Bang!
A loud crash resounded as a force struck the Blue Corpse Puppet, sending its body flying far away.
Lin Xiao’s face changed, about to unleash the Qingling Stone, but in an instant, a terrifying Martial Lord pressure swept over them, enveloping them in its overwhelming might.
This pressure was utterly terrifying. Even Lin Xiao, tempered by Martial Emperor essence blood, felt his body ache under the strain, unable to move an inch.
Even Ling Hu, who had burned his essence blood to gain Martial Lord strength, was immobilised.
Lin Xiao’s forehead veins throbbed, a deep sense of crisis surging in his heart. This pressure was far too powerful.
Its strength was such that even the Blue Corpse Puppet, capable of fighting an eighth-level Martial Lord, wasn’t its match in a single move.
In that instant, the figure of an old man in a green robe appeared as if from nowhere, flying through the air at incredible speed, arriving in the void near Lin Xiao and Ling Hu in the blink of an eye. The old man had thick brows, a sinister face, aged features, and mottled hair. His robust frame exuded vigour, and his aura of supreme authority was displayed to the fullest. The terrifying pressure enveloped all directions, shaking the heavens and earth, causing the surrounding onlookers to tremble in fear.
The entire scene fell silent as a grave.
Upon seeing the old man, aside from Cao Ting, the other Cao family experts were all shocked, then bowed in unison, saying, “Greetings, Patriarch!”
“Cao Family Patriarch!” The onlookers’ hearts quaked, their faces showing utter astonishment.
The Cao Family Patriarch, a ninth-level Martial Lord, was one of the few top-tier powerhouses in this region, a figure whose mere step could shake the land thrice.
No one expected that, to capture a mere junior, the Cao family would summon their Patriarch to personally come to Ling Family City.
Ling Zhongqian and the other Ling family members showed expressions of dread, their hearts sinking into despair. With the Cao family’s ninth-level Martial Lord Patriarch here, what chance did Ling Hu and Lin Xiao have to cause any trouble, or even escape?
“Ninth-level Martial Lord!” Lin Xiao’s heart was filled with shock. To deal with him, the Cao family had sent their Patriarch, completely beyond his expectations.
The power of a ninth-level Martial Lord was also beyond his expectations, far surpassing Cao Ting. A single strike sent the Blue Corpse Puppet flying, and its mere pressure rendered them utterly immobile.
Seeing the Cao Family Patriarch, Cao Xueqing’s eyes lit up with joy. Taking advantage of Lin Xiao and Ling Hu’s inability to move, she shook her energy, forcing back Lin Xiao’s broken sword and Ling Hu’s hand.
A terrifying aura surged from Cao Xueqing, pushing Lin Xiao and Ling Hu back several zhang. Her eyes flashed with cold killing intent, and if not for the Patriarch’s silence, she might have already attacked.
Finally, Cao Xueqing glared viciously at the two, then turned and respectfully bowed to the thick-browed old man, saying, “Patriarch!”
The old man waved his hand lightly, saying little. His gaze swept over Lin Xiao and Ling Hu, a slightly surprised expression on his face as he said, “I never expected this region could produce juniors like you.”
His gaze then fixed on Ling Hu, sighing, “Indeed, the student surpasses the master. With the Heavenly Flame Saint Tiger physique, if you’d been born ten years earlier, we wouldn’t have sent your father to the Jin family. Sending you instead would’ve earned the Cao family a greater reward.”
Hearing this, Ling Hu’s face darkened, roaring furiously, “Cao Tianchao, you filthy dog, you sold my father to the Jin family?”
The Jin family was one of the top superpowers in the southeast domain, controlling fifty to sixty cities with immense influence.
The nearest city was tens of thousands of li away, and their power was beyond even the Cao family’s reach. Ling Hu had only heard of the Jin family’s reputation.
He never imagined that his father had been sold to the Jin family by Cao Tianchao.
The Jin family must have coveted his father’s Heavenly Flame Emperor Tiger physique, with no intention of granting him any opportunities. Otherwise, his father would’ve returned at least once over the years.
Upon hearing Ling Hu’s words, the entire square gasped audibly.
This was the lofty Cao Family Patriarch, yet this youth named Ling Hu dared to curse him as a filthy dog to his face…
Everyone seemed to envision Ling Hu’s flesh and blood splattering.
“Courting death!” Cao Xueqing’s body surged with terrifying killing intent, enveloping Ling Hu.
But Cao Tianchao waved his hand, stopping her, and said calmly, “Just like your father back then, unyielding to the end. But it’s all futile.”
“Rest assured, I won’t kill you. I’ll treat you the same as your father and hand you over to the Jin family. I don’t know if it’ll still be useful, but I expect the Jin family will pay the Cao family handsomely.”
“You old filth!” Ling Hu’s face twisted in rage, his eyes blazing, as if he wanted to swallow Cao Tianchao whole.
At this point, Cao Tianchao ignored Ling Hu, turning his gaze to Lin Xiao and saying calmly, “Possessing a mid-level Earth-tier phenomenon, that alone rivals the geniuses of top-tier powers.”
“But, unfortunately, you’ve offended the Cao family, and you’re doomed to fall!”
Lin Xiao’s eyes narrowed, his face filled with unwillingness. Was he really going to die here at the hands of this old dog?
“I absolutely cannot die here. I still have to save Feng Youyu, I still have to save my mother!” Clenching his teeth, Lin Xiao’s unyielding will surged within him, his vast energy roiling as he desperately channelled it towards the mysterious Heavenly Eye in his dantian.
At this moment, the only thing that could counter a ninth-level Martial Lord was likely the Heavenly Eye. He was trying to communicate with it.
“Shoo!” Meanwhile, the Blue Corpse Puppet, sent flying far away, returned, radiating a chilling aura as it charged at Cao Tianchao. Its fingers extended, shooting five dark beams from its fingertips, as if piercing the void itself, containing terrifying power.
Yet Cao Tianchao casually swung his right fist, unleashing a dazzling fist beam. The void seemed to quake as the radiant beam struck the dark beams, shattering them and hitting the Blue Corpse Puppet.
“Boom!” With a loud crash, the Blue Corpse Puppet’s body was sent flying again, crashing into the ground hundreds or thousands of zhang away, embedding deeply into the earth and raising clouds of dust.
The ground trembled faintly, unimaginable how powerful Cao Tianchao’s casual strike was. If the Blue Corpse Puppet had an ordinary Martial Lord’s body, it would likely have been reduced to pulp.
Lin Xiao desperately tried to connect with the Heavenly Eye, but it remained inert, unresponsive no matter how he urged or channelled his energy.
“Why isn’t it reacting at all?” Lin Xiao’s heart sank, sweat beading on his face. “In front of me, all your tricks are useless. But don’t worry, I won’t let you die so easily. I’ll take your possessions first, then see if your talents can be transferred.” As he spoke, Cao Tianchao’s eyes flashed with a sinister light. He moved, instantly rushing towards Lin Xiao, his palm reaching to seize him.
