The Legend of the Netherworld

Lin Xiao gave it his all, his sword energy surging like a tide, his momentum overwhelming. But facing Han Feng's onslaught, even as he tried his best to unleash his "Sword Dance Spin" and "Illusionary Body Skill: Imitating Phantom Moves," he still felt immense pressure. Every collision with Han Feng's shield sent a violent vibration through every muscle in his body, as if every blow was sapping his internal strength.

However, Lin Xiao knew that if this battle could not be resolved as soon as possible, his physical and spiritual strength would gradually be exhausted, and Han Feng's powerful physical strength and overwhelming momentum would make him breathless.

Seeing Lin Xiao's desperate resistance, Han Feng's eyes flashed with a sneer. He then clasped his hands together, and the power of the air shield instantly doubled, pressing down fiercely towards Lin Xiao. The air shield seemed to have transformed into a huge mountain, making it difficult to breathe and almost completely trapping Lin Xiao inside.

"Lin Xiao, do you think you can compete with me? You are too naive." Han Feng said coldly, with a hint of pride in his voice.

A flicker of determination flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes. He quickly mobilized the spiritual energy in his body, suppressing his aura to the limit. Suddenly, he felt the "innate power" in his body awaken again, as if some suppressed power suddenly erupted.

"In that case, let me use a stronger force to end this battle!" Lin Xiao muttered in his heart. He used the power he had mastered after breaking through the fourth level of Jiachen. He raised his hand suddenly, and the sword energy condensed into a huge lightning in the air, slashing towards Han Feng's air shield.

This sword was different from any previous attack. It contained all of Lin Xiao's strength at the limit, like a thunderbolt, striking directly at the center of Han Feng's energy shield.

Han Feng's eyes flashed with surprise. He didn't expect Lin Xiao to be able to burst out with such a powerful force under such circumstances. He swung his hands violently, trying to increase the power of the air shield to resist Lin Xiao's sword energy.

However, Lin Xiao's sword energy grew increasingly intense, seemingly tearing through the air. The powerful impact force tore a crack in the shield. As the sword energy continued to strike, the shield finally shattered with a loud roar. Han Feng's face changed. He had not expected Lin Xiao to be able to break through his carefully arranged defense.

"So strong!" Han Feng's eyes showed a hint of shock, but he did not retreat. The spiritual power in his body burst out instantly, and his aura became more and more terrifying. The whole world seemed to be shrouded in his power.

Lin Xiao's eyes lit up, and seizing this opportunity, he took a deep breath and quickly performed the "Dragon Swimming Across the Seas" technique, instantly changing his position and avoiding Han Feng's next attack. At the same time, he held the sword in his right hand and condensed a sword energy, forcing Han Feng back several steps.

"What a pity, you are too impatient." Han Feng sneered, and kept making hand gestures with his hands. The air around him began to surge violently, and his aura suddenly surged. A strong storm swept across the entire battlefield, directly shocking Lin Xiao back.

Lin Xiao hardly paused as he immediately steadied himself. He stared intently at Han Feng's movements, thinking to himself, "Han Feng's aura is growing stronger, but also more violent. I must seize this opportunity."

He did not rush to attack, but instead observed carefully, looking for Han Feng's exposed weaknesses. Sure enough, after each of Han Feng's attacks, there would be a short gap, which was the opportunity Lin Xiao needed.

Finally, after a fierce battle, when Han Feng's heavy blow ended, Lin Xiao seized the opportunity and suddenly used the "Sword Qi Zongheng Jue". The sword energy danced in the air like a long dragon and rushed straight to Han Feng's chest.

Han Feng's eyes flashed with surprise. Although he had prepared for the attack, Lin Xiao's sword energy was too fierce, and he was unable to dodge in time. The sword energy passed in front of him, easily tearing through his defenses and blasting open his chest armor, causing blood to spurt out like a fountain.

"You..." Han Feng's face changed drastically. He obviously had not expected that Lin Xiao would launch such a powerful attack at this time.

A hint of coldness appeared on Lin Xiao's face. He did not stop, but continued to exert his strength. Several sword energies intertwined and burst out one after another. Each one carried a sharp aura and directly pierced Han Feng's vital points.

Han Feng finally couldn't bear it any longer, and the spiritual power in his body exploded. He used all his strength to block Lin Xiao's attack. However, it was obvious that the power this time was not as strong as before, and his body was shaking.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao launched another attack without hesitation, his sword energy surging like a storm. In the end, Han Feng was unable to resist, his body shook, and he fell to the ground, losing his last bit of fighting power.

Lin Xiao stood beside Han Feng's body, took a deep breath, and slowly stood up. He was covered in a strong smell of blood.

Lin Xiao's figure was like a shadow, moving through the dense forest, his pursuers still following closely behind him. He knew he had to get rid of them as soon as possible, and now, exhausted both physically and mentally, he found a temporary shelter - a waterfall hidden deep in the mountains.

The waterfall surged with water, splashing everywhere. The sound was as powerful as thunder, but it was enough to hide Lin Xiao inside. Behind the water curtain was a natural cave. With the cover of the waterfall, Lin Xiao quickly entered.

After entering the cave, Lin Xiao exhaled deeply, feeling his spiritual energy almost completely depleted. He sat down, channeling his spiritual energy, and began meditating and cultivating, adjusting his internal state. This long battle and escape had pushed Lin Xiao to his limit, but he knew that if he didn't take this opportunity to improve his strength, he would be unable to cope with greater threats in the future.

"The fifth realm of Jiachen..." Lin Xiao muttered to himself, his eyes sparkling.

He closed his eyes and focused on absorbing the spiritual energy of the surrounding heaven and earth. As the spiritual energy circulated within him, he gradually felt a powerful force he had never experienced before awakening within him. Two days later, he finally achieved a breakthrough and reached the fifth level of Jiachen.

This breakthrough not only greatly increased Lin Xiao's strength, but also made his aura more stable and powerful. At this moment, the spiritual energy in his body flowed like a river, surging endlessly. The true energy in his sea of ​​​​qi seemed to become thicker, and every inch of his skin exuded a powerful sense of strength.

Lin Xiao opened his eyes. The surrounding scenery was still the waterfall and the forest, but he could sense that he had become different. He was no longer the cultivator wandering in the four realms of Jiachen, but had entered a higher level of existence.

He took a deep breath, stood up, and prepared to leave this hiding place.

However, when Lin Xiao walked out of the waterfall, he did not expect that he would be greeted by the deputy leader of the Xiaoyao Sect - Sun Dian.

"You actually hid here." Sun Dian stood in the distance, his eyes flashing with complex light, and his voice revealed a majesty that could not be ignored.

Lin Xiao frowned slightly. Although he knew that the Xiaoyao Sect was powerful, he had never expected Sun Dian to be able to chase him here. "The Xiaoyao Sect's people really showed up." Lin Xiao sneered inwardly, having already decided in his heart that no matter what, he would not give in in this battle.

"I believe you have heard of me." Sun Dian smiled slightly. He did not rush to take action, but said calmly, "I came to you on the orders of the headmaster to discuss our cooperation."

"Cooperation?" A hint of doubt flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes. He glanced at Sun Dian coldly and asked, "Isn't your Xiaoyao Sect's goal to capture me and take me back? Now you're actually discussing cooperation. What exactly do you mean by that?"

Sun Dian smiled softly, seemingly in no rush to explain. "You're right. Some people in the Xiaoyao Sect do want to capture you, but I have a different opinion. I believe that strong people shouldn't be hostile to each other, but should instead join forces. Your time on the run not only allowed you to break through to the fifth level of Jiachen, but also made you even more famous. If someone like you joined the Xiaoyao Sect, you would definitely be a huge help to us."

Lin Xiao's heart was moved when he heard this. Although he knew Sun Dian didn't really want to cooperate with him, he was indeed facing a huge dilemma at the moment. If he could use the power of the Xiaoyao Sect, perhaps he could temporarily stabilize the situation and even accumulate strength for future revenge.

But Lin Xiao knew in his heart that the real decision-making power lay with him and he should not be fooled by the temptation in front of him.

"Do you think I'll believe your lies?" Lin Xiao responded coldly. "The Xiaoyao Sect doesn't have a very good reputation. I'm afraid your so-called cooperation is more of an attempt to take advantage of me, right?"

Sun Dian wasn't angry. Instead, he seemed to have anticipated Lin Xiao's reaction. "You're very clever, Lin Xiao. It's true that the Xiaoyao Sect has its own plans, but if you refuse, I'm afraid you'll face an even more powerful pursuit. Furthermore, I'm sure you already know that both the Li and Shangguan families have met with disastrous consequences. No matter which path you choose, you'll become a thorn in their eyes."

Lin Xiao was silent for a moment. He knew that his current situation was extremely dangerous, but he was unwilling to give in to anyone. Since he had broken through to the fifth level of Jiachen, he was not afraid of any challenge.

"You want me to join the Xiaoyao Sect? You're really underestimating me." Lin Xiao sneered, "I, Lin Xiao, never bow to anyone."

A hint of coldness flashed in Sun Dian's eyes. He knew that Lin Xiao was not someone who could be easily persuaded, but he still said calmly: "Since that's the case, we can only rely on strength to solve the problem. If you are unwilling to cooperate, then you can only continue to flee. The power of Xiaoyao Sect is not just represented by me, the deputy leader."

After saying that, Sun Dian raised his hand slightly, and suddenly, the power of heaven and earth around him condensed in an instant, and the powerful momentum rushed directly towards Lin Xiao. The air pressure was like a mountain, causing the air to condense.

A flicker of determination flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes. He took a deep breath and instantly unleashed all his strength. His aura surged like a dragon and a tiger, and the pressure suddenly rebounded. Lin Xiao unleashed his "Illusionary Body Skill: Imitating Phantom Moves," instantly transforming into multiple figures. Simultaneously, he unleashed "Sword Dance Spin," and his sword energy rushed towards Sun Dian like lightning.

The two powerful forces clashed, and a shocking sound broke out. Suddenly, the trees in the mountains and forests broke and rocks flew everywhere.

Lin Xiao's sword energy rushed towards Sun Dian like a violent storm, its sharp blade tearing through the air, carrying with it dazzling rays of light, like thunder and lightning. Each sword energy contained extremely terrifying power, making people shudder.

Sun Dian's expression changed. He could sense that Lin Xiao's attack was extremely powerful, even comparable to his own full-strength attack. As Lin Xiao's sword dance unfolded, Sun Dian's expression suddenly became solemn. He knew that if he didn't fight back with all his strength, this attack would likely leave him seriously injured.

"It seems that you are indeed not simple, Lin Xiao." Sun Dian's eyes flashed, and he quickly gathered all the spiritual power in his body and formed seals with his hands. Suddenly, the air around him changed drastically, and the wind blew violently, as if the sky was collapsing and the earth was splitting apart. The power of the cyclone continued to flow into his body.

"Extreme wind! Mysterious wind!" Sun Dian shouted softly, and the storm around his body became more and more violent, instantly wrapping up his body and turning into a sharp whirlwind.

Lin Xiao's sword energy collided with the whirlwind, emitting an earth-shattering roar. The pressure in the air nearly shook the entire valley, sending dust flying. Although Lin Xiao's sword energy was sharp, it gradually showed some weakness in the face of this violent whirlwind. Sun Dian's wind-based skills were indeed powerful, able to compete with Lin Xiao's sword energy.

However, Lin Xiao didn't back down. He had already made his decision. Facing Sun Dian's overwhelming strength, Lin Xiao chose not to confront him head-on. Instead, he unleashed his "Illusionary Body Skill: Imitating Moves." Instantly, his figure transformed into multiple shadows in the air. Several Lin Xiaos appeared before Sun Dian simultaneously, elusive and confusing.

"Shadow Spirit Sword Stab!" Lin Xiao suddenly waved his hand, and the long sword in his hand turned into a shadow and pierced Sun Dian's heart.

Sun Dian's eyes narrowed slightly, realizing that Lin Xiao's attack was even more bizarre and deadly, and he quickly changed his strategy. The storm suddenly contracted, forming an impenetrable wind shield that blocked him. The sword energy collided with the wind shield again, emitting a deafening roar, sparks flying, and the air waves spread out, shattering the rocks.

However, Lin Xiao did not stop his actions. He flashed out from the shadow at an extremely fast speed. The sword flashed and instantly broke through Sun Dian's defense. The sword tip pointed directly at Sun Dian's chest.

Seeing the fatal blow about to hit, Sun Dian's face changed drastically. He quickly retreated, waving his right hand, and the spiritual power in his body burst out with all his strength. A powerful wind blade blocked Lin Xiao's sword energy. Sun Dian then took off into the air, his figure flashing like the wind, constantly distanced himself from Lin Xiao, hoping to escape the danger of being hit.

Lin Xiao's eyes gradually became cold, and his figure shot out like an arrow, following Sun Dian's steps, and the sword light rushed towards him fiercely again.

"You really have some skills." Sun Dian dodged and sneered, "But how long can you hold on?"

Lin Xiao ignored Sun Dian's words. He had only one goal - to defeat the enemy in front of him.

The battle lasted for a long time in the valley. The collision of air waves and energy continued, the storm and sword energy intertwined, and rocks flew everywhere. Lin Xiao's physical and spiritual strength were constantly consumed, but he knew that only by completely getting rid of Sun Dian could he completely get rid of all these difficulties.

Finally, Sun Dian's attack began to falter. Although powerful, his stamina was limited, and he gradually began to show signs of fatigue, especially when facing a protracted battle with a master like Lin Xiao. Lin Xiao sensed his opportunity and transformed himself into several shadows, one of which rapidly approached from an unknown angle.

"Shadow Spirit Sword Stab!" Lin Xiao's sword pierced through the air again, going straight for Sun Dian's vitals like a ghost.

Sun Dian finally didn't dodge, but chose to counterattack. The storm swept in again, and his palm drew a curved trajectory in the air. The powerful airflow turned into a wind blade and slashed towards Lin Xiao's figure.

However, Lin Xiao had already anticipated this. His figure suddenly disappeared in the air and appeared behind Sun Dian in an instant. The sword pierced Sun Dian's back without hesitation.

"Puff--" Sun Dian's face changed drastically, blood spurted out of his mouth, his body stiffened for a moment, and suddenly collapsed.

Lin Xiao gripped the hilt of the sword tightly and pulled it out. Sun Dian fell to the ground and died from the sword.

Lin Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. Although he still faced numerous difficulties, at least one major threat had been resolved. He coldly glanced at the corpse on the ground, without a trace of mourning in his heart. Killing had become numb to him.

"Xiaoyao Sect, it seems I have to be careful in dealing with it from now on." Lin Xiao muttered to himself, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.