Chapter 101: Thunderous Counterattack

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

The primary target was that stronghold of the Shadow Tower in the Shadow District of the Ghost Market. Although it was a front, it was bound to be stationed with many assassins. Eradicating it would not only severely damage the Shadow Tower's tentacles in the Imperial Capital but also greatly intimidate the Zhao family and other petty scoundrels.

This time, he would not act alone.

Inside the Azure Cloud Cottage, Lin Xuan met with the Third Imperial Prince, Huangfu Hao, once again.

"Brother Lin intends to move against the Shadow Tower's stronghold?" Upon hearing Lin Xuan's plan, a trace of astonishment flashed in Huangfu Hao's 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 arrays. Once the grass is beaten and the snake is startled, it may invite a frantic retaliation."

"Precisely because of that, 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 layout and array node information for the area surrounding the stronghold; second, when I strike, the Imperial City Guard must seal the perimeter of the Ghost Market, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving, especially... to prevent the Zhao family from interfering."

Huangfu Hao pondered for a moment, a sharp light flickering 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 family 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. "I will have someone send the defense layout and array information shortly. The blockade of the Ghost Market's perimeter is on me! I will personally lead men to oversee it, ensuring not even a fly can fly in!"

"I trouble Your Highness." Lin Xuan nodded.

That night, at the third quarter of the Zi hour, it was the time when Yin energy was at its peak.

The Ghost Market was still bustling, but around the black megalithic architecture in the Shadow District, the atmosphere was exceptionally stagnant. The secret guards of the Imperial City Guard had already silently controlled all key routes leading to this place, and the arrays were quietly activated, temporarily isolating this area from the outside world.

Lin Xuan stood in the shadows, looking at the defense layout sent by Huangfu Hao in his hand. There were over twenty assassins inside the stronghold, including five in the Nascent Soul realm (including one in the late stage), and the rest were all Golden Core. The building itself was inscribed with the "Nine Nether Shadow-Hiding Array," which could distort light and spiritual sense, and possessed decent defensive and counter-attack capabilities.

"Feng Xi." Lin Xuan called out softly.

The Azure Bird on his shoulder let out a low cry, a flash of azure light appeared, and it returned to its majestic combat form, its eyes burning with eager battle intent. Its injuries had basically healed, and it needed a battle to vent.

"You are responsible for the perimeter, clearing out those who flee, and guarding against possible external reinforcements," Lin Xuan ordered. Feng Xi was extremely fast, and the Azure Bird's True Flame had powerful area-of-effect attacks, making it suitable for clearing the field.

Feng Xi nodded, spread its wings, and silently merged into the night sky.

Lin Xuan took a deep breath, the Chaos Dao Seed circulated, and his aura merged perfectly with the surrounding environment. The "Eye of Truth-Breaking" opened, chaotic brilliance flowed in his eyes, and he instantly saw through several energy flow nodes of the "Nine Nether Shadow-Hiding Array."

He did not choose to sneak in, but decided to launch a frontal assault with the most aggressive posture!

His figure flashed, and he appeared before the thick black iron gate. His right fist was clenched tight, chaotic spiritual power surged, gray air currents coiled around his fist, and a trace of dark purple Star Nether Thunder flickered!

Chaos World-Breaking Fist: Thunder Derivation!

He threw a punch! Silent and soundless, yet it contained the terrifying power of the law of annihilation!

"Thud——!!!"

A muffled, extreme sound seemed to strike everyone's heart! The iron gate, which could withstand a full-force strike from a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, buckled and twisted inward like paper the moment it touched the chaotic fist energy, and the runes on the gate instantly dimmed and shattered! Immediately after, the entire iron gate along with the surrounding walls exploded! Debris flew everywhere, and dust filled the air!

The power of a single punch had forcibly blasted open the stronghold's gate along with part of the defensive array!

"Enemy attack!!"

A shrill alarm sounded instantly inside the building!

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

Lin Xuan stepped into the dust, the Chaos Immortal-Slaying Sword Embryo already in hand. The sword body was gray, flowing with chaotic air currents and golden patterns, emitting an Immortal-Slaying sword intent that made souls tremble.

"Kill!" A mid-stage Nascent Soul assassin was the first to pounce from the shadows, a poison-tipped short blade in hand stabbing directly at Lin Xuan's back.

Lin Xuan did not even turn his head, swinging his sword backhanded.

The sword light was like the first ray of light when chaos first opened; it looked slow, but it arrived first despite starting later.

"Puff!"

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 entire body split in half, blood and internal organs splashing all over the ground!

Instant kill!

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

"Form the array! Quickly form the 'Nether Ghost Soul-Devouring Array'!" the late-stage Nascent Soul assassin leader shouted sternly, trying to organize resistance.

However, would Lin Xuan give them the chance?

His figure flickered like a ghost, and every time he appeared, the Chaos Immortal-Slaying Sword Embryo would bring up a spray of blood! Wherever the sword light passed, whether they were Golden Core or early-stage Nascent Soul assassins, none were a match for a single blow! Their protective spiritual light and defensive magic treasures were like nothing before the chaotic sword energy, instantly being slashed and annihilated!

At the same time, his left hand formed a sword finger, occasionally pointing out the Nirvana Star Finger. The gray finger energy was like a soul-reaping impermanent, precisely sniping those assassins who tried to sneak attack from a distance or activate self-destruct devices.

The entire interior of the stronghold seemed to have turned into a slaughterhouse where chaos had descended! Lin Xuan was like a god of death walking in the human world, invincible and unstoppable!

Seeing his subordinates falling like wheat, the late-stage Nascent Soul leader was furious, roaring wildly, burning his essence blood, and turning into a condensed dark shadow. Holding a ghost-headed broadsword, he slashed at Lin Xuan with a shrill ghost howl!

"Netherworld Soul-Slaying Blade!"

Where the blade light passed, space seemed to be frozen, and countless phantom images of vengeful spirits coiled around it, slashing directly at the soul!

Lin Xuan's eyes were cold; he did not dodge or evade, the Chaos Immortal-Slaying Sword Embryo thrusting directly against the blade light!

"Clang——!!"

Blade and sword collided!

There was no stalemate, only a crisp sound of breaking!

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

"Im... possible..." The leader looked down at the hole in his chest, his eyes filled with despair and disbelief, and then his life force was extinguished.

In just over ten breaths, the twenty-plus elite assassins in the stronghold, including five Nascent Soul cultivators, were completely wiped out!

Lin Xuan stood holding his sword, his clothes unstained by blood, his breathing steady. His spiritual sense swept through the entire building, confirming there were no survivors, and he quickly found the stronghold's database and teleportation array.

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

"It seems this really was just an outpost." Lin Xuan snorted coldly and, without hesitation, swung his sword to destroy the core runes of the teleportation array, completely severing 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 along with all the corpses to ashes. The sky-high firelight, combined with the characteristics of the Azure Bird's True Flame, illuminated this shadow district as if it were daylight, also announcing the complete destruction of this Shadow Tower stronghold!

Outside the firelight, Huangfu Hao, with the men of the Imperial City Guard, watched the towering flames and the faintly transmitted terrifying energy fluctuations, his face filled with shock.

"One man and one bird, in such a short time, destroyed an important stronghold of the Shadow Tower... Lin Xuan, just how many more means do you have left?" Huangfu Hao muttered to himself, his evaluation of Lin Xuan rising once again in his heart.

When Lin Xuan and Feng Xi walked calmly out of the firelight, the blockade of the Ghost Market's perimeter was also quietly lifted. The news spread like a plague, once again shaking the Imperial Capital!

The Shadow Tower stronghold had been pulled out by the roots by a mysterious powerhouse, suspected to be related to Lin Xuan, who had been in the limelight lately!

For a time, Lin Xuan's fierce reputation grew even greater! Many forces that were originally restless had to reconsider the consequences of provoking this person. Inside the Zhao family mansion, there were even sounds of angry roars and shattering porcelain.

Through this battle, Lin Xuan used the most direct and bloody way to announce to all his enemies: he, Lin Xuan, was not a soft persimmon that could be squeezed at will! If they dared to extend their claws, they had to be prepared to have them chopped off!

Returning to the Azure Cloud Cottage, Lin Xuan stroked Feng Xi's feathers, his eyes calm and waveless.

This was merely the beginning.

The core nest in the Imperial Mausoleum forbidden area was his true target. However, before that, he needed to further improve his strength and make more thorough preparations.

"Next, it's time to go and see the black market stronghold of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion." Lin Xuan looked at the heavy night outside the window, his gaze deep.