Unity of Man and Heaven

Seeing Lei Bao's action, everyone was stunned, then followed his gaze to discover the gray-clothed man sitting calmly.

"Lei Bao, your Lei Family's prestige doesn't seem as high as you claimed." The gray-clothed man smiled faintly, set down his teacup, and slowly stood up. "Well, since I took the payment, I have to do the job. There's no reason to take benefits without putting in the work."

With that, he abruptly raised his head and swept his gaze across the crowd, his eyes growing unusually bright. Many who met his stare felt a sharp sting in their minds.

"A Talisman Master!"

Lin Zhentian sucked in a deep breath, his expression turning extremely grim. Lin Xiao and the others weren't much better off.

Master Gu's appearance had caught them completely off guard. The fact that Lei Bao treated him with such deference meant he was likely a Two-Seal Talisman Master—any stronger and Lei Bao wouldn't have been able to hire him. But even at Two-Seal, that was enough to rival a Lesser Yuan Dan Stage expert.

The situation, which had been in their favor moments ago, had nearly reversed in an instant! This turn of events made the other factions secretly rejoice, glad that the Lin Family had stepped up as the scapegoat.

"May I ask your esteemed name?" Lin Zhentian frowned and cupped his hands.

"Gu Yuan, Vice Sect Master of the Blood-Clothed Sect in Flame City." The gray-clothed man returned the greeting with a genial smile, as if Lin Zhentian were an old friend.

"Clap, clap, clap!"

At the same time, Lei Bao clapped his hands with a cold sneer. The doors around the hall burst open on cue, and a large group of men rushed in, surrounding the place in an impenetrable ring. Blades glinted, sending a chill through everyone's hearts.

Seeing this, Lin Ken and Luo Cheng immediately let out long howls. Chaotic sounds of slaughter erupted from outside the estate—clearly, the Lin Family and Mad Saber Martial Hall's forces were fighting desperately to break in.

"Today, the Lei and Xie Families' targets are only the Lin Family and Mad Saber Martial Hall. The rest of you, don't make a mistake!"

Lei Bao's face twisted savagely as he stepped forward, glaring fiercely at the assembled factions. They quickly nodded or stayed silent.

Among them, Lin Changqiang even spotted a flash of striking bronze—Mu Lingsha from the Hunt that day. Her expression was complicated, and after a moment of hesitation, she lowered her head.

"Lin Zhentian, we've fought for years. Today, we'll finally settle things!" Having cowed the other factions, Lei Bao sneered and turned his gaze to Lin Zhentian.

"Enough talk. Today, either you die or I do!"

"Fine, fine, fine!"

Lei Bao laughed in fury. A surging wave of Yuan Power spread out like ocean tides, and faintly visible on his arms was an extremely sharp white energy coalescing.

"Pure Yuan Gang Qi!" Lin Dong's eyes twitched slightly. After Lin Zhentian had advanced to the Yuan Dan Stage, they'd learned about this energy.

This energy was compressed from Yuan Power, far stronger and purer. Whether in attack or defense, it far surpassed ordinary Yuan Power, even enough to shatter metal and stone!

"Master Gu, I'll leave the others to you!" With Pure Yuan Gang Qi swirling around him, Lei Bao shouted and stomped the ground, charging straight at Lin Zhentian—clearly aiming to capture the leader first.

"Move!"

Lin Zhentian didn't back down. With a roar, he also summoned Pure Yuan Gang Qi to cover his fists and shot toward Lei Bao. The next moment, they clashed fiercely.

At the same time, several Heavenly Origin Stage experts from the Lei and Xie Families sprang into action, charging at the Lin Family and Mad Saber Martial Hall, only to be intercepted by Lin Xiao and the others.

"Heh, I'll take care of these two young Heavenly Origin Stage fellows." Gu Yuan drifted over lightly, looking at Lin Dong and Lin Changqiang with odd expressions. "Hold out for a bit. I'll finish them soon."

As he spoke, Gu Yuan smiled faintly, and an invisible wave of Spiritual Power erupted from his body, slamming toward Lin Dong and Lin Changqiang.

"Unity of Man and Heaven!"

Knowing his own Spiritual Power—even weaker than Lin Dong's—was no match for Gu Yuan, Lin Changqiang didn't hesitate to cheat.

Instantly, rings of pale blue ripples spread from Lin Changqiang's head. Nearly a hundred people from the Lin Family and Mad Saber Martial Hall in the hall were covered by a nearly transparent blue shield.

Gu Yuan's casually released Spiritual Power and the Yuan Power attacks from others struck the shield, only causing ripples like water before fading away. But Lin Dong's sudden Spiritual Impact, meant to block the assault, passed through the shield without hindrance and slammed into Gu Yuan!

"What is this?" "Ah!" "Ow!"

Questions and two cries of pain rang out. Everyone turned to see Lin Changqiang and Gu Yuan both clutching their heads.

"It hurts, it hurts!" Lin Changqiang's face twisted in agony, his brow furrowed. Spreading Unity of Man and Heaven over nearly a hundred people was effective, but it had drained his Yuan Power and Spiritual Power to the bottom, leaving him with a splitting headache and a limp body.

He quickly cut off the Yuan Power and Spiritual Power supply to most people, keeping only Lin Zhentian and the two families' Heavenly Origin Stage experts. Then he swapped to equipment that restored Spiritual Power and Yuan Power, and with the healing effect of Holy Light Protection, he finally felt better, with recovery speed outpacing consumption.

Meanwhile, Gu Yuan gritted his teeth, enduring the pain as he burst out with his own Spiritual Power. He noticed Lin Dong and Lin Changqiang, both radiating Spiritual Power fluctuations.

"I never thought that in this little Qingyang Town, I'd run into two such young Talisman Masters..." Gu Yuan was now panting, his face extremely dark. "Lei Bao, this isn't what you told me!"

"Talisman Masters?!"

The chaotic hall froze for a moment, then nearly everyone's eyes went wide as they stared at the two youths in shock.

Not far away, Lei Bao's face was as dark as water, but he was locked in a deathmatch with Lin Zhentian and couldn't break free. In contrast, Lin Zhentian's face showed both surprise and delight, and his attacks quickened.

"You two, today's matter is a pure misunderstanding. I, Gu Yuan, will leave now and stop meddling in your fight. How about it?" A glint flashed in Gu Yuan's eyes. Though he sensed their Spiritual Power was weaker than his, that strange blue barrier made him wary.

Lin Dong hesitated for a moment but didn't withdraw his Spiritual Impact. Instead, he turned to look at Lin Changqiang.

"You're dreaming!" Lin Changqiang curled his lip. He'd already used a Double Experience Card, waiting for Lin Dong to absorb Gu Yuan's Spiritual Power. Did this guy think he could just call it off? "Let you go back so you can bring the Blood-Clothed Sect with you?"

Lin Dong snapped back to reality and glared at Gu Yuan with hostility. The value of the Yang Yuan Stone Mine Vein wasn't something anyone could easily give up.

"Bastard!" Seeing his plan seen through, Gu Yuan dropped his smile. "One of you is at most a One-Seal Talisman Master, the other not even that. You really think you've got me cornered?"

"God Transformation Needle!"