Chapter 549: Don

Across the azure sky, a figure strolled forward as if taking a leisurely walk, drawing the attention of everyone present.

When they recognized the face of this figure, the warriors of Canglan Domain on the mountain peak erupted in cheers—they knew this face all too well.

“Little brother!”

Liang Hanyang and Chai Daoqi both had sparks of light in their eyes; neither had expected their little brother to appear at this moment.

The little brother arrived just in time.

“Master Lin has come—we’re no longer afraid of this battle.”

The Canglan Domain’s Xiantian-stage warriors also exhaled in relief; they had witnessed Master Lin’s power displayed on Mount Dengwudao and his achievements in the Tongtian Tower, where he had already stood at the peak of Xiantian Third Stage.

And among the younger warriors, excitement surged uncontrollably—this Master Lin, who had repeatedly shattered expectations and forged miracles, was the most revered figure in the hearts of all young warriors of Canglan Domain.

And now, this Master Lin, who had repeatedly forged miracles, stood right before them—how could they not be stirred?

“Little brother, how did you get here?”

“Little brother, have you returned to see Master?”

“Second brother, third brother, no time for reunions now—I’ll deal with them first.”

Lin Chen nodded to his two senior brothers, then turned his gaze toward the three Xiantian Third Stage warriors of Bahuang Domain.

Under Lin Chen’s gaze, the three Bahuang Domain Xiantian Third Stage warriors felt as if facing a dire threat.

A man’s name, a tree’s shadow!

Lin Chen’s name needed no elaboration—if his summiting of Mount Dengwudao had once allowed them to dismiss him as a promising youth, his achievements in the Tongtian Tower had made it clear to these three: none of them could defeat him in single combat.

More than two years ago, the outside world had already estimated his strength as peak Xiantian Third Stage; now, two years later, his power could only be greater.

If it were only Lin Chen, perhaps their combined strength might still hold a chance—but with Liang Hanyang and Chai Daoqi beside him, this battle was already lost.

Retreat!

This was the shared thought in all three minds; after exchanging glances, they simultaneously transformed into arcs of light and shot downward toward their troops.

This time, they had brought thirty Xiantian-stage warriors—though only Xiantian First Stage, their numbers might at least delay Lin Chen and buy them time to flee.

Yes, the three had never believed they could defeat Lin Chen through sheer numbers; each realm gap in Xiantian Sixth Stage was immense—dozens of Xiantian Second Stage warriors together still couldn’t match a single Xiantian Third Stage.

Their plan was sound, but their retreat was swift—and Lin Chen’s speed was faster still.

In the very instant the three began retreating, Lin Chen moved.

No earth-shattering qi explosions, no intricate, dazzling cultivation techniques.

Lin Chen simply took one step forward—yet his figure vanished from all eyes, leaving behind only a visible, microscopic shockwave ripple in the air, formed by his extreme speed, silently exploding in place.

When he reappeared, Lin Chen stood before a middle-aged man clad in black robes; the man’s body hairs stood on end, and in panic, he swung his sleeves, launching several streaks of black light streaking toward Lin Chen, radiating chilling frost.

Yet Lin Chen merely extended one fist, plain and simple.

In the middle-aged man’s eyes, Lin Chen’s punch exceeded the limits of his spiritual sense—he couldn’t even trace its path. Before his black light even touched Lin Chen’s fist, it shattered under the punch’s wind pressure; before he could react further, he felt a violent pain in his chest.

Puff!

Lin Chen’s fist struck the black-robed man’s chest without obstruction.

No bone-cracking sound—only a dull, suffocating explosion. The man’s expression of horror froze instantly, then as if all life had been drained, he stiffened in place, eyes bulging with disbelief and confusion. The next moment, his skin cracked inch by inch; his internal organs, spine, and all flesh were shattered into pulp by the terrifying force of that single punch!

The middle-aged man perished—but Lin Chen’s figure vanished from the spot the moment he punched, reappearing beside another man at nearly the same instant. The man reacted swiftly, summoning a spear and roaring as he thrust it forward, the spearhead radiating terrifying energy that made the air scream under its strain.

Yet Lin Chen remained expressionless, slowly raising one hand, fingers splayed wide, and casually, lightly grasped the incoming spear.

Crack!

The spearhead, capable of splitting mountains and piercing space, shattered like rotten wood the moment it touched Lin Chen’s seemingly ordinary fingers. The violent energy surge was effortlessly crushed into nothingness, dissolving into a shower of radiant light.

The man’s pupils shrank in terror, an endless chill rising in his heart—but before he could act further, he felt an iron grip clamp around his neck. An unstoppable force instantly sealed his meridians and halted his life flow; he had no time to self-destruct. His fierce expression vanished, replaced by boundless fear and confusion.

Lin Chen’s arm gave a slight shake, without a trace of violence.

Ssssh!

Like plucking a ripe fruit, he tore the muscular man’s head clean off his neck. Blood, long pent-up like erupted lava, spurted over ten feet high. Before the geyser of blood could fall, the headless body convulsed violently and crashed downward.

The final tall, slender warrior witnessed his two companions perish in an instant—his soul nearly fled his body. He pushed his body to its limit, fleeing desperately toward the army below, so fast he left afterimages trailing behind!

Watching the fleeing tall, slender man, Lin Chen stood in midair, his cold gaze locking onto the desperate gray blur. He raised his right hand—and a colossal finger descended from the heavens, crashing down to engulf a ten-zhang radius around the fleeing figure.

Boom!

The colossal finger struck, and the earth collapsed violently. Dust and shattered rocks erupted skyward like a geyser, forming a brief but magnificent cloud of yellow. A terrifying shockwave expanded in a ring, flinging nearby Bahuang Domain warriors into chaos!

As the dust settled, only a deep, charred finger-shaped crater remained, several zhang deep, its cracks spreading dozens of zhang outward.

In the crater’s center, a blurred mass of flesh and shattered bones could barely be made out—the tall, slender man’s presence had vanished utterly from heaven and earth!

The tall, slender man, along with several Xiantian-stage warriors caught in the blast, offered no effective resistance or cry—reduced to dust beneath the colossal handprint from the sky!

The battlefield fell utterly silent.

Whether from Canglan Domain or Bahuang Domain, all warriors were stunned by what they had just witnessed.

In barely five breaths, three Xiantian-stage warriors had perished—was this even a battle between Xiantian Third Stage cultivators?

“Little brother he…”

Chai Daoqi’s mouth hung open, equally stunned. He knew his little brother was strong—but this was absurdly beyond reason.

Xiantian Third Stage—crushed like grass under his feet. It left Chai Daoqi, himself a Xiantian Third Stage, with a tangled mix of emotions.

“All of you, listen! Kill the invaders from Bahuang Domain!”

As soon as Liang Hanyang recovered from his shock, he issued the order immediately. Lin’s slaughter had already shattered the morale of the entire Bahuang Domain force—now was the perfect moment to pursue and annihilate them.

The Canglan Domain warriors snapped back to awareness and surged toward the mountain peak. Even if outnumbered, with Master Lin present, victory in this battle was already assured.