*Boom!*
A terrifying wave of divine sense swept over the foes.
All dozen-plus enemies slipped into illusion.
Their strongest were four Mahayana, two already felled by Lin Yun, the rest Empty Nether realm.
Their divine sense paled against Lin Yun’s, now at divine sixth-rank thanks to the Devil Fruit, unaffected by his meridian injuries!
Only the green-robed second-rank Mahayana broke free swiftly.
As he did, Lin Yun, sword in hand, was already upon him.
“Damn it!”
Panicked, he swung his blade to block.
*Clang!*
The rushed parry buckled under Lin Yun’s strike, forcing him back.
Lin Yun pressed forward, attacking relentlessly.
“God-Slaying Technique!”
Another divine sense wave hit, dazing the man, slashing his combat state.
Lin Yun knew his three-tenths strength needed divine sense to win, raw power alone wouldn’t cut it against this foe.
“Rainbow Sword Art, Ninth Form!”
His sword surged with fierce power and blinding speed, enveloping the green-robed man.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
The man struggled against Lin Yun’s storm-like onslaught.
The God-Slaying Technique crippled him—speed and reflexes dulled, making it a brutal fight!
He gritted his teeth, unleashing tricks, his strength spiking.
But Lin Yun countered, erupting with Void Power, Demon Bones, and more.
After a fierce clash, the man still took a beating.
“Damn you, you’re injured, barely at full strength, how are you this strong? We’re both second-rank Mahayana!” he roared, unwilling.
*Clang!*
Another clash, blood sprayed from his mouth.
He leapt back, flipping out a talisman and activating it.
“Teleportation artifact!” Lin Yun jolted.
Light engulfed the man, and he vanished!
“Little runt, just wait! You won’t leave this ravine, when I bring reinforcements, you’re dead!”
Though gone, his parting threat echoed through the woods.
Lin Yun lacked means to track teleportation, pursuit was impossible.
“My strength now, it’s just not enough,” he sighed.
At three-tenths, he’d let a second-rank Mahayana slip away, even with a divine sense edge.
Without that edge, victory would’ve been dicey.
He returned to the scene.
The green-robed man had fled, but his allies stood frozen, still lost in illusion.
“Flying Snow Sword Array!”
Lin Yun waved, swords flew, cutting them down—save one—all dying trapped in the dream.
The Bai youths gawked, awestruck.
They’d mocked him, yet here he was, ruthless and lethal.
Even Bai Yongzhi felt outclassed.
“Big brother Lin Yun, amazing!” Bailu marveled at his strength and decisiveness.
In this cultivation world, might ruled—they admired power!
“Hero Lin Yun, thank you for stepping in, I’ve offended you before, forgive me,” Bai Yongzhi bowed.
“Thank you, Senior Lin Yun!”
Bai Tong and the others, thrilled and relieved, chimed in, their brush with death fueling their fervor.
“Thank Bailu, she’s the one who pleaded,” Lin Yun said coolly.
“Right, right, thank you, Sister Bailu!” They turned to her, grateful.
Bailu blushed, unused to such polite regard from peers.
As for Bailian, a corpse on the ground, she saw none of it.
“Hero Lin Yun, why spare that one?” Bai Yongzhi asked, puzzled, eyeing the survivor.
“You’re old, but your street smarts are lacking,” Lin Yun shook his head.
He approached the lone captive.
“Wake up!”
Sword at the man’s throat, Lin Yun barked.
The second-rank Empty Nether jolted awake.
“What? All… all dead?” His face turned liver-purple at the sight of his fallen comrades.
“Worry about yourself,” Lin Yun said evenly.
The man noticed the blade.
“Please… mercy, hero!” he begged, trembling.
“Answer me, who are you? Why’re you in this ravine?” Lin Yun asked coldly.
“Spare me, and I’ll tell all!” he croaked, swallowing dryly, fraught with nerves.
“I’m the blade, you’re the fish, no bargaining, answer!” Lin Yun’s eyes flashed with menace.
The man shivered under that murderous glare.
“We’re Tiansha Sect disciples, here in Canglan Ravine… for Fire-Repelling Spirit Grass,” he stammered.
“Not after the Golden Immortal Fruit, but Fire-Repelling Spirit Grass?”
Lin Yun’s eyes blazed at the name, heart quickening.
He’d suspected they weren’t here for the fruit—just stumbled on it, aiming to snatch it.
The fruit was decent, but not a supreme treasure worth multiple Mahayana hunting it.
Bai Yongzhi brought these youths for training, the fruit a mere goal.
But Fire-Repelling Spirit Grass? A true prize!
It thrilled Lin Yun, a treasure he craved!
Ancient texts described it: consuming it stripped one of the Fire Mystery for a year.
Useless? No—game-changing!
For a Fire Mystery master, grasping Water Mystery was near-impossible, their clash a nightmare.
Most Mahayana stalled at that bottleneck, never reaching Tribulation, unable to master opposing mysteries.
Lin Yun foresaw this struggle with Water Mystery.
With this grass, he could lose Fire Mystery temporarily.
In that window, sans conflict, Water Mystery would be far easier to grasp.
After a year, the grass’s effect faded, Fire Mystery returned.
He’d have both—Water and Fire!
