The Third Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm versus the Fourth Layer was like an ant trying to shake a tree. The two weren't even in the same league.
Lin Cheng's aura surged as he smashed a Celestial Wheel Fist toward Lin Hao with unstoppable momentum.
At this point, Lin Hao could only grit his teeth and meet the fist with his own.
Frantically channeling the Godslaying Celestial Slash Skill, Lin Hao also met the attack with a Celestial Wheel Fist of his own.
Although he hadn't reached the stage of Bone Strengthening, the boost from his monstrous Cultivation Technique made his arm feel as if it were forged from steel. Veins bulged on his fist, glowing a bloody red from within.
This was the result of him using the Godslaying Celestial Slash Skill to channel his own blood essence.
BOOM!
The unadorned punch caused a massive explosion to erupt between them.
Yi Mingcheng, who had already retreated dozens of meters, was sent flying by the powerful shockwave from their clashing fists, tumbling a great distance.
If this happened to him, one could only imagine how staggering the impact on Lin Hao must have been.
And indeed, it was.
After the punch, Lin Hao was sent flying backward like a sack. His body snapped several trees as thick as water buckets behind him.
"Hmph! A piece of trash from the Third Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm dares to play at being mysterious. Let's see who you really are!"
Looking at the corpse-like Lin Hao before him, Lin Cheng strode forward and kicked at the prone "body."
In Lin Cheng's eyes, Lin Hao was already a corpse. No matter how breathtakingly talented a genius was, no matter how heaven-defying their constitution, as long as they hadn't awakened their bloodline and entered the Fourth Layer, they were nothing but ants before someone at the Blood Coagulation Realm Fourth Layer.
And now, the state of this ant's corpse was rather comical.
Lin Cheng saw that his right arm was completely bare; the clothing there had already been turned to dust in their clash!
'Without a doubt,' he thought, 'the tendons and bones in that arm must be completely shattered.'
However, Lin Cheng was clearly celebrating too soon.
Just as the tip of his boot was about to touch Lin Hao, Lin Hao moved.
Slapping the ground with his left hand, he shot his right fist out like a lightning bolt, straight for Lin Cheng's shin.
CRACK!
The strike landed. A crisp crack echoed out, and Lin Cheng retreated in a panic.
"How is this possible?!"
'Someone at the Third Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm not only survived my killing blow but even had the strength to fight back?' Lin Cheng couldn't believe his eyes.
The intense pain radiating from his leg was drowned out by his immense shock.
In truth, Lin Hao was also suffering in silence.
Although his strike had landed, he knew his own situation better than anyone.
The Blood Coagulation Realm Fourth Layer was simply not something his current cultivation could contend with. He hadn't died, but he had only recovered ten percent of his power, and that was thanks solely to the might of his Cultivation Technique.
In fact, if the Godslaying Celestial Slash Skill hadn't already made Lin Hao's physical body incredibly tough, that last punch from Lin Cheng would have turned him directly into a mist of blood!
Both were at the Fourth Layer, but when facing Housekeeper Mo's Fourth Layer Pseudo Realm, Lin Hao could recover eighty percent of his power by circulating his Cultivation Technique. Against Lin Cheng, however, he could only manage a mere ten percent. The difference was enormous.
But even facing such a powerful opponent, Lin Hao remained fearless.
Strike while the enemy is weak, and go for the kill.
Lin Hao understood this principle, and he knew such opportunities were fleeting. Despite having recovered only ten percent of his power, he still launched a brazen attack!
After landing his strike, Lin Hao pressed his advantage, lunging forward like a cheetah and throwing another punch.
"You despicable coward, die!" Lin Cheng roared in fury, throwing another unadorned punch.
Lin Hao's sneak attack had only succeeded because Lin Cheng had let his guard down. And although the strike landed, with a mere ten percent of his power, Lin Hao could hardly inflict any substantial damage on Lin Cheng.
Though the bones in his shin had been broken, someone at the Blood Coagulation Realm Fourth Layer could use True Essence to recover in an instant.
The fact that a piece of trash from the Third Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm had actually injured him drove Lin Cheng berserk. This punch was even more powerful than the last.
BOOM!
The two fists met, and another massive explosion erupted.
Sand and stones flew through the air as the surrounding vegetation was ripped from the ground, turning to ash and utterly disintegrating!
"This time, let's see you defy the heavens!" Lin Cheng watched coldly, sneering. He refused to believe his opponent could possibly turn the tables again.
However, when the dust settled, Lin Cheng stared blankly for a moment before his expression became utterly foul.
That damned guy had vanished, and he'd taken Yi Mingcheng with him.
A piece of trash from the Third Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm had not only injured him but had now vanished from right under his nose—and had taken someone with him. Lin Cheng's fury blazed.
"You damned bastard, I'll tear you into a thousand pieces!"
Lin Cheng's roar echoed across the sky.
...
"Young Master, hang in there! Once we reach Ten-Mile Slope, even if Lin Cheng had all the courage in the world, he wouldn't dare touch you."
Hearing the roar from behind, Yi Mingcheng carried Lin Hao on his back, his feet moving like the wind and his expression fraught with urgency.
Just moments ago, Lin Hao had used the force of Lin Cheng's own blow to escape. He had coughed up blood and fallen unconscious before he could even speak.
Yi Mingcheng didn't hesitate. He had only one thought: even if it killed him, he had to get the Young Master to Ten-Mile Slope!
Honestly, he had been completely stunned moments ago.
For Lin Hao to shake a Fourth Layer expert while only at the Third Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm was nothing short of a miracle.
Then, Lin Hao had even dared to take the initiative and attack. At that moment, even Yi Mingcheng thought the Young Master had gone mad.
But when Lin Hao flew back and grabbed him, he knew he had been wrong.
Everything Lin Hao had done before was for this very moment.
Yi Mingcheng was filled with an unparalleled sense of admiration for such extraordinary courage and astonishing scheming.
After this series of events, Yi Mingcheng was completely won over by Lin Hao. That final act of grabbing him while retreating was enough to make Yi Mingcheng pledge his life to him.
A wise bird chooses the right tree to nest in, and a worthy subordinate chooses the right master to serve.
He, Yi Mingcheng, would die for Lin Hao!
His feet were like the wind. Just as the pavilion at Ten-Mile Slope came into view, before a smile could even form on his face, his expression changed drastically.
THWACK!
A sharp whistle cut through the air from behind. Without a second thought, Yi Mingcheng twisted his body in an unbelievable way. A tremendous force struck his chest, sending him flying like a kite with a snapped string.
His eyes shot wide open, and he saw Lin Cheng's cruel smile.
Forcing Yi Mingcheng to spit blood with a palm strike from afar, Lin Cheng felt no triumph—only cruelty.
Seeing Yi Mingcheng sent flying, Lin Cheng was suddenly in no hurry.
He was going to play a game of cat and mouse, slowly torturing them to death.
The fury in Lin Cheng's heart multiplied when he saw that even as Yi Mingcheng was sent flying, he didn't forget to shift the person on his back to his front to protect him from further injury.
Yi Mingcheng was willing to die to protect a piece of trash from the Third Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm. The thought made Lin Cheng's killing intent flare.
He was now genuinely curious. Who on earth *was* this good-for-nothing?
The good-for-nothing had been wearing a cloak earlier, so Lin Cheng hadn't seen his face. After the fight, the cloak was long gone. But what Lin Cheng hadn't expected was that he was also wearing a ghoulish mask.
This only made Lin Cheng more curious about his identity.
Watching Yi Mingcheng's body slowly fall, a cruel smile spread across Lin Cheng's face. The mystery was about to be solved.
However, he was destined not to get his wish today.
An unnatural gust of wind suddenly blew, and Yi Mingcheng, who should have crashed to the ground, instead landed gently on his feet.
"Which expert is present? This is a private matter for the Lin family of War Dragon City. I ask that you not interfere."
Lin Cheng's gaze hardened. He didn't think it was just an unnatural wind; it was clearly the work of a powerful Martial Artist using True Essence.
"Heh, I have no interest in the Lin family's affairs. But today, you will not be touching him!"
As the voice faded, a middle-aged man appeared beside Yi Mingcheng.
"The Pavilion Master of the Treasure Hunting Pavilion!" Lin Cheng stumbled back three steps, crying out in shock.
"This junior, Lin Cheng, pays his respects to the Pavilion Master!" Lin Cheng dared to be arrogant in front of Yi Mingcheng, but in the presence of this man, he wouldn't dare harbor an arrogant thought even if he were a hundred times bolder.
In the face of Lin Cheng's deference, Ninety-Five didn't even raise an eyelid. Instead, he tapped several of Yi Mingcheng's major acupoints to help clear his meridians and restore blood flow.
Bowing his head, Lin Cheng glanced up. Seeing the scene before him, he cursed inwardly. He remembered what Yi Mingcheng had just said.
"Since the Pavilion Master is here, this junior dares not disturb you. I'll take my leave," Lin Cheng said before retreating in a panic.
Ninety-Five continued to treat him as if he were thin air.
"Don't... don't let him go!" At the sound of this voice, Lin Cheng felt as if he had been plunged into an icy abyss. He turned tail and bolted.
"Get back here!" Ninety-Five, who had been motionless, suddenly bellowed. Lin Cheng found his body flying backward, completely out of his control.
Forget about him, Lin Cheng; even if the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Hunting Pavilion killed the Young Master of the Lin family, the Lin family wouldn't dare make a peep right now.
Lin Cheng knew exactly what would happen if he fell into the Pavilion Master's hands. To save his own skin, he pleaded, "Housekeeper Yi, this is a private matter for the Lin family! You should hand me over to the family for punishment."
"You dared to attack him, so today, I, Yi Mingcheng, will not spare you! Weren't you arrogant just a moment ago? Come on! I'm right here! Bring it on!" Recalling Lin Cheng's previous insolence—and especially his attempt to kill Lin Hao—filled Yi Mingcheng with an unprecedented rage.
Although Yi Mingcheng was merely a fox borrowing the tiger's might, Lin Cheng felt his heart sink. It now seemed that the masked man truly was an honored guest of the Treasure Hunting Pavilion. He had angered the Pavilion Master, and now, not even all the gods and demons in the heavens could save him.
"I deserve to die, I deserve to die! Housekeeper Yi, I didn't mean to! You know that a young master from our Lin family went missing a few days ago. I've been searching for days, and my heart is burning with anxiety. Everything I did was for the Lin family!"
Lin Cheng wailed, snot and tears streaming down his face.
To Lin Cheng, things like dignity were cheap compared to his own life.
"In my eyes, your so-called Lin family young masters aren't fit to touch a single hair on his head! Now, I'm going to repay you in kind for everything you just did to him!" Yi Mingcheng's face was savage.
He knew Lin Hao's true identity. In that moment, all the grievances Lin Hao had suffered over the past three years flooded his mind. With Lin Hao unconscious, he would help him collect a little interest!
"No, no, no! Housekeeper Yi, you can't do this!" Even though Yi Mingcheng was only at the Third Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm, with the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Hunting Pavilion standing right behind him, Lin Cheng didn't dare resist in the slightest.
He cried out in terror as he watched Yi Mingcheng walk toward him, step by step.
Yi Mingcheng remained unmoved.
"Wait! You said a Lin family young master isn't fit to touch a hair on his head. My surname is also Lin. I, Lin Cheng, hereby represent the Lin family and challenge him!" At the critical moment, seeing the killing intent in Yi Mingcheng's eyes, Lin Cheng suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
As expected, Yi Mingcheng paused.
Seeing his chance, Lin Cheng quickly continued, "Of course, I know it's unfair to him. When the time comes, I will bind one of my own arms and one of my legs. If I lose, you can kill me or cut me to pieces—I'll be at your mercy! To give him enough time to prepare, we can hold the competition in three months."
Yi Mingcheng sneered.
'Lin Cheng certainly had it all figured out,' Yi Mingcheng thought. In three months, he would likely reach the Fifth Layer of the Blood Coagulation Realm. Meanwhile, Yi Mingcheng had heard about what happened to Lin Hao. A Martial Artist whose bloodline had been stolen couldn't create a heaven-defying miracle in just three months.
Just as Yi Mingcheng was about to refuse, a faint voice sounded out.