However, Xia Lan couldn't help but feel discouraged. She was already far behind Ling Yun based on the skill he had casually displayed. Even if Ling Yun really released her restraints and the two of them fought openly, she probably wouldn't be a match for him and would still be humiliated by this ordinary boy.
He was merely relying on the power the Heavenly Eye granted him. If it were me, I could be just as strong, perhaps even stronger. Xia Lan's eyebrows furrowed, offering yet another fabricated excuse for her defeat. Although Luo Panxi had described these facts as mere speculation when informing his subordinate instructors and group leaders, Xia Lan had consciously or unconsciously omitted the word "speculation."
"And you've misunderstood. My power comes from another lineage, not from the Heavenly Eye," Ling Yun continued, his words immediately shattering Xia Lan's confidence, which had been built on baseless accusations. "You said you wanted me to seriously consider it for the sake of the Superpower Headquarters. Heh, according to your standpoint, that's certainly the right thing to do; the Heavenly Eye is above all else. But I'm telling you, that's completely wrong. Even if the Superpower Headquarters really did obtain the Heavenly Eye through such means, the losses it would incur would far outweigh the gains it would make."
"What do you mean by that?" Xia Lan suddenly raised her head, her bright eyes staring intently at Ling Yun.
"What I mean is, it seems the Superpower Headquarters obtained the Heavenly Eye, but through taking advantage of others' misfortunes, or to put it bluntly, through cunning and force. It may seem like they're prioritizing profit above all else, willing to do anything for it, but in my opinion, it's nothing more than the act of a short-sighted fool," Ling Yun said bluntly. "I think the reason the Superpower Headquarters was able to rise so quickly in just fifty years is simply because of two things: its integrity and its reputation. Justice resides in the hearts of the people. You obtained the Heavenly Eye through dishonest means, do you think the news won't spread? If others know, or if the Superpower Headquarters' enemies find out, and use this to publicize or exaggerate the matter, do you think the Superpower Headquarters will have any pride?"
"No!" Ling Yun said emphatically, "Doing this would actually ruin the reputation that the Superpower Headquarters has built up over the years. The intangible losses are beyond your imagination! The Superpower Headquarters is not a den of robbers, nor is it one of those low-life superpower organizations. It is a dignified representative of superpowered individuals from a major world power. Its actions should be grand and magnanimous. How could it engage in such petty acts of taking advantage of others' misfortunes? If people find out, what will those who secretly support the Superpower Headquarters think? What will those superpowered individuals who want to join the Superpower Headquarters think? If the organization I wholeheartedly support and want to join turns out to be such a scoundrel, would I still choose to join? Have you thought about these things?"
He pointed to his chest and said, "Let alone those people in the shadows, even the superhumans at the Superhuman Headquarters, after seeing the headquarters issue such an order, do they truly support it wholeheartedly? I don't think everyone is brainwashed like you, only thinking about their own interests. As the saying goes, justice resides in the hearts of the people. If the headquarters forces this action, it may seem like they've gained the Heavenly Eye, but in reality, they've only gained a useless black bead that even the Heavenly Eye Society hasn't been able to decipher for so many years. They also have two rebellious superhumans and many older superhumans who are still puzzled. If this continues, the hearts of the headquarters personnel will crumble. If hearts crumble, there will naturally be no cohesion. And if an organization has no cohesion, how can the Superhuman Headquarters develop? Sooner or later, it will degenerate into a second- or third-rate organization, no different from those short-sighted private organizations."
"So, in this case, does the Superpower Headquarters gain more benefits or lose more?" Ling Yun looked at Xia Lan's shocked eyes. "The benefits are only in front of us, but the losses are behind us. The benefits are visible, but the losses are invisible. Everyone can only see the Heavenly Eye, but they have forgotten what is hidden behind it. I don't believe that the Heavenly Eye can become so powerful just by relying on the Heavenly Eye. If an organization or a group can survive on a lifeless treasure, then that organization will perish sooner or later. The most precious treasure in the world is always people, not some Heavenly Eye!"
Xia Lan opened her blood-stained lips and looked at Ling Yun in utter shock. She never dreamed that Ling Yun's words would contain such profound insights. Every sentence was thought-provoking, bringing a sense of enlightenment and shock. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, Xia Lan would never have believed that an eighteen-year-old boy could utter such far-sighted words.
Compared to Ling Yun's words, his usual self-righteous mature thinking and far-sighted vision were nothing but the arrogance of a frog in a well. They appeared shallow and short-sighted, full of stupidity and problems without his knowledge, and he was even a little smug. Little did he know that he was gradually stepping into a dead end, and if he went any further, he would fall into an abyss.
Thinking of this, Xia Lan broke out in a cold sweat. When she looked at Ling Yun again, a strange feeling involuntarily crept into her gaze. The anger and helplessness she had felt earlier had vanished without a trace. Whether in strength or the depth of his thinking, Ling Yun was undoubtedly far superior to her. Although a bitter taste still lingered in her heart, Xia Lan had accepted this fact. From that moment on, Xia Lan knew that she would find it very difficult to catch up with Ling Yun. This young man was a true genius, unexpectedly radiating boundless brilliance.
At this moment, in the octagonal building on the fourth floor of the headquarters, Luo Panxi, Tie Li, Li Chongqi, and many other instructors were silently watching the light screen displayed on the wall in the conference room. On the light screen were Ling Yun and Xia Lan. Ling Yun's powerful words were transmitted to the ears of everyone in the conference room through the light screen without missing a single word.
Meanwhile, on the second floor and around the headquarters, superhumans and trainee superhumans formed a circle, and the Skynet Barrier also emitted a light screen in the air. The same scene was unfolding.
Luo Panxi's face was ashen, his eyes twitching incessantly. An invisible yet violent power was slowly emanating from his body, threatening to ignite a storm in the blink of an eye. This forced Tie Li and Li Zhongqi, who were beside him, to keep a close watch on him, fearing that he might destroy the entire octagonal building in a fit of rage.
In contrast, the other instructors had different expressions; some were expressionless, some nodded slowly, and many more had their brows furrowed as if they were thinking about something.
Xia Zhen was locked in a corner where no one was paying attention, staring intently at Ling Yun, her eyes gleaming with an unusual light. The little girl didn't hear a word he said; she just looked at Ling Yun and felt as if her heart was about to melt.
Xia Lan sighed wistfully, suddenly understanding why her younger sister was so devoted to this young man. This young man was like a tea well; at first glance, he seemed ordinary, but the more you spent time with him, the more you could sense his unfathomable depth and extraordinary nature—an ordinary person with an extraordinary heart.
Xia Lan didn't know when it started, but her heart had calmed down. All her anger and resentment disappeared, and instead, she felt a strange feeling towards the boy in front of her, as if she were getting to know him all over again.
"Go, Ling Yun. I am no match for you and cannot stop you. It's not that I'm too weak, but that you are too strong," Xia Lan said calmly. "However, it will probably be difficult for you to leave the Superpower Headquarters. I am just one person, and there are many more powerful people waiting for you on the third floor and in the outer area."
Ling Yun stared blankly at the sky, his deep gaze seeming to pierce through the barrier and look into the infinite distance: "Thank you for reminding me. I don't want to fight with others, but that doesn't mean I'll tolerate being bullied! I think this world is ultimately fair, and even if there are obstacles, they are only temporary."
Xia Lan stared intently at him, then suddenly asked, "Ling Yun, do you like Xia Zhen?"
……………
The invincible youth who was just moments ago so powerful, arrogant, calm, and domineering as if a true god had descended was suddenly defeated. His calm expression froze on his face, as if he had seen an alien UFO suddenly descend on Earth. His face turned red, and he pointed at Xia Lan, wanting to say something, but he stammered for a long time without being able to say anything, looking as embarrassed as if he was about to flee in panic.
Xia Lan held onto his slender, alluring waist with her hand, desperately covering her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud. The usually reserved Xia Lan suddenly realized that everyone has multiple facets in their personality. If she hadn't had this sudden thought, how could she have seen another incredibly adorable side of this seemingly profound young man?
Lingyun, oh Lingyun, I know your weakness now. I've defeated you. Xia Lan thought happily, her heart suddenly filled with excitement.
In the conference room, Xia Zhen nervously pressed her slender, fair fingers together, her lips moving slightly as she said in a barely audible voice, "Sis, why did you have to bring this up? He's so shy..."
The expressions on the faces of the others became incredibly interesting, as if they were witnessing the climax of a comedy.
Xia Lan smiled and raised her slender waist, about to say something to Ling Yun, when suddenly her expression turned into extreme fear, "Watch out behind you!" The four words escaped from her rosy lips.
A gleaming longsword shot out from the void, stabbing straight towards Ling Yun's back. The sword's speed seemed slow, but the surrounding air formed a pale white flame on the sharp blade. From the point of impact until it reached Ling Yun, the image of the longsword never disappeared, creating an infinitely long afterimage in mid-air.
Chapter 195 The Allure of That Sword
The warm, picturesque spring suddenly turned into a bitterly cold winter. The gentle breeze, carrying a slight chill, instantly transformed into countless sharp daggers, slicing the intangible air into fragments with a powerful, chilling hiss. The temperature plummeted; the warm air we inhaled turned into puffy white breath when we exhaled.
In Lingyun's bright pupils, Xia Lan's cloud-like hair was suddenly speckled with white spots, as if snow-white frost flowers were falling from the sky, landing one after another on Xia Lan's hair.
Ling Yun's hair stood on end, and the muscles on his back automatically contracted. A faint, almost tangible silver light membrane immediately covered his entire back. It was the spontaneous reaction of his mental field when it sensed a warning sign of danger, even though the gleaming sword blade covered in silver light was still some distance away from Ling Yun.
A sneak attack, yet another sneak attack! And this time, it was a powerful attack that combined all of the expert's spirit and abilities, a long-awaited strike, a deadly blow delivered when Ling Yun was caught off guard.
Ling Yun roared to the sky, his body leaping forward like an arrow. He spun around in mid-air, facing the earth-shattering, deadly attack. He wanted to see who was launching such a ruthless attack from the shadows, leaving no room for retreat and determined to kill him outright. Ling Yun's speed had exceeded its limits, surpassing the speed of sound, seemingly allowing him to completely evade the deadly sword strike. However, by the time he spun around in mid-air, the dazzling sword light was already several inches from his chest.
It was as if a pure, bright rainbow bridge had been erected in the sky, stretching endlessly along the path of Lingyun's retreat.
Xia Lan's face turned ashen instantly. From the moment the sword light appeared, she recognized the attacker. This earth-shattering attack was the strongest and most powerful attack from someone whose strength was comparable to hers. If she were in Ling Yun's position, she would have no chance of dodging it. Even under full defense, she would choose to temporarily evade the sword if she encountered it, and she would do so with all her might.
"Ling Yun, can you escape this calamity?" Xia Lan thought silently, her troubled heart pounding with worry. Although she had only met Ling Yun twice, and they were enemies because of the Heavenly Eye—Ling Yun had just defeated her—she couldn't help but hope that seeing him in danger would allow him to escape unharmed. She even felt a sudden urge to leap forward and shield him from the deadly sword strike.
Even if he lost, Xia Lan didn't believe that Ling Yun would fail. The boy's strength gave her a profound shock. Xia Lan even suddenly developed a blind confidence in Ling Yun. Even if Ling Yun was at an absolute disadvantage, he would never lose to this person.
Ling Yun didn't see the sharp sword light; instead, he saw a vast river of pure, gleaming sword light, stretching for thousands of miles from the infinitely high sky, solely to engulf him, a mere speck of dust. Each drop of water that made up this river of light possessed unparalleled destructive power, and no living being could survive within it.
The River of Light is filled with an extreme cold capable of freezing everything; a chilling aura emanates from it, enough to freeze all things in heaven and earth, instantly halting all movement. Around the River of Light, however, blazes of pale flames, generated by the intense friction and energy impact caused by extreme speed, capable of incinerating all matter.
Half ice, half fire. Extreme cold and extreme heat coexist in this spectacle of light, a true wonder of the world, with violent explosions occurring every moment as ice and fire meet. Tiny mushroom clouds form countless tiny wisps of mist and dazzling lights within the river of light.
Under this light, any transparent object capable of sensing light and forming an image would become completely dark, as the extreme brightness caused acute blindness. Even perception would be rendered ineffective in this environment filled with power.
(Strange) But Ling Yun didn't just rely on his eyes to see the image; he also possessed a panoramic view, and even with the naked eye, he could ignore all strong light. So Ling Yun's gaze traveled upstream through the vast river, and at the end of the light, in the void that became a completely black background, he finally saw that expressionless, handsome face—sword-like eyebrows and thin lips. Although somewhat unfamiliar, Ling Yun recognized the owner of that face at a glance: Ye Feng!
(Book) If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, even Ling Yun would have been surprised that the thin young man with the gloomy face and expressionless expression could launch such a sharp and decisive attack, which had even posed a great threat to Ling Yun.
(Net) Ye Feng's starry eyes shone with the same brilliance as the sword light—eyes that only gleamed under the intense desire for victory. Even though it was a sneak attack, and a premeditated plan, he poured all his energy and spirit into this one sword strike. This sword strike showed no mercy; it was the ultimate killing blow, a strike of extreme cold and heat, filled with a resolute and unwavering resolve.
(Electric) His energy, his spirit, his blood and qi, and even his body, merged into an inseparable whole the moment he drew his sword, transforming into a being similar to pure spirit or energy, carrying overwhelming killing intent, and attacking the incomparably powerful youth with all his might.
Even those far stronger than Ye Feng could only temporarily evade this combined attack of man and sword. This sword strike had exceeded everyone's expectations, even Ye Feng's own. After unleashing such a strike and secretly observing Ling Yun's power, Ye Feng's fighting spirit was fully ignited. From the very beginning, he had broken through his own limits!
(Book) Unless it is a powerful individual of general rank or above, anyone who blocks the way will surely die.
However, Ling Yun could not retreat. He was in mid-air and had been ambushed. The boy had no room to dodge. He could only block or die!