Zero Burial and Northern Dipper

"What is this...?"

The moment that strange fluctuation abruptly appeared, Lin Chuan realized something was wrong. That silent killing intent, the ability to calmly take someone's head in the darkness, and that familiar dagger glinting with cold light all confirmed Lin Chuan's suspicions!

The one attacking him was Northern Dipper of [Akatsuki]!

Meng Jingxian's ability to use the darkness attribute to move stealthily through the Underground Labyrinth was extremely difficult for Lin Chuan to detect, even with Sage Chakra Mode and the Ancestral Jade. By the time he sensed something amiss, it was already too late!

Meng Jingxian's cultivation was far higher than Lin Chuan's at this point, separated by an entire major realm. Assassinating a late Golden Core cultivator would have been far too easy.

Lin Chuan had originally intended to use Shinra Tensei for defense, but he was forced to switch tactics at the last moment. More importantly, because he was familiar with Northern Dipper's methods, Lin Chuan knew that Meng Jingxian did not carry much killing intent toward him right now; this was mostly a test. Otherwise, faced with such a terrifying assassination attempt, Lin Chuan would have had to use the Rinnegan's abilities even if it exposed his identity.

Buzz!

An icy aura suddenly erupted, rapidly condensing five walls of ice between Lin Chuan and Meng Jingxian. At the same time, Lin Chuan swiftly retreated, his hands forming seals without pause as he summoned the Five-Pointed Star Glare hidden around his body. He then pointed forward, and three blue-glowing ice crystals shot out together, blasting toward Meng Jingxian.

In that instant, Lin Chuan had done nearly everything he could. Once he had finished, he lowered his head slightly, and his pupils instantly shifted into Rinnegan with six pale-purple rings. At the same time, he extended both