Boom!
A deafening rumble echoed as two forces collided, unleashing an immense surge of energy that roared outwards in both directions.
In this clash, both sides were evenly matched.
Seeing this, Lin Xiao furrowed his brow slightly.
As expected of a sixth-rank Martial Emperor. Even after suffering severe injuries, the power he unleashed could still contend with the Purple Corpse Puppet.
On the opposite side, the City Lord of Dingjiang City was utterly shocked. In launching this strike, he had already factored in that corpse puppet, ensuring Lin Xiao would not be killed outright but merely wounded. He had poured nearly ninety percent of his strength into it.
Yet the outcome was merely a deadlock with that corpse puppet.
One could imagine just how formidable the corpse puppet was. Its strength was no less than his own.
If Lin Xiao’s spiritual power were added to the mix, he would undoubtedly suffer a loss.
At once, the City Lord of Dingjiang City shot forward, unleashing an even more powerful martial technique mid-air.
With a punch, the void trembled as if in turmoil. A torrent of aura erupted, dazzling fist radiance igniting like the mighty Yangtze River or the vast Yellow River, surging with unparalleled fluctuations as it engulfed Lin Xiao and the Purple Corpse Puppet.
“Sizzle!”
The Purple Corpse Puppet unleashed five finger beams once more. These beams carried devastating force, swirling with roiling yin energy and emitting eerie wails like ghostly cries, piercing forward.
At this moment, Lin Xiao struck as well. Vital energy surged within his body, and chaotic fist radiance blasted out. A fist pillar condensed from chaotic vital energy shot across the sky.
At the same time, his spiritual power manifested as a massive sword, hovering above the fist radiance. It advanced alongside the fist beam, slamming towards the City Lord’s attack.
All of this unfolded in an instant. In a mere blink, the two sides’ powers collided.
“Rumble!” “Rumble!” “Rumble!”…
Sounds like thunderclaps rang out. Blinding bursts of light exploded, and vast energy flows like an ocean erupted, surging unilaterally towards the direction of Dingjiang City.
“What!” The City Lord of Dingjiang City paled in horror. He had not anticipated that, beyond the added spiritual attack, they had also incorporated a vital energy strike.
The might of that vital energy attack surpassed even the spiritual power. With one man and one corpse combining three forces in a joint assault, it directly shattered his strongest blow.
“Puff!”
Struck by the terrifying energy waves, the City Lord of Dingjiang City spat out a mouthful of blood. His entire body was hurled far away by the shockwave.
He was already gravely wounded. Now, battered by this fearsome fluctuation, his injuries worsened dramatically. He vomited several more mouthfuls of blood, his body drenched in gore.
Lin Xiao did not press the attack immediately. Instead, he watched calmly as the energy dissipated. Only when he saw the City Lord of Dingjiang City crash into buildings dozens of li away did he move, charging towards him.
The Purple Corpse Puppet followed closely at his side.
At this time, inside and outside Dingjiang City, numerous figures were streaking towards the city centre. Upon seeing a young man assaulting the City Lord, along with the massive crater before them, they were all stunned.
Yet none dared to intervene.
Troops from the City Lord’s mansion surged forth continuously.
Most were only at the Martial Monarch realm, though three were first, second, and third-rank Martial Emperors.
Seeing even the City Lord blasted away, they dared not act rashly. Instead, they rushed towards the fallen City Lord.
Lin Xiao paid no heed to those people. He streaked to a spot not far from the City Lord of Dingjiang City and, facing the lord who had been helped up by two Martial Emperors, spoke indifferently, “How have you considered my terms?”
The City Lord spat out some blood and said, “I accept your conditions.”
At this point, he had no choice but to agree. He still had a trump card for escape, but if he fled, his entire City Lord’s mansion would likely be lost.
Moreover, whether he could even escape was another matter.
Lin Xiao’s strength far exceeded his expectations. He did not yet know if Lin Xiao had further aces up his sleeve.
“Go and prepare!” With those indifferent words, Lin Xiao turned and streaked towards various spots around the crater, continuously collecting storage rings into his possession.
Some lower-grade storage rings had shattered. Nearly half were destroyed, but thousands remained intact. Lin Xiao filled a full bag with them.
The combined wealth of these people was undoubtedly enormous.
Naturally, no one else dared to snatch them. With one man and one corpse having wounded the City Lord, the arriving crowd did not dare make a move.
As for those injured by the Heaven-Devouring Spirit Gathering Finger but not killed, Lin Xiao ignored them. Surviving was their fortune. After this ordeal, they would likely never join any pursuit against him again. With the danger gone, he saw no need to finish them off.
On the other side, after consuming a healing pill, the City Lord immediately led his mansion’s people back towards the City Lord’s residence.
By now, having collected all the storage rings, Lin Xiao flew with the Purple Corpse Puppet towards the City Lord’s mansion. In short order, they arrived at the City Lord’s location.
This spot was an array altar, similar to the one Lin Xiao had entered earlier, but occupying a larger area.
While tending his wounds, the City Lord endured the pain to retrieve the key. He then placed spirit stones and pills from his own storage ring into it.
It was still insufficient. He had the entire City Lord’s mansion pool their resources, and only then did they fill the array key.
Seeing this, Lin Xiao could not help but feel a twinge of shock in his heart. Even a sixth-rank Martial Emperor’s reserves were not enough to activate the array once. The consumption required was indeed massive. No wonder the City Lord was so reluctant.
This trip would likely bankrupt the entire City Lord’s mansion.
Of course, sparing the City Lord’s life was precisely to have him activate the array. Otherwise, Lin Xiao would not have minded killing him.
He had also considered whether the other might have some escape method.
Reflecting further, after witnessing his strength, the other should not dare pursue him. Since Lin Xiao planned to leave the area anyway, killing or not made little difference.
Thus, for the sake of activating the teleportation array, he had let the man off.
“Please!” With the resources prepared and an array stone pillar rising, the City Lord of Dingjiang City said to Lin Xiao.
“You had best not tamper with it!” Lin Xiao stowed the Purple Corpse Puppet and leaped onto the array altar.
“I dare not!” the City Lord replied hastily.
He was truly afraid now. In his current state, even without the Purple Corpse Puppet, he was no match for Lin Xiao.
Moreover, the other could summon the puppet at any moment. If he made another move, it would be suicide.
The others in the City Lord’s mansion did not dare utter a word. Gazing at the youth, they all felt a chill of trepidation.
“I hope that among those pursuing me, there are none from your City Lord’s mansion.” From atop the array altar, Lin Xiao spoke again, “Otherwise, they will come but never return.”
“Rest assured, we in Dingjiang City will not be so foolish as to court death,” the City Lord said solemnly.
“Activate it,” Lin Xiao said flatly.
“Sizzle!” The City Lord inserted the key into the keyhole. Then, surging energy poured from the key, infusing into the hole.
The entire stone pillar lit up brightly.
Within a thousand zhang radius, the stone ground lit with countless flowing array patterns. Vast energy circulated ceaselessly.
After a moment, the energy flows from the array patterns in all directions converged towards the central array altar.
A beam of golden light enveloped Lin Xiao’s body. Then, Lin Xiao vanished from everyone’s sight.
Once done, the City Lord spat out a mouthful of blood.
“City Lord!” At this, the group rushed forward.
“Help me back. Remember, this man must not be provoked!” The City Lord said gravely. Then, supported by a Martial Emperor, he streaked towards his inner chambers.
