Lin Jin's Strength

"What?!"

Snake Lance and Pufferfish cried out in shock.

"What exactly is he plotting?"

The more Qian Renxue thought about it, the more terrified she became. "If he knows I am not Xue Qinghe, and also knows I am not from the Heaven Dou Empire, then it is not me using his hand—it is him using mine to eliminate every obstacle."

"Throughout this entire plan, he will be the greatest contributor. How will Xue Ye reward him then? He is already a Count, as well as a general."

"Next, he can only be granted a marquisate and military command, taking all of Xue Xing's former authority into his own hands—the entire City Defense Force, part of the Royal Knights' troops, and the Royal Soul Master Academy."

"At that point, I will not be Xue Qinghe or the Crown Prince. I will have no right of succession. Then, he may publicly expose my identity and even rebel under the banner of Clear the Emperor's Side. By then, the one ascending the throne may not be me, but him—Lin Jin."

Snake Lance drew a sharp breath. "Young Lady, do you mean he is using us to clear away obstacles for himself, then expose our identities? Even if he rebels then, most of the Heaven Dou Empire might instead support that brat?"

Pufferfish gritted his teeth. "Damn it! He dared scheme against the Young Lady? I'll go cut him down right now!"

After saying that, the hot-tempered Pufferfish headed straight outside, intending to catch up with Lin Jin, who had not left long ago.

"Stop. This is only my current speculation. If you kill him, how will the plan continue?" Qian Renxue stopped Pufferfish with a cold snort.

Snake Lance asked in confusion, "Young Lady, now that we know Lin Jin's intentions, are we still continuing the plan?"

Qian Renxue pondered for a long time before finally revealing a faint sneer. "Continue. Why wouldn't we?"

Under the puzzled gazes of the two Dulos, she explained, "Since we have seen through his scheme, we can turn it against him. He wants to kill with a borrowed knife, so we will let him know that all schemes and tricks are futile before absolute strength!"

"Especially when capturing the Star Luo Assassins. Make Lin Jin act personally and drag him completely into this!"

Five days later, as the Netherworld Assassination Squad sent by the Star Luo Empire entered the city,

the plan began.

After receiving the news, Lin Jin stayed with his younger sister Lin Xue at the Royal Academy until nightfall, then set out alone for the Count's Mansion.

Lin Jin had deliberately taken a relatively secluded route.

The Netherworld Assassination Squad had come for Lin Jin in the first place. Without giving them an opportunity, how could he lure them into acting?

Of course, having received word in advance, Lin Jin had not brought his assistant A Tu or any other Blood Blade members this time.

Given the Netherworld Assassination Squad's strength, A Tu and the others would likely die the moment they encountered them.

After all, Blood Blade members were soldiers. They were suited for the battlefield and excelled at group coordination, but they were average in One-on-One Combat.

Thus, even though Lin Jin knew there was an ambush, he naturally would not bring them along to die. Even if soldiers died, they should die honorably on the battlefield.

What was more, Porcupinefish Douluo and Snake Lance, two Titled Dulos, were secretly following him now. Even knowing that the Assassination Squad included a Soul Sage-level opponent, Lin Jin remained utterly fearless.

Lin Jin had reached the middle of the path.

Suddenly, a wave of Killing Intent shot toward him at high speed.

"Sixth Soul Skill, Netherworld Piercing Kill!"

As expected of an Assassination Squad, they opened with a powerful Sixth Soul Skill.

Clearly, they were aiming for nothing but a One-Hit Kill.

As assassins, their strike was highly professional.

However, Lin Jin had been prepared. A single Sixth Soul Skill was not enough to kill him.

"Third Soul Skill, Indestructible Demon Body!" The instant the Killing Intent appeared, Lin Jin summoned his Martial Soul and immediately unleashed his ultimate move.

A suit of Dark Greenish-Black Demon Armor instantly covered his entire body, forcibly withstanding the charged strike from the Soul Sage.

Boom!

The explosive roar of colliding Soul Power echoed through the narrow alley.

Lin Jin used the impact to retreat, sparks flying from his Demon Armor as the marks left by the attack rapidly repaired themselves.

"As expected of a Soul Sage." Lin Jin shook his slightly numb arm, his sharp gaze sweeping over the four figures emerging from the shadows. "The Hell Spirit Cat Clan truly lives up to its reputation."

"So he really has reached Soul King level. He really did not lie to us." The leading Black-robed Soul Sage's pupils contracted. He had not expected his certain-kill Sixth Soul Skill to be blocked so easily.

But he was an experienced assassin. He immediately said coldly, "Surround and attack!"

Four figures, each surrounded by six Soul Rings, scattered like Gui Mei and launched attacks from different angles.

Their claws tore through the air, leaving trails of afterimages as they sealed off every possible route of escape and retreat for Lin Jin.

A cold glint flashed through Lin Jin's eyes.

"Fifth Soul Skill, Azure Dragon Will!" Facing the combined attack of one Soul Sage and Four People Soul Emperors, Lin Jin did not dare lower his guard.

A majestic dragon roar resounded through the night sky. Gorgeous armor entwined by an azure Dragon Shadow instantly replaced the Indestructible Demon Body. With the phantom of the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade in hand, Lin Jin's aura surged sharply.

The terrifying pressure caused the four Soul Emperors' movements to falter involuntarily.

"An Amplification-type Soul Skill!" The Soul Sage leader suppressed the shock in his heart and shouted sharply, "Kill!"

The four Soul Emperors pounced again, their claws aimed directly at vital points.

Unhurried, Lin Jin lit up another Ten-thousand Year Soul Ring. "Fourth Soul Skill, Destruction Slash!"

He gathered most of his power into the Demon Blade and unleashed an extremely long-range slash with immense piercing power.

Azure dragon-shaped blade energy erupted outward in a fan-shaped arc.

Rumble!

The two Soul Emperors charging at the front were struck as if by a massive blow. Their protective Soul Power instantly shattered, and they vomited blood as they flew backward, crashing heavily into the Alley Wall.

The other two Soul Emperors' attacks followed closely behind, but Lin Jin neither dodged nor evaded. His left dragon claw shot out, precisely seizing one man's wrist before he swung him violently, smashing him like a human weapon into the other!

Bang! The two collided, and the sound of breaking bones was distinctly audible.

Watching from the shadows, Porcupinefish raised an eyebrow. "This brat has grown quite a bit stronger than he was at the Training Ground."

Snake Lance sighed. "A Soul King facing attacks from four Soul Emperors without falling behind—he truly is monstrous!"

"How is this possible?!" The Soul Sage leader was both shocked and furious.

He could tell that although Lin Jin's Soul Power Level was lower than his own, the other man possessed combat experience far too rich for someone so young.

He hesitated no longer. The Seventh Soul Ring around him suddenly lit up!

"Seventh Soul Skill, Netherworld...!"

Just as the Soul Sage was about to unleash his Seventh Soul Skill, two terrifying auras descended with a thunderous crash!

"How dare you!"

Porcupinefish Douluo descended like Taishan Crushing Down. With a single palm strike, his massive Soul Power forcefully interrupted the Soul Sage's Seventh Soul Skill.

Pfft! The Assassination Squad Captain immediately spat out a mouthful of blood. His injuries were even worse than those of the four Soul Emperors.

He fought off unconsciousness and raised his head, his eyes instantly filling with horror. "Titled... Douluo!"

"Two of them...!"

The others saw only Porcupinefish and Snake Lance descend, nine Soul Rings surrounding each of them.

The terrifying aura of their Soul Power instantly crushed them until they could not move.

The battle lost all suspense the moment the two Titled Dulos intervened.

"Impossible! How could the Heaven Dou Empire have Titled Douluo-level experts?!"

Porcupinefish Douluo stepped on the Soul Sage's back and sneered. "Star Luo Empire scum, and you dare cause trouble in Heaven Dou City?"

"Leave them alive." Lin Jin spoke at the right moment, dismissing his Demon Armor.

"Hand over the communication records Xue Xing gave you." Standing beside Porcupinefish, Lin Jin looked at the Captain beneath Porcupinefish's foot.

"Perhaps I can still spare your lives."

"How do you know?!"

"He actually dared betray us!"

The moment the Netherworld Assassination Squad saw the Titled Dulos appear, they knew they had been set up.