Chapter 14: The Blazing Fire Sect—Su Yuwei!

Lin Chen exerted every ounce of his strength to collide with Lin Hongbin, forcing the man back several dozen meters.

He did not come away unscathed; his entire arm hung limp at his side, the bones within completely shattered. The injury was severe!

Relying on the immense power granted by his physique, Lin Chen continued to sprint madly, his eyes clear yet filled with a manic intensity.

"You little bastard! You think you can escape? After him!"

Lin Hongbin was incensed. He turned to summon his Sword-Peak Vulture, hoping to use its speed to hunt the boy down. But as his gaze fell upon the creature, his pupils constricted. The Sword-Peak Vulture was covered in wounds and utterly exhausted; it was clearly in no state to continue fighting.

His heart sank. That small sapling was merely a first-rank phantom beast—how could it possibly have defeated his Sword-Peak Vulture? This boy held too many secrets; he could not be allowed to live!

Just as the group prepared to pursue Lin Chen, an incredibly terrifying surge of energy descended from the air, directly severing the street before them.

"Boom!"

Under the force of this horrifying spiritual energy, the street was cleanly cut, forming a ghastly trench at least several dozen meters deep!

A figure walked languidly out of a restaurant nearby. Her beautiful eyes swept across the scene, eventually settling on Lin Hongbin, who led the group. She asked indifferently, "Are you the current head of the Lin family?"

As the young woman spoke, many onlookers gasped, feeling as though a massive boulder had been pressed against their chests. An indelible, noble aura radiated from her; every movement she made felt as if a high-and-mighty celestial being had descended, instinctively compelling those around her to bow in worship.

She suppressed everyone present just with her presence alone, leaving them unable to breathe. How strong must one be to achieve this?

"I... I am..."

Lin Hongbin lowered his head deeply. Though he felt immensely irritated at being questioned by the girl, he dared not show the slightest impatience. Her temperament and aura made it clear that her strength was extraordinary. Especially that previous display—creating a trench with a single strike! It was a feat only someone at the eighth level of the Earth Spirit Realm or higher could accomplish.

"Damn it, we let that brat get away!" a minor clan patriarch shouted in frustration, turning to Lin Hongbin. "You promised us you would kill Lin Chen and give us an explanation!"

"How noisy."

The young woman frowned and flicked her finger.

"Splat!"

The patriarch’s head exploded, transforming into a mist of blood. From start to finish, no one had even seen her make a move.

This scene shocked everyone present. Even Lin Hongbin was left completely dumbfounded! His lips trembled as he stammered, "Th-this young lady, what exactly is your purpose in coming to my Lin family?"

He did not believe for a moment that someone of her stature would arrive without a reason.

"The spirit tablet of Lin Tianming is enshrined in your ancestral hall, isn't it?" The girl crooked her finger. "Bring it to me!"

"Lin Tianming’s spirit tablet?" Lin Hongbin was stunned. He could not fathom why she would want it. Lin Tianming had been dead for so many years; why would someone suddenly come to demand his tablet? Could there be a secret hidden within it? Or was she somehow related to Lin Tianming?

"My young mistress is asking you a question. Are you deaf?"

A refined and elegant noblewoman walked forward, her phoenix eyes filled with disdain. In truth, the girl's sudden strike had surprised her. Knowing her mistress, she understood that while it seemed impulsive, it was actually a deliberate move to help Lin Chen out of his predicament. However, Nanny Lian did not dwell on it. It was likely just her mistress acting on a whim because she found it amusing to help the boy. The gap in status between them was like that of a firefly and the bright moon; they would never have any intersection in this life!

"Replying to the young lady, Lin Chen broke into the ancestral hall earlier and took Lin Tianming's spirit tablet with him," a Lin family disciple spoke up.

"Hmm?" The girl’s delicate brows furrowed. The tablet had been taken by that brat? It was too late to pursue him now. Within that tablet lay a secret—the very reason she had come here.

"Young mistress..." Nanny Lian approached, wanting to say more but hesitating.

"Forget it. Let him go. We will meet again sooner or later!" The girl waved her hand, turned with lazy grace, and boarded a carriage waiting by the street.

Watching the carriage depart, several patriarchs rushed forward, their eyes bloodshot with rage. "Who... who on earth is she!" If it weren't for her interference, they would have slaughtered Lin Chen by now! How could they have let him escape?

Gazing at the retreating carriage, Lin Hongbin’s body trembled, his lips turning pale. "The carriage... it bears the emblem of the Li-Fire Sect!"

"The Li-Fire Sect?"

The crowd was stunned. The Li-Fire Sect was even more powerful than the Wind-Sword Sect and was the strongest sect within the Five Nations region! The Five Nations consisted of the Great Cang, Great Qi, Great Xia, Great Chen, and Great Xu—a vast territory of immense power. Since she was from the Li-Fire Sect, her identity was clear!

It was rumored that the daughter of the Li-Fire Sect Master, Su Yuwei, possessed talent that stood unrivaled across the Five Nations and was known for her eccentric, independent style. She was hailed as the number one heavenly maiden! Could that young woman truly be Su Yuwei?

"If it really is her, why would she want Lin Tianming’s spirit tablet?" a Lin family disciple couldn't help but cry out. "That old thing Lin Tianming has been dead for so long; he should have been forgotten ages ago!"

No one answered. Because no one knew.

Lin Hongbin closed his eyes in agony. A moment later, he let out a roar that pierced the clouds! Failing to kill Lin Chen this time—would there ever be another chance?

...

Lin Chen ran wildly until he was out of the city, hiding in a cave deep within the Purple Lotus Mountains. The area was covered in thick fog, making it difficult for even tracking phantom beasts to pick up his scent.

After setting Lin Ning'er down, Lin Chen leaned heavily against the cave wall, gasping for breath. The previous exertion had truly pushed him to his limit.

"Xiao Chen, you... you are badly hurt!" Tears welled up in Lin Ning'er’s beautiful eyes as she reached out to gently wipe the blood from Lin Chen’s face.

"Sister, I'm fine..." Lin Chen grinned. With his Myriad Wood Vigorous Body, he would recover before long.

Lin Ning'er nodded. Just as she was about to speak, her body suddenly shuddered. Her face turned pale at a visible rate, and an icy chill began to emanate from her body, causing her to curl up in pain.

"Xiao Chen, I... I’m so cold..." Lin Ning'er’s voice was hoarse with agony.

Lin Chen’s pupils constricted. Oh no, his sister’s cold toxin had flared up again! He hurriedly searched his storage ring for medicine, but when he opened the vial he found, it was empty!

"The antidote is gone!" Lin Chen’s eyes nearly burst with rage. In the past, whenever the cold toxin flared, this was the only medicine that could alleviate her pain.

In his desperation, Lin Chen grabbed the small sapling. "Aren't you the Primordial Hongmeng Tree? Don't you know everything? Quickly, find a way to save my sister!"