As soon as Yuan Tao fled, Lu Jin wasted no time. Without even glancing at the other Quanxing members, his right hand swiftly drew a talisman in the air. The talisman transformed into a surge of energy that enveloped his body, and then Lu Jin charged after Yuan Tao at full speed.
"Shenxing Taibao, Dai Yuanzhang Spell." Daniel instantly recognized the talisman. It was a common speed-boosting talisman used by members of the Talisman Sect. With its power, Lu Jin quickly caught up to the fleeing Yuan Tao.
"Damn you, Lu Jin! Slow him down, Dummy, Rabbit Master!" Yuan Tao panicked when he saw Lu Jin closing in. He shouted at his large, dim-witted companion, while simultaneously tossing out a Jiulongzi (Nine Dragons Orb) to attack the pursuing Lu Jin.
As Yuan Tao launched his attack, Dummy—the large figure by his side—reached into his backpack and pulled out two pairs of cute rabbit-themed slippers.
Boom!
Lu Jin met Yuan Tao's Jiulongzi head-on, countering it with a powerful palm strike. The impact caused a massive shockwave to rip through the forest, and the orb was sent flying back. However, the force of the collision forced Lu Jin to pause briefly.
"Quick, Rabbit Slippers, go!" Yuan Tao and Dummy seized the moment, putting on the rabbit slippers. In an instant, their speed doubled, and they darted off at an even faster pace.
"Yuan Tao!" Lu Jin shouted, regaining his composure and continuing the chase. However, with the boost from the Rabbit Master slippers, Yuan Tao and Dummy's speed had significantly increased, making it much harder for Lu Jin to catch up this time.
"Impressive magical artifacts. But why make them slippers instead of something more practical like boots? Is it a limitation of crafting skills?" Daniel mused as he watched the chase from afar. Yuan Tao may have been a skilled craftsman, but he was nowhere near the level of Ma Xianhong, who could forge an entire suit of magical artifacts.
Ma Xianhong's craftsmanship was an outlier, far exceeding the average level of artifact creators in the world. Most artisans considered it a great achievement to craft even one complete artifact in their lifetime. Those who could forge two or more were seen as geniuses.
In comparison, Ma Xianhong's ability to create a full arsenal of artifacts, along with his mass production capabilities, placed him in a league of his own. His Shenji Bai Lian (Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements) technique enabled the creation of an army equipped with enchanted weapons, much like the legendary White Armor Army of Xue Yi Hou. With enough resources, one could easily forge an unstoppable force of warriors.
"Don't let them escape!" Lu Linglong and her group began to chase after the fleeing Quanxing members as Yuan Tao and Lu Jin raced further into the distance. The Quanxing members weren't necessarily weaker than Lu Linglong's group, but they hadn't come to fight to the death—they were opportunists looking to profit from the chaos. This was Longhu Mountain, after all, and angering the Old Heavenly Master was no laughing matter.
The truth was that these so-called elite Quanxing members viewed the cannon fodder sent to the front of the mountain as mere distractions. In reality, they themselves were just as expendable in the eyes of Quanxing's higher-ups, sent here as diversions to mask the true objective.
"So, they've all fled." As the dust settled, a new voice suddenly echoed from the sky. From behind a nearby tree, a nondescript middle-aged man emerged and walked directly toward Daniel.
"Hand over the Tongtianlu," the man said casually, his expression nonchalant, his hands resting in his pockets. He wore a white shirt with an open collar, revealing his chest. Despite the calm exterior, there was an undercurrent of threat in his voice.
"Finally, you've shown yourself," Daniel said with a mysterious smile. Before the man could react, Daniel's figure vanished. The man's smug expression quickly faded as he felt a sharp pain in his chest. Looking down, he saw a perfectly round hole piercing through his torso.
"Sorry, I'm in a hurry." The last words the man heard came from Daniel, already moving swiftly into the distance. His vision blurred as he struggled to comprehend what had just happened.
"How could this be? Who is that guy... and how did he kill me so easily?" The man's face twisted in disbelief as his life ebbed away.
"Wasting my time," Daniel muttered as he picked up speed, now focusing on catching up with Lu Jin and Yuan Tao. He didn't realize that the man he had just dispatched so effortlessly was none other than Tujun Fang, a high-ranking member of Quanxing, known as Corpse Demon. Tujun Fang had a fearsome reputation in the yi ren world, infamous for surviving an attack from the Old Heavenly Master during the Quanxing assault. Yet here, Daniel had dealt with him like any other minor opponent.
A sudden shout from up ahead caught Daniel's attention. He accelerated, his senses guiding him toward the scene. Thanks to his heightened observation, he had been tracking Lu Jin's movements closely, ensuring he would catch up.
"There are four of them... so this was all a trap. Quite the setup," Daniel observed, sensing the presence of four new individuals surrounding Lu Jin. It didn't take long for him to deduce who they were—none other than the Four Madmen of Quanxing.
As it turned out, Quanxing had played their hand well. While Lu Jin had hoped to lure out the Quanxing elites by using Daniel's Tongtianlu, the reverse had happened—Quanxing had set their own trap, targeting Lu Jin. The two sides were now locked in a deadly game of cat and mouse, with Lu Jin falling into the enemy's trap.
Lu Jin had long been a thorn in Quanxing's side, responsible for hunting down and eliminating many of their members over the years. Yuan Tao's father was just one of many casualties in their bitter feud. To Quanxing, this battle was deeply personal.
"So, this is the famed 'Reversed Life Triple Layer' technique," Daniel muttered as he arrived at the scene. He saw Lu Jin surrounded, his body glowing with an intense aura, his eyes bloodshot with fury.
Daniel had some knowledge of Lu Jin's martial arts background. Before his sect was annihilated, the Three-One Sect had been a prominent force in the yi ren world, known for its powerful Reversed Life Triple Layer technique. It was said to be a skill that could achieve feathered ascension, a level of mastery that transcended life and death.
When a person is born, they possess an innate energy, or qi, which nourishes the body and animates its limbs. This flow of qi follows a natural order. The Reversed Life Triple Layer technique, however, defies this order, allowing practitioners to reverse the flow of qi, turning it back into its original, primal form—innate energy. By doing so, one could temporarily restore even fatal injuries and push the body beyond its limits.
It was a technique that granted immense power, but at great cost. Only those with extraordinary talent could hope to master it.
"Lu Jin has truly pushed this technique to its limit. But unfortunately, today, we're going to send you to meet your ancestors." The speaker was a large, portly monk, his round face twisted into a smile as he watched the surrounded Lu Jin struggle. By his side stood an unassuming older woman who wore a kind expression, but there was a malicious glint in her eyes.
The monk was none other than Gao Ning, a member of Quanxing's Four Madmen, and the woman next to him was Dou Mei, also one of the Four. Despite her gentle appearance, Dou Mei was anything but harmless. Her ability to manipulate emotions could turn even the most composed individual into a puppet of despair.
Gao Ning's power lay in his ability to manipulate the twelve meridians within the human body, throwing his opponents' emotions into disarray. Anyone fighting him would feel their resolve weaken before the battle had even begun.
Dou Mei's ability, on the other hand, was subtler. She could soothe and manipulate emotions, lowering her target's defenses. Her power wasn't especially potent on its own, but when combined with Gao Ning's meridian manipulation, it became devastating. Together, they created a synergistic effect that amplified each other's abilities, turning even strong-willed opponents into easy prey.
The two were inseparable, working in tandem to bring down their enemies. And had they been joined by Xia He, the Four Madmen would have been an even more formidable force. However, Xia He preferred to work alone, distancing herself from Gao Ning and Dou Mei whenever possible. She found their methods distasteful, especially after they had caused a father and son from the Hu family to kill each other during a previous encounter.
As for Huo Genmiao, his role was more straightforward. He was the tank of the group, using his overwhelming qi to endure attacks while the others manipulated their targets' emotions.
Currently, Huo Genmiao and Yuan Tao were both locked in combat with Lu Jin, while the others used their abilities from a distance. Normally, the combined power of the Four Madmen would be enough to sap anyone's will to fight. But Lu Jin's extreme anger, amplified by the
Reversed Life Triple Layer, had shielded him from their influence.
However, this extreme anger was a double-edged sword. The longer the fight dragged on, the more dangerous the situation became for Lu Jin. And with Gao Ning, Dou Mei, and Xia He's constant mental assault, Lu Jin's fate was sealed. It was only a matter of time before his rage consumed him completely, leaving him vulnerable to their attacks.
"Lu Jin, you have no idea how long I've waited for this day," Yuan Tao gloated, watching as Lu Jin's defenses began to falter. After years of pursuit, the opportunity for revenge was finally within reach.
Gao Ning, Dou Mei, and Huo Genmiao shared Yuan Tao's sentiments. They had suffered at Lu Jin's hands for too long, and today would mark the end of their torment. Only Xia He remained indifferent, her face unreadable as she watched from a distance.
"How much longer do we have to wait?" Huo Genmiao asked, wiping the sweat from his brow after being knocked back by one of Lu Jin's wild attacks.
"Be patient. We're almost there. The old man can't last much longer," Gao Ning said with a smirk.
Lu Jin's extreme anger had made him predictable, focusing solely on attacking anyone who posed an immediate threat. With Huo Genmiao and Yuan Tao temporarily out of his range, he stood still, waiting for the next attack.
"Too bad we can't use the loan shark technique on him," Huo Genmiao said with a frustrated sigh. His powers were most effective against stronger opponents, but he rarely had the chance to use them.
"Don't be so greedy. Taking down Lu Jin is already an unexpected bonus," Gao Ning replied, shaking his head with a grin.
"So, we're just going to keep waiting? What if someone else shows up and ruins everything?" Yuan Tao asked, his patience wearing thin as he eyed the still Lu Jin warily.
"If Yuan Tao wishes to hasten things, feel free to engage him directly. That should speed things up," Gao Ning said with a calm smile.
"...Let's wait a little longer," Yuan Tao muttered, looking at the fragments of his broken Jiulongzi and deciding against a frontal assault.
Yuan Tao was a craftsman, not a front-line fighter. Without his artifact, engaging Lu Jin in close combat was a death sentence. He wasn't as tough as Huo Genmiao, who could withstand multiple blows thanks to his qi-enhanced body.
"Looks like I need to step in," Daniel muttered to himself as he observed the scene from afar. With a flicker of movement, he appeared next to Lu Jin.
Sensing Daniel's presence, Lu Jin instinctively attacked, his rage-fueled reflexes taking over. But Daniel swiftly caught Lu Jin's arm and knocked him unconscious with a single strike.
"It's you!" Yuan Tao and the others were stunned by Daniel's sudden appearance. Seeing how easily he had subdued the berserk Lu Jin, they realized they had severely underestimated him.
"Run!" Gao Ning and Dou Mei didn't hesitate. They immediately turned and fled, hoping to escape. Yuan Tao and Huo Genmiao followed suit, while Xia He, ever the pragmatist, calmly turned and began walking away.
"Leaving so soon? Did you ask for my permission?" Daniel muttered, his figure flashing forward. He appeared in front of Gao Ning and Dou Mei, cutting off their escape.
A flash of light followed, and in the blink of an eye, both Gao Ning and Dou Mei were writhing on the ground, their legs severed at the knee. They barely had time to react before Daniel sent them flying back toward the others with a powerful kick.
In quick succession, Daniel incapacitated Yuan Tao and Huo Genmiao in the same manner, leaving them all groaning in pain. As for Dummy, Daniel dealt with him swiftly, delivering a lethal blow that ended the simple-minded brute's life instantly.
Finally, Daniel turned to Xia He, who stood silently a few meters away.
"Miss Xia He, I think it's time for you to go home," Daniel said calmly, showing her a rare degree of restraint.
"I didn't expect this," Xia He replied with a smile, her expression unreadable as she glanced at her fallen comrades. Without hesitation, she approached Daniel, her hand reaching out to touch his cheek in a teasing gesture.
"Aren't you worried that Zhang Lingyu might get jealous?"
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