Chapter 168: First Display of Might, Cowing the Petty

The pure yang and profound yin qi that Zhang Jun and Lin Xue leaked when they moved, as well as the unique primordial fluctuation when the Yin Yang Jade Pendant fused, also became tracking clues. The search net is gradually tightening.

Just as Shadow's side was in full swing, a mishap occurred.

The few old-timers of the Lin family's branch who had lost power, seeing Lin Xue return and the main line about to be reestablished, felt utterly hopeless, filled with both hatred and fear.

They knew how formidable Zhang Jun and Lin Xue were, and also knew that the Lin family had been secretly entangled with Shadow over the years.

To save their lives, and hoping to gain some advantage from Shadow, even dreaming of reclaiming the Lin family's authority, these old-timers secretly sent their confidants to contact Shadow's outpost in the capital.

They said they would reveal Zhang Jun and Lin Xue's secrets, including some of the Lin family's hidden contact points, asking only that Shadow protect them and help them turn things around.

After hearing the report, the Black Judge twitched the corner of his mouth, his smile icy cold.

"Trash with trash—actually a good match."

He neither agreed nor refused, just had the lean man take the information, saying "Let's see."

In his eyes, those few branch elders of the Lin family were no different from stray dogs by the road, easy to kick aside. But the things they brought might let him obtain the Yin Yang Jade Pendant more quickly.

Shadow's efficiency is indeed terrifying.

Soon, after matching Zhou Qian's residual aura, Zhang Jun and Lin Xue's energy traces, and the bit of information from the Lin family's branch, the scouts roughly outlined the target's activity range. Following the vine to the melon, they traced it all the way to the vicinity of Third Master Liu's small courtyard.

Although Third Master Liu's courtyard was well hidden and protected by a formation disk, those scouts with noses keener than dogs still sensed something off.

They didn't storm in, but instead stationed people around the perimeter, keeping a close watch to confirm whether this place had any connection to the target.

Danger, like rising tide water, was silently surging from all directions toward Zhang Jun and Lin Xue, who had just gained a great advantage.

They had just left the deep mountain area, passing through a sparse grove of small trees.

The half of the jade pendant in Zhang Jun's palm suddenly heated up, followed by several rapid beats.

Something's wrong!

Lin Xue also stopped at the same moment, gripping the cold other half of the jade pendant.

The surrounding woods were filled with looming shadows.

"They're here." Her voice was soft, yet carried a chill.

Before her words faded, the surrounding bushes shook violently!

"Swish—swish—swish—"

Seven or eight black shadows shot out soundlessly, extraordinarily swift, instantly encircling them!

Clad in black and masked, they wielded strange blades glowing with an eerie light, cooperating seamlessly as they aimed for vital spots.

"Hey, your nose is sharp." Zhang Jun flexed his wrist, his newly gained power eager to find a target.

"Kill!" the leader snarled, his short blade slicing the wind as it thrust toward Zhang Jun's throat.

The others moved at once, sealing off all escape routes, striking with ruthless cruelty!

Zhang Jun neither dodged nor retreated; instead he advanced, his body shifting!

"Bang!"

He struck first despite acting later, his fist squarely hitting that man's chest!

Pure yang energy exploded, using less than ten percent of it!

That black-clad man's chest caved in; he let out no groan, flying backward ten-some meters to crash to the ground, silent.

Two cold gleams attacked from behind.

Zhang Jun didn't look back, throwing a backward elbow!

"Crack!"

A crisp bone-breaking sound!

One person's arm bent backward, screaming as they flew away.

Another reacted quickly, trying to retreat!

Too late!

Zhang Jun swept out with a whip kick, the wind howling, striking squarely at the waist!

"Ugh!"

That person arched and flew out, landing curled up and twitching.

In an instant, three were rendered combat ineffective!

The remaining black-clad men froze in unison, their hearts pounding wildly.

The intel was wrong! This person is a freakishly strong monster!

Just as they hesitated, Lin Xue struck.

She didn't move her body, only her fingertips twitched slightly.

Several threads of extremely fine profound yin energy silently spread out.

One black-clad man circling behind felt his ankle suddenly tighten, bone‑chilling cold striking, causing him to stagger.

Another's sword‑wielding arm abruptly froze, movement sluggish to the extreme, the blade unable to advance even a fraction.

Yet another found the ground beneath his feet suddenly ice over, caught off guard, he slipped and fell to the ground.

Lin Xue's attack showed no outward flair, yet it left the remaining assassins bound hand and foot, unable to unleash any of their skills.

"Use that!" the black‑clad leader, seeing the situation turn bad, flashed a ferocious look, pulled out a black bone tile etched with strange runes, and was about to activate it!

The bone tile exuded a gloomy yin qi, giving off a foul, poisonous aura.

But he had no chance.

The Yin Yang Jade Pendant in Zhang Jun's and Lin Xue's hands both flashed a faint light!

A soft halo of light rippled out, appearing harmless yet containing some supreme authority.

The black qi on the bone tile met the halo, making a "hiss‑hiss" sound as it rapidly dissolved!

The bone tile itself began to smoke!

Ah—!

The leader screamed miserably, his hand holding the tiles instantly turned black, the tiles slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground, all spiritual light vanished, becoming a piece of useless bone.

The jade pendant automatically protected its master, restraining evil entities!

"Withdraw! Quickly withdraw!" the leader exclaimed, utterly terrified—these two targets were outright monsters, and that jade pendant was their bane!

He endured the intense pain and hoarsely gave the order.

"You think you can leave?" Zhang Jun sneered, lunging again!

This time he held nothing back; fists and feet kicked up wind, pure yang energy surging!

The black-clad men, already terrified, could not possibly resist.

Miserable screams echoed, figures flew through the air, hands and feet severed, they collapsed unable to rise.

In the blink of an eye, another layer of bodies lay on the ground.

Zhang Jun left the injured leader, stepping on his chest: "Who sent you? The 'Shadow'?"

The leader's face first showed despair, then a strange resolve appeared.

He opened his mouth, as if to speak.

But the instant he opened his mouth, his complexion drastically changed, black blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, his body convulsed violently, his head lolled to the side, and he died!

It seemed that both his vitality and soul were instantly wiped out!

"Damn it!" Zhang Jun spat, moving his foot away.

The methods of the 'Shadow' were indeed ruthless, not sparing even their own.

Lin Xue stepped forward to examine the corpse, also glancing at the weapons and discarded tiles on the ground.

She stood up and drew the conclusion: "The 'Shadow's' black-clad guards. Stronger than ordinary shadow guards, well-trained. We've been marked for death."

Zhang Jun's face sank: "They deployed the black-clad guards, aiming for the jade pendant and the inheritance."

He scanned the mess around: "We shouldn't linger here; our whereabouts have been exposed."

Lin Xue nodded: "Return to the capital city. Though dangerous, perhaps we can find clues and aid."

The two were just about to set out.

Suddenly!

A terrifyingly extreme aura surged like a tidal wave from the direction of the capital city!

Gloomy, dark, bearing the pressure of judging all things, far surpassing the black-clad guards just now by hundreds or thousands of times!

Its speed was unimaginable!

The Yin Yang Jade Pendant in their hands suddenly burst forth with unprecedented light, violently trembling, emitting the strongest warning!

Zhang Jun and Lin Xue's faces simultaneously changed drastically!

Zhang Jun and Lin Xue's bodies suddenly sank, their qi and blood churning, cold seeping into their bone joints, breathing becoming labored.

The alarm in their hearts was pulled to the loudest!

"Damn! What an intense pressure! This guy..." Zhang Jun's face turned as ugly as possible, his palm gripping the jade pendant scorching hot.

"Black Judge!" Lin Xue's voice remained icy, yet a hint of tension crept in, "He has come in person!"