Absolute Destiny Game.

Chapter 526 The Power of the Heart, the Annihilation of Time
"You old codger!" The Drunken Sword Immortal pointed the blood-dripping tip of his sword at Xuanji Zi's corpse, his eyes filled with resentment and madness. "You dared to look down on me! You dared to lecture me every day! What kind of bullshit chivalry and morality is this! In this world, only power is eternal! The strong are respected! Now, open your dog eyes and see who the real strongman is! Hahahaha!"

Gazing at his master's remains and hearing the arrogant words of this treacherous disciple who murdered his master, an uncontrollable rage exploded in Xiao Jie's chest! His eyes turned bloodshot, almost dripping with blood! Without the slightest hesitation, he transformed into a bolt of vengeful lightning, his steel blade, imbued with boundless hatred and fierce killing intent, becoming a cold light that tore through the air, slashing down towards the Drunken Sword Immortal!
The Sword Immortal's maniacal laughter abruptly ceased, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He clearly hadn't expected Xiao Jie to react so quickly and with such intense killing intent! But his reaction was equally swift. With a flick of his crimson longsword, he instantly conjured several eerie sword flowers, precisely meeting Xiao Jie's blade! The swords clashed, producing a piercing clang, sparks flying everywhere!

Xiao Jie attacked with hatred in his heart. His sword strikes were like a storm, continuous and fast, each strike aimed at the vital points of the Drunken Sword Immortal!
The Gale Blade Technique was unleashed at full power, the violent blade energy tearing through the air and carving deep furrows in the ground! However, the Drunken Sword Immortal seemed to be handling it with ease. The scarlet longsword in his hands seemed to have come to life. His sword moves were strange and tricky, sometimes gentle and clinging, sometimes fierce and violent. What shocked Xiao Jie even more was that the Drunken Sword Immortal's swordsmanship carried a corrosive and chilling force. At first, it was not very noticeable, but after dozens of moves, Xiao Jie felt his hands and feet getting cold, and his blood seemed to be gradually congealing.

Could it be the effect of some kind of cold and yin internal energy cultivation technique?

No, this is definitely not the effect of internal energy. With his mastery of the Tiger Roar and Dragon Cry Divine Skill, it is impossible for the Drunken Sword Immortal to influence and erode him with internal energy.

He suddenly noticed the crimson aura swirling around the sword of the Sword Immortal. During their fight, each clash of their swords caused the crimson aura to spread, and it had now enveloped the two of them.

This is magic!

We must act quickly! We cannot afford to drag this out, or things will inevitably go wrong.

Xiao Jie's mind raced, and his swordplay suddenly changed! The originally violent and fierce sword light instantly became elusive and unpredictable! The trajectory of the blade was like a ghost moving about, like a gazelle hanging by its horns, leaving no trace—this was the Illusionary Annihilation Sword Technique that he had been constantly refining and cultivating over the years!
He has now mastered this sword technique to its fullest extent, and it can now unleash its true power.

The Sword Immortal also felt the pressure, and his expression became serious.

After exchanging a few more blows, Xiao Jie suddenly swayed, as if he had created a clone, and his figure instantly appeared in all directions around the Drunken Sword Immortal.

That was the afterimage effect created during extremely fast movement.

Several sword shadows, indistinguishable from real ones, simultaneously attacked the major acupoints on the Drunken Sword Immortal's body!

"Hmph! A mere trick!" The Drunken Sword Immortal sneered, his figure advancing instead of retreating. His longsword thrust out at an extremely strange angle, the tip blazing with crimson light, striking Xiao Jie's true form's blade with pinpoint accuracy! "Break!"

A chilling and sinister power surged into the blade! Xiao Jie felt a sudden coldness in his arm, which instantly stiffened, and his sword strike faltered!
He was horrified: What kind of magic is this? He had never seen it in the game.

Hastily retreating, seeing Xiao Jie injured, the Drunken Sword Immortal grinned maliciously: "My turn!"

Undeterred by his advantage, the sword flashed, leaving a trail of crimson light as it coiled around Xiao Jie like a leech. The swordplay was ruthless and vicious, each strike carrying a sinister power that corroded his internal organs, forcing Xiao Jie to retreat repeatedly, constantly in grave danger!
At the critical moment of life and death, Xiao Jie went all out! He instantly unleashed his life's power to its peak! The powerful internal energy not only filled his entire body, but was also poured into the treasured sword.

He suddenly rose high and spun around, the steel knife in his hand emitting a shrill hum!
Ultimate Technique - Sweeping Away the Clouds!
The blade light instantly transformed into a terrifying whirlwind that tore everything apart! The violent blade energy spun and sliced ​​wildly, whipping up sand, stones, and vegetation, its power terrifying! The incomparably sharp blade intent locked onto the Drunken Sword Immortal, determined to shred him into dust!
Faced with this earth-shattering blade strike, the Drunken Sword Immortal revealed a cruel and contemptuous smile. He neither dodged nor evaded, but simply held the scarlet longsword upright in front of him, rapidly chanting obscure and difficult-to-understand incantations!

"Bloodlust protects the body, impervious to weapons! Transform blood into a protective aura, defending against calamity but also injuring the injure!"

The crimson aura on the longsword suddenly surged, instantly transforming into an incredibly solid, blood-red light shield covered with strange runes, firmly protecting the Drunken Sword Immortal within!

"Boom——!!!"

The raging whirlwind of sword energy slammed into the crimson light barrier! Xiao Jie unleashed over a dozen sharp sword energies in an instant, but the seemingly invincible whirlwind, upon hitting the crimson light barrier, vanished like a mud ox sinking into the sea! The sharp sword energy was continuously devoured and dissolved by the viscous, eerie crimson light! After a mere moment of stalemate, the sword energy tornado collapsed with a deafening roar!

What?! Xiao Jie's attack missed its mark, and he was immediately filled with shock and anger.

It really is magic! And it's not just ordinary magic.

At this moment, Xiao Jie's old strength was exhausted, and new strength had not yet emerged! His weakness was fully exposed.

In that split second, the Sword Immortal's eyes flashed with murderous intent! The crimson light shield instantly contracted, converging at the tip of his sword! He moved closer like a ghost, his scarlet longsword transforming into an extremely fast streak of blood, accompanied by a piercing shriek, slashing diagonally towards Xiao Jie's right arm holding the knife!

"laugh--!"

The dull thud of a sharp weapon slicing through flesh and bone, accompanied by a teeth-grinding cracking sound! An indescribable pain instantly overwhelmed Xiao Jie's senses! He watched helplessly as his right arm, along with the steel knife he had been with for many years, was severed at the shoulder by that eerie, blood-red light! The severed arm, dripping with a spray of scalding blood, flew into the air!
"Ugh—!" Xiao Jie let out a muffled groan, his body staggering back several steps from the enormous impact before finally crashing heavily to the ground! Blood gushed from his severed arm, instantly staining the soil beneath him red, and the excruciating pain nearly made him faint!

However, he clenched his teeth so tightly that blood seeped from his gums, yet he didn't utter a single scream! His bloodshot eyes were fixed on the approaching, grinning Sword Immortal. Using his only remaining left hand, he braced himself against the ground, ignoring the excruciating pain, and slowly, unsteadily, stood up! Blood gushed from his severed arm, but he stood ramrod straight.

He picked up the broken knife from the ground. Even in such a desperate situation, he did not give up hope, and his mind was still racing.

The swordsman who is drunk is definitely not using any esoteric Taoist techniques. No one knows what he has gone through over the years, but he has actually learned this powerful evil technique.

It's a pity that I can't replicate my sorcery skills from my previous life, otherwise I wouldn't be in such a sorry state.

As expected, no matter where you go, martial arts can never beat magic.

The Sword Immortal seemed to have finally gotten his fill of satisfaction, showing no hurry to deliver the final blow, and mocked Xiao Jie with unrestrained laughter.

"Trash! What do you have to fight me with?" The Drunken Sword Immortal, wielding a blood-dripping crimson longsword, approached step by step, his face displaying a cruel, cat-and-mouse-like pleasure. "I entered the sect ten years earlier than you! My swordsmanship is far superior to your saber technique! Not to mention..." He casually made a hand seal with his other hand, a blood-red aura surrounding him... "...I have already received the true teachings of the Dao! You, a crude martial artist who only knows how to wield swords and spears, are no different from an ant in my eyes?!"

"It's laughable that Xuanjizi still treats you like a treasure. Now you can see who's more powerful."

Before the words were even finished, a fierce glint flashed in the Sword Immortal's eyes, and he swung his scarlet longsword with all his might. *Swoosh! S ...*
Five sharp sword energies, condensed to the point of being almost tangible and wreathed in blood-red malevolent energy, instantly pierced through the air! The piercing sound of the wind tearing through the air was ear-piercing, sealing off all of Xiao Jie's space to dodge!

Xiao Jie's single eye was wide open, his remaining left arm gripping half a steel knife tightly, unleashing the last vestiges of his will and skill to their fullest potential! The blade flashed, becoming a blur of afterimages, dancing wildly before him!
Seal off the doors and windows!

clang! clang! clang! clang!
Four ear-piercing metallic clangs rang out almost simultaneously! Amidst the flying sparks, the four sword energies were narrowly deflected and dispersed! However, the fifth, most cunning and ruthless crimson sword energy, like a venomous snake, pierced through the gaps in the blade net and precisely penetrated Xiao Jie's right lung!

"puff--!"

Blood mixed with shattered lung alveoli gushed from Xiao Jie's mouth! He staggered back several steps, his back slamming heavily against an ancient tree before he could barely regain his balance.

Before he could even stand up straight, the Drunken Sword Immortal had already appeared before him like a ghost, striking Xiao Jie in the abdomen with a palm.

Xiao Jie coughed up a mouthful of blood and wildly swung his sword, forcing the Drunken Sword Immortal back.

However, his dantian and dantian had already been invaded and torn apart by that evil power. At this moment, it was like a punctured air sac, and his powerful internal energy was dissipating and disappearing at an alarming speed!
"Hahahaha!" The Drunken Sword Immortal let out a deafening laugh, filled with the smug satisfaction of having everything under control. "Did you feel it? My sword not only pierced your lung, but that palm strike just now completely destroyed your dantian and ruined your qi sea! All your hard work in cultivation has gone down the drain! Now you're not even as good as a third-rate martial artist, what do you have to fight me with?!"

He leisurely walked a few steps away from Xiao Jie, sword in hand, looking down at this junior brother he once resented but who could barely stand. He sneered, "Dumb junior brother, don't say I, your second senior brother, am heartless. Today, I was going to grind you and that old bastard to dust... but..."

He drawled, his eyes gleaming with malice, "Looking at your pathetic state now, I've been touched by a bit of 'mercy.' All you have to do is—now, right now, kneel down! Kneel down three times respectfully! Kneel loudly enough! Kneel sincerely enough! And I'll take pity on you and spare your worthless life! How about it? A good deal, isn't it? Hahahaha!"

Excruciating pain surged through Xiao Jie's nerves like a tidal wave, and the weakness from having his dantian destroyed gnawed at his strength like a leech. A raging fire burned fiercely within him, threatening to consume his reason. Yet, amidst this extreme pain and humiliation, a chilling clarity pierced his mind like ice.

A test... this is definitely another test! His remaining consciousness clearly recognized this.

Kowtowing? Surviving by clinging to life? If all it takes is to abandon that pitiful pride and kowtow a few times to gain a chance at life, then why not in this world that he knows is a lie? He had long seen through it all; so-called pride is as light as a feather in the face of survival, in the face of protecting something more important!
But... is it really that simple? Given the system's consistent nature, this seemingly "way out" option must be hiding a deeper trap!
Given this swordsman's personality, would he really let me go? After toying with and humiliating me, he would probably still kill me without leaving any future trouble.

He had a strong impression of his second senior brother's personality.

The core of this test is by no means a simple matter of kneeling to survive! On the contrary, it may be testing the unyielding and unyielding will in this desperate situation! This head must not be bowed!

His remaining internal energy was like a candle flickering in the wind, so weak as to be almost negligible. He lifted his heavy eyelids, his gaze fixed on the smug Sword Immortal a few steps away. Ten steps! Just ten steps! This was his last chance, and his only chance!
Only that one move... risking everything... might... offer a glimmer of hope!
Over the years, he has upheld justice and drunk the blood of villains with his sword. He has also mastered the Azure Dragon Sword Technique and the Illusionary Annihilation Sword Technique to the extreme. It can be said that his swordsmanship has reached a state of perfection.

If there's one regret about the swordsmanship, it's that I couldn't replicate the strongest ultimate move, Illusionary Bubble!
Unfortunately, this move requires the power of the Annihilation of Time to master, but in this life, he has no such opportunity. Even with his understanding of the Illusionary Annihilation Blade Technique and constant attempts, no matter how hard he practices or how much he ponders, this move remains like a mirage, formless and devoid of spirit, merely an outward appearance, unable to truly harness the power of time. He knows perfectly well that he lacks that crucial "key"—to witness and personally experience the true "Annihilation of Time"!
He had almost given up, but today, looking at his reflection in the stream and reflecting on his experiences of living two lives, he was surprisingly moved.
And at this very moment! The grief of seeing his mentor die tragically in his arms, the despair of losing his own arm and losing his skills, the sinister smile of his enemy closing in step by step... this extreme emotional impact transformed those slight touches into a sudden and enlightening realization.

Isn't that invisible yet real power of "the annihilation of time" precisely the moment before us when all things wither and hope is shattered?!

I understand... the annihilation of time... is imminent! An unprecedented clarity and resolve filled my heart. This strike must be made! And it will surely be made!

Under the mocking and expectant gaze of the Drunken Sword Immortal, Xiao Jie's body began to slowly and tremblingly bend downwards, his right knee seemingly about to touch the cold ground—a humiliating kneeling posture.

The Sword Immortal's sneer widened to its maximum, his eyes filled with sadistic pleasure: "Yes! That's it! Kneel down! Like a dog..."

In the split second before Xiao Jie's knees touched the ground, his lowered head suddenly snapped back up! In his only remaining left eye, there was no longer any pain or despair, only an absolute coldness and madness that burned with the essence of life and saw through the nature of time!
He pushed off the ground with his foot, swung the broken steel knife with his left hand, and unleashed the last bit of internal energy in his body.

The ultimate technique—illusion vanishes!
There was no earth-shattering flash of light, no explosion tearing through the air. The instant Xiao Jie unleashed that seemingly ordinary sweeping strike, within a ten-step radius of his mangled body, time... froze!

Falling leaves hovered in mid-air, maintaining their perfect descent, completely still. Splashes of blood congealed into dazzling rubies, frozen in their scattering trajectories. The frozen, utterly astonished and incredulous grin on the Sword Immortal's face was like the most clumsy mask. Even the single drop of blood dripping from the tip of his sword hovered between the blade and the ground, forming a still, lifeless line of blood.

The wind stopped, the sound vanished, and even the light seemed to lose its flowing vitality. Within ten steps, everything faded, all returned to deathly silence, as if thrown into a block of absolutely solidified, formless, eternal ice! This was the wisp of the power of time's annihilation that Xiao Jie had forcibly pried open with his life as the catalyst and utmost despair as the fuel!
However, this power to freeze time was like a child wielding a divine weapon to Xiao Jie, who was now exhausted and barely holding on by sheer willpower—completely beyond his control! The solidified "bubble" lasted only for a fleeting moment!

Bo——!
A crisp sound, as faint yet incredibly clear as a bubble bursting, echoed through the frozen space! The river of time instantly resumed its surging flow!
The figures of Xiao Jie and the Drunken Sword Immortal passed each other the instant time resumed its flow!

Xiao Jie staggered a few steps forward, barely managing to support his swaying body with his broken sword. He ultimately failed to unleash the full power of "Illusory Bubble," a strike imbued with the true meaning of annihilation. But that one precious second, frozen in time, was enough!
The Sword Immortal's sinister grin froze completely before it could even transform into horror. He instinctively raised his hand, touching his smooth neck. His fingertips brushed against a thin, cold crevice. The next moment—

"laugh--!"

Scalding blood gushed out of the thin line like a burst dam! It shot skyward! His eyes widened, his pupils filled with utter bewilderment, disbelief, and… a hint of fear finally awakening. A hoarse, escaping sound escaped his throat. He tried to turn to look at his mute junior brother, whom he had never paid any attention to, but his body had already slumped forward uncontrollably, crashing heavily onto the cold, muddy ground. He convulsed a few times, then remained motionless.

Won...?

Xiao Jie stood with his back to the corpse of the Drunken Sword Immortal, his body feeling as if all the bones had been ripped out. His dantian was empty, his qi sea completely depleted, and the wounds on his severed arm and chest burned like flames. The backlash from forcibly activating the profound technique made his internal organs feel as if they had shifted. His vision blurred, and the world spun. He knew he was truly at his end!

He glanced one last time at the direction where his master had fallen, then at the roaring waterfall and the precipice. His body could no longer support him; he swayed, then, like a puppet with its strings cut, he plummeted straight down into the surging, misty pool…

thump!
Water splashed high into the air, only to be swallowed up by the rushing current, leaving behind only the lingering stench of blood and a deathly silence in the valley.

(End of this chapter)