A Stunning Sword Strike

The young man wore a wicked grin. The long saber in his hand flashed like a rainbow, erupting with dazzling light as it tore through the darkness and slashed toward Lin Xuan.

This was a strike from the Sixth Level of Meridian Condensation. Spirit energy surged wildly, coiling around the blade and forming a tangible saber aura.

"Die!" The young man's face twisted savagely.

"Bastard, watch out!" Tang Yu had no time to stop him and could only warn Lin Xuan with all her strength.

The Scarlet Mercenary Group members revealed grim expressions at the sight. Du Ping let out a long roar, blasting away the Sixth-Level Spirit Warrior he had been fighting.

"Brother Lin, dodge!"

"Hmph, how could a Fourth Level of Meridian Condensation brat possibly dodge? The Young Regiment Leader is a genuine Sixth-Level Spirit Warrior. Du Ping, you're far too naive. Your Scarlet Mercenary Group will be next to die!"

The tangible saber aura arrived before Lin Xuan in an instant. Its violent power made his skin sting.

In the darkness, Lin Xuan remained exceptionally calm. With Shadowstep beneath his feet, his body moved like a ghost, forcibly shifting sideways by a meter and evading the vicious strike.

Boom!

A crack split open where Lin Xuan had been standing, and the ground caved in. A Sixth Level of Meridian Condensation attack was indeed terrifying.

"Hmm? He dodged?" The young man paused in surprise. "Interesting. Kid, your movement technique isn't bad. But can you dodge my second strike?" he laughed, like a cat toying with a mouse.

A tangible saber aura gathered once more over the snow-bright blade. The young man held the saber in one hand and aimed it at Lin Xuan.

Whoosh!

Three silver needles, thin as cow hairs, shot toward the back of the young man's head.

"Hmph!" The young man snorted. He spun around and grabbed backward, dazzling spirit energy wrapping around his palm as he caught all three needles.

A wicked smile curled across his lips as he leered at Tang Yu. "Little beauty, in a moment, I'll make sure you enjoy yourself to the fullest!"

The instant Lin Xuan saw him turn around, his eyes lit up.

Now!

He concentrated all his strength at the tip of his sword, then sprang into the air like a brilliant meteor streaking across the dark sky.

"Heavenly Meteor!"

A flash of light seemed to rip through the void, illuminating the boundless darkness.

The young man's wicked smile still hung on his face, but the arrogance in his eyes was gradually replaced by terror. He struggled to raise a hand, wanting to say something, yet only a gurgling sound came out.

His whole body convulsed as he clutched his throat desperately, but blood continued pouring out between his fingers.

"You... you..." Until his dying breath, the young man could not believe he had died at the hands of a Fourth Level of Meridian Condensation cultivator.

Thud. The young man's body collapsed to the ground, and blood instantly dyed the earth red.

Tang Yu's cherry lips hung open as she stared blankly at Lin Xuan. After a long while, she blushed and whispered, "That was so cool!"

"The Young Regiment Leader—the Young Regiment Leader is dead!" A cry of alarm rang out through the night, echoing between the mountains and forest.

"What? Impossible!" Every member of the Viper Mercenary Group cried out in shock. The Young Regiment Leader was a Sixth-Level Spirit Warrior—who could have killed him?

Yet the corpse on the ground was too glaring to ignore, forcing them to accept the truth. The battle had already reached a fever pitch, and both sides had suffered losses. Still, the young man's death threw the Viper Mercenary Group into panic.

Du Ping and the others were deeply shaken as well. Lin Xuan's move had been too fast—so fast that no one could react in time.

"Brother Lin, well done!" Du Ping was covered in blood, but his eyes shone with excitement. With the young man dead, they were saved!

Boom! The bearded man exchanged a heavy punch with Du Ping, then swiftly darted to the young man's corpse.

"You actually killed the Young Regiment Leader! Our Viper Mercenary Group will never let you off!" The bearded middle-aged man's face twisted viciously. With the Young Regiment Leader dead, he too would be severely punished upon returning. The Regiment Leader would go mad!

"Third Regiment Leader, what should we do?" The Viper Mercenary Group members crowded around him.

"Awoo!"

The sounds of battle had long since alerted the nearby wild beasts. Now that the scent of blood filled the air, the fierce beasts were stirred even further. Pairs of emerald eyes lit up around them, like clusters of ghostly flames drifting through the darkness.

"Damn it, it's a pack of Black Demon Wolves!" Du Ping supported an injured brother, his face full of anxiety. The Viper Mercenary Group members also looked terrified, as though they had encountered something dreadful.

"Brother Lin, forget these people. We need to break out quickly. These Black Demon Wolves are bloodthirsty by nature. The smell of blood drives them mad, and they always appear in packs. Ordinary cultivators simply can't withstand them."

As Du Ping spoke, he slung his baggage onto his back and waved to Lin Xuan. "Brother Lin, let's charge out together!"

"Hmph! Our Viper Mercenary Group will remember what happened today!" The Third Regiment Leader gritted out. Then he shot Lin Xuan a vicious glare and stopped paying attention to the corpse on the ground.

"Third Regiment Leader, the Young Regiment Leader's body..."

"Shut up! We're surrounded by a pack of Black Demon Wolves. Whether we can get out alive is still uncertain, and you want to carry a corpse?"

"Get yourselves together! Fight to the death and break out!" the Third Regiment Leader bellowed, then charged in a chosen direction.

"Brother Lin, let's go!" Du Ping urged.

Lin Xuan glanced at the Viper Mercenary Group. Since he had killed their Young Regiment Leader, he had not intended to let any of them go, lest they hunt him down in the future. But the appearance of this pack of Black Demon Wolves left him no choice but to retreat.

"Go!" Lin Xuan grabbed Tang Yu and followed closely beside the Scarlet Mercenary Group as they prepared to break through.

Whoosh!

The moment Lin Xuan and the others moved, the Black Demon Wolves moved as well. Over a hundred pitch-black demonic wolves bared their fangs and pounced on the corpses on the ground, while even more chased after Lin Xuan and the others.

Pfft! Pfft!

The longsword in Lin Xuan's hand had completely become a blood sword. With every thrust, a Black Demon Wolf fell. The Scarlet Mercenary Group members traveling with him watched with pounding hearts; they truly could not imagine a Fourth-Level Spirit Warrior being so formidable.

In contrast, screams rose continuously from the Viper Mercenary Group's side as people kept falling. It would already be fortunate if even a third of them managed to escape.

Lin Xuan rapidly cleared the way ahead. The longsword in his hand transformed into lightning, unleashing endless energy. No one knew how long they ran before they finally shook off the Black Demon Wolves.

"This time, it was all thanks to Brother Lin." Du Ping wiped the cold sweat from his face. "Brother Lin, if you ever need us in the future, just say the word!"

"You're too courteous, Brother Du." Lin Xuan smiled, and the icy sternness he had displayed earlier had vanished completely.

"We should find a place to get through the rest of the night first."

"Dawn is almost here. If we all stay together, we should be able to make it through." Du Fang looked around as he spoke.

The seven of them found a clean place to rest, remaining there until the east began to pale.

Early the next morning, Lin Xuan and Tang Yu parted ways with the Scarlet Mercenary Group. The two swiftly headed toward the Demon Pit and finally reached its outskirts at noon.

By then, several figures were already moving about nearby. Lin Xuan even spotted disciples of the Profound Heaven Sect.

"You should go meet up with them." Lin Xuan pointed at the Battle Group ahead and smiled.

"What about you?" Tang Yu pouted.

"I have something else to do." Lin Xuan clasped his hands behind his head. "I'm going to seek opportunities. As for you, wait obediently for your brother."

Lin Xuan waved his hand, and his figure quickly vanished into the forest.

"You little bastard, you run off so fast every time!" Tang Yu stamped her foot in frustration.

In a corner on the outskirts of the Demon Pit, a group of people clad in silver light armor gathered together. At their center sat a bald, burly man, sprawled there with the air of a great commander as he cursed, "Why aren't Third Brother and the others here yet? Damn it, are they turtles or what!"