Projection of the Heavens: I prove my immortality through slaughter.

Half a year is but a fleeting moment for cultivators. However, for the entire Qingyun Sect, these six months have been exceptionally long and turbulent due to a seemingly absurd life-or-death pact.

At first, there was an uproar and ridicule that swept through the sect. A Qi Refining disciple dared to challenge a Foundation Establishment elder? It was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, or an ant trying to shake a tree! Countless people were waiting to see how the young man named Lin Xuan would collapse under immense pressure, or ultimately become a laughing stock in the sect.

However, as time passed, subtle changes began to occur. The Northern Foothills Herb Garden remained silent, but occasionally, disciples passing by could sense a chilling, subtle fluctuation emanating from its depths. Inside the sect's trial tower, a name began to break the outer sect disciples' records at an astonishing speed, eventually reaching the top spot, its difficulty rating even rivaling that of the already renowned inner sect prodigies!

The doubts and mockery gradually subsided, replaced by a complex silence and an unspoken anticipation. Everyone was waiting, waiting for that promised day to arrive.

The day finally arrived.

The sky was overcast, with leaden-gray clouds hanging low, as if even the heavens sensed the impending deadly atmosphere, making the scene feel oppressive and heavy.

The sect's life-or-death arena, a platform built of ancient obsidian, covered in dark red scabs, and exuding a cold and deathly aura, was already surrounded by a surging crowd. Inner disciples in their blue robes formed a forest, outer disciples thronged, and many rarely seen stewards and even some elders with profound auras had quietly appeared among the crowd or on distant pavilions. All eyes were fixed on that empty arena, which seemed to devour lives.

On the high platform, Elder Mo Yuan, the Transmission Master, sat calmly, his face expressionless, only the teacup slowly turning between his fingers revealing a hint of barely perceptible attention. The elders on either side had different expressions, some curious, some scrutinizing, and some harboring dissatisfaction.

"Thump—!"

A deep, muffled sound, like a death knell, suddenly rang out, shattering the last trace of noise in the air.

A figure in black robes, like a ghost blending into the shadows, appeared silently in the center of the arena—it was Zhao Song! His face was sinister, and his eyes, like those of a venomous snake, were fixed on the direction of the entrance. The spiritual pressure of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator poured out without reservation, transforming into an invisible mountain that enveloped the entire arena, causing the disciples in the front row below to turn pale and struggle to breathe.

"Lin Xuan, your time has come! Come and meet your death!" Zhao Song's voice was hoarse and cold, filled with killing intent and anger that had been building up for half a year. Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

As soon as he finished speaking, a cyan figure appeared leisurely from the distant horizon. He moved with ease, neither riding a sword nor controlling a beam of light, but rather stepping on the void with profound steps. With each step, starlight rippled out from under his feet, as if he were descending an invisible staircase of stars!

It was Lin Xuan!

He was still dressed in a simple blue robe, his figure upright, his face as handsome as ever. However, his eyes had become even deeper, like two still pools, undisturbed by any ripples. His aura was harmonious and restrained, making it impossible for anyone to fathom its depths. Compared to half a year ago, he possessed a greater sense of composure, as if he had returned to a state of simplicity.

"Flying through the air?! How...how did he do that?" "This is no ordinary levitation technique! This movement...I've never heard of it before!" "Such terrifying control! Has his mastery of spiritual power reached this level?"

An incredulous gasp erupted from the audience. Lin Xuan's movement technique, which allowed him to seemingly tread upon stars, was beyond the comprehension of most of the disciples present, and even some of the deacons.

Lin Xuan landed gracefully on the arena, his robes fluttering slightly, facing off against the ferocious-looking Zhao Song from afar, his aura showing no sign of being inferior.

"No need for further words, let's fight." Lin Xuan's tone was calm, as if what was about to take place was not a life-or-death battle, but an ordinary contest that had been predetermined.

"Arrogant brat! Die!" Zhao Song was completely enraged by Lin Xuan's dismissive attitude. He roared and his mid-Foundation Establishment spiritual power burst forth like a flood, and he slammed his right palm forward!

"Mysterious Yin Fiend Palm!"

In an instant, a howling wind arose, and a gigantic black palm print formed from pure Yin energy appeared out of thin air. The palm lines were clear, and it was surrounded by a chilling aura that could freeze blood and a malevolent energy that could corrode all things. Like a demonic hand from the deepest hell, it crushed down on Lin Xuan like a blotting-out force! Wherever the palm wind passed, even the sturdy protective light barrier at the edge of the arena twisted and trembled violently, emitting a hum that could not bear the weight!

Zhao Song unleashed this palm strike with hatred in his heart, without the slightest probing, his intention was obvious—to kill Lin Xuan in one blow and avenge his previous humiliation!

The crowd below held their breath, and many closed their eyes in unbearable pain, as if they could already foresee the tragic scene of Lin Xuan being reduced to dust under this palm strike.

However, facing this attack that would have driven an ordinary Qi Refining Peak cultivator to despair, Lin Xuan's eyes remained calm and unwavering. He did not choose to confront it head-on. Instead, his footwork suddenly changed, and he used the Star Step technique. His figure moved like a ghost, leaving a trail of afterimages. In the nick of time, he shifted several feet to the side, skillfully avoiding the core area covered by the palm print.

At the same time, he rapidly moved his hands in front of his body, forming several strange and unfamiliar hand seals, and uttered a series of obscure and difficult ancient syllables that were definitely not from this world!

Necromancy—Weakness Curse! Slow!

Two invisible and intangible gray halos, yet carrying a strong aura of decay and stagnation, instantly traversed space and precisely enveloped Zhao Song!

Zhao Song's forward momentum abruptly halted, as if bound by invisible shackles. The flow of spiritual energy in his meridians slowed dramatically by a third, and his Xuan Yin Sha Palm strike involuntarily slackened by half a beat! He was utterly horrified: "What kind of bizarre technique is this?! It can directly affect my spiritual energy and movements?!"

In that split second when his mind was slightly distracted and his palm strikes slowed down, Lin Xuan pointed his fingers like a sword, and the vast and pure stellar spiritual power within his body was compressed into his fingertips at an unprecedented speed. A point of silver starlight, condensed to the extreme and restrained to the extreme, suddenly lit up as if it could devour the surrounding light!

"Star Finger - Break the spell!"

laugh!

The finger beam pierced the air silently, yet its speed surpassed the ability of sight to perceive. It arrived before the enemy, as if it possessed a life of its own, striking with unparalleled precision the most crucial and vulnerable point in the energy flow of the enormous black palm print!

"puff--!"

A soft sound, like a balloon being popped, was heard.

The fierce and murderous Xuan Yin Palm was like a giant whose skeleton had been removed. Its energy structure collapsed instantly. It fluctuated violently in mid-air before dissipating into wisps of black smoke. It didn't even touch Lin Xuan!

"What?! This is impossible!" Zhao Song's pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpoints, and for the first time, his face showed a look of utter horror and disbelief as if he had seen a ghost! His near-full-force attack, delivered during the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, was actually broken by a mere Qi Refining stage youth in such a casual and almost bizarre way?!

Below the stage, there was a deathly silence! Everyone was stunned by this earth-shattering scene, their minds blank! Breaking a technique across a major realm was simply unheard of!

"You... just how much strength have you been hiding?!" Zhao Song was both shocked and furious, his voice trembling slightly.

Lin Xuan remained silent. The instant he shattered the palm print, he moved again! He perfectly blended the agility of the Wind Control Technique, the profound mystery of the Star Step, and the essence of close combat he had gleaned from the martial arts of the Tianyuan Realm. His entire being transformed into an elusive azure shadow, leaving countless dazzling afterimages on the arena! At the same time, his powerful divine sense, comparable to the mid-to-late stages of Foundation Establishment, had already spread out like an invisible net, locking onto Zhao Song. He not only discerned the flow of Zhao Song's spiritual energy but also subtly predicted his next move, searching for that fleeting opening!

"Playing tricks! Die, you bastard!" Knowing he couldn't stay passive any longer, Zhao Song roared and slapped his storage bag at his waist. A small black banner, about the size of a palm and embroidered with a hideous ghost head, grew in the wind—a low-grade spiritual artifact, the Hundred Ghost Banner!

He held the banner in both hands, waving it wildly while chanting incantations! Instantly, a chilling wind howled across the arena, the temperature plummeted, and countless twisted, ferocious, and intensely resentful semi-transparent ghostly figures surged forth from the banner like a tidal wave, emitting piercing, soul-piercing shrieks as they swept towards Lin Xuan like a tidal wave! These ghostly figures were formless and intangible, with little effect from physical attacks; they were specifically designed to harm the cultivator's soul, and were one of Zhao Song's trump cards!

Faced with this bizarre attack targeting the very essence of the soul, Lin Xuan's lips curled into a cold smile. Trying to outmaneuver him in terms of spiritual strength? Trying to play mind games with him?

Deep within his sea of ​​consciousness, his powerful divine sense, refined and devoured by countless mighty soul flames of the underworld and gifted with a trace of the world's origin, erupted without reservation! The power of his divine sense, mixed with a trace of the pure death essence from the Lich King, transformed into an invisible yet substantial gray-black shockwave, like a monstrous wave rising from a calm sea, sweeping back towards the countless ghostly figures rushing towards him!

Improved version of necromancy - Soul Scream!

"Jehovah—!!!"

Those originally ferocious ghostly figures, upon encountering this spiritual impact imbued with a higher level of death rules, were like ice and snow meeting the blazing sun. They emitted even more piercing, terrifying, and desperate screams, and were all swept back, colliding and tearing at each other! Many weaker ghostly figures were directly wailing and disintegrating under the impact, turning into pure soul power and vanishing! Even the Hundred Ghost Banner, which was the source, suddenly dimmed its spiritual light, and several fine cracks even appeared on the banner's surface!

"Pfft—!" Zhao Song's mind was intimately connected with the Hundred Ghost Banner. The damage to the magical artifact caused a severe backlash, causing him to cough up a mouthful of blood, his face instantly turning deathly pale! He staggered back two steps, his gaze towards Lin Xuan filled with boundless fear and absurdity! "You…your divine sense…how could it…be stronger than mine?! What kind of monster are you?!"

Below the arena, the crowd was completely speechless. What they were witnessing was repeatedly shattering their preconceived notions. A Qi Refining cultivator had not only broken a Foundation Establishment spell in a direct confrontation, but had also achieved absolute dominance over a mid-Foundation Establishment deacon at the level of divine sense?! This was completely beyond their comprehension!

"This child... can actually integrate his own spiritual power, powerful divine sense, and even some unheard-of strange techniques, and use them so skillfully!" On the high platform, an elder known for his sternness couldn't help but stroke his beard in amazement, his eyes filled with disbelief.

A barely perceptible glint of surprise and satisfaction flickered deep within Elder Mo Yuan's calm eyes. He realized that his assessment of this disciple might need to be revised further.

"If your methods stop here, then that's truly disappointing." Lin Xuan's icy voice rang in Zhao Song's ears like a death knell. Before the words even finished, he had already launched his attack!

His movements were as swift as lightning, closing in on Zhao Song with a barrage of deadly attacks—finger strikes, palm strikes, fist strikes, and kicks! Starlight flickered at his fingertips, specifically designed to shatter protective auras; his palm strikes contained hidden power, shaking the internal organs; his fist strikes were incomparably fierce, containing the immense force of stars; his footwork was even more cunning and unpredictable, incorporating the concept of "death entanglement" from necromancy, using spiritual power to create invisible bindings, constantly restricting and interfering with Zhao Song's movement and spellcasting!

He combined spiritual power, martial arts combat, and necromancy almost perfectly, launching attacks like a whirlwind, continuous and unpredictable, each move targeting vital points and weaknesses!

Zhao Song possessed immense spiritual power at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, yet he felt like a strong man with brute strength, being relentlessly and helplessly engaged in close combat by a highly skilled and cunning assassin! His protective aura was easily torn apart time and again, and several deep, bone-revealing wounds appeared on his body, staining his black robe with blood! His pride in his spiritual power advantage was rendered useless against his opponent's all-around, unpredictable fighting style!

He felt that he was not facing a Qi Refining cultivator at all, but a combat master who had crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood and was proficient in all kinds of killing techniques!

"Ah! You little beast! You forced me to do this!" The extreme humiliation and the threat of death drove Zhao Song completely insane! His eyes were bloodshot, and he pounded his chest, spitting out a mouthful of his life essence blood onto the flying sword. He burned his life essence blood and lifespan at any cost to forcibly enhance his spiritual power!

hum!

A flying sword, its entire body a deep blue and as thin as a cicada's wing, leaped from the top of his head—it was his natal spiritual weapon, the Xuan Yin Soul-Slaying Sword!

The flying sword absorbed the essence blood and emitted a mournful sword cry. Its dark blue light surged, transforming into a bolt of deathly lightning that tore through the sky. Even before the sword arrived, the terrifying sword intent that was specifically designed to sever souls and freeze minds had already locked onto Lin Xuan!

"Mysterious Yin Soul Severing! Annihilate both soul and spirit! Kill!"

This was Zhao Song's desperate strike, a culmination of all his strength, resentment, and madness!

Faced with this deadly attack, Lin Xuan's eyes became extremely solemn, and the stellar spiritual power around him surged and roared at an unprecedented speed. He took a deep breath, compressing and pouring all the liquid stellar spiritual power in his dantian, along with his vast and boundless divine sense power, and a trace of his understanding of the "Starfall" concept, into the tip of his right finger!

That single point of starlight suddenly transformed! It was no longer a dazzling silver, but turned into a chaotic, profound color, within which seemed to be a miniature nebula rapidly spinning, being born, expanding, and ultimately heading towards annihilation! A destructive aura that made all the Foundation Establishment cultivators present change color spread out with a roar from the center of Lin Xuan's fingertip!

The second level of "Star Finger" - Starfall! Its initial form is emerging!

"Starfall... One finger!"

Lin Xuan roared and pointed his finger fiercely at the soul-tearing blue sword light!

The chaotic starlight at his fingertips, like a microcosm of the end of the universe, with an unwavering determination, collided with the desperate blue flying sword in the very center of the arena!