Chapter 286: Sudden Attack, Destined Encounter
“…”
Yang Chanzhen was speechless for a moment, awkwardly withdrawing her hand.
Although she had long known that Lin Tianlu possessed extraordinary abilities, to casually alter and reverse such a large-scale formation with a wave of his hand still left her speechless with surprise.
“What method did Master Lin just use…?”
“I just ‘seized’ this formation.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and shook his hand: “Since I couldn’t break the formation with brute force, I simply took it for myself, both to maintain the stability of the residents’ lives and to stop the absorption of Yin energy. This way, Huangfeng County can function normally again, undisturbed by the influx of Yin energy.”
Yang Chanzhen was speechless.
Although his words sounded simple, the process was far more difficult than one could imagine.
Such an incredible feat could probably only be accomplished by the man before her.
“So, Huangfeng County is now completely safe?”
Cheng Yishi, following behind, looked around curiously: “But there doesn’t seem to be any noticeable change?”
“The abnormality here formed gradually over ten years, so naturally, it will take many years to return to normal. But there’s no need for us to worry, it will gradually regain its former vitality.”
Yang Chanzhen explained softly.
Mao Ruoyu frowned with worry: “But this technique extends beyond the county, what exactly—”
Hum—!
Just then, a strange fluctuation suddenly descended upon them.
“Who dares to tamper with our formation!”
A loud and resounding roar suddenly echoed, reverberating like thunder in their ears.
Just a verbal threat, but the pressure that came with it made Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi’s expressions change slightly as they looked up in surprise.
A straight crack appeared in the sunset-filled sky, splitting open to the sides. An old man in black robes, his aura as deep as an abyss, stepped out, his dark eyes like bottomless whirlpools, scanning Lin Tianlu and the others.
Seeing Yang Chanzhen, the old man couldn’t help but sneer: “Heh, it’s the Azure Lady of Mount Min of this generation?”
“And who are you?”
Yang Chanzhen looked back calmly: “I have no impression of you among the various factions.”
“We live in seclusion, naturally, even the Azure Lady of Mount Min wouldn’t know anything about us.”
The mysterious old man stopped sneering, his expression indifferent as he raised a finger: “Now it seems that you, the Azure Lady of Mount Min, are trying to harm the formation. I must eliminate you.”
“You… want to make an enemy of Mount Min?” Yang Chanzhen’s gaze narrowed.
“Although Mount Min is quite mysterious, it’s still not enough to make me pay the price. Even if this little successor of yours dies here, no one will know what happened… Hmm?”
The mysterious old man frowned slightly, his gaze shifting to Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi. He quickly marveled: “Interesting, besides the Azure Lady of Mount Min, there are two other such extraordinary women. Their grace and charm are truly rare in this world. It would be a pity if they were to die here.”
“You—”
Before he could finish speaking, Mao Ruoyu suddenly felt a strange force wrapping around her wrist, as if trying to pull her into the sky.
Slap!
But with a crisp sound, the invisible pulling force was shattered by a wave of his hand.
Lin Tianlu retracted his right hand and smiled: “Old man, your actions are a bit disrespectful. Why resort to violence after just a few words?”
“Oh?”
The mysterious old man exclaimed softly, looking at him with interest: “It seems I misjudged you. I didn’t expect you to have such extraordinary abilities, scholar. And the silver fox on your shoulder is quite remarkable, it must be a demon or ghost above the Crimson Demon Realm.
Interesting, to have so many outstanding women gathered around you at such a young age, you truly have some extraordinary luck.”
Lin Tianlu narrowed his eyes slightly: “Don’t you think your words are a bit too rude, old man?”
“Hahahaha! I’ve lived in this world for a thousand years, and this is the first time I’ve been lectured by a mortal brat, truly laughable!”
The mysterious old man laughed arrogantly, his hands behind his back, looking down at them condescendingly: “There’s no need for such formalities when talking to juniors like you. Although you have some luck, scholar, it ends here. I’ll take these two women, let’s see what other formalities you want to discuss with me!”
He suddenly swiped his fingers to the side.
Instantly, a void appeared behind Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi, like the mouth of a giant beast, swallowing them whole!
And with a wave of his left hand, Yang Chanzhen groaned as she was pulled into the air as if being controlled!
“—Tianlu, save them!”
She shouted hurriedly, forming hand seals to resist and struggle.
But in the next moment, Lin Tianlu’s figure blurred in mid-air, and he caught Yang Chanzhen in his arms with lightning speed, simultaneously striking out at the old man with his palm!
“Hmm?!”
The old man, who had been sneering, suddenly changed his expression, his gaze turning sharp. He felt a hidden threat within this seemingly casual palm strike, as if the slightest carelessness would result in serious injury!
His mind racing, the old man suddenly roared, waving his hand and unleashing a fierce and surging torrent of energy, like crackling thunder, to meet Lin Tianlu’s palm!
Boom!
With a loud boom like a thunderclap, countless gusts of wind and streams of light exploded in mid-air.
“This—”
The old man’s expression changed drastically as he felt an incredibly terrifying power surging towards him, his sleeves and arms shattering inch by inch!
The brief clash ended instantly, and Lin Tianlu, holding Yang Chanzhen in his arms, landed back on the ground, his expression calm.
But the old man was sent flying by the palm strike, crashing through the crack behind him. With a muffled groan and cough, he stumbled back several feet before finally stopping.
“Such powerful palm force, and this strange aura… who are you?!”
He trembled as he clenched his cracked hand, his face filled with shock and uncertainty.
“Just a scholar.”
Lin Tianlu put Yang Chanzhen down and said indifferently: “But it should be more than enough to deal with you.”
“Such an extraordinary person has appeared in the mortal world, yet there hasn’t been a single rumor.”
The old man clicked his tongue softly, and with a surge of energy, his almost shattered right arm began to heal rapidly.
He was also shocked.
Although it was just a brief clash, the power displayed by this strange scholar was no less than that of a peak Savage Realm demon or ghost, and his unpredictable aura added an even more mysterious and unpredictable element, making it difficult to accurately gauge his true realm.
“I see, so it wasn’t the Azure Lady of Mount Min who interfered with our formation, it was you, scholar!”
“Since you dared to manipulate and deceive the local residents with your techniques, you should be prepared to be exposed.”
Lin Tianlu raised his hand and smiled: “If you have any other tricks, feel free to try them. I’m also quite curious about your secrets.”
This elderly man before him was undoubtedly a demon or ghost.
But the aura he exuded was so profound and powerful, surpassing ordinary Savage Realm demons and ghosts, almost reaching the peak of the Savage Realm, practically on par with First Elder and Wu Jingyun.
And during their brief clash, he could vaguely sense a strange aura slightly different from Yin energy, incredibly cold and chilling, its power seemingly even greater than that of pure Yin energy.
Where did this power come from?
“…Heh! Arrogant brat!”
The old man clenched his now healed right hand and quickly sneered again: “You do have some unique abilities, and I’m not entirely confident that I can defeat you. But haven’t you noticed that the two women behind you have disappeared? You saved the Azure Lady of Mount Min, but they weren’t so lucky.”
Yang Chanzhen’s expression changed, filled with worry and guilt: “Tianlu, I just now…”
“Don’t worry.”
But Lin Tianlu waved his hand with a smile: “They’re not that easy to deal with.”
“Ridiculous!”
The old man laughed loudly, his hands behind his back as he floated in the air: “Trapped in our secret prison, those two women will only meet a tragic end! But seeing their extraordinary constitutions and beauty, perhaps they can give birth to some outstanding offspring for our clan. Sparing their lives is something to consider.”
Yang Chanzhen’s eyes flashed with unease, her mind racing, but she couldn’t sense the slightest trace of the two women around her.
Even if they had been taken away by a technique, there would still be some residual aura, but now they had disappeared without a trace. Could they really have been pulled into some other realm, similar to the Netherworld?
But at this moment, Lin Tianlu just shook his head and chuckled.
The old man’s expression darkened: “What are you laughing at?”
Could he have guessed wrong? Did those two women have no close relationship with this scholar?
But when the Azure Lady of Mount Min was attacked, she had clearly called them “wives,” so they shouldn’t be unrelated.
Or was it—
“I’m just laughing that you, old man, despite your extraordinary cultivation, have lived in seclusion for too long and have forgotten to be vigilant.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and pointed at the old man’s eyes: “Do you really think my two wives are so weak and helpless, that they can be bullied and slaughtered by you at will?”
The old man tilted his head back, a sense of unease rising in his heart.
Where did this scholar get his confidence from?
It was one thing that his cultivation was so strange that he couldn’t see through it, but those two women were definitely only at the Crimson Demon Realm, they couldn’t possibly escape the range of his technique.
They should have already been imprisoned in the secret prison, their bodies bound, waiting for their judgment.
But this man—
Thump!!
The old man’s eyes bulged out abruptly, as if he had been struck by a blunt object. His neck bent forward at a terrifying angle as he was sent flying, crashing into the roof of a nearby house before finally stopping.
Then, two graceful figures floated down from the sky like celestial beings, their black and white robes dancing in the wind, their delicate jade-like legs faintly visible beneath their skirts, their figures landing lightly and gracefully.
Cheng Yishi, holding Mao Ruoyu in one arm, held an axe in her other hand, her eyes crimson as she stared at the old man in the distance, snorting coldly as she swung the axe: “This guy is truly powerful, he actually withstood my axe blow unscathed.”
She had originally wanted to cleave him in two with her axe, but it had felt like striking iron, incredibly hard. Now, her palm was slightly numb.
“How… how could you escape?!”
The old man stood up again, his face slightly distorted.
Although that axe blow hadn’t truly injured him, this strange situation was now beyond his control!
Suddenly, he glared fiercely at Mao Ruoyu, who was forming hand seals: “You’re the one behind this!”
Mao Ruoyu just smiled faintly, not saying a word.
She focused on maintaining her Yin technique, in case of any sudden traps or attacks.
Although the devouring and transferring technique from just now was extremely dangerous, she had been diligently cultivating recently and had regained her skills. Although her cultivation wasn’t high yet, she could easily use these Moon Shadow Secret Techniques, even giving her some leeway against Savage Realm demons and ghosts.
“Damn it!”
The old man clenched his hands in fury, waving his sleeves, about to use his strange technique again, when a gust of wind suddenly slammed down from above!
“Azure Lady of Mount Min, you dare to resist!”
He roared angrily, raising his hand to meet the incoming storm. The house beneath his feet collapsed under the impact, and his figure was forced into the ground by the wind pressure.
“I’ll kill you first!” The old man’s eyes widened in fury, his gaze like lightning, fixed on Yang Chanzhen in the distance as dust and debris flew everywhere.
At the same time, the ground beneath his feet trembled, and a strange fluctuation instantly spread out, engulfing everything within a hundred feet.
Lin Tianlu, who had been taking the opportunity to charge forward, suddenly exclaimed softly, feeling a repulsive force pushing him back.
Countless shadows flickered within the black formation, cold light intertwining and dancing. The pressure alone was enough to make Mao Ruoyu and the others’ expressions change drastically, as if their entire bodies were being cut and shredded by countless blades. Their minds raced, as if they had fallen into a mountain of blades and a sea of fire, the chilling aura of death crawling all over them.
“This pressure—”
“An external manifestation of the… Soul Origin Heart Realm?!” Yang Chanzhen froze, her pupils constricting: “No, he’s also using the Soul Origin Heart Realm to forcibly exclude Tianlu, his control is extremely precise!”
“I’ll sever your limbs and bring you back to our clan, your fate will be worse than death!”
The old man’s figure twisted and contorted, countless curses and shadows seemingly surging and growing behind him, his voice becoming even more piercing and hoarse, like the roar of a wild beast: “Kneel before me!”
An overwhelming wave of cold light suddenly descended from above. Yang Chanzhen quickly appeared in front of Cheng Yishi and Mao Ruoyu, her fingers moving as she prepared to block the first wave of attacks as much as possible.
But at this moment, a hand suddenly tore through the black curtain enveloping the area and landed directly on the old man’s distorted face.
“—!”
His expression turned to shock as he looked back in disbelief. Lin Tianlu had torn apart the otherworldly realm formed by the Soul Origin Heart Realm with his bare hands, a smile on his face: “Your idea was quite good, but this ‘wall’ isn’t strong enough!”
Boom!
Before the old man could even react, his head was slammed against the black barrier, circular cracks rapidly spreading, and the massive Soul Origin Heart Realm instantly collapsed and shattered.
“Aaaaaaaaah!”
The previously unfathomable aura completely dissipated, and the old man now only roared furiously, struggling to break free from the hand on his face. He leaped into the air, his arms flailing wildly, unleashing countless sharp blades that seemed to tear through space.
But his desperate counterattack was dodged by Lin Tianlu, who moved nimbly between the blades, before casually pointing a finger behind him without even looking back.
Pfft!
A powerful force pierced through the center of the old man’s forehead, his eyes widening in a daze as he stumbled backward.
He couldn’t seem to believe that he had been defeated by such a casual method. The realm he had painstakingly cultivated for nearly a thousand years had come to such a tragic and abrupt end!
—No!
If direct confrontation wasn’t enough, there were still other methods!
A cold glint reappeared in the old man’s eyes, and he grinned ferociously, waving his arms and creating several cracks in the air before him.
“Today is both a misfortune and a fateful encounter! Since you possess such terrifying power, scholar, I’ll let you wreak havoc in the ancient realm and see if you, this monster who appeared out of nowhere, are stronger, or if those ancient powerhouses are even stronger than you!”
Countless intricate patterns intertwined and transformed into a pitch-black void, more than ten feet wide.
Lin Tianlu frowned slightly and was about to leave when he realized that his surroundings had changed.
It was no longer the deserted old town district of Huangfeng County, but a pitch-black swamp, the deep darkness seemingly endless.
Was this… a forced teleportation method similar to the Netherworld and the Path of the Netherworld?
“Brat! Stay in this desolate place for a while! I’ll return after I recover and make full preparations. Next time we meet, I’ll take your head as a sacrifice!”
The old man’s chilling laughter echoed from all directions, quickly fading away.
But Lin Tianlu didn’t panic, instead chuckling: “They say you can’t stumble in the same place twice, I won’t be caught off guard again.”
As he spoke, he waved his sleeve, and a magnificent sword light instantly tore through the darkness!
Like a ray of dawn breaking through the night, it split the chaotic darkness in two, a bright light erupting from the sword wound.
“How could this be—Argh!!”
The old man’s fading voice suddenly reappeared, but it abruptly cut off, his remaining aura completely dissipating.
The ancient broken sword spun and returned to his palm, the surrounding darkness crumbling and shattering.
“…”
Everything settled.
The collapse of the Soul Origin Heart Realm and the shattering of the dark realm happened almost simultaneously.
As the dust settled, the ruined streets reappeared, covered in bottomless ravines, as if a man-made abyss.
Amidst the ruins, Lin Tianlu stood tall and straight, putting away his broken sword with a wave of his sleeve. He turned to the others, smiling and giving them a thumbs-up: “Don’t worry, it’s over.”
“Hu—”
Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi, who had just broken free, couldn’t help but sigh in relief.
This sudden clash had truly startled them. It was a good thing that everyone was safe and sound.
“Thank you for your help just now, Miss Yang.”
“No, I didn’t do much.”
Yang Chanzhen also breathed a sigh of relief, shaking her head slightly with a look of shame.
Lin Tianlu was about to turn around and walk towards them when he suddenly stopped.
He frowned slightly and turned towards the roof of a nearby house.
At the same time, a familiar, seductive, and playful female voice drifted over like a whisper.
“Master Lin’s abilities are truly extraordinary, as rumored, like a celestial being, easily defeating even such a demon. It truly amazes me. But you still lack experience, you don’t know that a remnant soul escaping into the ancient realm isn’t that easy to destroy.”
“Who are you?”
Lin Tianlu’s gaze narrowed.
A beautiful woman sat on the roof, her long, smooth legs clad in black silk, her jade-like skin faintly visible. Her slender and graceful waist curved upwards, her ample bosom equally impressive.
The beauty stroked her flowing hair and played with her slender fingers, a faint soul seemingly being kneaded and rolled between them.
“You can call me… Youluo, Master Lin.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she slightly tightened her fingers.
The struggling soul instantly shattered, a faint wail seemingly echoing from the old man.
