Qin Shi smiled and nodded. "I only wanted to use my clone to test the waters. I didn't expect it to be a lucky hit."
Hearing this, Yun Yan clenched his fists fiercely. However, before he could turn around, Qin Shi's large hand swiftly closed around Yun Yan's neck. At that moment, he could not move at all. If he moved even the slightest bit, his throat might be cut by Qin Shi's spiritual blade at any time.
In this situation, the result was already very obvious.
Many of the disciples present had been paying close attention to the process of the two of them, but no one had expected such a dramatic ending.
"One, one move?"
"Isn't that too fast?"
"That's not fun. Yun Yan is not weak. If he had not been careless, no matter how powerful Qin Shi is, he would not have won within a hundred moves."
"That's right. Qin Shi is too cunning."
Some disciples who had a good relationship with Yun Yan started to speak up for him and looked at Qin Shi with disdain.
Of course, no matter what they said, the result could not be changed.
"It's not that Qin Shi is cunning. Success and failure are common in battles. Qin Shi did not use any despicable methods. He used the most normal method. This is how battles are. It's decided by a single thought."
However, at this moment, Elder Lu Shan stroked his beard and let out a long sigh. He did not seem surprised by Yun Yan's failure and shook his head. "A loss is a loss. In the end, he is not as skilled as his opponent."
After Lu Shan spoke, the disciples pouted and did not say anything else.
In the arena, the stalemate lasted for a while.
Qin Shi said indifferently, "Is there anything else you want to say?"
Yun Yan's eyes were filled with unwillingness but in the end, he suddenly relaxed his tensed arm and laughed at himself. "No, no more. I've lost."
He seemed to understand Lu Shan's words.
Qin Shi only smiled when he heard this. He slowly withdrew the Spirit Blade into his palm and lowered his hand. However, he subconsciously made a very minute movement that no one noticed. When he withdrew his hand, his body cleverly pulled a distance away from Yun Yan. This was a safe distance. At the very least, at this distance, he would be able to react in time even if Yun Yan were to make any drastic movements.
This was a habit that he had developed over the years.
"Haha, what a vigilant kid."
Qin Shi's actions could fool many disciples, but he couldn't fool the sharp-eyed Elders. Lu Shan couldn't help being startled for a moment before bursting into laughter.
Without the restraint of the spiritual blade, Yun Yan took a few deep breaths. The situation just now was suffocating and he could even be cut by the spiritual blade.
When his expression calmed down, he turned around and looked strangely at Qin Shi. He tried his best to widen his eyes but could not see through him. In the end, he could not help but say, "I admit that I've lost. I've lost completely. Thank you for not killing me."
"Why would I kill you? If I remember correctly, we had an agreement before. If you lose to me, you'll be willing to listen to me in the future, right?"
As a martial artist, Yun Yan also valued promises. Therefore, he had no intention of acting shamelessly. "Yes, I'll do what I say. From now on, you, Qin Shi, are my big brother. If you want me to go east, I'll go east. If you want me to go west, I'll go west. There's no other way!"
"I'll remember this." Qin Shi smiled in satisfaction.
Yun Yan hesitated for a moment. "But there's one thing I don't understand."
"What is it that you don't understand? Speak," Qin Shi said indifferently.
After a moment of silence, Yun Yan said, "I admit that I've put in a lot of effort over the past half a year. Whether it's in terms of cultivation, speed, strength or physical body, I'm not inferior to you. Why is it that I'm still unable to defeat you?"
"You're talking about that?"
Qin Shi was stunned. Then, he smiled in relief. "Indeed, your cultivation and physical body are very strong. Even your speed has improved a lot. However … there's something different between us. It's precisely because of this difference that you're unable to defeat me."
"What is it?" Yun Yan's eyes were filled with anticipation.
"A way to survive."
"A way to survive?" Yun Yan frowned in confusion.
Qin Shi sighed and nodded. "Yes, it's a way to survive. You cultivate Spiritual Energy and train your physical body purely for the sake of becoming stronger. However, I'm different from you. I cultivate for the sake of survival. If I don't cultivate, I might be killed at any moment, and the people by my side will be in danger at any moment. Our original intentions are different, and this has led to our final results. I cultivate for the sake of self-preservation, to protect my loved ones, and it can even be said that I cultivate for the sake of killing. As for you, it's merely a hobby!"
"Our actual combat experience is different as well. I've escaped death far too many times and crawled out from countless piles of corpses. If I don't work hard, I'll die, and I'll drink blood from a blade."
Qin Shi said all of this in such a casual manner.
However, in Yun Yan's ears, it was indeed extremely shocking. Indeed, since he was brought into the Sword Sect by Lu Shan since he was young, he had always lived a comfortable life and had never experienced a life and death crisis. Therefore, he couldn't imagine or even dare to believe that Qin Shi, who was clearly around the same age as him, actually had such a complicated experience.
"In the future, you might understand what I'm saying." Qin Shi smiled as he patted Yun Yan's shoulder.
In the end, Yun Yan was left alone in silence.
Boom!
At this moment, an earth-shattering sound suddenly exploded on the stage.
The storm that was caused in an instant caused everyone to slightly widen their eyes. Even many of the elders in the elder seating area were slightly stunned. The explosive force was simply too powerful.
Everyone turned to look, and Qin Shi was no exception.
However, following that, he furrowed his brows as the scene of the explosion caused his black eyes to turn cold.
At the location of the explosion, the ground was directly smashed into pieces, and a huge crater that was a thousand meters deep appeared out of thin air. Above the crater, a cold and arrogant figure stood with her hands behind her back.
The corners of Zhang Linger's mouth were filled with mockery and disdain.
In front of her was a desolate ruin that was at least a thousand meters long. At the end of the ruin was the outside of the stage, where a young man covered in blood lay paralyzed in the ruins.
"Long Tingyan?"
Qin Shi's eyes widened. That young man was actually Long Tingyan?
"Yan 'er!"
The eyes of the Law Enforcement Hall's Chief Elder immediately turned red. He flicked his sleeves and stood up, leaping into the ruins to help Long Tingyan up.
At this moment, Long Tingyan was already exhaling more than he was inhaling.
As he supported Long Tingyan, the Law Enforcement Hall's elder's anger had already reached a hundred meters high. He glared at Zhang Linger and shouted angrily, "Little girl, you actually dared to kill him?"
"Haha, it was just a casual attack. Who would have thought that he would be so weak?
Moreover, isn't he still alive?
Even if he dies now, he will die in your hands. It has nothing to do with me. "Zhang Linger sneered disdainfully.
"You …!" The Law Enforcement Hall's First Elder's face turned red. He was truly enraged by Zhang Linger.
Zhang Hun suddenly opened his mouth, "Haha, Rock Elder, don't be too agitated. Didn't Elder Mo Yu's disciple accept his fate when he was killed?"
"Accept my fate?"
The Rock Elder fiercely stood up and glared at Zhang Hun, "Haha, Elder Zhang Hun has always said 'accept my fate'. What, is it because she is your granddaughter?
Then let me ask you, if it was your granddaughter who was injured to this extent, would you accept your fate? "
Zhang Hun smiled indifferently, "If someone can, I will definitely accept my fate."
"You …!" The Rock Elder was instantly speechless.
"Enough!"
Fang Qing finally opened her mouth. She stared at Long Tingyan for a long time, her beautiful eyes flickering with reluctance. Long Tingyan's injuries were truly too severe. Even she was powerless to reverse the situation. She sighed and shook her head, "Rock Elder, an accident has already occurred. Let's first think of a way to save him. Tingyan has been the pride of our Sword Sect's younger generation all these years."
The Rock Elder took a deep breath, then tightly clenched his fists. He did not say anything else and hugged Long Tingyan in his arms. With a stride, he flew towards the Law Enforcement Hall.
Looking at the departing figure, Qin Shi could not help but let out a long sigh. He still had a good impression of Long Tingyan. If it was not for the fact that their standpoints were different, he felt that they could even become good brothers.
He turned around and looked at Zhang Linger. There was a bit of fear in his eyes.
"This woman is not simple."
Even he did not dare to say that he could block that blow just now.
Su Wen was the same as Qin Shi. There was a bit of apprehension in his relaxed appearance.
As for Zhang Linger, it was as if nothing had happened. Moreover, she was enjoying the attention of the crowd. Her petite figure lightly landed on the stage.
At this time, after a few consecutive cries, the finals had already been pushed towards the ring.
After Long Tingyan was struck by Zhang Linger's palm, Zhang Linger became an existence that no one on the stage was willing to provoke.
On the other side, Yan Ling and Liu Yu Tong fought for an hour. In the end, Liu Yu Tong barely defeated Yan Ling and knocked him out of the stage.
After that, there were only five people left on the stage.
Qin Shi, Su Wen, Yun Yan, Liu Yu Tong, and Zhang Linger.
For a time, the stage was in a deadlock.
"Su Wen, return my sister's life!"
Suddenly, with a shout, Liu Yu Tong suddenly went berserk. Killing intent shot out from her beautiful eyes. She stood up, holding a hidden blade, and stabbed towards Su Wen's forehead.
The sudden flash of sword light caused even Su Yu Tong himself to be stunned. His body blurred, and he easily dodged the flash of sword light. Then, he grabbed Liu Yu Tong's hidden blade with a backhand, and he couldn't help but smile, "I say, little girl, playing with fire is dangerous."
Liu Yu Tong's eyes were red. She stared at Su Wen and shouted, "Su Wen, do you remember the origin of the Water Avoidance Pearl on your chest?"
Su Piao was startled. She lowered her head and looked at the bright blue jade bead on his chest.
Liu Yu Tong said coldly, "It doesn't matter. If you can't remember, I'll help you remember. Do you still remember that ten years ago, when you went out on a mission and provoked a water-attribute Vicious Beast? Then, you lured it into a small village and allowed it to slaughter the entire village? There was a female mercenary who killed the Vicious Beast, but you discovered the Water Avoidance Pearl in her bosom. And you, in order to obtain this Water Avoidance Pearl, actually killed her when she was at her weakest after being injured by the Vicious Beast!"
"I think you don't even know her name?"
"I will tell you now. Her name is Liu Yu Xin!"