Volume 1, Chapter 159: Even Death Is Not Enough for Her Crimes

A sharp sword intent emanated from the Windrider Sword, piercing through Liu Lier's forehead and instantly obliterating her spiritual soul. 

Shock still lingered on Liu Lier's delicate face, but her complexion gradually paled and grayed. With a thud, she collapsed into the stream. 

Until her death, she never expected that Lin Yu would dare to disregard the face of the Void Transformation Realm warrior from the Qu Family of Luoshui and insist on killing her. 

"Damnation! How dare you—how dare you disrespect our Qu Family of Luoshui!" 

Qu Yongkang flew into a rage. From the moment he saw Liu Lier, he had been smitten, but who could have imagined that this infatuation, just beginning, would be snuffed out by Lin Yu. 

"How dare you kill someone right before my eyes?" 

Qu Lingshan's face turned铁青 (icy blue), his eyes filled with displeasure. 

"So what?" 

Lin Yu glanced at Qu Lingshan and Qu Yongkang, speaking indifferently: "She fell into the demonic path, practicing demonic arts. Even death is not enough for her crimes!" 

As he spoke, Lin Yu sensed a force subtly invading his sea of consciousness, attempting to leave an imprint. 

This must be the Demon God's Curse that Liu Lier mentioned before her death. 

Unfortunately, before this curse could take shape, it was swallowed by Master Tripod and annihilated, leaving no impact on Lin Yu. 

"Demonic arts?" 

A grave expression crossed Qu Lingshan's face. Everywhere in the Canglan Domain, demonic sects were taboos, demanding caution. 

"Nonsense! Miss Lier is a descendant of the Liu Family of Fanyang, of noble blood. Moreover, the Liu Family of Fanyang has countless peerless techniques in their collection. Why would she abandon her family's arts to practice some demonic techniques?" 

Qu Yongkang sneered in disdain, utterly disbelieving Lin Yu's words. 

"What if demonic arts better suited her talent, allowing her to practice twice as effectively with half the effort?" 

Lin Yu chuckled, looking at Qu Lingshan and ignoring Qu Yongkang entirely. 

Qu Lingshan fell silent. Such things had happened before—just as some are naturally契合 with blades, forcing them to practice swords would slow their progress, while switching to blades could lead to rapid advancement. 

"Seventeenth Uncle, don't be deceived! I think he acted out of lust. When Miss Lier refused him, he killed her! Our Qu Family and Liu Family have been交好 (allied) for generations. We can't turn a blind eye, or we'll break the Liu Family's heart!" 

Qu Yongkang glared at Lin Yu with venomous eyes. 

He had fantasized about playing the hero to save the beauty, expecting Liu Lier to fall for him. But Lin Yu had ruthlessly slain her, denying them any chance to intervene and shattering his dream. Thus, he harbored deep hatred for Lin Yu. 

"Yongkang, you speak wisely." 

After weighing the matter, Qu Lingshan nodded. He then looked at Lin Yu and said gravely: "I can't trust your words alone. Therefore, I must capture you first. Once I verify the truth, if it's confirmed that Liu Lier indeed practiced demonic arts and fell to the demonic path, I will let you go. If I find you lied, you will pay with your life!" 

Pointing to Liu Lier in the stream, he added: "I advise you to lay down your weapons, surrender, and await my judgment. I will not wrong an innocent, nor will I let a guilty person go. If you resist, don't blame me for being merciless!" 

"Surrender?" Lin Yu sneered. "What if I refuse?" 

"Then I'll have to act against you! Yongkang, capture him. Be careful—don't underestimate the enemy!" 

Qu Lingshan's face darkened as he ordered Qu Yongkang beside him. 

"Don't worry, Seventeenth Uncle. Leave it to me!" 

Qu Yongkang laughed smugly, eyeing Lin Yu with pride: "Wait until you're in my hands and see how I deal with you!" 

Before his words fell, he drew his sword and pointed it at Lin Yu, snorting: "Today, I will seek justice for Miss Lier!" 

At a young age, he had reached the Eighth Rank of Myriad Phenomena. Even among the talented families of the "Five Clans and Seven Prominences," he was considered outstanding. Thus, he felt superior facing Lin Yu, convinced that capturing him would be effortless. 

Lin Yu shook his head lightly, sneering: "Send someone else. You're no match for me." 

"How dare you belittle me?" 

Qu Yongkang erupted in anger. As an Eighth Rank Myriad Phenomena warrior, who wouldn't praise his peerless talent? For Lin Yu to look down on him was unforgivable! 

Boom! 

The pressure of an Eighth Rank Myriad Phenomena warrior surged like a hurricane, rippling through the canyon. The gurgling stream even reversed under the impact of his aura. 

Simultaneously, white mist laden with extreme cold emanated from him, dropping the canyon's temperature abruptly. Where the mist spread, rocks and trees frosted over, the stream froze, and snowflakes fell, as if winter had silently arrived. 

"Eh?" 

Qu Lingshan looked at Lin Yu in surprise, his eyes flickering with astonishment. 

When Qu Yongkang's pressure and freezing mist reached Lin Yu, they seemed to hit an invisible wall and parted, unable to approach. 

"Kill!" 

Just as Qu Lingshan was about to warn him, Qu Yongkang roared, stepping toward Lin Yu and slashing his sword fiercely. 

Extreme cold condensed into a white sharp light, with layers of mysterious ice forming in the space it passed through. 

If this strike were slowed down, one would see the ice layers growing, spreading toward Lin Yu and freezing everything in their path. 

Where this sword intent passed, the canyon became a world of ice and snow. Not only were rocks, trees, and the stream frozen, but even Liu Lier's body in the stream was covered in ice, turning into an ice sculpture. 

"Good! This move, 'Frozen Heaven and Earth'—Yongkang has truly grasped its essence and understood the true meaning of Ice Sword Intent!" 

Qu Lingshan nodded in approval. This strike faintly carried the momentum to freeze the world, extremely fierce. His earlier worries vanished; with such a move, Qu Yongkang's future was boundless. 

Lin Yu remained calm. With a thought, the Windrider Sword hovering before him burst into blazing flames, shooting toward the oncoming layers of ice. 

Since Qu Yongkang's deadliest move was Ice Sword Intent, Lin Yu would use Fire Sword Intent to shatter his confidence and will. 

Boom! 

The Windrider Sword turned into a crimson rainbow, crashing into the icy air. 

Blazing flames surged, instantly engulfing the oncoming cold. Then, scorching white mist rose, sweeping away the canyon's chill and making it as warm as spring. 

Frozen rocks, trees, the stream, and the ice on Liu Lier all melted under this scorching aura. 

A crimson light pierced through the弥漫 (billowing) white mist, suddenly appearing in Qu Yongkang's vision and hurtling toward him.