Facing a forbidden beast of terrifying strength and high-level intelligence, Lin Hao truly did not know what to do.
To have encountered such a monster right after crossing over—it was nothing short of a hellish difficulty setting.
"Enough."
Lin Hao grabbed the air, and the wooden sword flew back into his hand.
Seeing that Lin Hao was prepared for a fight to the death, Chimei revealed a fierce and sinister expression. "Good. Just like that..."
Chimei was inherently aggressive, born to enjoy slaughter. If its opponent were to lose their will to fight so quickly, it would find the experience dull.
Chimei stomped on the void, and several black chains instantly erupted from its spine, lunging toward Lin Hao once more. Lin Hao had already experienced the terrifying power of those chains; the previous strike had left him severely wounded.
But he would never back down!
At this moment, Lin Hao gripped the sword with one hand, channeling all his spiritual power into the blade, intent on engaging Chimei in a bloody battle.
But at that very moment!
The sound of the void shattering erupted from the depths of the firmament. The entire world trembled violently.
As a holy light pierced through the heavens, a figure clad in snowy robes stepped out from the radiant brilliance in front of Lin Hao.
The person appeared to be a youth with otherworldly eyes and long, fire-red hair scattering in the wind. Behind him, three small silver spheres floated in the void, following him like some special technique. The moment he appeared, his familiar silhouette evoked a familiar face in Lin Hao’s mind.
"Jiu... ying..."
Following his memories, Lin Hao spoke in astonishment.
Jiuying was the guardian his father had arranged for him, a powerhouse from the Lin Clan, an Emperor Clan of the Upper Realm!
A great power of the Wanfa Realm!!!
Facing the six black shadows lunging at him, Jiuying merely raised a hand and snapped his fingers.
*Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!*
The six black chains were instantly shattered into dust!
Seeing this, Chimei was visibly startled.
"Young Master, you have already brought your subordinate too many surprises. I have acted on my own authority by appearing here; I hope the Young Master will forgive me."
Jiuying’s words reached Lin Hao’s ears, and he let out a sigh of relief.
That’s right. He still had this guardian by his side.
...
If the appearance of Chimei made everyone present feel despair, then the arrival of Jiuying was unfathomable, a figure to be looked up to in awe.
"What did he just call the Senior Brother? Young Master?" Ye Ling looked at her father in shock.
Ye Liuyun was silent for a long time, a look of deep emotion appearing on his aged face. "It seems that Hao'er’s background is far from as simple as we imagined."
On Mei Shiyun’s side, she was equally stunned. What was going on? Lin Hao’s background didn't just stop at the Xuantian Sect; he had ties to an even more unfathomable power?
...
Chimei stared at Jiuying, not daring to make a reckless move.
Jiuying viewed it like an ant and didn't care in the slightest. Instead, he looked at Lin Hao to his side and asked curiously, "Young Master, that 'Sword Opens the Heavens, Green Lotus Blooms'... what martial skill is that? Why have I never seen you practice it in all these years?"
"That is the Green Lotus Sword Scripture. It is the first martial skill I obtained when I became a Path-Seeker," Lin Hao stated bluntly.
Oh. After becoming a Path-Seeker...
"What!" Jiuying turned abruptly, grabbing Lin Hao’s shoulders in immense agitation, his eyes filled with shock. "Are you saying you were chosen to be a Path-Seeker of our Rakshasa God Clan?!"
A Path-Seeker—that was a legendary powerhouse. Even the ancestors of the Lin Clan, who possessed the strength of a Great Emperor, were not Path-Seekers. He never expected the Young Master to be selected. With this, his future achievements would surely surpass everyone in the Lin Clan; perhaps he could even lead the Lin Clan to the supreme realm... the Primordial Lin Clan!
"Excellent! No wonder you could learn such shocking sword techniques and possess this extraordinary wooden sword."
"I believe that when word of this reaches the Lin Clan, the Clan Head and the ancestors will surely be proud of you."
Jiuying was too excited to contain himself. After all, the identity of a Path-Seeker existed only in legends; they had never seen one in reality. Of course, he was naturally unaware that a Path-Seeker would soon face a hunt by the Path-Seekers of the Asura God Clan.
Lin Hao sighed helplessly and glanced at the snarling Chimei. "Let's slaughter it first. I'll tell you the details later."
"Very well. Young Master, please take this Fuyao Immortal Fruit Pill first." Jiuying took the best healing pill of the Lin Clan from his storage ring and handed it to Lin Hao.
He had been given this by the Lin Clan Head before accompanying the Young Master to the lower realm. Normally, for those adventuring in the lower realm, a guardian could only carry one Fuyao Immortal Fruit Pill. But the Lin Clan Head had secretly stuffed ten into Jiuying’s hands, with the sole purpose of ensuring Lin Hao returned alive.
As the Young Master of the Lin Clan, he could not afford any mishaps!
Lin Hao took the pill and swallowed it. A strange power rapidly spread, surging through his meridians and quickly repairing the severe injuries within his body. Even his severed arm began to heal rapidly. One had to admit that although the Fuyao Immortal Fruit Pill was extremely difficult to refine and required incredibly rare and expensive ingredients, its medicinal effects were nothing short of miraculous.
"Lin Hao!"
At this moment, Mei Shiyun suddenly cried out, instantly drawing Lin Hao’s gaze.
"Since you have such a background, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"You knew I only sought security, yet you deliberately hid your identity and strength. Did you do this just to watch me regret my choices and see me humble myself before you?"
"Is this how you wanted to ensure your position after we marry?!"
As she spoke, she had already arrived in front of Lin Hao, her beautiful eyes shimmering with tears, looking pitiful.
Seeing her like this, Lin Hao was about to say something, but Mei Shiyun suddenly reached out and covered his mouth.
"Don't say anything. I'll listen to you from now on, okay?"
"That bastard Tang Chen is a beast! In a moment of crisis, he only cared about his own survival. He’d rather save my sister than me. He’s no man! I must have been blind to trust him!"
"I apologize to you here!"
Lin Hao: "..."
The more Mei Shiyun spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. Tears fell uncontrollably, and she sobbed, breathless. "It was my own obsession that almost caused me to leave you, but I have paid the price. My father... he also died at your hands."
"Now I have finally recognized reality. Thinking of how well you treated me before, my heart truly aches."
"Let all of this be in the past."
"In the future, I will fulfill my responsibilities as a wife, serve you well by your side, and will never cause you any trouble again."
"Stop right there!" Lin Hao pushed away her cold little hand and said indifferently, "We are finished. It was finished the moment you threw yourself into Tang Chen’s arms, wasn't it?"
"That was just me failing to judge his character! Can you not be so narrow-minded?" Mei Shiyun stamped her feet indignantly.
Her spoiled-young-miss temper was as it had always been; even though she tried to suppress it, she couldn't shake that underlying tone.
Lin Hao smiled and said, "Cut the act. I really don't think much of a woman like you; in fact, I find you quite disgusting."
"You!"
Mei Shiyun bit her lip, her delicate body trembling. In the past, she would have slapped him across the face by now. But today, in order to marry him and become the Young Mistress of the mysterious power behind him, she had to endure!
Thinking of this, Mei Shiyun changed her tone, acting like a young maiden as she pulled his hand and swung it, pouting coquettishly. "Alright, stop being angry with me. So many guests have come for us. Have this senior kill that monster quickly, and we can go perform the wedding ceremony."
"You still expect to go through with the wedding with me?" Lin Hao’s surprised eyes looked as if he were observing a mentally disabled person.
How thick-skinned could this woman be? To still harbor such fantasies...
Mei Shiyun was extremely confident in her beauty and her weight in his heart. She immediately struck a pose of being fragile and dependent, her cheeks reddening on cue.
"Then, I promise you here: from now on, I will listen only to you forever and ever. I won't make you angry, and I won't speak ill of you again."
"If anyone else dares to question you, I will be the first to stand up and defend you."
"I will be the one who loves you the most in this entire world!"
This was the first time in her life that Mei Shiyun had taken the initiative to confess her love to a man. The irony was that the man in front of her, for whom she was willing to discard her dignity to curry favor, had previously been insulted and ruthlessly trampled upon by her!
Facing her expectant gaze, Lin Hao revealed a serene smile, slowly raised his hand, and stroked her head...
"I tell you..."
"Little brain of yours, why are you always dreaming of such beautiful things?"
Suddenly, he snatched the jade hairpin from her hair.
*Squelch!*
He drove it into the crown of her head!
Instantly, blood gushed like a spring...