Stealth in the Dark Night, Karmic Fire Forges the Blade!

Deep within the desolate mountain cave, the wind and rain of the outside world were completely shut out.

"Hiss!"

Lin Chen sat cross-legged, his five centers facing the sky, his body shrouded in a faint yet incredibly dense blood-red halo.

This was the sign of the Blood Scripture being pushed to its limit, manifesting his refined Dou Qi.

Inside his Dantian sea of Qi, the blood-colored Dou Disciple energy that had previously flowed slowly began to rotate.

At this moment, it was undergoing a world-shaking transformation.

Having devoured the entire essence of the woman in red, Lin Chen's cultivation had been forcibly pushed by the Blood Scripture to the limit of the ninth stage of Dou Disciple.

However, this power was like a galloping wild horse; though formidable, it still required thorough taming.

The Blood Scripture acted like the most precise furnace, tempering and compressing this nascent Dou Qi over and over again.

The blood-red Dou Qi surged and scoured through his tough, wide meridians.

With every cycle, it carried away a trace of imperceptible impurities.

At the same time, it integrated more deeply into every inch of Lin Chen's flesh, bones, and even his cells.

Nourished by the Dou Qi, his physique was undergoing a subtle and continuous strengthening, compensating for the innate deficiencies of his young body.

Time flowed on in the silence.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Chen's tightly closed eyes suddenly snapped open.

Two streaks of blood-red light, condensed as if they were physical, flashed and vanished!

The Dou Qi surging within his body emitted a low hum.

It was as if some invisible shackle had been shattered!

The Dou Qi vortex was formed!

Two-star Dou Practitioner, achieved as naturally as water flowing into a channel!

His previous accumulation had been far too profound.

The limit of the ninth stage of Dou Disciple, under such extreme polishing, was not in the least bit hollow.

On the contrary, his foundation had been solidified until it was indestructible.

Now, after a brief period of settling, he had naturally broken through to a two-star Dou Practitioner!

The blood-red Dou Qi was even more condensed and pure, flowing slowly within the Dantian vortex, radiating a heart-stopping pressure.

Lin Chen felt that his strength, speed, reflexes, and even his five senses had all ascended to a new level!

He slowly raised his palm, his mind stirring slightly.

A wisp of pure blood-red Dou Qi emerged from his fingertips, dancing like a flame.

It radiated an aura and vitality far exceeding the Dou Qi of an ordinary Dou Practitioner.

He attempted to mobilize the faint, infinitesimal phantom of the Karma Fire Red Lotus deep within his Dantian.

"Hum!"

A crimson flame, thinner than a strand of hair yet containing an aura capable of incinerating all things, quietly coiled around that wisp of blood-red Dou Qi!

In an instant, the temperature of that Dou Qi soared more than a hundredfold!

The surrounding air twisted instantly, emitting a faint "crackling" sound.

The rock walls of the cave were illuminated by an eerie red glow!

Lin Chen's eyes burned with heat.

With the addition of just a sliver of Red Lotus Karma Fire, the lethality of his Dou Qi had skyrocketed to a terrifying level!

He did not doubt that if he were to augment his Dou techniques with this in battle, the power would far exceed those of the same rank!

He could even threaten existences at a higher realm!

Following this, he sank his consciousness into the phantoms of the two silent ancient swords: Yuantu and Abi.

"Emerge!"

The silent command was issued.

Within his Dantian, the Yuantu sword phantom flashed with blood-red light.

A blood-colored sword beam, condensed to the extreme and less than three inches long, suddenly shot out from Lin Chen's palm!

Where the sword light passed, there was not a sound.

It left behind a faint, blood-colored streak in the void, as if space itself had been sliced open.

A murderous intent that could slaughter all living things and make souls tremble permeated the air!

The shadow of the Abi sword followed closely behind.

A sword light, equally minuscule but appearing as a deathly, stagnant gray-white, shot forth.

Wherever this sword light passed, the very light seemed to be devoured.

The air itself solidified in its wake.

It radiated a cold aura of ending all things and returning them to oblivion!

The two sword lights hovered a foot in front of Lin Chen, vibrating slightly.

They emitted a hum that was barely audible, yet pierced straight into the soul.

Lin Chen felt the rate at which his Dou Qi was draining while manifesting the twin swords.

It was much slower than when he had manifested the projection to kill the woman in red, but still staggering.

With his current cultivation at the two-star Dou Practitioner level, he could maintain one sword light at full power.

For about ten breaths of time.

If both swords were unleashed together, the consumption would double, and their power would be dispersed.

If he wanted to replicate that previous strike—bursting forth with power beyond his realm to instantly kill a Dou Master—

It would still require the cost of nearly draining his entire Dou Qi.

"It is enough!"

Cold light radiated from Lin Chen's eyes, and a glow of confidence nearly spilled from his sockets:

"With the Red Lotus Karma Fire to bolster my Dou Qi in offense and defense, and Yuantu and Abi as my ultimate trump cards."

"Caught off guard, slaying Xiao Bao will be as easy as turning over one's hand!"

He quickly calmed himself down.

Power was in his hands, but how to use it and how to ensure there were no slip-ups was the key:

He was not of the Xiao Clan's direct line; he was merely the orphan of a guard.

A five-year-old Dou Practitioner?

Possessing strange and powerful abilities?

Once exposed, what awaited him might not be all-out cultivation.

Before he possessed the absolute ability to protect himself, he had to hide!

Furthermore, his age was a fatal flaw:

Even with the Blood Scripture tempering him, his five-year-old child's body.

In terms of pure strength, stamina, and durability.

Could never compare to the long-tempered physique of an adult Dou Master like Xiao Bao.

Close-quarters combat was the worst possible strategy.

He had to act where no one was around and leave absolutely no witnesses!

A one-hit kill!

"Therefore... it must be long-range, a fatal blow in one strike!"

"I cannot give him any chance to react or call for help!"

Lin Chen instantly set the core of his tactics.

At the moment when Xiao Bao was most relaxed, furthest from the crowds, and most defenseless.

He would use the supreme strike of Yuantu and Abi fused with the Red Lotus Karma Fire to instantly kill him!

And erase all traces!

He needed to wait for the perfect opportunity...

When night fell and the lanterns of Wutan City began to glow:

Lin Chen left the cave in the desolate mountain.

Like a ghost blending into the night, he wove through the complex alleyways of Wutan City's outer district.

He had found a large, old garment "borrowed" from some unknown clothesline.

He used cloth strips to simply refashion it into a hooded cloak, completely shrouding his small frame.

His face was also covered by a gray-black cloth mask.

Only a pair of eyes, flickering with cold light in the darkness, remained visible.

He avoided the bustling main thoroughfares.

Choosing only the dark, narrow, and desolate alleys.

The target was clear: the outer perimeter of the Xiao Clan estate.

His parents were guards, so he was intimately familiar with the daily patrol routes of the Xiao Clan guard force.

Especially the teams responsible for the outer connecting zones.

As a captain, Xiao Bao would inevitably appear with his squad.

Lin Chen was like the most patient of hunters.

He selected several vantage points near the main patrol routes around the Xiao Clan—spots that offered excellent visibility while remaining perfectly concealed.

He lay in wait, silent and still.

He circulated the Blood Scripture to its most subtle degree, suppressing his entire aura.

His heartbeat and breathing became long and slow, as if he had merged into the surrounding darkness.

Only his eyes remained as sharp as a hawk's.

He scanned every corner of the streets below.

Time ticked away, second by second.

Patrol team after patrol team rotated through.

The Xiao Clan guards were strictly disciplined and well-equipped.

Led by a captain or vice-captain, they patrolled with meticulous care.

Lin Chen saw many familiar faces.

But he still could not find any sign of Xiao Bao.

Lin Chen was not in a hurry.

He knew that as a captain, Xiao Bao could not be on patrol at every moment.

He needed to wait for the moment Xiao Bao was scheduled to lead a shift.

Finally, when the moon hung high in the sky and the night was at its deepest.

A patrol team with equipment noticeably superior to the others emerged from the side gate of the Xiao Clan.

The man in the lead was burly, wearing gleaming leather armor.

A heavy, broad-bladed saber hung at his waist.

With a look of impatience and arrogance on his face, it was none other than Xiao Bao!

Lin Chen's gaze instantly turned as cold as ten-thousand-year ice.

His killing intent was almost tangible!

Yet, he forcibly suppressed it, his breathing remaining steady.

The prey had appeared!

Xiao Bao led four team members, beginning his patrol along the established route.

His expression was indifferent.

He occasionally nodded or frowned at his subordinates' words, saying little else.

Lin Chen moved silently between the shadows of the high and low rooftops like a gecko.

He trailed them from a distance, carefully observing every move Xiao Bao made.

During the patrol, Xiao Bao lagged slightly behind the rest of the team.

His gaze swept over a secluded courtyard.

That had once been the place where Lin Chen's family lived, now long since abandoned.

A faint, imperceptible sneer curled the corner of his lips.

He thought to himself:

"Those people from the Galie Clan are certainly generous."

"Just for kidnapping a brat with no parents, along with a few worthless street urchins."

"They gave thirty thousand gold coins... Next time they come looking for 'goods'."

"I'll have to squeeze them for more; this money comes too easily..."

He touched the heavy coin purse at his waist.

A flicker of greed flashed in his eyes before quickly vanishing.

He continued walking, his face expressionless!

In the shadows, the mouth beneath Lin Chen's mask twisted.

His fingernails dug deep into his palms, nearly drawing blood!

Cold killing intent grew wildly in the depths of his heart like a venomous snake.

But he continued to wait.

Waiting for the optimal position to strike, waiting for the moment Xiao Bao was alone!

The patrol mission was nearing its end.

The squad arrived near the outer perimeter of the Xiao Clan's territory, an area filled with brothels and pleasure houses.

The air began to fill with the scent of cheap rouge and the faint, decadent sounds of music.

The impatience and a certain restlessness in Xiao Bao's eyes became more pronounced:

"Alright, alright, that's enough! It's time!"

Xiao Bao stopped in his tracks and waved his hand impatiently:

"You lot, finish the remaining half-circle of the patrol, then head home after you clock out!"

"Yes, Captain!"

The squad members acknowledged the order and turned to continue their patrol.

Xiao Bao watched as his subordinates walked away.

He immediately rubbed his hands together, an expression of irrepressible eagerness appearing on his face.

He turned and ducked into a nearby alleyway, the most brightly lit of them all, marked by a plaque reading "Yi Hong Brothel."

Lin Chen's gaze was cold, clinging to his target like a persistent curse.

He followed silently.

He did not approach the main entrance of Yi Hong Brothel, where there were too many eyes and ears.

Instead, he circled to the rear, finding a dark corner from which he could observe the movements of the back door.

He went into hiding once more, becoming like a stone statue merged with the shadows.

Inside Yi Hong Brothel, the sounds of strings, flutes, and the chatter of women drifted out.

Lin Chen blocked out these unnecessary distractions.

All of his focus was locked onto that tightly shut back door.

Time passed, an hour...

The already deep night grew even thicker.

It was the darkest moment just before dawn.

The bustling Yi Hong Brothel gradually quieted down.

Only a few scattered rooms still glowed with ambiguous light.

"Creak!"

The back door was pushed open.

Xiao Bao stumbled out, swaying.

His steps were unsteady, and his face bore the flush of alcohol along with the exhaustion and satisfaction of indulgence.

As he walked, he fumbled with the buttons of his leather armor.

He hummed a tune that lacked any coherent melody:

"Tsk, that Xiao Taohong... she's really something..."

"Pity, a full night is too expensive... damn it, I have to report for duty tomorrow..."

He muttered to himself.

Clearly, he was both unwilling to spend the money for an overnight stay and afraid of neglecting his duties the next day.

He had no choice but to hurry back while the night was still deep.

This was the perfect opportunity Lin Chen had been waiting for!

The night was deep and the surroundings were deathly silent.

This back alley leading to the outer perimeter of the Xiao Clan was completely deserted!

Xiao Bao's spirit was relaxed, his body hollowed out by wine and lust.

His vigilance had dropped to its lowest point!

Lin Chen did not reveal himself immediately.

Instead, he moved silently into the shadows of a pile of discarded wooden crates beside the alley.

The position was concealed, and it was only a few yards from the path Xiao Bao was about to take.

It was an excellent ambush point.

Xiao Bao swayed with every step, walking forward without the slightest awareness.

He was still savoring the taste of what he had just experienced.

He remained completely oblivious to the lethal killing intent lurking in his surroundings.

The Dou Qi within his body was in its most relaxed state.

He hadn't even bothered to set up a perimeter.

The opportunity had arrived!

Xiao Bao happened to walk right in front of that patch of shadow.

His footsteps paused slightly, as if he wanted to adjust his collar.

Now!

A crimson glare erupted in Lin Chen's eyes!

His killing intent was no longer masked in the slightest!

Hidden within the shadows, his body remained motionless.

Only his hands slammed together in front of his chest!

Deep within his dantian, the sword shadows of Yuantu and Abi, which had long been primed for action, suddenly shuddered!

Blood-red killing intent and grayish-white death energy surged forth like two roaring dragons.

In an instant, they burst out of his body, converging, intertwining, and fusing madly before his clasped palms!

"Zheng!"

"Qiang!"

"Weng!!!"

Three distinct yet kindred sword hums were forcibly suppressed into a tiny radius by Lin Chen's special technique.

Though barely audible to the outside, they generated a terrifying energy fluctuation right before him!

An aura of horror, as if destined to sever karma, slaughter all living things, and end the cycle of reincarnation, erupted with a boom.

Yet, it was locked firmly within that narrow space of shadow!

The surrounding air twisted and rippled violently.

A gale whipped up silently within the darkness!

An energy blade, roughly a foot long, took shape before Lin Chen's palms!

Half of the blade was an eerie, blood-red.

Countless phantoms of vengeful spirits wailed and drifted within it.

The other half was a deathly grayish-white.

It seemed as though it could swallow and annihilate even light and time itself!

The two diametrically opposed forces formed a bizarre equilibrium upon the blade.

It radiated a destructive fluctuation that could freeze the very soul!

And it wasn't over yet!

"Red Lotus! Ignite!"

Lin Chen shifted his intent, communing with the faint phantom of the lotus pedestal deep within his dantian!

"Whoosh!"

A pure, scorching crimson flame, seemingly capable of purifying all the sins in the world, rose from Lin Chen's chest.

It instantly coiled around the energy blade that had fused the powers of Yuantu and Abi!

The scarlet fire burned fiercely upon the blood-stained, deathly blade!

At the tip of the sword, a point of searing white light—condensed from the powers of slaughter, finality, and purification—shone bright.

It was like a miniature sun rising in the dark of night.

It illuminated the shadow where Lin Chen stood as bright as day, yet not a single sliver of light leaked outward!

The terrifying heat caused the surrounding air to warp violently.

The surface of the discarded wooden crates charred and cracked rapidly!

Lin Chen held his hands in a phantom grip, as if wielding that sword of destruction—a fusion of the primordial treasures of slaughter, tempered by the Red Lotus Karma Fire!

"Sss! Sss!!!"

The tip of the blade locked silently onto the target a few yards ahead.

It was aimed directly at the back of Xiao Bao, who was still humming a little tune, completely oblivious to his impending death!