Chapter 167: Swift and Decisive

While Old Master Chen feared the shock, someone had already been terrified by Lin Xiao. Xu Huiba, who had previously faced Lin Xiao in battle, was ashen-faced, drenched in cold sweat, and overwhelmed with fear.

‘How can that monster be so powerful?’ Xu Huiba internally screamed in disbelief.

Ridiculously, he had harbored thoughts of revenge against Lin Xiao after Chen’s Martial Arts Hall’s downfall. Reflecting on it now, it felt as absurd as an ant seeking vengeance against an elephant.

Wei Chengxue, too, looked grim. His fists clenched inside his sleeves as he emotionlessly watched Lin Xiao take on Shen Lin, Zhou Fang, and Wu Yong. He had assumed Chen’s Martial Arts Hall was doomed today, yet Lin Xiao had emerged out of nowhere.

The overwhelming power behind Lin Xiao’s punch, capable of sending someone flying, made even Wei Chengxue, a bystander, shudder with no courage to face him directly. Especially now that Lin Xiao’s cultivation of Dark Force was confirmed, Wei Chengxue found himself utterly devoid of the courage to engage Lin Xiao.

“Where in the world did the Chen family find such a monster? So young, yet so abnormally powerful…”

While Wei Chengxue inwardly cursed, he was also rapidly considering his options. Today’s fallout with Chen’s Martial Arts Hall meant trouble for Wei Martial Arts Hall in the future if Chen’s remained unscathed.

Chen’s Martial Arts Hall must not come out victorious, no matter what.

Considering Lin Xiao had already expended energy fighting Jiang Linfeng, and despite his strength, he must have depleted much of his inner strength, especially now facing an onslaught from a peak Bright Force martial artist.

With this thought, Wei Chengxue bit his lip, ready to rise and join the attack against Lin Xiao.

However, just as he was about to stand, a hand suddenly pressed down on his shoulder, forcefully keeping him seated.

The strength of the hand took Wei Chengxue by surprise, and he found himself sitting back down, somewhat unprepared.

“Master Wei, please, keep calm.” Zhou Chengguang’s voice, dripping with sarcasm, echoed from behind, “Just sit and enjoy the fight.”

“You… you…” Wei Chengxue glared venomously at Zhou Chengguang but ultimately, albeit reluctantly, remained seated.

Despite Wei Chengxue’s initial reluctance, it wasn’t long before his reluctance transformed into profound relief.

On the battleground, Lin Xiao was oblivious to the events unfolding offstage. In the instant when Shen Lin, Zhou Fang, and Wu Yong launched their surprise attack, Lin Xiao employed his agility to swiftly evade their strikes.

He regarded the trio with a cold, unyielding stare, his face an emblem of icy resolve.

Shen Lin, Zhou Fang, and Wu Yong seemed indifferent to Lin Xiao’s piercing gaze.

They might not stand a chance against Lin Xiao individually, but they refused to believe the combined force of their trio would falter against him, especially after Lin Xiao’s recent battle with Jiang Linfeng, which presumably drained a significant portion of his internal energy. This presumption emboldened them to launch their brazen assault.

Circling Lin Xiao in a relentless barrage, Shen Lin, Zhou Fang, and Wu Yong unleashed a fierce onslaught. Having already discarded any semblance of honor by attacking Lin Xiao together, they certainly wouldn’t show any mercy. Each move was filled with surging internal energy, stirring up strong gusts of wind.

Encircled, Lin Xiao maintained his composure as though his attackers were mere figments, his demeanor unruffled.

With each deliberate step toward Shen Lin, Zhou Fang, and Wu Yong, his aura grew stronger.

The standard Chen’s Martial Arts Hall uniform billowed as if caught in an unfelt breeze, and a low thunderous rumble emanated from within him.

His hair stood on end, electrified by the impending confrontation.

At this moment, Lin Xiao stopped holding back, showcasing his paramount form.

The wary glance exchanged between Shen Lin, Zhou Fang, and Wu Yong betrayed their mutual apprehension.

“Don’t let him intimidate you. He’s just bluf—” whispered Shen Lin, attempting to bolster their courage.

Yet before Shen Lin could finish his sentence, Lin Xiao blurred into motion, seemingly splitting into multiple afterimages before vanishing from their direct view. He didn’t actually disappear, it was just that his speed was too fast for them to even react.

Shen Lin, Zhou Fang, and Wu Yong instantly felt a surge of adrenaline, their bodies covered in goosebumps, as a chilling sensation shot from their spine to the crown of their heads.

Just as Lin Xiao vanished, instinctively, the trio adopted defensive stances.

In a flash, Lin Xiao appeared beside Shen Lin, his left hand shaped like a blade, slicing towards Shen Lin’s chest.

This strike, with Lin Xiao’s palm mimicking a sharp cleaver, carried a fierce whistle through the air, aiming to cleave Shen Lin in two.

Lin Xiao exerted fifty percent of his strength in this attack.

Fifty percent might seem modest, but it was the same force Lin Xiao applied in his final punch against Jiang Linfeng. Yet, Jiang Linfeng was a practitioner of Dark Force, unlike Shen Lin.

“Bring it on!”

Oblivious to the power behind this strike, Shen Lin, rather than dodging, shouted in defiance. He squatted slightly and crossed his arms overhead in an attempt to block Lin Xiao’s descending hand.

Upon contact, however, Shen Lin’s complexion drastically changed. It felt as if he wasn’t just blocking an arm but a massive iron rod weighing a thousand pounds. The power behind this strike was so great that no one but the person involved could truly understand.

There was a huge noise, a booming sound, and the dust filled the air, debris scattering everywhere. Shen Lin was driven into the ground like a stake hammered down, buried nearly a meter deep.

“What?”

Zhou Fang and Wu Yong watched in disbelief, but they didn’t have time to think. Lin Xiao instantly appeared before them, launching a punch towards Zhou Fang.

As Lin Xiao’s daunting punch approached, Zhou Fang’s eyes flashed with resolve.

He stepped forward, his fists ready, and with a powerful swing of his right fist, he aimed to meet Lin Xiao’s punch head-on.

At that moment, Wu Yong, with a spark in his eyes, swiftly moved behind Lin Xiao. His hands, clenched like massive hammers, came crashing down towards Lin Xiao’s back with thunderous force.

Wu Yong was convinced that even a steel slab would be smashed into an unrecognizable form under his assault.

A sharp gleam flashed in Lin Xiao’s eyes. Without looking back, he reached out with his right hand, his grip as firm as steel, aiming for Wu Yong’s incoming fist.

The moment Wu Yong’s hands met Lin Xiao’s claw, both filled with internal energy, a violent clash of opposing forces erupted, creating a booming sound.

However, Wu Yong’s internal strength stood no chance against Lin Xiao, even if Lin Xiao only used half of his strength.

Crack!

Wu Yong’s arm was instantly twisted into a grotesque shape by Lin Xiao’s forceful strike, breaking countless bones.

A scream ripped from Wu Yong’s throat as he clutched his twisted arm, stumbled back, and fell to the ground.

Witnessing this, Zhou Fang felt a chilling dread, especially as his fist drew nearer to Lin Xiao’s. His fear escalated to its utmost, filled with profound regret.

If he had known it would turn out this way, he would never have made a move.

But it was already too late.

With a thunderous crash, Zhou Fang was flung like a broken doll, several meters away, spraying blood across the sky.

Only three minutes had passed since Shen Lin, Zhou Fang, and Wu Yong initiated their surprise attack. Yet, within those brief minutes, all three were decisively defeated by Lin Xiao, lying on the ground in a pitiful state, their fate unknown.