In these mountains, Lin Hao had killed three warriors, and two others had been torn to pieces by mid-rank ferocious beasts, but two still remained.
These people knew that Lin Hao and Lin He were disciples of the Lin family. If they were allowed to return alive and Bai Zhen found out, Lin Hao feared that not only would he be in trouble, but the Lin family might also face some difficulties.
Lin He, upon hearing Lin Hao's explanation, was like a withered cucumber, at a loss. He wasn't stupid; with a slight hint from Lin Hao, he understood the gravity of the situation.
"This... even if you go, what can you do? Can you solve the problem of a peak Seventh Rank Martial Artist just by going there?" Lin He found it hard to understand what Lin Hao was thinking.
A peak Seventh Rank Martial Artist, unless a disciple like Lin Xiuwei came, otherwise, Lin Hao would just be sending himself to his death!
Lin He could consider this, but how could Lin Hao not know? He still had some Illusion Powder left. As long as it was used properly, it could resolve the current crisis.
"You go back to the Lin family first. I have my own plans. Just do as I say," Lin Hao said seriously.
Seeing that Lin Hao had made up his mind, Lin He could only choose to trust him and return to the Lin family.
"Remember, forget about today's events and don't mention them to anyone. The Bai family is not someone we can provoke right now. Understand?" Lin Hao reiterated.
...
After Lin He left, Lin Hao took a deep breath, took out the remaining Illusion Powder, and used his true qi to solidify it on the Green Light Sword. The remaining Illusion Powder was not enough, but he had to take a chance.
Then, Lin Hao leaped deep into the canyon.
Lin Hao wasn't worried about the fate of the third son of the Bai family, but the two remaining warriors must not be allowed to leave the Tianrang Mountains. No matter what means were used, they must be made to rest here forever.
Lin Hao's speed was already extremely fast, and with the Cloud Wind Step at its peak, his speed was comparable to that of a peak Seventh Rank Martial Artist. In a short while, he had already traveled over ten miles.
Rumble...
Rumble...
Boom!
Lin Hao suddenly heard the sound of thunder ahead and cautiously approached the source of the sound.
After a short while, Lin Hao finally saw that Bai Zhanchen was hiding in a golden light, while the hooded swordsman was swinging his sword to chop.
"Golden Light Formation..." Lin Hao thought to himself. Bai Zhanchen had even learned a defensive formation.
The Golden Light Formation had extremely strong defensive power, protecting the third son of the Bai family. The hooded swordsman couldn't break through it in a short time.
Lin Hao's gaze flickered. He saw only the hooded swordsman, and the other person was nowhere to be seen. Lin Hao didn't pay much attention, thinking that the other person might have been killed by a ferocious beast.
At this moment, Lin Hao took out two flying knives and, without hesitation, shot them out.
The two flying knives shot toward the hooded swordsman, one after the other.
Whoosh!
The knives broke through the air and were immediately detected by the hooded swordsman. He lightly flicked his long sword, and in an instant, one flying knife was cut down.
However.
Whoosh!
Another sound of breaking air, the flying knives overlapped, leaving the hooded swordsman unprepared.
When he noticed the second flying knife, it was already close. The hooded swordsman coldly snorted, and his aura surged like a river, instantly shaking the flying knife off.
This result was within Lin Hao's expectations. After all, the hooded swordsman was a peak Seventh Rank Martial Artist, and an ambush would be difficult to affect him.
At this moment, the hooded swordsman looked at Lin Hao with a sinister gaze and sized him up for a moment. "Where are my three subordinates?"
"Dead," Lin Hao replied without changing his expression.
"Dead?" The hooded swordsman sneered. "Did you kill them?"
"Since they are dead, it doesn't matter who killed them," Lin Hao said.
"Indeed... a Lin family disciple, to have such skill with hidden weapons, my three subordinates were likely killed by your hidden weapons," the hooded swordsman's lips curled slightly.
On the side, Bai Zhanchen, hiding in the Golden Light Formation, said, "This hooded swordsman is a killer sent by Bai Zhen. He's not easy to deal with."
Lin Hao didn't need Bai Zhanchen to remind him; he wasn't stupid and naturally understood the situation.
No matter how deep Lin Hao's martial arts skills were, he was still only at the Fourth Rank of the Spirit Body Realm. After several meditations, he had only reached the middle stage.
The gap in realms was too large. Lin Hao had no chance of winning against this person.
At this moment, the hooded swordsman said with interest, "Since you killed my three subordinates, why don't you fill the gap yourself? With your skill with hidden weapons, you are suitable for assassination. I like it."
The means Lin Hao had used earlier indeed made the hooded swordsman take him seriously. At such a young age, to be at the Fourth Rank of the Spirit Body Realm and almost get the better of him, if this Lin family disciple could be made to submit, future assassinations would be much easier.
However, Lin Hao said coldly, "What if I say no?"
"Hehe... boy, if you follow me, I can guarantee you will earn a fortune and gain a good reputation. Most importantly, Bai Zhen will no longer make things difficult for you. But if you are ungrateful, the Tianrang Mountains will be your grave," the hooded swordsman seemed to be certain of Lin Hao.
Lin Hao sneered, "If you want to recruit me, you'll have to see if you have the ability... I want to see how strong a peak Seventh Rank Martial Artist really is."
With that, Lin Hao took a step forward.
In an instant, the wind howled, and the dust and gravel on the ground slowly floated up into the air. His aura roared like a mad dragon, creating ripples in the air, like ripples in water, covering an area of several meters.
It seemed as if the heavens themselves were moved. Birds in front of him chirped in unison and flapped their wings to escape.
Seeing this, Bai Zhanchen, hiding in the Golden Light Formation, looked surprised. Lin Hao was clearly a Fourth Rank Spirit Body Realm martial artist, yet his aura was more terrifying than that of the Fifth Rank Lin He.
The hooded swordsman sneered, "Boy... since you want to die, the Tianrang Mountains will be your grave. Remember to thank me after you die, for finding such a large burial ground for you!"
As he spoke, the hooded swordsman leaped forward, his body like a streak of light, quickly rushing toward Lin Hao.
"Beast Palm!" The hooded swordsman shouted, not drawing his sword but raising his hand to strike. The palm force surged, aiming to crush Lin Hao.
The palm force condensed into a wild beast, rising into the air, trying to crush Lin Hao.
Cloud Wind Step!
Lin Hao immediately used the Cloud Wind Step, his body light and graceful, like clouds and wind, making it hard to distinguish reality from illusion.
Star Splitting Palm!
While using the Cloud Wind Step, Lin Hao used the Star Splitting Palm, swift as the wind, like a cloud slicing through the air, striking the wild beast formed by the aura.
In an instant, the wild beast was shattered, and Lin Hao landed gracefully.
A hint of surprise flashed in the hooded swordsman's eyes. A mere Fourth Rank Spirit Body Realm martial artist could actually counter his palm strike...
Soon, the hooded swordsman's figure flickered, as if he had crossed the air, changing his palm to a claw, trying to lock Lin Hao's throat.
Lin Hao didn't dare to be careless, given the huge gap in realms between them, he kept retreating.
When the hooded swordsman was less than seven feet away from Lin Hao, Lin Hao quickly drew the flying knives from his waist.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Three flying knives shot out like rainbows piercing the sun, their cold light flashing, like ancient weapons that could instantly send someone to the depths of hell.
Seeing Lin Hao use the flying knives, the hooded swordsman didn't want to face their sharp edge. His technique suddenly changed, and he struck a palm, using the palm wind to knock the first flying knife to the ground.
Then, the hooded swordsman used the momentum of his palm strike to retreat, taking seven steps backward to knock down the second flying knife, and fourteen steps to knock down the third flying knife.
Anger rose in his heart. These were just ordinary flying knives, but in the hands of the Lin family disciple, they became deadly weapons, making him cautious.
...
"Boy, your skill with hidden weapons is indeed impressive. If you submit to me, I will surely cultivate you well. Wealth and beauty will be within your reach, a thousand times better than your life in the Lin family," the hooded swordsman said, unsure if he was wary of Lin Hao's flying knives or simply admiring his talent.
Seeing that Lin Hao's expression didn't change, the hooded swordsman sneered and pointed at Bai Zhanchen in the Golden Light Formation. "To offend Bai Zhen for his sake, giving up wealth and beauty, is not a wise choice."
Lin Hao didn't even look at Bai Zhanchen. He didn't come here for the Bai family's son. Whether Bai Zhanchen lived or died was of no concern to him.
But Bai Zhen was suspicious by nature, and these killers had already learned his identity. If they were allowed to leave the mountains alive, Bai Zhen would not let him off.
Lin Hao didn't like being remembered, especially by someone like Bai Zhen, who was already influential in the Bai family.
Lin Hao didn't speak, using the power of his Spirit Body to control the flying knives, shooting them at the hooded swordsman.
Whoosh!
The flying knives broke through the air, cutting a streak of bloody light, their angles so sharp that they were terrifying.
The hooded swordsman was enraged, his long sword slicing horizontally to intercept the flying knives.
In an instant, the knife and sword collided, the sound of metal clashing echoing.
The flying knives clattered to the ground, and the hooded swordsman's body shook as the force from the flying knives invaded his body. He immediately used his true qi to neutralize it.
"Little brat...!" The hooded swordsman's eyes were filled with malice, clearly intent on killing.
"Old brat," Lin Hao replied.
"Little brat, don't try to be clever with your words. Today is your end!" The hooded swordsman calmed down, not planning to attack suddenly.
"Old brat," Lin Hao said again.
"Supreme Sword!" The hooded swordsman's nose almost bent from anger. He held his sword with both hands, his true qi rising and his turbid qi sinking, the sword glowing brilliantly, its momentum overwhelming.
Swish!
The sword beam shot out, cutting the ground and creating a several-meter-long crack. Large rocks on the ground were shattered into dust, floating in the air like snow.
Seeing this, Lin Hao felt the pressure increase. Even a Sixth Rank Spirit Body Realm martial artist would find it hard to survive if hit by the sword beam.
Immediately, the Cloud Wind Step was pushed to its limit. Lin Hao stepped on the air, as if creating a ladder of clouds, rising like the wind, quickly retreating.
He drew three flying knives from his waist, retreating while focusing his mind, looking for the weakness in the hooded swordsman's sword technique.
Every martial arts technique had a weakness, and even Lin Hao was not an exception.
After a moment, Lin Hao's eyes flashed with determination, and the three flying knives shot toward the sword beam from three different angles.
Swish!
Swish!
...
Swish!
The three flying knives hit the sword beam from three different angles, cutting it into four parts. Three of the sword beam's remaining light was cut into nothingness, while the last incomplete part of the sword beam was already close.
Lin Hao didn't dare to relax. Even though the sword beam's power had greatly diminished, it was still terrifying enough to easily turn a ferocious beast into minced meat.