Zhenjun, seeing that his golden-red beam was blocked by Qin Yan with the sword, ceased emitting the beam and swung the trident spear towards Qin Yan. Qin Yan quickly used the black aura-covered sword to block the spear's attack. However, Zhenjun changed his move midway, the spear took a turn, evading the black sword and cleaving into Qin Yan's chest. With a sharp sound, the spear hit Qin Yan's chest, leaving a half-meter long, one-centimeter deep wound.

"Ouch, that hurts..." Qin Yan gritted his teeth, quickly backing away. Zhenjun pursued, relentlessly attacking Qin Yan with the trident spear. Qin Yan attempted to block with the sword but found Zhenjun's spear techniques suddenly becoming extremely fierce, bypassing the black sword each time and striking Qin Yan directly. Before long, Qin Yan had sustained five or six wounds from the trident spear, bleeding profusely.

"What's going on? How did he suddenly become so powerful?!" Qin Yan was extremely puzzled until he looked at Zhenjun and realized that Zhenjun's third eye was now open. With the ability to predict others' movements in advance, Qin Yan's every move was anticipated by Zhenjun, making it impossible for Qin Yan to block Zhenjun's attacks with the sword.

"Hey, didn't we agree not to use the third eye?" Qin Yan evaded and dodged in a panic, shouting at Zhenjun.

"You can also use the power of that sword to deal with me," Zhenjun said coldly. "Instead of asking others to go easy on you, it's better to enhance your own abilities. Come on, show me what you're capable of!"

With Zhenjun's intensified attacks, Qin Yan struggled to defend himself, continuously being wounded by Zhenjun's spear. As the wounds multiplied and blood flowed from his body, Lin Shiqi, seeing Qin Yan increasingly overwhelmed by Zhenjun's attacks, couldn't help but feel anxious.

"Dream Butterfly, shouldn't we help him?" Lin Shiqi asked, worried.

"No, I think it's better not to intervene in this matter," Dream Butterfly responded calmly.

"But what if Qin Yan is accidentally killed by Zhenjun?"

"It's okay, he's not that easy to defeat. He hasn't given up yet, and he might have a chance to turn the tables."

"How can he turn the tables?" Lin Shiqi was puzzled. Zhenjun's ability to foresee actions made it difficult for Qin Yan to use any tactics effectively, even Yitianchou with a higher anomaly level couldn't handle it. How could Qin Yan possibly turn the situation around?

Despite being heavily injured, Qin Yan remained clear-headed. He was focusing on feeling the sword in his hand, contemplating an important matter.

"Since this sword can absorb energy and store it in the sword, logically, there should be a way to release the stored energy." With this thought, Qin Yan deactivated the energy absorption function of the sword, causing the black aura on the sword to disappear. He then used his anomaly to control the substance that seemed like energy within the sword, attempting to release it from the sword. However, the sword showed no reaction, and the substance remained within the sword without any movement.

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"This isn't working, why can't the energy be released? Did I do something wrong?" Qin Yan felt anxious, continuing to try to release the stored energy from the sword. Yet, the sword remained unresponsive. In the midst of his attempts, Qin Yan sustained more wounds, with Zhenjun cutting his thigh. Losing his footing, Qin Yan fell to the ground.

"Is this all you've got?" Zhenjun, with an air of superiority, temporarily halted his attacks and stared at Qin Yan, who was sitting on the ground. "If this is all the ability you possess, then you cannot become the Emperor."

"The Emperor?" Qin Yan suppressed the pain in his body and got up from the ground. "I have never thought of becoming an Emperor. I picked up this sword only to find a way back to the mortal realm."

Zhenjun was taken aback, then spoke accusingly, "This is not a matter of whether you want it or not. Since you've taken up this sword, you must become the Emperor."

"Who said you can force me?" Qin Yan replied unhappily. "And what if I don't want to be the Emperor?"

Zhenjun's eyes showed a contemptuous look. "I didn't expect you to lack courage. If you don't want to be the Emperor, then voluntarily give up this sword and let someone more capable and courageous wield it."

Qin Yan coldly smiled and said, "But it seems like only I can wield this sword. Others can't, right? And this is my own business, it has nothing to do with you."

Zhenjun also smiled, "You're wrong. This matter concerns everyone in the heavenly realm, and the successor of the Emperor's Sword is not the only one. If you die, the sword will seek a new inheritor. Or if you willingly give it up, that's also possible. Come on, relinquish the sword. It's better for you and everyone else."

"Give up this sword?!" Qin Yan was taken aback, then became somewhat angry. "How I handle things is none of your business!" With that, he swung the sword fiercely towards Zhenjun.

"You've got quite the temper, but your abilities are lacking," Zhenjun's eyes flashed with coldness as he easily dodged Qin Yan's attack. He then wielded the trident spear, cutting deeply into Qin Yan's neck, causing a large amount of blood to flow from the wound.

"You're really going all out, aren't you?!" Qin Yan felt dizzy and quickly covered the wound on his neck, retreating to avoid further attacks.

"I'm sorry, but the position of the Emperor is crucial for the future of the entire heavenly realm. We cannot allow an incompetent and weak person to wield this sword," Zhenjun's tone was icy as he pursued Qin Yan, continuously aiming his spear at Qin Yan's heart and neck, seemingly intent on striking him fatally.

"This guy is going too far, I must defeat him!" Despite being in a dangerous situation, Qin Yan showed no fear. On the contrary, his fighting spirit was stronger than ever, and his focus sharper. Due to his heavy injuries and loss of blood, he felt somewhat weak.

"Power, I need power..." Qin Yan thought, gripping the sword tighter with both hands. Suddenly, he felt something flowing from the sword into his body, catching his attention.

"Could it be that the stored energy in the sword is not meant to be released, but to be absorbed by my body?" This thought flashed through Qin Yan's mind, and he concentrated his mind, using his anomaly to absorb the substance-like energy from the sword into his body through his hands gripping the sword.