Chapter 143: Crushing the Threat

Lei En stopped in his tracks, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

The hunter's glacier wolf crouched low, ready to pounce at any moment; the Iron Guard advanced with sword and shield, taking the front of the formation, while the sorcerer fell back to prepare a spell.

The ranger drew two swords, assuming a defensive stance.

This team, composed of three Mid-stage transcendents and a spellcaster, ranks among the elite of Longshande's hunting parties, and no one dares to underestimate it.

At this moment, angry expressions were evident on their faces.

In their eyes, Lei En was provoking them, suddenly demanding to know if anyone recognized him, his attitude was arrogant, showing no respect.

Lei En stared at the ranger, his brows furrowing.

The other still wore a bewildered expression, looking inexplicably confused, yet in the Soul Eye the person's soul color flickered rapidly, far from the innocent façade.

Earlier, Lei En had already sensed the ranger's abnormality.

Everyone else reacted normally; only this ranger's emotions surged upon seeing his own reflection, tinged with strong malice and hostility.

Lei En pretended ignorance, continuing to skin, while secretly observing and contemplating.

He was certain he had never met this ranger before, nor offended him, yet the intense hostility toward him must be tied to some faction.

The ranger's soul flame was normal; he was not a follower of a dark deity.

Thus, the ranger and the faction behind him were very likely from Longshande itself.

Lei En was never one to wait for death; since others harbored ill will toward him, he could not let them walk away unchallenged.

"You still don't want to say?"

Lei En asked again, and seeing the ranger's impatient expression, shook his head and muttered, "You'll speak."

Before the words finished, he moved forward.

"Attack!"

The hunter sensed Lei En's intent, shouted loudly, and released arrows; his glacier wolf, in perfect sync with its master, leapt forward at once.

Whoosh!

The arrow became a black streak too fast for the naked eye, instantly reaching Lei En's front; he raised his hand to deflect it, but found the projectile sinking mid‑air, changing course, and striking his chest.

A thicket of electric armor materialized, blocking the arrow.

With a crack, electricity sprayed, the arrow pierced the electric thorns and the leather armor, finally embedding in the skin, unable to advance even a centimeter, and exploded into fragments.

Lei En was somewhat surprised at the hunter's superb archery.

Before he could think further, a figure charged forward, the fourth‑level Iron Guard.

The Iron Guard thrust his shield ahead, trying to use the charge's momentum to knock Lei En down.

This was the Iron Guard's most common combat method—simple and effective.

However, the next second the Iron Guard suddenly felt as if he had struck a boulder; a massive force shattered his shield into pieces, followed by several bolts of electricity that numbed his entire body.

A hand pierced the broken shield, seized the armor on his chest, lifted his whole body and tossed him aside.

The Iron Guard, powerless to resist, collided with the glacier wolf, falling dizzy and sore all over, unable even to get up.

Having repelled the Iron Guard, Lei En immediately launched a charge, just evading the hunter's second arrow.

Dozens of wind blades blew toward him, forming a barrier net.

It was the third‑level sorcerer's spell.

Lei En ignored the cutting wind blades, surged forward, and appeared before the ranger.

"Mori Ton, watch out!" the sorcerer shouted.

The ranger named Mori Ton's expression shifted dramatically as he agilely retreated, his twin swords casting streaks of blade shadows.

Clang—clank, the blades snapped.

Mori Ton's eyes widened in terror, and he turned to flee. He was a fourth‑level ranger, renowned for speed, possessing two Element agility traits; if he focused on escape, few Mid-stage transcendents could catch him.

But after only a few meters of escape, the air behind him erupted, and a violent shockwave slammed him to the ground.

Lei En picked up a broken sword, seized the ranger's nape, and lifted him up.

Seeing this, the wilderness hunter and the sorcerer halted their assault.

"Release him," the hunter said gravely.

Lei En gave no reply, merely pressing the sword against the ranger's throat.

Blood spurted out instantly, staining a large swath of his clothing red; the pain made Mori Ton panic, and he hurriedly shouted, "Kun Tu, step back a bit, don't keep pressuring Lei En, sir."

"Now you recognize me?" Lei En sneered.

"Yes, Mr. Lei En," Mori Ton said, fear evident in his eyes; he could sense that if he kept pretending not to know Lei En, he would truly be killed.

What puzzled him was how Lei En had seen through it.

"I didn't say a single word!"

Upon hearing Mori Ton, the three teammates hesitated, realizing that Mori Ton truly knew the man, yet wondered why he had concealed it earlier.

Lei En looked at them; these three had nothing to do with him, and said, "Please leave."

The wilderness hunter's face flushed instantly.

As the team's captain and its strongest transcendent, he was obligated to safeguard his comrades; with Mori Ton now held hostage, leaving and letting the story spread would ruin his reputation in Longshande.

The Iron Guard and the sorcerer hesitated.

They were well aware of Lei En's might; with a casual deflection they had blocked all attacks and captured Mori Ton, so staying or leaving served no purpose.

"Captain..."

The hunter's expression wavered for a moment, then he sighed, leading the glacier wolf and his teammates away. He chose a compromise—neither departing outright nor staying—but retreated to a hillside several hundred meters away, watching the scene from a distance.

Lei En made no further demands; the three transcendents lacked any Element of hearing, and the distance was sufficient.

"Why do you know me?"

Hearing Lei En's question, Mori Ton froze for a moment.

He originally thought Lei En knew something, so he decisively struck at himself, only to ask such a strange question.

"I once saw Mr. Lei En in the Demon Extermination Squad, so…" Mo Li Dun said halfway, when a flash of swordlight appeared before him, two fingers on his right hand were cut off, blood gushed, and the searing pain made him howl.

"You're lying."

Lei En said expressionlessly, "Next time, what gets cut off won't be fingers, but the whole hand."

He can't read minds, but he has the Soul Eye; perhaps someone can disguise themselves well on the surface, yet their inner soul cannot be hidden.

Truth or lie, he can discern it at a glance.

Mo Li Dun's face turned pale and twisted, cold sweat streamed down his forehead, he trembled for a while and couldn't speak, looking utterly miserable.

Lei En remained unmoved, having only cut off two fingers; for a transcendent who has undergone two Soul Transformation ceremonies, this pain is not that terrible.

In the Soul Eye, Mo Li Dun's soul remained normal, its color turning red, indicating hatred had arisen in his heart.

His outward misery was all pretended.

Lei En lifted the broken sword and said, "My patience is limited."

Mo Li Dun shivered, hurriedly said, "Mr. Lei En, please don't act. I know you because someone was secretly investigating you; I happened to handle that matter, but I have never carried out any scheme against you."

"Scheme?" Lei En's eyes flashed, "What scheme? Who is investigating me?"

Mo Li Dun dared not conceal, "It is Viscount Ga Luo Wei Na."

"Ga Luo Wei Na…" Lei En mused, he hadn't heard that name in a long time. Since the last time on Dong Ting Hu, after killing those two assassins, Ga Luo Wei Na had been silent.

Viola had been worried for quite a while because of this, but the other side seemed to have given up.

In fact, whether it was the fake demon soul scheme at the trade fair or the assassination at Dong Ting Hu, there was no direct evidence pointing to Ga Luo Wei Na, nor any useful clues left.

Otherwise, Viola would only need to report to the Silver Star Title: Duke, present the evidence, and Ga Luo Wei Na would have no good outcome.

Lei En hummed and said, "You haven't said what the scheme is; tell me everything you know."

"What relationship do you have with Ga Luo Wei Na?"

As he spoke, he pressed the broken sword a bit harder, opening a larger wound.

Mo Li Dun was terrified, his soul scattering, and quickly said, "In recent years I've often served the Viscount, knowing many of his secrets. He has been looking for a chance to directly kill Ms. Viola, but Viola hasn't left the Silver Star District these months, so he couldn't find an opportunity."

"Last month, news spread that Ms. Viola was establishing a record company, and the Viscount was very angry."

"Mr. Lei En, you should know that if the record company takes off, the ownership of Dong Ting Bo Ju Ling will no longer be in doubt."

Lei En nodded slightly, asked lightly, "So, Ga Luo Wei Na set his plan against me?"

"Yes." Mo Li Dun, flattering, smiled, "Mr. Lei En and Ms. Viola are close, both living in the Vega Manor, and he is the inventor of the Phonograph. If we can control Lei En, we will have a chance to strike Ms. Viola."

"Control me?"

Lei En asked with a hint of malice, "How do you intend to control me?"

Mo Li Dun, frightened, shrank his neck, but it tugged at the wound; his whole body trembled, unsure whether from pain or fear.

He hesitated a few breaths before saying, "He wants to act against your family, using their lives to coerce Mr. Lei En into obeying his orders."

Dangerous light flashed in Lei En's eyes.

Mo Li Dun shouted, "This is all Viscount's own idea, it has nothing to do with me; I only am responsible for sending people to investigate you and your family."

"Is that so?" Lei En said without taking a stance, his face showing no anger, "What have you discovered in your investigation?"

Mo Li Dun's eyes were complex, he dared not answer.

Lei En didn't press him either; it's merely matters about the household—any noble with a few connections could uncover them.

He cared more about his family's safety.

"When does Ga Luo Wei Na plan to act against me?"

"The original plan was last month," Mo Li Dun replied honestly. "It was supposed to be carried out immediately: first go to Eagle Marsh Town to capture all your family, bring them to Longshande, then send someone to inform your brother Bu Li Sai Te, have him contact you through the Demon Extermination Squad. With that layer in between, you wouldn't be able to trace our clues."

"But two days before the move, Mr. Lei En, you suddenly disappeared."

"The Viscount had to pause the plan for now."

Mo Li Dun felt a bit depressed; he didn't know where Lei En had gone, and if the strike had happened then, he wouldn't be in Lei En's hands today.

Lei En privately rejoiced; at that time last month, he had entered the Iron Must Fortress.

"What happened afterwards?" he continued to ask.

"When Mr. Lei En reappeared, the Silver Star District experienced a massive earthquake; throughout Longshande, guards patrolled everywhere, and the Secret Fire Guard was deployed. The Viscount dared not act at that time," Mo Li Dun replied.

Lei En stared at him, pressing, "Has Ga Luo Wei Na not given up?"

"I don't know…"

Mo Li Dun shook his head, fearing Lei En wouldn't believe, and loudly explained, "I truly don't know what happened afterwards!"

"I only handle the investigation; the Viscount's own men carry out the strike. Coincidentally, a Mid-stage Thunder Blade Leopard appeared in Kun Tu Shuo Gray Dragon Mountain. I've known it for many years, couldn't refuse, so I came with it."

"After entering the mountain, I lost contact with the Viscount."

Lei En listened, his face unchanged; the Soul Eye confirmed Mo Li Dun was not lying.

After a long silence, Mo Li Dun began to panic a little.

"Mr. Lei En, I've told you everything I know; acting against your family was never my idea," Mo Li Dun began to beg, "Moreover, the Viscount may have already abandoned the plan, because he can't find you."

Lei En didn't believe such nonsense at all.

Whether Ga Luo Wei Na has implemented a plan or not, he remains a huge threat to him.

Even though he doesn't have much feeling for his current family, even if Ga Luo Wei Na truly captured the whole family and used their lives to blackmail him, he could not comply, betraying Viola.

The only thing he can do is avenge his family.

Fortunately, events hadn't escalated to the worst, and the crisis must be snuffed out while still nascent.

As for the Mo Li Dun before him, Lei En found no reason to spare him.

His gaze grew cold; Mo Li Dun realized something, but before he could speak, Lei En thrust the broken sword forward, instantly slicing his throat.

Mo Li Dun clutched his neck and fell, making a wheezing "ho ho" sound, and soon fell silent.

A soul shot out, providing Lei En with five units of energy.

He looked at the increased energy; it was far less than expected. Clearly, having risen to Fourth-level Wizard, his soul had grown, making further promotion difficult.

On a distant hillside, wilderness hunter Kun Tu saw Mo Li Dun killed and charged forward in anger.

Lei En ignored them and turned to leave.

At his current speed, Third-level Swiftness reactivated rapid sprint; ordinary transcendants could hardly keep up, and he quickly shook them off. The red-eyed eagle in the sky pursued persistently; it could track, but Kun Tu himself couldn't keep up. A hunter and his animal companion cannot be too far apart, and after an hour it gave up.

In just half a day, Lei En ran out of the Gray Dragon Mountain area and appeared outside the Lianseir family breeding farm.

(End of chapter)