"Boom!"
The moment the sword light collided with the giant hand, the air along the entire street trembled for a split second.
The giant, dark golden hand of law, starting from the point of contact with the sword light, began to crack inch by inch from its palm outwards, like an ice surface shattered from the center. Cracks spread to every finger, and then the entire hand shattered with a roar, turning into countless dark golden fragments of law that scattered and flew everywhere, quickly dissipating in the air like dust blown away by the wind.
The three illusory figures of emperors simultaneously took half a step back.
The azure sword light dissipated on its own after shattering the giant hand.
On the street, the cultivators who hadn't run far stopped at the same time, their eyes all turning towards the source of the sword light.
A figure was walking from the other end of the street.
He was tall and slender, dressed in a moon-white robe, with a blue ancient sword hanging at his waist. He had a handsome face and a clear, refreshing temperament. A very faint immortal mark was flowing between his brows, gleaming softly in the twilight.
"Buzz!"
He walked slowly, each step steady, the sound of his footsteps on the stone slabs extremely soft, yet possessing an undeniable presence.
He walked to Lin Fan's side and stood still.
Then he looked up at the three illusory figures of emperors in the sky, his tone calm, even with a hint of gentleness. "Three seniors, what's the matter? We can sit down and talk. Why make such a big fuss?"
Lin Chen.
One of the most outstanding young talents of the Emperor Pass, and the leading figure of the younger generation of the Lin Clan, his cultivation is unfathomable, and he has the combat power to fight against Great Emperor of higher ranks.
He stood there at the Peak Quasi-Emperor, yet he caused three Great Emperor- level powerhouses to frown simultaneously.
The first illusory figure of the Emperor recognized the newcomer's identity, and his voice deepened slightly, "The leading figure of the younger generation of the Lin Clan, you want to protect him?"
"Otherwise what?" Lin Chen smiled faintly. "He's a member of the Lin Clan. If I don't protect him, who will I protect?"
Ouyang Lie said in a deep voice, " Lin Chen, although you are the leading figure of the younger generation of the Lin Clan in Emperor Pass, this matter involves the laws and regulations of Emperor Pass, and it is not something you can handle alone."
"Laws?" Lin Chen tilted his head, his gaze sweeping over the three emperors in turn. "Your three Quasi-Emperor, armed with Immortal Artifact, ambushed and killed my Lin Clan's Quasi-Emperor on the Mysterious Pass Ancient Road. Doesn't that count as a violation of the law?"
The three emperors fell silent.
Lin Chen continued, "You sent people to kill members of my Lin Clan, and when you couldn't, you're now jumping out to talk about laws? Are your faces made of Emperor Pass city walls?"
Jin Wudao's face turned pale and then red.
He wanted to argue, but Lin Chen's words hit a nerve.
All three parties are in the wrong regarding the matter of the Mysterious Pass Ancient Road; if it comes to light, they will be the ones who suffer the consequences.
Tang Xuantian said in a deep voice, "Then it's a fact that he killed someone at the city gate, right? Countless eyes saw it."
"I saw it."
Lin Chen nodded. "But that person attacked first, trying to snatch the token. Article 13 of the Emperor Pass Laws states that guards, patrolmen, and cultivators entering the pass may retaliate and kill if attacked without reporting."
The three emperors fell silent once again.
Lin Chen's words were not harsh; each sentence flowed naturally like water, yet the three illusory figures of the Emperor Dao could not find a suitable rebuttal. This was because the truth indeed lay with Lin Fan.
This guy knows the laws and regulations of the Emperor Pass better than the documents of the City Lord's Mansion.
He remembers even the exact number of each item.
Jin Wudao took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. " Lin Chen, are you determined to protect him today?"
"Otherwise what!" Lin Chen shrugged. "If your family sends three Great Emperor to block a Mid-Stage Quasi-Emperor junior like mine, and I don't step up, people will think my Lin Clan has no one left."
Jin Clan Jian finally spoke, " Lin Chen, no matter how powerful your Lin Clan is, you cannot protect a murderer who killed someone as soon as he entered the pass."
"Cover?"
Lin Chen's smile remained gentle, but a subtle, almost imperceptible glint appeared in his clear, spring-like eyes, like something slowly churning deep within well water under moonlight. "Heh, Senior Jin, you should be glad it was me who came today."
"What do you mean?"
It doesn't mean anything.
Lin Chen's tone remained calm and unhurried, but the weight of his words caused the three illusory figures of the Emperor's Path to simultaneously pause in their tracks:
"If it were my ancestor, he probably wouldn't be so reasonable. The three elders should know the tempers of my family elders better than I do."
The air above remained silent for a long time.
Jin Clan Jiadi's voice carried an extremely restrained coldness. "What do you want?"
"It's very simple," Lin Chen said. "If someone is attacked on their first day of entry and fights back in self-defense, according to the rules of the Emperor Pass, it doesn't constitute a crime."
"What about the Demon Race who died?"
"Robbery on the road, you're outmatched, you deserve to die." Lin Chen's tone remained gentle, but there was no room for negotiation. "If the three seniors are dissatisfied, they can go to the Lin Clan to reason with them. The doors of the Lin Clan are always open."
The three illusory figures of the Emperor's Path exchanged a glance.
There was an undisguised apprehension in their eyes.
None of the Lin Clan elders, who are fiercely protective of their own, are easy to mess with.
Lin Dong had just made his appearance, and the lingering power of his sword strike that repelled three emperors was still present. Now, Lin Chen has appeared.
Ouyang Lie's eyes flickered slightly. "Since you insist on protecting your own, let's each take a step back."
"Indeed, this matter cannot be left unresolved," Jin Clan said in a deep voice. "After all, he killed someone. According to the rules of the Emperor Pass, if he wants to atone for his crime, he must perform meritorious service on the battlefield."
"Battlefield?" Lin Chen's brow twitched slightly.
" The Darkness Battlefield to the north is currently short-handed."
"If he can achieve enough merits on the battlefield, this matter can be wiped clean."
Jin Clan Jiadi's tone carried an undeniable resolve, "Otherwise, our three clans will jointly petition the Emperor Pass Council, demanding the revocation of his entry qualification."
The street fell silent for a moment.
The weight of those three words, "going to the battlefield," was clear to everyone present.
That place wasn't for friendly sparring or trials; it was a real battlefield where you had to face the creatures of darkness, and every battle was a fight to the death.
More importantly, there are too many unexpected events on the battlefield.
No one can guarantee you'll come back alive. If Lin Fan dies on the battlefield, no one can even hold him accountable.
"Good."
Lin Fan's voice came from behind Lin Chen, neither too loud nor too soft, carrying a casual and cheerful tone, "I agree."
Standing behind Lin Chen, Lin Fan listened to the back-and-forth of these people and already understood the situation.
Going to the battlefield was a pretense; his real intention was to find an opportunity to strike him on the battlefield.
After all, the battlefield is chaotic, and no one can say anything if a junior in the Mid-Stage Quasi-Emperor dies.
But he didn't care.
He's killed dark creatures before, what's there to be afraid of!
Jin Wudao glanced at him without saying a word, but his gaze carried a hint of coldness, as if to say, "You've taken the bait after all."