The gloom of the midsummer forest turned, the moment Tang San crept toward Shrek Academy's walls, into tension stretched to its limit.
Mottled shadows swayed eerily across the ground. Tang San kept low, softly releasing Soul Power through his feet as he moved soundlessly over weeds and rotting leaves. The Soul Power of a newly advanced, fortieth-level Soul Ancestor circulated slowly within him, but he deliberately suppressed 99 percent of it, leaving only a trace of an aura so faint it was almost nonexistent. His eyes stayed fixed on the gentle figure in the corner of the training ground, and murderous intent nearly spilled from them. He kept his Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul pressed deep in his dantian; only the faint, dark gleam that occasionally flickered at his fingertips betrayed his present fury.
The huge surge in power after breaking through to level forty had sent his confidence soaring. Add to that his hatred for Lin Chen and the venomous resentment he felt toward Xiao Wu and the others for betraying him, and his reason had long since been swept away. He was certain Lin Chen was only a Soul Elder in the thirties. Even if he had some strange tricks, against the overwhelming difference in their levels and the suppression of the Clear Sky Hammer, he would have no chance to fight back. This time, Tang San would catch him with a single strike and wipe out every hidden threat.
He had no idea that every step he took was being watched clearly by three shadows in the treetops. Like a trapped beast in a cage, he thought he was laying a trap, when in truth he had long since fallen into a vast net woven by someone else.
High in the crown of an ancient cypress, Ghost Fiend narrowed his eyes. His dark robes blended completely into the shadows, while the divine sense of a Soul Emperor remained firmly locked onto Tang San, never relaxing for an instant. He could clearly sense that although Tang San's Soul Power had only just advanced and remained unstable, the unique, weighty Soul Power of the Clear Sky Sect and the dense killing intent swirling around him both confirmed the accuracy of the secret message.
"The target is less than ten zhang from Shrek Academy's wall and could climb over at any moment. Once the signal comes, close in at once. Remember, capture him alive, don't kill him. We need him alive to investigate the Clear Sky Sect's trail!" Ghost Fiend sent the message through Soul Power with the utmost subtlety. His voice, cold as ice, reached the ears of his two subordinates.
The two Soul King covert guards, each at level fifty-three, nodded slightly. Soul Power had already gathered in their palms, and their Martial Souls had quietly possessed them, yet they kept their auras suppressed to the bare minimum. The left guard's Martial Soul was a Shadow Hunting Falcon; its wings lay hidden behind him as his sharp eyes tracked Tang San's escape route. The right guard's Martial Soul was an Earth-Splitting Scorpion, Soul Power surging through its pincers, ready to launch a surprise attack at any moment. The three had formed a flawless encirclement. They waited only for Tang San to enter Shrek and reveal his intent to strike; then they would burst from the shadows in an instant.
Ghost Fiend's divine sense still swept over Lin Chen on the training ground from time to time, but every time he probed, the result only made him more certain of his judgment.
Lin Chen remained where he was, turned slightly as he spoke softly with Xiao Wu, a faint smile playing on his lips. His eyes were clear and harmless, and the fluctuations of Soul Power around him stayed at the level of a thirty-sixth-level Soul Elder, calm and wholly nonthreatening. Xiao Wu's eyes curved with her smile as she occasionally patted Lin Chen's arm. Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong joined in from the side. The four got along harmoniously, entirely unaware of the danger about to descend, and showed not the slightest trace of a top-tier powerhouse's presence or guile.
The Star Hidden Grass's power of concealment had reached its utmost limit as it circulated around Lin Chen—no one short of a deity, be they a Titled Douluo or a Limit Douluo, could see through it. It did more than mask his Soul Power fluctuations: it completely disguised the abundant Soul Power of the level-sixty-two Soul Emperor within him, the surging vitality of the Immortal Herb's medicinal power, and even the aura of his soul. Even Ghost Fiend, a Soul Emperor skilled in reconnaissance, could probe him repeatedly with his divine sense and still see only an ordinary young man of decent talent and gentle temperament. He was worlds apart from the mysterious powerhouse who could slip into Spirit Hall's top-secret message station without a sound and precisely control the situation across the entire region.
So it really isn't him. Ghost Fiend reached a final conclusion, withdrew his divine sense from Lin Chen, and gave him no further thought. He focused entirely on Tang San. With that temperament and cultivation, he isn't even fit to carry that mysterious lord's shoes. I was overthinking it before. The mysterious lord must be hidden somewhere even more secret within Shrek Academy. Perhaps he has a treasure that blocks divine sense, or perhaps he's controlling everything from a thousand li away. At the very least, he must be a deity. He's no ordinary Soul Master like us.
At that moment, Ghost Fiend felt only awe for the mysterious powerhouse and determination to complete his mission. He completely ruled Lin Chen, the true mastermind behind it all, out of every suspicion.
Meanwhile, Lin Chen appeared to be chatting and laughing with the others, but his divine sense had already enveloped the entire area. Tang San creeping forward, the Spirit Hall covert guards lying in wait in the treetops, every circulation of their Soul Power, every whispered message—all of it fell within his perception.
The system panel appeared silently in his mind, its information crystal clear:
[Host: Lin Chen] [True Level: Level 62 Control System Soul Emperor] [Disguised Level: Level 36 Agility Attack System Soul Elder] [Concealment Status: Ultimate Seal (undetectable by anyone short of a deity)] [Hostile Target: Tang San] [Current Level: Level 40 Power Attack System Soul Ancestor] [Status: Overwhelmed by murderous intent, weak on guard, about to launch an attack]
Lin Chen lightly rubbed the edge of his sleeve, his heart as still as water as he watched a scene that had been scripted long ago. This was exactly the effect he wanted: to make the Spirit Hall covert guards dismiss all suspicion of him, and to make Tang San, consumed by the frenzy of revenge, walk straight into the trap. He would use Spirit Hall's hand to eliminate Tang San, this thorn in his side, while remaining entirely uninvolved and reaping the benefits.
He even turned slightly on purpose, presenting his back to the direction Tang San was creeping from and adopting a completely unguarded posture to lure him into striking.
Xiao Wu noticed Lin Chen's movement and tilted her head in confusion. "Lin Chen, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"I'm fine." Lin Chen turned around, offering her a gentle smile. His voice was soft. "The sunlight was a little dazzling, that's all. I just moved to a different spot."
The moment the words left his mouth, Tang San reached the foot of Shrek Academy's wall. He drove his feet against the ground, Soul Power erupting as he vaulted over the high wall like a specter. He landed without a sound, his eyes instantly turning sinister and vicious as he charged straight for Lin Chen!
The Soul Power of a fortieth-level Soul Ancestor erupted without restraint. A pale-purple fourth Soul Ring appeared beneath him, and the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul materialized in an instant. The pitch-black hammer, bearing the force to split mountains and crack stone, swept through the air with a howl and crashed down toward Lin Chen's back!
"Lin Chen, die!"
Tang San's roar, choked with fury, rang out abruptly across the training ground, shattering the lively atmosphere of the sparring session.
Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others were stunned. They turned toward Tang San's sudden attack, their faces full of disbelief.
"Tang San? What's he doing here?!"
"A fortieth-level Soul Ancestor? He actually broke through!"
Flender and Zhao Wuji had been supervising training nearby. Sensing the powerful fluctuation of Soul Power and the aura of the Clear Sky Hammer, their expressions changed dramatically. Soul Power at Soul Saint level burst from them as they prepared to intervene.
But at that very moment, three dark-robed shadows shot out from the treetops like arrows loosed from their strings!
"Move!"
Ghost Fiend gave a low shout. The Soul Power of a fifty-eighth-level Soul Emperor erupted completely, black Soul Rings circling him as his Shadow Wolf Martial Soul possessed him in an instant. Swift as a specter, he intercepted Tang San between him and Lin Chen. His blue-black wolf claws carried a sharp surge of Soul Power as they lunged for the hammer-wielding arm, aiming to cripple Tang San's attack and capture him.
The two Soul King guards followed close behind, flanking Tang San from either side and sealing off every escape route. The crushing Soul Power of two Soul Kings descended, forming an airtight cage of energy.
The sudden turn of events sent the entire training ground into an uproar!
Tang San's attack, which he had expected to land without fail, was blocked by the Spirit Hall covert guards who had burst onto the scene. The tremendous impact brought him to an abrupt halt, and his face went deathly pale. Seeing the three men in dark robes before him, their auras fierce, he immediately recognized their Spirit Hall affiliation. Shock and disbelief filled his eyes. "People from Spirit Hall? What are you doing here?!"
He was utterly stunned. He had been so careful to hide his actions—why had Spirit Hall laid an ambush here in advance? Had his movements been exposed?
Ghost Fiend's gaze was icy. Soul Power surged around him as he pressed Tang San down with all his might and barked, "Tang San, remnant of the Clear Sky Sect! You dare commit murder at Shrek Academy? Surrender, and you'll be spared!"
Fury and alarm surged within Tang San. He could feel the Soul Emperor-level pressure from the leader before him, and with two more Soul Kings besides, he was no match for them. But he refused to accept it. He had been on the verge of killing Lin Chen when Spirit Hall's men had barged in. Gritting his teeth, he drove his Soul Power into motion and swung the Clear Sky Hammer hard at Ghost Fiend, trying to break through. "You're asking for death!"
A violent collision of Soul Power erupted in an instant. The deafening crash rang across the entire Shrek training ground as dust billowed into the air.
Lin Chen remained where he was, perfectly still, as if the deadly attack had nothing to do with him. Watching Tang San clash with the Spirit Hall covert guards, a faint glint of coldness passed through his eyes, but the gentle smile never left his lips.
Xiao Wu hurried behind Lin Chen, worry written all over her face. Flender and Zhao Wuji stopped in their tracks. Their expressions darkened as they looked at the Spirit Hall covert guards who had appeared so suddenly. Unable to make sense of the situation, they didn't dare intervene hastily.
Everyone's attention was drawn to the two sides fighting in the middle of the training ground. No one noticed that Lin Chen, standing among the crowd, was the one who had set this entire upheaval in motion.
The shadows had struck, and the false game was set. The Spirit Hall covert guards had made their move as planned, while Tang San was trapped in their encirclement. The game Lin Chen had orchestrated alone had finally reached its fiercest clash. And Lin Chen remained hidden in the sunlight, standing among the others as he watched the chaos unfold and waited for the final outcome.
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