Chapter 39: Can We Reconcile?

This news, like a bolt from the blue, left everyone from Starfall Valley and Frost City stunned.

"A Supreme Grandmaster?"

An Nian whispered, pulling his gaze away from the perimeter of the martial arts arena and fixing it on the young man standing a few dozen paces away. He had previously assumed Lin Heng was merely a novice Grandmaster, having cultivated for only a year and likely reaching no higher than the second tier—nothing worth noting.

But looking at him now, he discovered that the youth’s aura was as deep as the fathomless sea, held in check yet ready to strike. With his own cultivation at the fourth tier of the Grandmaster realm, he felt a sense of unfathomable danger. His instincts screamed that becoming an enemy of this youth would be a fatal mistake.

"It all makes sense now," An Nian thought, pieces falling into place. If the Cloud Sword Palace had long since seen through their schemes, they would have naturally observed who was being courted for alliances. In such a scenario, any neutral faction they had failed to recruit became fair game for the Cloud Sword Palace. Furthermore, the Palace had used the prestige of Lin Heng—a Supreme Grandmaster—as their banner, a strategy that would guarantee success. Not only had they gathered so many experts in such a short time without leaking a whisper of information, but they had also lured Starfall Valley and Frost City into a trap, placing them in a position of extreme peril.

If it were only these guest martial artists, even combined with the Cloud Sword Palace's own Grandmasters, they would pose no threat to the combined might of two martial arts sanctuaries. If the Palace wished to avoid heavy losses, they might have simply let them walk away. If it were only Lin Heng alone, An Nian would not be afraid; while a Supreme Grandmaster is formidable, two sanctuaries joining forces with so many experts in formation could at least ensure their own survival.

But now, with a multitude of experts backing this Supreme Grandmaster, everything was different. Whether in terms of numbers or the quality of their fighters, the Cloud Sword Palace held the advantage. The balance of power was shattered; even if Starfall Valley and Frost City fought together, there was a high probability they would all die here today.

"Can we reconcile?" An Nian asked, his face contorted into a smile more painful than weeping.

"At this stage, are you joking?" Lin Heng replied, his tone calm.

"So there is no room for negotiation?" An Nian’s smile vanished. His expression turned cold and fierce, like a cornered beast preparing for a final struggle. He raised his arms and shouted, "Everyone, charge together! Even if this Lin Heng is a Supreme Grandmaster with profound internal energy, he cannot kill us all before he exhausts himself. Fight to the death!"

With those words, he lunged toward Lin Heng first.

The others from Starfall Valley and Frost City, though silent until now, understood that only a death match remained. Boiling with murderous intent, they threw everything they had into the assault on Lin Heng. It was as if the scene from the earlier assassination attempt was repeating itself, with thousands of martial artists besieging one man. The only difference was that this time, the fighters were stronger, and their formations were far more lethal.

But this did not move Lin Heng in the least.

"Ignorant. Fearless."

As he spoke, his Sword Domain unfolded. Lin Heng had fully entered a state of battle, his essence, energy, and spirit condensed to their absolute peak. A deep blue aura radiated from him, enshrouding the entire arena. Under the impact of his overwhelming intent, the warriors charging toward him faltered, their minds struck by the sensation of a heavenly blade cleaving through their consciousness, causing splitting headaches.

Lin Heng swung his blade. An Nian, the master of Starfall Valley who had charged the fastest, had his limbs severed by the Qingyun Sword in an instant, reduced to a limbless torso.

"Is this all the strength you have? And yet you dared to plot my death," Lin Heng sneered.

"Ahhh!" As the scent of blood filled the air, the Grandmasters of Starfall Valley who had just regained their senses broke into frantic screams at the sight. This was their master, treated with such brutality. The people of Frost City felt the same existential dread, realizing that if they did not fight with everything they had, they would surely meet the same fate.

The auras of all the Grandmasters turned violent as they activated secret arts, burning their life essence and draining their foundations to bolster their power. Twenty-one Grandmasters charged at Lin Heng like madmen. Fists, palms, fingers, legs, blades, spears, swords, and halberds—a chaotic storm of martial arts descended upon him.

He did not dodge. He met attack with attack, speed with speed. The essence of the hundred schools of martial arts he had studied flowed through his hands. His sword light was as dazzling as a river flowing backward, parrying and shattering the sword moves of the many Grandmasters one by one.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

The sounds of clashing metal echoed like a torrential storm. In an instant, they collided more times than could be counted.

Sword energy crisscrossed the air, and powerful shockwaves caused the entire arena to crumble. Yet, even facing the siege of twenty-one Grandmasters, Lin Heng did not lose ground. In fact, his aura continued to sublimate, growing even stronger amidst the heat of battle. He was like a divine sword that had never been unsheathed; now, under the grinding pressure, he was becoming more radiant and sharper than ever.

"Too weak, too weak, too weak."

In the midst of the fray, Lin Heng gradually adapted to the twenty-one-man siege. With a single slash, his intent vibrated, causing Shui Wenzhao, the master of Frost City, to lose focus for a split second. In that instant, Lin Heng sliced off the arm he held his sword with.

The other Grandmasters seized the opportunity,轰ing down upon the seemingly unguarded Lin Heng. However, they were met with an even more terrifying surge of energy erupting from his body—the accumulated power of his *Ethereal Qi*, which he had absorbed and banked throughout the fight. Now, pushed to its limit, it exploded outward.

All the Grandmasters besieging him were instantly blasted away.

Taking advantage of the reprieve, Lin Heng drew on the natural energy of heaven and earth to replenish his own, turning his blade toward the masters who were supporting the frontline fighters with their formations. With a swing of his long sword, sharp light cut dozens of them in half at the waist before he turned back to meet the pursuing Grandmasters.

"Are you really not going to help?" Law Enforcement Elder Li Yan watched Lin Heng, who was surrounded by the enemy's formations, his face etched with worry. Although a Supreme Grandmaster was powerful, he was not yet an Heaven-Man realm expert who could treat Grandmasters as nothing. He feared that if the battle continued, a single mistake would result in irreparable, grave wounds for Lin Heng. Even if he wasn't severely injured, such a prolonged fight would drain his vital essence and shorten his lifespan. Lin Heng’s longevity was vital to the future of the Cloud Sword Palace; it represented the time they had to dominate the world and the time to find worthy successors.

"It is fine. This was Heng'er’s own request," Xiao Rang said, watching the battle with focused eyes. "Though he is well-versed in a hundred schools of martial arts, he has never truly experienced a blood-soaked struggle until now. This battle is exactly what he needs to complete his training. Once the world is at peace, the Cloud Sword Palace will have no more rivals, and he will never have another chance like this to hone himself. We need only be prepared to support him at any moment."

This was what they had agreed upon beforehand. Lin Heng intended to use Starfall Valley and Frost City as his whetstone, displaying to all living things the edge he had spent ten years sharpening.