With Song Cheng's blood splashed across his face, Yue Shan was completely stunned. He hadn't expected Lin Dong to dare kill Song Cheng right in front of him, and for a moment, he couldn't react.
When he finally came to his senses, Yue Shan's face twitched. Streaked with blood, his expression turned sinister and menacing.
His eyes were especially terrifying, their deep red color a result of his overwhelming fury. He looked like a demon crawling out of the depths of the underworld, violent and chilling.
"You dare kill him?"
Yue Shan's bloodshot eyes fixed on Lin Dong as he spoke, each word carrying tremendous force and pressing down on him.
He was furious. The Blood Robe Sect's heavy losses and the defeat at Pill Immortal Pool wouldn't be enough to cripple the Blood Wolf Gang, but losing a Lesser Perfection of the Yuan Dan Realm expert, along with several Lesser Yuan Dan Realm fighters, had badly wounded them.
Song Cheng's decision to lead the Song Family over to the Blood Wolf Gang had undoubtedly helped them recover. It had even restored the gang's prestige and momentum.
Yet Song Cheng had already openly pledged himself to Yue Shan. Yue Shan had even personally intervened, swallowing his pride to save him. And still, Song Cheng had died.
This was a direct slap in Yue Shan's face. Not just one, either—he'd been slapped on both cheeks until they were swollen.
How could Yue Shan not be furious? If he didn't kill Lin Dong today, how could the Blood Wolf Gang ever hold its place in Yan City?
Seeing this, Xia Wanjin stepped in front of Yue Shan, blocking his entire aura, and replied in a deep voice.
"On the dueling grounds, life and death are left to fate. That's the rule the City Lord personally established. Yue Shan, are you planning to defy the City Lord's orders?"
As he spoke, Xia Wanjin glanced at Song Cheng's lifeless body nearby, his heart filled with shock.
Xia Wanjin hadn't expected Lin Dong to be so powerful—or so ruthless. He'd taken advantage of Song Cheng's unpreparedness and dared to kill him right in front of Yue Shan.
It was certainly good that Song Cheng was dead, but now Xia Wanjin was under immense pressure. Yue Shan had comprehended the Intent of Form Creation; he was no longer someone Xia Wanjin could deal with.
Xia Wanjin wasn't the only one shocked. Countless spectators in the stands drew sharp breaths at Lin Dong's ruthlessness.
He'd managed to conceal a hidden weapon in Yue Shan's presence, then seized the chance to launch a surprise attack and kill Song Cheng. Such nerve and ruthlessness were unbecoming of a teenager.
Although Xia Wanjin had intervened in time, Lin Dong, badly wounded, was still forced back several steps by Yue Shan's aura. After barely steadying himself, he looked calmly at Yue Shan and sneered.
"Why wouldn't I dare?"
Yue Shan's fury turned to laughter. How long had it been since a junior had dared speak to him like that?
His face instantly turned cold. Fixing his gaze on Xia Wanjin, he spoke in a chilly, threatening voice.
"Xia Wanjin, this has nothing to do with you. I don't want to make a move against your Wanjin Merchant Association, so don't go looking for trouble!"
But how could Xia Wanjin back down? If he did, wouldn't that mean the Wanjin Merchant Association was afraid of Yue Shan?
"Yue Shan, today's death match concerns my Wanjin Merchant Association from the start. Song Qing was the one who disregarded our rules first. What, do you want to disregard the City Lord's rules too?"
"I naturally wouldn't dare defy the City Lord's rules," Yue Shan replied in a deep voice. His expression seemed somewhat reluctant, and Xia Wanjin couldn't help but feel relieved.
But the next instant, a chilling smile crossed Yue Shan's face as he spoke coldly.
"However, I'm taking his life today!"
Before his words had even faded, Yue Shan stepped forward and shot toward Lin Dong like a blur.
Xia Wanjin froze for a moment. The instant he realized what was happening, he hurriedly raised his hand and struck at Yue Shan, trying to stop him.
But how powerful could Xia Wanjin's hasty palm strike be?
Yue Shan met Xia Wanjin's palm with his own. Not only did he easily withstand the blow, he also used its force to hurtle toward Lin Dong even faster.
"You little bastard, I told you I was taking your life. Die!"
Yue Shan roared. The next instant, he struck toward Lin Dong with his palm. In his fury, Primal Energy rapidly gathered into a massive palm print. Its formidable pressure made many people nearby feel as though a boulder were weighing on their chests.
The moment Yue Shan moved, Lin Dong had already sensed him. But Yue Shan had just ambushed him, forcing him to take a palm strike and leaving him badly wounded. He could barely move, and after the earlier fight, his Spiritual Power was badly depleted. He had no time to dodge.
Lin Dong could only struggle to gather the Primal Energy in his body and channel the Devouring Spirit Talisman between his palms, bracing himself for Yue Shan's furious attack. He hoped to absorb as much of its force as possible and withstand the blow.
Yue Shan's sudden attack startled everyone. Lin Zhentian, Lin Xiao, Xuan Su, and the others couldn't help tensing with worry.
But the next instant, everyone's expressions changed again. They stared in shock at Yue Shan as he flew backward, their mouths hanging open wide enough to fit a goose egg.
"Boom!"
A violent surge of Primal Energy erupted between Yue Shan and Lin Dong's palms. Yet Lin Dong didn't budge in the slightest. Yue Shan, on the other hand, was sent flying backward at even greater speed.
"Bang!"
At last, Yue Shan slammed hard into the stone wall below the stands, around the arena. A dull crash echoed through the enormous dueling grounds.
The sound jolted everyone back to their senses, and they turned to look at Lin Dong.
At some point, a black-robed man had appeared behind him. The man was tall and slender, with sharp brows and bright eyes. His face, as if carved by a blade, was cold and stern, lending him an air of authority and dominance.
Everyone was startled by the handsome young man they didn't recognize. None of them had ever seen the black-robed youth before.
Only a young woman in the stands stared in shock at the familiar figure on the arena. Then she turned to look beside her, only to find that the person who had been sitting there had already disappeared.
"So that young gentleman was actually a top expert!"
Recalling the young gentleman's approachable smile, she saw stars gleam in her eyes.
After their initial shock, another commotion erupted in the stands. Countless people wondered who the man who had intervened was.
Among them were plenty of quick-witted spectators who recalled some recent rumors and cried out in surprise.
"Could that be the mysterious expert who taught Lin Dong?"
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