Lin Ya nodded sincerely. "It's true. This may be our last bout, Brother Luo. We should savor it while we can."
Luo Yi took it as mockery and sneered. "So sentimental? Then let's enjoy this match properly. No rush. Let's fight to our heart's content."
Originally, he had planned to end the match quickly and cleanly. His goal was simple: claim the position of Tianjian Peak's Master.
But then Yun Jin killed Ruan Jun. That had enraged the Sect Master. Zhao Wuji himself had ordered Luo Yi to drag this out, to humiliate Lin Ya thoroughly. How could he disobey?
"Take our time?" Lin Ya shook his head. "No need. The difference in strength is too wide. Why prolong the inevitable?"
Luo Yi chuckled. "You must be joking. At most, your cultivation has fallen to the Divine Transformation stage. There really is a large gap."
To him, Lin Ya sounded like he was begging for mercy. But even if he was, Luo Yi had no intention of letting him go. Not when the Sect Master had armed him with a powerful artifact for this very moment.
Lin Ya gave a calm smile. "One move will be enough."
Luo Yi frowned. "Hmm?"
One move?
Was Lin Ya asking him to make it quick?
If so, that was only wishful thinking.
Luo Yi opened his mouth to retort, but before he could speak, Lin Ya slowly lifted his hand.
Luo Yi laughed. "So eager to attack first? Very well. I'll give you that much."
Let the crowd witness just how far the once-great Lin Ya had fallen.
The more pitiful Lin Ya appeared, the greater the reward Luo Yi would earn from Zhao Wuji.
"Good." Lin Ya gave him a radiant smile.
Then, in the next instant—
His cultivation, which had been obscured like a mist-covered mirror, suddenly surged upward.
Divine Transformation?
No.
Luo Yi's pupils contracted sharply.
In a flash, Lin Ya's cultivation soared past Divine Transformation and stepped into the Unity stage.
Not just early Unity. It was still rising.
Zhao Wuji shot to his feet, a cold gleam in his eyes.
What was happening?
Lin Ya's cultivation was rapidly climbing—Unity mid-stage, then late-stage. And it wasn't stopping.
Zhao Wuji felt a shiver in his chest.
Back when Lin Ya was injured, his cultivation had been at Unity mid-stage.
After all these years, not only had he recovered, he had broken through further?
That was unthinkable.
Even Zhao Wuji himself had only reached late Unity.
And Lin Ya... he was a sword cultivator, the most formidable type in direct combat.
At equal levels, Zhao Wuji would have no chance against him.
Lin Ya glanced back at him, then gave a faint smile.
In that moment, his cultivation surged again.
Unity, late-stage.
On the other nine arenas, battles paused one by one. All the other Peak Masters turned to watch, their expressions complicated.
Fang Mingyue's eyes lit up with quiet joy. She had worried about Lin Ya for years. Now it turned out, he had already restored his cultivation in secret?
No, this wasn't just recovery. He had gone beyond what he once was.
Long Yi's face turned grim.
That naive fool Lin Ya had been hiding his strength all along?
Were they all played for fools these past years?
Luo Yi finally realized something was wrong. Panic crept into his expression.
He didn't know what Lin Ya had done, but he knew one thing: he couldn't afford to hesitate.
He had to attack now.
Thankfully, he still had the powerful artifact Zhao Wuji had given him. With that, perhaps he could still fight. Luo Yi summoned a compass into his hand and prepared to activate it.
But then Lin Ya looked at him—and smiled.
In the blink of an eye, sword light tore through the sky.
Lin Ya drew his sword.
That strike—
It carried all his anger, all his defiance.
That strike—
Declared to the world that Lin Ya had returned.
That strike—
Was unstoppable, majestic, and overwhelming. In a single breath, it crashed toward Luo Yi like a tidal wave.
The compass had only just begun to spin when it was shattered by the sword light.
And the sword kept coming.
Luo Yi instinctively tried to block it.
But the sheer power behind the strike was beyond anything he could withstand.
In the span of a heartbeat—
He was sent flying into the air.
By the time he regained his senses, he had already crashed to the ground outside the arena.
Boom.
Luo Yi lay flat, unable to move a finger.
The entire plaza fell silent.
Lin Ya smiled at the crowd. "Seems my sword hasn't rusted after all."
No one replied.
Everyone was still trapped in the awe of that single strike.
Wasn't Peak Master Lin supposed to be gravely wounded?
How had that sword strike looked even stronger than before?
Lin Ya had always possessed exquisite technique, but something had always seemed to be missing.
Now, there was something else in his blade.
A voice. A cry. A sword cultivator's spirit.
From that moment forward, Lin Ya's sword had a soul.
Floating above, Cang Li nodded slightly. "Not bad."
At this level, Lin Ya might actually qualify to enter Kunlun Sword Sect.
"I won." Lin Ya smiled. "Anyone else who wishes to challenge me, come up."
No one moved.
There was no one else on Lin Ya's challenger list.
There had never been anyone but Luo Yi.
"No one?" Lin Ya sat down cross-legged. "Then I'll rest a bit."
He really did sit, looking completely at ease.
Zhao Wuji stared daggers at him, chest heaving.
He wanted Yun Jin dead, yet she still lived.
He wanted Lin Ya crushed, yet Lin Ya had somehow regained his strength and advanced even further.
How?
Had he misjudged Lin Ya all along? Had Lin Ya never actually been injured?
Were those nine losses deliberate? Was he biding his time all these years, enduring humiliation to prepare for this one moment?
Had he been waiting to slap him in the face with a perfect, public reversal?
Was this the real Lin Ya?
Not some naive fool, but a cold, calculating, and scheming snake?
Zhao Wuji's breathing grew heavier.
For years, he had looked down on this man, only to be played like a fool.
Had Lin Ya been laughing at him the whole time?
Lin Ya!!!
In that moment, Zhao Wuji's hatred for Lin Ya eclipsed even his hatred for Yun Jin.
No one could tolerate being made a fool of for this long.
Beneath the platform, Si Wanning whispered, "I think the Sect Master misunderstood something."
Yue Zhao tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Not just 'think'. He absolutely misunderstood.
But what could he do? He couldn't exactly explain to everyone that his own Master was genuinely a bit slow-witted.
Zhao Wuji took a deep breath, then turned to Li Heng.
Li Heng gave a nearly imperceptible nod.
He had accepted Zhao Wuji's deal. He had promised to eliminate Lin Ya.
And he would.
He would do it openly, in front of everyone's eyes.
Only then would the whole of Tianxing Sect feel the weight of Zhao Wuji's authority.
Did Lin Ya think he had won? That everything was over?
No.
This was nothing more than the final flash of glory before the end.
===
If you've been reading my translations for a while, you probably already know that I have a private Xianxia glossary, right? It's that collection of Google Docs and folders I usually link in the comment section of my chapters. But I realized something recently… maybe some of you are reading through the app, not the web version, and copying links there can be a hassle (´･ᴗ･ ` )
So, I've decided to officially upload the glossary here on Webnovel! This way, it's easier for you to access, and I can keep updating it whenever I come across new terms, concepts, or explanations I feel are worth sharing. Whether you're new to cultivation novels or just want to deepen your understanding, I hope this helps enhance your reading experience. (๑˃ᴗ˂)ﻭ
Its The Xianxia Handbook: A Guide to Cultivation and Beyond. Feel free to visit my profile, add it to your library, and enjoy easier access anytime you want to read!