How to Compensate? Reinforcements?

Whoosh~

As Lin Chen charged forward, a shadowy figure shot out from the grey-robed elder, a Ghost. Ghostly energy surged, and with an enraged roar, it attacked Lin Chen.

Bang~

The Ghost had barely emerged before Lin Chen collided with it. Without any resistance, the Ghost was instantly engulfed by the Blood Qi True Flame. Lin Chen, his speed undiminished, arrived before the grey-robed elder.

"What? How is that possible!"

The grey-robed elder's face was filled with terror. He wasn't surprised that Lin Chen had killed a Rank 3 Ghost, but this was a Rank 4 Ghost. How could it not withstand even a single blow from Lin Chen?

Before the grey-robed elder could react, a tremendous force struck him, sending him flying and crashing to the ground. Immediately after, a barrage of fists rained down upon him.

"You dare steal my Origin!"

"Are you still going to steal it?"

Lin Chen furiously cursed the grey-robed elder on the ground as he rained down blows, venting his anger.

The grey-robed elder, dazed by the relentless assault, gritted his teeth through the pain. "What Origin? When have I ever stolen your Origin!"

"Hmph! You stole my Origin and you still won't admit it!" Lin Chen grew even angrier, increasing the force of his blows.

"Brat, you're going too far! I'll fight you to the death!"

The grey-robed elder felt his head was about to be smashed to pieces. Filled with shock and rage, his body surged with dense ghostly energy, and a colossal phantom emerged from him.

Clang~

A massive ghost claw descended, but the next moment, a crisp metallic sound rang out. It only left a few white marks on Lin Chen's body.

"Such a powerful physique?" The grey-robed elder's eyes widened in alarm. His strongest trump card couldn't even break through Lin Chen's defenses. How could he possibly fight now?

Feeling the increasingly heavy fists, the grey-robed elder, fearing he would be beaten to death, quickly cried out, "I admit it! I surrender!"

"Good that you admit it. Now, tell me, how will you compensate me!" Lin Chen stopped his attack, his gaze icy as he looked at the grey-robed elder.

The grey-robed elder looked at Lin Chen with a bitter expression. "However you say I should compensate, I will compensate!"

He had lived for so long, only to be beaten by a junior and forced to beg for mercy. But as long as he could survive, begging for mercy was not shameful!

"You make it sound like I'm forcing you!"

Seeing this, the grey-robed elder hurriedly shook his head. "No, absolutely not! It was I who stole your Origin. I am willing to apologize and compensate!"

Lin Chen's Blood Qi True Flame surged, and the grey-robed elder's expression changed drastically. "Your Excellency..."

"It's still you?" Lin Chen glanced at the Ghost, his tone chilling.

Upon hearing this, the grey-robed elder fell silent. While Ghosts were good, they were not as important as his own life. At this moment, he unhesitatingly chose to back down.

Boom~

Seeing this, Lin Chen punched the Ghost. Terrifying Blood Qi True Flame erupted, continuously burning it. In just a blink of an eye, the Ghost turned to ashes and dissipated.

"Killed a Rank 4 Ghost, Origin +4000."

"Origin:"

"Can strengthen martial arts: Phoenix Undying Body First Layer (5/9), Dragon Roar Iron Shirt First Layer (1/9)."

Looking at the System panel, Lin Chen finally showed a smile. Although the harvest from the Nine Star Coffin earlier had decreased, the final reward was still quite good.

"Benefactor Lin, escape quickly!"

Just then, from the depths of the mountain cavern, Master Huiming's voice echoed. Immediately after, three battered figures rushed out – Master Huiming and the other two who had gone to investigate the depths of the mountain cavern.

"This..."

Seeing the sorry state of the three, Lin Chen's expression also shifted slightly. Master Huiming and the other two were covered in blood, with several large wounds revealing bone.

Lin Chen had no doubt that if the three had been any slower, they would have already perished in the depths of the mountain cavern!

Boom~

At that moment, the ground beneath Lin Chen's feet exploded violently, and a colossal figure burst forth, directly colliding with him.

The immense force sent Lin Chen flying. He hurriedly threw a punch, sending a surge of Blood Qi True Flame towards the colossal figure.

After steadying himself, Lin Chen finally got a clear look at the colossal figure. It was a creature with huge fangs, resembling a mole.

With a movement of his hand, the freed grey-robed elder channeled dense ghostly energy, which combined with the dark red flowing light from the mole, instantly extinguished the Blood Qi True Flame.

"Old Ghost Li, why are you in such a sorry state?" Just then, a voice came from behind Master Yi Jie and the other two. A man riding a Leopard, with a Long-armed Ape by his side, entered the mountain cavern.

The grey-robed elder looked at the newcomer, his expression grave. "Wu Hong, don't be careless. That brat can easily kill a Rank 4 Ghost, his physical defense is incredibly strong, and his cultivation technique is extremely bizarre."

Hmm?

Upon hearing this, Wu Hong's expression changed slightly. After all, both he and Old Ghost Li were only Rank 4 Cultivators. However, relying on their ghost-raising and beast-taming abilities, their overall strength was comparable to Rank 5 Cultivators.

But Lin Chen's ability to easily kill a Rank 4 Ghost indicated that the opponent's strength was not inferior to his, and might even be stronger.

"Benefactor Lin, this is troublesome!"

At this moment, Master Yi Jie, who had arrived beside Lin Chen, looked extremely solemn.

There were only two exits from the mountain cavern, and they were now occupied by Wu Hong and the grey-robed elder. Unless they were killed, escaping would be almost impossible.

"Trouble?"

Lin Chen chuckled. This was hardly troublesome for him; on the contrary, having enemies gather conveniently allowed him to harvest Origin. These were all prime Origin!

"Strengthen Dragon's Roar Iron Shirt!"

"Strengthen Dragon's Roar Iron Shirt!"

Lin Chen didn't hesitate, strengthening his Dragon's Roar Iron Shirt twice. The Blood Qi True Dragon within his body rapidly grew, and his physical defense and strength also soared. In just a moment, the strengthening was complete.

At this point, Lin Chen's strength and defense were like night and day compared to before!

"Wu Hong, hold him off and buy me some time!" the old man in the gray robe said, looking at the man on the leopard.

Wu Hong, however, replied calmly, "Helping you isn't a problem, but the conditions we agreed on before…"

"No problem, I'll double the conditions I promised you!" the old man in the gray robe interrupted.

"Good!"

Wu Hong laughed heartily. Then, the Long-armed Ape beside him leaped up and charged at Lin Chen. Simultaneously, the leopard beneath him also charged forward.

As cultivators of both Beast Taming and Ghost Cultivation, they wouldn't easily engage in combat themselves unless absolutely necessary. After all, their greatest advantage lay in the Ghosts and exotic beasts they controlled.

"You guys protect yourselves!"

Facing the two charging 异兽, Lin Chen's eyes flashed with sharp light. After instructing Master Yi Jie and the other two, he moved, transforming into a streak of light and meeting the two charging 异兽.

The Long-armed Ape swung its arms, a sharp whistling sound cutting through the air as it punched towards Lin Chen's head. Facing the incoming punch, Lin Chen directly threw a punch to meet it.

Bang~

Fists collided, and a dull thud erupted, like two pieces of steel crashing together. Both the Long-armed Ape and Lin Chen were forced back by the terrifying force.

"What?"

"How is this possible?"

Seeing this, not only Wu Hong but also Master Yi Jie and the others' expressions changed drastically. Lin Chen was actually fighting the Long-armed Ape to a standstill?