Chapter 129: The Eruption of Fury

"Magical artifacts? I, Lin Zhan, have those too!"

A white bone pagoda, vast as a mountain, suddenly materialized behind Lin Zhan. Its rapid expansion and deformation sent a shockwave through the air, causing the very atmosphere to resonate with deep, humming groans. The appearance of the pagoda effectively separated Lin Zhan from Gu Yuanzhou and Teng Sheng. Lin Zhan was not indifferent to their plight, but there was no time for hesitation. If they lacked even the basic ability to protect themselves, they would not survive regardless; it was better for them to simply be eliminated. Lin Zhan cared deeply about his fellow disciples, but in this urgent situation, he had no other choice. The two whistling sounds of incoming attacks were clearly directed at him, and he presumed his companions could at least manage their own survival.

His Ink Sword pressed forward relentlessly, its sword qi layering onto Lie Yan’s defensive screen with a ceaseless clashing of metal.

Clang!

The circular shield artifact spun through the air and slammed into the white bone pagoda. The resulting shockwave rattled Lin Zhan's eardrums, nearly destabilizing his mental focus. The sheer power of clashing magical artifacts was truly formidable, and the surrounding wilderness erupted in a cacophony of roaring beasts and startled birds. Having previously suffered a heavy blow from the Ink Sword, the shield bore a deep, jagged scar and needed repairs to reach its full potential; against the indomitable white bone pagoda, it stood no chance. It rebounded with a sharp metallic ring, only to spin back in again. Each subsequent impact grew more terrifying, fueled by the essence blood forced into it by the black-clad disciple to unleash its forbidden power. However, the disciple’s face was already deathly pale, ravaged by a severe backlash; it was clear the shield’s offensive could not last long.

By now, the might of Lin Zhan’s Ink Sword had dimmed Lie Yan’s defensive screen significantly. The screen had fractured into a sparse web, and Lin Zhan’s sword qi continuously probed for weaknesses within the gaps.

Two soft thuds echoed as the massive white bone pagoda intercepted the two individuals attempting to reinforce Lie Yan. Despite their frantic strikes and palm winds, the pagoda stood immovable, refusing to yield an inch.

"Hold on, Lie Yan! This white tower is incredibly strong!" The voice from earlier had lost its nonchalance, replaced by a trace of anxiety.

Lin Zhan bared his teeth, pouring ten-tenths of his spiritual energy into the Ink Sword. The tidal waves of sword qi at its tip, accompanied by a piercing shriek, tore directly into the sword web.

Snap!

With a mournful groan of metal, the longsword in Lie Yan’s hand shattered!

The sword web vanished instantly. Lie Yan stumbled out, his hair disheveled and blood streaming from his seven orifices, a grotesque sight. He hurled the broken hilt of his sword at Lin Zhan. Lin Zhan flicked his Ink Sword, deflecting the projectile toward the black-clad disciple wielding the circular shield. Blood sprayed everywhere; the shield, suddenly masterless, plummeted to the ground.

Feeling a surge of cathartic release, like a beast breaking free from its cage, Lin Zhan unleashed a monstrous wave of power from his Ink Sword. Lie Yan was like a lone skiff caught in a raging storm, instantly torn to pieces before dissolving into vapor. In an instant, the formation of eleven was gone.

The Golden Dragon of the Ink Sword had emerged, and none could withstand it. Behind him, the white bone pagoda stood like a mountain, a perfect bulwark.

*Hmm? No movement there either?*

Concerned for Gu Yuanzhou and Teng Sheng, Lin Zhan retracted the pagoda’s barrier to assess their status. Gu and Teng were on the verge of collapse, clearly severely wounded during the initial skirmish. Two black-clad figures stood over them; one controlled an umbrella-shaped artifact hovering above their heads, while the other held a broad-backed Moon-Slicing Blade, eyeing Lin Zhan with nervous trepidation. The blade itself was already notched.

"Lin Zhan, stop right there!" the man shouted, his voice trembling. "Your fellow disciples are in our hands. Take another step, and we'll kill them!"

His voice betrayed his insecurity. With the white bone pagoda withdrawn, Lin Zhan stood alone; the others had vanished, their tokens having absorbed their remains and teleported them away once their points were claimed.

Disgust welled up in Lin Zhan. He had entered the Five Peaks Tournament to bring glory to the Flame Peak, never expecting the rules to be so infuriatingly cruel. He knew that in the finals, he would eventually have to face his own brothers-in-arms, but to have them humiliated and slaughtered before his eyes was absolutely unacceptable.

"You think you can stop me?" Lin Zhan’s rage erupted. His killing intent had not waned during the brief respite; confronted by this threat, it surged once more.

"Consume!" Lin Zhan cast the white bone pagoda forward, revealing its gaping base, and directed it toward the umbrella artifact.

A sizzling sound filled the air as the two artifacts exerted a magnetic pull. Under the pagoda’s overwhelming suction, the umbrella began to drift from its position.

"Damn it! If I’d known Lie Yan would fall so quickly, we never should have come!" The master of the umbrella turned deathly pale, desperately channeling his spiritual energy to hold on, though it was now impossible to maintain his suppression of the two wounded captives.

The other man, wielding the Moon-Slicing Blade, gritted his teeth and lunged at Lin Zhan, the blade radiating a cold, murderous light.

Unfortunately for him, Lin Zhan’s killing intent was far more ferocious, and his Ink Sword was faster.

One strike would decide the outcome. Lin Zhan didn't even bother with his furnace skills to suppress the man’s blade; he simply swung his sword in a furious arc. Sword met blade; brilliance met brilliance!

Clang!

An blinding flash of sword light illuminated the heavens. Lin Zhan saw nothing but the man’s ashen face and the clear look of desperate resentment in his eyes.

"Die!"

Lin Zhan didn't care which peak the man came from or what his name was; in his consciousness, there was only the drive to annihilate.

The contest between the bone pagoda and the umbrella had reached its conclusion. Despite the intricate mechanisms within the umbrella, it was torn asunder, its remnants swallowed whole by the pagoda.

Boom!

The pagoda landed with a thunderous roar, declaring victory. The Moon-Slicing Blade shattered into pieces, melting away—against the Ink Sword, it was merely a mantis trying to stop a chariot, inviting its own destruction.

With a flick of his wrist, Lin Zhan sent a wave of sword light forward, and the attacker was torn asunder in a spray of blood. Lin Zhan did not even glance back, leaping toward Gu Yuanzhou and Teng Sheng.