The Terrifying Tianxin! Four of the Barbarian Slaying Squad Die Nobly!

"Stop." Lu Changsheng halted abruptly. "Tianxin is too fast. We can't escape." Lu Changsheng estimated their distance from Beiling City. They simply could not outrun Tianxin. Although none of them were slow in their movement techniques, Tianxin's was undeniably faster. "Wait, how has Tianxin been able to pursue us all this way? How does he know our whereabouts?" You Shifei asked. Indeed, this was not only You Shifei's question, but Lu Changsheng's as well. "For Tianxin to track us continuously, he must have a way to lock onto our trail." "Northern Barbaria sending Tianxin proves they were certain of our deaths. We rested for twenty full days, yet on our very first day back in action, Tianxin targeted us." Thoughts raced through Lu Changsheng's mind one after another. He was searching for a way out. Yet at present, there seemed to be no better alternative. "Scatter and run. Whoever can get away, gets away." "Otherwise, if we stay grouped together, the entire Barbarian Slaying Squad will be wiped out!" Lu Changsheng said calmly. Fleeing was their only choice now. Make a last stand with all five of them and join forces against Tianxin? Utterly impossible! Tianxin reigned supreme at the top of the Divine Strength Ranking; even combining the next several rankers would not make them his match. The five of them had no hope of stopping Tianxin! At this juncture, their only option was to scatter. Once they separated, Tianxin would be forced to make a choice. Unable to split himself, Tianxin would most likely pursue only one person. That way, the others could all survive. "Wait, we absolutely cannot split up," You Shifei spoke up. It seemed like a sound plan, but once they scattered, anyone could guess who Tianxin would hunt. He would definitely hunt Dao Twelve! "The northern barbarians mobilized Tianxin because they wanted to ensure our squad was eliminated without fail." "We all know who the true core of the Barbarian Slaying Squad is." "Tianxin's target must be Brother Dao. Once we split up and flee, Brother Dao will be in mortal peril." "The Barbarian Slaying Squad can lose anyone, but we cannot lose Brother Dao. As long as Brother Dao is here, the Barbarian Slaying Squad lives." You Shifei paused, swept his gaze over the others, and suddenly smiled. "Everyone, after spending so long on the Northern Region Battlefield, didn't we all want to do something grand? Here is our chance! Kill Tianxin and shatter the northern barbarians' morale!" "Hahaha! Well said—kill Tianxin! I've been annoyed with the number one on the Divine Strength Ranking for a long time. Why should he keep monopolizing the top spot?" The speaker was Tie Yuan of the Great Spear. He had already taken the two sections from his back and assembled them into a single great spear. "Count me in," Yang Zhen said as well. Aloof as ever, he wiped his longsword over and over. "I'd also like to test the mettle of the number one on the Divine Strength Ranking!" Tong Xuan clenched his fists, his muscles knotting like coiled iron, looking as though he possessed inexhaustible strength. Lu Changsheng looked at the four men and said in a heavy voice, "You will die!" If they scattered, the one who died might be him. Yet if they stayed together and the four of them attempted to confront Tianxin, the ones to die would likely be these four squad members. "Run," You Shifei said. "Perhaps we can make it back to Beiling City together." Indeed, Tianxin had not caught up just yet. "Go!" With that, the five fled desperately toward Beiling City at top speed. Yet no matter how fast they ran, they could not outpace Tianxin. At first, only Lu Changsheng could see Tianxin using the Wind of Perception Conception. As time passed and the distance closed, however, the others could also see Tianxin's figure. "It really is Tianxin!" You Shifei narrowed his eyes slightly. In that moment, any remaining hope of a fluke vanished from his heart. Tianxin rarely took action. Yet whenever he did, success was certain. No one could stop Tianxin. Ten li, five li, three li, one li... Tianxin drew closer and closer. Yet the five also caught sight of Beiling City. Beiling City drew nearer, but at this pace, they would never make it back in time. "Stop." You Shifei suddenly halted. The moment he stopped, Yang Zhen, Tong Xuan, and Tie Yuan halted as well, as if they had planned it long beforehand. "You..." Lu Changsheng's eyes widened, having guessed what they meant to do. "Brother Dao, this is the final stretch we can escort you!" "Go! Get back to Beiling City. The four of us will hold Tianxin here. As long as you live, the Barbarian Slaying Squad will never collapse!" "Fighting the number one on the Divine Strength Ranking—how exhilarating!" You Shifei, Yang Zhen, Tong Xuan, Tie Yuan. Smiles of resolute determination appeared on all four of their faces! Lu Changsheng knew they had made up their minds long ago. If he did not leave now, he might truly never escape. "Survive!" In the next instant, Lu Changsheng hesitated no longer. Turning on his heel, he sprinted toward Beiling City at maximum speed. Yet for some reason, an unnamed fury burned within him, longing to vent and erupt. When Lu Changsheng had formed this squad, hadn't it been precisely for situations like this? To place himself in absolute safety. If You Shifei and the others encountered a powerful enemy, Lu Changsheng could immediately flee back to Beiling City. At worst, he could find new people and assemble another squad. Back then, You Shifei and the others had known of "Dao Twelve's" intentions and had even agreed to them. Yet now that the moment had arrived, watching You Shifei and the others march nobly to their deaths stirred a deep tremor in Lu Changsheng's heart. Still, he did not stop, sprinting relentlessly toward Beiling City. Tianxin walked toward the four men, step by step. He saw Lu Changsheng, and naturally saw the four figures blocking his path. "You Shifei... I know you," Tianxin said flatly. That was all. He only recognized You Shifei. As for the others? He did not deign to know them! "Tianxin, if you want to kill Brother Dao, you'll have to kill us first!" *Clang!* You Shifei drew his saber. A magnificent arc of saber light slashed through the air. This strike was You Shifei's absolute peak. Even if Lu Changsheng drew his own saber, he could not match this blow. Moreover, the instant You Shifei drew his blade, the other three did not merely watch; they struck simultaneously. Yang Zhen thrust his sword, filling the sky with sword shadows. Tong Xuan threw a punch that shook the very air. The great spear in Tie Yuan's hands vibrated violently, surging out like a dragon straight toward Tianxin. All four masters striking together—how earth-shattering! Against anyone else in the top ten of the Divine Strength Ranking, their combined might would have given them a fighting chance. Yet the opponent they faced was Tianxin. The number one on the Divine Strength Ranking! The undisputed foremost warrior of the Divine Strength Realm! *Boom!* In the next breath, Tianxin moved. A martial conception erupted from Tianxin's body. Only a single conception. Yet the moment it emerged, the surroundings seemed to transform into a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. Terrifying crimson light flooded the world. As if bearing tangible weight, the four men's bodies were instantly suppressed. Yes, suppressed. Suppressed entirely by Tianxin's conception. This was the Slaughter Conception at its peak! A Slaughter Conception just a hair's breadth away from perfection, at 99% progress. Merely unleashing this Slaughter Conception was enough to suppress four top-tier Thousand Tripods Realm experts. Tianxin paid them no attention. Step by step, he walked past the four of them. With every step he took, the crushing weight upon them mounted. *Squelch!* Tong Xuan was the first. Innumerable tears seemed to rip across his flesh all at once, riddling his body with wounds. In the blink of an eye, he turned into a man of blood, collapsing into a crimson pool with his life force extinguished. Next was Tie Yuan. Tie Yuan's great spear trembled violently, as though some terrifying force were crushing him into oblivion. Yet Tie Yuan could not hold out for long either. When Tianxin took his second step, Tie Yuan's entire body instantly shattered into pieces, leaving not even an intact corpse behind. Then came Yang Zhen. *Crack!* Yang Zhen's sword snapped inch by inch. Blood erupted from every vessel in his body, and he collapsed dead. Only You Shifei seemed to break past some barrier. "Die!" You Shifei still managed to bring that saber strike down. "Hm?" Tianxin paused, a flicker of surprise in his expression. By all rights, You Shifei should not have been able to break free from the suppression of the Slaughter Conception. Yet You Shifei had overcome it. "A secret method?" Tianxin roughly understood. You Shifei had employed a secret method that pushed his strength near the realm of ten thousand tripods in an instant. Such terrifying power could not be suppressed by the Slaughter Conception alone. However, such a secret method clearly carried an exorbitant cost. *Whoosh!* In the next instant, Tianxin tapped a single finger forward. Just one finger, yet blindingly fast. In a flash, it landed on You Shifei's brow. You Shifei froze, his eyes losing focus. Tianxin's finger strike had pulverized the inside of his skull. With a heavy thud, You Shifei's corpse fell to the ground. Dead! Aside from Lu Changsheng, every member of the Barbarian Slaying Squad had perished. Yet even in death, a faint smile lingered at the corners of You Shifei's mouth. Because the four of them had bought time for Dao Twelve. Though brief, that tiny sliver of time had allowed Dao Twelve to draw close to Beiling City. Tianxin did not pursue further. He watched Dao Twelve from afar. By now, Dao Twelve was near Beiling City. He spun around sharply, locking his gaze onto Tianxin. Their eyes collided across the distance. "The four of them died for you, but they are worthy of respect." "Take their corpses. Next time, who will trade their life to save yours?" With that, Tianxin turned and departed. *Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!* At that moment, many martial artists surged out from Beiling City. They sprinted toward him. They had all witnessed the scene outside the city walls. That had been Tianxin! "Bring their bodies back and lay them to rest properly," Lu Changsheng said, turning and heading straight back into Beiling City. The crowd looked at one another in stunned silence. Yet none of them said anything. Even Tianxin had appeared. Except for Dao Twelve, the Barbarian Slaying Squad had been completely wiped out. To the Great Fish Dynasty's martial artists on the Northern Region Battlefield, this was a devastating blow! "What do we do? Tianxin actually made a move." "How was Tianxin able to pinpoint the Barbarian Slaying Squad's location?" "Can the Barbarian Slaying Squad ever be rebuilt?" "Fortunately, Dao Twelve is unharmed." Many people were discussing the matter. In its wake, Great Fish Dynasty martial artists barely dared to venture onto the Northern Region Battlefield. Going out was tantamount to courting death. Eventually, word spread that Song Wuqing had stepped in, sweeping across the Northern Region Battlefield for a time. In the end, Sheng Yuanyi of the northern barbarians clashed with Song Wuqing in a ferocious duel. Song Wuqing was injured, while Sheng Yuanyi was severely wounded. Song Wuqing had faintly proven superior to Sheng Yuanyi, effectively defeating him in direct combat. Following that clash, the rankings on the Divine Strength Ranking shifted once more. Tianxin remained firmly in first place, while Song Wuqing took second, and Sheng Yuanyi fell to third. The Divine Strength Ranking was updated once again. This time, however, the names of You Shifei, Yang Zhen, Tong Xuan, and Tie Yuan were gone. Although Dao Twelve remained on the list, his rank had not risen much, moving from sixty-fifth back to sixty-first. With the fall of the Barbarian Slaying Squad, few even remembered You Shifei and the others. Moreover, Dao Twelve had practically vanished, and fewer and fewer people spoke of him. Though the Barbarian Slaying Squad was no more, Song Wuqing's intervention helped the Great Fish Dynasty gradually stabilize the situation on the Northern Region Battlefield. Even so, overall, the Great Fish Dynasty remained at a disadvantage. Days passed one by one. The Divine Strength Ranking was updated again and again. Many powerful martial artists emerged on the Northern Region Battlefield. Heroes rise in troubled times! Unfamiliar names, one after another, shone across the Northern Region Battlefield. Hardly anyone remembered the Dao Twelve or the Barbarian Slaying Squad of the past. Lu Changsheng continued living in his small courtyard. For half a year, he never took a single step outside. *Swish.* Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. "You've already jumped over my wall, yet you still stand outside?" he said flatly. At some point, a figure had appeared in the courtyard. It was a middle-aged man who exuded an icy aura. A saber was strapped across his back, and he wore black robes. Anyone seeing him would have been astonished. This man was no ordinary figure. He was Song Wuqing! Ranked second on the Divine Strength Ranking, second only to Tianxin! Furthermore, Song Wuqing had earned that position by defeating Sheng Yuanyi in open combat, wresting second place straight from his hands! When almost everyone had forgotten the Barbarian Slaying Squad and Dao Twelve, Song Wuqing had come to Dao Twelve's courtyard. "Dao Twelve, do you still have no desire to emerge?" "If you and I team up, we will leave the northern barbarians' lands strewn with corpses." "With me, the Barbarian Slaying Squad will not repeat its past mistake," Song Wuqing said coldly. "This is the third time," Lu Changsheng said. "Over the past six months, you have come once every two months, never tiring of it." "So let me ask you one thing: can you kill Tianxin?" Song Wuqing fell silent. Only after a long pause did he slowly speak. "I cannot kill Tianxin!" No matter how vastly the outside world extolled Song Wuqing's strength, he knew full well: he was no match for Tianxin. Song Wuqing even believed that within the Divine Strength Realm, no one could rival Tianxin. He was the inheritor of the Absolute Saber; unless he could comprehend the Absolute Saber Conception to perfection, he could not kill Tianxin! Lu Changsheng slowly closed his eyes and said calmly, "Then you may leave." "If I return to the Northern Region Battlefield, I will slay Tianxin!" Lu Changsheng's tone was ironclad. Song Wuqing gave Lu Changsheng a deep look. He did not believe "Dao Twelve" could slay Tianxin. Still, since Dao Twelve was unwilling to emerge, he would not force the issue. *Whoosh.* Song Wuqing departed. Lu Changsheng was left alone in the courtyard. He opened his eyes once more. He brought up his attribute panel. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: 2,760 (Praised in All Directions) Qi and Blood Sword Casting Secret Method: Casting sword for 7 years, 8 months. Wind of Perception Conception: Progress 15% Starry Sky Waterfall Conception: Progress 1% Ocean Wave Conception: Progress 25% Ninefold Carp Leaping Dragon Gate Art: Fifth Layer Lu Changsheng's comprehension had not increased at all. Since he had not entered the Northern Region Battlefield, he naturally could not earn merits to exchange for martial arts. Yet whether comprehension increased at this juncture held little significance. Lu Changsheng looked at the Qi and Blood Sword Casting Secret Method. If he wanted to slay Tianxin, his reliance lay on the Qi and Blood Sword Casting Secret Method. He was waiting. Waiting until the Qi and Blood Sword Casting Secret Method reached ten thousand tripods of strength! They said ten thousand tripods could shatter Gang. Lu Changsheng refused to believe ten thousand tripods of strength could not slay Tianxin. Could Tianxin really be more formidable than the Divine Gang Realm? Thus, Lu Changsheng kept waiting. Until he broke through to ten thousand tripods of strength, he would never emerge from seclusion. And because his qi and blood had multiplied tenfold, the rate at which the Qi and Blood Sword Casting Secret Method "cast the sword" was also ten times faster. Therefore, ten thousand tripods of strength was not so unreachable. Familiar faces gradually surfaced in Lu Changsheng's mind. You Shifei, Yang Zhen, Tong Xuan, Tie Yuan. The four figures repeatedly rose in his thoughts. He had never forgotten them! "Soon. It will be soon. Just a little longer..." Lu Changsheng closed his eyes once more.