Chapter 262: He Must’ve Done It on Purpose

Boom!

Lin Xiao’s punch shot forward. A sharp whistle suddenly rang in everyone’s ears, as if thunder had crashed down from the heavens.

Facing Lin Xiao’s incredibly fierce strike, the Gold Claw Sect disciple charging at him was utterly terrified. His soul practically fled his body in regret.

If he’d known Lin Xiao was this powerful, he wouldn’t have dared to charge in first. No matter what.

Others may not have sensed the terror behind Lin Xiao’s punch, but as the one facing it head-on, the moment the fist was thrown, a shadow of helplessness crept over his heart.

Every instinct screamed at him–if this punch landed, he was done for.

Even if he didn’t die, he’d be crippled for sure.

But now, it was too late. He was airborne and had no way to dodge. All he could do was watch, wide-eyed, as Lin Xiao’s fist hurtled toward him.

With a dull thud, Lin Xiao sent the Gold Claw Sect disciple flying.

His bones twisted unnaturally, and his body soared seven or eight meters through the air, flying over everyone’s heads before crashing heavily to the ground. A horrifying scream ripped from his throat.

Off to the side, Duan Fei’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at Lin Xiao. Disbelief was clear on his face.

“How is that possible?!”

“How can his punch be that strong?!”

Lin Xiao’s overwhelming, brutal punch had thoroughly rattled Duan Fei.

And it wasn’t just him. The other Gold Claw Sect disciples encircling Lin Xiao were equally stunned by the display of power.

To send a man flying seven or eight meters with one punch, especially a burly man weighing over 150 pounds—was that even something a human could do?

Even Duan Fei, who prided himself on being a mid-stage Bright Force martial artist, felt that it would be difficult for him to achieve such a feat.

Lin Xiao didn’t care what the Gold Claw Sect disciples thought.

After sending his opponent flying with a single punch, his body blurred. He narrowly dodged an attack from behind. Without hesitation, he spread his arms wide, using the Eagle Claw Technique he’d picked up during his fight with Jiang Linfeng. His claws shot out to either side.

Lin Xiao’s Eagle Claw Technique was far more formidable than that of the Gold Claw Sect disciples. With a swift motion, not only did he neutralize their techniques, but he also grabbed both disciples by the wrists. Without a second thought, he twisted.

The cracking sound of breaking bones echoed as Lin Xiao snapped their arms. Their faces contorted in agony. They staggered back, clutching their broken limbs, completely incapacitated.

But Lin Xiao wasn’t finished with them yet.

A cold gleam flashed in his eyes as both of his fists shot forward, slamming into their chests. Not only did he break their ribs, but he also sent them flying. They crashed to the ground, unconscious.

When it came to enemies, Lin Xiao had no habit of holding back.

A dead enemy was the best kind of enemy.

And if he couldn’t kill them, he’d make sure they’d never be able to oppose him again.

This was the battle philosophy Lin Xiao had always adhered to.

In just a few seconds, three Gold Claw Sect disciples had been taken down, yet none of them had even touched the hem of Lin Xiao’s clothes.

His overwhelming skills, ruthless tactics, and terrifying strength left the remaining disciples in shock.

They hesitated. No longer dared to recklessly charge at him. They feared that they’d end up like the others.

“This guy… is way too strong, isn’t he?”

“He’s so young, how can his strength be this insane?”

“Could he really be the one who defeated Master Jiang? If that’s true, how could we possibly beat him?”

“Impossible! Master Jiang is at the Dark Force stage. Even Senior Brother Duan is only at Bright Force mid-stage. He’s still so young. There’s no way it’s him!”

The disciples of the Gold Claw Sect exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what to do.

Lin Xiao stood right before them, but none dared to attack.

Though they still couldn’t fully believe that Lin Xiao was the one who had defeated Jiang Linfeng, they had gained a grudging respect for his martial strength.

Duan Fei, standing nearby, didn’t believe it either. However, unlike the disdain he showed earlier, his expression had become much more serious.

“Not bad, not bad. You’ve got some skills. No wonder you’re so arrogant.”

Duan Fei’s face darkened as he strode towards Lin Xiao.

“But no matter how strong you are, you’re just one man. Anyone who dares to oppose my Gold Claw Sect will be dealt with without mercy.”

Duan Fei suddenly sprang forward. His feet propelled him at incredible speed. His hands splayed open. His five fingers turned a dark, almost black hue, sharp like blades, viciously stabbing towards Lin Xiao.

Duan Fei’s attack was unbelievably fast, slicing through the air with an audible whoosh.

Already at the mid-stage of Bright Force, and on the verge of breaking through to the late stage, Duan Fei’s power far exceeded that of the other disciples. His Eagle Claw Fist was swift and brutal, executed to its fullest potential.

Seeing Duan Fei finally make his move, the previously hesitant Gold Claw Sect disciples regained their courage. With loud battle cries, they all rushed toward Lin Xiao once more.

“It doesn’t matter who comes at me.”

A cold smile played on Lin Xiao’s lips.

He forcefully stomped his foot on the ground, shattering the stone tiles beneath him. Using that force, he surged forward. He charged directly at Duan Fei. In one fluid motion, his left fist shot out like a bolt of lightning.

Duan Fei’s pupils contracted sharply. It wasn’t until he was face-to-face with Lin Xiao’s attack that he realized he had underestimated his opponent.

That punch from Lin Xiao gave him an overwhelming sense of dread.

Lin Xiao’s fist seemed to carry an indomitable force, an unbreakable will forged through countless battles and life-or-death experiences. It wasn’t just physical strength—it was terrifying intent behind the punch itself.

Feeling the immense pressure emanating from Lin Xiao, Duan Fei snapped to full attention. He abandoned any trace of arrogance. Qinkly, he changed his Eagle Claw technique to an open palm, meeting Lin Xiao’s fist head-on.

A dull thud echoed as Duan Fei’s arm went numb. A tremendous force surged from Lin Xiao’s fist, sending him stumbling back several steps. His blood churned uncontrollably. His face alternated between red and pale.

Lin Xiao, on the other hand, stood firm, completely unfazed.

The surrounding disciples of the Gold Claw Sect were stunned, unable to believe their eyes.

Seeing Duan Fei fall behind after just one exchange left them speechless.

In their shock, they even forgot to help Duan Fei flank Lin Xiao. They stood frozen as they watched the confrontation unfold.

“Am I seeing things? Did Senior Brother just get pushed back by a single punch?”

A Gold Claw Sect disciple rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

“I must be mistaken. There’s no way Senior Brother could lose to this guy!”

Another disciple, a girl, shook her head vigorously, refusing to accept what had happened.

“Senior Brother must have retreated on purpose to lure the opponent into lowering his guard,” one of the other Gold Claw Sect disciples consoled himself.

It wasn’t surprising that these disciples refused to believe what they had just witnessed. What they had seen was simply too shocking.

Who was Duan Fei?

He was their Senior Brother, the top disciple of the Gold Claw Sect and a strong contender to become the next sect leader. At less than twenty-two years old, he was on the verge of reaching the later stages of Bright Force. A true prodigy. He was well-known among the younger generation in the martial arts circles of Jiangdong Province.

Unlike Jiangnan, a place considered a wasteland for martial arts, Jiangdong had a thriving martial culture with countless powerful sects. Duan Fei’s reputation in Jiangdong wasn’t solely due to his ties to the Gold Claw Sect—his skills were genuinely impressive.

That’s why they found it impossible to believe that someone from Jiangnan, this so-called martial wasteland, and around the same age as Duan Fei, could land a single punch that knocked him back.