From Sword to Slaughter: Evolution

Lin San turned around and, upon seeing the sight before him, his eyes widened in fear. The face in front of him was covered in blood, looking both horrifying and sinister. Upon closer inspection, that face seemed oddly familiar.

"S-Sect Master!?" Lin San stammered, his body trembling.

"Heh heh," Zhang Tianchong let out a sinister laugh, and in the next moment, he raised the blood-red sword in his hand, slashing it toward Lin San.

Clang!

At the very last second, Lin San instinctively used his Demon-Slaying Sword to block the attack. The force from the collision of weapons sent a powerful shockwave through Lin San's body, and he was thrown backward.

Bang!

His body slammed hard into a nearby tree trunk, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Sect Master, why are you doing this?" Lin San wiped the blood from his lips with his sleeve, his eyes locked on Zhang Tianchong. He now knew for certain that the Tianqiong Sect had indeed been massacred by its own sect master.

"Power."

"Weak warriors should offer their strength to me. It's the best destiny they could hope for," Zhang Tianchong laughed maniacally.

At that moment, it was clear: Zhang Tianchong was no longer the kind and wise sect master Lin San once knew. He had become something else, something far darker.

Then, Lin San noticed the weapon Zhang Tianchong was holding.

"Is that… Tang Fifteen's sword!?" Lin San's eyes widened in shock.

He hadn't realized it earlier, but now he could see it clearly. The sword was far more blood-red than before, and the demonic aura surrounding it was overwhelming. Just standing near it made Lin San feel uneasy.

"Your sword doesn't seem ordinary either," Zhang Tianchong said, his eyes shifting to Lin San's Demon-Slaying Sword.

"Let me drain its power!" Zhang Tianchong grinned menacingly, and in a flash, he charged toward Lin San again.

Zhang Tianchong was a sixth-stage warrior! His speed, enhanced by his cultivation, was terrifying. In just an instant, he closed the distance between them.

Lin San's pupils shrank as he quickly raised his sword to block the attack.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Though Lin San's reactions were fast, Zhang Tianchong's attacks were brutal. The difference in their levels was evident. After only a few exchanges, Lin San was knocked back again, his body covered in fresh wounds.

The intense pain contorted Lin San's face. For the first time, he felt truly powerless. Even when he had fought Ren Xing, he hadn't felt this way. The gap between the fourth and sixth stage was simply too vast.

Even with the All Attributes Amplification from his Demon-Slaying Sword, it wasn't enough to bridge the chasm between them. And Zhang Tianchong, with that demonic sword, was only making matters worse.

"Shit! Is Lin San really going to die here?" Ye Fan muttered, unable to contain his shock.

A sixth-stage warrior—there was no way Lin San could win, not unless he sacrificed his life force with Bloodlust Frenzy, but that was a dangerous gamble.

"Heh heh, Lin San, you're finished." Zhang Tianchong sneered, his expression twisted with sadistic delight as he watched Lin San struggle.

He wasn't in a hurry. Lin San was like prey, and Zhang Tianchong was savoring the hunt, relishing in the despair and pain on his victim's face.

"Over there!"

Suddenly, a loud shout echoed from behind them. Lin San turned to see a large group of people approaching.

It looked like the city guards had arrived!

Far from panicking, Lin San felt a glimmer of hope.

"Rats," Zhang Tianchong muttered, his face darkening as he noticed the approaching figures.

"Master!?" Ren Xing called out as he arrived, his body trembling with fear at the sight of Zhang Tianchong.

Ren Xing knew all too well how powerful Zhang Tianchong was. And now, after his "madness," his strength was even more terrifying.

"Ren Xing."

"It's a shame I didn't kill you earlier," Zhang Tianchong said, his eyes burning with a crazed intensity.

The demonic sword in Zhang Tianchong's hand thirsted for more blood, especially the blood of powerful warriors. The more formidable the victim, the stronger the sword would become.

"Zhang Tianchong, you've gone mad," Ren Xing said, forcing himself to speak despite the terror gnawing at him.

"This is Zhang Tianchong! Kill him!" shouted Fu Xiaohu as he arrived on the scene. If he could be the one to kill Zhang Tianchong, the rewards would be immense. After all, Zhang Tianchong's atrocities had thrown the entire city into panic. Capturing him alive was unlikely, but killing him was possible—especially since Zhang Tianchong was already wounded.

Seeing the chaotic situation, Lin San knew he had to escape. He turned and bolted toward the deeper parts of the Black Forest.

Running was the only option!

"You're not getting away!" Ren Xing roared, immediately giving chase.

"Send a signal to the city lord! We've found him!" Fu Xiaohu shouted, giving orders to the other guards.

"Yes, sir!" The guards began signaling.

A large group of city guards surrounded Zhang Tianchong, forming a tight perimeter. Hundreds of them! The entire guard force of Xing City had been mobilized.

"Heh heh, are all of you here to die?" Zhang Tianchong laughed. "Perfect. Your blood will nourish my sword."

"Kill him! Whoever kills Zhang Tianchong will be rewarded with top honors!" Fu Xiaohu shouted. "He's already wounded!"

At the prospect of top honors, the guards' eyes blazed with determination.

"Kill!"

With a deafening battle cry, the guards charged toward Zhang Tianchong.

...

Meanwhile, Lin San was running for his life, deeper into the forest. But soon, he came to a steep cliff.

Another cliff!

Jumping off this one would surely mean death.

"Lin San! You're finished!" Ren Xing's voice echoed from behind as he closed the distance.

With a furious roar, Ren Xing leaped forward, swinging his sword at Lin San.

Lin San's pupils shrank as he raised the Demon-Slaying Sword to block the blow.

Clang!

The sound of clashing metal reverberated as Lin San was knocked back once more. Ren Xing, quick to recover, immediately followed up with another attack.

Still recovering from his earlier battle with Zhang Tianchong, Lin San was slower to react. In one swift strike, Ren Xing's sword severed Lin San's right arm!