Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 441 - 435 Interception 2

Chapter 441: Chapter 435 Interception 2

"Big brother," Zhao Ke said, his voice uncharacteristically somber amidst the demonic clouds. "You should let me go. The secret treasure is on me, and the focus of the whole world is on me. You’ve managed to protect me until now, which is already a great kindness between life and death. Even a small-time thug like me knows to be grateful and repay kindness..."

"I did bring you and the secret treasure to the Southern Prefecture out of a slight personal interest," Lin Xin suddenly said.

"Don’t ask any more questions, when it really becomes impossible, I will let you leave."

"But big brother..." Zhao Ke hurriedly said, well aware that he was now a target, with every faction in the world coveting what he had.

The Sand Time Demon God, once unrivaled in strength, was simply invincible in the world.

And such a great demon’s greatest secret treasure was now on him. Not to mention others, even he himself, faced with such temptation, would find it hard to restrain the desire to seek an opportunity to make a move.

After all, if one succeeded, they would obtain a secret that made them invincible in the world, which truly would be extraordinary fate.

In such a situation, Lin Xin continued to protect him regardless of danger, which deeply moved him. But he also knew that this could not last for long, sooner or later more powerful experts would come.

Not to mention others, just Zhou Huaisha alone was bound to return with a vengeance.

This person was the sixth on the Heavenly List, not to mention Lin Xin, even Quan Sheying in her prime, or Daoist Master Huang Yuan, might not necessarily be a match for him at his best.

If such a terrifyingly powerful person were to heal a bit and catch up...

A flicker of fear crossed his eyes. Back in the Sand Time Divine Palace, he had witnessed with his own eyes how even the strongest traps and formations in the palace were forcefully withstood by Zhou Huaisha.

The aftermath of the formations had severely injured Quan Sheying and several other Yuan Jing ancestors, and yet he had survived and still had the strength to pursue him. This showed the terrifying extent of his power.

"No need to say more."

Lin Xin spoke indifferently. Having dealt with the cultivators that had gathered in the town to hunt them down, he wasted no time and immediately flew toward the fleet with a few people in tow.

He needed to leave this place as quickly as possible and return to the Southern Prefecture.

As tempting as the secret treasure was, the Red Spine Sect was not solely focused on it all the time—the Immortal Alliance and Jade Pure Taoists and Cloudy Taoists were his main rivals.

He and the secret treasure were, at most, minor characters to them.

Although these minor characters had caused them quite a bit of trouble, it was unlikely they would pull out all the stops to come after them.

The earlier gathering of other factions’ strength to meet their deaths was probably to delay his departure.

"There’s still no news from the Red Leaf Sword Master, but Zhao Ke and the secret treasure on him must be closely related to the secluded prefecture. They must be protected. Also, if we return to the Southern Prefecture just like this, I’m afraid we’ll bring trouble with us."

He had originally planned to return quietly, unnoticed, but had not expected the Cloudy Taoist’s channels of information to be so frightening—they had already gathered so much strength upon his arrival and set a trap network waiting for him.

If it were any cultivator below the Yuan Jing level, they would probably be unable to escape even if they had wings this time.

Unfortunately... they had encountered him.

Having killed so many people, Lin Xin was beginning to feel as if there was an inexplicable breath slowly flowing within his body.

This breath was indistinct, without temperature, and its thickness could not be felt; it merely seemed to slowly swim around his chest area.

This breath had first appeared after he had killed a Yuan Jing, and with more killings, it had become more and more pronounced.

He could vaguely feel that it must be related to the secluded prefecture.

Because he seemed to be able to sense that this breath was alive, containing many extremely complex things, seemingly Taoist Intent, yet also like soul will.

It didn’t feel like something inanimate.

"I plan to take you around the Outer Regions first, and then we’ll go back," Lin Xin casually said to Zhao Ke.

"Outer Regions?!" Zhao Ke was also shocked. Although his current cultivation level was sufficient to go to the Outer Regions, he had never had the chance, nor dared to go.

The Outer Regions were different from the Central Prefecture, fraught with dangers; a seemingly inconsequential danger you might come across could be a horror disaster that even Dao Seeking cultivators would not dare to face head-on.

What you might perceive as a horrifying scene could actually be the safest place to hide nearby.

The ever-changing Outer Regions encompass all kinds of strangeness, making them no place for humanity.

If it weren’t for the protection of Sun Spring, creating a barrier to shield the outside, it would be difficult for humans to even have a foothold.

Whether it’s the Righteous Path, the Demon Path, or demons, aside from going out in search of breakthrough resources or out of sheer necessity, they usually would not venture out lightly. This indicates the horror of the Outer Regions.

"Can we manage it...?" Zhao Ke hesitated.

"It’s just to avoid the limelight for the time being. Neither the Righteous Path nor the Demon Path will likely chase after us in a big way at this critical juncture. They themselves are in a crucial period of conflict. As long as we temporarily disappear from their sight, we can ensure our safety for the moment," Lin Xin’s thought process was clear.

The demonic clouds swiftly advanced, and soon, several oval airships appeared ahead. These airships were mostly blue and white, with many people constantly maintaining them.

Cultivators were also guarding from platforms built on the cliffs.

Seeing Lin Xin’s party approaching with towering demonic qi, several people flew out to meet them.

"May I ask what business you have, senior? Do you wish to board the airship fleet?"

A middle-aged man called out loudly.

Lin Xin glanced at the dozen or so enormous ships floating in the air, each over a hundred meters long, marked with different family names, clearly belonging to different owners.

"I need the fastest fleet, to set sail immediately. Name your price!"

He said in a deep voice.

"That won’t be possible right away; the fleet is currently undergoing maintenance and resupply..."

Boom!!

An ear-shattering explosion cut off his words.

Lin Xin retracted his raised hand; directly opposite him, a massive earthy yellow airship exploded into a fireball. People around it screamed as they leaped off, and within a few breaths’ time, the entire hundred-meter vessel had been reduced to wreckage, plummeting downward.

Boom!

Another explosion followed, leaving behind nothing of the ship but firelight and fragments scattered on the ground.

Gululu...

Several of them were as pale as death, paralyzed with fear.

The middle-aged man felt a chill go down his spine.

"Im... Immediately make arrangements!"

He answered, trembling.

Lin Xin flicked his fingers, sending streaks of blood light shooting into their bodies.

"Go. Don’t think about escaping. Your lives are in your own hands."

He no longer asked questions when killing; the fleet here belonged to the Kunlin Sword Sect or other major sects’ subordinate forces. Without a show of intimidation and brute force, these people would certainly be disobedient, finding all sorts of reasons to stall.

"Don’t you think you’re being very cruel?" a streak of platinum sword light flashed past.

Suddenly, a group of blue-robed sword cultivators with white swords appeared behind Lin Xin, one with white hair flowing and a full beard, holding a white longsword cylindrical in shape, with a faint transparent distortion swirling around him.

It was none other than the Daoist Master of Heaven he had once encountered at the Kunlin Sword Sect.

"Cruel? I’m merely fighting for time," Lin Xin said, sitting cross-legged amidst the demonic clouds with indifference. Not until seeing the Daoist Master of Heaven did he slowly rise to his feet.

"Just to establish dominance, you slaughtered hundreds on board a ship. I had some doubts that you had turned into a demon lord, but now it seems the rumors are not false." The Daoist Master of Heaven too knew of Lin Xin’s deeds back at the Kunlin Sword Sect. His expression was now filled with sorrow.

"Are you here to stop me?" Lin Xin casually glanced around. Besides the Daoist Master of Heaven, he didn’t see any other Yuan Jing.

"Even Kun Ji and Shadowless died at your hands, I am not confident I can stop you, but I just came to see what sort of person the Red Flower Sword Devil of the rumors is," the Daoist Master of Heaven surprisingly shook his head.

Lin Xin had no desire to start a fight either.

He’d had few encounters with Yuan Jing thus far and was well aware that these old folks who had lived over a thousand years were not as simple as they seemed. Merely being at the Yuan Jing level was far from summarizing their terrifying aspects.

Having lived so long, especially someone like the Daoist Master of Heaven, he was sure to have accumulated many secret cards.

Killing Kun Ji and Shadowless last time had taken them by surprise, but with his reputation now known, it would be difficult to catch him off guard again.

Moreover, he was currently encumbered with several "extra baggage."

"If you don’t wish to be my enemy, then stand aside," Lin Xin said indifferently.

The cultivators beside the Daoist Master of Heaven had already turned red-eyed, filled with righteous indignation, ready to lunge at any moment.

"Daoist Master, why bother talking to him? My son was killed by his hand, today..."

A person was cut off mid-sentence by several others restraining him.

"I do not wish to obstruct you, but I came here to also witness the Divine Technique you used to defeat Shadowless and Kun Ji," the Daoist Master of Heaven’s eyes shone, and his hand suddenly radiated platinum sword light.

Lin Xin cast a glance at his sword blade, and at a glance, knew it was no ordinary weapon.

He said no more. It seemed like wishful thinking to leave here without showing his abilities.

Four longswords materialized on his back. He gently grasped the Yinluo Sword with a backward flip of his hand.

Since discovering the three Yin Luo at the Fire God Palace, he had immersed himself in research and, eventually, before leaving, like with the Red Flower Sword, inscribed all the various conditions and formations formed by the three Yin Luo onto this longsword.

This sword appeared solid, but inside it contained five hollow layers, each engraved with numerous corresponding formations, and used a core made of even higher quality metal than the one used for the Red Flower Sword.

In addition, Yin Mantuo’s summoning formation was specifically transferred to another sword, the Zhenning Sword.

Carrying four swords on his back, the last one being the yet-to-be-filled Talisman Sword, engraved with numerous Third Grade formations, took a huge toll on Lin Xin’s spiritual power. It was named the Desire Dissolving Sword.

Red Flower, Yinluo, Zhenning, Desire Dissolving.

Together, these four swords formed a complete sword array, which was the highest achievement in formations Lin Xin had made since his debut. Although it hadn’t reached the Fourth Grade, many of the formation talismans within had been enhanced to Fourth Grade level through the method of micro-engraving combinations.

Fourth Grade formation talismans are not equal to Fourth Grade formations.

Only formations completely formed by Fourth Grade talismans and possessing Fourth Grade power can be called Fourth Grade formations. Lin Xin’s sword array, although as powerful as a Fourth Grade, could only be called a Third Grade formation since it contained more Third Grade talismans within.

Even so, its power was not to be underestimated.

Now holding the Yinluo, he planned to test the power comparison between the three Yin Luo and the Qilin.

If the Qilin represented strength and burning, the three Yin Luo should be the combination of two other types of power.

"You’ll be just the right person to test my sword on."

Lin Xin’s gaze slowly turned icy.

Seeing this, the Daoist Master of Heaven couldn’t help but take on a serious demeanor, solemnly lifting his Magic Sword amid the clouds.

The platinum fog-like Yuan Jing slowly dispersed, spreading outwards...