Chapter 267: I Should Thank You

Finally putting an end to Jiang Linfeng, Lin Xiao felt a wave of relief wash over him. He tilted his head back and let out a long breath. The rage and killing intent that had been suffocating him finally started to fade.

He hadn’t planned to go this far. But Jiang Linfeng had crossed the line, touching on something that Lin Xiao could never forgive.

Anyone who dared to threaten the people he cared about—there would be no mercy.

With a casual motion, Lin Xiao dropped Jiang Linfeng’s lifeless body to the ground, like discarding a piece of trash.

The once chaotic Chen’s Martial Arts Hall fell into an eerie silence.

Everyone—Chen’s disciples included—was frozen, their gazes locked on Lin Xiao and the corpse at his feet.

Jiang Linfeng, a Dark Force expert, had been a towering figure to them. Even though his martial prowess had been destroyed, he was still a name that commanded respect. And now, he was dead—killed as easily as squashing a bug.

The students of the Golden Claw Sect were especially shaken, their faces pale, their minds spinning.

“Uncle Jiang… is dead?”

“This has to be a joke. Uncle Jiang was one of our sect’s leaders! How could he… how could this guy…”

“He actually dared to kill someone from the Golden Claw Sect. Does he have no idea what kind of retaliation he’s inviting?”

Their thoughts were a whirlwind of disbelief and fear.

Though Jiang Linfeng’s strength had been crippled, his influence within Golden Claw Sect had not. He was still one of the sect’s five Dark Force experts, alongside the sect leader himself. Losing him was a major blow to the sect’s image.

It wasn’t just about strength—it was about reputation. A sect that couldn’t protect its own high-ranking members, even a disgraced one like Jiang Linfeng, was bound to lose its authority.

For the Golden Claw Sect, this wasn’t just a loss of a person. It was the loss of their standing, their dignity.

Who would trust or follow them now?

And the one who caused this? Lin Xiao stood calmly amidst the tension. His face was unshaken, as if killing Jiang Linfeng was just another step in his path forward.

They couldn’t even imagine how furious their sect leader would be when he learned about Jiang Linfeng’s death.

But as the shock subsided, it was quickly replaced by fear and relief.

Moments ago, they had stood next to this terrifying monster, completely unaware of how close they were to death. Watching Lin Xiao casually snap Jiang Linfeng’s neck had left every Golden Claw disciple trembling with genuine terror. Now they realized how fragile their lives had been.

If Lin Xiao had wanted to kill them, it would’ve been as easy as squashing a bug. The strength they’d once prided themselves on was laughable in front of him.

“He dared… He actually dared…”

Duan Fei mumbled the same words over and over. His vacant eyes betrayed his disbelief. His entire body shook uncontrollably. To him, Lin Xiao’s slender frame now loomed like an unstoppable demon.

The heavy silence didn’t last long.

From behind, a furious roar erupted.

“You little bastard! You dare kill my junior brother?!”

The shout came with two bursts of violent energy streaking toward Lin Xiao’s back like twin hurricanes.

Duan Changhan finally caught up.

Lin Xiao’s earlier speed had been too much for him to handle, forcing Duan Changhan to lag behind. But now, seeing Jiang Linfeng’s lifeless body on the ground, his eyes were bloodshot with rage and a hint of panic.

He knew this was a disaster.

He didn’t have much affection for Jiang Linfeng, but that didn’t matter. Jiang was still his fellow disciple, his junior brother. His death would send shockwaves through their sect.

Seizing the moment when Lin Xiao seemed distracted by his kill, Duan Changhan leaped into the air. He dove like a giant white eagle, both hands clawing toward Lin Xiao’s exposed back.

Duan Changhan had one thought and one thought only: kill Lin Xiao. If Lin Xiao died, maybe, just maybe, this disaster could still be salvaged.

Duan Changhan’s instincts were razor-sharp. Against any other expert with Dark Force, his lightning-fast sneak attack would’ve been unstoppable, especially aimed at an exposed back.

Unfortunately for him, Lin Xiao wasn’t just any expert.

It was like Lin Xiao had eyes on the back of his head. Calm as ever, he shifted slightly to the right, dodging the attack with the ease of someone taking a leisurely stroll.

Duan Changhan’s fierce strike hit nothing but air.

Duan Changhan’s face turned dark as Lin Xiao effortlessly dodged his attack. Gone was his earlier composure, replaced by gritted teeth and simmering rage.

With a roar, Duan Changhan lunged at Lin Xiao again. His hands clawed out to create a flurry of shadowy strikes. It was as if he wanted to tear Lin Xiao apart on the spot.

Lin Xiao, however, remained calm. He parried each strike with precision, moving smoothly in the storm of attacks.

From the outside, it looked like the two were evenly matched.

But Lin Xiao wasn’t in a rush anymore. After taking care of Jiang Linfeng, the anger that had fueled him dissipated. Initially, he’d planned to end this fight quickly, but watching Duan Changhan’s refined Eagle Claw techniques, he decided to change his approach.

The last time Lin Xiao fought Jiang Linfeng, he had analyzed and picked up the basics of the Golden Claw Sect’s Eagle Claw techniques. But those were just surface-level moves—enough to get by, but far from mastery.

Duan Changhan attacked with reckless abandon. Each move was a textbook demonstration. The intricate techniques, the flow of energy—it all unfolded perfectly in Lin Xiao’s eyes.

His sharp gaze gleamed as he carefully analyzed every strike. He connected the dots between Duan Changhan’s precise execution and the fragments he’d learned from Jiang Linfeng. With every clash, his mastery of Eagle Claw grew at an astonishing speed.

If Duan Changhan realized what Lin Xiao was doing, he’d be furious.

He’d also be terrified.

Golden Claw Sect’s Eagle Claw technique wasn’t meant to be learned so easily. Sure, it wasn’t the hardest skill in the martial world, but even for talented disciples, it took at least six months to grasp the basics. Reaching proficiency? That required years of relentless practice.

And Lin Xiao?

He was picking it up in mere minutes, right in the middle of their fight.

Duan Changhan had no idea his opponent was reverse-engineering the sect’s prized skill. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t struggling.

No matter how aggressive his attacks, no matter how fast or precise his moves, Lin Xiao handled them with frustrating ease. It was like trying to hit an endless void. No matter how hard he struck, there was no way to break through.

The sense of futility gnawed at him. It irritated him even more. His strikes became fiercer, his movements faster. He pushed himself harder than ever, convinced he was fighting at his absolute peak.

But no matter how hard he tried, it didn’t matter.

Not even a little.

Lin Xiao stood still, unfazed, as Duan Changhan’s relentless attacks raged on. His expression remained calm, unmoving, but his eyes grew sharper, brighter, with each passing second.

Five minutes passed.

Duan Changhan’s strikes became sluggish, his movements slower. His once-overwhelming assault had burned through every bit of inner energy he had. He was exhausted, barely holding himself together.

Lin Xiao didn’t even have a drop of sweat.

“That should do it,” Lin Xiao said, breaking the silence. He raised both hands, casually pushing Duan Changhan back several steps.

“You…”

Duan Changhan staggered, thrown off by the sudden counter. But before he could react, his expression twisted in shock.

Lin Xiao leaped into the air, his movements sharp and fierce, like a white eagle soaring through the skies. It was the same move Duan Changhan had used to ambush Lin Xiao earlier.

“Eagle Sweeps the Skies? No! Impossible! How… how do you know that move?” Duan Changhan’s voice trembled, disbelief written all over his face.

But before he could finish, Lin Xiao’s attack landed.

Boom!

Duan Changhan’s body flew backward, crashing into a tree so hard it snapped in half. He hit the ground with a heavy thud, rolling several times before coming to a stop. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his face was as pale as a ghost.

His internal organs were wrecked.

Lin Xiao landed gracefully, his expression as calm as ever.

“Oh? So that move is called Eagle Sweeps the Skies. Not bad.”

Duan Changhan struggled to stand, coughing up blood as he glared at Lin Xiao in disbelief.

“How… how do you know Eagle Claw techniques?!”

He was a mess. His black clothes were stained red. His body trembled, but his mind was spinning even faster than his body was breaking.

The Eagle Claw technique was the Golden Claw Sect’s prized martial art. While ordinary disciples could learn the basics, the deeper, more refined moves were reserved for elite members.

And Eagle Sweeps the Skies?

That was the pinnacle of Eagle Claw. Only the most talented core disciples could master it.

But Lin Xiao had just used it perfectly.

Lin Xiao smiled. “Just learned it. Thanks to you, actually. Watching you showcase every intricate detail really helped.”

“What…?”