Evil

The Silver-Masked Emissary frowned beneath his mask. Just as he was about to speak words of comfort, his ears twitched, as though he had received some message.

"Everyone, do not panic. My sect's Cult Master has already arrived. Once his honored self takes action, Lin City will fall with a wave of his hand."

The Silver-Masked Emissary pressed both hands down and spoke with a smile.

"If your sect's Cult Master is willing to act personally, that would be for the best. Just don't make us wait another hour like before."

The leaders of the various factions looked somewhat relieved.

The Cult Master of the Incense Sect was a Half-step King Realm expert.

That was the Xia Clan's highest level of combat power.

He could cross the void in the air, a figure like an earthly immortal.

There were not many such experts in the entire Xia Clan.

The reason they had been willing to follow the Incense Sect to Lin City and obey its command was because of that Half-step King.

It was also the Half-step King who had given them confidence.

However, after the earlier business of staring themselves blind while waiting, they were also worried that the Incense Sect's idea of "soon" meant after their Innate Grandmaster experts and the Lin Family had fought each other to mutual destruction.

"Rest assured. Look, my sect's Cult Master has already taken action."

The Silver-Masked Emissary pointed with an arrogant expression.

High in the sky, an Old Man clad in a golden python robe, wearing a divine crown, holding a golden whip, his white hair streaming in the wind, walked through the air step by step toward Lin City.

His might was unmatched.

The release of his powerful aura stirred the entire battlefield.

Every step he took carried an ultimate sense of oppression, like a heavy war drum hammering against everyone's hearts.

"May the Cult Master live as long as heaven, with boundless longevity!"

The Silver-Masked Emissary and the many Incense Sect disciples raised both hands and shouted in unison.

The Anti-Lin Alliance and the Lin Family tacitly ceased fighting, every gaze falling upon the Incense Sect's Cult Master.

At this moment, all eyes were on him.

"The Lin Family must perish!"

He arrived above the city walls, swept a hand, and issued his declaration.

Cold and indifferent.

His powerful aura spread outward, drawing fervent cheers from the Anti-Lin Alliance.

Their king had arrived! Victory was right before their eyes.

On the Lin Family's side, apart from the informed higher-ups, everyone else revealed looks of despair.

The addition of a Half-step King would be the final straw that broke the camel's back.

The Lin Family was in grave danger today.

Lin Xueling gripped her blood-dripping longsword. Beneath the despair in her eyes lay determination. With difficulty, she raised her sword and pointed it at the Incense Sect's Cult Master in midair.

Today, she would fight the Half-step King in blood for the Lin Family!

Even if she died, she would never retreat!

She drove despair from her heart. Her hot blood burned, and her Fighting Spirit gradually rose higher.

Yet just as she was about to leap into the air—

"Little girl, you're very good! I never expected my Lin Family to have a prodigy like you. Good, good, good! My Lin Family has hope for the future!"

An aged hand pulled her backward.

"There will be plenty of chances for you to fight for the Lin Family in the future. This Old Ancestor is still here, and I can still hold on."

Lin Zhennan threw back his head and laughed heartily.

Then he raised his head, cold light flashing in his eyes.

"I've been waiting for you. You little turtle bastard finally dared to show yourself!"

An even more powerful aura erupted from him, locking onto the Incense Sect's Cult Master.

As his voice rang out, a formation activated and trapped the Incense Sect's Cult Master within it. At the same time, he shot into the air and arrived opposite the Incense Sect's Cult Master. With a shake of his body, he flung off his heavy armor, revealing his true appearance.

"Lin Zhennan! You're not dead? How is that possible?"

The Incense Sect's Cult Master could no longer maintain his composure and cried out in shock.

The situation had reversed.

The appearance of the Lin Family Ancestor left everyone dumbfounded. The alliance side in particular panicked outright!

The Lin Family Ancestor was an old-established Half-step King, and his strength was far more terrifying than the Incense Sect's Cult Master's.

Both were Half-step Kings, but he could beat the Incense Sect's Cult Master as easily as a grandfather beating his grandson. The gap between them was enormous!

Otherwise, even when the Lin Family Ancestor was severely injured and no one knew how much strength he could wield, the Incense Sect's Cult Master would not have been so cowardly that he dared not make a move.

Now, the Lin Family Ancestor, who should have been dead, had appeared alive. How could they not be terrified?

On the Lin Family's side, seeing their own ancestor appear swept away their despairing, sluggish morale. They erupted into cheers as though pumped full of chicken blood, their combat strength soaring at once.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Lin Xueling wept tears of joy.

Heaven knew how much pressure she had placed upon herself. Now that the Old Ancestor had appeared, she suddenly felt the heavy burden on her shoulders lighten.

"Hmph! So what if you aren't dead? Your martial origin was damaged—how much of your strength can you possibly use?"

The Incense Sect's Cult Master forced himself to remain calm.

"Then watch."

The Lin Family Ancestor attacked. His pair of iron fists became afterimages as they hammered viciously toward the Incense Sect's Cult Master.

"How is this possible? Your strength..."

The Lin Family Ancestor, able to wield his full strength, beat the Incense Sect's Cult Master until he had no power to fight back, making him cry out in disbelief.

He wanted to flee.

But with the formation sealing the area off, he could only be chased around and hammered by the Lin Family Ancestor. There was nowhere for him to run.

Miserable screams rang out one after another.

His golden python robe tore apart, his white hair scattered wildly, and his divine crown had long since fallen who knew where. Blood spurted from his mouth with every step he ran.

"This..."

The Anti-Lin Alliance panicked!

Not only was the Lin Family Ancestor not dead, he was still incredibly fierce.

The Half-step King Realm Incense Sect Cult Master, who had made such an imposing entrance, had no ability to fight back in his hands.

No one had expected this!

"The Lin Family Ancestor was clearly gravely injured. Everyone had confirmed it—so what is going on now?"

"Fine, he didn't die! But his strength doesn't seem affected in the slightest!"

"Didn't your Incense Sect swear up and down that he was dead? What is this supposed to mean?"

Someone from the alliance side roared at the Silver-Masked Emissary.

Others began to doubt their very lives, finding it impossible to believe.

"Lin Zhennan! Let me leave, and from this day onward, how about we write off all grievances between my Incense Sect and your Lin Family? The river water will not offend the well water!"

The Incense Sect's Cult Master groaned miserably, seeking reconciliation.

"Heh!"

Lin Zhennan gave a disdainful snort.

Its meaning was obvious.

Trying to reconcile at a time like this was simply dreaming.

No, not even dreams would grant him that chance.

Lin Zhennan was not an idiot. With such a favorable situation before him, how could he possibly release a tiger back into the mountains?

"Bastard!"

"You forced my hand!"

"Today!"

"Either the fish dies or the net tears!"

The Incense Sect's Cult Master sprayed blood across the sky, his face dark and gloomy.

His eyes were filled with struggle and unwillingness.

"The fish may die, but the net won't tear. It's sturdy as can be!"

Lin Zhennan sneered.

"Hmph!"

The Incense Sect's Cult Master spoke no further. The struggle in his eyes faded, replaced by resolution.

Damn it!

He had plotted for so long, only to be forced to expose himself now.

The Incense Sect he had built over so many years probably could no longer remain in the Xia Clan!

"Come!"

The Incense Sect's Cult Master, who had been chased into fleeing everywhere, suddenly stopped. He raised both hands high. The originally pure aura around him was suddenly entwined with black qi, while strand after strand of black thread drilled out from his body, twisting and slithering like snakes. It was terrifying beyond measure!

"What an evil aura. It makes people uncomfortable!"

In the distance, Chu He frowned, his mood suddenly turning foul.

The smell drifting over from afar was like the black socks stripped off the feet of a burly man with terrible foot odor—enough to make anyone who smelled it gag.