind.

At this moment, the man suddenly laughed out loud: "Interesting, it seems I have to take you seriously. In that case, let me show you my true strength."

The man's breath suddenly burst out, and the power in his body began to rotate at an alarming speed. The oppressive feeling in the air became stronger and stronger, as if it was going to swallow up everything around him.

"Extreme Wind Break!" The man shouted suddenly, and a strong storm flashed in his palm. The strong wind swept over and swept towards Lin Xiao.

A trace of solemnity flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes, and he quickly retreated. At the same time, he mobilized the strength in his body and performed the "Dragon Swimming Around the Seas" technique to avoid the attack.

But the man did not stop attacking, but continued to launch powerful attacks one after another, each move carrying a strong sense of oppression, as if to break Lin Xiao's defense line in one fell swoop.

Lin Xiao took a deep breath, feeling the surge of energy within him. He knew this was the moment to test his strength and reflexes. Facing this formidable foe, simply avoiding the enemy wouldn't hold him back for long. He had to proactively attack and disrupt his opponent's rhythm.

"Sword dances with brilliance!" Lin Xiao shouted, and the sword flashed towards the man like a whirlwind. As the sword energy burst out, a sharp aura spread, and the surrounding air seemed to be distorted by the impact of the sword energy.

However, the man was prepared. With a sneer on his face, he clasped his hands together and instantly condensed a powerful storm barrier, forming an indestructible defense. A hint of interest flashed in his eyes as he watched Lin Xiao perform such complex sword moves while maintaining such a clear mind and extremely high combat awareness.

"You are indeed quite interesting." The man raised his lips slightly and swung his hand suddenly, "Hurricane Tear!"

As the man unleashed this move, the previously stable storm barrier suddenly transformed into countless sharp wind blades, striking Lin Xiao from all directions. These wind blades were extremely fast and carried terrifying destructive power. Even a strong man at the Jiayin Ninth Realm would be cut if he wasn't careful.

Lin Xiao's heart trembled. The power of this attack could not be underestimated. He immediately used his "Illusionary Body Skill: Imitating Phantom Moves" to summon two clones. He also used "Shadow Spirit Sword Stab" and "Sword Qi Strike" simultaneously, attempting to suppress the wind blade's attack with his sword energy.

Sword energy surged out like a tide, instantly colliding with the wind blades, erupting in a deafening roar. Lin Xiao's figure was propelled into the air by the blast, but he landed steadily on the ground, exerting force with his feet, and quickly disappeared from the spot.

"Humph, you can escape once, but can you escape a second time?" The man sneered and turned to attack again. However, suddenly, his body paused slightly, and he felt a strong and dangerous aura approaching.

"Illusionary Body Technique: Imitative Moves" wasn't just about creating a phantom clone; its true power lay in its ability to mimic an enemy's unexecuted moves, even down to their aura and strength. Lin Xiao capitalized on this, setting a trap and preparing to trap the man with a series of attacks.

"Ghostly Sword Stab!" Lin Xiao suddenly appeared behind the man, and the sword light pierced his heart like a ghost.

The man felt a strong threat coming from behind, turned abruptly, and met Lin Xiao's sword with both palms, unleashing a burst of fierce energy. With a clang, the sword and palm collided, sending sparks flying.

However, Lin Xiao did not retreat. Instead, he immediately used the "Sword Qi Technique". Sword Qi flew freely in the air, striking the man's limbs, chest, and vital points with swiftness and precision.

A flicker of surprise flashed in the man's eyes. He quickly stepped back, blocking several sword energies with both hands, but he still couldn't completely avoid them. The sword energy swept through his body like a storm, tearing his robes and bleeding from his shoulders and arms. It was obvious that he had suffered serious injuries.

"I didn't expect you to be so difficult," the man said coldly, a hint of sneer on his face. He no longer held back, crossing his arms violently, his aura surging violently. "Wind and Fire Dual Blades!"

In an instant, the man's palms intertwined, and wind and fire merged, forming a huge wind and fire double blade, which slashed towards Lin Xiao. The blades carried astonishing destructive power, and the air made a sharp sound under the impact of the double blades.

Lin Xiao's gaze focused, and he immediately mobilized his energy, unleashing his "Dragon Swimming Across the Seas" technique to evade the fatal attack. However, the wind and fire blades were too fast, forcing Lin Xiao to dodge sideways. He was still wounded by the wind blades' energy, and blood flowed from his shoulder.

"It's time for you to finish." The man looked at the injured Lin Xiao, approaching step by step, with murderous intent in his eyes.

A cold glint flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes. Despite being seriously injured, he remained calm. His internal strength had already recovered to a high level, and because of the previous battle, his control over this battle had become increasingly handy.

"Mingkong Jue!" Lin Xiao shouted in a low voice, and his strength burst out. He instantly caused the surrounding space to begin to distort, and his figure disappeared into the air.

The man was stunned, with a look of surprise in his eyes. He turned around suddenly, and the surrounding wind blades swept out again, but at this time, Lin Xiao's figure had disappeared without a trace.

"What's going on?!" The man was startled. He quickly exerted his strength and tried to sense Lin Xiao's whereabouts, but found that everything was unusually quiet.

At this moment, Lin Xiao's voice came from the air: "You have no chance."

"Shadow Spirit Sword Stab!"

With a cold shout, Lin Xiao's sword energy attacked from different directions simultaneously, like the arrival of the god of death. A trace of despair flashed in the man's eyes. Although he fought back with all his might, he was ultimately unable to avoid Lin Xiao's fatal blow.

"laugh--"

A sword pierced through the chest, and the last light in the man's eyes gradually faded, and he fell to the ground.

Lin Xiao stood in front of the man's body, took a deep breath, and thought to himself, "This battle is finally over."

He examined the man's body, found several precious pills and some materials, and put them into a cloth bag with satisfaction.