Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 149 - 145: Hammer Kill

Chapter 149: Chapter 145: Hammer Kill

Several days later, at Bai Lu Academy.

Yun Zhiqiu looked at the figure before him, his heart restless, yet he still stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Mr. Lu."

This Mr. Lu was the very elder who had led the academy’s disciples in battle against the demons on that fateful day.

His expression was sharp as he stared at Yun Zhiqiu. Surrounding Bai Lu Academy disciples looked toward them, wondering what was happening.

Why was Mr. Lu blocking Yun Zhiqiu’s path?

Moreover, judging by Mr. Lu’s gaze, there seemed to be a trace of anger.

"Yun Zhiqiu, do you realize your crime?" the elder asked.

*"What does the teacher mean by this? I don’t understand,"* Yun Zhiqiu bowed his head and acted ignorant. But in truth, he had already guessed the matter and couldn’t help feeling uneasy deep down.

*He feared that he would be expelled from Bai Lu Academy, gaining an irreparably bad reputation, perhaps even leading to utter disgrace and universal condemnation.*

"On the day of the battle with the demons, I explicitly warned all of you not to disclose or speculate about the mysterious person’s identity to outsiders. Why did you reveal it?" the elder asked again.

"What is the teacher implying? When have I ever disclosed such a matter?" Yun Zhiqiu knew that the elder must have uncovered some clues, but as long as there was no evidence, he could never admit to it.

*The Imperial Extreme Sect—he absolutely could not confess to them.*

*As long as he denied it, there would be no proof.*

"Do you still wish to deny it?" the elder scolded coldly, his sharp eyes fixed on Yun Zhiqiu.

"I truly know nothing of this matter," Yun Zhiqiu insisted. Around them, people whispered amongst themselves—so it was Yun Zhiqiu who had leaked Yang Qingshan’s former identity!

They had heard that Yun Zhiqiu used to be close to Ji Xue. Could it be that it was due to this matter that he had become hostile toward Yang Qingshan?

The elder’s gaze grew even frostier as he stared at Yun Zhiqiu and said, "Though you refuse to admit it, the academy has many ways to make you confess. Yet, the academy disdains to resort to such means. Yun Zhiqiu, from this day forward, you are no longer a disciple of Bai Lu Academy."

"Teacher..." Yun Zhiqiu lifted his head to look at the elder. "Why?"

*Just because they suspected him of leaking this matter, they wanted to expel him from the academy?*

*Even if he truly had revealed the information, had it harmed the academy’s interests?*

*Yang Qingshan wasn’t even an academy disciple.*

"Why?" the elder retorted coldly as he looked at Yun Zhiqiu. "Because having a student like you is a disgrace to the academy."

As the words landed, Yun Zhiqiu’s expression became extremely grim, his face a mask of dark solemnity.

*These words had cut deeply, enough to burden him with eternal shame.*

All around, the students of Bai Lu Academy murmured amongst themselves, their gazes fixed on Yun Zhiqiu.

*Those voices reached Yun Zhiqiu’s ears like piercing thorns.*

"Even if I accidentally revealed something, it caused no harm to the academy! Yang Qingshan isn’t one of our disciples, and now even a discussion isn’t allowed? Must I be expelled for this?" Yun Zhiqiu asked indignantly. "On what grounds?"

"Yun Zhiqiu, you don’t even have the courage to admit what you did. Your time in the academy has been wasted. Leave now, and don’t make me force you out," the elder declared.

"And her?" Yun Zhiqiu’s face twisted slightly as he stared at the elder. "What about Xiao Qiang? It was indeed Xiao Yu of the Imperial Extreme Sect who came to test me. I was tricked into divulging my guess, never intending for it to spread. Isn’t this her doing? And yet, Xiao Qiang later joined the academy. What does the academy plan to do about that?"

The crowd erupted in astonishment.

Yun Zhiqiu had admitted it.

Moreover, this matter implicated Xiao Qiang.

So, her challenge against Yang Qingshan and her entry to Bai Lu Academy—it had all been part of a larger scheme.

*But why was the Imperial Extreme Sect doing this?*

*The disciples of Bai Lu Academy remained puzzled.*

"Nonsense." From within the crowd, a voice rang out. Xiao Qiang stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Yun Zhiqiu. "Yes, that day my father and I visited the Yun Family, and indeed, I heard you discuss this matter. That’s why I came to Bai Lu Academy to challenge Yang Qingshan. But what does that have to do with his identity being leaked?"

Yun Zhiqiu’s dark gaze locked onto Xiao Qiang. *All of this—it was her doing.*

"After I confided in you, the news spread rapidly. Who else but the Imperial Extreme Sect could have done it?" Yun Zhiqiu accused, as if determined to drag Xiao Qiang down with him now that he was being expelled. *He refused to bear this infamous name alone.*

"That’s just your speculation. How do I know it wasn’t you who leaked it yourself?" Xiao Qiang shot back coldly.

"Yun Zhiqiu." The elder interrupted the exchange between the two, his intense eyes fixing on Yun Zhiqiu. "Get out."

His voice burned with anger. *Yun Zhiqiu—that he didn’t even realize his wrongdoing—this was the real issue.*

*The Imperial Extreme Sect may have their own purposes for leaking the information.*

*But Yun Zhiqiu was different. He was a student of Bai Lu Academy. The Imperial Extreme Sect could act this way, but he could not.*

*And was it truly accidental? Was there not some ulterior motive behind it?*

Yun Zhiqiu was momentarily stunned. He stared at the elder in a daze, then turned sharply and departed from Bai Lu Academy.

As he left, figures approached from the distance. Leading them was Li Fan, who had just learned of the news from Mr. Qu.

The academy’s investigation had uncovered that, prior to the leakage of information, the Imperial Extreme Sect had visited the Yun Family and met with Yun Zhiqiu.

When Li Fan arrived, all eyes turned to him. His expression remained composed, betraying no hint of anger or agitation.

"Teacher," Li Fan bowed to the elder.

"That day, I warned that anyone who revealed your identity would be expelled from Bai Lu Academy. I’ve now expelled Yun Zhiqiu. What happens next is your decision," the elder told Li Fan.

At these words, the students of Bai Lu Academy felt their hearts shudder.

Mr. Lu had done no more than expel Yun Zhiqiu. Beyond that, he had imposed no other punishment.

The decision was left in Li Fan’s hands.

*After all, Yun Zhiqiu had merely violated Bai Lu Academy’s rules. As a place of teaching and education, the academy could only expel him.*

*But what Yun Zhiqiu had done posed a direct threat to Li Fan’s life.*

*As such, what happened next would be entirely up to Li Fan.*

*Even if Li Fan wanted to kill Yun Zhiqiu... Bai Lu Academy would not interfere.*

*Furthermore, even the Yun Family would not dare to seek revenge.*

Li Fan looked in the direction where Yun Zhiqiu had departed. At that moment, Huang Xiong stepped out from the crowd, striding forward and stating decisively, "I’ll kill him."

With massive strides, the very ground seemed to tremble beneath Huang Xiong’s force. His gaze blazed with fury.

*Back in Yun Meng Swamp, when the matter with Dai Long occurred, Yun Zhiqiu had hastily accused them of murdering and stealing without seeking the truth. Huang Xiong had let that go.*

*But now, Yun Zhiqiu’s despicable actions had directly endangered Li Fan’s life. This was unforgivable.*

The elder glanced in that direction but made no move to stop him.

Other than Li Fan,

Huang Xiong and Lu Yuan had also been key figures in that battle. He held a great deal of respect for Huang Xiong, who, despite being newly admitted to Bai Lu Academy, had fearlessly stood against the demons in battle.

*Though all students cultivated at the academy, there were differences among them.*

Many began to follow Huang Xiong as he headed out, while Li Fan made no move to stop him.

*The matter of Yun Zhiqiu leaking his identity had deeply impacted Li Fan, even endangering his life.*

*Were it not for Bai Lu Academy or his presence on White Deer Street, he might already have been captured by the Peacock Demon King.*

"I’ll go take a look," Li Fan said as he followed outside. Just as he reached the academy gates, a thunderous sound erupted.

Yun Zhiqiu, brimming with anger, had intended to leave. But as he turned, he saw a massive, imposing figure bearing down on him—Huang Xiong, his iron mace swinging directly toward him.

"Courting death!" Yun Zhiqiu, suppressing his fury all this time, roared as he drew his sword and swung toward his attacker.

The iron mace came crashing down, colliding with the sword.

A terrifying force surged forth, bending Yun Zhiqiu’s sword to its limit before his body was sent flying, slamming heavily into a wall.

*Back in Yun Meng Swamp, he had clashed with Huang Xiong and knew how terrifying his strength was. Even then, he had been hesitant to face him head-on.*

*But this time, Huang Xiong had grown even stronger.*

Before Yun Zhiqiu could get back up, the ground trembled. Huang Xiong let out a furious roar, leaping into the air. His iron mace whistled as it descended, with power enough to shake mountains.

"Boom..."

Caught off guard, Yun Zhiqiu’s forehead erupted with dazzling sword light, a blade flying forth to strike Huang Xiong.

Almost simultaneously, Huang Xiong’s vitality surged, glowing fiercely as it revolved around him, forming a dominant energy barrier. A ghostly figure appeared behind him, like a war god.

*Seeing this, Yun Zhiqiu realized Huang Xiong had reached the threshold of a breakthrough—the Martial Dao Celestial Barrier, just one step away.*

With a resounding crack, the Sword Seed was struck down by the iron mace. Yun Zhiqiu’s Sword Intent exploded furiously as he raised his sword in front of him.

Bang...

The wall shattered. Yun Zhiqiu’s body was slammed through, flying out with blood spurting from his mouth, his face pale.

*To think he had been humiliated by a mere Martial Artist to this extent.*

Seeing Huang Xiong stepping forward, his Sword Aura surged as he glared hatefully at the approaching figure, blood dripping from his lips.

*He vowed to tear Huang Xiong to pieces.*

"When the demons wreaked havoc, you dared not step forward to fight. Fine—your cowardice aside—Brother Yang won the day by slaying those demons, only for you, a despicable cretin, to spread his identity and endanger his life. Yun Zhiqiu, you deserve to die!"

Huang Xiong roared as he charged forward again. In the distance, numerous figures on White Deer Street looked toward them, only now understanding what had transpired. Seeing Huang Xiong’s ferocious display, they felt a ripple of emotion.

*No wonder Huang Xiong had been able to tear demons apart on the battlefield. With such terrifying strength, it was no surprise Yun Zhiqiu, a Foundation Establishment Sword Practitioner, was utterly powerless before him.*

*Before Yun Zhiqiu could even react, he had been utterly crushed.*

"Die!"

Yun Zhiqiu yelled furiously, unleashing a torrential Sword Intent. The air filled with spiraling, lethal energy as he attacked Huang Xiong.

Huang Xiong activated his Mystic Technique, his immense vitality illuminating heaven and earth, as if a Golden Body shielded him. The Sword Aura struck his body, but it was like hitting iron, producing a sound of metal clashing.

*Yun Zhiqiu’s Sword Aura couldn’t even penetrate Huang Xiong’s physical defenses.*

*This type of Martial Artist could no longer be considered ordinary. Huang Xiong was a monster.*

*Even the students of Bai Lu Academy felt intensively shaken as they witnessed this.*

Huang Xiong took a few steps forward, quickly closing in on Yun Zhiqiu. A colossal ghostly figure manifested behind him as he leapt into the air. As his iron mace descended, it exuded such overwhelming pressure that Yun Zhiqiu found it hard to breathe.

Yun Zhiqiu condensed all his raging Sword Intent into a singular strike, grand and magnificent. But as the iron mace smashed down, the sword shattered, exploding into pieces. The mace struck Yun Zhiqiu’s skull directly, shattering it instantly.

The crowd around them froze mid-breath, their gazes locked on the scene before them.

Yun Zhiqiu—was killed by a single strike.