Chapter 136: Self-Detonation of a Treasured Artifact

The Third Elder’s shamelessness surpassed everyone’s imagination—even Lin Xiaobao’s. Lin Xiaobao was no reckless fool. Since he had dared to continue challenging the Third Elder at such a time, he naturally had his own plans. Yet the Third Elder’s despicable sneak attack threw all those plans into disarray.

The reason the Third Elder had launched such a desperate ambush was precisely because Lin Xiaobao had repeatedly revealed astonishing counterattacks whenever he was driven into desperate straits. The Third Elder therefore intended to strike first and leave Lin Xiaobao no opportunity whatsoever.

The instant the Third Elder moved, Lin Xiaobao knew that he could no longer retreat unscathed as he had originally intended. He released the Azure Flame Sacred Sword, which his right hand had been holding embedded in the ground. With a thought, the formation blade and brush he had taken from the Evil Radiance Sword appeared in his palm.

Drawing upon his remaining spiritual power, Lin Xiaobao rapidly swept the formation blade and brush across the Azure Flame Sacred Sword again and again. Strange runes instantly connected the formations Chen Zhong had previously carved into the sword. In a flash, the Azure Flame Sacred Sword, thrust deep into the ground, swelled at astonishing speed, becoming like a massive wall between Lin Xiaobao and the Third Elder. At the same time, an aura of destruction radiated from its blade.

“Not good!”

Chen Zhong had never imagined that Lin Xiaobao could be so ruthless as to alter the offensive formation he had once inscribed upon the Azure Flame Sacred Sword, forcibly detonating the sacred weapon.

That was a mid-grade treasure artifact! It might not have been particularly precious in Chen Zhong’s eyes, but Lin Xiaobao was in no condition to withstand the power released by the sword’s self-destruction.

Once he had linked the formations together, Lin Xiaobao used the speed formation he had long ago inscribed upon himself and swiftly retreated. Though it might appear futile, the farther he was from the point of detonation, the safer he would be.

Sensing the overwhelming aura of destruction spreading from the Azure Flame Sacred Sword, the Third Elder abruptly halted his advance. After a brief hesitation, he shot into the air, swept over the towering blade, and thrust his sword forward. Streaks of sword light dragged countless afterimages behind them, unleashing the force of thunder as they poured toward Lin Xiaobao.

At the sight of this, Yun Keke’s heart rose into her throat. Her face turned deathly pale, and she had only one thought: Lin Xiaobao must not come to harm.

Perhaps the force of that wish was simply too powerful. Suddenly, Yun Keke discovered that her Heart-Piercing Art had penetrated the defensive barrier Chen Zhong had erected and entered the Third Elder’s inner world. She could even clearly sense the boundless killing intent in his heart.

Upon discovering this, Yun Keke had no time to think. Nor did she care that her Heart-Piercing Art had only reached the third stage, the Realm of Heart-Seeing. She forcibly activated the Heart-Piercing Enchantment Formula, attempting to create an illusion within the Third Elder’s mind.

By all rights, Yun Keke’s Heart-Piercing Art should have been incapable of such a feat. Yet perhaps because she cared so deeply about Lin Xiaobao’s safety, her latent potential was completely unleashed at that moment.

As Yun Keke spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed, an incomprehensible look of terror appeared on the Third Elder’s face. No one knew what he had seen. They only saw him abruptly flick his sword upward, sending out streaks of sword light that instantly crashed into his earlier attack.

The later attack arrived first. Just as the previous attack came within less than a foot of Lin Xiaobao, the two collided. Although their energies shared the same nature, the Third Elder deliberately kept them from merging. Instead, they exploded in an instant with a thunderous roar.

A powerful current of air burst outward from the point of detonation. Lin Xiaobao, already utterly exhausted, could not control his body at all. He felt his chest tighten and his entire body shudder. After spitting out another mouthful of blood, he was hurled backward by the raging airflow.

Chen Zhong did not understand the reason for the Third Elder’s action, but the sight nevertheless filled him with delight. He formed a hand seal, and just as Lin Xiaobao neared the outer defensive barrier, he opened a gap in it. Under the impact of the powerful current, Lin Xiaobao was instantly flung through. The moment he passed beyond the barrier, the opening was immediately sealed again.

The Third Elder, hovering in midair, had by then regained his senses. His eyes were filled with bewilderment. He had no idea what had just happened, and he stared at Lin Xiaobao, who had escaped the barrier, his heart full of confusion.

At that moment, the Azure Flame Sacred Sword could no longer suppress the violent surge of power within it. A deafening explosion shook the heavens.

The entire interior of the barrier was swallowed by crimson light, and uneasy ripples appeared across its surface. Chen Zhong had no time to attend to Lin Xiaobao. He continuously formed hand seals with both hands, reinforcing the Great Evolution Profound Sword. The sword once more released lines of ocher energy, which poured into the barrier. Only then did the defensive shield barely settle.

Everyone’s attention was drawn to the self-destruction of the Azure Flame Sacred Sword. Though nothing tangible could be seen within the defensive barrier beyond the furious surge of crimson energy, no one was willing to miss the spectacle of a mid-grade treasure artifact destroying itself.

No one had expected Lin Xiaobao to be so ruthless that he could detonate a mid-grade treasure artifact without even blinking. Nor could they understand how someone at the Spirit Dao realm could possibly self-destruct such an artifact.

Would that not require at least the Grand Perfection of the Dao Embryo realm?

Amid the confusion, no one noticed a figure quietly slipping out through the doorway. As the figure departed, it still cast a glance at Yun Keke, who lay collapsed on the ground. There seemed to be something indescribable in that gaze.

A moment later, the crimson light within the barrier gradually receded, and the ocher barrier vanished at some unknown point. In the entire Long family hall, nothing remained but a bottomless pit. As for the bodies of the Third Elder, Liu Yingfeng, and the Second Elder, they had disappeared without a trace. Or perhaps everyone knew exactly where they had gone: they had been reduced to ashes in the tremendous explosion.

Staring into the abyss below, Ao Wuchen clenched both fists tightly. The Second Elder was dead, and the Third Elder was dead as well. Although he had merely been a puppet pavilion master propped up by them, without their support, he could not even retain that empty title.

After sweeping his gaze around the hall, Ao Wuchen found that Lin Xiaobao and the others had already vanished. He drew a deep breath and silently left the hall.

By then, the others had also recovered from their shock and realized that Lin Xiaobao and the rest were gone. They glanced at the familiar faces around them, and although they seemed tempted to discuss what had happened, they all quietly fell silent. Everything that had taken place that day had shaken them too deeply. They did not even know whether discussing Lin Xiaobao might bring them trouble.

After all, Lin Xiaobao had begun the day as an insignificant nobody. Then he had become Chen Zhong’s brother—and from Chen Zhong’s brother, he had transformed into a killer capable of slaughtering three peak experts at the ninth level of the Spirit Dao realm in a single breath.

Perhaps no one in Bloodwind City had paid much attention to Lin Xiaobao before. But everyone knew that, from the following day onward, the name Lin Xiaobao would be known throughout Bloodwind City and even across the Bloodvictory Empire.