Fantasy: I Can Control the Script of My Life

Previously, Lin Yun had been completely indifferent to these matters. But after seeing Ouyang Chun's performance, his perception had changed. He didn't know what Ouyang Chun's ultimate goal was, but for such a shrewd man to act this way was proof enough that the current situation was far from simple.

Ouyang Chun had exhausted his mind and heart to obtain this Soul-Returning Wood. It was likely that not even Gu Xiande knew his true objective. And now, this opportunity had fallen into Lin Yun's lap. Coupled with the fact that he and Ouyang Chun were fated rivals, there was no way Lin Yun would let this chance slip by.

Killing Ouyang Chun might just be the key to winning freedom for his friends.

"I am grateful that you brought me here and allowed me to obtain these treasures," Lin Yun said, his patience wearing thin after exchanging several more blows. "But from here on out, things will be different."

He didn't know what Ouyang Chun was planning, but he had no intention of wasting any more time. Dragging this out any longer was meaningless. It was better to end this now.

With a great roar, Lin Yun shot towards Ouyang Chun like a meteor.

This was the first time since their fight began that Lin Yun had truly gone all out. The terrifying speed made Ouyang Chun's face change. The full power of the Ghostly Void Steps was now on display. No matter how carefully Ouyang Chun observed, he could not see through its profound mysteries.

Such fast movement! This man has practically trained his technique to the absolute limit. Even a single glance from him feels dangerous, Ouyang Chun thought, his forehead covered in sweat. Under the intense pressure, his breathing became ragged, making it difficult to perfectly execute his own powerful sword techniques. In every aspect, he was now falling short of Lin Yun.

And all this was without Xiao Bai even making a move.

Though Ouyang Chun was fighting Lin Yun, he was also keeping a close watch on the little monkey's every movement. The creature looked unremarkable, but it had caused him no small amount of trouble earlier. Thus, Ouyang Chun was subconsciously dividing his attention. To his surprise, however, it seemed Lin Yun had no intention of relying on Xiao Bai's power, instead fighting purely with his own indomitable will.

As Ouyang Chun's headache grew, so too did his hatred for Lin Yun. No matter what, I cannot lose here today.

He saw Lin Yun grip his sword with both hands, watching him charge forward. But this time, Lin Yun didn't use his Ghostly Void Steps. He just stood there, closing his eyes, even retracting his entire killing intent domain.

Ouyang Chun frowned. He instinctively sensed that something was different. Is this brat trying to play some new trick on me?

Having learned from his past mistakes, even Ouyang Chun didn't dare to rush forward recklessly. He stopped, maintaining a standoff from a distance.

The aura around Lin Yun was continuously changing. Ouyang Chun had seen this kind of transformation before. It meant that Lin Yun's attainments in the Way of the Sword had risen to another level.

"What a monstrous talent," he muttered. "To have such an epiphany in just a brief moment of battle. If I give him any more time… even I won't be able to handle him if our cultivation levels were similar."

Taking a sharp, cold breath, Ouyang Chun knew that time and tide wait for no man. He no longer hesitated. Once more, he charged.

But this time, the sword in his hand became formless. The instant he slashed down, it transformed into ten thousand streams of astral wind, rushing towards Lin Yun. This was Ouyang Chun's strongest move. By swinging his sword at extreme speed, he could actually slice through space itself, and the resulting gales were terrifying. Even among the great swordsmen of the world, this was a technique that could look down upon all others.

Yet, faced with this ultimate attack, Lin Yun slowly raised his right hand, then made a great scooping motion.

The gesture was like scooping the moon from the water.

Ouyang Chun could only watch as his own technique was effortlessly neutralized. The menacing gales of astral wind from a moment ago had simply vanished.

"How is this possible? With your strength, how can you reach such a realm?" Ouyang Chun was aghast. The ability Lin Yun had just displayed meant that his understanding of the Way of the Sword had already surpassed his own. But this boy was still so young. How could he have surpassed him in this regard?

Lin Yun slowly opened his eyes and looked at Ouyang Chun. "Although you have pressed me at every turn, and your cultivation began long before mine, it is a pity that your will is not firm. This is the very reason you have remained stagnant all these years."

Lin Yun smiled. The solution to defeating Ouyang Chun wasn't complicated. In that moment of calm, the questions that had been troubling his mind suddenly became clear. As he watched Ouyang Chun struggle desperately for survival, he understood that his true goal was not simply to defeat this man. Defeating Ouyang Chun was only a short-term objective. The day he had truly set foot on the path of a cultivator, his hope was to one day continuously break through his own limits and reach an even higher realm.

Once he understood this, defeating Ouyang Chun was no longer so important. It was a natural result, like a channel forming where water flows.

Ouyang Chun still couldn't believe it. He swung his sword again and again. But this time, just as before, Lin Yun easily parried every single strike. Watching Lin Yun move like an octopus with lightning speed, Ouyang Chun roared in frustration.

"You think your defense is so strong, don't you? Let's see how you block this!"

Ouyang Chun leaped high into the air, then brought his sword down in a piercing strike from above. He put the entire weight of his body behind it, hoping to crush Lin Yun with its unstoppable momentum.

Faced with such a ferocious assault, the corners of Lin Yun's lips just curled slightly upwards. He didn't even use the weapon in his hand. He simply pointed with two fingers joined together.

With a crisp CRACK, a fissure appeared on Ouyang Chun's treasured sword.

He was dumbfounded. His all-out strike had not only failed to break Lin Yun's defense, it had ended up damaging his own weapon.

"What… what is the meaning of this?"

Lin Yun looked at him. "A sword cultivator's true strength does not lie in external things, but in one's own heart. You thought that by cultivating the Azure Origin Sword Style, you could rest on a high pillow without a care in the world?"

Looking at Ouyang Chun's miserable appearance, Lin Yun finally understood the difference between himself and people like him.

Ouyang Chun, still in disbelief, swung his sword again and again. But each time, his attack was easily blocked by Lin Yun.

"No! This is impossible!" he roared in fury. But now, it was nothing more than impotent rage.

The next moment, Lin Yun snorted.

Then, with a single palm strike, he sent Ouyang Chun flying.