Chapter 161: Let's Talk Compensation

"Father, be careful!"

"I already told you, I'm not your father."

"Then be careful! Don't die at my hands!"

After Ares symbolically shouted "be careful", he laughed wildly, his face showing almost mad battle intent, pupils shrinking to needle‑point size, his mouth stretched to his ears, exposing stark white teeth!

Bang!

He stomped hard, and the mountain beneath him thundered and collapsed! Boulders shattered, the mountain caved in, smoke and dust rose skyward, and his figure shot upward like a blood‑red meteor!

"Spear!"

High above, Ares grasped with one hand, and a bronze spear materialized out of thin air.

The spear shaft was entwined with scarlet divine patterns, and its tip glimmered with a dazzling cold light.

He raised the spear high, his divine power boiling within him.

In an instant—

A light brighter than the sun burst from the spear tip!

Eurystheus and his companions, riding fast on horseback, suddenly pulled the reins, their warhorses whinnying as they reared up.

Instinctively they raised their hands to shield their eyes, yet the blinding light still seared them, making their eyes water.

"W-what is that?!"

No one could answer.

Because in the next second—

"Kill!"

Ares laughed maniacally and hurled the spear down fiercely!

The strike left no room for defense; if Yu Lin truly died from this blow, he would become the king of the gods from then on!

Boom—!!!

The spear fell like a meteor, bearing world‑shattering force, instantly piercing the mountain range!

A terrifying shockwave swept all directions, the earth cracked, rocks vaporized, and scorching gusts uprooted the surrounding trees!

A massive mushroom cloud rose skyward, rolling smoke and dust blotting out the sun, crimson flames flickering within the cloud, as if the apocalypse had arrived!

Eurystheus and his party were tossed by the gusts, landing clumsily on the ground.

They stared in terror at the rising mushroom cloud in the distance, only the buzzing aftershock remaining in their ears.

"T-this is... the power of a god?"

Eurystheus recalled Ares's maddening deeds, his complexion turning hideously grim for a moment; he wasn't sure Ares would be friendly toward him just because they share Zeus's bloodline!

What if that madman kills him?

Eurystheus turned his horse and shouted:

"Return to the city!"

And behind them, after the mushroom cloud dissipated,

Impatient Ares couldn't wait for the smoke to clear; he puffed his chest and blew out a gust!

Whoosh—!!!

The Frenzy wind instantly tore the sky‑filled smoke apart, revealing the bottomless chasm below.

However—

Ares's pupils suddenly contracted!

Deep at the pit's bottom, a Golden Light rose slowly.

Yu Lin was enveloped in dazzling golden rays, like a deity emerging from molten lava.

He brushed away nonexistent dust from his body, looked up, met Ares's gaze, and said:

"It's my turn now."

The moment his words fell—

Buzz!

A sword sound suddenly rang across heaven and earth!

Countless crimson Sword Auras materialized out of nowhere, dense as a downpour, occupying the entire sky!

Each Sword Aura emitted a fierce killing intent, as if it could cut through anything!

Ares frowned, "These Sword Auras..."

He could clearly sense that these crimson Sword Auras were far from ordinary— they seemed able to pierce divine bodies and wound the very foundation of divinity!

"When did Father regain this ability?" Ares wondered silently.

Before he could ponder, Yu Lin raised his hand and pointed:

"Go!"

Swish—!!!

The Sword Auras poured down like a torrent!

Ares, not daring to delay, roared, "Armor!"

His bronze battle armor instantly shed its rustic hue, transforming into a brilliant Golden Holy Armor!

It is a divine artifact meticulously forged by Hephestos for him, light as a feather yet unbreakable!

Clang clang—!!!

The crimson Sword Auras battered the golden armor like a rainstorm, flashing dazzling light.

Ares shouted loudly, "Yu Lin, that's all you've got..."

Snap.

A faint cracking sound suddenly rang out.

Ares's laughter abruptly stopped.

He looked down—on his chest, the golden armor had a hair‑thin crack!

"What?! How is this possible?!"

It turned out that those Sword Auras were not chaotic at all, but were precisely and continuously bombarding the same spot!

Just as he was shocked.

Crimson Sword Aura filled the sky, suddenly coalescing into a massive sword beam that spanned the heavens!

The sword beam was blood‑red, over a thousand zhang long, exuding a terrifying pressure that made all beings shudder!

Ares looked at the sword beam, and there was no fear in his eyes; instead, a hotter battle spirit erupted.

"Then bring it on!!!"

He laughed wildly, spread his arms, and deliberately faced the sword beam!

The spear and golden holy armor radiated unprecedented light; Ares poured all his divine power into them, ready to clash head‑on with this earth‑shaking sword!

Boom—!!!

At the moment the sword beam struck the spear, the entire sky was dyed a scarlet‑gold hue!

The shockwave swept the four directions like a tsunami, tearing clouds apart, causing mountains to collapse, and even the gods far away on Olympus trembled!

Especially Hera.

When she saw that strike, she wasn't confirming that Yu Lin was Zeus; she was certain that Yu Lin was absolutely not Zeus!!

She thought to herself, "Oh no, I misidentified him........"

When the light faded—

Ares knelt on one knee, his golden armor riddled with cracks, a strand of golden divine blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

But he was laughing, laughing heartily:

"Exhilarating! So exhilarating!"

"But you really aren't my father! Yet I acknowledge your strength!"

Yu Lin stepped before him, met his gaze, and said, "Then."

"Now let's talk about compensation."

It's not that Yu Lin held back; rather, he now relies on the Indestructible trait to defend against Ares's attacks, but he still lacks a means to crush the chief god's lethal tactics.

When his cultivation rises further, perhaps the Crimson Sky Sword Qi's might will be stronger, and it should be enough.

"Um........." Ares's face showed a stunned expression, and he said in surprise:

"Compensation? What compensation?"

Yu Lin grinned, gave him a slight smile, and said, "You don't think my fighting you is free, do you?"

"Otherwise?"

"........." Yu Lin was too lazy to continue speaking to this fight‑only mind.

He withdrew his smile and said, "Take me to Olympus."

"I want to talk to your mother about compensation."

Ares heard that and gave a meaning‑laden smile, "Oh~~"

"So you have your eyes on my mother, you should've said so earlier."

"But you should be careful; the last one who coveted my mother was dealt with by my father........."

Before he could finish, a boom— a bolt of heavenly thunder descended, searing him black, steam spewing from his mouth!

Immediately, Hera's voice sounded beside them, "Young champion, this time it was my mistake, I misidentified you, and I am willing to compensate you."

"Ares, bring him over."

The voice faded.

Ares shook his head, spat out a mouthful of golden blood, and whistled.

The moment he whistled, a bright wail rang across the sky.

Four divine flame warhorses galloped out of the void; where their hooves struck, scarlet fire traces ignited in the emptiness.

Their manes roared like flames, eyes blazing like molten lava, pulling a war chariot inlaid with gems and gold, which thundered down before Ares.

Ares flipped onto the chariot's pole, the cracks in his battle armor gradually healing in the flames, but the divine stature foundation he suffered from the Crimson Sky Sword Qi wound would not mend easily—it would take at least dozens, perhaps hundreds of years.

He turned to Yu Lin, smiled, and said, "Yu Lin, let's go!"

He patted the chariot's handrail and said proudly,

"This chariot isn't for just anyone to ride!"

Yu Lin said nothing, his form flickered and appeared atop the chariot.

"Go!"

Ares gave the reins a shake, the four divine horses reared and let out long whinnies, stepping on fire clouds and soaring skyward!

Where the chariot passed, the sky was furrowed with a scarlet trail, as if tearing the heavens.