As Lin Sheng pondered the gains he had made in Zhenyuan City, a faint fluctuation suddenly passed through his perception, so subtle that an ordinary Golden Core cultivator might have mistaken it for a disturbance in the surrounding spiritual Qi. Lin Sheng, however, immediately recognised the sharpness concealed within that fluctuation, for a strand of sword Qi had flashed through the distant sky, carrying a familiar aura that made his expression change slightly.
Someone was fighting.
Moreover, judging from the location and the intensity of the fluctuations, the battle was taking place high above the ground, far enough from the main roads that ordinary cultivators might never notice it.
Lin Sheng raised his head and looked towards the distant horizon, his perception spreading outward as he carefully examined the lingering traces of energy. A moment later, his eyes narrowed, and without another word, he shot forward, his figure transforming into a streak of light that crossed the sky at astonishing speed.
He recognised that aura.
The First Elder of the Lin Family!
He had not expected to encounter her here, much less sense her fighting against several Golden Core cultivators. Although he did not know what had happened, the fact that her sword Qi had suddenly erupted with such intensity suggested that the situation was far from peaceful.
Lin Sheng increased his speed.
Several hundred li away, amidst a remote mountain range, the First Elder of the Lin Family stood suspended in the air, gripping her sword with one hand while pressing the other against her side. Blood trickled between her fingers, staining her sleeve a dark crimson, and the spiritual energy surrounding her body fluctuated unevenly as she struggled to suppress her injuries.
Her breathing was slightly ragged, but her eyes remained sharp as she stared at the three figures standing opposite her.
All three possessed the cultivation of Golden Core experts, and two of them were dressed entirely in black, their faces concealed beneath dark hoods. The auras surrounding those two men were particularly disturbing, carrying a sinister quality that seemed to repel the spiritual energy around them, while faint strands of black Qi occasionally leaked from their bodies before disappearing into the surrounding air.
Demonic cultivators!
The First Elder's expression became increasingly cold as her gaze shifted towards the elderly man standing between them.
Lou Guyang.
The Grandmaster Alchemist she had encountered during the private trading banquet in Zhenyuan City was now standing alongside two demonic cultivators, and judging from the way the three had surrounded her, this was clearly no chance encounter.
"Lou Guyang, you bastard!" she shouted, her voice carrying barely restrained fury. "You actually dare to collude with demonic cultivators!"
Lou Guyang's expression did not change.
The elderly alchemist merely stood with his hands behind his back, his grey robes fluttering gently in the wind as he looked at her with the same calmness he had displayed during the banquet. If not for the two demonic cultivators standing beside him, anyone who saw him might have mistaken him for a harmless old alchemist who had simply ventured out to collect medicinal ingredients.
Yet the First Elder could clearly sense the killing intent hidden beneath that composed appearance.
Lou Guyang had already made his decision, and there was no intention of allowing her to leave alive.
Hearing her accusation, he finally let out a mocking laugh.
"So what if I have betrayed the Orthodox Alliance? What does it matter to me whether I stand with the orthodox factions or the demonic cultivators?"
His voice grew colder as he looked directly at the First Elder.
"What has the Orthodox Alliance ever done for me? I have spent centuries refining pills, accumulating resources and helping those so-called righteous cultivators improve their cultivation, yet when I finally reached the threshold of the Nascent Soul Realm, what did they do? They blocked my path!"
His previously calm expression twisted with resentment.
"They would rather watch me remain trapped at the peak of the Golden Core Realm than allow another Nascent Soul cultivator to emerge outside their control. They speak endlessly about the righteousness of the alliance, yet when their interests are threatened, they reveal themselves to be nothing more than a gathering of selfish hypocrites!"
Lou Guyang's voice thundered through the mountain range, and the surrounding spiritual energy trembled faintly beneath the force of his anger.
"How dare they!"
The First Elder sneered.
"So that's what this is about. You believe the entire Orthodox Alliance has betrayed you simply because your path to the Nascent Soul Realm has not gone as you wished?"
Her gaze swept over the two black-clothed cultivators before returning to Lou Guyang.
"Perhaps they understood your character better than you thought. If your foundation were truly ready for the breakthrough, why would you still be so afraid of the Nascent Soul tribulation? You have spent centuries refining pills, yet you would rather collude with demonic cultivators and endanger countless lives than face the possibility that your own cultivation is insufficient."
Her words struck directly at Lou Guyang's greatest insecurity.
The elderly alchemist's expression darkened, and for an instant, the surrounding air seemed to become heavier.
The First Elder continued without giving him an opportunity to interrupt.
"You claim that the Orthodox Alliance has blocked your path, but how much of that is merely an excuse? You know perfectly well that the Nascent Soul breakthrough is dangerous, and you are unwilling to risk your life without absolute certainty. Now that your remaining years are dwindling, you are prepared to do anything that might extend your lifespan, even if it means betraying the very people you once worked alongside."
She tightened her grip around her sword, ignoring the blood that continued flowing from her wounded hand.
"You are not seeking justice, Lou Guyang. You are simply afraid of dying."
For a brief moment, silence descended upon the mountain range.
The two demonic cultivators exchanged a glance, but neither spoke. They had no interest in becoming involved in an argument between Lou Guyang and the woman they had come to kill, especially when the elderly alchemist's resentment was clearly being driven by something far more personal than the simple desire to advance his cultivation.
Lou Guyang, however, did not answer.
He merely stared at the First Elder, his eyes becoming colder with every passing breath.
Then he raised his right hand.
The change was immediate.
The spiritual Qi within several dozen li began rushing towards him, streaming through the air in countless invisible currents that converged above his palm. The surrounding mountains trembled as the spiritual energy was forcibly drawn away from the vegetation, rocks and underground mineral deposits, causing the natural flow of energy in the region to become violently disturbed.
The First Elder's pupils contracted.
She had no time to retreat.
The spiritual energy above Lou Guyang's palm suddenly compressed, forming a blazing pillar of light that descended with terrifying speed. The attack was so sudden that the First Elder barely managed to raise her sword before the light engulfed her entire figure.
BOOOOOOM!
The heavens shook.
The pillar of light tore through the sky and crashed into the mountain range, its destructive force spreading outward like a raging tide. Mountains that had stood for countless years were reduced to shattered stone, their peaks collapsing beneath the overwhelming impact as enormous cracks spread through the earth.
The explosion continued to expand.
Ridges crumbled, boulders were pulverised into dust, and the surrounding forest vanished beneath a torrent of scorching spiritual energy. The shockwave swept through the valley, uprooting ancient trees and sending broken fragments of rock tumbling through the air, while the clouds above were torn apart by the force of the attack.
By the time the light finally faded, the entire mountain range had been devastated.
Where several towering peaks had once stood, there was now a vast crater extending down towards the base of the mountains, its edges jagged and blackened, with residual spiritual energy flickering across the shattered ground like flames refusing to die out.
Lou Guyang lowered his hand and looked down at the destruction with a cold expression.
"Hmph."
He did not appear particularly pleased, nor did he seem concerned about the enormous damage he had caused.
"Anyone who dares to obstruct my path deserves to die."
The two demonic cultivators remained silent, but their expressions had grown slightly more cautious. They had agreed to work with Lou Guyang because his cultivation and alchemical skills would be useful to them, yet witnessing the destructive power of his attack reminded them that the elderly man was not someone they could casually manipulate.
Even so, the battle should have been over.
The attack had struck directly, leaving almost no time for the First Elder to evade, and the force was sufficient to obliterate an ordinary Golden Core cultivator. Even if she possessed a defensive artefact, surviving such an impact would be difficult.
Lou Guyang began to turn away.
Then, without warning, a streak of sword light erupted from the depths of the crater.
It moved like a bolt of lightning, cutting through the lingering smoke before either of the demonic cultivators could fully react. The flying sword was so fast that its brilliant trail seemed to remain suspended in the air for an instant after the weapon had already passed, and by the time the black-clothed cultivator on the left sensed the danger, the sword had reached his chest.
PCH!
The blade pierced straight through his body.
His eyes widened in disbelief as the sword Qi erupted inside him, tearing through his internal defences and scattering the demonic energy protecting his organs. Before he could gather his power to resist, the force behind the strike sent him flying backwards, his body smashing through a rocky ridge before disappearing into a cloud of shattered stone.
BOOM!
The mountain behind him collapsed.
The remaining demonic cultivator immediately retreated, his black robes fluttering as he released a surge of demonic Qi to protect himself. His gaze snapped towards the crater, while Lou Guyang's expression finally changed.
He turned sharply.
The smoke began to clear.
A figure slowly emerged from the depths of the crater, walking across the shattered earth as though she had merely stepped out of a shallow depression rather than survived an attack that had obliterated an entire mountain range.
It was the First Elder of the Lin Family.
A flickering golden light surrounded her body, forming a thin protective barrier that pulsed faintly with every movement. Her robes were torn in several places, and blood still stained her sleeve, but the aura protecting her had not completely faded.
Lou Guyang's eyes narrowed before a mocking smile returned to his face.
"A Rank 4 Protective Aura Talisman."
He examined the golden light for a moment before letting out a cold laugh.
"No wonder you survived. It seems your Lin Family still possesses a few useful treasures, but how unfortunate that you only had one."
The First Elder said nothing.
She had indeed relied on the talisman to survive the attack, but the force of the impact had still left her blood and Qi in turmoil. The talisman had absorbed the overwhelming majority of the destructive force, preventing the attack from crushing her body outright, yet its protective aura was now flickering unsteadily, and she knew that it would not withstand another attack of the same magnitude.
She tightened her grip around her sword.
Her flying sword returned to her side, its blade still carrying traces of the sword Qi that had pierced the demonic cultivator's chest. Although she had managed to injure one opponent, the situation remained unfavourable, and with Lou Guyang standing before her, she could not afford to make even the smallest mistake.
Lou Guyang raised his hand again.
"Since your talisman has already saved your life once, let us see whether your sword can save you a second time."
The surrounding spiritual energy began to gather once more, rushing towards his palm in increasingly violent currents. This time, Lou Guyang did not bother concealing the scale of his attack, and the enormous pressure spreading through the mountain range made even the injured demonic cultivator retreat another distance.
The First Elder's expression became solemn.
She circulated her Golden Core with all her strength, drawing spiritual energy through her meridians while her flying sword trembled beside her, ready to strike at the first opening. She knew that confronting Lou Guyang head-on would be extremely dangerous, but if she turned to flee, the elderly alchemist might use his superior control over spiritual energy to strike her down before she could escape.
She had to find an opening.
Yet before Lou Guyang could launch his attack, something unexpected happened.
The spiritual energy gathering around his palm suddenly began to disappear.
It did not explode, nor was it dispersed by a violent counterattack. Instead, the countless currents of spiritual energy simply lost their cohesion, as though an invisible hand had reached into the surrounding world and gently unravelled the connections holding them together.
A five-coloured radiance spread through the air.
It passed over the mountains, swept across the crater and flowed through the space between the three Golden Core cultivators, resembling a thin veil of light that covered everything in its path.
Wherever the radiance passed, the gathered spiritual energy returned to its natural state.
Lou Guyang's expression changed drastically.
He immediately attempted to force the scattered energy back into formation, but the spiritual Qi refused to respond to his control. His attack had been interrupted before it could take shape, and the abrupt loss of control left him staring at the five-coloured light with disbelief and fury.
"Who dares to interfere?!"
His voice thundered across the devastated mountain range.
"Show yourself!"
He swept his divine sense through the surrounding area, searching for the source of the strange power, but the five-coloured radiance had already faded into the distance, leaving behind only the lingering sensation that the spiritual energy of the world had briefly fallen under someone else's control.
Lou Guyang's face twisted with anger.
"Whoever you are, you had better understand what you are getting involved in!"
He had barely finished speaking when a streak of light descended from the distant sky.
The figure arrived with such speed that the surrounding air produced a sharp whistle, but the moment he stopped above the crater, the violent fluctuations that had accompanied his arrival settled almost instantly. A young man dressed in ordinary robes appeared before them, his expression relaxed as he glanced over the ruined mountains and the three Golden Core cultivators.
Lin Sheng had arrived.
His gaze first passed over the First Elder, confirming that she was still alive, before moving towards the two black-clothed cultivators and finally settling on Lou Guyang.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Two against one? That seems a little unfair, doesn't it?"
He turned towards the First Elder and raised an eyebrow.
"Dear daoist, do you need a hand?"
The First Elder looked at him in surprise.
She had not expected to encounter another golden core cultivator in such a remote place, and the timing of his arrival was so precise that she could not help wondering whether he had been following her. Yet there was no time to ask questions, especially with Lou Guyang and the surviving demonic cultivator still standing before them.
She steadied her breathing and nodded slightly.
"Your assistance would be appreciated."
Lin Sheng smiled.
"Then leave the rest to me."
Lou Guyang stared at the young man for several breaths.
Then he began to laugh.
"Hahahahaha!"
The laughter rang through the devastated mountain range, growing louder until it echoed between the shattered peaks. Lin Sheng looked at him with an increasingly strange expression, feeling as though someone had suddenly struck him over the head with a donkey.
What is this old man laughing about? Has he finally lost his mind?
Lou Guyang eventually stopped laughing, his face still carrying a mocking smile as he looked at Lin Sheng.
"Excellent! Truly excellent! It seems the heavens have decided to help me today."
Lin Sheng raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? And what exactly are you so happy about?"
Lou Guyang's smile widened.
"Do you really think I came here merely to kill this woman?"
His gaze shifted towards Lin Sheng, and the greed that had been concealed beneath his composure finally emerged without restraint.
"I had originally intended to find you after leaving Zhenyuan City. You managed to conceal your aura well enough that I could not determine your movements, and I certainly could not attack you inside the city without attracting the attention of the Myriad Dao Pavilion. But now, you have delivered yourself directly into my hands."
Lin Sheng's expression remained calm, although his eyes had grown slightly colder.
Lou Guyang continued, his voice carrying an unmistakable note of triumph.
"The Great Five Elements Fruit!"
The words fell heavily across the crater.
"Do you think I would simply forget about such a treasure after failing to obtain it at the auction? That fruit is still useful to my cultivation, and with it, I might be able to improve my foundation further before attempting the Nascent Soul Realm. I had intended to ambush you once I found a suitable opportunity, take the fruit and then disappear before anyone could interfere."
He gave a cold laugh.
"Who would have thought that you would appear here of your own accord?"
Lou Guyang spread his arms slightly, as though he had already secured victory.
"Now I can obtain the Great Five Elements Fruit, eliminate the witnesses and remove another obstacle from my path. The heavens have truly shown me favour!"
Lin Sheng stared at him for a moment before shaking his head.
"So that's it."
His tone remained casual, but the faint amusement in his expression had disappeared.
"I was wondering why a Grandmaster Alchemist would be willing to work with demonic cultivators just to kill a member of the Lin Family. It turns out you are not only afraid of dying, but you are also greedy enough to risk everything for a fruit you failed to buy."
Lou Guyang's expression darkened.
"Watch your tongue!"
Lin Sheng ignored the warning and glanced at the injured First Elder.
"Daoist, stay back for now. Your injuries need attention, and I would rather not have to protect you while dealing with these two."
The First Elder hesitated for a moment before retreating to a safer distance. She knew that her current condition would make it difficult to contribute meaningfully to the fight, and this person's arrival had already given her the first genuine opportunity to survive this encounter.
Lin Sheng then turned back towards Lou Guyang and the surviving demonic cultivator.
His eyes swept over the latter's black robes, taking note of the demonic Qi still circulating around his body, before returning to Lou Guyang.
"Now then," he said with a faint smile, "since you were so eager to find me, why don't we see whether you have the strength to take what you want?"
The atmosphere above the shattered mountain range changed.
Lou Guyang's smile slowly disappeared as he realised that Lin Sheng was not the least bit frightened by the situation. The surviving demonic cultivator tightened his grip, his black Qi beginning to surge around his body, while the First Elder watched from a distance with her sword held firmly in her hand.
For the first time since the ambush began, Lou Guyang felt that something might not go according to plan.
But he quickly suppressed that thought.
He was a peak Golden Core cultivator, a Grandmaster Alchemist who had spent centuries refining his foundation, and he had two demonic cultivators assisting him. Even if Lin Sheng possessed an unusual method capable of disrupting his control over spiritual energy, that did not mean the young man could withstand their combined strength.
Lou Guyang raised his hand, and a cold killing intent filled his eyes.
"Since you have come, then don't even think about leaving alive!"
The spiritual energy around him began to gather once more, while the demonic cultivator beside him released a low, sinister laugh.
Lin Sheng merely smiled.
"That's what I was about to say."