Chapter 87 - 87 86 Life and Death Platform

87: Chapter 86 Life and Death Platform 87: Chapter 86 Life and Death Platform The Life and Death Platform was for battles to the death, not mere sparring. Once someone stepped onto the platform, one person was certain to fall. By now, the area in front of the Life and Death Platform was packed with people, many Inner Sect Disciples having arrived early, afraid of missing such a battle. After all, it had been many years since anyone had used the Life and Death Platform. “Do you think that guy named Lin Xuan has a chance of winning?” “Don’t kid yourself, can a rookie who just entered the Inner Sect possibly beat Zhang Qian?” “I guess he made a name for himself at the Outer Door and became arrogant, not taking the people of the Inner Sect seriously. It’s good if people like him die!” said a disciple of the Divine Power Group. “To obtain the first place in the Outer Door, his talent must definitely be good, but it’s a pity, as soon as he steps onto the Life and Death Platform, he’s destined to die here.” The disciples around him discussed fervently, some even not knowing the name of Lin Xuan, which was not surprising. Lin Xuan hadn’t taken part in the ranking battles on the stele after entering the Inner Sect, so it was normal that most people didn’t recognize him. Among the crowd, there were not only veteran Inner Sect Disciples but also young men who had entered the Inner Sect along with Lin Xuan. Jiang Yulong followed behind a young man in white clothes, with a cold expression on his face. On the other hand, Duan Fei also had a flickering gaze, and Tang Yi and other members of the Battle Group were beside him. Shangguan Liuyun, Yin Qingyi, and others too were standing among the crowd, with tense expressions awaiting Lin Xuan’s arrival. “Zhang Qian is here!” someone shouted. At once, everyone’s gaze turned in that direction. A young man in purple clothes, carrying a war saber, and with a cold face, walked toward the Life and Death Platform, seemingly as icy as thousand-year-old ice. A young man in a blue shirt followed beside him, and the two strode towards the Life and Death Platform. Zhang Qian lifted his head and gave a slight nod towards the young man in white ahead of Jiang Yulong, then leaped onto the Life and Death Platform, while the blue-shirted young man joined the one in white clothes. “Zhang Qian is here, why hasn’t Lin Xuan arrived yet!” some in the crowd complained. “Exactly, I think he’s too scared to come!” “If you’re afraid to die, don’t fight on the Life and Death Platform…” Many disciples murmured curses, and Zhang Qian too slightly frowned, but since he was already standing on the Life and Death Platform, he couldn’t say much. Just as people were growing impatient, Lin Xuan finally appeared. Calm and composed, without a trace of panic, Lin Xuan flashed onto the Life and Death Platform in an instant. This decisiveness left the waiting disciples slightly astonished; it seemed Lin Xuan wasn’t the type to intentionally delay time. Feeling Lin Xuan’s presence, Zhang Qian suddenly opened his eyes, and an astonishing killing aura erupted from him, his icy gaze sharp as a blade, as if he wanted to cut Lin Xuan into countless pieces. “Such terrifying killing aura, it looks like Lin Xuan is definitely going to die,” many disciples felt alarmed, that kind of killing aura made them tremble in fear. At this moment, the Law Enforcement Elder also arrived, accompanied by an Elder Xue and two instructors. The two instructors were Instructor Murong and Xie Changfeng, the former was Lin Xuan’s instructor, and the latter, naturally, was Zhang Qian’s. As for Elder Xue, he was Xie Changfeng’s master, and it was said he saw potential in Zhang Qian, having wanted to take him as an apprentice. Now, it seemed that rumor was not false. “Instructor Murong!” Ye Qing and Luo Qingshan walked over. Lin Xuan looked at the several figures in the distance without any ripples in his heart, even if Zhang Qian had sect elders backing him, he would not hold back. “I’ll ask you one last time, do you want to proceed with the fight to the death?” the Law Enforcement Elder asked. “Between him and me, only one can live!” Zhang Qian’s voice was ice cold. Lin Xuan nodded in agreement, insisting on the fight to the death. This was something he had decided on long ago and he would not change his decision. The Law Enforcement Elder sighed, then declared that the Life and Death battle had begun. In the next moment, two astonishing presences erupted simultaneously, colliding in the void and causing intense vibrations. Thud, thud, thud! Invisible shockwaves swept in all directions, causing many nearby disciples to retreat in fear and panic. The Life and Death Platform was one meter high, with a length and width of ten meters each, providing ample space for Inner Sect Disciples to duel upon it. However, as the battle commenced, the aura of the two combatants spread to the very edges of the platform, how could it not alarm the onlookers? “Boy, today you will descend and apologize to my brother!” Zhang Qian’s voice was filled with a killing aura. “Zhang Bin has committed many evils; his death is well-deserved!” Lin Xuan’s heart held no guilt. “Die!” Zhang Qian roared as he drew the long sword from his back, gripping it in his hands. A three-meter long Sword Light tore through the sky like a ribbon, striking towards Lin Xuan with blinding brilliance. “What terrifying power!” exclaimed a disciple at the Ninth Rank of Pulse Condensation, who was utterly unable to withstand such an attack, let alone Lin Xuan, who was only at the Seventh Level of Pulse Condensation. Witnessing this dazzling strike, Lin Xuan’s pupils constricted: “This Zhang Qian is even more powerful than the black-clothed martial artist who attacked me. Truly befitting of a sect disciple!” Zhang Qian’s strength and foundation far surpassed that of a regular martial artist at the Ninth Rank of Pulse Condensation. However, Lin Xuan’s cultivation had been rapidly advancing in recent days, and he did not feel a hint of fear. His figure flickered as he met the attack head-on. “Illusion Thunder Step!” With a crackling of golden arcs, Lin Xuan’s figure disappeared from the crowd’s view. The three meters of Sword Light cut through the air, leaving a terrifying, meters-long chasm in the ground. Whoosh! Lin Xuan reappeared beside Zhang Qian, his palms radiating a golden glow. “Golden Thunder Palm!” With a sweep of his palm, a myriad of golden Palm Shadows enveloped Zhang Qian. “This is!” While the others were merely astonished by their power, the youth in blue clothes, Ling Ze, had his pupils sharply constrict, as he was all too familiar with this move—it was his guard’s signature move. “It seems A Hei truly died at his hands!” Ling Ze’s face twisted with ferocity, and a flicker of fear was hidden deep in his heart. That day, the black-clothed Martial Artist had been at the Eighth Stage, while Lin Xuan had only been at the Sixth Order; they were two realms apart, yet Lin Xuan managed a counter-kill. Ling Ze dared not imagine what the outcome of today’s life-or-death duel would be. Atop the Life and Death Platform, Zhang Qian let out a cold laugh, swung his long sword, and shattered all the Golden Palm Shadows, then an even more fierce Sword Light lunged toward Lin Xuan. “Wild Blade Dance!” In an instant, dozens of gleaming Sword Lights shot out, slashing towards Lin Xuan from various angles. Lin Xuan’s figure swayed, leaving behind a trail of golden afterimages on the ground, and the flurry of Sword Lights failed to land a single hit on him. “Such speed! Is he really a Seventh Rank martial artist?” Many were staring wide-eyed. In the crowd, Duan Fei also wore an expression of disbelief. Lin Xuan’s speed had completely surpassed his, landing a severe blow to his pride. After all, speed was his strongest suit, and now he had been outrun—an unimaginable bitterness. Lin Xuan’s speed reached new heights, and like a ghostly specter, he appeared before Zhang Qian, his right palm shining with a golden light, and aimed a palm strike at his opponent’s back. Boom! Thud! The sound was explosive, causing the onlookers’ eardrums to tremble. Above the Life and Death Platform, an arrogantly laughing voice rang out, followed by a figure swiftly retreating. This figure was Lin Xuan; his palm strike had indeed hit Zhang Qian, but it caused no harm, not even breaking through the Protective Spirit Power. “Ha ha ha ha! With your strength, you can’t break through my Protective Defense at all, while I can kill you with one slash!” Zhang Qian raised his long sword high, his face twisted in madness.