The Target Was Qing Lin

Mu Chen solemnly cleared Rob's name and even bestowed upon him the title of "Millionaire." Rob's million-coin fortune had truly lingered in Mu Chen's mind, and over the past few days, Mu Chen had deeply realized just how difficult it was for a Da Dou Shi-level powerhouse to amass a fortune of one million.

"We don't care whether he was a millionaire or not. Kid, hand over the little girl in the room, and we have no interest in you. Don't fail to appreciate our kindness."

The fat man threatened him. Though he greatly coveted the Heavenly Flames, he understood that even if the two of them joined forces, taking Mu Chen's life would not be easy. Their most urgent priority was to complete the task assigned by the Great Elder. Otherwise...

At the thought of the ruthless Great Elder, both men immediately shuddered. If they failed to complete their mission, what awaited them would be a hellish life of modification.

As far as they knew, clan members who had made mistakes and been brought into the Great Elder's "laboratory" had never come out whole again.

These two are after Qing Lin? Did they discover something?

Mu Chen narrowed his eyes at the pair. Their black robes concealed their faces well, and with their heads lowered, Mu Chen could not make out anything.

"Kid, are you deaf? We're talking to you," the skinny man snapped, his words brimming with hostility.

Mu Chen pointed at the shattered gate behind them and sneered. "What are you two thinking? You still haven't compensated me for my losses.

"Look at you, acting all high and mighty. Seems like you're planning to skip out on the bill. In other words, you've chosen death!"

Seeing the killing intent in Mu Chen's eyes, the two men immediately grew furious. They had already lowered their stance and taken a step back, yet this kid seemed to be treating them like that useless Rob.

"Hehe, it seems that if we want to take the little girl away, we'll first have to deal with this annoying brat."

"Hehe, it seems the benefits the Great Elder gave that useless Rob were taken by this brat. Killing him will earn us a windfall too. I doubt the Great Elder will say much about it."

The two spoke one after the other, then exchanged glances. Refined Dou Qi Armor immediately appeared over their bodies, and they charged Mu Chen from both sides.

The moment they raised their hands, several streams of Dou Qi shot forth. Mu Chen had already placed his hands on the sword hilts behind his back as soon as they moved. Seeing the streaks of Dou Qi rushing at him, the two Ink Shadow Swords rang out and instantly left their sheaths.

Two cold flashes crossed like dragons, forcibly shattering the externalized Dou Qi that would have given ordinary Dou Masters a terrible headache.

"Fine swords. One for each of us."

The man as thin as a bamboo pole spoke to his companion, his eyes burning as he stared at the Ink Shadow Swords.

"Dreaming before nightfall? You two are seriously sick. Let me give you a physical send-off," Mu Chen said, shaking his head. There was a trace of pity on his face, as though he regretted that the two before him were beyond saving.

With a tap of his foot, Mu Chen activated Wind Shadow Step. His figure drifted left and right, making it difficult for the two men to judge where he would land. Once they closed in, their furious barrage of attacks failed to even touch the corner of his clothes.

Although Mu Chen lacked the wind attribute and could not unleash Wind Shadow Step's full power, he had perfectly mastered its proficiency due to absorbing the Dou technique light sphere.

Moving at will, Mu Chen glided around the two as lightly as the wind. After easily toying with them for a while, he finally unleashed streaks of sword light, striking at the weaker points in their defenses.

Both men's expressions darkened in turn. The intelligence had never mentioned that Mu Chen knew such an advanced movement technique, while neither of them knew even the slightest movement technique.

Though there were two of them, Mu Chen controlled the rhythm of the entire battle. Their powerful attacks ravaged the courtyard floor, yet they could not touch him at all. It was like punching cotton with all their strength.

"You cowardly rat! Do you only know how to run? If you have the guts, fight us head-on for three hundred rounds!" the ill-tempered bamboo pole mocked first.

"Tsk, look at you two weaklings. Did you cultivate all that Da Dou Shi strength into dogs?

"You're not very capable, but your skins sure are thick.

"I hope my sword can cut through your faces later, though I doubt it."

Mu Chen strolled about as if taking a leisurely walk, his sword flashing with bursts of sword light that threw the two into a panic and even disrupted their Dou Qi.

Due to his rapid movements, only Mu Chen's afterimages drifted through the courtyard. Yet his humiliating words enraged the two men he had surrounded to the point of frenzy.

However, the fat man retained some sense and suddenly sneered. "Hehe, you sharp-tongued brat, that's all you can do. You want us to follow your rhythm? Dream on!

"Let's go together! Charge into that room and capture the little girl. I'd like to see what this annoying fly can do to the two of us."

The fat man was far shrewder than the bamboo pole. He knew Mu Chen intended to wear them down, so he immediately used Qing Lin in the room to threaten him, forcing Mu Chen to abandon his speed advantage and clash head-on with two Five-Star Great Dou Masters.

The bamboo pole also came to his senses. Wearing a cold smile, he rushed toward Qing Lin's room alongside the fat man.

Yet after they had run barely halfway, a gale shot past them at incredible speed and transformed into Mu Chen's somewhat gloomy figure directly before the room.

"Very well. Since you want to fight me head-on, then I have no choice but to oblige you."

After speaking, Mu Chen briefly closed his eyes before opening them again. With a twist of both hands, the sharp Ink Shadow Swords pierced straight into the floor tiles beneath his feet. The trembling black blades let out sword cries brimming with oppressive force.

Seeing that Mu Chen had been restrained and forced to abandon his speed advantage for a direct confrontation, cruel, sinister expressions appeared on both men's faces.

A Da Dou Shi possessed a Dou Crystal. Whether in the quality or quantity of their Dou Qi, they far surpassed Dou Masters. In their eyes, Mu Chen's decision to fight two Five-Star Great Dou Masters head-on was nothing but a death wish.

"Arrogant brat, you actually think you can take on both of us alone. I don't know whether I should praise your courage or mock your stupidity.

"If we allowed you to advance to Da Dou Shi, then even the two of us joining forces might not be your match.

"Unfortunately, you are not yet a Da Dou Shi, and you will never have the chance to become one. This day next year will be your death anniversary."

Mu Chen had only one response to their mockery.

"You two sure have a lot of last words." As the final word left his lips, Mu Chen's bright eyes instantly turned into deep yellow fire eyes. He held both hands level, and regular fiery patterns emerged, finally forming two crystalline fire seals in his palms.

"Competing in Dou techniques? Brat, we aren't country bumpkins like Rob. Let us show you what true high-level Dou techniques are."

"Profound Tier Low-Level Dou Technique, Sky Eagle Claw!"

"Profound Tier Low-Level Dou Technique, Raging Tide Palm!"

Three powerful Dou technique auras surged from the courtyard and coiled through the skies, immediately drawing countless gasps throughout Stone Desert City.

"Such power... could Da Dou Shi-level powerhouses be fighting?"

"The source of those auras seems to be coming from that fiend's courtyard."

As this uncertain exclamation rang out, the entirety of Stone Desert City fell silent. Only after a long while did voices filled with awe arise.

"There's no need to go look. It's just more people courting death. Do they really think that fiend's Heavenly Flames are so easy to seize? In the past few days, if not a hundred, then at least eighty powerhouses have died in that fiend's courtyard.

"Didn't those two Da Dou Shi powerhouses enter confidently not long ago? Yet they were never seen again."