Chapter 453: Fierce Battle Against a Minor Death Profound Realm Expert
"Judge Corps!?"
As Lin Langtian suddenly appeared, the remnants of the Yuwen family were struck with sheer terror.
Once a dazzlingly prominent family in both the eastern regions and the entire Northern Profound Region, the Yuwen clan had been completely annihilated by the Dark Tribunal due to their possession of the Stasis Divine Token.
Now, the small group that had barely escaped through a spatial teleportation found themselves facing a member of the Judge Corps again. Fear crept into their hearts, paralyzing them with dread.
While the group stood in panicked confusion, the most seasoned member among them, Uncle Zhong, quickly realized something. His scrutinizing gaze settled on Lin Langtian, and he probed the surrounding area with his spiritual sense. When he confirmed there was no one else accompanying Lin Langtian, a trace of doubt flickered in his eyes.
"You're the only one chasing us?"
Lin Langtian responded with a faint, indifferent smile. "So what if I'm alone? The Stasis Divine Token is with you, isn't it? If you know what's good for you, hand it over now."
Using the imprint left by the Spatial Ancestral Symbol, Lin Langtian had successfully tracked the Yuwen remnants to this location. Fortunately, he had recently broken through to the pinnacle of the Lesser Completion stage as a Symbol Master, significantly enhancing his spiritual power. Otherwise, spatial traversal over such a great distance would have been impossible.
It had been a long pursuit. If they had fled any farther, they would have entered the Million Mountain Range, leaving the Northern Profound Region entirely.
Though the distance had been immense, Lin Langtian ultimately caught up to Yuwen Tuo and his group. Moreover, he had overheard their discussion, confirming that the Stasis Divine Token was indeed in their possession.
"You're the only one?"
Hearing this, a young man beside Uncle Zhong was momentarily stunned, his initial terror dissipating into a faint sense of relief. The fear on his face gave way to anger and venomous hatred.
Pointing at Lin Langtian, Yuwen Tuo turned to Uncle Zhong and shouted, "Uncle Zhong, if he's alone, kill him! Avenge my father and all the Yuwen clan who perished!"
Uncle Zhong frowned slightly. While Lin Langtian was indeed alone, the fact that he had managed to pursue them across such a vast distance unnerved him. Something about it felt off.
However, when his eyes fell on the green longsword etched onto Lin Langtian's ghost-faced mask, his tightly furrowed brows eased slightly. He knew this mask signified the rank of a Judge Corps squad leader in the Dark Tribunal.
Typically, a squad leader's strength ranged between the Minor and Major Completion stages of the Life Profound Realm. As a Minor Completion Death Profound Realm expert, Uncle Zhong was confident he could crush Lin Langtian.
"I don't know how you managed to catch up so quickly, but a mere squad leader of the Judge Corps daring to pursue us alone? You've got a death wish."
"Today, I'll show you the power of a Minor Completion Death Profound Realm expert—and avenge the Yuwen clan's honor!"
Uncle Zhong wasted no further words. With a flick of his body, he launched himself toward Lin Langtian. They couldn't afford to delay any longer—Black Hall's forces could arrive at any moment. The sooner this Judge Corps member was eliminated, the better.
Uncle Zhong's eyes turned cold as his figure blurred. Several afterimages streaked through the sky before he reappeared directly before Lin Langtian, his palm charged with immense force. A terrifying wave of energy surged toward Lin Langtian.
"Swish!"
In response, the space around Lin Langtian distorted as a brilliant silver-white light materialized into a Spatial Shield. Uncle Zhong's palm smashed through the shield, but in that brief instant, Lin Langtian had already darted far away.
"Oh, a Minor Completion Death Profound Realm expert…" Lin Langtian murmured, his brows knitting slightly as he sensed the man's formidable aura.
Clearly, the Yuwen clan remnants still had powerful guardians among them. To obtain the Stasis Divine Token, Lin Langtian would have to defeat this Death Profound Realm expert.
Although the opponent's strength was daunting, Lin Langtian remained confident. With his current abilities, victory wasn't out of reach.
Uncle Zhong's palm strike hit empty air, causing a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Without hesitation, he shook his arm, summoning a white bone ruler. The weapon transformed into a chilling white beam that tore through the void, hurtling toward Lin Langtian at an almost indescribable speed.
Lin Langtian leapt back swiftly, his hand grasping a black tree branch. Pouring his energy into the branch, he swung it forward, releasing a streak of black light that collided violently with the white beam.
Clang!
A metallic crash reverberated as the black light was deflected, and the black tree branch spiraled helplessly to the ground. However, the white bone ruler was also knocked off course, crashing into the earth and carving an enormous trench dozens of meters long.
"Life Profound Realm, Perfected Stage!"
Uncle Zhong's expression darkened as he assessed Lin Langtian's strength. This wasn't a typical Minor or Major Completion Life Profound Realm opponent—Lin Langtian had reached the peak of the Life Profound Realm.
"Perfected Life Profound Realm… You should be a Flag Commander, not a mere squad leader."
Uncle Zhong sneered coldly. "Even so, can your strength match mine, a Death Profound Realm expert?"
Dark energy began to seep from Uncle Zhong's body, shrouding him in a ghastly aura. His figure seemed to blur and become insubstantial under its influence.
Sensing the growing danger, Lin Langtian's expression turned grim. Without hesitation, he retreated swiftly.
Just as he moved, Uncle Zhong surged forward, the dark energy propelling him like a phantom. In an instant, he appeared in front of Lin Langtian.
A twisted smile crossed Uncle Zhong's aged face as his fingers curled. Threads of black energy coiled around his claws, which lashed out like ghostly talons, tearing through the void toward Lin Langtian.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The force of his strike fractured the very space around them, underscoring its terrifying power.
"Black Flame Tyrant Body!"
Faced with the attack, Lin Langtian's expression grew solemn. Without hesitation, his body erupted in flames, the furnace within him roaring to life. A torrent of fiery power surged through him as he threw a punch.
As his fist struck, the space before him distorted, forming a concave arc. At its center, a massive compressed air cannon emerged, over a hundred meters in diameter.
With a thunderous boom, the air cannon shot forward like a missile, accompanied by a deafening screech and an overwhelming shockwave.
The Black Flame Tyrant Body, gifted by Ling Yi, had incredible potential. As Lin Langtian's strength grew, so too did the power of this technique.
Boom!
The two forces collided, unleashing a massive energy shockwave that swept across the sky. A deafening explosion reverberated through the mountains, shaking the earth as debris shot into the air and slammed against the cliffs, causing the ground to tremble violently.
"You withstood my attack? Boy, who are you!?"
Uncle Zhong was visibly stunned. His strike should have crushed even a half-step Death Profound Realm expert, let alone someone at the peak of the Life Profound Realm.
"This person… He's unusual."
Uncle Zhong's eyes glinted with murderous intent. Lingering here any longer would only invite Black Hall's reinforcements. He needed to end this fight quickly and flee.
Without hesitation, he launched himself at Lin Langtian again, cutting through the sky like an eagle.
"Wood Sovereign's Triple Transformation!"
Lin Langtian's gaze turned sharp as he prepared for another clash.
As Lin Langtian acted on his resolve, the power of the trees within the small world inside his mirror surged into his body. Instantly, an overwhelming force coursed through him, intensifying his presence.
Uncle Zhong, sensing this sudden spike in Lin Langtian's strength, narrowed his eyes. His expression shifted, but his hands didn't falter. Instead, his attacks became even more aggressive.
"Infernal Flame Chains!"
Lin Langtian raised his gaze, his killing intent flashing as Uncle Zhong charged at him once more. Quickly, Lin Langtian's hands formed a series of seals.
Boom!
In that instant, endless black demonic flames erupted behind him. From the flames emerged over a hundred massive black pillars, which morphed into enormous chains that shot forth with astonishing speed, ensnaring the gray blur of Uncle Zhong's advancing figure.
The hundred black chains pierced the sky like demonic dragons, swarming Uncle Zhong from all directions.
The sudden turn of events startled Uncle Zhong, but he quickly regained his composure. With a cold snort, he curled his palms into claw-like shapes. Slashing fiercely, he unleashed ten streaks of dark energy that shredded through the incoming chains, breaking them into pieces.
Bang! Bang!
Lin Langtian's icy gaze remained fixed as his hands wove seal after seal. Waves of demonic flames surged continuously from him, transforming the entire world into a realm of fiery darkness. Black chains erupted ceaselessly from the flames, endlessly assaulting Uncle Zhong.
However, Uncle Zhong stood firm in mid-air, his claw-like strikes shredding every chain before they could come close.
"You think such trivial tricks can trap me? What a joke!" Uncle Zhong sneered as he looked down at Lin Langtian. His tone was dripping with disdain.
Lin Langtian, unperturbed by the mockery, ignored him entirely. His focus sharpened as another dozen black chains emerged from the demonic flames, swiftly entangling Uncle Zhong once more.
"Pointless."
With a single wave of his claw, Uncle Zhong unleashed a sharp gust of energy, severing the chains in an instant. But this time, Lin Langtian's lips curled into a cold smirk as the chains snapped.
Hiss!
From the broken ends of the chains, thinner, smaller chains suddenly shot forth like venomous serpents. They darted through the air with uncanny speed, coiling tightly around Uncle Zhong's limbs and torso.
"Break free!"
Uncle Zhong's expression darkened as he unleashed a torrent of formidable energy in an attempt to shatter the chains binding him.
Crack! Crack!
This time, however, the chains refused to yield so easily. They shimmered faintly with silver light, exuding the dual powers of devouring and spatial manipulation. Although they groaned under Uncle Zhong's immense force, they clung tightly, restraining him with unyielding tenacity.
"What is this?"
For the first time, Uncle Zhong's expression wavered, a flicker of disbelief flashing in his eyes. He couldn't comprehend how, despite his overwhelming power, he was unable to break free from what appeared to be such fragile chains.
"You old fool, it seems you've underestimated me after all," Lin Langtian remarked coldly, his gaze fixed on Uncle Zhong as the silver-black chains bound him tightly. Unlike the earlier chains conjured purely from demonic flames, these were infused with devouring and spatial forces, making them far more formidable.
Even with Uncle Zhong's strength, escaping would be no easy feat.
"Don't think you've won yet, boy! Even if I can't move, killing you is as simple as crushing an ant!" Uncle Zhong snarled, his eyes glinting with malice.
Stomping fiercely, he sent a massive surge of energy, a beam of light several hundred meters wide, shooting directly toward Lin Langtian.
Whoosh!
Demonic flames danced wildly in the air, forming a gigantic net above Lin Langtian. The net caught the incoming energy and dispersed it.
"Enough posturing, old man. If you're done, let me serve you the main course," Lin Langtian said with a chilling smile. His tone was laced with mockery as he stared at Uncle Zhong.
"Arrogant brat!"
Uncle Zhong's pupils constricted as he glared at Lin Langtian, but an inexplicable sense of unease crept into his heart. For some reason, this Judge Corps squad leader radiated an aura of pressure greater than even some of the camp commanders he had encountered before.
Lin Langtian's smile deepened, his words cutting off any retort. He had no intention of prolonging the conversation. Trapping Uncle Zhong had taken considerable effort, and this was his one opportunity to deliver a decisive blow.
Huff!
Lin Langtian exhaled a slow breath as he raised his hand. From within his wide sleeve, a black and crimson glow began to emanate, radiating an ominous energy.
Moments later, the glow coalesced into a small, flawless black-and-crimson lotus that hovered above his palm.
The lotus exuded a terrifying yet mesmerizing aura, its fiery surface burning with a heat so intense it distorted the space around it. The temperature alone caused the surrounding energy to ripple and churn uncontrollably.
"This…"
Seeing the black-and-crimson lotus, Uncle Zhong's face twisted in alarm. Even from a distance, the flames of the lotus sent shivers down his spine, a primal fear welling up from within.
Lin Langtian's gaze grew colder as he looked at Uncle Zhong, who now resembled a lamb awaiting slaughter. A cruel smile tugged at his lips.
Though Lin Langtian refrained from fully unleashing the powers of the Devouring and Spatial Ancestral Symbols to avoid exposure, the Infernal Fury Lotus was his most potent trump card, capable of resolving the battle swiftly and decisively.
"Crafting this still takes a massive toll on my energy," Lin Langtian murmured, a self-assured smirk crossing his face. "But at least it'll end this quickly."
The creation of the Infernal Fury Lotus had drained nearly all of his energy, which was why he had first resorted to restraining Uncle Zhong with chains. This ensured a clean, one-hit kill.
Hearing Lin Langtian's words, Uncle Zhong's face grew even darker. He realized that this lotus might very well spell his end.
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