Fatal Strike

Fatal Strike...

The students from the Royal Academy broke into three major formations, moving forward with the intent to encircle their counterparts from the Emperor Star Academy.

Behind them, archers from the Royal Academy drew their bows, nocking arrows with deadly precision. Their fingers rested on the bowstrings, ready to release a lethal barrage at a moment's notice.

Ren Qianxing's eyes narrowed, suspicion and tension radiating from him. He shifted his gaze to Chu Tianjiao and questioned, "Are these military forces? Your Highness, do you plan to involve the military in this conflict?"

The Elders of the Emperor Star Academy shared stern expressions. They couldn't help but wonder if Chu Tianjiao intended to escalate the war into an "end game" scenario. If the Royal Academy enlisted military support, their sheer numbers would eventually overrun the students of the Emperor Star Academy, securing a costly victory.

Thankfully, the rebels boasted considerable strength, preventing the Royal Academy from deploying a large military force to their aid. Otherwise, the students from the Emperor Star Academy would have been at a severe disadvantage.

"Elder, you must be aware that the Godly Military Martial Palace enlists reserves for the military. Why is this surprising to you?" Chu Tianjiao chuckled, successfully concealing his true intentions from Ren Qianxing.

"Archers!" Qin Wentian's voice rang out, and a line of archers emerged behind the Emperor Star Academy formations. The sky filled with Astral Light as arrows from both sides darkened the heavens, transforming the battlefield into a deadly hailstorm of projectiles.

Fan Le glanced at the torrent of arrows, lamenting the limits of his psyche force control. If only he could manipulate their enemies' arrows against them. Nevertheless, he knew the power of the enemy's arrows would be limited, serving only to disrupt their formations.

The Arterial Circulation Realm "armies" collided head-on. Blinding flashes of light filled the air, swordplay, spear thrusts, and axe swings clashing fiercely. In an instant, victory tipped in favor of the Emperor Star Academy. They effortlessly cut down several Royal Academy students without suffering any casualties.

"All of them are wielding Divine Weapons, and they're at least 2nd-grade or higher!" The Yuanfu-level figures from the Royal Academy wore grim expressions. Equipping everyone with 2nd-grade Divine Weapons was a feat they couldn't replicate, even with the Royal Clan's support.

"It appears these weapons came from the Divine Weapon Pavilion," Chu Tianjiao mused as he watched the chaos unfold. He had been keeping a close eye on Qin Wentian's movements and was well aware of his visit to the Divine Weapon Pavilion.

"We need to expedite the plan," Chu Tianjiao muttered, his voice barely audible as he chuckled. "In this student war, we can't afford to remain passive any longer. My apologies to the Elders of the Emperor Star Academy."

The words hung in the air, and the people gathered around Chu Tianjiao grew serious. As they stepped forward, the air resonated with the eerie cries of their demonic beasts.

"What's going on? Is he trying to force the endgame?" The members of the Emperor Star Academy were puzzled. Following Chu Tianjiao's statement, the Yuanfu cultivators who had been lurking in the shadows revealed themselves, encircling their counterparts from the Emperor Star Academy.

"Prepare for battle," Ren Qianxing calmly ordered. The Yuanfu cultivators nodded and spread out, creating space for the upcoming battle. The battlefield was now ready for the ultimate clash.

Soon, the entire airspace was filled with Yuanfu experts. The sheer spectacle sent shivers down the spines of onlookers watching from a distance. The climax of the conflict had arrived.

AWOOOOOOO… The demonic mounts roared, shaking the very air as both sides charged into battle. Even Chu Tianjiao and Xiao Lan entered the fray, seeking out their respective opponents.

Dazzling Astral Souls erupted in unison, engulfing the entire airspace. The power of Yuanfu cultivators was truly awe-inspiring.

Qin Wentian's ancient halberd struck down an opponent, ending their fight as he glanced upward. He couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He hadn't anticipated that Chu Tianjiao would accelerate their endgame plan so suddenly.

This time, Chu Tianjiao's resolve was palpable.

Suddenly, Qin Wentian's body went cold. Before him, a figure dashed toward him. This individual had concealed their identity among the Arterial Circulation cultivators from the Royal Academy. The danger emanating from them was overwhelming.

Qin Wentian swiftly withdrew, his ancient halberd in hand, retreating with incredible speed. Yet, his assailant was lightning-fast, transforming into a blur of after-images. A colossal palm shot towards Qin Wentian as if it intended to end his life with a single strike.

Just as the deadly blow was about to land, a black shadow materialized, wielding a black sword that pierced into the massive palm. The collision resulted in a thunderous explosion, saturating the area with remnants of their intense clash. Clearly, the Emperor Star Academy had anticipated the danger and deployed protection for Qin Wentian.

It had to be acknowledged that Chu Tianjiao's strategy to target Qin Wentian after initiating the Yuanfu cultivator battle was cunning. With the Yuanfu experts fully engaged in their own battles, they wouldn't have the luxury of diverting their attention elsewhere.

"They're targeting Wentian," Ren Qianxing coldly declared. In an instant, several Elders descended from the sky. The opposing forces took advantage of this opportunity to launch an assault, blocking their path to Qin Wentian.

Ye Wuque descended gracefully, his tri-colored sword slashing toward Qin Wentian. Qin Wentian stared at the approaching strike, his ancient halberd dancing in a frantic whirlwind, deflecting the attack with unwavering resolve.

Zzzzizzzz... Another formidable sword strike followed, pushing Qin Wentian back. Beside him, the earlier Yuanfu cultivator released a surge of energy, attempting to capture Qin Wentian within his grasp.

"Dammit!" Fan Le cursed. He unleashed a flurry of arrows, guiding them toward the assailant, but each arrow was effortlessly deflected.

The current Qin Wentian had no chance against Ye Wuque. With the threat of an additional Yuanfu cultivator, his movements grew frantic.

"Get lost!" A furious shout echoed as Ren Qianxing traversed the air, brandishing a golden sword. With a horizontal slash, a devastating golden light cleaved through the void, decapitating several enemy Yuanfu experts. Their heads rolled to the ground.

Ren Qianxing then vanished from sight, closing in on Qin Wentian.

Ye Wuque launched another attack from the air. Regardless of how formidable one might be at the Arterial Circulation Realm, the insurmountable gap with the Yuanfu level could never be bridged.

Roaring in frustration, Qin Wentian's long hair billowed behind him. His arm moved in a wild arc as he hurled his ancient halberd into the air with explosive force. However, Qin Wentian's face turned pallid in that very moment. An overwhelming sense of impending doom approached from behind, and he no longer had time to defend himself. Frenziedly, he channeled the Divine Energy within him, circulating it to protect his back.

Puchi! A sudden, sharp sound sliced through the air as agonizing pain seared through his abdomen. A dagger had brutally invaded his body, plunging into his heart. Was this really how Qin Wentian was meant to meet his end?

"WENTIAN!" Their faces drained of color. Luo Huan and Fan Le stood petrified, as if unable to accept the horrifying sight before them. The alluring allure in Luo Huan's beautiful eyes vanished as she reached out into the empty space before her.

Why? WHY? Why did this have to happen after Mountain's death? Must Qin Wentian also die?

Fan Le's heart throbbed with a painful ache. In this moment, he was consumed by agony. That carefree young man who was kind to his friends and ruthless to his foes... Qin Wentian was not just his best friend but his brother. Could it be that today was the day Qin Wentian would die?

Chu Tianjiao peered down, his eyes filled with shock. Clearly, this wasn't part of his plan—to have Qin Wentian killed.

Then, if it wasn't him, had the Ye Clan or the Ou Clan taken matters into their own hands?

Confusion marred the faces of both the Ye and Ou Clan members. Who was the man that had thrust the dagger into Qin Wentian's heart?

"DIE!" Ren Qianxing roared with madness. He had finally caught up and delivered a crushing blow to the attacker's head, obliterating it entirely. The attacker must have known the consequences when he decided to kill Qin Wentian. There was no way the Emperor Star Academy would let Qin Wentian's murderer escape unscathed.

Ye Wuque had already retreated, sensing the impending danger. He knew that sticking around could prove lethal. He watched as Ren Qianxing emanated a murderous intent, raining palm strikes upon every foe. Students from the Royal Academy were met with a brutal massacre.

Ren Qianxing was now consumed by an unbridled rage.

He glanced up at the sky, his gaze fixed on Chu Tianjiao. Chu Tianjiao's heart quivered; this had been an accident, not part of the plan. His worst fears had come true, and this outcome would undoubtedly push the Emperor Star Academy into a frenzy.

"I never intended to kill Qin Wentian," Chu Tianjiao uttered, but he knew it was futile when he saw the fury in Ren Qianxing's eyes. He could only respond with a bitter laugh. At this point, explanations were utterly pointless.

Ren Qianxing cradled Qin Wentian's body and soared into the air. Simultaneously, he channeled an immense amount of Astral Energy to seal Qin Wentian's wounds. He issued a stern command, "Retreat."

The members of the Emperor Star Academy had eyes red with rage, their murderous intent soaring into the sky. But upon hearing Ren Qianxing's command, they begrudgingly complied.

Chu Tianjiao gestured for everyone to stand down. Qin Wentian's death had driven the Emperor Star Academy to the brink of madness. He feared they might truly go all out, willing to sacrifice everything.

As he touched the ground, he stopped beside the corpse of the killer beheaded by Ren Qianxing. Determining this man's identity wouldn't be easy.

"This is getting troublesome," Chu Tianjiao muttered. He wasn't certain if the dagger had truly taken Qin Wentian's life. However, he quickly regained his composure. Since the deed was done, dwelling on it was futile. What he needed to focus on now was how to handle the furious retaliation from the Emperor Star Academy.

"What's your plan?" Xiao Lan landed beside him, his expression calm. He wasn't overly concerned; since they had reached this point, it might be a blessing in disguise.

"Attack is the best defense," Chu Tianjiao replied, his eyes flickering. Their best course of action was to press on with their assault, quell the Emperor Star Academy, and eradicate the root of their troubles.

Xiao Lan silently acknowledged Chu Tianjiao's brilliance in his heart. This was undoubtedly the most effective strategy.

"In that case, prepare everyone for the onslaught against the Emperor Star Academy," Xiao Lan commanded, sending shivers through those around him. From this point on, there would be no turning back for both academies; it was a fight to the death.

Word of this incident quickly spread throughout the entire Royal Capital. Many people commented on the audacity of Chu Tianjiao's decision. He had dared to arrange the assassination of Qin Wentian.

Little did they know that Qin Wentian's death had never been part of Chu Tianjiao's plan. Neither the Ye Clan nor the Ou Clan would admit responsibility for the assassination. The identity of the killer had become an unsolvable mystery.

However, the citizens of the Royal Academy were also extremely concerned about the life and death of Qin Wentian. Such a dazzling genius, it would truly be a pity iif he really died at such a young age