96: Subduing all forces

"Then let the Sect be destroyed!"

As Lin Chen's words fell, the scene was instantly covered in bone-chilling killing intent.

At this moment, the nine figures present included Li Tiangang, Chu Nansheng, the Three Old Ancestors of the Ancient Moon Tower, and three Great Emperor Realm assassins from the Misty Rain Tower.

The Ancient Moon Tower and the Misty Rain Tower were both affiliated forces of the Wending Sect; as long as Lin Chen had a need, they were obligated to help.

However, Lin Chen did not have them strike, instead letting them stand by to provide support.

If he found himself unable to match the enemy, it wouldn't be too late for them to act then.

It was just that... Lin Chen hadn't expected himself to be so powerful. Fighting alone against three at the Early Great Emperor stage and seven or eight in the Supreme Realm, he was actually composed and handled it with ease.

Had he not intentionally held back, these people would have lost their lives long ago.

But his patience had its limits; he didn't have that much time to keep playing with them.

After circling for a long time, as these people still refused to submit, Lin Chen decided to end this farce. His Aura suddenly shifted, becoming sharp and fierce, as a grim killing intent covered everyone from the Northern Darkness Mystic Palace.

"...Ah, this."

Clearly sensing the change in Lin Chen's Aura, the hearts of the Three Old Ancestors of the Northern Darkness Mystic Palace instantly turned cold.

At the very moment Lin Chen finally drew his precious sword, the Three Old Ancestors looked at each other and shouted in unison—

"Sect Master Lin, wait!"

"Hmm? What do you have to say?"

"...The Northern Darkness Mystic Palace is willing to submit and become an affiliated force of the Wending Sect. Should we betray you, may the Heavenly Dao strike us down!"

After struggling for a moment, the Three Old Ancestors finally and most reluctantly led the entire Sect to kneel before the indifferent figure in the sky.

"Now that's more like it!"

The killing intent on Lin Chen's body receded like a tide, and a smile appeared on his face.

He had truly intended to kill just now. If those three old fellows had spoken any slower, the Northern Darkness Mystic Palace would likely have ceased to exist.

Just then, Lin Chen felt a surge of joy.

Because the System's notification sounded—

[Sect Prestige +50,000]

...Western Regions, Great Wheel Temple.

The nine people descended upon an ancient temple situated atop a golden sea of sand.

The temple gates were simple and unadorned, with no guards. Only bursts of Buddhist chanting drifted out, containing the power of Reincarnation that disturbed the mind.

"Sect Master Lin, your slaughter is too heavy, and you are burdened by Karma... Have you come today to take refuge in my Buddha and resolve your Karma?"

The voice of the Great Wheel Temple's Divine Monk came from all directions, ethereal and illusory.

Simultaneously, countless invisible threads of Karma tangled toward Lin Chen and the others like a spiderweb, intending to twist their fates and sow the seeds of defeat.

However, a faint light rose around Lin Chen's body. The ten thousand calamities untainted robe made him impervious to all techniques, and all karmic curses dissipated the moment they drew near.

His gaze was like lightning as he looked toward a certain point in the void within the temple: "Toying with Karma? You bald donkeys look like you're far from the mortal world and untouched by Karma on the surface, but in reality, you're full of depravity!"

"How many female Cultivators have been reduced to your Cauldrons?"

"How many people have had their families destroyed because of you?"

"If Hell truly exists, all you bald donkeys should fall eternally into the Avici Hell!"

"You dogs still dare to bark wildly here?"

"Even if you wanted to submit to the Wending Sect, This Sect Master could never accept a bunch of maggots like you!"

"This Sect Master has come today for only one thing: to destroy your Great Wheel Temple!"

Having finished, Lin Chen didn't wait for them to argue. He gave a violent shout, and his blood Qi surged like brilliant radiance straight into the clouds. Power of the utmost purity distorted reality as he smashed a fist toward that Ninth-Grade Karma Lotus Pedestal!

"Thieving bald donkeys, how dare you sit high upon a lotus pedestal!"

"If people like you can become Buddhas, then the heavens must be blind!"

His angry voice, accompanied by the ultimate destructive power, surged forth.

Crack—!

The Ninth-Grade Karma Lotus Pedestal let out a mournful wail. The thousands of karmic threads appearing upon it vibrated violently and then snapped inch by inch!

The bald man sitting atop it immediately spat out a mouthful of golden blood, his expression one of horror.

Seeing this, the other bald men all struck out together.

Instantly, the Sanskrit sounds grew louder, and streaks of golden light soared into the sky, condensing into a massive golden Buddhist body that barely managed to withstand Lin Chen's attack.

However, before they could even catch their breath, the eight figures besides Lin Chen swooped into the crowd of bald donkeys. In the blink of an eye, the bald heads were spitting blood and falling from the sky like kites with broken strings.

They fell in a scattered mess, quite a sight to behold.

"Sect Master Lin, we are willing to submit! We are willing to submit!!"

The bald donkeys cried out in terror, their faces pale.

They spent every day shouting about delivering others to the afterlife, but when someone came to deliver them, they were afraid.

"Heh, I find you filthy."

Lin Chen sneered and refused outright.

The lotus pedestal shattered, and the temple gates collapsed.

Shortly after, all the golden light receded, and the Great Wheel Temple was engulfed in a sea of fire, burying all its sins.

[Sect Prestige +0]

...Southern Regions, Illusion Dream Pavilion.

This was a Sect hidden within a year-round, unceasing multicolored mist.

The Cultivators in the pavilion were not skilled in direct combat but were experts in illusions; their 'Thousand Illusions Grand Array' was considered one of the most difficult trapping formations in the world to break.

As soon as Lin Chen and his group stepped into the multicolored mist, the surrounding scenery changed instantly.

Grand scenes of celestial palaces, the calls of loved ones, Heart Demon illusions... countless illusions aimed directly at the Dao Heart surged in layers, attempting to dismantle the will of Lin Chen and the others from within.

Li Tiangang's sword heart was clear and bright, making it difficult for illusions to invade.

The sound of Chu Nansheng's flute was ethereal; wherever the flute's melody passed, the illusions shattered like reflections in water or the moon in a mirror.

But... after a moment, the mist remained, and the illusions were endlessly reborn.

Lin Chen stood in place, his eyes flashing with brilliance. The ten thousand calamities untainted robe made him impervious to all laws, and with Dao fortune upon him, a mere illusion naturally could not affect him.

After a moment, he saw the people of the Illusion Dream Pavilion hidden within the mist.

Under the Cave Heaven True Eye, no secret could remain hidden.

"An illusion array maintained by relying on the leyline Spiritual Qi and the Thousand Illusions Ancient Mirror?!"

Lin Chen smiled; things were easy once he knew the location of the illusion array's core.

In the next moment.

He pressed his fingers together like a sword and, instead of attacking the mist, lightly slashed toward a certain void node in the ground beneath his feet.

Squelch—!

A slight tearing sound rang out, and the entire multicolored mist churned violently, quickly thinning as if its bones and tendons had been removed.

Countless groans and cries of surprise came from deep within the mist; the Old Ancestors, Pavilion Master, and Elders of the Illusion Dream Pavilion were suffering a severe backlash!

The mist dissipated, revealing an exquisite yet somewhat fragile-looking pavilion.

The Illusion Dream Pavilion Master was a woman with her face covered by a light veil. She seemed quite young, and her almond eyes, the only part of her face visible, looked at Lin Chen in disbelief: "You... how could you see through the core of our pavilion's Thousand Illusions Grand Array at a single glance?"

"Mere child's play."

Lin Chen took a step forward and already appeared before her: "Before This Sect Master, all illusions are but reflections in water or flowers in a mirror, breakable with a flick of a finger! I give you a choice: will you remain intoxicated in an eternal dream, or soberly submit to reality?"

Feeling the unshakeable pressure emanating from Lin Chen and seeing the eight Great Emperors standing behind him, the Illusion Dream Pavilion Master gave a bitter smile and let go of all defenses.

In the face of absolute strength, the Illusion Dream Pavilion had no second choice.

The Illusion Dream Pavilion Master looked back at several Old Ancestors, who pondered for a long time before finally nodding slowly... The nine figures then left the Illusion Dream Pavilion.

[Sect Prestige +70,000]