The walls of Lingxiao City, standing for centuries since its founding, now crumbled.
Today, the city walls collapsed.
Amid the rubble of the collapsed walls, a red spear was lodged, emanating an endless chill.
At the scene, martial artists from both Liang and other nations felt a deep chill throughout their bodies.
Initially, seeing Pei Qingming’s long sword injure that elder of the Profound Nether Sect, they wondered whether the prowess of the innate martial artists was exaggerated.
Only after witnessing this scene did everyone realize that the strength of the innate martial artists was not exaggerated, but rather that Pei Qingming’s capabilities were far beyond their imagination.
However, no matter how strong Pei Qingming was, he only wounded the elder from the Profound Nether Sect, and at present, four more innate martial artists of the same realm as that elder had arrived.
Despair!
Helplessness!
The martial artists of Liang saw no hope, unable to fathom how to break through in the face of such a situation.
"With one innate martial artist, Liang can barely withstand by mustering all its strength, but to counter five would require the united force of the Nine Kingdoms."
Among the crowd, martial artists from other nations murmured softly.
Liang could resist one innate martial artist, so the Han Kingdom should also manage it, leaving the Qi Kingdom to handle the remaining three, which shouldn’t be too difficult.
But now, apart from Liang, all other countries of the Nine Kingdoms have given up.
Han Kingdom, moreover, was the earliest to ally with the Nine Palaces Sect, and with the strongest nation of the Nine Kingdoms leading the way, how could the others dare to resist?
"Brother Liao, unable to handle even a Liang, if we hadn’t come, would you have compromised with Liang?"
The owner of the spear, with a faint smile on his face, and the other three innate martial artists wore similar expressions.
Seeing the Profound Nether Sect suffer was a welcome sight for them.
But Liang daring to defy them struck at their core taboo.
"Brother Liao, we’ll help you take care of this person, and Lingxiao City will belong to you, but this person must go with me."
Hearing this, Liao Kai’s face darkened; Lingxiao energy was innate energy, of great value to the sect, but from his personal perspective, Pei Qingming’s comprehension of sword path will was of even greater worth.
Having entered the Innate Realm, he didn’t particularly need innate energy.
He coveted Pei Qingming’s sword path will, and these others likely harbored the same intention.
"Brother Liao, you wouldn’t be unwilling, would you?"
Liao Kai still didn’t reply, but at this moment Pei Qingming sighed lightly; he knew all too well what these people wanted—his sword path will that he had comprehended.
He didn’t know what this sword path will represented in the Flame Dynasty, but for it to attract the craving of several innate martial artists, it was naturally no ordinary thing.
A martial artist hailing from a desolate place, whose cultivation of martial path will could entice innate martial artists from the Flame Dynasty, considered his life fulfilled.
Thinking of this, Pei Qingming suddenly burst into laughter.
The laughter instantly attracted everyone present, causing the frowns of Liao Kai and the four innate martial artists to deepen in confusion over what Pei Qingming found amusing.
"Sword, come!"
Pei Qingming called out softly, and within Lingxiao City, a long azure sword in Lingxiao Hall seemed to sense something, and with a sword cry, it soared into the sky, carrying boundless Lingxiao power.
Whoosh!
The azure sword hung above Pei Qingming’s head.
Chime!
Simultaneously, the long sword in Pei Qingming’s hand surged with sword qi, enveloping him.
"Not good, he intends to detonate his sword path will."
"Everyone, let’s bind him first, we can discuss later about who claims the sword path will."
Sword path will, even in the Flame Dynasty, is extremely rare.
Anyone able to perceive the sword path will would be taken in as disciples by those super sects; who would dare target these geniuses with the sword path will?
Now, a rare encounter in this desolate place with one possessing sword path will couldn’t be missed.
Even if not all of them practiced swordsmanship, trading this sword path will would fetch a high price, or instilling it within younger sect or clan members with some sword path talent would qualify them to join these super sects, at least reaching the Innate Second Realm in future.
The air at the gates of Lingxiao City seemed to solidify, Pei Qingming’s surroundings surging with sword qi like a boiling golden flame, tearing rips in his green robe.
Blood beads seeped from his brows, and the suspended azure sword above his head emitted a deafening cry, about to plunge into his brow.
The Liang martial artists in the rear, though unsure of Pei Qingming’s intent, could roughly guess his intention to perish alongside his foes.
"Qingming!"
"Senior Brother Pei."
"Senior Pei."
At that moment, countless Liang martial artists clenched their fists, but just as the azure sword above Pei Qingming’s head touched his brow, a voice came from within the city.
"Brother Pei, really, this is too much, taking all the limelight for yourself, not leaving me any."
The gentle and familiar voice left Meng Xing and many Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy disciples stunned in the crowd, especially Meng Xing, whose gaze immediately turned toward the back.
Upon seeing that slender figure, that familiar smile, Meng Xing’s mind recalled the scene when facing provocations from the Xiang Kingdom Martial Arts Academy disciples, as Senior Brother Lin appeared.
He remembered the incident with the Yu Beichen brothers of the Nansha Three Islands challenging, when Senior Brother Lin turned the tide.
Back then, Senior Brother Lin had the same smile, saying those relaxed words.
"It’s Lin Chen!"
"Lin Chen has resurfaced! Ever since he became the top of the Hidden Dragon List on the Celestial List, he’s been laying low. I thought Liang Kingdom had hidden him away in secret."
"It’s unwise to appear at this moment. These Innate Powerhouses clearly intend to destroy Liang Kingdom. A genius martial artist like Lin Chen, they definitely won’t spare."
The rationale to eradicate threats is universally applicable.
"Lin Chen?"
Due to Lin Chen’s sudden appearance, Pei Qingming paused his act of self-destructing his Sword Path Will, the tip of his green sword resting at his brow without advancing further.
"Brother Pei, leave the rest to me."
Lin Chen showed no concern for the pressure from the gazes of the five Innate Martial Artists, as he walked up to Pei Qingming.
Pei Qingming didn’t question how Lin Chen intended to resolve the matter, because he knew that Lin Chen, like himself, was not an arrogant person. Since he appeared and uttered such words, he must have the confidence to back them up.
"Alright, then I’ll take a break as the elder brother."
The green sword once again floated above his head, Pei Qingming chose to trust Lin Chen, but he did not withdraw the green sword.
"Lin Chen? The top of the Hidden Dragon List on the Celestial List, known as the greatest genius of the young generation in the Nine Kingdoms?"
Zhang Xun’s eyes fell on Lin Chen. This young man managed to maintain his composure under the scrutiny of their five Innate Martial Artists, quite impressive. If this were within the Flame Dynasty, a seedling like this would be taken in as a disciple by a sect.
Unfortunately, Lin Chen is a martial artist from Liang Kingdom.
If Liang Kingdom dares to challenge the Upper Sect Alliance, it must be obliterated, and Lin Chen must die as well.
Even if Lin Chen were taken in by the sect, who could guarantee he wouldn’t seek revenge for Liang Kingdom after becoming powerful?
After all, this is his birthplace, and many martial artists from Liang Kingdom likely have deep ties with him.
No sect would take such a risk for a single genius.
After all, the Flame Dynasty is never short of Martial Path talents.
"Boy, you’ve piqued my interest. I want to see how you plan to resolve this situation."
Since Pei Qingming didn’t self-destruct his Sword Path Will, the Innate Powerhouses weren’t in any rush to attack, instead wearing amused, mocking smiles, as they couldn’t fathom how Lin Chen could possibly break this deadlock.
Do you really think the sects value talent that much?
Not only were these Innate Martial Artists curious, but everyone present was also eager to see how Lin Chen would handle the current situation.
"I truly can’t imagine how Lin Chen could break this deadlock."
"If Lin Chen can turn the tides this time, even though I’m not from Liang Kingdom, I will always consider him the number one in the Nine Kingdoms."
"If Lin Chen intends to use his Martial Path talent to make these sects spare Liang Kingdom, he’s gravely mistaken. The disciple from the Profound Nether Sect has already exposed the true nature of these Flame Dynasty sects. They haven’t come to recruit Martial Path geniuses from the Nine Kingdoms for nurturing."
Lin Chen’s black robe billowed as a deep blue light, like a starry river, flowed in his eyes. He raised his head and shouted:
"Canglan Finger!"
With this shout, an icy blue light burst forth from Lin Chen’s fingertip. Above his head, a vast starry river phantom appeared. Within that vast starry river, a finger traversed through, descending from the sky.
Bang!
The enormous icy blue finger struck the ground, creating a pit ten zhang deep.
The dust settled.
Numerous martial artists stared in shock at the pit. Was this the power of one finger from Lin Chen?
Could a Lower or Middle Grade Martial Artist achieve this?
"Junior Brother Lin’s strength?"
Pei Qingming’s eyes also showed shock. Junior Brother Lin’s strength had reached the level of Upper-Grade Martial Artists.
How long had it been, and Junior Brother Lin had already entered the Upper-Grade Realm?
"His power is absolutely comparable to Third Grade Martial Artists, but it might still not be enough against Innate Martial Artists."
After their initial shock, some of the elder martial artists frowned, thinking that just the power of this one finger might still not suffice.
However, upon observing the expressions of the five Innate Martial Artists, they became perplexed.
At that moment, the expressions of the five Innate Martial Artists, including Liao Kai, revealed shock mingled with apprehension.
The five Innate Powerhouses, intimidated by Lin Chen’s single finger?
"Canglan Finger of the Canglan Sect, you must have heard of it, and understand what it signifies."
Lin Chen spoke slowly. From the moment he used the Canglan Finger and observed the reactions of the five, he knew they recognized the Canglan Finger.
It was one of the three major cultivation techniques of the Canglan Sect, renowned throughout the Flame Dynasty.
Even if Innate Martial Artists hadn’t witnessed it, they should’ve heard of it.
"Canglan Finger of the Canglan Sect, what does Lin Chen mean by that?"
"I understand now."
"Understand what? Hurry up and tell us, don’t keep us in suspense."
Many of the onlooking martial artists were desperate to pry the old man’s mouth open.
"There is no Canglan Sect in the Nine Kingdoms, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one in the Flame Dynasty. Judging by the expressions of the Innate Powerhouses, the Canglan Sect must be formidable. Lin Chen using the Canglan Finger indicates he is a disciple of the Canglan Sect."
"So what?"
"Touch him, and it’s as good as offending the Canglan Sect."

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