Chapter 65: Bloodline Clash: The Explosive Truth of the Father-Son Showdown

Zhang Jun and Lin Zhen confronted each other at the center of the violent energy storm, the Heaven-Man Sword and Lin Zhen's energy shield colliding violently time and again, each contact erupting with a deafening roar and blinding sparks.

"You think awakening lets you match me?" Lin Zhen roared, his voice having lost its former calm, "I've mastered this power for twenty years!"

He thrust out a palm violently, a purple energy pillar as thick as a water barrel tore through the air, slamming straight into Zhang Jun's chest.

Zhang Jun blocked with his sword horizontally, yet was pushed back repeatedly by that overwhelming force, smashing several energy conduits that were spewing purple fluid.

"You're too weak, son." Lin Zhen's voice filled with disappointment, "I gave you the purest primordial bloodline, yet this is your performance."

Zhang Jun gasped heavily, his newly awakened power receding like a tide, his body beginning to groan under the strain. Lin Zhen was right—he had no idea how to control this power, relying solely on instinct to hold on.

Just as he felt he could barely hold on—

A bolt of ice-blue light shot down from above without warning, striking Lin Zhen's back with pinpoint accuracy!

"Ugh!" Lin Zhen cried out in pain, staggering as he turned.

Zhang Jun jerked his head up to look.

The cultivation tank suspended high above had shattered, Lin Xue floating silently in midair.

Her whole body was enveloped in a flowing ice-blue aura. Silver patterns beneath her skin had crawled across her cheeks, forming a complex, icy crystal design.

She slowly opened her eyes.

"Xue'er!"

Lin Xue showed no reaction, her face devoid of expression, cold as a delicate doll.

She merely raised her hand slowly, another ice-blue beam firing silently at Lin Zhen.

Lin Zhen hastily raised his energy shield, blocking the attack, but a thick layer of frost instantly formed on its surface, emitting a crack-crack sound of freezing.

"Ice Soul Power… fully awakened!" Lin Zhen, far from angry, instead showed fervent delight, "Perfect! Perfect! Exactly what I needed!"

He suddenly abandoned suppressing Zhang Jun, turned, and without hesitation flew toward Lin Xue hovering in midair.

Alarm bells rang in Zhang Jun's mind; he instantly grasped Lin Zhen's intent—this madman was about to force-start the fusion ritual!

"Xue'er! Be careful!"

Lin Xue seemed unable to hear the outside world, merely lifting her hand mechanically to launch an attack.

Ice-blue beams and Lin Zhen's surrounding purple energy continually collided, exploding in the air into gorgeous yet deadly blossoms of light.

Zhang Jun gritted his teeth, dragging the incredibly heavy Heaven-Man Sword, straining to fly to where the two were fighting.

The sword blade, having absorbed too much purple energy, became scorching and heavy, but he had no time to care, forcing up his last strength to fiercely swing a blow at Lin Zhen's back.

Lin Zhen seemed to have eyes in the back of his head; before Zhang Jun's sword tip even reached, his left hand already swept backward.

Suddenly, a thick purple energy wall condensed in the air, firmly blocking the Heaven-Man Sword's path.

At the same moment, his right hand clenched tightly around Lin Xue's wrist!

"Fusion, begin!"

Blinding light exploded!

Purple and ice-blue energies violently clashed and tangled at the point where he and Lin Xue made contact, forming a continually expanding sphere of light.

Lin Xue's features twisted in pain, her throat emitting hoarse, broken gasps, as if an invisible hand choked her, preventing any sound.

"Release her!" Zhang Jun's eyes turned red, he thrust the Heaven-Man Sword forward without hesitation.

The sword tip pressed against the light wall.

"Crack!"

With a crisp sound, the seemingly indestructible energy wall shattered instantly, turning into countless points of light.

Lin Zhen jerked his head back, his face showing shock for the first time.

Zhang Jun paid no heed, the Heaven-Man Sword's momentum undiminished, it stabbed straight toward Lin Zhen's heart.

In the nick of time, Lin Zhen was forced to release Lin Xue, his hands swiftly forming seals, layer upon layer of defense erected before his chest.

"Boom——"

The sword tip and energy shield collided violently, the exploding blast wave hurling all three violently.

Lin Xue was flung away, her back striking a distant metal wall with a muffled grunt before she slid to the ground. She shook her head, the point of light slowly focusing in her formerly hollow silver pupils, revealing a hint of bewilderment as if she had just broken free from some chaotic state.

"Zhang Jun?" she cried out instinctively.

"Xue'er!" Zhang Jun had just steadied himself, wanting to rush over, when Lin Zhen's phantom-like figure already blocked his path.

"Don't even think of ruining my plan!" Lin Zhen, having completely lost his former composure, roared, his hands gripping the air as purple energy swiftly gathered, condensing into a murderous spear that he hurled at Zhang Jun.

Zhang Jun hastily swung his sword to block.

"Clang!"

The energy spear was split in half by the Heaven-Man Sword.

Yet the two split energy streams still cunningly curved around the blade, slamming hard into Zhang Jun's left shoulder and right thigh!

"Pfft!"

Blood spurted, two bowl-sized wounds appearing starkly.

"Ugh!" Agony surged, Zhang Jun let out a miserable cry, unable to maintain his form any longer, he plummeted straight down from midair and crashed with a "thud" onto the cold metal floor.

The Heaven-Man Sword flew from his grasp, clanging as it landed several meters away, the purple dragon-pattern light on its blade flickering erratically.

Lin Zhen stepped closer, a cold smile on his face: "It's over, son."

He raised his hand, another energy spear beginning to coalesce, its tip aimed at the immobilized Zhang Jun on the ground.

"You once had the chance to become the ruler of the new world, a pity you chose destruction."

Zhang Jun gritted his teeth, desperately trying to climb up, but blood loss and agony left him utterly weakened, even lifting a finger an effort. He gazed at the Heaven-Man Sword not far off, its purple dragon pattern seeming to pulse, calling to him.

Just as Lin Zhen drew back his arm, about to unleash a fatal strike—

A bolt of ice-blue light tore through the air, striking precisely the arm where he was condensing the spear!

"Zizzle—crack!"

The piercing cold spread instantly, and Lin Zhen's arm, together with the unformed energy spear, was frozen into an ice sculpture in the blink of an eye.

"Ugh!" Lin Zhen grunted in pain, and a faint cracking sound came from the ice on his arm.

Lin Xue stood not far away; those ice-crystal patterns on her face remained conspicuous, but her expression had returned to clarity and calm.

"Dad, enough." Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable resolve: "This isn't saving the world; it's destroying the world."

Lin Zhen slowly turned toward his daughter, his expression extremely complex: "Xue'er, you don't understand! You simply don't understand! The wisdom of higher-dimensional beings far exceeds our imagination, the future they see——"

"I don't care what higher-dimensional beings are!" Lin Xue shouted, cutting him off. "All I know is, you're no longer my father!"

"My dad wouldn't kill my mom!"

"He wouldn't treat a friend who's been through life and death as a test subject!"

"Nor would he dream of controlling everyone's thoughts, turning Earth into an emotionless icy prison!"

Lin Zhen's facial muscles twitched violently; a flash of hurt crossed his violet‑glowing eyes, but it was quickly overtaken by deeper madness.

"You've disappointed me too much, Xue'er."