Chapter 402: Battle Begins
When Ling Qingzhu finished speaking, she noticed Lin Langtian's expression darken, his smile fading bit by bit as a cold, murderous intent began to radiate from him.
"What happened?" Lin Langtian asked in a low voice.
"It seems that a few days ago, disciples from Tianxuan Sect and the Fire Division encountered each other in a small ancient ruin. Tensions rose, and after a minor clash, Tianxuan Sect's disciples took action. But rather than wipe them out, it seems they're just trying to draw you out," Ling Qingzhu explained.
With Tianxuan Sect's strength, it would be easy for them to eliminate the Fire Division. The fact that they hadn't done so made their intent clear: they were waiting for Lin Langtian to show himself.
"Trying to draw me out? Tianxuan Sect is really that confident?" Lin Langtian replied, his eyes icy.
Although the Tianxuan Sect's top three fighters, Gengtian and his cohorts, were powerful, Lin Langtian was no pushover himself. Having recently broken through to the Shengxuan Minor Realm and with an army of demon corpses at his side, these guys were simply courting death.
"I hear that Gengtian used resources from an ancient ruin to break through to Shengxuan Major Realm. Maybe that's where the Tianxuan Sect's confidence comes from," Ling Qingzhu added hesitantly.
A Shengxuan Major Realm practitioner was no small force, even among the eight great sects. Someone of this level would typically serve as a hall master or division head. And Gengtian, still so young, had endless potential.
Although Ling Qingzhu had just seen that Lin Langtian had advanced to Shengxuan Minor Realm, she knew there was still a considerable gap between him and Gengtian.
"Shengxuan Major Realm? He's asking for death!"
As Lin Langtian spoke, a violent, killing aura exploded from within him, and his expression turned icily indifferent.
Back when he was at the Jiuyuan Nirvana Realm, Lin Langtian had managed to defeat Yuancang, who was at Shengxuan Minor Realm. Now that he himself had reached Shengxuan Minor Realm, he saw no reason to fear Gengtian, even if he had reached Shengxuan Major Realm.
"The disciples from Fire Division have been holding out against Tianxuan Sect for days now. If you don't show up soon, I fear Tianxuan Sect may lose patience. Should we head over now?" Ling Qingzhu asked softly.
Lin Langtian nodded, his gaze turning westward, the faint gleam of blood-red fury in his eyes.
If the disciples of Fire Division were slaughtered in large numbers, even if Tianxuan Sect was the dominant sect in the Western Profound Region, he would make them pay dearly.
At the very least, every single one of their disciples who had entered the Demonic Domain was already destined for one fate.
And that fate was annihilation.
"Let's go."
With these words, Lin Langtian's body trembled, and a pair of crimson wings extended from his back. He didn't say another word as he shot off, blazing a fiery path through the darkness at lightning speed.
Ling Qingzhu watched him leave, noticing the aura of ruthless intent surrounding him. Her hands clenched slightly, a hint of worry flickering in her eyes.
Gengtian was no ordinary opponent. With his Shengxuan Major Realm strength and formidable skills, Ling Qingzhu wasn't sure what Lin Langtian's chances of victory would be.
Yet seeing Lin Langtian's fierce, determined expression—a man who had once been her prey, now driven to unleash his true strength—she knew he was prepared for a fight.
"Blood will flow freely…" Ling Qingzhu sighed softly. Without further hesitation, a lotus of green energy bloomed beneath her feet, and she transformed into a streak of light, quickly following Lin Langtian.
Whoosh!
Under the dim sky, two streaks of light flew at astonishing speed, leaving a long trail across the landscape below.
These two lights belonged to Lin Langtian and Ling Qingzhu, who had been traveling for two days straight since leaving the depths of the Demonic Domain. During their journey, they encountered others entering the Demonic Domain, and Lin Langtian gleaned more information about the conflict between the disciples of Tianxuan Sect and Fire Division from them.
It seemed that the remaining disciples of Fire Division had been forced into an ancient ruin called the Heaven-Slashing Tomb. Although not as famous as the Luoshen Ruins in the West or the Fentian Ruins in the center, the Heaven-Slashing Tomb was a mid-sized ruin in the Demonic Domain and contained many resources.
Originally, Fire Division's disciples had discovered the tomb, but within a few days, Tianxuan Sect had forcefully taken control.
Not only that, Tianxuan Sect had begun to target and suppress Fire Division, which eventually escalated into open conflict. The fighting was heavily one-sided, but despite Tianxuan Sect's relentless attacks, Fire Division had managed to hold their ground.
Or perhaps, they were holding out in hopes that their leader would return to lead them against Tianxuan Sect.
"Lin Langtian, we're almost at the Heaven-Slashing Tomb…" Ling Qingzhu said, peering into the distance before turning to Lin Langtian.
Lin Langtian nodded without a word. Under normal circumstances, he might have exchanged a playful comment with her, but right now, he was in no mood for banter.
Ling Qingzhu understood, and after a brief pause, added, "I know you can't avoid a confrontation with the Tianxuan Sect disciples, but be cautious of Gengtian. Even though you've reached Shengxuan Minor Realm, Gengtian's position as their top disciple means he has his own hidden talents."
Her words made Lin Langtian narrow his eyes slightly, and he nodded.
He remembered how Yuancang, the top of the "Three Little Kings," had his trump card—the spiritual imprint. Since Gengtian's position in Tianxuan Sect was as high as Yuancang's was in Yuan Gate, he probably had his own powerful secret techniques.
Despite some caution, Lin Langtian was confident that whatever tricks Gengtian had, he would not be a match for him.
"Thank you," he said.
"If you hadn't come with me to find Taishang Fairy Pond, Tianxuan Sect probably wouldn't have attacked the Fire Division disciples…" Ling Qingzhu's eyes showed a trace of regret.
"If I were there, maybe they wouldn't have held out this long…" Lin Langtian muttered, looking into the distance with renewed killing intent in his eyes.
"As you said earlier, they're clearly using this as bait to draw me out. It seems Gengtian hates me to the core…" He chuckled coldly. "Well then, if they're so eager, I'll play along. But we're going to play big this time, and I'll wager their lives on it."
His eyes flashed with cold determination, his lips curving into a chilling smile.
Western Demonic Domain, Heaven-Slashing Tomb.
This rocky expanse was surrounded by towering peaks like swords reaching into the sky, sharp energy emanating from the mountains and filling the atmosphere.
At this moment, the tomb was teeming with people, all eyes focused on a point farther back where the sounds of rushing air filled the space. Soon, nearly a hundred figures carrying the scent of blood appeared in their line of sight.
"It's the Fire Division…"
The murmurs rippled through the crowd, though many of those voices were tinged with pity.
The violent clashes between Tianxuan Sect and Fire Division disciples had already spread like wildfire through the Western Demonic Domain.
"Stop!" Song Yun, at the head of the Fire Division, suddenly commanded.
Whoosh!
Behind him, the disciples halted, wary expressions in their eyes.
"Heh…"
As the Fire Division came to a halt, a cold chuckle echoed from a nearby mountain. Then, figures emerged from all directions, surrounding them in a semi-circle and blocking any escape.
"Cao Yu!" Song Yun glared at the Tianxuan Sect disciple at the front, his expression dark.
"Heh, we've cornered you all, but still, Lin Langtian refuses to show himself. Looks like his pride is all gone. Since he won't come out, it seems you'll have to bear the full brunt of Tianxuan Sect's anger…"
Cao Yu stood atop a mountain, sneering at the Fire Division disciples with killing intent in his eyes.
To deal with Fire Division, Tianxuan Sect hadn't even needed its three elite fighters; Cao Yu alone was enough.
In an instant, a deadly tension blanketed the rocky expanse, the air itself seeming to freeze.
Onlookers filled the skies and mountaintops, watching the standoff from afar. Although the sudden strike by Tianxuan Sect against Fire Division had surprised everyone, they knew it had been brewing ever since Lin Langtian clashed with them in the Luoshen Ruins. This conflict was bound to explode in the Heaven-Slashing Tomb.
As Western Demonic Domain's top sect, Tianxuan Sect facing off against Fire Division—a part of Eastern Demonic Domain's Yuan Gate—was an event everyone in the Demonic Domain wanted to see.
Under the watchful gaze of many, Fire Division's disciples glared at Tianxuan Sect's forces, hatred clear in their eyes.
"Cao Yu, isn't Tianxuan Sect afraid of Yuan Gate's retaliation?" Song Yun warned, staring grimly at the injured disciples around him.
"Heh, I already looked into this. Yuan Gate is split into two factions: one led by the Three Little Kings under Yuancang, and the other by Lin Langtian's Fire Division. The two sides are at each other's throats. If I wipe out Fire Division, Yuancang would probably thank us. Why would there be retaliation?"
Hearing this, Song Yun and the others fell silent, their faces dark.
Cao Yu was right. If Fire Division was wiped out, Yuancang's faction would celebrate rather than avenge them.
"Our senior brother will avenge us!" Mo Tie declared, clenching his fists tightly.
"Your 'senior brother' Lin Langtian?" Cao Yu sneered. "What a joke. We've waited days, and he's still hiding. He's scared, and you're still hoping he'll come to avenge you? You're dreaming."
If not for wanting to draw out Lin Langtian, Fire Division would've been crushed long ago. Lin Langtian's silence only proved his cowardice.
Hearing this, the Fire Division disciples looked at each other, a sense of despair creeping into their eyes. But at that moment, Pang Lie stepped forward, inhaling the chilly air, his gaze sweeping over his fellow disciples.
"Brothers and sisters, our senior brother would never abandon us. Stand firm; don't give up!"
Pang Lie's shout sparked a glimmer of fanatical loyalty in the eyes of the Fire Division disciples, a low, fervent chant rising among them.
"Senior brother!"
"Senior brother!"
Lin Langtian had become their hope, their unwavering faith.
As the disciples' chant echoed through the rocky expanse, a fierce determination filled the air.
Surrounded by many gazes, the Fire Division disciples showed no fear, only an intense resolve.
Distantly, Cao Yu watched the disciples' fierce spirit, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. His expression grew cold, and he waved his hand dismissively. "Attack."
Boom!
At his command, the disciples of Tianxuan Sect unleashed their powerful energy, malicious gazes locked onto their targets.
Several Jiuyuan Nirvana Realm practitioners launched themselves forward, followed closely by a surge of Tianxuan Sect disciples.
"Kill!" Song Yun, Pang Lie, and others roared, eyes blazing as they charged forward.
With both sides now locked in a frenzied charge, the air was filled with the sound of clashing weapons and cries of battle, murderous intent rising to the skies.
Countless onlookers watched in awe as the two forces collided in a massive, earth-shattering impact.
Boom!
At the moment of collision, a wave of death swept over the battlefield as powerful techniques were unleashed, each aimed to destroy the enemy in front of them.
On a distant mountain peak, Gengtian and Tianxuan Sect's top three warriors watched the fierce battle with cold, emotionless eyes.
After a moment, Gengtian looked into the distance, muttering to himself.
"Is Lin Langtian really going to stay hiding in his shell?"
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