"Yes."

Lin Fengye’s tone was light as she said, "But you don’t need to worry. Now that we know his specific cultivation level and his exact location, things will be much simpler. Contact the True Essence Realm experts in the cult immediately. Tell them to drop whatever they’re doing and come provide aid at once."

"Yes, Saintess!"

The burly man nodded, then asked, "And what about the Crying Elder?"

"Him?"

Lin Fengye’s brow twitched. "That old coot is deliberately playing hard to get, trying to squeeze out more benefits. I’ll go negotiate with him again in a bit. If he’s still unwilling to join forces, then we’ll just forget about him. Also, gather our subordinates. I’m calling a meeting!"

"Right away!"

The burly man immediately withdrew and began gathering everyone.

「A short while later.」

In the spacious first-floor hall.

Figures gathered—six people in total.

All were in the True Qi Realm.

One by one, they turned with fanatical gazes toward the South Forest Saintess as she approached.

Lin Fengye’s features were exquisite, her figure slender, her neck pale. Like a proud cygnet, she descended from the upper floor step by step, exuding an aura of arrogance and nobility.

It was as if anyone, any genius, would feel ashamed of their own inferiority in her presence.

"Do you know why I’ve called you here now?"

Lin Fengye’s tone was icy as she slowly descended, like a young phoenix. "My shadow body was destroyed," she said. "All the experts accompanying it were killed. Most importantly, the Eight-headed Fire Python has been cornered by other forces..."

"What?"

"They’re courting death! Simply courting death!"

"To dare make an enemy of us... no matter who they are, we must kill them!"

Everyone erupted in fury.

"Enough."

Lin Fengye’s tone was cold. "I will personally lead a team to deal with the person who destroyed my shadow body. Your main task now is to hunt the Eight-headed Fire Python. No matter the cost, you must retrieve its Inner Core for me. Elder Feng’s recovery depends entirely on this Inner Core!"

"Yes, Saintess!"

"We will do everything in our power!"

The crowd shouted in unison.

"Good. We’ll split up now..."

Before Lin Fengye could finish her sentence, she suddenly sensed something was wrong. As an expert of the True Essence First Layer, she was struck by an utterly terrifying feeling, as if some invisible, unknown danger was rapidly approaching.

She whipped her head around, staring at the wall to her side.

CRACK!

BOOM!

The inn’s wall suddenly exploded.

Innumerable streams of crimson energy surged in from outside. Flames danced and raged, accompanied by countless blasts of Qi Energy and brilliant light. The power was terrifying, warping the very air and threatening to shatter their souls.

A fiery red hand, seemingly wreathed in magma, lunged viciously for Lin Fengye’s face.

Innate Tyrant Body!

Triple combat power!

Mixed Element Qi!

Indestructible Fist Intent (Level 2)!

Chen Xuan had activated almost every buff he could from the outset. He unleashed a devastatingly ferocious palm strike, slamming it down on Lin Fengye.

From Lin Fengye’s perspective, what she was seeing was undeniably horrifying...

Especially his Indestructible Fist Intent (Level 2), which came with a mental shock that could influence a person’s will and create illusions.

At that moment, the South Forest Saintess’s eyes were filled with terror. She completely forgot to resist, feeling only a massive wave of scorching heat wash over her. Before her eyes, it was as if a colossal magma giant that touched the heavens had appeared.

The magma giant roared, shaking her very soul. Her legs trembled, and she lost control of her bladder.

Then, a boundless, flaming hand descended upon her.

Of course, this was all an illusion!

But the power was real.

A full-power strike from Chen Xuan—at the True Essence Second Layer, enhanced by his Innate Tyrant Body and Mixed Element Qi—was something even an expert at the True Essence Fifth Layer could not possibly withstand.

BOOM!

The entire inn shook violently as the ground exploded.

It was as if a magma cannonball had detonated, leaving pools of lava all over the floor.

Then, the surrounding walls all began to explode and burn, erupting into a sea of flames with a deafening ROAR.

The terrifying, brutal Qi Energy radiated outward like resilient blades of fire. The six experts who had been meeting in the hall all screamed miserably without exception, vomiting blood as their bodies were flung away like broken sacks...

[You have wiped out an Evil Cult den, killing five Evil Cult experts and severely injuring one. Retribution points +54,000!]

[You have severely injured an Evil Cult Saintess. Your sense of retribution is exceptional. Retribution points +15,000!]

CRASH!

The sounds of explosions in the hall quickly faded, leaving only the raging flames.

In the very center of the flames.

An enormous crater had appeared.

Within the crater, the once exceptionally charming and ambitious Evil Cult Saintess now lay with a twisted face, bleeding from all seven orifices. Limp as a scarecrow and a wretched sight to behold, her face was pinned firmly to the ground by Chen Xuan, the fear in her heart having reached its absolute limit...

’Chen Xuan?’

’Is this Chen Xuan?’

The Evil Cult Saintess was on the verge of a complete breakdown.

’Is he a monster?’

’How could he suddenly appear here?’

’My true body was at least fifteen to twenty miles away from my shadow body...’

’There was no clue linking the two, so how did he find me?’

’And another thing!’

’Is he really at the True Essence First Layer?’

’That’s absolutely impossible!’

The Evil Cult Saintess let out a constant gurgling sound as blood frothed from her mouth, her eyes wild with terror...

"Bitch, you made me run all this way! Weren’t you just spouting threats, saying you were going to drain me dry and reduce me to a beast? Well, your daddy’s here for you now. Surprise!"

Chen Xuan grabbed her by the hair, lifted her body, and shook it violently.

The Evil Cult Saintess let out a miserable scream as her already broken bones ground against each other with a series of sickening CRACKS, amplifying her agony.

At the same time.

Nine fluffy tails suddenly sprouted from behind her...

"Oh? You’ve got tails? That won’t do you any good!"

Chen Xuan showed no mercy. Gripping her face and ignoring the wildly thrashing fox tails, he began smashing her body against the ground again.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!...

The dull thuds sounded like a heavy war drum, sending flesh and rubble flying.

Lin Suye felt every inch of her bones screaming as they shattered. Her consciousness plunged in and out of an abyss of agony and terror.

’A madman!’

’This is a fucking madman!’

’How did I ever provoke a lunatic like this?’

’I’m going to die at his hands today!’

’Somebody, save me!’

Suddenly!

BOOM!

From all around the ruined, chaotic inn, a tidal wave of bone-chillingly cold energy came whistling in. With a mournful WAIL, it instantly extinguished many of the surrounding flames.

At the same time, an ancient, world-weary voice rang out.

"Young one, be merciful where you can. Why be so vicious? How about you give this old man some face? Let her go, and we’ll consider this matter concluded."

"I’m your daddy!"

Chen Xuan showed no courtesy, scanning his surroundings and barking, "Where the fuck did you crawl out from, telling me to ’just forget it’ the moment you open your mouth? Who the hell do you think you are? How about this: you kneel, call me ’daddy,’ and then I’ll forget it."

"Save... save me..."

Lin Fengye cried out in agony.

She was pleading for help from the Crying Elder.

"Young one, in this world, must your words be so venomous? Did your elders never teach you any manners?"

The old, hidden voice continued.

"My words are venomous?"

A smile touched Chen Xuan’s face. "Fine, fine," he said. "In that case, I’ll stop talking!"

CRUNCH!

With a squeeze of his palm, he crushed Lin Fengye’s head on the spot. Blood, flesh, and brain matter splattered everywhere. He then casually tossed her corpse to the ground.

"There, I’ve killed her. What can you do? Come out and get me!"

Chen Xuan’s tone was flat.

[You have killed an Evil Cult Saintess. Retribution points +14,000!]

[You disregarded the opponent’s status and acted on your own heart’s desire. Retribution points +5,000!]

Two lines of text appeared one after the other.

"You’re courting death!"

The hidden, ancient voice roared in fury.

"Old fossil. Did you think I couldn’t find you just because you were hiding back there, sneakily transmitting your voice?"

Chen Xuan’s eyes turned cold. With a WHOOSH, he shot forward with unreasonable speed.

Under the perception of his Indestructible Fist Intent (Level 2), the opponent’s hiding spot was as clear as if highlighted by a thermal imager. It was painfully obvious. And in that situation, the man still had the gall to tell him to let it go?

’I was just toying with you earlier!’

’And you actually took me seriously!’

BOOM!

Chen Xuan’s body crashed through wall after wall, carrying a terrifying, fiery power. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of a furtive, black-robed old man as gaunt as a skeleton. His terrifying aura erupted like a flaming bear as a dense pillar of fire shot skyward and a massive hand slammed down.

The old man had originally been more than three hundred meters away from Chen Xuan.

He had used a long-range sound transmission technique and was confident he couldn’t possibly be discovered.

But he never imagined that Chen Xuan would still find him.

And pounce on him in an instant.

The old man was instantly enraged.

"Eighteen Wraiths Palm!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

His hands danced as his aura exploded. Wave after wave of dense, terrifyingly cold energy swept toward Chen Xuan like a tsunami.

CRACK!

BANG!

With a deafening blast, the two utterly different, terrifying powers collided and exploded. The shockwave radiated outward, destroying everything in its path, blasting apart the surrounding walls and sending debris flying.

The old man was sent flying backward, crashing violently in the distance. One of his arms had been blown clean off. He coughed up mouthfuls of blood, his face a mask of horror, and immediately turned to flee.

"Little brother, this has nothing to do with me! I was just passing through and said a few careless words. I meant no harm..."

SPLAT!

A single slap blew his entire head apart.

"No harm?"

Chen Xuan’s tone was icy.

’You’re mixed up with an Evil Cult and you’re telling me you meant no harm?’

’You’re weak as hell, but you still love to stick your fucking nose where it doesn’t belong?’

’Go do your meddling in hell.’

[You have killed a True Essence Realm expert. Retribution points +18,000!]

Chen Xuan looked at the panel before him again as it flashed with light.

’Excellent!’

’A huge haul from a single wave.’

Name: Chen Xuan

Heart Method: Nine Yang Red Fire Skill (Second Layer), Molten Fire Gold Forging Skill (Perfection · Lava Armor), Mixed Element Qi Skill (Perfection)

Martial Arts: Thunder-Fire Vajra Skill [(Perfection) Three Thousand Thunder Claps, Inner Scorching Sun, Mountain-Splitting Earth-Shaker, Soul-Severing Palm], Shattering Star Finger (Seventh Layer), Flame Heaven-Burning Palm (Seventh Layer)

Cultivation: True Essence Realm, Second Layer

Talents: Innate Divine Strength, Copper Skin and Iron Bones, Indestructible Fist Intent (Level 1), Lightning Dharma King (Level 1), Innate Tyrant Body, Indestructible Fist Intent (Level 2) (A new talent can be unlocked for each level of renown gained. Current Renown: Famed Throughout the Lands)

Retribution Points: 274,300 (Can be used to evolve Martial Arts)

...

"I can break through to the True Essence Third Layer now."

Chen Xuan muttered to himself, "If a steady stream of enemies keeps coming for me, I might even reach the True Essence Fifth Layer by the time I get back..."

’This is just perfect.’

’This way, no one will ever be able to figure out my true cultivation realm.’

’Retribution Points, add to Nine Yang Red Fire Skill!’

Chen Xuan chanted in his mind.