How Will You Compensate Me? Reinforcements?

Whoosh~

As Lin Chen charged forward, a black shadow burst out of the gray-robed old man. It was a ghost, its ghostly aura surging as it roared furiously and lunged at Lin Chen.

Bang~

The moment the ghost charged out, Lin Chen slammed straight into it. It offered no resistance at all; the ghost was instantly engulfed by Blood Qi True Flame, and Lin Chen's speed did not falter as he reached the gray-robed old man.

"What? How is that possible?!"

The gray-robed old man was horrified. He wouldn't have been surprised if Lin Chen had slain a Third-order Ghost, but this was a Fourth Order ghost! How could it still fail to withstand a single blow from Lin Chen?

Before the gray-robed old man could react, a tremendous force struck him and flipped him onto the ground. Then fists rained down on him like a torrential storm.

"You dared to steal this young master's origin!"

"Are you going to steal it again or not?"

Lin Chen attacked furiously, cursing at the gray-robed old man on the ground as he vented his anger.

Dazed by the storm of blows, the gray-robed old man still forced himself to speak through the pain. "What origin? When did I ever steal your origin?"

"Huh? You stole this young master's origin, and you still fucking refuse to admit it!" Lin Chen grew even angrier, and his fists struck harder.

"Kid, you've gone too far! I'll fight you to the death!"

The gray-robed old man felt as if his head were about to be smashed apart. Both shocked and furious, he let his dense ghostly aura surge around him, and a huge phantom rose from his body.

Clang~

The enormous ghost claw came down, but the next moment, a crisp metallic ring sounded. It had only left a few white marks on Lin Chen.

"Such a tough body?" The gray-robed old man was aghast. His strongest trump card couldn't break through Lin Chen's defenses. How was he supposed to fight?

Feeling the punches grow heavier and heavier, the gray-robed old man feared he'd be beaten to death. He hurriedly cried out, "I admit defeat! I surrender!"

"Good. Then tell me, how are you going to compensate me?" Lin Chen stopped attacking and looked at the gray-robed old man with a cold expression.

Looking at Lin Chen, the gray-robed old man said bitterly, "Whatever you say I should pay, I'll pay!"

He'd lived for so long, yet a junior had beaten him into begging for mercy on the spot. Still, as long as he could stay alive, begging was nothing to be ashamed of!

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

Seeing this, the gray-robed old man hurriedly shook his head. "No, absolutely not. I stole your origin, sir. I'm willing to apologize and make amends!"

Blood Qi True Flame surged around Lin Chen. The gray-robed old man's expression changed at once. "Sir..."

"It or you?" Lin Chen glanced at the ghost, his voice cold.

At this, the gray-robed old man fell silent. The ghost was precious, but not as precious as his own life. At that moment, without the slightest hesitation, he chose to save his own skin.

Boom~

Seeing this, Lin Chen punched the ghost. Terrifying Blood Qi True Flame erupted and began burning it. In the blink of an eye, the ghost had turned to ash and scattered.

"Killed a Fourth Order ghost. Origin +4000."

"Origin:"

"Martial arts available for enhancement: Phoenix Undying Body, First Level (5/9); Dragon Roar Iron Shirt, First Level (1/9)."

Looking at the system panel, a smile finally appeared on Lin Chen's face. Although the gains from the Nine Star Coffin had been reduced, the final haul was still pretty good.

"Benefactor Lin, run!"

Just then, Master Huiming's voice came from deep within the mountain. Immediately afterward, three battered figures rushed out. They were Master Huiming and the other two, who had gone to investigate the depths of the mountain.

"This..."

Seeing how battered they were, Lin Chen's expression shifted slightly. Master Huiming and the other two were covered in blood, and in several places their massive wounds exposed glimpses of white bone.

Lin Chen had no doubt that if they'd been any slower, the three of them would have died deep inside the mountain!

Boom~

Just then, the ground beneath Lin Chen's feet suddenly exploded, and a huge figure shot skyward, slamming straight into him.

The tremendous force sent Lin Chen flying. He hurriedly swung a fist behind him, sending a burst of Blood Qi True Flame at the huge figure.

Only after he'd steadied himself did Lin Chen get a clear look at the creature: it had enormous tusks and looked much like a mole rat.

The gray-robed old man, now free, moved his hand. Dense ghostly aura combined with the dark-red glow covering the mole rat, extinguishing the Blood Qi True Flame in the blink of an eye.

"Old Ghost Li, why are you in such a sorry state?" Just then, a voice came from behind Master Yi Jie and the others. A man riding a leopard entered the mountain hollow, a Long-armed Ape at his side.

The gray-robed old man looked at the newcomer, his expression grave. "Wu Hong, don't let your guard down. That kid can kill a Fourth Order ghost with ease. His physical defenses are incredibly strong, and his technique is bizarre beyond belief."

Hmm?

At those words, Wu Hong's expression changed. After all, both he and Old Ghost Li were only Fourth Order cultivators. But with their ability to raise ghosts and command beasts, the two of them together had strength comparable to that of a Fifth Order cultivator.

But Lin Chen could easily kill a Fourth Order ghost. That meant his strength was at least on par with Wu Hong's, and perhaps even greater.

"Benefactor Lin, we're in trouble now!"

At that moment, Master Yi Jie had come to Lin Chen's side, his expression grave.

There were only two exits from the mountain hollow, and Wu Hong and the gray-robed old man had already taken them. Unless they killed the two men, escaping was practically impossible.

"Trouble?"

Lin Chen smiled. This wasn't trouble for him at all. On the contrary, with all his enemies gathered in one place, it would be easier to reap their origin. These were all guaranteed origin points!

"Enhance Dragon Roar Iron Shirt!"

"Enhance Dragon Roar Iron Shirt!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Chen enhanced Dragon Roar Iron Shirt twice. The Blood Qi True Dragon within him rapidly grew, and his physical defenses and strength surged. A moment later, the enhancements were complete.

At this point, Lin Chen's strength and defenses were already worlds apart from before!

"Wu Hong, hold him off and buy me some time!" The gray-robed old man looked at the man astride the leopard.

Wu Hong's expression remained calm. "I can help, but the terms you promised me back then..."

"No problem. I'll double what I promised!" the gray-robed old man cut in.

"Good!"

Wu Hong laughed heartily. The Long-armed Ape at his side immediately leaped up and charged at Lin Chen. At the same time, the leopard beneath him rushed forward too.

As practitioners who commanded beasts or raised ghosts, they wouldn't fight personally unless absolutely necessary. After all, their greatest advantage lay in the ghosts and strange beasts under their control.

"Protect yourselves!"

Facing the two charging beasts, Lin Chen's eyes flashed. After warning Master Yi Jie and the other two, he darted forward, turning into a streak of light as he charged at the two beasts.

The Long-armed Ape swung both arms. A sharp sound tore through the air as it punched toward Lin Chen's head. Faced with the incoming blow, Lin Chen simply swung his own fist to meet it.

Bang~

Their fists collided with a muffled boom, like two slabs of steel crashing together. The terrifying force sent both the Long-armed Ape and Lin Chen stumbling backward.

"What?"

"How is that possible?"

At this sight, not only Wu Hong but Master Yi Jie and the others were stunned. Lin Chen had actually fought the Long-armed Ape to a standstill?