Potential Escape Light

Lin Chen was directly sealed within the black space.

With a thunderous crash, he slammed into the ground.

"Withdraw!"

Hao Youcai laughed heartily as he too landed on the ground.

At his command, the space rapidly compressed.

In just a few moments, Lin Chen was pinned in place, unable to move.

"Hahaha... didn't catch the big fish, but a small one will do."

Hao Youcai stepped forward, reaching out to grab Lin Chen.

"Old bastard, you think you're something special?"

Lin Chen suddenly blurted out, leaving Hao Youcai bewildered. "What did you say?"

"Nothing, just complimenting you."

Lin Chen strained against his body but couldn't budge. However, the escape light on him hadn't faded, giving him some confidence as he spoke up.

"Hao Youcai, since I'm already like this, can I ask you a few questions?"

Hao Youcai, having succeeded with his move, wore a smug expression. "A man about to die—what's the point in knowing so much?"

Lin Chen frowned slightly. This guy wasn't falling for it.

But this information was crucial to him.

He still had no idea what the Soul Examination was or what came after it.

This kind of unknown meant he had no control, or rather, he was being manipulated.

He didn't want to become a puppet.

Nor did he want to live under constant hidden threats.

Thinking this over, Lin Chen gritted his teeth and looked at Hao Youcai.

"Don't you want the Soul Origin Mirror? If you answer my questions, I also have news about a silver-gray hairpin engraved with a black bird..."

"What?"

Hao Youcai's eyes lit up noticeably, greed nearly spilling from the corners.

"You know the whereabouts of the Soul-Destroying Hairpin?"

Soul-Destroying Hairpin?

Another new name.

The Soul Origin Mirror nourishes the soul—did the Soul-Destroying Hairpin destroy souls?

And what was that black token?

What component was the iron box?

Lin Chen had too many things he wanted to know.

"What kind of force is the Raksha Sect? What are these so-called Soul Supervisors and Soul Examiners you mentioned? And why was I chosen? Why was my family wiped out?"

Lin Chen didn't answer his question but instead voiced his own doubts.

Hao Youcai narrowed his eyes. These questions indeed touched on core secrets.

But since Lin Chen was already in his grasp, telling him wouldn't hurt.

So he replied, "This world is far bigger than you imagine. Becoming an examiner is a great honor for you.

The Raksha Sect's influence spans the land, and I am one of its members, responsible for monitoring changes in examiners. Once an examiner mutates or slips out of control, I have the authority to execute them."

He paused there. "As for why you were chosen and why your family was slaughtered—that was the will of the higher-ups, nothing to do with me. Now, tell me the whereabouts of the Soul-Destroying Hairpin, and I'll let you die comfortably."

"Heh heh! I... don't know!"

Lin Chen grinned and directly activated the Thousand-Mile Escape Shuttle.

In an instant, all the spiritual energy within a hundred meters surged toward him.

The escape light on Lin Chen grew denser.

The next moment, the restraints on him shattered, and he vanished from the spot.

Hao Youcai was blasted backward, stumbling a few steps. When he looked for Lin Chen again, the man was gone.

"Bastard! Liar! Damn it all—!"

Just then, two figures suddenly rushed in from outside.

They happened to see him roaring at the sky.

"Master, it's Hao Youcai." Ming Bufan spoke first.

Zhao Qingshan's eyes widened. "You dog, Green Mountain Sect treated you well—is this how you repay us?"

Before the words had even faded, he had already charged forward and slapped down with his palm.

Hao Youcai discovered in terror that the space around him was sealed off; he couldn't dodge even if he wanted to.

The gap in strength between the two was too vast—he had no room to resist.

The only reason he had escaped before was that he had been prepared.

At this moment, he cursed Lin Chen's ancestors for eighteen generations.

If it weren't for that little bastard, he would have already fled.

Now, he could only channel his full cultivation, activate his magic treasure, transform into a streak of black light, and shoot forth.

The two forces collided, and Hao Youcai was sent flying on the spot, like a meteor, slamming heavily into the stone wall behind him.

Without Zhao Qingshan needing to act further, Ming Bufan had already rushed over, grabbed him, and pulled him out.

He immediately sealed his spiritual power to prevent self-destruction.

Only then did he drag Hao Youcai back to Zhao Qingshan's side and throw him to the ground.

Zhao Qingshan couldn't be bothered to interrogate him; he grabbed Hao Youcai by the crown of his head and directly performed a soul search.

After a moment, he released his grip, his face dark.

He remained silent for a long time, his eyes filled with grief and pity.

"Fourth actually lived such a bitter life!"

Hearing him speak, Ming Bufan stepped forward and asked, "Master, is Little Junior Brother alright?"

"If not for the Thousand-Mile Escape Shuttle, he would have been killed!"

Zhao Qingshan's gaze turned icy as he looked at Hao Youcai. "Take him back and clear Fourth's name."

"Yes!" Ming Bufan produced a Spirit Binding Lock and bound Hao Youcai.

The two left the place.

Meanwhile, Lin Chen stood in a valley, staring blankly.

The environment here was completely unfamiliar.

More importantly, people lived in this valley.

Right now, a large crowd surrounded him, looking him up and down.

There were old people and children, their eyes full of curiosity.

There were also young men clenching their fists, their faces wary.

Lin Chen put on a smile and waved at the crowd. "Hello, may I ask what place this is?"

He tried his best to appear harmless, softening his gaze as he looked at them.

But just this simple gesture startled the people present, and they all stepped back.

Only then did Lin Chen notice that from the earlier battle, his body was covered in wounds and bloodstains.

A fierce killing intent still radiated from him.

In this state, if he were in an ordinary human city, he would definitely terrify people.

Moreover, he had just arrived riding a streak of light—to these people, it was as if he had appeared out of thin air.

"Since you're afraid, I'll leave."

Lin Chen turned to go.

But suddenly, he felt a dizzying spin, his vision went dark, his legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.

When he woke again, he was lying on a wooden bed.

Covered with a beast-skin blanket.

He rubbed his forehead and slowly sat up.

"The Thousand-Mile Escape Shuttle not only absorbs surrounding spiritual energy to travel a thousand miles, but it also consumes soul power."

Lin Chen frowned and crossed his legs. "I'll have to be careful next time—what if I end up in a demon beast's lair? That would be the end of me."

He closed his eyes and looked inward at his Sea of Consciousness.

He found that the small orb of light had dimmed considerably.

He calmed his mind and directly activated the Soul Forging Art.

A cool, refreshing sensation spread through his mind.

He instantly felt much more alert.

This icy-cold energy continuously gathered and flowed into his Sea of Consciousness.

"System, exchange for one year of cultivation in the Soul Forging Art."

Lin Chen suddenly remembered the system and immediately commanded.

[Ding, exchange successful]

Lin Chen only felt a buzzing in his mind.

That icy-cold aura suddenly turned into a torrent, instantly filling his Sea of Consciousness.

The dim light mass grew brighter and brighter, like a bulb being powered on.

After a few breaths, everything returned to calm.

Compared to before, his soul force had actually increased.

It seemed this kind of consumption wasn't without its benefits.

Lin Chen tried to spread his Spiritual Sense.

Previously, it could only extend a hundred meters around him.

After this incident, it could now reach a circumference of a hundred and ten meters.

Don't underestimate that ten-meter difference—at a critical moment, it could save a life.

Lin Chen withdrew his technique and opened his eyes. Deep within his pupils, it was as if stars were revolving, bright and flickering.

Growl, growl, growl...

Just then, the roars of demonic beasts suddenly came from outside.

One after another, from all directions.

Lin Chen hastily put on his shoes and walked out of the room.

It was already dark, and torches were lit in the valley.

Many people were coming and going, their expressions panicked as they grabbed weapons and rushed straight to the watchtowers around the valley.

Lin Chen looked up.

On the mountain peaks surrounding the valley, a large number of demonic beasts had gathered.

Those pairs of eyes, glowing with green light, were like ghostly flames from the underworld.

If you can't find the book title, try searching by the author—maybe it's just been renamed!

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