99: Chapter 99 Siege of the Fiery Martial Arts School

Inside the hall, blade light shimmered coldly, and the atmosphere was as taut as a bowstring.

Dozens of bailiffs and yamen runners surrounded Lin Tian and his group of four. Magistrate Zhou Wenhai hid behind the crowd, acting tough while being cowardly inside, attempting to use sheer numbers to intimidate them.

Faced with Magistrate Zhou Wenhai's questioning and encirclement, Lin Tian showed no panic; instead, he revealed a cold, slightly mocking smile.

"Rebellion?" His voice was calm yet clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying an unquestionable authority. "Magistrate Zhou, that is incorrect. I am not rebelling, but rather... acting under orders."

Before his words had faded, he flipped his left hand, and a palm-sized, pitch-black token appeared in his palm. It was engraved with a ferocious flying fish and shimmered with a cold metallic luster under the candlelight!

In the center of the token, the character "Shen," written with iron-like strokes, exuded a heavy, murderous Aura!

"Acting Jinyiwei Centurion, Centurion Shen Lian's token is here!"

Lin Tian held the token high, his gaze like lightning as he swept across the hesitant bailiffs. His voice suddenly turned sharp, like ice crashing to the ground:

"By the order of Centurion Shen Lian! Magistrate Zhou Wenhai of West City is suspected of colluding with local evil forces, accepting bribes, and condoning their oppression of the villagers. Furthermore, he has close ties with Hall Master Lie Fentian of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, who is suspected of being a mole for the Demonic Cult, and is suspected of colluding with the enemy! I am now ordered to detain him for investigation!

If you still consider yourselves officials of the imperial court, put down your weapons and step back immediately! Anyone who dares to obstruct the Imperial Guard from handling this case or shields the suspect will be treated as an accomplice and executed without mercy!"

"A mole for the Demonic Cult?!" "Liehuo Hall Master is with the Demonic Cult?!" "This... how is this possible?" "Centurion Shen's token! It really is the Imperial Guard!"

Lin Tian's words and the token, representing the supreme authority of the Jinyiwei Centurion, were like cold water splashed into a hot pan, instantly stirring up a huge commotion among the bailiffs!

Exclamations, questions, and whispers of disbelief arose everywhere. Many of the men's hands gripping their blades began to tremble, their eyes darting around, and they subconsciously took half a step back.

The fierce reputation of the Imperial Guard and the prestige of Centurion Shen Lian were known to everyone in Heishan City! More importantly, the words "Demonic Cult" hung over everyone's heads like a sharp sword; no one wanted to be associated with those two words!

"Nonsense! You are slandering me!" Magistrate Zhou Wenhai's face turned paper-white, then flushed red from extreme fear and rage. He jumped and roared, his voice cracking,

"I am an official of the imperial court; how could I be involved with the Demonic Cult?! Liehuo Hall Master is a renowned Martial Artist in this city, a man of high virtue and prestige; how could he be a mole for the Demonic Cult?! Lin Tian! You are forging orders, slandering an imperial official, and framing a peer in the Martial Forest. You are the one with ulterior motives! Men! Take him down! Take this madman down!"

He was screaming at the top of his lungs, trying to regain control of the situation and dispel the fear in the bailiffs' hearts. However, before his voice had even faded—

"BOOM—!!!" In the distant night sky, several muffled, earth-shattering explosions suddenly rang out like thunder!

Immediately after, in the direction of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, flames soared into the sky, illuminating half the night sky!

Even through the many buildings, one could clearly hear the boiling sounds of battle—shouts, the clashing of weapons, and the roar of exploding energy!

This sudden, drastic change left everyone in the hall, including Magistrate Zhou Wenhai, pale with shock. They all turned their heads to look toward the direction of the soaring flames.

"It's Liehuo Martial Arts Hall!" "They're fighting! They're really fighting!" "What a huge commotion! This is going to turn the sky upside down!" The bailiffs exclaimed repeatedly, their faces filled with terror.

Lin Tian spoke at the right moment. His voice was not loud, but it carried a strange penetrating power and an ability to calm hearts, suppressing the commotion in the hall:

"Do you see that? In the direction of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall. That is the righteous force of the Imperial Guard, along with Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall and Baiyun Martial Arts Hall, currently besieging Liehuo Martial Arts Hall to capture the Demonic Cult evildoer Hall Master Lie Fentian and his accomplices!

It won't be long before Liehuo Martial Arts Hall is razed to the ground, and Hall Master Lie Fentian's crimes of colluding with the Demonic Cult and harming his peers will be completely exposed to the world! Magistrate Zhou Wenhai, you are deeply connected with Hall Master Lie Fentian; do you still wish to quibble now?"

His gaze was like a torch as he swept across the bailiffs again: "As officials of the imperial court, you eat the emperor's salary, so you should be loyal to the emperor's affairs! Do you really want to risk your own lives and carry an eternal stain on your reputation just for a corrupt official involved with the Demonic Cult?!"

These words struck the hearts of the bailiffs like a heavy hammer. Watching the soaring flames and the fighting in the distance, then looking at the cold Jinyiwei Centurion token in Lin Tian's hand, and thinking of the catastrophic disaster that the words "Demonic Cult" could bring...

The hesitation and hostility in the eyes of the vast majority of the bailiffs quickly faded, replaced by deep fear and a desire for self-preservation. Although they did not immediately put down their weapons, no one dared to take another step forward. They merely looked at each other, slowly retreating to the sides to clear a path, exposing the lonely Magistrate Zhou Wenhai and the limp clerk to the edge of Lin Tian's blade.

Magistrate Zhou Wenhai watched his subordinates silently retreat. Feeling those gazes—some avoiding him, some pitying, and some even carrying a hint of schadenfreude—he felt a chill rush from the soles of his feet straight to his skull. His limbs were icy, his lips trembled, and he wanted to say something, but he could not make a sound.

Only one thought echoed frantically in his mind: It's over! Something has really happened to Liehuo Martial Arts Hall! Hall Master Lie Fentian... could he really have a connection to the Demonic Cult?!

Then me... I accepted so much money, tacitly allowed him to expand, and even helped him smooth things over... will I be implicated too? Damn it! Damn you, Hall Master Lie Fentian! You've ruined me!

Just as Lin Tian was using thunderous means to intimidate the bailiffs and control Magistrate Zhou Wenhai at the county government office, the battle in the direction of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall had already reached a white-hot stage.

The elites of Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall and Baiyun Martial Arts Hall had poured out in full force. Led by Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song, they were like two surging torrents, surrounding the main residential area of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall from different directions, making it impossible for anyone to escape. Under the reflection of the flames, blades and swords flashed, and the sounds of battle shook the sky.

Although Liehuo Martial Arts Hall had many Disciples, including quite a few newly promoted Rank 2 Martial Artists, they fell into a disadvantage as soon as they made contact under the assault of the well-prepared and coordinated elite Disciples of the two other halls.

Especially those Rank 2 Martial Artists who had relied on Medicinal Pills to advance; facing the Core Disciples of Qingfeng and Baiyun halls, who had solid Foundations and skilled combat techniques, they often showed signs of defeat within a few moves, ending up either dead or injured.

"Hall Master! It's bad! Qingfeng and Baiyun halls have attacked our doorstep!" An Elder covered in blood stumbled into the main hall to report.

Inside the main hall, Hall Master Lie Fentian sat upright on a tiger-skin chair, his face so gloomy it seemed like water could drip from it.

He naturally heard the shouts of battle outside, and even more so, he felt the two powerful Auras belonging to Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song rapidly approaching.

"Bastards!" Hall Master Lie Fentian slammed the table and stood up, his red hair flying, fierce light exploding in his eyes. "Hall Master Chen Qingfeng! Master Bai Song! You two old fools, how dare you actively attack my doorstep! Do you really think my Liehuo Martial Arts Hall is made of mud?!"

His figure flickered, and he rushed out of the main hall like a streak of red lightning, arriving in the front courtyard.

In the reflection of the flames, two figures were shooting straight toward his position from different directions like two unsheathed sharp swords—it was Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song!

"Hall Master Lie Fentian! Your death day has arrived!" Hall Master Chen Qingfeng roared, his voice like thunder. Before he even arrived, a fierce and peerless fist wind had already pressed down from the air!

"Surrender now, and perhaps you can keep your corpse intact!" Master Bai Song's voice was cold. The long sword in his hand shimmered with a chilling luster under the firelight, Sword Qi flickering as it locked onto the vital points of Hall Master Lie Fentian's body.

"Bullshit!" Hall Master Lie Fentian laughed out of extreme anger. The scorching waves of Qi around his body erupted, shattering the incoming fist wind and Sword Qi. "With just you two pieces of trash, you dare to come to my Liehuo Martial Arts Hall to run wild? Today, I will make sure you never return! Kill them! Leave no one alive!"

At his command, the remaining Disciples and Elders of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall rushed toward the forces of the two halls like mad dogs. The two sides immediately engaged in a chaotic battle, and the scene was tragic.

And Hall Master Lie Fentian himself had already begun fighting with Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song!

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng's fist technique was fierce and powerful, open and closing. Every punch contained the immense power to crush mountains and crack rocks; it was the ultimate technique of Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, "Mountain-Opening Fist."

Master Bai Song's sword technique was agile and swift, like white clouds emerging from a mountain peak, penetrating every gap. Every move pointed directly at Hall Master Lie Fentian's weaknesses; it was the essence of "Baiyun Sword Technique."

The two of them, one rigid and one soft, cooperated tacitly. Their offensive was like a violent storm, instantly enveloping Hall Master Lie Fentian.

"Hmph! Petty tricks!" Hall Master Lie Fentian snorted coldly. Facing the siege of the two experts, he did not dodge or avoid, but thrust both palms out simultaneously!

His left palm was red as a branding iron, hard-hitting Hall Master Chen Qingfeng's Mountain-Opening Fist; his right palm bent like a hook, carrying a scorching wind, and accurately slapped the spine of the sword Master Bai Song was thrusting!

"BOOM! CLANG—!!!" Two deafening explosions erupted almost simultaneously! The waves of energy rolled, and the ground cracked!

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng felt an immense force, far hotter and more violent than expected, coming from his fist. It made his Qi and blood surge, and he took three steps back—thud, thud, thud—before he could dissipate the force, a look of shock appearing on his face.

Master Bai Song felt his long sword vibrate violently. A strange, soft yet scorching Internal Energy penetrated along the sword body, making his arm numb. His sword stance immediately collapsed, and he drifted backward, his eyes filled with shock.

"Your strength... how could it?!" Hall Master Chen Qingfeng exclaimed. Hall Master Lie Fentian's strength was significantly higher than the last time they fought! This was definitely not something that could be achieved through normal Cultivate!

"Hahaha! Didn't expect that, did you?" Hall Master Lie Fentian had repelled the two with one strike, his Aura growing even stronger. He threw his head back and laughed wildly, his eyes flashing with madness and triumph. "My strength is no longer what it used to be! With just you two pieces of trash, you are worthy of being my enemies? Since you delivered yourselves to your deaths, I will grant your wish!"

Before his words had faded, his figure erupted again. The red light on his palms flared, as if he were holding two balls of burning lava. He unleashed the most ferocious killing move of "Fire Sand Palm," called "Burning Heaven and Boiling Sea"!

Where the palm wind passed, the air twisted, and heat waves rolled, like two tornadoes of fire sweeping toward Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song respectively! The power was so strong it far exceeded that of an ordinary Rank 3 Martial Artist!

"Watch out!" "Join forces!" Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song did not dare to be negligent. They roared and pushed their Internal Energy to the limit. Hall Master Chen Qingfeng's fist stance was like a mountain, steady and heavy, hard-hitting the fire waves. Master Bai Song's sword light was like a ribbon, turning into a dense curtain of swords, attempting to cut and dissipate the force. Though shocked, the two were not panicked and their cooperation remained tacit.

"BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!" "CLANG, CLANG, CLANG!" The intense sounds of collision were endless. Three figures moved at high speed on the open ground of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall's front courtyard, intersecting, with energy overflowing. Wherever they passed, the ground cracked and walls collapsed; the nearby Martial Artists all retreated in terror.

Hall Master Lie Fentian's palm technique was fierce and violent, with astonishing power, every strike carrying a scorching heat that burned everything. Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song fought steadily, one attacking and one defending, one rigid and one soft, trying their best to resist.

In the blink of an eye, the three had exchanged over a hundred moves, and it was hard to tell who was superior! Although Hall Master Lie Fentian was strong, Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song were, after all, veteran Rank 3 Martial Artists with deep Foundations and rich experience. Working together, they barely managed to withstand his surging strength and fierce offense.

"BANG!" Another hard collision, and Hall Master Lie Fentian, Hall Master Chen Qingfeng, and Master Bai Song were each knocked back several steps, temporarily separating.

Hall Master Lie Fentian's chest rose and fell slightly, the fierce light in his eyes even more intense. Clearly, the prolonged battle without success made him anxious. Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song also had slightly disordered breathing, sweat on their foreheads, and their inner shock was even greater.

They could feel that Hall Master Lie Fentian's strength seemed to be slowly increasing, as if some kind of violent energy was dormant in his body, gradually awakening.

"It's useless, Hall Master Lie Fentian!" Hall Master Chen Qingfeng forced down his surging Qi and blood and said coldly, "Although I don't know what evil method you used to forcibly increase your power, thinking you can defeat the two of us on your own is wishful thinking! Surrender now!"

"Surrender?" Hall Master Lie Fentian gave a grim laugh, a trace of cruelty and cunning flashing in his eyes. He suddenly turned his head and roared toward the dark shadows of the buildings behind the main hall, his voice infused with Internal Energy:

"Still watching the fun?! Why haven't you attacked yet?! Are you waiting for me to be worn to death by these two old fools?!"

This roar made Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song's hearts tremble, and an ominous premonition suddenly arose.

"Hehehe..." A low, hoarse, creepy laugh, like the cry of a night owl, slowly came from the shadows.

Immediately after, a figure shrouded in a wide black robe with a pale white mask on its face stepped out from the shadows like a ghost.

With his appearance, a cold, evil, and terrifying Aura that seemed capable of freezing the Soul spread like a tide, instantly enveloping the entire front courtyard!

The surrounding temperature seemed to have dropped significantly, and the firelight seemed to have dimmed a bit.

Some of the nearby Martial Artists, regardless of which side they belonged to, felt a chill rise from the bottom of their hearts. The hairs on their bodies stood on end, and their movements stiffened involuntarily for a moment.

"Such... such a strong Aura!" Master Bai Song's face changed drastically, his hand gripping the sword tightening involuntarily, his eyes filled with shock.

The pressure exuded by The Black-Robed Man was actually a level stronger than Hall Master Lie Fentian! And the cold, evil nature in that Aura made people extremely uncomfortable.

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng's pupils shrank violently, staring fixedly at The Black-Robed Man. He squeezed a few words through his teeth, his voice carrying an uncontrollable tremor: "The... the Demonic Cult!"