122: Chapter 122 Instant Kill

Facing the joint assault of three fierce and powerful Fourth-Stage bandit leaders, Lin Tian felt no fear; instead, a cold, sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

He knew well that this battle must not devolve into a protracted struggle; he had to use thunderous means to strike first while the enemy still held him in contempt and had not yet fully encircled him, killing one or two of them to break the desperate situation!

"Xiaguang Shadow Split — Ten Thousand Rays Worship the Ancestor!"

With a low shout, Lin Tian pushed his Cloud Shadow Step to the limit, his figure suddenly splitting into three nearly indistinguishable afterimages, each rushing toward one of the three bandit leaders!

His true body remained hidden behind the afterimages, his presence restrained like a Dragon lurking in the abyss.

The "autumn water sword" in his hand shone brightly, and five condensed, brilliant rays of purple light burst forth first. They did not attack in a straight line but traced strange arcs as if they possessed a life of their own, each striking at the vital points of the three bandit leaders. He did not seek to injure them, but only to confuse and disturb them, creating that sliver of an opportunity!

"Small tricks!" The cold man in the center, who possessed the highest cultivation, snorted coldly. The pair of water-splitting daggers in his hands danced like wheels, easily shredding the two rays of light aimed at him.

The two bandit leaders on the left and right, one wielding a ghost-head saber and the other a chain spear, also swung their weapons to block the incoming sword light.

However, at the exact moment their old strength was spent, their new strength had yet to be born, and their minds were drawn by the rays of light—Lin Tian's true body flashed out like a ghost from the visual blind spot of the bandit leader wielding the ghost-head saber!

He abandoned the agility and swiftness of his sword technique, his left hand clenching into a fist. A strange Fist Intent—heavy, dense, yet containing the killing intent of metal, the vitality of plants, the penetration of flowing water, the burning destruction of raging fire, and the endurance of the earth—suddenly erupted!

Fusion of the Five Elements! Purple Haze Hidden Force, poured in with full power!

The punch was silent, yet it seemed to cause the surrounding air to stagnate!

On the surface of his fist, a faint, gray air current coiled, and a point of profound purple gathered at the fist's tip!

"What?!" The bandit leader wielding the ghost-head saber had just shattered a ray of light and never expected Lin Tian's true body to launch a surprise attack from such close range, at such a strange angle, and with such a fierce and overbearing fist technique!

In his haste, he could only barely block with his saber held horizontally, pouring his life's cultivation into the blade!

"Bang—!!!"

The fist slammed heavily onto the broad surface of the ghost-head saber! A sound of collision, dull to the extreme, rang out as if two ten-thousand-jin boulders had crashed together!

The bandit leader felt an indescribable, terrifying giant force—a mixture of five distinct yet perfectly fused elements—surge from the blade like a landslide or a tsunami!

The webbing between his thumb and index finger instantly split, and his arms felt as if they were about to break from the intense pain. The ghost-head saber let out a groan of unbearable stress, actually bending inward from the force of the punch, and the back of the blade slammed hard into his own chest!

"Pfft—!" The bandit leader seemed struck by lightning; the sound of his ribs shattering was clearly audible. A large mouthful of blood mixed with chunks of internal organs sprayed out. His eyes were filled with extreme shock and confusion, and his body flew backward like a torn sack. While still in mid-air, his Aura rapidly withered; it was clear he would not survive.

That was not all!

At the very moment the fist collided with the ghost-head saber, the "autumn water sword" in Lin Tian's right hand had already thrust out silently, like a viper flicking its tongue!

At the tip of the sword, a point of deeply condensed, dark purple brilliance flashed and vanished. Like a lurking poisonous stinger, it followed the recoil force from the ghost-head saber and thrust with even greater speed toward the bandit leader on the right, who had just parried the rays of light and was about to swing his chain spear to attack!

This sword strike was timed to perfection, hitting the fatal gap where the opponent's old strength had dissipated, his new strength was about to be born, and he had been caught off guard by his companion's sudden, grievous injury!

"Xiaguang Line — Break!"

"Chih—!"

A slight sound, like tearing silk, rang out. The sharpness of the "autumn water sword," combined with Lin Tian's pure Purple Haze Hidden Force, instantly broke through the protective Qi the bandit leader had hurriedly gathered, piercing precisely into his soft ribs under his left side and passing through his body!

The Hidden Force surged in, exploding wildly inside his body!

"Urgh ah—!" The second bandit leader let out a shrill scream, dropping the chain spear. He clutched his ribs with both hands as the vitality in his eyes rapidly faded. He staggered back a few steps, collapsed to the ground with a thud, and blood instantly dyed the ground beneath him red.

In the blink of an eye, faster than a rabbit or falcon! Two Fourth-Stage bandit leaders—one dead, one severely injured!

And the price Lin Tian paid was merely a burning, stinging pain in his left fist and the instant consumption of nearly thirty percent of the Purple Haze True Liquid in his Dantian!

This sudden, terrifying battle result caused a momentary deathly silence to fall over the entire battlefield!

Everyone was stunned by this scene that completely exceeded their expectations!

The Liu family guards widened their eyes, looking in disbelief at the black-clad youth standing with his sword, as if they were looking at a god of war descended from the heavens.

Elder Han even gasped, nearly losing his grip on the giant saber in his hand.

He knew Lin Tian was extraordinary, but he never expected him to be extraordinary to this degree!

Instantly inflicting grievous injuries on two people of the same rank; this strength was likely already approaching the Fourth-Stage Middle Stage!

The bandits of the Black Tiger Gang felt as if they had been throttled by the neck; their battle cries came to an abrupt halt, and their eyes were filled with shock and fear.

Those three Fourth-Stage leaders, who were high and mighty and invincible in their eyes, had actually been like clay chickens and pottery dogs under this young man, with two dead and one severely injured in an instant?!

"Third Brother! Fourth Brother! Ah—!!!"

The last one, the cold man who was also the strongest and nearing the Fourth-Stage Middle Stage, snapped out of his extreme shock. His eyes instantly turned blood-red, and he let out a beast-like roar!

Endless rage, killing intent, and a trace of fear he hadn't even noticed himself instantly overwhelmed him!

He stared fixedly at Lin Tian, as if looking at an irreconcilable enemy, and roared: "Little bastard! I will tear you into ten thousand pieces! Grind your bones and scatter your ashes!"

He no longer held anything back, his figure transforming into a bolt of black lightning. The water-splitting daggers in his hands erupted with a ghostly blue cold light, and with a shrill whistle that tore through the air, he lunged madly at Lin Tian!

Every Move was a suicide tactic, determined to kill Lin Tian on the spot!

"Well come!" Lin Tian's eyes were cold, without a hint of fear.

He knew that by killing two of the opponents, he had successfully turned the tide of the battle, but the strongest bandit leader before him was the real hard nut to crack.

He activated his Cloud Shadow Step again, his figure floating like catkins in the wind, darting rapidly between the craggy rocks and bushes of the gorge, leaving behind afterimages that were difficult to distinguish from reality. He did not clash head-on with his opponent but circled and fought on the Move with exquisite footwork, exhausting the opponent's energy while searching for flaws.

Although the cold man's offensive was fierce, his heart was in chaos, and hatred had clouded his reason.

After reaching the Minor Achievement Realm, Lin Tian's Cloud Shadow Step became even more agile and unpredictable, making him feel like a fish in water in this complex terrain.

No matter how fierce the opponent's offensive was, like a raging storm, he could always dodge in the nick of time. The "autumn water sword" in his hand would thrust out from time to time, like the fangs of a viper, adding wounds of varying depths to the opponent. Although not fatal, it made the cold man even more anxious and furious.

Unable to win after a long attack, with more and more wounds on his body and blood flowing ceaselessly, the cold man's Aura began to fluctuate.

Just as one of his powerful, heavy thrusts was dodged by Lin Tian moving to the side, his Move spent, and his figure showing a slight, imperceptible stagnation—

"Now is the time!"

Cold light exploded in Lin Tian's eyes. His figure, which had been moving, suddenly stopped. Instead of retreating, he advanced, meeting the opening in the opponent's chest exposed after the missed thrust. The "autumn water sword" in his hand transformed into a stunning, peerless purple stream of light, as if it had absorbed all the dim light in the gorge, and thrust straight out with a desperate, indomitable Aura!

"Xiaguang Sword Technique — Long Rainbow Pierces the Sun!"

This sword strike condensed all his realizations of the "Proficient" Realm of the Xiaguang Sword Technique, and he poured nearly half of the Purple Haze True Liquid in his Dantian, transformed into sharp Hidden Force, entirely into the tip of the sword!

The speed of the sword seemed to transcend visual capture!

"No—!" The cold man's eyes finally revealed shock and despair. He tried desperately to parry, but it was already too late.

"Puchi!"

The "autumn water sword" pierced through his protective Qi without any obstruction, passing through his heart, with the tip of the sword emerging from his back!

The violent Purple Haze Hidden Force ravaged his body, instantly destroying all signs of life.

The cold man's body stiffened. He looked down at the long sword that had pierced through his chest, then looked up, staring fixedly at Lin Tian, who was close at hand. His lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, but he only spat out a mouthful of foul blood. His eyes rapidly dimmed, his head tilted to the side, and he died.

Lin Tian flicked his wrist, withdrawing his long sword, and the cold man's corpse slumped to the ground.

The battlefield fell into a deathly silence once again.

Only the whimpering of the mountain wind passing through the gorge remained, along with the faint, lingering scent of blood.

The remaining bandits of the Black Tiger Gang looked at the three corpses of their leaders on the ground, then at the black-clad youth standing with his sword—his Aura slightly chaotic, but his eyes still sharp as knives—and their last shred of fighting spirit completely collapsed.

"Bosses... all dead..."

"Run... run quickly!"

It was unknown who shouted, but dozens of Black Tiger Gang bandits, like frightened rabbits, dropped their weapons and turned to flee for their lives toward the depths of the gorge and the forests on both sides, scattering like birds and beasts in the blink of an eye and disappearing without a trace.

The Liu family guards, having survived the disaster, felt their legs go weak. Many slumped to the ground, gasping for breath, their faces still wearing an expression of disbelief.

Elder Han also leaned on his giant saber, his chest heaving violently. His gaze toward Lin Tian was filled with shock, gratitude, and a trace of indescribable complexity.

He had walked the Jianghu for decades and had never seen such a stunningly talented and decisive young man!

A Qixia Sect Genius, indeed, the reputation is well-deserved!

"Young Master... Young Master Lin, great kindness need not be spoken of with thanks!" Elder Han took a few deep breaths, stepped forward, and cupped his fists solemnly, his voice dry. "If it were not for the Young Master's Divine Might today, we would all be withered bones!"

Lin Tian waved his hand, signaling that there was no need for such formalities. His gaze swept over the three bandit leader corpses on the ground and then looked toward the two mule carts loaded with goods, his brows slightly furrowed.

The Black Tiger Gang's goal this time was clear: it was for the "qingluo fruit."

Although this wave had been repelled, the news had likely leaked. The "Gang Leader" shouted by the cold man who escaped was clearly the true master of the Black Tiger Gang.

The other side would certainly not give up; greater danger might already be on its way.

This place was not a good place to stay for long!

He walked quickly to one of the mule carts, ignoring the suspicious gazes of the guards, swung his sword to flick open the oilcloth covering the goods, and carefully probed with his spiritual sense.

A moment later, in the interlayer of a seemingly ordinary wooden box, he sensed an extremely subtle yet pure and vast Spiritual Qi of plants.

He flipped his wrist, and with a light flick of the sword tip, the corner of the wooden box shattered, revealing a delicate, palm-sized box carved from cold jade. Through the gap in the opening lid, a captivating cyan brilliance shone—it was the "qingluo fruit"!

Lin Tian did not hesitate, reaching out to take the jade box. It felt ice-cold in his hand, and he could even feel the astonishing energy contained within the fruit inside.

He quickly tucked the jade box into his own clothes.

"Young Master Lin, what are you doing..." Seeing this, Elder Han's expression changed slightly. According to the rules, guards were not allowed to tamper with the goods, especially precious treasures like the "qingluo fruit."

"Elder Han, the situation is urgent, listen to me." Lin Tian turned around, his tone urgent yet firm. "Since the Black Tiger Gang knows the qingluo fruit is here, they will never give up."

"The bandits who escaped just now will definitely go and report to their Gang Leader."

"The Black Tiger Gang Leader's strength is unknown, but he is certainly not someone we can defeat. I will take the qingluo fruit and draw away their main pursuing force."

"You must immediately escort the remaining goods, leave Black Wind Gorge at full speed, and return to Yunzhou City!"

"If you encounter any further obstruction, do not fight to the death; prioritizing survival and delivering the news is paramount!"

"This..." Elder Han was stunned, instantly understanding Lin Tian's intention. He was going to bear the greatest risk alone to buy them a chance at survival!

He was moved, but he also knew this was the most rational choice at the moment. With Lin Tian drawing away the strong enemies, their battered and exhausted team had a chance of survival.

"Young Master Lin is righteous! This old man... is ashamed!" Elder Han bowed deeply once more.

"There is no time to lose, go quickly!" Lin Tian said no more, cupped his fists to the crowd, and his figure flickered. He pushed his Cloud Shadow Step to the limit, like a wisp of light smoke, and darted away in a direction completely different from the Liu family caravan's planned route, deeper into the Taixuan Mountain Range, disappearing into the dense jungle in the blink of an eye.

Elder Han watched Lin Tian disappear, stamped his foot, and roared at the still-dazed guards: "What are you still standing there for? Tend to the wounded, travel light, and Move at full speed!"

The caravan began to Move again, this time at an even faster speed.