"Who—who's speaking out there?"
Murong Hongyi looked around in alarm. The person who had just spoken was definitely no ordinary individual. After all, he had been here for some time and hadn't heard the slightest sound of their approach.
A moment later, Lin Yun's lazy voice echoed through the area.
"A second-rate sect dares to run amok on the territory of our Daye Dynasty? It seems a lesson is in order today."
As the voice sounded, Murong Hongyi finally got a clear look at the man. He was handsome and refined, not at all the fierce, menacing figure he had imagined. But for some reason, he looked vaguely familiar.
"Tch. A mere Origin Sea Realm cultivator dares to meddle in my business," Murong Hongyi sneered. "Looks like I'll have to be the one to teach you a lesson today!"
While Murong Hongyi had been polite when dealing with the Marvelous Sound Sect, his attitude toward Lin Yun was completely different. He looked as if he wanted to kill him on the spot. Several disciples of the Seven Fiends Gate moved to surround Lin Yun. They all suspected this man, who had dared to wander in here alone, was out of his mind.
"Whether I dare to meddle is my business," Lin Yun said, looking at Murong Hongyi with a smile. "While this young master is in a good mood today, release them and explain the Crimson Ghost Sect's plot. If you do, I can give you a chance to live on in shame."
Though a smile hung on his face, when Murong Hongyi met Lin Yun's gaze, he felt as if he had been seen through completely. The man's every move exuded a terrifying killing intent.
"How arrogant!"
Before Murong Hongyi could speak, one of the Seven Fiends Gate disciples had already charged forward.
Fang Jidong had only recently broken through to the Sky-Soaring Realm. Seeing Lin Yun, he wanted to use this clueless fool to properly establish his own might.
"Tsk tsk, Fang Jidong is making a move? Looks like this kid is finished today."
"That's right. He just broke through to the Sky-Soaring Realm. He's probably looking for a chance to show off his strength."
Everyone knew what Fang Jidong was planning. But they could only say that Lin Yun's brain wasn't working right. To challenge the Seven Fiends Gate all by himself was simply foolish.
Xia Yijing looked at Lin Yun from a distance. While she should have been happy that someone had appeared at this critical moment to save them, seeing that it was just an Origin Sea Realm sword cultivator brought a wave of disappointment. Murong Hongyi was already at the peak of the Sky-Soaring Realm, and his subordinates were no pushovers. Lin Yun was all alone. Even if he was a rare sword cultivator, what kind of great waves could an Origin Sea Realm cultivator possibly stir up?
She watched as Fang Jidong let out a roar, settled into a horse stance, and swung his arms. A ceaseless stream of Yuan Qi erupted from his body. In the blink of an eye, his muscles had swelled to several times their normal size. He looked at Lin Yun, his eyes full of triumph.
"You brat, don't blame me for being merciless. You can only blame yourself for having no brain. Coming to a place like this all alone is just courting death!" Fang Jidong said through clenched teeth.
The other disciples from the Seven Fiends Gate were also quite surprised.
"No way, is Fang Jidong's talent really that strong? He's already practiced the Seven Fiends Fist Technique to the seventh stage!"
"He truly is a rare genius in our sect. If he hadn't become famous so late, he might have even been able to compete with a genius like Murong Hongyi."
The group was full of confidence in Fang Jidong.
He pushed off the ground with both feet, his body shooting forward like a cannonball. A terrifying shockwave swept through the surroundings. Everyone's expression changed as they looked at him.
Yet, facing this opponent, Lin Yun's expression remained one of contempt. The explosive power was indeed strong, but only relative to an average cultivator.
Compared to Lin Yun? It was far too lacking.
Fang Jidong's specialty was his instantaneous explosive force. He executed his fist technique in mid-air, his Yuan Qi flaring continuously, making his presence grow stronger and stronger.
But Lin Yun didn't pay such an opponent any mind. Instead, at that moment, he also threw a punch.
The punch looked light and effortless, but the power contained within it was terrifying.
A smirk appeared on Fang Jidong's lips.
Murong Hongyi shot a mocking glance at Xia Yijing beside him. "You're not really pinning your hopes on this kind of trash saving you, are you? Although Fang Jidong only just entered the Sky-Soaring Realm, his attainments in fist techniques are truly special. Even I might not necessarily be his opponent."
Xia Yijing stared at Fang Jidong, dumbfounded. She had never imagined that Murong Hongyi held him in such high regard. But it was too late for everything now. Lin Yun was simply too rash.
Just as everyone thought this punch would surely kill Lin Yun, he himself thought otherwise. Looking at Fang Jidong's fist, Lin Yun sneered. During his time in the forbidden land, he had not only returned to his peak state but was also on the verge of breaking through to the Sky-Soaring Realm. For Lin Yun, this was an opportunity.
BANG—
Their fists collided in mid-air.
Lin Yun's expression remained as calm as before, showing little emotional fluctuation.
Fang Jidong, on the other hand, felt the smile on his face begin to freeze. All his previous assumptions about this battle seemed so pale and weak at this moment. If only this man were as easy to defeat as he had imagined. But the reality before him was irrefutable.
So terrifying… isn't this guy a sword cultivator? How is his physical strength so immense?
How has his body been tempered? It's like steel that has been hammered a thousand times!
Several questions flashed through Fang Jidong's mind.
In the next moment, an intense, sharp pain shot through his body. Fang Jidong's full-power strike had failed to finish Lin Yun. Instead, his own right arm had been completely shattered.
Looking at his strangely twisted arm, Fang Jidong let out a muffled grunt and slowly knelt on the ground. His gaze towards Lin Yun was now filled with fear. This was far beyond their previous assessment of him.
Lin Yun paid the defeated Fang Jidong no mind and continued walking toward Murong Hongyi.
But behind him, Fang Jidong, who should have lost all ability to fight, had eyes that were completely bloodshot.
"No… this is impossible!" he roared, completely unable to accept his defeat. He attacked Lin Yun with his remaining left hand.
"I've already seen through your moves," Lin Yun said with a mocking laugh. "The Seven Fiends Fist Technique isn't bad. It's just that you people aren't suited to using it."
Fang Jidong's eyes were red, his jaw clenched. "Ignorant child! Who are you to critique the fist technique of my Seven Fiends Gate? I'll make you pay the price today!"