Chapter 39: Unstoppable

Nangong Lei felt as if he were facing not a man, but a peerless beast of slaughter. The creature's gaping maw threatened to tear him into pieces. The shadow of death descended over him in an instant.

He could hear his own pounding heartbeat with vivid clarity, could feel his blood growing colder by the moment, and even his breath seemed to halt. This was the second time Jun Wushuang had unleashed the transformation into the Asura. Xu Huanhu, who had witnessed it before, was already dead. This time, Nangong Lei would die as well.

"Asura's Blade Slash!"

Jun Wushuang gripped the Asura Demon Blade, his entire being fusing with the weapon, transforming into a murderous force that could annihilate all living things.

With a crack, the blade swung down. A streak of blood-red light condensed, swifter than lightning. Fast! Precise! Lethal! With the power of the fourth level of the Myriad Manifestations Realm, Jun Wushuang unleashed this forbidden technique, making it even more devastating than when he had faced Xu Huanhu before.

Nangong Lei was strong, but he was only at the first level of the Divine Sea Realm. Faced with this strike, the terror in his heart was unprecedented.

Yet at the final moment, Nangong Lei bit through the tip of his tongue, using the pain to jolt his spirit into mustering a shred of courage.

"Advanced Profound Martial Art: Thunderflash!"

Gritting his teeth, Nangong Lei unleashed all his spiritual energy and lightning power, forming in his hands a spear of thunder. This thunder spear stretched a full three hundred meters, three times more powerful than before.

With a thunderous roar, the massive spear cleaved through the air like a pillar holding up the sky, shattering the atmosphere and tearing through everything in its path as it met the blood-red blade.

In that moment, the crowd held its breath, their eyes fixed without blinking. Everyone knew—both Jun Wushuang and Nangong Lei had played their trump cards. The outcome of this clash would decide the final result of this life-and-death duel.

Who would win? Who would lose?

A deafening explosion erupted, a terrifying shockwave sweeping in all directions. The crowd was thrown into chaos by the surge of energy, with the weaker ones coughing blood and collapsing in misery. But no one cared about that. All eyes remained glued to the center of the square. They needed to know the result of this blow.

Lightning burst, scattering in all directions, scorching the ground of the central plaza black.

The blood-red blade, undiminished, cleaved straight into Nangong Lei.

A scream rang out. Nangong Lei was sent flying, crashing to the ground over a hundred meters away, blood staining the earth. A second, bone-deep wound appeared on his chest, crossing the first to form an X. Crimson blood gushed from the wounds, pooling beneath him in a lake of blood.

At this moment, Nangong Lei lay on the ground, coughing blood, gravely wounded and barely clinging to life.

Defeated! Nangong Lei was thoroughly defeated!

The arena fell silent.

Who was Nangong Lei? He was the genius of the Nangong Clan, a Profound-level student at the Royal Academy of Martial Arts. In Jiangning City, Nangong Lei was a scion of nobility, a figure beyond reach. A single word from him could alter the city's fate.

He had previously defeated Jun Zhantian in a single strike, displaying unmatched prowess. No one believed he could lose before this battle.

But now Nangong Lei lay on the ground, barely alive, his defeat sealed. This outcome left everyone dumbstruck, unable to accept it.

"Impossible! Nangong Lei has broken through to the Divine Sea Realm—no one in Jiangning can match him. How could he lose?" Ji Yuntian reeled as if struck by lightning, nearly falling. He had pinned all his hopes on Nangong Lei. With Nangong Lei's defeat, his hopes were dashed as well.

"Young master is incredible!" Lin Mengyao exclaimed in excitement.

"This... this..." Jun Zhantian, more than anyone, had wanted Jun Wushuang to win, but witnessing it now still left him in utter shock. After all, this was Nangong Lei!

"Is this the legendary forbidden art?" Master Wu's gaze landed on Jun Wushuang, sensing the truth. After all, aside from rare elixirs, only forbidden techniques could grant such a surge of power in so short a time. But forbidden arts were extremely rare; throughout the entire Grand Qian Dynasty, few could master them. Once unleashed, nothing could stand in their way.

All around the square, a collective gasp was heard.

"Young Master Nangong lost? How is that possible?"

"He was already powerful enough to defeat the head of the Jun family at the ninth level of the Myriad Manifestations Realm. Now, having broken through to the Divine Sea Realm, he should be even stronger. Yet Jun Wushuang’s combat strength surpassed him."

"What technique did Jun Wushuang use for such a sudden surge in power?"

"Young Master Nangong is a Profound-level student at the Royal Academy. If Jun Wushuang defeated him, doesn't that make him even stronger than Profound-level students?"

"Unbelievable!"

The crowd was in an uproar. Those who had doubted Jun Wushuang now found their beliefs shattered.

"I haven’t lost yet. I cannot be defeated here! I can still fight!"

Lying in his own blood, Nangong Lei was filled with unwillingness, struggling to rise and continue the battle. He had never imagined he would be defeated in Jiangning City—let alone by Jun Wushuang.

Jun Wushuang was Ji Qingchen’s former husband; Nangong Lei was meant to be her future. This loss was not only a defeat in martial arts but also to his rival in love. The blow to his body and spirit was so great that Nangong Lei coughed up blood in rage.

But his injuries were too severe. No matter how unwilling or furious he was, he no longer had the strength to fight.

Tap.

At that moment, Jun Wushuang stepped forward, drawing everyone’s attention. This was a duel of life and death; the loser would not survive.

"Could it be? Is Jun Wushuang really going to kill Young Master Nangong?"

"Young Master Nangong is the genius of the Nangong Clan! If he dies, won’t the Nangong Clan and Jun Wushuang become mortal enemies?"

"Madness—this is sheer madness!"

The crowd guessed Jun Wushuang’s intention but dared not believe it. Nangong Lei’s status was too high. If he died in Jiangning City, a great storm would break out—not only for Jun Wushuang, but for the entire city.

In a rush, people began to plead with Jun Wushuang to show mercy.

But Jun Wushuang ignored them all, advancing step by step, blade in hand, toward Nangong Lei.

"Country bumpkin, so what if you’re stronger than me? My Nangong Clan is one of the Four Great Clans of the Grand Qian Dynasty! If you dare touch me, Jiangning City will be razed to the ground!"

"I advise you to kneel and beg for forgiveness. If you do, perhaps I’ll be merciful enough to keep you as a dog so that you can keep crawling on in disgrace!"

"Otherwise, with a single word, I can turn this city into a graveyard!"

Nangong Lei snarled, his face twisted with fury, unafraid.

But Jun Wushuang’s expression did not change. His blade swept down.

Just then, a furious shout rang out, like thunder splitting the heavens:

"Who dares lay a hand on a student of my Royal Academy?"