Volume 1, Chapter 114: To Kill You, One Sword Suffices

"So the Mysterious Celestial Sect Master's strength is but this," Lin Yu looked up at Shen Chongshan, a sneer on his lips. 

Shen Chongshan's face turned铁青 (iron-gray). "Let's see how many more times you can unleash that strike!" 

Lin Yu was a realm lower. As fellow sword cultivators using sword control, they had tied, so Shen Chongshan was certain Lin Yu had used a secret technique to压榨 (squeeze) his spiritual energy. Such秘法 (secret arts) couldn't last—after two or three uses, his energy would dry up, and Shen Chongshan could slay him easily. 

Lin Yu shook his head. "To kill you, one sword suffices." 

As he spoke, he beckoned. The Wind Controlling Sword before him trembled, returning to his hand. Grasping it, he looked at Shen Chongshan and smiled: "Watch closely. One sword will end you." 

"Hmph! Empty boasting. Let's see how you'll kill me!" Shen Chongshan scoffed, unimpressed. 

Lin Yu raised the Wind Controlling Sword. Scarlet flames burst from the blade, converging until the flames shone with dazzling gold, becoming golden infernos burning on the edge. 

The Wind Controlling Sword in Lin Yu's hand was now like a sun, its light too bright to behold. The terrifying might of the Great Sun Demon-Slaying Sword rippled out,冲击 (assaulting) Shen Chongshan. 

Sensing the sword's power, Shen Chongshan's face grew grave. This strike was no simple matter. He channeled all his spiritual energy into the Thunderclap Sword, which blazed silver, its might rising. 

Confidence filled Shen Chongshan's eyes. At his cultivation, none below Void Transformation could defeat him—not even other hidden sect masters at full strength. 

"Watch...!" 

Lin Yu冷哼 (coldly harrumphed), stepping forward like lightning, his figure forming countless afterimages as he dashed toward Shen Chongshan. The Wind Controlling Sword slashed out, its golden flames merging with the might of a sun, a golden rainbow shooting at Shen Chongshan, reaching him in an instant. 

Shen Chongshan's face changed drastically. Facing the Great Sun Demon-Slaying Sword head-on, he felt the supreme might in the golden blade—like a blazing sun incinerating all evil, leaving nowhere to flee. 

This strike's power had stepped into Void Transformation; no Myriad Realms warrior could block it! 

Shen Chongshan tried everything, controlling the Thunderclap Sword to meet the golden blade, hoping to withstand it. If he survived, he could flee to the Mysterious Celestial Sect and have Void Transformation elders avenge him. 

Boom! 

The golden剑芒 (sword light) swept all before it. The thunder on the Thunderclap Sword vanished, consumed by the endless golden flames. The sword spun away, its thunder gone, flying dozens of zhang before tilting into the ground, only the hilt visible. 

"It's over..." 

Shen Chongshan's vision was swallowed by golden light. Memories flashed through his mind like a fleeting horse: 

At nine, his village was attacked by monsters; he alone survived, taken by a Mysterious Celestial Sect warrior to cultivate. At thirteen, he entered Innate Realm; nineteen, Purple Mansion; thirty-two, Myriad Realms, hailed as the sect's best. At forty-nine, he reached Seventh Rank Myriad Realms and secretly slew the elder who brought him, learning the "monster attack" was a sect ploy to find gifted disciples, severing their bonds to ensure focus on cultivation. He felt gratitude and hatred for the elder. 

Now, as death approached, he would trade his Ninth Rank cultivation for a simple life with his parents. 

A sharp pain in his chest jolted him from his memories. He looked down in disbelief at the blood flowing from his heart, then up at Lin Yu, blood trickling from his mouth as he gritted out: "The ancestors... won't forgive you..." 

Before finishing, Shen Chongshan collapsed. The sect master died by Lin Yu's Wind Controlling Sword. 

"We won! Long live the National Preceptor...!" 

"We defeated a Ninth Rank Myriad Realms warrior, the Mysterious Celestial Sect Master!" 

"With the National Preceptor's might, who can oppose us? Other dynasties should submit to Great Zhou!" 

The Zhou officials cheered, their faces glowing with relief. 

"Impossible... This can't be..." Sun Cunyi stood stunned in the distance, as if frozen. 

"I don't want to die! I must report the Sect Master's death!" Coming to his senses, Sun Cunyi glanced fearfully at Lin Yu, then fled like a shooting star. 

Lin Yu looked coldly at Sun Cunyi and waved. No Mysterious Celestial Sect warrior here would escape. 

The Wind Controlling Sword became a green stream, chasing Sun Cunyi. In an instant, it caught up, piercing his heart before arcing back to Lin Yu. 

"National Preceptor, we owe you our lives today. Without you, I would have died, and the Zhou royal family would be extinct. I don't know how to repay you. Ask anything—even my throne, I won't hesitate!" The Zhou emperor led the群臣 (ministers) to Lin Yu, bowing respectfully, their eyes filled with reverence. 

"National Preceptor, would you remove your veil? We wish to erect a statue in the capital. Great Zhou's people will remember your deeds for eternity, bound to the dynasty," the Chief Minister mustered the courage to say, voicing everyone's wish. 

"Needless. I'll take their corpses and weapons," Lin Yu refused coldly. 

Let them see his face? If they knew the National Preceptor was a hostage from Great Han and a so-called "useless prince," their worldview would collapse. Keeping the truth hidden was for their own good.