Unable to dodge the attack, Lin Yun’s chest was instantly stained red with blood as a searing pain shot through him.

’So fast.’ The man’s movements had been too quick. Even with Inch Step, Lin Yun had been unable to evade the attack. And his Inch Step was no ordinary technique; it was an Earth Level Upper Tier Body Technique Martial Skill, and he had already grasped its True Intent.

His expression turned grim. The Ghost-faced Masked Men were no strangers to the Martial Artists of the Southeast Domain. They had once massacred civilians throughout the region. However, Lin Yun had been at Celestial Net Peak during that time, so he only knew of them by reputation and had no firsthand knowledge.

"Heh heh, the fact that you survived my strike is something to be proud of, even in death." Unfazed that his first strike hadn’t killed Lin Yun, the man chuckled sinisterly.

The four Ghost-faced Masked Men had Lin Yun and his companions completely surrounded. Though he didn’t know why they wanted to kill him, he knew a bitter fight was now unavoidable.

Facing four Primordial Ocean Realm experts, Lin Yun knew he was no match for them. Escape was impossible for now. ’I’ll have to fight and look for a chance to get away.’

With the Demon Bone Heaven-Dominating Spear in hand, the Elemental Power fluctuations of the Sixth Level of Qi Sea Realm surged from Lin Yun. Sensing this, one of the four Ghost-faced Masked Men spoke.

"Sixth Level of Qi Sea Realm. To think you’ve broken through three Small Realms in just eight short months."

The speaker was a woman, and from her voice, Lin Yun could tell she knew about his past. In other words, he had met her before.

"Who are you?" His suspicion deepened. ’This is definitely a premeditated assassination plot,’ Lin Yun concluded.

No one answered Lin Yun’s question as the four Ghost-faced Masked Men charged. Lin Yun and Little Ape each took on one, while the Black-striped Tiger engaged two of them alone.

The Black-striped Tiger was already a Tier Three Demon Beast, and after consuming so much Demon Beast Essence Blood, its current Combat Power should be on par with an ordinary expert at the Fourth Level of Primordial Ocean Realm.

Among the three of them, only the Black-striped Tiger had the strength to fight two opponents at once. Although Lin Yun and Little Ape’s Combat Power was monstrous, they still needed time to grow. Just facing a single expert at the Third Layer of Primordial Ocean Realm was already a struggle.

The two sides clashed in an instant. Lin Yun found himself facing the woman who had just spoken. Though he couldn’t see her face behind the Ghost Face Mask, he could tell from her voice and aura that she wasn’t very old.

The woman’s weapon was a Soft Sword. In their very first exchange, she managed to leave two gashes on Lin Yun’s arm.

A Soft Sword, forged from special materials, is extremely flexible, able to bend without breaking. In this woman’s hands, her swordsmanship was nothing short of masterful.

’I can only overwhelm her with sheer power,’ Lin Yun thought. He instantly unleashed his Thunderfire Bombardment. Having long since mastered the technique, he was now able to display its full potential.

He transformed into a torrent of flame and lightning, charging toward the woman. Unflustered, she waved her Soft Sword, forming a wall of water before her.

"Water Wave Wall," she grunted. Lin Yun’s Thunderfire Bombardment slammed violently into her Water Wave Wall.

Under the impact of Thunderfire Bombardment, the Water Wave Wall unexpectedly held firm. It merely rippled, sending out concentric waves, appearing indestructible.

’Such a powerful defense...’ Failing to break the Water Wave Wall in one blow, Lin Yun furrowed his brow. ’If even Thunderfire Bombardment is useless, then only Dual Dragon World Destruction has a chance.’

However, Dual Dragon World Destruction required time to charge. Lin Yun had to buy himself an opening.

With Thunderfire Bombardment failing to break the wall, Lin Yun pressed his assault, unleashing Wind Thunder Triple Flash and the Red Flame Spear Technique upon the Water Wave Wall.

Immediately, the ripples on the Water Wave Wall spread out in frantic circles. Despite Lin Yun’s onslaught, the woman remained completely unmoved, seemingly possessing absolute confidence in her Water Wave Wall.

Seeing that she wasn’t counter-attacking, Lin Yun seized the opportunity. He brandished his Demon Bone Heaven-Dominating Spear and began to execute Dual Dragon World Destruction.

Flame Power and Thunder Power coalesced, emanating an immense pressure. Only now did the woman’s expression turn serious. She could feel a distinct threat coming from the Bone Spear in Lin Yun’s hands.

"Dual Dragon World Destruction!" he roared. Two Dragon Shadows burst forth—one wreathed in dense flames, the other crackling with terrifying lightning.

The two Dragon Shadows intertwined and slammed violently into the Water Wave Wall. Instantly, the wall’s ripples descended into chaos as cracks began to spiderweb across its surface.

"It actually broke through the Water Wave Wall? The Young Miss was right after all." Seeing the cracks, the woman muttered to herself, then her voice turned cold as she shouted.

"Impressive power, but you haven’t mastered this technique, have you? Your Elemental Power is chaotic. I’d imagine you only learned it recently."

"Water Pattern Swordsmanship," she grunted, launching her own attack. As she brandished the Soft Sword, her figure seemed to ripple like water, becoming ethereal and indistinct.

Lin Yun couldn’t follow her movements at all. Before he could even react, the woman thrust her sword straight for his heart.

In the nick of time, Lin Yun twisted his body just enough to avoid his heart, but the Soft Sword still plunged into his chest.

Having missed a vital point, the woman kicked out, sending Lin Yun flying. He soared more than ten meters before crashing hard to the ground.

As he fell, a triangular fragment tumbled out from within his robes. The moment the woman saw it, her expression shifted, and she darted toward the fragment.

Seeing her reaction, Lin Yun instantly guessed the fragment was their true target. Gritting his teeth against the searing pain in his chest, he snatched the fragment and retreated five or six meters.

Lin Yun stared at the woman with ice-cold eyes. By now, Little Ape and the Black-striped Tiger were not in good shape either. Little Ape was covered in wounds, as was the Black-striped Tiger.

"Give it to me," the woman said, her eyes locked on the fragment in Lin Yun’s hand.

’So they really are here for this. But how did they know I had it? And why do they want to kill me?’

"Give it to you? Do you think I’m an idiot? If I give it to you, will you let me live?" Lin Yun retorted.

"You’ll die whether you give it to me or not. At least if you hand it over, I can make it quick," the woman said coldly. Her expression revealed just how important the fragment was to her.

They were at an absolute disadvantage. Little Ape and the Black-striped Tiger had regrouped by Lin Yun’s side. The four Ghost-faced Masked Men surrounded the trio, all of their gazes fixed on the fragment in Lin Yun’s hand.

GRRRRRR... Heavily injured, the Black-striped Tiger growled incessantly at the four assassins, its eyes filled with a deep killing intent.

It was the same for Little Ape. Now taller than a man, its blood-red fur was matted down by several wounds, from which blood with a faint golden glow constantly trickled.

"I’ll say it one last time: hand over the fragment, or I will make you suffer a fate worse than death," the woman said, her voice dripping with ice and killing intent.

(Third update of the day. I released sixteen Chapters yesterday when the novel went pay-to-read. A lot of readers left, but so many of my brothers chose to stick with me, Wufeng, and with *Divine Emperor Demon Emperor*. I’m both relieved and overjoyed, because you are the motivation that keeps me writing. Without you, I couldn’t make a living, and of course, there would be no more story to tell. I’m truly grateful to you all.

I’m doing five updates today. I don’t have any Chapters in reserve; I used them all up yesterday. But it doesn’t matter. I’m going all out. For all you brothers who stayed to support the official release and to support me, I feel it’s completely worth it.

It’s still the same old saying: there would be no piracy without the official version. If there were no more of us brothers supporting the official releases, then no one would have any books to read, because all the authors would have starved. So let’s rise up, my brothers! I am working hard! Please add this to your library, subscribe, send a gift, vote with your Monthly Passes, and leave a recommendation!)