Chapter 46: Lin Chen Returns!
"Senior Brother Zhao, Lin Chen has an elder sister who depends entirely on him for survival, and she possesses not a shred of cultivation. She is extremely easy to deal with!" an outer court disciple beside Zhao Peng said with a grin.
"To an ant like him, how could a useless sister with no cultivation possibly compare in value to a Saint Beast Crystal?" Zhao Peng frowned and said coldly.
"Not necessarily. That kid cares deeply for his sister. If we use her as leverage, he will obediently hand over the Saint Beast Crystal, and it will save us from making a major fuss." The outer court disciple offered his suggestion with an eager expression.
"Go ahead then, and make sure it's done cleanly." Zhao Peng pondered for a moment and figured it was no big deal.
Since his sister had no cultivation, she wouldn't be able to stir up any trouble!
The outer court disciple nodded and immediately set off to carry out the task.
......
......
At dawn.
The eastern horizon showed the first trace of pale white.
Lin Chen reined in his horse and returned to the city gates, only to find the area heavily guarded. Dozens of city guards were scattered about, meticulously inspecting everyone entering the city.
"Are they waiting for me?"
Lin Chen dismounted and walked straight toward them.
"Lin Chen, you injured our city guards yesterday and fled the Fire-Leaving City, yet you actually dare to return!"
The squad leader from the day before spotted Lin Chen, shouted on the spot, and a flash of anger crossed his pupils.
The other city guards simultaneously drew their weapons, staring fixedly at Lin Chen as if facing a formidable enemy.
"Everyone, no need to be so tense. I truly had an urgent matter yesterday."
Lin Chen cupped his fists in a salute. "Aren't I back now? Show some flexibility and let me into the city. We're bound to bump into each other often enough..."
"Heh, what a nice way to put it."
Lin Qi walked forward with a cold expression on his face. "Your name is Lin Chen, right? Oh, you share my surname too. In consideration of that shared surname, hand over the Saint Beast Crystal, otherwise, you'll likely live to regret it!"
Lin Chen chuckled lightly. "This regret you speak of, what is it supposed to mean?"
"Do you recognize this?"
Lin Qi brandished an object in his hand—a delicate little saucer. "Don't toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"
The moment Lin Chen laid eyes on that small saucer, every trace of amusement in his pupils vanished completely.
In an instant, his expression transformed.
His eyes turned scarlet.
Fierce, frantic, and ferocious!
"You people, captured, my sister?"
Lin Chen slowly took a step forward, his voice resembling that of a wild beast, carrying the terrifying calm before a storm.
For some inexplicable reason, a sense of dread welled up deep in the hearts of the surrounding city guards!
It felt as though a ferocious beast was gradually closing in on them, and the suffocating aura that seemed ready to swallow them whole grew increasingly terrifying.
Some of the city guards even felt cold in their hands and feet, exchanging terrified glances with one another.
Everyone felt as though someone had clamped a hand around their throat, rendering them unable to utter even a complete sentence.
A heart-stopping, bone-chilling murderous intent continued to mount!
Even Lin Qi shuddered all over, feeling as though he had been targeted by an ancient, peerless beast.
Panic surged uncontrollably in his heart. "Kid, I... I'm telling you, your sister is in our hands. If you want her to stay alive, hand over the Saint Beast Crystal!"
Even his voice was trembling.
"It's over. That kid is going to go berserk again."
Tuntun widened its eyes. "Of all things, why did these people have to go and capture Lin Ning'er! She is Lin Chen's lifeline! At this rate, if a few dozen people don't die, this won't end!"
"Hand over the Saint Beast Crystal, or else..."
Lin Qi took a step back, his spine covered in cold sweat.
He clenched his teeth, constantly giving himself mental pep talks: Isn't he just an outer court disciple?
"Thud."
Lin Chen took another step forward.
With that single step, the aura around his body instantly exploded, causing the ground beneath his feet to fracture into a web of cracks!
His figure lunged fiercely toward Lin Qi like a tiger descending a mountain.
"Daring to anger Lin Chen, sigh, I suppose I have no choice but to send you all to hell to repent!"
Tuntun's eyes narrowed, and its body swelled explosively, expanding to a height of over three meters.
Its wooden arms were as hard as spiritual weapons, and as it dragged them across the ground while charging, they carved two deep trenches into the earth, exuding an infinite sense of oppression.
"What kind of phantom beast is this?!"
The city guards were scared out of their wits.
Ever since its bloodline had unsealed to the third tier, Tuntun's body would expand to three meters in combat form!
Its wooden bark skin was as hard as iron, and even spiritual weapons striking it would not leave the slightest scratch!
That was just how terrifying it was!
"Splat!"
With a sweeping punch, Tuntun smashed the head of a city guard to pieces on the spot.
Moving with blinding speed, dodging left and right, and pouncing up and down, it was like a wolf entering a flock of sheep!
On the other side, Lin Chen's eyes split with rage as he unleashed the Dragon Jade Hand, slamming it straight down toward the top of Lin Qi's head.
"You're out of your mind, kid! You actually dare to attack us!"
Furious, Lin Qi crossed his arms, attempting to block Lin Chen's punch.
A dense intent to kill flashed deep within his eyes.
Since you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, don't blame me for being ruthless.
"Crack!"
Lin Qi's arms proved utterly fragile and were snapped clean in half by Lin Chen's sheer force!
Following that, the Dragon Jade Hand continued its descent, striking directly between Lin Qi's eyebrows.
Lin Qi dropped dead on the spot!
He hadn't even managed to withstand a single move.
After killing Lin Qi, Lin Chen spun around, lashed out with a hand, and grabbed another squad leader by the neck.
Exerting force through his palm, he snapped the man's neck directly!
Meanwhile, Tuntun went on a bloody rampage that no one could stop.
In the span of just a few breaths, dozens of city guards were slaughtered completely, leaving not a single survivor.
There were many cultivators coming and going, entering and leaving the city.
When they witnessed this scene, they were all left utterly dumbfounded.
This... this is far too ruthless!
Lin Chen wiped the blood from his palms and strode toward the city.
Although Lin Qi was a city guard captain, it was utterly impossible for him to enter the sect and make an arrest!
Earlier, He Mu had mentioned that Lin Qi had an inner court disciple backing him.
Capturing his sister must have been done under that person's instigation!
"No matter who you are, I will tear you... to pieces."
Malevolent Qi swirled around Lin Chen's entire body.
With every step he took forward, the murderous intent surrounding him surged by several notches!
For Lin Chen, Lin Ning'er was a reverse scale that absolutely no one was allowed to touch!
Those who dare to harm my sister, I will slaughter your entire family!
When Lin Chen walked through the streets bathed in blood, everyone stared in shock.
He looked as though he had just walked out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, every inch of his skin radiating an astonishing, baleful aura.
Daring to make a move against the city guards—this kid... is far too arrogant!
However, when everyone noticed the marking between his eyebrows, realization dawned in their hearts.
Ah, he's a disciple of the Fire-Leaving Sect!
No wonder he dares to be this wild!
In the distance, two patrolling city guards who had witnessed Lin Chen's killing spree felt their legs turn to jelly out of sheer terror.
Just as they turned to flee, Lin Chen's figure flashed forward, and with a single punch, he shattered the skull of one of them.
Then, he picked up the other.
Flames of fury burned brightly within his eyes.
"Who is the mastermind?"