However, according to the information he knew, the Second Elder of the Ling family's branch, which is the Second Branch, was where his father Ling Tianyu came from, so the person in front of him couldn't be the Second Elder.

Then there's only one possibility left: the Great Elder.

It seems that in the entire Ling family, the one who most wants him dead is this Great Elder.

"Ah, so it's the Great Elder. I ask for forgiveness but won't entertain you!"

Ling Chen had no interest in engaging in a deadly struggle with this Great Elder; he didn't have the ability to directly confront a veteran Saint.

"Humph, with death at your door, where do you think you can escape to?"

Ling Ba's eyes suddenly flashed with a cold light, his killing intent surged, and then suddenly leapt, appearing above Ling Chen's head, and abruptly used his palm as a sword, slicing horizontally towards Ling Chen.

The ground beneath Ling Chen's feet caved in, unable to withstand such a vast sword pressure.

The power of a Sword Saint—terrifying beyond measure!

Not daring to slack off, Ling Chen retreated while deploying the Fire Lotus Sword Array. Fiery red lotuses condensed and spun rapidly, sending out lotus leaf sword qi that clashed with the sword light.

"An ant trying to move a cart!"

Ling Ba sneered, his palm suddenly increased pressure, and the sword light suddenly shone, ballooning violently, and with lightning speed, crashed into the fire lotus sword qi.

Crack!

The fire lotus lasted only a moment before showing a crack and was pierced by a large hole.

The intense sword light, like a radiant sun, enveloped Ling Chen. Even so, Ling Chen's face showed no panic. Suddenly, he flipped his palm and retrieved a scroll.

This scroll was the Destroying Heaven Map he obtained from the Fourth Elder.

Without a word, Ling Chen opened the Destroying Heaven Map and struck it with a palm, injecting vast true energy. From the scroll, a shocking sword qi shot forth with a sharpness that seemed to tear the heavens, colliding with the sun-like sword light.

Bang!

Tremendous sword qi shockwaves swept open, blasting the ground, piercing it with sword holes.

Where the collision exploded, smoke clouded, and the two sword lights both vanished.

"What?"

Ling Ba's face showed a look of incredulity; he sensed that Ling Chen released a Broken Sky Sword Qi earlier, but to think that Ling Chen had a Destroying Heaven Map in his possession was unexpected.

After the two sword qis dissipated into smoke and clouds, Ling Ba wanted to attack Ling Chen again but found he was no longer there.

"That brat!"

Ling Ba was startled, abruptly looking towards the tavern, only to see Ling Chen no longer entangled with him, instead turning and fleeing to the tavern entrance.

"Courting death!"

Ling Ba, who had long deemed Ling Chen as a sure-dead person, couldn't allow him to escape from under his nose. He wielded his sword continuously, sending overwhelming and overbearing sword qi that enveloped Ling Chen outside the tavern.

Each sword qi contained extremely overbearing power, capable of easily killing a powerful Senior Half-Saint instantly. Even a genuine First Layer Saint might be instantly killed.

Ling Ba's cultivation was at least in the Saint Second Layer, possibly even reaching the Saint Third Layer.

Just as Ling Chen's expression grew heavy, planning to let the Human Emperor take action, suddenly a sharp scream echoed. A window of the tavern exploded open, and a hideous ghost head rushed out, enveloping Ling Chen.

The ghost head was enormous, and as the sword qi struck the ghost head, it only sparked bright fireworks. After repelling all sword qi, it finally shattered.

Whoosh!

A dark figure darted from the tavern, revealing a terribly ugly black-robed elder, skinny with yellowed teeth, bearing a chilling smile that made the spine tingle.

This black-robed elder exuded a powerful aura, nearly rivaling Ling Ba, yet his sinister aura and suspicious means seemed even more daunting.

"Thousand Ghosts Saint."

Ling Ba's eyes showed a hint of fear; the person before him was one of the Witch Fiend Sect's top ten elders back then: Thousand Ghosts Saint.

"Thousand Ghosts Saint, how dare you break into Yanjing City? Is the Witch Fiend Sect truly wanting a decisive battle with our Ling family?"

Ling Ba squinted his eyes and shouted sternly.

"A decisive battle is bound to happen, but unfortunately not now."

Thousand Ghosts Saint grinned malevolently, then looked at Ling Chen not far away, his sinister smile growing more intense. "This Brother Ling Chen is specifically named for protection by our Left Guardian Law. Ling Ba, who do you think you are to dare touch him?"

"What, Ling Chen? Isn't he Ling Yu?"

Ling Ba's expression changed, his eyes shimmering coldly, "You're indeed a Witch Fiend Sect's spy; now what will you say, brat!"

Wait, Ling Chen—why does this name sound so familiar? Ling Ba furrowed his brows tighter, suddenly his eyes lit up with a look of shock.

"You're Ling Chen! The traitor Ling Tianyu's son!"

Ling Ba's voice was sharp, shouting out loud.

"What, Ling Yu is Ling Chen?"

"He's Ling Tianyu's son; is he really here to seek revenge against our Ling family?"

"Even fooled the Family Head and the elders; truly detestable this kid!"

This revelation stirred a great uproar among the Ling family members, who many had assumed Ling Chen was bewitched by the Witch Fiend Sect, acting against the Ling family. Now, they finally understood.

Upon hearing this, Ling Chen couldn't help but furrow his brows slightly. The Thousand Ghosts Saint must have intentionally said this to sever his ties with the Ling family completely, denying him any chance of returning.

But Ling Chen never intended to turn back anyway.

"Indeed, I am Ling Chen."

Ling Chen circulated True Qi to his face, causing it to twist and wiggle, displacing facial features. The sharpness disappeared, revealing a delicate face.

"It really is you!"

Ling Ba's eyes flickered with murderous intent. When Ling Tianyu was around, he had been overwhelmed by him; the Second Branch had already overshadowed the Elder Branch, and Ling Tianyu was the designated heir to the Family Head, soaring high. Luckily, Ling Tianyu eventually muddled himself over a woman; otherwise, there'd be no chance for Ling Ba and the Elder Branch to rise.

His feelings for Ling Tianyu were pure hatred, and now Ling Chen had killed Ling Yuxuan and the others, intensifying his hatred for Ling Chen to the bone, wishing to grind him to dust.

A gaze of hatred shot forth; Ling Ba's cold and sinister voice suddenly echoed mid-air in the tavern, "All Ling family members, listen! For the family honor, for our clansmen! Today we absolutely cannot let this traitor Ling Chen escape!"

"Kill!"

Ling Ba's voice fell, and Ling family's strong figures from all directions also brimmed with icy gazes, deadly intent rushing towards Ling Chen.