C14 Yaen Tianjiao

"Bang!"

The force behind the golden punch was so immense that Wang Dong's grip on his sword faltered, sending him flying like a discarded rag.

With a single move, he had taken down Wang Dong, a formidable Grade Eight warrior!

"Activating the second meridian really makes a difference. My Spirit Force has doubled since before, and now that I've mastered the second form of the Gold Chanting Spell, 'Golden Body Coating,' my defense has soared to a whole new level!"

Lu Chen was immensely pleased with the power of his recent punch.

"Now, if I were to face Wu Meixin again, I reckon we'd be evenly matched!"

"Impossible, you... how can you be this powerful?"

Wang Dong's gaze was laden with incredulity as he looked at Lu Chen. He couldn't fathom how Lu Chen, a whole Grade lower and far less battle-hardened than himself, could have bested him so easily.

But what he failed to realize was that the young man before him harbored the soul of a Spirit Emperor, ancient beyond years, with talent, martial prowess, and combat instincts that far surpassed his own.

"Impossible? What's so impossible about it?"

Lu Chen's lips curled into a smirk as he approached the disbelieving Wang Dong.

"What are you going to do? I... I won't seek vengeance for my men!"

"Vengeance?"

Lu Chen's laugh echoed through the air, and in a flash, a massive sword materialized in his hand.

"Do you really care about the fate of your men? Or did you have a hand in their demise, just to seize their loot for yourself? You're after us for the same reason, aren't you? To grab a bigger share of the spoils."

"If I'm not mistaken, including Chung Tieh, seven were in pursuit of us. After accounting for the three we've dispatched and the one you left alive to send a message, that leaves three unaccounted for—three you killed, right?"

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Wang Dong was in utter panic. He had been meticulous in his actions, certain that no one had been around to witness the killings.

The other escorts, overhearing Wang Dong's exchange, ceased their combat with Ling Xiangxue, turning to stare at him with a mix of shock and disbelief.

"What does it matter if I kill a piece of trash like you?" Lu Chen's voice was cold as he suddenly hoisted his massive sword.

"You, you can't kill me! My brother-in-law is a master of the Soul Controlling Stage. If you kill me, your entire family will be wiped out along with you!"

"Puchi!"

The sound of the sword plunging into flesh echoed. Wang Dong stared at Lu Chen in disbelief, his mouth agape, yet unable to utter another word.

Lu Chen leaned in close to Wang Dong's ear and whispered,

"Don't bother mentioning the Spirit Transforming Stage. I've killed a Spirit Emperor as easily as slaughtering a chicken!"

Wang Dong's eyes bulged in terror, and the next second, he was lifeless.

"Young Hero, we beg for mercy! We were deceived by Wang Dong and his ilk, please have mercy on us!"

At that moment, a sixth-grade Spirit Disciple inhaled sharply before speaking up.

"Do you know what you're going to tell your master?" Lu Chen's aura of menace diminished slightly as he focused on the sixth-grade practitioner.

"Yes, yes! Bodyguard Wang took Chung Tieh into the Roaring Forest, only to meet his end at the claws of a furious Spirit Beast!" Another sixth-grade Spirit Disciple, sensing an opportunity, quickly wiped the sweat from his brow.

It was laughable. Wang Dong, a Grade Eight, had been effortlessly dispatched by this youth. They were nothing but fodder to him!

"I'll spare you, but only if you hand over everything of value you possess!"

Lu Chen's smile broadened; he was about to relish his favorite part of the ordeal.

Lu Chen made quick work of the looting. Being an escort in the Escort Agency was lucrative, considering they risked their necks for it.

Within moments, Lu Chen had gathered all their possessions. With a crowd of near-tearful onlookers, he swiftly grabbed Ling Xiangxue and dashed off.

He had chosen not to kill them because once he struck, they would scatter, and some were bound to slip away. Besides, this was the Roaring Forest, a place where death was common and the scent of blood could attract untold dangers.

"Can I let go now?"

After a moment, Ling Xiangxue's voice rang out. Hearing it, Lu Chen exhaled and reluctantly released the soft hand he had been holding.

Ling Xiangxue withdrew her hand and placed it behind her back. Strangely, when Lu Chen had grabbed her hand, her initial reaction wasn't to pull away but to stand there, dumbfounded.

"I grabbed your hand and ran because I sensed a powerful hidden presence!"

Lu Chen gazed earnestly at Ling Xiangxue. If it hadn't been for their previous encounters, she might have taken his word for it.

"You... You're really shameless!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Lu Chen burst into laughter, ready to sit down and sort through their loot.

But just as he settled down, he sprang up abruptly.

"Oh no, I jinxed it. We need to run!"

Without hesitation, Lu Chen yanked Ling Xiangxue to her feet, ready to bolt, but it was too late.

"Whoosh!" The sound of slicing air pierced the silence.

The next second, a dark dagger flew from the distant woods and thudded into the ground before Lu Chen.

Then, a sultry, mature female voice followed.

"Who said you could leave? How dare you try to escape with your little lover?"

Lu Chen turned around with a grave expression to see a thirty-something woman in a black lace dress emerging from the forest.

Trailing behind her was a young girl, none other than Wu Meixin, whom Lu Chen had previously encountered. This time, however, Wu Meixin wasn't as brash as before but followed the woman meekly.

A disciple?

The woman's foxy demeanor made it clear they were indeed mentor and protégée.

"Senior, how can you put it that way? I was just enjoying a private moment with my lover, and when we were spotted, naturally, we tried to slip away!"

Lu Chen could feel the woman's Spirit Force fluctuation; she was at least a Grade Three in the Soul Controlling Stage!

"Giggling, young man, you do have a way with words. If you hadn't taken advantage of my disciple, I might have considered making you my tenth male concubine!"

The tenth?

A chill ran down Lu Chen's spine at the thought, but he managed a chuckle and replied,

"Senior, I'm afraid I don't follow. If there's nothing further, I must be going. I've got some cozy time to catch up on with my lover~"

Lu Chen was just about to whisk Ling Xiangxue away when they were interrupted.

"Nobody escapes from Yaen Tianjiao, not on my watch!" she cackled.

"Dragon Imprisoning Poison Python!"

Before Lu Chen could even register what was happening, ten massive black pythons of energy burst forth, ensnaring them both and ultimately forming an inescapable dark prison.

"Hehehe, so this is the best Ning Bailian's disciple can do? Poor talent, worse luck, and terrible judgment, picking such a worthless nobody!" Yaen Tianjiao taunted as she watched them become ensnared.

But in that instant, a sword light as brilliant as the sun piercing through storm clouds erupted from within the cage.

With a resounding crash, the black prison was obliterated.

A young swordsman emerged from the debris, his eyes hidden by a fringe of hair, betraying no emotion.

Despite the Spirit Force Fluctuation around him being only Grade Seven, his presence was as commanding as a Spirit Emperor rising from the abyss.

Pointing his sword directly at Yaen Tianjiao, he declared with unyielding defiance,

"Listen up, you wretched woman, let me make one thing crystal clear—"

"I" "Am" "Not" "Worthless!"