The black-robed man still had one foot firmly planted on Xiang Xiaoyuan’s back, but the gentleness in his expression had vanished, replaced by solemnity. Under Lin Xun's gaze, which was filled with silent disdain and cold indifference, the black-robed man felt as though his inner sense of dignity was being directly provoked. Beside him, the graceful woman in the long dress holding a yellow scroll spoke aloud, “In my view, it’s best to take a step back and let things settle peacefully.” The black-robed man’s lips twitched slightly into a bitter smile. “Miss, could you not shake our morale at a time ?” He rubbed his face with both hands, exhaled slowly, and when he looked at Lin Xun again, his gaze had become as sharp as a cold blade. A terrifying murderous intent surged in his eyes, swirling like a vortex. The woman in the long dress shook her head helplessly and said nothing more. She could already tell that if the black-robed man didn’t overcome this hurdle, his state of mind would likely suffer for it. The mindset required for cultivating the dao had always been subtle and complex. In particular, for cultivators known for being ruthless in battle and relentless in their pursuit of progress, what seemed like a peaceful retreat might in truth signify fear. In addition, such fear could dull the edge of the will they had honed over countless years. This was especially true if he backed down before even making a move. Then in the future, whenever he recalled this moment, it would likely gnaw at him and become a mental block in his cultivation. Therefore, the woman in the long dress did not attempt to persuade him further. Everyone’s dao heart was ultimately different. Whether it meant following their heart without overstepping boundaries or forging a will as unyielding and indestructible as iron. “You’ll have to get past me first,” said the black-robed man, giving Lin Xun a smile as warm as a spring breeze. His aura changed, becoming as majestic as a mountain, sharp as a blade. Even his spring-like smile could not hide his sharpness. Seeing this, Lin Xun remained unfazed. He pointed to Xiang Xiaoyuan who was still under the black-robed man’s foot and said, “If anything happens to her, I guarantee your death will be anything but easy.” It was a calm statement, but the weight behind those words made the black-clothed man chuckle. “Relax. I, Shui Changjing, have never stooped to underhanded means to threaten my opponents in battle ever since the day I began my cultivation path.” There was deep pride in his tone. He flicked the tip of his foot and Xiang Xiaoyuan was sent flying through the air toward Lin Xun. Just as Lin Xun reached out to catch Xiang Xiaoyuan, Shui Changjing’s figure suddenly vanished from where he stood, and the next moment he reappeared right in front of Lin Xun, fist clenched, and launched a fierce punch. This punch was dazzling and awe-inspiring, capturing the essence of all creation, embodying the ultimate wonders of the great dao, and integrating with all sorts of dao mysteries. When the punch was unleashed, it felt as if the heavenly dao itself was pressing down. Lin Xun’s expression remained unchanged. With his left hand, he immediately caught Xiang Xiaoyuan, while his right hand took on an empty, circular form, as if embracing the Tai Chi. At the same time, the image of a vast, obscure, and nameless abyss took shape. A deafening, earthshaking boom erupted. The surrounding void trembled violently and collapsed, the ground cracked open and soil exploded into the air. Then, the nearby mountains and rivers crumbled, countless rocks shattered and all vegetation was reduced to ashes. Lin Xun was forced back a step. Discover more novels at n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net Before he could steady himself, the black-robed man’s second punch came roaring over, as swift as thunder rolling across the nine heavens. Surging dao laws poured out like a waterfall, unleashed through the force of the fist. Faintly, it was as if divine phantoms erupted from the blow, threatening to obliterate the world. That punch was unmatched beneath the heavens! Even the woman in the long dress couldn’t help but nod secretly. Amid a deafening collision, Lin Xun was forced back another step. Having been put on the defensive by the first punch, he had already allowed the black-robed man to seize the initiative. On top of that, with his left hand protecting Xiang Xiaoyuan, he found himself at an even greater disadvantage. Even so, he still blocked the devastating punch, surprising the black-robed man. He had assumed that even if this strike couldn’t kill Lin Xun outright, it would at least injure him. Yet, that didn’t happen. This made the black-robed man even more aware of Lin Xun’s strength. Without the slightest hesitation, having seized the advantage, he immediately unleashed the third, fourth, and fifth punches... Each punch carried the power capable of shaking the heavens and destroying mountains and rivers. Even eighth realm supreme Emperors would fall into despair, unable to withstand them. As the black-robed man continued his relentless barrage, each punch struck before the force of the last had fully dispersed. They came like surging waves, piling up layer by layer, rising even higher. Each strike was more powerful than the one before! Under this swift and terrifying onslaught, Lin Xun’s figure was repeatedly shaken and forced back. The nearby void, earth, mountains, and rivers collapsed and shattered, transforming into a cataclysmic scene of destruction. Unmatched fist force swept across the land, as if turning the world upside down. By the time the ninth punch was unleashed, the accumulated power had reached an astonishing peak, shaking the nine heavens and causing all things to crumble! This was the black-robed man’s most formidable technique. Every punch before had been to build momentum, layer upon layer, storing power for this final eruption. With the ninth punch, the full essence of the Ninefold Wave Force converged into a single, unprecedentedly terrifying and lethal strike! “Defeat!” At that moment, a sharp gleam flashed in the black-robed man’s eyes, and a brilliant smile spread across his face. The power that had been building to its peak suddenly erupted. In that instant, it was as if a hundred thousand volcanoes erupted at once. The unleashed force drowned the world in destruction. Torrents of power raged across the land, and wherever they swept, everything was reduced to ashes. Nothing seemed capable of withstanding the might of that punch. Then, amidst the rain of light and the raging storm, a calm voice rang out, “Are you done yet?” The brilliant smile on the black-robed man’s face froze. His eyes widened in shock, and his heart gave a violent jolt. That indifferent voice echoed again, and from within the vast surging rain of light, a tall and imposing figure stepped out of thin air. His clothes fluttered in the wind and not a single strand of hair was out of place. His entire body was shrouded in a halo of light as deep and vast as an abyss, as if invulnerable to all laws and attacks. “This...” A wave of panic surged in the black-robed man’s heart. How could this be happening? “Retreat at once!” came the distant cry of the woman. However, it was too late. Lin Xun advanced like a figure stepping through the stars. In a flash, he appeared before the black-robed man, like a beam of light cutting through eternity, swift beyond comprehension. It was a casual strike, without fireworks or flourish, but the black-robed man reacted as though facing a deadly foe, resisting with all his strength. In the next instant, he was swatted away like a fly, his hair disheveled and body reeling as the surrounding void crumbed with a thunderous roar. Before he could regain his footing, Lin Xun had already arrived. He grabbed the man by the ankle and as if hoisting a wooden stake, smashed him violently into the ground. The ground split with a thunderous crack and a pit was formed from the impact. Smoke and dust churned in the air. The black-robed man’s face was battered and bruised, blood spurting from his lips as he let out a muffled groan. A fierce glint flashed through his eyes as he tried to use a secret art to break free from Lin Xun’s grip. Unfortunately, to his horror, it was useless. The supreme cultivation he took pride in was completely ineffective against Lin Xun. The next moment, Lin Xun hoisted him again and smashed him down even harder. His skin and flesh split open, and countless bones shattered. The woman in the long dress narrowed her eyes, as if she could no longer bear to watch. “Is it fun stepping on a woman?” Lin Xun asked coldly. As he spoke, he flicked his wrist, slamming the black-robed man’s head into the ground once more. His neck nearly snapped from the blow, and the earth fractured from the force. One could imagine the terrifying power behind it. The black-robed man was in tatters. His body was mangled and bloodied, and his face was unrecognizable. Blood gushed endlessly as stars danced in his dimming vision. He looked like a man on the verge of death. Far away, Qing Meng, whose bones had been shattered by Lin Xun earlier, couldn’t help but gasp. At this moment, a look of fear uncontrollably surfaced in his fierce eyes. He knew very well the strength of the black-robed man, but watching him beaten like a helpless chicken in Lin Xun’s hands sent chills down his spine. “Shall I strip you naked and hang you upside down outside Chaotian City for all to see?” Lin Xun asked with a smile. Xiang Xiaoyuan was his friend, and she had been ruthlessly trampled beneath this man’s foot. That utterly humiliating sight had ignited his killing intent. He lifted the black-robed man, ready to continue. In the distance, the plain-looking man who had been silently standing near the woman in the long dress finally moved. Unable to hold back any longer, he rushed forward. After all, the black-robed man was one of their own. He couldn’t just stand by and watch him be killed. Lin Xun looked up at the approaching figure. He flung aside the near-dead black-robed man, took a deep breath and charged forward to meet the threat head-on. From the moment he arrived, Lin Xun had sensed that the woman in the long dress likely held the highest status. However, the true danger was undoubtedly the man in plain robes. The plain-clothed man’s steps appeared calm and unhurried, yet his speed was astonishing. His unremarkable face was expressionless, but the moment he moved, it was like a divine sword being unsheathed from a silent scabbard. An indescribable aura of dread surged from him, tearing through the sky and sweeping in all directions like an emperor descending upon the mortal world. With a simple gesture, he raised a hand, formed a seal and pressed it into the air. The world shattered like fragile glass with a thunderous crack. An azure palm print swept forth, crystal-clear and radiant, exuding a sense of ultimate perfection, profound wisdom and absolute invincibility. All sharpness, all divine arts, and all daos...everything was fused into this single palm strike! At that same moment, Lin Xun unleashed the full extent of his cultivation, striking with a punch as deep as an abyss and as vast as a cauldron. It was shrouded in a boundless primal chaos haze. Their clash was like a duel between gods. The world became as fragile as paper, utterly torn apart by the unleashed torrent of destruction. All things fell into utter collapse and chaos. If this took place in the outside world, just this one exchange could have annihilated an entire realm! When the smoke finally cleared... A figure stood suspended in the air, towering like a sacred mountain, still and unmoving apart from his robe and long hair billowing in the air. At this moment, his eyes uncontrollably revealed a trace of surprise. It was none other than the man in plain robes. In the distant sky, another figure stood firm. When the woman in the long dress holding the scroll saw that this person was also unscathed, a rare ripple of emotion surfaced on her calm face.