Chapter 123: The Deathmatch Begins, a Killing Palm Strike

Qin Xiao had chosen Tianyuan City because he had little choice. If he killed Yao Kainan inside the sect, the Great Elder might lose control and attack him outright. But if he chose somewhere too far away, the Great Elder might refuse. Tianyuan City was the only option.

The City Lord of Tianyuan City was undeniably in cahoots with the Great Elder, especially since Tan Wang was stationed right in the Great Elder’s preparation area alongside the Li Family. Even a fool could see through the arrangement.

On Qin Xiao’s side stood Ye Qiuyue and Lin Tiancheng, while the remaining elders and external factions chose neutrality, content to watch from the spectator seats.

Second Elder Yao Yongzhi was the referee. Qin Xiao’s side hadn’t objected, so the arrangement stood. This was also why the Great Elder was confident Qin Xiao would die on the platform.

“I am the referee for this match. Since both parties are prepared, please take the stage.”

Second Elder Yao Yongzhi stepped up first to make the announcement.

He had originally wished to avoid this messy affair, but his elder brother had personally sought him out, leaving him unable to refuse.

He wouldn’t have to do much. When Qin Xiao was about to be killed, he only needed to be a moment late in stopping it, letting Qin Xiao die by “accident.” The rest was none of his concern.

As for Qin Xiao’s victory over Gong Yuankui during the quota trials, the Great Elder had naturally received the intelligence. Though surprised at first, upon learning that Gong Yuankui had held back and ultimately conceded the victory, all his misgivings had evaporated.

Qin Xiao hadn’t even beaten Gong Yuankui barehanded. How could he beat Yao Kainan with all his treasures? The Great Elder was very confident.

This time, the Great Elder had spared no expense, borrowing and renting a full set of Middle Grade Dharma Treasures for Yao Kainan to ensure Qin Xiao’s certain death.

“If my second sworn son, Kaixi, weren’t still in death seclusion, why would I need all this trouble?”

Yao Tiansheng glared at Qin Xiao as he took the stage.

As for Yao Kaibei, he was already beyond command since reaching the Soul Formation stage; any attempt to summon him would be blocked by the Supreme Elder. Thus, the Great Elder had no choice but to rely on Yao Kainan, who had just emerged from seclusion.

Yao Kainan followed Qin Xiao onto the platform, staring at him as if he wanted to tear him apart and swallow him alive.

“It’s a Deathmatch, so there are no rules. Still, you’re fellow disciples. I hope you’ll both know when to stop.”

With those words, Yao Yongzhi retreated to the edge of the dueling platform, clearing the space.

Even in a Deathmatch, sects generally intervened. At worst, a disciple would be crippled but left alive. This time Yao Yongzhi could save himself the trouble. He wouldn’t act in time; whether they lived or died was up to fate.

Realizing the match had begun, Yao Kainan dispensed with threats and charged straight at Qin Xiao with his sword, intent on ending him.

Qin Xiao didn’t wait to be attacked. He sped toward Yao Kainan as well. He had to end this quickly.

Yao Kainan’s sword attacks were vicious, but Qin Xiao was faster. He dodged the sword, then swung a Whip Punch at Yao Kainan’s Dantian.

Yao Kainan hadn’t expected Qin Xiao to be so fast. He hastily activated his protective treasure, and blue light enveloped him.

It was a Middle Grade defensive Dharma Treasure the Great Elder had given him. Once it activated, he felt reassured. Follow the newest chapters on novelping.com.

But he still felt a powerful impact. The force even seemed about to penetrate the treasure’s defense.

Yao Kainan quickly kicked out, trying to dissipate the force.

Qin Xiao wasn’t about to let him off. He caught Yao Kainan’s foot and punched the sole.

The punch sent Yao Kainan back more than ten steps before he barely managed to stop. The sole of his foot was numb, and his entire leg was badly injured.

“How is this brat so fast and so strong? Is this really just Body Refinement? I’m at late Nascent Soul!”

Regaining his composure, Yao Kainan abandoned his contempt. That single punch had nearly crippled his leg.

“That’s your strength? Nothing special. And you thought you could kill me?”

Qin Xiao felt Yao Kainan was far weaker than Gong Yuankui. Just one punch, and he no longer dared act rashly.

“Brash words won’t save you, brat.”

Yao Kainan whipped out a pill and swallowed it whole.

His aura kept rising until it reached Nascent Soul peak.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Aren’t things like that supposed to be rare? Why does everyone seem to have one?”

Qin Xiao recognized what was happening: another Spirit-Burst Pill. Were they really that common?

Qin Xiao didn’t worry about Yao Kainan at late Nascent Soul, but at Nascent Soul peak he had to take him seriously. Even after Gong Yuankui set aside his treasures to fight barehanded, Qin Xiao hadn’t gained much of an advantage. Yao Kainan still had a full set of Dharma Treasures.

“Damn, how shameless is that? Late Nascent Soul against a body refiner, and he still needs a Spirit-Burst Pill?”

“That Qin Xiao isn’t your average Body Refinement cultivator. I hear ordinary late Nascent Soul experts can’t even handle him.”

“No way! Since when can a Body Refinement practitioner best a proper cultivator? Did you just wake up?”

“You must be out of the loop. Haven’t you heard the results of the Pure Yang City quota trials? Qin Xiao won first place for the Tianyuan Sect.”

“He wins first place for his sect, and this is how they treat him? The Tianyuan Sect is a joke.”

Two rogue cultivators from other provinces in the spectator seats began discussing what they saw. Find the original chapter at novelping dot com.

Neither bothered to lower his voice. Both were at mid Soul Formation and weren’t afraid of the Tianyuan Sect causing trouble. They were rogue cultivators, but they had backing too.

Murmurs quickly rippled through the spectator stands.

The Great Elder heard the talk clearly enough, but he dismissed it entirely. Today, Qin Xiao had to die.

On the platform, Qin Xiao didn’t dare let his guard down or attack first. He could only wait for Yao Kainan to move and react.

Yao Kainan had no intention of letting Qin Xiao live much longer. The pill had raised him to Nascent Soul peak, and he had to end this quickly. He was also afraid his sworn father would blame him if he still couldn’t kill Qin Xiao after taking a pill.

Vanishing from his spot in a blur, Yao Kainan reappeared directly above Qin Xiao, thrusting downward with lethal intent to end the match in a single stroke.

Qin Xiao reacted quickly too. His Divine Sense was already spread out, keeping track of Yao Kainan’s movements. With no one left on the platform, the man had to be above him.

The moment the blade descended, Qin Xiao sidestepped, leaped upward, and positioned himself directly above Yao Kainan.

It happened too fast for Yao Kainan to change his attack. He could only turn in midair, his back toward the ground, and slash back at Qin Xiao above him.

“Old man, have you ever heard of a palm technique that descends from the sky?”

Qin Xiao asked Yao Kainan.

“What? What palm technique that descends from the sky?”

Yao Kainan was confused. Why was Qin Xiao suddenly asking him that? But he ignored it and drew on all his Spiritual Power. His Middle Grade sword was fully charged. Once he unleashed this strike, Qin Xiao would surely die.

Yao Kainan couldn’t maneuver freely in the air, but Qin Xiao could. A few quick movements left afterimages all around him.

Every afterimage attacked him. Yao Kainan panicked. How was this possible? How could Qin Xiao be so fast?

His sword cut through empty air, and Yao Kainan landed. The afterimages above were false. He hurried to find Qin Xiao.

But Qin Xiao was nowhere on the platform. Just as Yao Kainan sensed something was wrong, a massive impact struck the top of his head.

Qin Xiao had deliberately left the afterimages for Yao Kainan to strike. Once the sword energy passed, he immediately returned overhead.

By force of habit, Yao Kainan would assume the space above him, which he had just swept with his sword, was completely safe and leave it unguarded. Qin Xiao had led him to think exactly that. It let him catch Yao Kainan off guard and strike the top of his head with his palm.

The immense force drove through Yao Kainan’s entire body and turned his brain to mush. He stood motionless, but he had already stopped breathing. He was dead.

Qin Xiao flipped sideways to the ground and clasped his hands behind his back.

“That move was the Tathagata Palm.”