Aftermath

Chapter 22: Aftermath

Uncle Chen's head was severed from his body right before their eyes.

Xu Huan and the others were filled with shock and uncertainty.

They felt a deadly sense of crisis emanating from Lu Zhaojin. If they remained here, they would die!

Xu Huan was decisive. He didn't even glance at the treasures on the platform and immediately fled towards the cave entrance.

But as soon as he took his first step, a sword energy, like a gentle breeze, swept past, and one of his legs detached from his knee. The cut was smooth and clean. Blood congealed for a moment before spraying out.

Without his front leg for support, Xu Huan stumbled forward a couple of steps due to inertia before falling to the ground. He looked at his severed leg, as if only now feeling the pain, and howled in agony, clutching it.

Zhao Yuanshan watched all this, his body tense. Even the slightest rustle of wind around him made him tremble with fear.

Lu Jinlin struck with his sword at this moment, but only managed to wound Zhao Yuanshan's arm. However, without Xu Huan's assistance, Zhao Yuanshan was no match for him. Killing Zhao Yuanshan was only a matter of time.

Seeing his father in distress, Zhao Jinzhi was anxious, but the two elders from the Dingshan Sect were keeping him occupied, leaving him unable to help. "Master, please assist me!"

His Master did not reply immediately.

Zhao Jinzhi's heart was burning with urgency. "Master!"

A sigh echoed in his mind. "Fine."

The two Dingshan Sect elders noticed that Zhao Jinzhi's offensive momentum seemed to have slowed slightly. They thought he must be reaching his limit.

They both gathered their strength, intending to subdue Zhao Jinzhi as quickly as possible. As for Lu Zhaojin, they no longer had the means to deal with him. They would have to wait until they returned to the sect and ask the Sect Master to handle him.

"Meteor Fall."

Elder Qiushui brandished his long sword, his sword energy soaring into the sky like a passing meteor, aimed directly at Zhao Jinzhi's heart.

"Blazing Sun Fist."

Elder Hengshan clenched his fists, and a heavy, mountain-like True Qi permeated his body, as if an invisible flame was burning, causing the very air to distort subtly.

He leaped forward, closing the distance, his arms spread wide like two massive iron hammers rapidly converging and striking. The focal point, however, was Zhao Jinzhi's head.

One from the front, one from behind, both attacks filled with killing intent.

Zhao Jinzhi closed his eyes, his mind sinking into an abyss. When he opened them again, he saw through a unique perspective as his Master used his body to fight.

At the same time, the more refined energy within his body filled him with longing. If only he could cultivate his Master's techniques, then Lu Zhaojin would be no match for him.

Zhao Jinzhi underwent a drastic transformation.

A heavy aura emanated from him. Anyone who stepped within nine feet of him felt as if they were sinking into a quagmire, their movements becoming sluggish.

The attacks of the two elders faltered, like deflated balloons, unable to advance and finding it difficult to retreat.

What's going on?

The two elders looked at Zhao Jinzhi, sensing something strange about him!

The space before their eyes suddenly rippled, as if an invisible force was exploding, the terrifying fluctuations sending them flying backward. They crashed against the rock wall before coming to a halt.

Blood spurted from their mouths. Both elders' eyes were filled with shock. What kind of technique was this?

Lu Zhaojin naturally noticed Zhao Jinzhi's change. It wasn't the first time, and he had a guess about the transformation: it must be the old grandpa.

However, he wasn't sure how strong this old grandpa was.

Previously, when fighting Zhao Jinzhi, the old grandpa had possessed him to help fight at the last moment, but it seemed he wasn't as powerful as he was now.

This suggested that the old grandpa could only unleash more abilities as Zhao Jinzhi's martial arts realm advanced.

If that were the case, it meant Zhao Jinzhi's physical body couldn't withstand the old grandpa's excessively powerful energy, otherwise, Zhao Jinzhi would have exploded.

Lu Zhaojin recalled the scene of Zhao Jinzhi using the Jade Palm. His entire hand looked like it was about to shatter like jade. At the time, he thought it was his doing, but now it seemed the old grandpa was the main reason.

The two Dingshan Sect elders suffered internal injuries from that surge of power, finding it difficult even to stand.

The old grandpa felt the situation was unfavorable, so he feigned an attack on Elder Hengshan. But as Elder Hengshan braced himself, Zhao Jinzhi unexpectedly reached out to grab the closer Zhao Yuanshan mid-attack. His objective was clear: if he couldn't defeat Lu Zhaojin, he should retreat first.

However.

Lu Zhaojin saw through the old grandpa's plan. After all, Mu Kui had used the same trick at the ruined temple before, so he was somewhat prepared.

Moreover, he would never allow Zhao Jinzhi to take Zhao Yuanshan away. This was the perfect opportunity to crush the Heavenly Mandate Child's spirit, so how could he let Zhao Yuanshan go easily?

A sharp sword light caused Zhao Jinzhi to freeze momentarily, as if he had precognitive abilities, dodging the sword energy.

But it was precisely during this moment of stunned stillness that Lu Zhaojin unleashed several more sword energies, forcing him back.

Zhao Jinzhi could only watch helplessly from within his own body, unable to control anything. He was furious. "Master, kill him!"

His Master said coldly, "No, your physical body cannot withstand it."

Zhao Jinzhi roared, "But what about my father?"

His Master advised, "As long as the green hills remain, there will be wood to burn."

Zhao Jinzhi fell silent.

Zhao Yuanshan had initially held out hope, but seeing Zhao Jinzhi forced to retreat, he knew today wouldn't end well. "JinZhi, hurry and leave. A gentleman's revenge is never too late."

He didn't want to drag his own son down with him.

Breaking through to the Seventh-Rank Realm at seventeen years old was a feat worthy of the title "heavenly talent" outside of Mount Qi. If he died in this cave mansion, even if the Lu family annihilated the Zhao family later, with Zhao Jinzhi as a spark of hope, his Zhao family could rise again.

Therefore, Zhao Jinzhi could not die. It would be best if he fled far away and never appeared before Lu Zhaojin again.

He couldn't fathom Lu Zhaojin. After surviving a near-death experience, his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, making him even more peculiar than his own son.

Zhao Jinzhi hadn't anticipated that his father's thoughts would align with his Master's. He fell into an even deeper silence, as if sinking to the bottom of an abyss where even his Master couldn't fathom his thoughts.

His Master took this as his acquiescence and controlled Zhao Jinzhi's body, making him flee the cave mansion.

Lu Zhaojin didn't pursue.

He knew that a child of destiny was favored by fate. If he couldn't force out all of the opponent's trump cards, he might provoke them into a mutual destruction.

Seeing Zhao Jinzhi's retreat, the two elders of the Dingshan Sect also wanted to escape.

Lu Zhaojin naturally wouldn't allow it. After beheading them one after another, another ten thousand experience points were added.

[Killed Seventh-Rank Martial Artist, EXP +5000]

[Killed Seventh-Rank Martial Artist, EXP +5000]

[EXP: 17318]

His experience points had once again surpassed ten thousand. Brute Ox Stance could now be upgraded to the Extreme Realm.

But there were more pressing matters to attend to.

Xu Huan and Zhao Yuanshan were not dead yet.

Xu Huan had stopped wailing and was dragging his severed leg, crawling towards the outside of the cave mansion.

Footsteps sounded from behind his head.

Xu Huan's heart was filled with terror, as if a ferocious beast was chasing him. He used both his hands and his one good leg to push off the ground, accelerating his crawl.

But he was still caught.

He looked back and saw a handsome face stained with blood, and a pair of indifferent eyes filled with coldness. He trembled uncontrollably. "Don't come any closer. I'm a subordinate of the Third Prince. I was sent to Mount Qi by imperial decree."

Xu Huan pointed at Lu Zhaojin, his voice hoarse. "You've killed an official of the dynasty. You're making an enemy of the dynasty, and an enemy of the Third Prince..."

Lu Zhaojin didn't want to listen to his nonsense. He swung his sword, severing Xu Huan's fingers, and then his head as well.

[Killed Seventh-Rank Martial Artist, EXP +5000]

[EXP: 22318]

Lu Zhaojin scanned his surroundings and only then realized Zhao Huaishui was missing. "He sure ran fast."

Clearly, Uncle Chen had injured Zhao Huaishui, making him seem incapacitated when he was actually faking it.

While Uncle Chen was holding Lu Zhaojin back, Zhao Huaishui had secretly slipped away.

Lu Zhaojin looked at Zhao Yuanshan. He had already been wounded by Lu Jinlin but was not dead. Lying on the ground, he struggled to breathe. "However, you can't run forever."

Seeing his agony, Lu Zhaojin didn't prolong his suffering and ended him with a sword strike.

[Killed Seventh-Rank Martial Artist, EXP +5000]

[EXP: 27318]

With that, only he and Lu Jinlin remained in the cave mansion.

They looked at each other in silence.