Chapter 23: Over My Dead Body

Even with Xu Kun’s indifferent temperament, he could not help but knit his brows tightly.

Sweeping his gaze across the surroundings, he said, enunciating every word, "What is this? Is the Imperial Family of the Great Cang Kingdom intent on setting yourselves against our Lihuo Sect?"

Even while at a disadvantage, Xu Kun’s words remained unyielding. This was the confidence bestowed upon him by the Lihuo Sect.

"We are naturally not looking to oppose the Lihuo Sect," Lu Zhan said, his expression suddenly turning frigid. "But we will never allow someone who slaughtered our Imperial Prince to leave the Great Cang Kingdom alive!"

"Indeed. If word of this gets out, everyone will truly think our Imperial Family is incompetent!" a deputy general chimed in.

"This concerns the dignity of the Imperial bloodline; this matter cannot be dropped!" the old eunuch said with a twisted expression. "Once this is over, we will naturally provide a full explanation to the Lihuo Sect. Regardless, Lin Chen must die today!"

All five individuals unleashed their auras simultaneously, and the tide of the battle shifted in an instant. Even Lin Chen could not help but frown. The way things were unfolding had far exceeded his expectations.

He glanced at Xu Kun. Would the other man abandon him under such immense pressure? After all, they were mere acquaintances, and to the Lihuo Sect, he was nothing more than an outer sect disciple. If it reached a point where abandonment was necessary, surely he would act without hesitation.

"Hahahaha!"

Unexpectedly, Xu Kun did not retreat. He threw his head back and laughed, then declared firmly, "From the moment I joined the Lihuo Sect, I have kept the sect’s rules etched in my heart: our Lihuo Sect will never abandon a single disciple! You want to kill him? Very well, then you shall have to step over my corpse first!"

With that, Xu Kun summoned his phantom beast: a sixth-tier Blazing Fire Fox. The creature’s fur was thick and vibrant, resembling a mass of raging flames, and its small eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Lu Zhan frowned. He had assumed that under their combined pressure, Xu Kun would know when to retreat. After all, abandoning a mere outer sect disciple would not be a great loss to him personally. He could simply compensate the man later and pay a visit to the Lihuo Sect to offer an apology; would that not settle the matter? He had not expected Xu Kun to be so stubborn and hot-headed, actually willing to fight!

Lu Zhan found himself in a difficult position. If he truly injured Xu Kun, the situation would become thorny. The Great Cang Kingdom dared not burn bridges with the Lihuo Sect under any circumstances.

"Attack!" Lu Zhan roared, then transmitted his voice to the others: "All of you, restrain Xu Kun. You may injure him, but you must not take his life. Once I kill this brat, everything will be settled!"

The two deputy generals, the old eunuch, and Zhao Wuji all nodded.

"Whoosh!"

In an instant, all five moved in unison. Four of them swarmed Xu Kun, leaving him no room to maneuver, while Lu Zhan charged directly at Lin Chen, giving him no chance to fight back!

A chorus of gasps erupted from the arena. Many spectators covered their mouths, watching the scene in shock. They had not expected things to escalate to such a state.

"It’s over. With so many experts hunting him, Lin Chen cannot possibly survive."

"Who would have thought the Imperial Family would be so ruthless?"

"Lin Chen miscalculated. He thought the Lihuo Sect would protect him, but the Imperial Family has moved to kill him outright."

The crowd whispered, their gazes complex. Some were gloating, while others felt pity. Such are the varied tastes of the world.

"Anyone who becomes an enemy of our Lihuo Sect shall be executed without mercy!" Xu Kun let out a low cry, his figure flashing like lightning as he rushed forward to shield Lin Chen behind him.

He was clearly prepared to face the assault of five masters alone! Lin Chen looked at the figure in front of him—not particularly tall, yet unshakable—and felt a tremor in his heart. Xu Kun was actually willing to risk his life for someone he had just met! Was this... the code of the Lihuo Sect?

"Boom!"

With a massive roar, Xu Kun and his Blazing Fire Fox combined their strength to forcibly block the attacks of the five men and their beasts. Xu Kun staggered back several steps, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his complexion ghastly. The Blazing Fire Fox was also sent flying, one of its legs now broken.

"Xu Kun, we do not wish to kill you. Stand aside!" Lu Zhan said coldly. "He is only an outer sect disciple, and a newly joined one at that. There is no need to throw away your life for him!"

"Hmph," Xu Kun sneered. "The rules of our Lihuo Sect are branded onto our souls from the moment we enter the sect. In the face of an enemy, an elder must die before his disciple! If you want to kill him, there is only one way: step over my corpse!"

By the end of his sentence, a fierce light erupted in Xu Kun’s eyes. It was as if he had already embraced death.

"I will hold him down; you kill Lin Chen!" Lu Zhan’s expression remained calm as he issued the order. The others nodded in agreement. Zhao Wuji, in particular, was filled with murderous intent. He wished only to rush forward and tear Lin Chen to pieces. This little beast deserved to die. Not only him, but his entire family deserved to die as well!

"Die!"

Lu Zhan charged at Xu Kun while mounted on his giant eagle. On the other side, the other four turned their aggression toward Lin Chen.

"Oh no, Lin Chen, we can't win this!" Tuntun panicked, clutching Lin Chen’s neck and hiding behind him. "Damn it, Brother Tree just awakened, and now I have to die with you! I haven't even played with a Mother Tree yet, how can I die so easily..."

Lin Chen did not waste a single word; he pushed the Imperial Arts to their absolute limit. A cyan light erupted from his body. Given the current situation, if he did not want to be captured, he had no choice but to fight!

Fight then! Xu Kun was willing to face this onslaught for his sake; what did he have to lose?

"Little beast, die!" Zhao Wuji roared, his murderous intent suffocating.

Lin Chen clenched his fists, gathering his strength. He prepared to meet them head-on. Just as the crisis reached its peak, a deafening sound echoed, and the void itself seemed to shudder violently.

Zhao Wuji was slapped away, crashing into a building and reducing it to rubble. The remaining three were all sent flying, one by one.

A massive, patterned giant tiger landed on the stage. Standing on its back were a noble-looking woman and a young girl. The woman’s eyes flashed with disdain. "To dare raise a hand against someone from my Lihuo Sect... you must be tired of living!"

A cold snort shook the heavens. Even Lu Zhan, standing in the distance, was forced back several steps by the pressure. His eyes filled with terror. This aura... it was an expert of the Heavenly Spirit Realm!

"Aunt Lian." Seeing the woman, Xu Kun looked embarrassed and lowered his head slightly.

"If you can't even handle these pieces of trash, go back and enter closed-door cultivation until you die! Do not emerge until you have broken through your current realm, lest you continue to disgrace the Lihuo Sect!" Aunt Lian swept a cold, harsh look at Xu Kun.

"Yes... yes..." Xu Kun did not dare to argue, nodding submissively.

Aunt Lian turned her gaze toward Lin Chen and snorted. "The boy has some backbone, at least. He didn't pee himself in fear!"