He looked down from above at the assassin curled in the corner, groaning in pain. There was not a trace of pity in his eyes, only the predator's cool indifference and control as it faced its prey.
"Die!"
A cruel curve hooked Black Tortoise's lips. He raised the Black Iron Heavy Sword, intent on putting an end to this final resistance.
Yet suddenly, a hand seized his Black Iron Heavy Sword.
Just as the blade was about to fall, a hand appeared without warning, gripping the edge with precision and perfect steadiness.
Black Tortoise's heart lurched. He looked up sharply, his pupils contracting!
A figure in a black robe, its face impossible to make out, had appeared before him at some point.
It was a slender, pale hand, so immaculate it seemed untouched by dust. Yet it held fast to the Black Iron Heavy Sword, into which he had poured his True Essence, leaving him unable to summon even a sliver of Sword Qi.
Who was this?!
It was Chen Lin, of course.
He had only meant to follow along and take a look at this Shadow Assassin. He hadn't expected to arrive just in time to witness this "fine spectacle" of a murder.
He had heard from Little Anzi earlier that Black Tortoise had already been brought to heel.
Now it seemed that had merely been a disguise, something done on purpose.
The one truly in control of Black Tortoise was probably still that lofty His Majesty.
And since those hands of his were supposed to be old and withered, he naturally had to change his appearance before making a move.
"Who are you?!"
Black Tortoise forced down the turbulent shock in his heart and demanded coldly.
But before he could finish speaking, the hand gripping the blade suddenly tightened. A mighty force burst forth!
With a muffled thud, Black Tortoise felt a sharp pain in the web of his thumb. His entire arm seemed to stop belonging to him. The Black Iron Heavy Sword flew from his grasp, and the terrifying shockwave sent him stumbling backward, straight into the wall behind him. Dust pattered down.
His expression changed drastically. He was aghast!
With just a casual jolt, the other man had sent a Dharma Idol Fifth Layer expert flying through sheer, terrifying physical strength?
How was that possible?!
"I didn't expect to witness this the moment I returned to the world. The Imperial Family wants to spark a war among several factions. Can anyone stop them?"
Chen Lin's words carried a hint of mockery.
They wanted to incite a conflict between the mercenary group and Yantian Sect?
That clearly wasn't possible. Still, the tide could be turned.
After all, the mercenary group had actually assassinated someone from the Imperial Court. That would only make those commoners even more afraid.
Black Tortoise's expression darkened. "I advise you not to meddle in this. When the time comes, you won't even know how you died!"
Chen Lin let out a quiet laugh. "And what if I do meddle?"
At his words, the Black Tortoise Commander's killing intent surged, and dark Killing Intent rose from his armor. "You're asking for death!"
Before his words had even faded, Chen Lin's figure vanished.
Bang!
With a muffled thud, a dent suddenly appeared in the Black Tortoise Commander's iron faceplate.
He was horrified to discover that Chen Lin had closed in on him without his noticing. The slender hand was resting casually against his chest—
Crack!
The Black Tortoise Armor, said to withstand Dharma Aspect attacks, shattered like thin paper!
A primeval force surged into the Black Tortoise Commander's body, and his True Essence instantly seized up.
"You..." Black Tortoise was about to roar when the black-robed man raised his other hand and lightly placed a slender index finger to his lips.
"Shh—" The airy syllable carried an almost playful warning.
Smack!
Without the slightest warning, a resounding slap, wrapped in terrifying physical force beyond all imagination, struck Black Tortoise's weather-beaten face.
The blow was as fast as lightning, its force so violent it seemed poised to send Black Tortoise flying out of existence.
Boom!
His already unsteady body lost its balance completely, crashing into the bluestone wall behind him like a rag doll.
Just as he was about to smash through it, an invisible, resilient force silently wrapped around his body like a giant net, forcibly dispelling the remaining impact. All that remained was a deep crater in the wall, with dust billowing from it.
Half of Black Tortoise's face was a bloody mess where he was embedded in the wall. In place of his right eye was nothing but a charred hole, still giving off wisps of heat.
His left arm twisted at an unnatural angle. Even his hardest bones had clearly been pulverized by that single slap.
He looked like a battered doll tossed aside, utterly stripped of all vitality and dignity.
Chen Lin gazed at Black Tortoise, unconscious and barely clinging to life in the wall, and slowly shook his head. There was not a trace of pity in his eyes.
Too bad you ran into me.
Though he was only at the Dharma Aspect Second Level, the gap in strength, cultivation techniques, and martial skills was enough to leave the Dharma Idol Fifth Layer Black Tortoise utterly unable to fight back. The outcome of this crushing defeat had already been decided.
Black Tortoise had lost consciousness, but Chen Lin did not stop there.
He recalled that Black Tortoise had come here to intercept and kill the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group's people. What if their side ended up gravely wounded?
If a powerful member of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group stepped in, they could leave him gravely wounded.
Wouldn't the two factions be at each other's throats then?
The Imperial Family was already up against Yantian Sect. Who would have thought they would also have to face the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group, the various Princes and Marquises across the land, and several First Princes?
Ling Cangqiong, oh, Ling Cangqiong...
Without another word, Chen Lin shifted his feet and punched again.
Before his fist even reached its target, its immense, unyielding force compressed the air until it hummed.
With a heavy thud, another hideous hole was torn into Black Tortoise's already mangled abdomen. At the same time, his other shoulder was not spared; it was pierced straight through!
Blood gushed out like a fountain, staining the stone wall behind him red.
Black Tortoise's body went completely limp. He fell utterly silent, with only his faint, broken breaths proving he was still alive.
When he was done, Chen Lin turned around. His indifferent gaze settled on the Shadow Assassin, who had collapsed on the ground and was nearly scared out of his wits.
He clearly hadn't recovered from the world-shattering sight before him—the other man had such astonishing strength that he had subdued the Dharma Idol Fifth Layer Black Tortoise with one hand!
"Thank you for saving my life, senior!" Forcing down his shock, the Shadow Assassin scrambled to his knees and bowed respectfully to Chen Lin. He blurted out, "I have plenty of resources here..."
Chen Lin didn't even raise an eyelid. His voice was cold as ice. "I have no need of them."
Then his tone shifted, carrying the detached certainty of someone who saw through everything. "I know you just recorded what happened. I only wish to remind those who are about to watch this recording—"
His words seemed to carry a strange power, pressing the air from everyone's lungs:
"The Imperial Family's use of others to kill is already plain for all to see. The Imperial Family is surrounded on all sides now. Sometimes, sitting on the mountain and watching the tigers fight may not be the best choice. Besides, your Blood Wolf Mercenary Group cannot escape being framed either."
Before you continue