Chapter 057: Crimson Flames

Lin Zhan still felt somewhat lacking in confidence, so he acted with caution. In truth, considering the speed at which he leveled up, if he belittled himself any further, it would be almost inhuman. Yet, rapid advancement was one thing; unfortunately, all his opponents were formidable adversaries of higher rank, which rendered his speed advantage moot.

Thus, being careful and vigilant never hurt.

Whoosh!

As his spiritual sense swept out, Lin Zhan detected his pursuers closing in, and immediately left his hiding spot. When it came to movement techniques, the likes of Lu Feiying and his two companions were far from his equal.

Escape was not Lin Zhan’s goal. Rather, he sought a strategic shift—waiting for the right moment to deliver a fatal blow.

“That brat sure is slippery!” In just a few breaths, Lu Feiying and his men arrived at the spot where Lin Zhan had previously hidden to recover.

“He just left, not long ago. Keep after him!” The trio wasted no time, darting off in pursuit.

And so, the chase entered a prolonged and tense stage.

After a day and a night, the pursuit grew ever more intense. Lu Feiying’s group repeatedly arrived only to find Lin Zhan had just slipped away, leaving the two vice-captains restless and irritable.

Lu Feiying noted their agitation and reminded them, “Judging by that little wretch’s cultivation, he can’t be more than a third-rank Yellow Grade. Both of you have been at that rank for years. You’re burning through your energy, but so is he—just as alarmingly. If we persevere, he’ll tire out first. So stay sharp and keep going!”

Given the boss’s words, the two disgruntled Yellow Grades had no choice but to press on.

Undoubtedly, such a drain of energy was taxing even for masters of their level.

By now, the trio’s internal energy was half depleted. If they continued at full speed for another day and night, they would be utterly spent.

Still, they believed Lin Zhan would collapse first.

Lin Zhan understood this as well. Though his Star Body allowed him to commune with the power of the stars and absorb spiritual energy, such replenishment could never keep up with the consumption of moving at full speed.

And the reserves of the First Star, unless absolutely necessary, were too precious to use lightly. Thus, Lin Zhan knew it was time to act; a direct confrontation was inevitable.

Not long after, he stopped at a flat expanse beside the Lake of Flames, turned, and sat down, composed and ready for his pursuers.

Before long, Lu Feiying and his men caught up.

“So, you’ve come,” Lin Zhan rose, instantly unleashing the full might of his first-rank Yellow Grade cultivation. He stood tall, hands clasped behind his back, exuding an air of utter dominance.

“Bold, aren’t you!” Lu Feiying sneered as the three of them aligned shoulder to shoulder, fixing Lin Zhan with a deadly glare.

“First-rank Yellow Grade! He’s only a first-rank Yellow Grade?” The two who arrived last exclaimed in disbelief.

It was simply inconceivable that this wretch was only a first-rank Yellow Grade!

Though the gap between ranks seemed slight, the difference in power was vast; a higher rank could crush a lower one. Now they found it even more baffling that Chen Feng had fallen to a single blow from Lin Zhan.

“Ahem, so you finally see through me, sirs. I was able to conceal my power for quite a while, but now I suppose the game is up. This endless running is exhausting. Never mind, today I’ll stake my life on one last fight.” Lin Zhan forced a bitter smile, as if unwilling.

“Shameless wretch, drop the act! Today, no matter what, you won’t leave here alive!” One of the vice-captains, a rugged middle-aged man, stepped forward menacingly.

Lin Zhan shook his head and sighed, “Don’t you want to know where those two stewards went?”

Though Lu Feiying had already guessed that Cheng Wei and his companion had been killed by Lin Zhan, he still wanted confirmation. “Oh? And you’re willing to tell us?”

At this point, it was just a matter of a single word. Lin Zhan nodded. “That’s right.”

The three, though prepared for this answer, were momentarily stunned.

“Enough with the nonsense. Which of you wants to die first? Or will you come at me together?” Lin Zhan struck a pose, cool and unruffled.

“Damn you, brat, you’re too arrogant! You’re just a first-rank Yellow Grade. Besides scheming, what else can you do?” The vice-captain, with the look of a hardened veteran, flew into a rage, leaping up with a massive broadsword gleaming coldly as he brought it down with tremendous force. “I’ll cut you down myself! Vengeance for my brothers!”

With that, Lu Feiying and the other man opted to stand aside for now. By all accounts, Lin Zhan was certain to lose; they’d simply monitor the situation to prevent him from pulling any tricks. He was, after all, as good as dead.

Before the man arrived, a surge of blade energy swept toward Lin Zhan, who at last truly felt the might of a Yellow Grade master.

With a thought, Lin Zhan summoned his pitch-black greatsword from his storage space. He did not retreat. Planting his feet, he leapt up, sword in hand, to meet the attack.

Clang!

A thunderous clash of sword and blade seemed to freeze the very air, as energies collided with explosive force.

After the impact, both figures shot apart like lightning.

Lin Zhan staggered back thirty feet, the last two steps unsteady, then steadied himself with his sword and spat a mouthful of blood, though his expression remained unchanged.

Without delay, the diagram of nine stars in his body spun rapidly, streams of golden energy like small dragons flowing through him, swiftly repairing his injuries and restoring his strength.

Within his sea of spirit, energy lights seethed and boiled, pouring into the pitch-black greatsword, setting off bursts of golden sparks with a sizzling sound.

The next instant, Lin Zhan flicked his sword tip and leapt up again. In mid-air, the greatsword erupted in a foot-long blaze of red flame!

Explosive Sword Light!

The middle-aged Yellow Grade, who had also staggered back ten feet, showed no outward sign of injury—no blood, no faltering steps—but in truth, his right hand, gripping the sword, trembled slightly. That seemingly defensive sword strike from Lin Zhan had already sent shockwaves through his heart!

He had been at the third-rank Yellow Grade for years, on the verge of breaking through. His Black Sun Broadsword was no ordinary weapon. Yet, after unleashing his full strength, his opponent had only spat a mouthful of blood, and now was attacking once more, seemingly stronger than before. For the first time, a trace of fear crept into his heart. Perhaps Lin Zhan’s ability to seriously injure Chen Feng wasn’t merely a fluke.

“Wretch, accept your fate—wait, you can still fight?” The other black-clad vice-captain, ready with a sarcastic remark, was left dumbfounded, the scene shifting too quickly for him to process.

Lin Zhan, like a war god descending from the heavens, carved a trail of explosive golden light through the air with his greatsword. He bared his teeth in a grin, glancing over. “Don’t worry. You’re next.”

Unhurried, his black greatsword swept toward the middle-aged Yellow Grade, unstoppable and relentless.

The air seethed with energy. In this moment, blood boiled with battle fervor!