Chapter 45: The Inner Sect—Zhao Peng!

“Lin Chen, watch closely and see how I unleash my true power!” Tun Tun leapt up. Though small in stature, he looked fierce.

The city guards’ eyes narrowed slightly. “How dare you assault the city guard!”

Clearly, they did not expect Lin Chen to be so brazen.

“We’re the ones assaulting you,” Lin Chen retorted, his figure flashing forward like lightning. A single palm strike sent one city guard flying.

These city guards were all at the fourth or fifth level of the Earth Spirit Realm.

Before Lin Chen, they were utterly powerless.

“Bang!”

Lin Chen struck one guard away with a palm, then clenched his fist and ruthlessly smashed another.

Each move was charged with formidable strength, overwhelmingly fierce.

The guards were caught off guard and scattered in disarray, utterly humiliated.

“Open the gate!” He Mu shouted loudly. Two men rushed to the city gate, one on each side, to open it.

“You insolent fools!” A city guard summoned a phantom beast and charged forward with a roar.

This guard was at the fifth level of the Earth Spirit Realm, likely a squad leader.

But before he could approach, Tun Tun’s speed was lightning-fast. He kicked the guard dozens of meters away with a single blow.

“Boom!”

The guard crashed into the wall, blood spewing from his mouth.

The area before the gate was chaos.

“Hurry, faster!” He Mu’s heart was anxious. The night shift city guards were few in number and not very strong.

If this dragged on and Lin Qi arrived, things would get troublesome.

“Tonight, I do not wish to kill. I hope you will do yourselves a favor,” Lin Chen said gently, turning to stand before the gate with a faint smile.

His words made the city guards instinctively shrink back, sensing a deadly resolve.

For a moment, no one dared to advance.

“Creak!”

The gate opened.

He Mu beamed, waving. “Young Master Lin, let’s go!”

Lin Chen mounted his tall steed, flicked the reins, and shouted, “Move!”

Four carriages and a dozen horses galloped through the night, stirring up clouds of dust.

“Hurry, report to the captain!” The squad leader spat blood, his expression grim.

No one had expected such an event.

He Mu had been so bold!

“Once the captain arrives, they will pay the price!” Under the bright moonlight, the squad leader’s eyes burned with ferocity.

...

The carriage sped along the official road.

The cargo was headed for Black Rock City, several hundred kilometers from Firelight City.

Lin Chen had already planned in his heart: if they moved quickly, they could return before dawn!

Then he would let Tun Tun consume the Sacred Beast Crystal Stone.

Perhaps his bloodline could be continuously unlocked!

The horses were fast and resilient.

After more than two hours of travel, they finally arrived at Black Rock City.

“Young Master Lin, we are truly grateful!” He Mu stepped forward, clasping his fists deeply. “If not for you, who knows how long our cargo would have been held.”

“It’s nothing,” Lin Chen smiled.

He Mu’s group was not strong; no wonder they dared not face the city guards head-on.

Without help, even a forceful break would have been impossible.

“This stone—I don’t know its exact value, but it must be considerable,” He Mu said, pulling the Sacred Beast Crystal Stone from his pocket with a sincere smile. “As agreed, it’s yours.”

“Thank you.” Lin Chen took the Sacred Beast Crystal Stone. Tun Tun greedily reached for it, but Lin Chen sharply slapped his hand away.

“Young Master Lin, be cautious of Lin Qi. He has always been narrow-minded,” He Mu warned. “You’ve offended him; watch out for retaliation.”

“I will be careful,” Lin Chen nodded.

He had little concern about Lin Qi.

Given his status as an outer disciple of the Firelight Sect, Lin Qi dared not make a move against him.

After bidding farewell to He Mu, Lin Chen urged his horse and raced back to Firelight City.

...

Late at night, inside a tavern in Firelight City.

A young man in a long robe frowned, displeased as he looked at the man before him.

The man wore armor and a battle knife at his waist—Lin Qi, captain of the city guard.

“Master Zhao, what brings you to me at this late hour?” Lin Qi asked.

Master Zhao’s full name was Zhao Peng, an inner disciple of the Firelight Sect.

Lin Qi was his lackey, often flaunting Zhao Peng’s name to swagger about.

Because inner disciples held high status, no one dared provoke Lin Qi.

Upon hearing that He Mu possessed a Sacred Beast Crystal Stone, Lin Qi immediately schemed.

He understood the immense importance of the Sacred Beast Crystal Stone.

But he did not intend to tell Zhao Peng directly.

Simply reporting the news was not as good as stealing it and presenting it personally.

Yet who would have thought He Mu would run off in desperation!

He even injured so many city guards—how arrogant!

“Sacred Beast Crystal Stone?” Zhao Peng’s eyes suddenly flashed with excitement, his voice hoarse. “Is it true?”

“Of course,” Lin Qi said, lowering his head in embarrassment. “I saw the Sacred Beast Crystal Stone with my own eyes at a trading post. He Mu was too foolish to recognize it and wanted someone to appraise it. I tried to seize it but he escaped!”

Lin Qi was so angry he slapped his thigh.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Zhao Peng’s eyes blazed with murderous intent.

“Do you know how precious a Sacred Beast Crystal Stone is? You recognized it but failed to take it—what punishment do you deserve?” His voice grew colder, devoid of any mercy.

“It’s not my fault, Master Zhao,” Lin Qi gritted his teeth. “The Firelight Sect forbids unauthorized fighting inside the city. I tried to force He Mu to hand it over, but he hired an outer disciple of the sect as protection and escaped.”

“That outer disciple’s name is Lin Chen.”

“Lin Chen?” Hearing the name, Zhao Peng’s eyes darkened with coldness.

He harbored no goodwill toward Lin Chen.

As an outstanding inner disciple, Zhao Peng was quite renowned.

He was one of three who fought at the Dragon Gate Tournament.

Unfortunately, he was crushed by Su Huanxue.

Zhao Peng had long pursued Su Yuwei, but she never even glanced at him.

Instead, she seemed to favor Lin Chen, constantly protecting him and visiting his quarters.

She even personally gifted him numerous cultivation resources.

Zhao Peng had seen all this and was furious beyond words.

“Lin Chen, I didn’t intend to move against you so soon. You brought this on yourself,” Zhao Peng said coldly as he rose, murderous intent gleaming in his eyes.

“Seal all city gates. He just obtained the Sacred Beast Crystal Stone and may not have had time to refine it!”

“Yes, sir!” Lin Qi took the order and left.