Chapter 101: Lightning Counterattack

The trip to the Dark Hall allowed Lin Xuan to grasp the possible location of the Shadow Tower's core nest and also gave him a deeper understanding of the underground world of the Imperial Capital. Passive defense had never been his style. Since the Zhao Clan and the Shadow Tower were like maggots on the bone, he would use thunderous means to cut off the claws they had extended!

The primary target was the Shadow Tower's stronghold in the Shadow Zone of the Ghost Market. Although it was a front, it must be stationed with many assassins. Eliminating it would not only severely damage the Shadow Tower's tentacles in the Imperial Capital but also greatly deter the Zhao Clan and other petty people.

This time, he would not act alone.

Inside Qingyun Cottage, Lin Xuan met with the Third Imperial Prince Huangfu Hao again.

"Brother Lin wants to take action against the Shadow Tower stronghold?" Huangfu Hao heard Lin Xuan's plan, a flash of surprise in his eyes, which then turned into excitement and gravity. "Is this move too risky? Although that stronghold is not the core, it must be heavily guarded and protected by formations. Once the snake is startled, I fear it will attract crazy retaliation."

"Precisely because of this, a thunderous strike is needed to pull it out by the roots before they can react." Lin Xuan's tone was cold. "I need Your Highness to provide two things: first, the detailed defense map and formation node information of the area around the stronghold; second, when I take action, the Imperial City Division needs to blockade the outer perimeter of the Ghost Market, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving, especially... to prevent the Zhao Clan from intervening."

Huangfu Hao pondered for a moment, light flashing in his eyes. Although Lin Xuan's move was risky, if successful, it would undoubtedly be a heavy blow to the Shadow Tower and the Zhao Clan behind it, which was more beneficial than harmful to him. Moreover, this was also an opportunity to test Lin Xuan's true strength and the tacit understanding of their cooperation.

"Good!" Huangfu Hao slapped the table. "The defense map and formation information will be sent to you later. The blockade of the outer perimeter of the Ghost Market is on me! I will personally lead people to sit in town to ensure that not even a fly can fly in!"

"Sorry to trouble Your Highness." Lin Xuan nodded.

That night, at the third quarter of the hour of the Rat, it was the time when the yin energy was most prosperous in a day.

The Ghost Market was still clamorous, but around the black boulder building in the Shadow Zone, the atmosphere was exceptionally stagnant. The secret guards of the Imperial City Division had already quietly controlled all the main roads leading to this place, and the formation was quietly activated, temporarily isolating this area from the outside world.

Lin Xuan stood in the shadows, looking at the defense map sent by Huangfu Hao. There were more than twenty assassins inside the stronghold, including five Soul Formation stage (including one Late-Stage), and the rest were Golden Core. The building itself was inscribed with the "Nine Nether Shadow Concealment Formation," which could distort light and spiritual sense, and possessed decent defensive and counter-attack capabilities.

"Saintess Yun Yao." Lin Xuan called softly.

The Azure Luan on his shoulder let out a low cry, blue light flashed, and she restored herself to her divine battle form, burning with eager fighting spirit in her eyes. Her injuries had basically healed, and she needed a battle to vent.

"You are responsible for the outer perimeter, clearing those who flee, and guarding against possible external reinforcements." Lin Xuan instructed. Saintess Yun Yao's speed was extremely fast, and the Azure Luan True Flame had strong area-of-effect attack power, suitable for clearing the field.

Saintess Yun Yao nodded, spread her wings, and silently merged into the night sky.

Lin Xuan took a deep breath, the Chaos Dao Seed circulated, and his aura perfectly merged with the surrounding environment. The "Eye of Truth" opened, chaos light flowing in his pupils, instantly seeing through several energy circulation nodes of the "Nine Nether Shadow Concealment Formation."

He did not choose to sneak in, but decided to attack head-on with the most aggressive posture!

With a flash of his figure, he appeared in front of the heavy black iron door. His right fist was clenched, Chaos spiritual power surged, gray misty currents wrapped around his fist, and a trace of dark-purple Star-Nether lightning flickered!

Chaos Boundary-Breaking Fist · Lightning Evolution!

He threw a punch! Silent, yet containing the terrifying power to collapse laws!

"Dong——!!!"

A dull, extreme roar, as if knocking on everyone's heart! The iron door, which was enough to withstand the full-force bombardment of a Late-Stage Soul Formation, dented and twisted inward the moment it touched the Chaos fist aura, the runes on the door instantly dimmed and shattered! Immediately after, the entire iron door and the surrounding walls exploded with a boom! Fragments flew, and smoke filled the air!

The power of one punch actually forcibly blasted open the stronghold's gate and part of the defensive formation!

"Enemy attack!!"

The shrill alarm sounded instantly inside the building!

Countless cold, murderous auras erupted from all over the building!

Lin Xuan stepped into the smoke, the Chaos Immortal-Slaying Sword Embryo already in hand. The sword body was gray and misty, flowing with Chaos currents and golden patterns, exuding an Immortal-Slaying sword intent that made the soul tremble.

"Kill!" A Mid-Stage Soul Formation assassin was the first to pounce from the shadows, a poisoned short blade in his hand stabbing straight at Lin Xuan's heart.

Lin Xuan didn't even turn his head, swinging his sword backhand.

The sword light was like the first ray of light when Chaos opened, seemingly slow, but arriving first despite being launched later.

"Puchi!"

The assassin's figure froze, the short blade in his hand snapped in two, a thin, long blood line appeared from his brow to his chin, and then his whole person split in half, blood and internal organs splashing all over the ground!

Seconds kill!

The remaining assassins who rushed over were all horrified, their attacks stalling.

"Form a formation! Quickly form the 'Nine Nether Soul-Devouring Formation'!" The Late-Stage Soul Formation assassin leader shouted sharply, trying to organize resistance.

However, how could Lin Xuan give them a chance?

His figure flashed like a ghost, and every time he appeared, the Chaos Immortal-Slaying Sword Embryo would bring up a rain of blood! Wherever the sword light passed, whether it was Golden Core or Early-Stage Soul Formation assassins, none were a match for a single blow! Their protective spiritual light and defensive magic treasures were like nothing in front of the Chaos sword aura, instantly shattered and annihilated!

At the same time, his left hand pointed like a sword, occasionally pointing out the Nirvana Star Finger. The gray-dark finger strength was like a life-taking impermanent, precisely killing those assassins who tried to sneak attack from a distance or activate the self-destruct device.

The entire stronghold interior seemed to have turned into a slaughterhouse where Chaos descended! Lin Xuan walked like a god of death in the world, invincible, and no one could stop him!

The Late-Stage Soul Formation leader saw his subordinates falling like wheat, his eyes splitting, roaring wildly, burning his essence blood, turning into a condensed ghost shadow, holding a ghost-head broadsword, carrying a shrill ghost howl, and slashing at Lin Xuan!

"Netherworld Soul-Slashing Blade!"

Where the blade light passed, space seemed to be frozen, countless resentful spirit phantoms wrapped around it, slashing straight at the soul!

Lin Xuan's eyes were indifferent, not dodging or avoiding, the Chaos Immortal-Slaying Sword Embryo stabbing straight at the blade light!

"Keng——!!"

Blade and sword intersected!

There was no stalemate, only a crisp snapping sound!

That ghost-head broadsword of extraordinary grade was slashed in half like rotten wood in front of the Chaos Immortal-Slaying Sword Embryo! The sword momentum did not diminish, instantly piercing through the leader's chest!

"Impossible..." The leader looked down at the hole in his chest, his eyes filled with despair and disbelief, before his life was cut off.

In just over ten breaths, more than twenty elite assassins in the stronghold, including five Soul Formation stages, were completely wiped out!

Lin Xuan stood with his sword, his clothes unstained by blood, his aura stable. He swept his spiritual sense over the entire building, confirming that there were no survivors, and quickly found the database and teleportation array in the stronghold.

The database mostly contained mission records and assassin files, with limited value. He focused on checking the teleportation array and found that this was a small one-way teleportation array, which could only lead to an unknown place, and it seemed to have just been attempted to be activated, but failed, obviously because of the blockade outside.

"It seems this place is indeed just an outpost." Lin Xuan snorted coldly, and without hesitation, slashed and destroyed the core runes of the teleportation array, completely cutting off the connection between this place and the core nest.

After doing all this, he cast several clusters of Chaos Dao Fire, burning the entire stronghold and all the corpses to ashes. The soaring firelight, accompanied by the characteristics of the Azure Luan True Flame, illuminated this Shadow Zone like daylight, and also announced the complete destruction of this Shadow Tower stronghold!

Outside the firelight, Huangfu Hao and the Imperial City Division troops looked at the soaring flames and the terrifying energy fluctuations vaguely coming from them, their faces filled with shock.

"One person and one Luan, in a short time, destroyed an important stronghold of the Shadow Tower... Lin Xuan, how many more methods do you have that you haven't used?" Huangfu Hao muttered to himself, his evaluation of Lin Xuan rising again in his heart.

When Lin Xuan and Saintess Yun Yao walked out of the firelight calmly, the blockade of the outer perimeter of the Ghost Market was quietly lifted. The news spread rapidly like a plague, shaking the Imperial Capital again!

The Shadow Tower stronghold was uprooted by a mysterious powerhouse, suspected to be related to Lin Xuan, who had been in the limelight recently!

For a time, Lin Xuan's fierce name grew even stronger! Many factions that were originally eager to move had to re-evaluate the consequences of provoking this person. Inside the Zhao Clan mansion, there were even angry roars and the sound of porcelain shattering.

Through this battle, Lin Xuan used the most direct and bloody way to announce to all enemies: he, Lin Xuan, was not a soft persimmon that could be pinched at will! If you dare to extend your claws, you must have the consciousness of being chopped off!

Returning to Qingyun Cottage, Lin Xuan stroked Saintess Yun Yao's feathers, his eyes calm and waveless.

This was just the beginning.

The core nest in the Imperial Mausoleum Forbidden Zone was his real target. However, before that, he needed to further improve his strength and make more sufficient preparations.

"Next, it's time to go to the Ten Thousand Treasure Tower's black market stronghold to see." Lin Xuan looked at the deep night outside the window, his eyes deep. ===== CHAPTER 102 =====