Shattered Yuan Shuttle

"Help you attain transcendence? How about I help you attain it first!"

Wu Sha grinned savagely. He stomped his foot hard, spread his five fingers, and suddenly clawed at Lin Dong atop the tiger's back. As his hand sliced through the air, it produced bursts of piercing Wind Breaking Sound.

Grade 4 Martial Art, Wind Ripping Hand!

The signature technique of Wu Sha, the Second Boss of Black Dragon Stockade, the Wind Ripping Hand!

"Too noisy."

Lin Dong cast the approaching man an indifferent glance. The next moment, violent Mental Energy surged explosively from his Niwan Palace, transforming into an invisible giant hand in midair and crashing down.

Boom!

The ground shook violently. The Second Boss of Black Dragon Stockade, who had been so imposing moments ago, had vanished without a trace, leaving only a mangled heap of flesh and blood where he had stood.

Gulp!

The sound of people swallowing their saliva immediately rang out across the field.

The several hundred bandits of Black Dragon Stockade all took a step back in terror. Their Second Boss, Lord Wu Sha, a dignified Sky Origin Stage expert, had been killed with a single word by some unknown brat?

"Mental Energy? Are you a Symbol Master, sir?"

Yan Kuo, the Big Boss of Black Dragon Stockade, who had just been putting on a furious, intimidating expression, shuddered violently in fright. Well-traveled and knowledgeable as he was, he naturally recognized the attack method of a Symbol Master.

A Symbol Master capable of casually crushing a Sky Origin Stage expert had to be at least a Two-Seal Symbol Master. Even in Yan City, where experts gathered in great numbers, a Two-Seal Symbol Master would be an honored guest of every major faction. Such a person was a powerhouse comparable to one at the Minor Yuan Dan Stage.

"Correct. Do you want a reward?"

Lin Dong's gaze lingered eerily over Yan Kuo.

"No, no."

Yan Kuo's face turned pale at once, and he hurriedly waved his hands in refusal. Then, forcing himself to remain calm, he said, "You are a dignified Two-Seal Symbol Master, sir. May I ask why you have come to our Black Dragon Stockade?"

"I heard that your stockade has some Shattered Yuan Profound Steel in storage. As it happens, I've recently wanted to forge a weapon capable of carrying Mental Energy, so I came to take it."

Lin Dong patted Little Flame beneath him, who was about to attack, signaling it to relax.

"Shattered Yuan Profound Steel? Lord Lin Dong, please wait. I'll send someone to fetch it immediately."

Yan Kuo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead fiercely and rapidly ordered a minor leader beside him, "Hurry to the storeroom and bring back that piece of Shattered Yuan Profound Steel."

"No need." Lin Dong waved a hand.

"M-my lord, why?"

Yan Kuo carefully studied Lin Dong's expression, terrified that he might accidentally provoke this Evil Star.

"Because I plan to fetch it myself. You can rest now."

A mysterious smile suddenly appeared on Lin Dong's face. Yan Kuo, who had spent years living on the edge of a blade, immediately changed expression drastically and turned to dash into the distance.

"It's useless. You can't escape."

Lin Dong sighed as if grieving for all living things. An invisible spear arrived in an instant, piercing straight through the rather lean figure.

"Hah... hah... Y-you're not a Two-Seal Symbol Master at all..."

Yan Kuo's swiftly fleeing body suddenly stiffened. Blood foam kept spilling from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were filled with shock.

"Of course I'm not a Two-Seal Symbol Master."

Lin Dong looked at Yan Kuo, whose aura had completely faded, in confusion.

"The Big Boss is dead too! Run!"

"Run for your lives!!"

"Mercy, my lord!"

In merely a few minutes, the Big Boss and Second Boss of the stockade had both died in succession. The bandits of Black Dragon Stockade were utterly terrified. Some tried to flee, while others tried to kneel and beg for mercy.

"Don't become bandits again in your next life."

Lin Dong swept an indifferent gaze over the grotesque spectacle before him. His vast Mental Energy instantly transformed into countless sharp tentacles that pierced outward, like a tentacled monster baring its fangs and claws.

Puff, puff, puff...

Dull sounds of flesh being pierced rang out continuously. The bandits of Black Dragon Stockade fell in swathes like harvested wheat, and a thick stench of blood instantly spread throughout the entire stockade.

"Little Flame, you know where the storeroom is, right? Take me there."

Lin Dong patted Little Flame beneath him. Little Flame lowered its head and sniffed, then flicked its tail and dashed swiftly in one direction.

Boom!

A solid wall was instantly smashed down by Little Flame, revealing a vast storeroom piled full of all kinds of valuables before Lin Dong's eyes.

Lin Dong's gaze passed over the gold, silver, and jewels before landing directly on a piece of black metal about half the size of a head in the corner. A satisfied smile appeared on his face. "Shattered Yuan Profound Steel, I've found you."

Ten minutes later, a great fire quietly rose in the center of Black Dragon Stockade, rapidly devouring the entire stockade at an astonishing speed.

Black Dragon Stockade, which had possessed two Sky Origin Stage experts and plagued the region for more than twenty years, was thus destroyed!

"Haha, Little Flame, let's go home. Let's try to get back to Ironwood Manor before dawn."

Amid the flames, a fiery red figure could vaguely be seen flashing past.

Ironwood Manor covered an enormous area and boasted exceptionally beautiful scenery.

At this moment, Lin Dong was lying on a slope with a stalk of foxtail grass between his teeth, leisurely admiring the beautiful scenery in the distance.

Seven days had passed since the destruction of Black Dragon Stockade, and the Shattered Yuan Profound Steel Lin Dong had taken from its storeroom had been forged into Shattered Yuan Shuttles.

At this thought, Lin Dong's mind stirred, and ten streaks of Black Light swiftly flew from his sleeves, nimbly circling around him like fish.

The ten streaks of Black Light were actually ten black short shuttles roughly the size of thumbs. Their edges were lined with serrated teeth that gleamed with a cold luster, making them undoubtedly excellent offensive weapons.

Of course, they could also serve as flying tools.

"Combine!"

As Lin Dong's Mental Energy enveloped them, the ten streaks of Black Light immediately merged into a Black Longsword and flew beneath his feet, steadily supporting Lin Dong as he floated a short distance above the ground.

After several days of practice, Lin Dong could already fly in the air to a basic extent. The vast Mental Energy of a Four Seal Talisman Master was enough to support him through a long-distance flight.

"Roar! Roar!"

Little Flame remained on the ground, looking up at Lin Dong flying through the air. Without wings, it could only keep raising its head and roaring, unwilling to stop.

"What are you so anxious about? Once you swallow a Flying Demonic Beast and mutate again someday, perhaps you'll grow wings too."

Lin Dong, tired from flying, landed back on the ground, prompting Little Flame to pounce on him again.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Bursts of sharp Wind Breaking Sound came from afar as a tall figure rapidly rushed up from the foot of the mountain. Laughing heartily, he said, "Dong'er, I knew you'd be here."

"Father."

Lin Dong discreetly put away the Shattered Yuan Shuttles and stepped forward to meet him.

"Seven days ago, Black Dragon Stockade was wiped out by a Mysterious Expert, and you disappeared for most of that day. That wasn't your doing, was it, boy?"

Lin Xiao appeared before him and studied Lin Dong suspiciously. He knew his son's exact cultivation level.

"Yes. I heard Black Dragon Stockade had some Shattered Yuan Profound Steel, so I went and took some while I was at it."

Lin Dong nodded in confirmation. Lin Xiao immediately laughed. "It was only a bandit stockade. Good riddance. Come on, your grandfather wants to discuss something with you."

"Hm? Is something big about to happen?"

"More or less. Let's go."

Amid their quiet conversation, the figures of father and son quickly vanished from the spot as well.

P.S. The cover is finished. What do you all think?