Chapter 261: These guys are here again

The moon was dark and the wind was high; the night at the Tang Sect was shrouded in a veil of mystery. The ancient trees in the courtyard swayed in the wind, casting mottled shadows. Lin Xuan was meditating in his room, a wisp of Qi, faint and indistinct, circulating around his body. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, his gaze like lightning.

"They're here again," he said softly, a cold sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth. "It seems these people won't shed tears until they see their own coffins."

Several black shadows flashed past the window, moving so fast that even the air seemed to be torn apart. The next second, over a dozen Kunai coated in deadly poison came tearing through the air, aimed straight at Lin Xuan's vital points. Under the moonlight, these weapons not only glinted with a chilling light but also revealed a faint, eerie purple mist of poison.

"Trifling tricks." Lin Xuan didn't even stand up; he merely waved his hand lightly, as if shooing away a fly. An invisible force field formed instantly, and the moment those Kunai were about to touch his body, they suddenly changed direction and reflected back at an even faster speed.

"Ah!" A few stifled screams came from the darkness. Those Kunai struck their original owners accurately, but to Lin Xuan's surprise, these people did not fall; instead, they became even more violent. Under the moonlight, their eyes began to emit an eerie red glow.

"This is interesting." Lin Xuan stood up, his figure flashing as he arrived in the courtyard. The moonlight stretched his shadow long, intersecting with the tree shadows on the ground to form a bizarre scene. Five Black-Clothed Persons had already surrounded him, emitting a strange aura; it was clear they had all consumed some kind of special drug.

"Who are you?" Lin Xuan's voice was calm but carried a hint of majesty. "Do you know what place this is?"

The Black-Clothed Persons did not answer, but instead performed hand seals in unison. Their gestures were so fast that even afterimages were hard to see, and a strange energy fluctuation spread through the air. It was an Art of Techniques Lin Xuan had never seen before, carrying a rich, exotic flair.

"Dongying Ninjutsu?" A sharp light flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes. "So that's it. No wonder they are so arrogant."

Just as the Black-Clothed Persons were about to complete their Art of Techniques, Lin Xuan moved. His speed was astonishing, leaving behind trails of afterimages in the moonlight. With every flash, a Black-Clothed Person would fall. His movements appeared gentle, yet each one struck the opponent's vital points with precision.

However, just as Lin Xuan prepared to capture the last one for interrogation, the Black-Clothed Persons suddenly bit down on poison sacs hidden in their teeth simultaneously. Their faces turned purple instantly, and in the blink of an eye, they collapsed to the ground, not even managing to utter a final word.

"It really is the methods of Dongying." Lin Xuan squatted down and searched one of them, finding an exquisite seal. The seal was pitch black, and the symbols carved upon it were complex and eerie—it was the mark of a certain secret Dongying organization.

Just then, his phone rang. The screen displayed a message from Er Zhuang: "Lin Daozhang, after three days of investigation, I have tracked the movements of all the Dongying Aliens. They are distributed in every corner of the city, forming a peculiar Array. Looking at the map, it seems they are surrounding something. Do you want me to send you the detailed data?"

"You've worked hard," Lin Xuan replied, his tone carrying a touch of concern. "Working so late is truly rare. Once this matter is over, I will personally help you readjust your body to take your state to the next level. I haven't forgotten what I promised you."

"Really? Thank you so much, Lin Daozhang!" Er Zhuang's reply was full of excitement. "I will send you the detailed data immediately. However..." He hesitated for a moment, "The behavior of these Dongying Aliens is very abnormal; they seem to be searching for something particularly important."

Soon, a detailed intelligence report was sent over. Lin Xuan examined it carefully, his expression growing increasingly grave. The distribution of these Dongying Aliens was clearly laid out to surround that mysterious high tower. Moreover, judging by their movement trajectories, they seemed determined to obtain something inside the tower.

"It seems I cannot wait any longer." Lin Xuan looked at the high tower looming in the distance. "I will go see tomorrow what is so special about that legendary Fire Divine Power. Since these people are so interested, I certainly cannot let them succeed."

The next morning, just as the morning sun rose, Lin Xuan brought Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai to the front of the high tower. This tower was built entirely of a special black stone, and some ancient Runes could be faintly seen on its surface. Those Runes appeared chaotic, but in reality, they secretly aligned with the laws of heaven and earth, forming a profound and mysterious Array. Even from far away, one could feel the scorching heat emanating from within.

"Stop!" Two guards blocked the entrance, their attitudes arrogant. "This is a restricted area, no idlers allowed! Even if you are Lin Daozhang, you must follow the rules."

Lin Xuan glanced at them indifferently: "Move aside." His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable majesty.

"Who do you think you are?" one of the guards shouted angrily, clearly not taking Lin Xuan seriously. "This is a restricted area of the Tang Sect; even if an Immortal came, they would have to..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Lin Xuan had already struck. His movements looked incredibly gentle, as if he were pushing away a feather. But those two guards were hit as if by a giant hammer, flying directly backward and crashing heavily to the ground, unable to climb back up for a while.

"A waste of time." Lin Xuan shook his head and stepped into the high tower. Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai followed closely behind, their eyes still filled with a hint of excitement. They knew that a good show might be coming up next.

The space inside the high tower was unexpectedly large. The first floor was a circular hall, with unknown crystals embedded in the surrounding walls, emitting a faint glow. Those crystals seemed to be the medium for some kind of guiding Array, and under the illumination of the light, complex Array patterns could be faintly seen on the ground. The air was filled with a rich fragrance of Pills; it was clear this place was once a restricted area for alchemy.

"The aura of the Divine Fire is getting stronger." Lin Xuan looked around, sensing the energy fluctuations in the air. "It should be above. However..." His brows furrowed slightly, "Something seems not quite right."

Just as they were preparing to go upstairs, a low roar suddenly sounded. The energy in the air fluctuated violently, and a giant lion formed from black Qi appeared before them. The lion was three times the size of an ordinary lion, exuding a dangerous aura, and the red light in its eyes seemed capable of devouring everything.

"A guardian beast?" Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow. "A bit interesting. It seems the Tang Sect has set up quite a few traps here."

The lion roared and pounced, leaving deep claw marks on the ground with every step. The temperature in the air rose sharply, as if even space itself were about to be scorched. However, Lin Xuan merely raised his hand lightly, and a golden light flashed; that seemingly fierce Qi-manifested lion encountered its nemesis and instantly dissipated.