Crow Immortal: I Can Duplicate Infinite Resources

The slender, silvery-white spindle struck the cyan barrier and froze, unable to penetrate a single inch.

Lin Lingxiu’s expression went blank.

“You… you’re wearing Foundation Establishment Magical Artifact armor?”

Han Yu did not dignify that with a response. Instead, he raised his sword and thrust forward.

Lin Lingxiu had taken a massive risk charging into the spirit bird formation to reach Han Yu, effectively delivering himself to the tip of Han Yu’s blade. If he could attack Han Yu, then Han Yu could certainly attack him.

The four-foot flying sword suddenly extended to seven feet, empowered by the Sharp Gold Technique and the Green Edge sword style. It struck the purple star-patterned robe with lethal precision.

Ding!

A brilliant flash of spiritual light erupted, halting Han Yu’s blade mere inches from the skin. Beneath the fabric, Lin Lingxiu wore purple armor engraved with constellations. As the strike landed, the stars flared, absorbing the impact.

Lin Lingxiu let out a shaky breath of relief. “You have Foundation Establishment armor, and so do I. We can call this a draw—”

“This is not armor,” Han Yu interrupted, his voice indifferent. “It is merely my protective secret technique.”

He lowered his sword slightly, his gaze piercing. “You have lost this duel. Go apologize to my Master.”

Lin Lingxiu stiffened. He immediately channeled Qi into his eyes, activating his Star Sensing Pupils in an attempt to analyze the cyan light protecting Han Yu. Was it truly a technique, or a hidden artifact?

But he had pushed his eyes too far earlier, hunting for the formation’s weak point. His vision blurred, stinging pain washed over him, and blood trickled from his tear ducts. He could see nothing clearly.

He snorted, masking his insecurity with arrogance. “Just because you say it is, doesn’t make it true.”

Han Yu’s eyes narrowed, his tone dropping an octave. “Are you refusing to admit defeat?”

Before Lin Lingxiu could retort, a voice called out from below the arena.

“Lingxiu!” Qin Ting shouted, his voice smooth and persuasive. “Opportunities to receive guidance from such an expert are rare. You must not waste this chance!”

Hearing the hint in Qin Ting’s voice, Lin Lingxiu took a deep breath. He retreated two steps, putting distance between himself and Han Yu’s blade.

“You’re right,” Lin Lingxiu sneered, wiping the blood from his cheek. “Let’s spar again.”

Sect Leader Qi stepped forward, his brow furrowed in displeasure. “The outcome is already decided. Why must you continue?”

“Indeed, the winner is clear!” Yin Hong and Daoist Lingxiu chorused from the Wanchun Valley side.

It was obvious to anyone with eyes: Lin Lingxiu had failed to break Han Yu’s defense, and when Han Yu counterattacked, Lin’s autonomous Foundation Establishment armor had triggered to save his life. In a duel between Qi Refining disciples, triggering a life-saving item meant automatic disqualification.

To claim Lin Lingxiu hadn’t lost was to lie with eyes wide open. If they started counting life-saving artifacts given by elders, they might as well just compare who had the richer master.

Qin Ting waved his hand dismissively. “It is just a friendly spar. Why focus so heavily on victory or defeat? Even if Lingxiu lost the exchange, surely he is allowed to seek further advice from Han Yu?”

“Your logic is absurd!” Sect Leader Qi rebuked him. “The match is over. Who would want to continue ‘sparring’ with someone who refuses to follow the rules?”

Qin Ting smiled, unperturbed. With a wave of Spiritual Power, he levitated the Foundation Establishment Pill toward the judges. “I can hand over the Reward to Wanchun Valley right now. Consider it a deposit.”

Sect Leader Qi snatched the pill from the air. “The Reward belongs to Han Yu regardless. Why are you acting as if it is a bargaining chip?” He turned to the stage. “Han Yu, come down. There is no need to continue.”

Han Yu cupped his hands respectfully. “Yes, Sect Leader.”

He turned his gaze back to Lin Lingxiu. “You lost. Go apologize to my Master.”

Lin Lingxiu stood his ground, two trails of blood flowing down his cheeks like crimson tears. He gritted his teeth, his pride stinging more than his eyes. “I haven’t lost yet. Defeat me for real, then we’ll talk.”

Han Yu stood motionless in the distance, watching him. The gentle, scholarly warmth that usually defined Han Yu’s gaze had vanished, replaced by a profound coldness. His sword hung low at his side, still as a statue.

“It seems,” Han Yu said softly, “that unless I beat you into absolute submission, you will never relent.”

“Senior Brother Han is angry,” Li Tonghai whispered from the sidelines.

Although he had never seen Han Yu like this, the aura radiating from the stage was unmistakable. Han Yu was furious.

Ye Shinian, Sheng Yan, and the other Wanchun Valley disciples felt a rush of vindication mixed with shock. They shared a collective hatred for the Little Sky Net Sect’s shamelessness.

Junior Brother Han is finally showing his true colors, they thought. The crow formation, the Green Wood Protection Technique… he is leagues above us.

Seeing him dominate the detestable Lin Lingxiu was incredibly satisfying. But the opponent’s refusal to concede—demanding a rematch after clearly losing—was infuriating. It was no wonder the usually mild-mannered Han Yu was enraged.

Elder Lü, watching from the high seats, felt a pang of worry at the Little Sky Net Sect’s erratic behavior. He called out, “Disciple, come down! They are clearly acting shamelessly. To persist after losing only humiliates them further!”

“Master, please wait a moment,” Han Yu replied, his voice steady. “I will end this now.”

Han Yu suspected there was a deeper motive behind the Little Sky Net Sect’s insistence. Perhaps Qin Ting wanted to confirm who had refined the transparent spindle Han Yu had seized earlier, trying to force him to use it.

But Han Yu did not need to play into their hands.

He didn’t need the Blood Refining Technique. He didn’t need the Star Luo Traction Technique. He didn’t even need the Golden Core-level transparent spindle.

He could crush Lin Lingxiu without exposing any of his true secrets.

Han Yu reached into his Storage Bag and pulled out a talisman. With a sharp thwack, he slapped it onto the flat of his flying sword.

Buzz!

A massive surge of Spirit Breath poured into the paper, activating the runes. A dark yellow halo enveloped the blade. The sword began to tremble and whine, the metal groaning under the strain.

It was a Geng Metal Talisman—a Foundation Establishment tier consumable. Applying such potent energy to a mid-Qi Refining sword was pushing the weapon to its breaking point.

Since you rely on your Foundation Establishment armor to deny reality, Han Yu thought, his expression grim, I will let you taste the difference between borrowed power and absolute destruction.

With a thought, the spirit crows spread their wings, once again expanding the formation to swallow Lin Lingxiu.

Lin Lingxiu cursed internally. Again? If he had to break the formation one more time, his Star Sensing Pupils might permanently blind him.

“Is this the only move you know?” Lin Lingxiu shouted, trying to goad him.

Before the words left his mouth, Han Yu activated the Phantom Body Technique.

Whoosh!

Han Yu’s form blurred and split. One became five.

Five identical Han Yus appeared on the stage, each wielding a vibrating, yellow-glowing flying sword, and all five charged at Lin Lingxiu simultaneously.

Below the stage, the Wanchun Valley disciples gasped, exchanging stunned glances.

“Five?” one muttered. “So the three phantoms earlier… that wasn’t even his full strength?”

On stage, Lin Lingxiu fought through the agony in his eyes, forcing his Star Sensing Pupils open to distinguish the truth from the illusion.

But Han Yu had anticipated this.

Crows swirled around each of the five figures, acting as living shields, while other birds dive-bombed Lin Lingxiu, pecking and clawing to break his concentration. The starlight in Lin Lingxiu’s eyes flickered wildly. Between the pain and the chaos, he could barely identify a single phantom as fake.

Blood streamed freely from his eyes now.

Panic set in. Lin Lingxiu activated his spindle, trying to flee his position to avoid being encircled. He needed space to identify the real attack.

But he was too slow.

The five figures arrived as one.

Crack!

The dark yellow light slammed into Lin Lingxiu’s back. The purple star-patterned robe tore instantly. Then, a sickening sound echoed through the arena—like fine porcelain shattering.

The Geng Metal Talisman’s armor-piercing properties bit deep into the purple armor.

Lin Lingxiu whipped his head around, terror written on his face.

He found the real Han Yu standing right behind him. Han Yu’s eyes were cold, void of joy or anger. He held the trembling flying sword against Lin Lingxiu’s back, the metal glowing with unstable energy.

Han Yu spoke a single, quiet command.

“Explode.”

[Object Explosion Technique].

The flying sword, already pushed to its limit, detonated.

BOOM!

A blinding sphere of light erupted at point-blank range, followed by a deafening roar that shook the arena.

Instantly, the Green Wood Protection Technique flared to life in front of Han Yu, shielding him from the blast wave.

A giant crow swooped down from the smoke, spreading its pitch-black wings. Han Yu stepped onto its back, rising above the chaos. Surrounded by his flock, he looked like the eye of a black storm, gazing down impassively as the dust settled.

Lin Lingxiu lay broken on the arena floor.

His clothes were in tatters. The veil that had covered his face was incinerated, revealing the truth beneath—his face was a roadmap of patchy, grotesque burn scars.

He looked up, his eyes dim and lifeless, the starlight extinguished. Blood masked his vision as he stared at the pristine figure hovering above him in the flock of crows.

“Impossible…” Lin Lingxiu rasped, his voice hoarse with shock. “How can you be… so strong?”

Han Yu looked down at him, his expression unchanged. He asked the question one last time, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

“Will you apologize?”