The Legend of the Netherworld

Chapter 224 Zhao Yuan

Lin Xiao left with a swift but determined pace. He knew that, though Shura Ying had temporarily retreated, he would still be a potential threat to his path. Furthermore, Lin Xiao hadn't completely let go of the power Shura Ying had mentioned. What exactly was that power? What were its effects? These questions lingered in Lin Xiao's mind.

But his most important task at the moment was to escape the pursuers as quickly as possible and preserve himself. The situation within Tianyuan City grew increasingly complex, especially after the Shangguan family was raided and executed. Lin Xiao felt his position within the city was precarious. At this point, he was no longer fighting simply for his own survival, but for a deeper purpose and responsibility.

In the darkness of the night, Lin Xiao journeyed through the mountains and forests, his figure glimmering in the shadows like a ghost. He paused and entered a remote village. These small villages often offered refuge from the pursuit of those in larger cities, their seclusion deep enough. Lin Xiao found a secluded corner in the village and paused briefly, planning his next move.

However, just as he was about to rest in peace, a powerful aura suddenly approached from afar. Lin Xiao immediately became alert, looking up into the distance with a sharp gaze. He clearly sensed a familiar aura—the aura of some high-ranking figure in Tianyuan City. Clearly, his whereabouts had been tracked.

"It seems that the day of peace has not yet arrived." Lin Xiao muttered to himself, his eyes gradually becoming cold.

He chose not to flee, but quietly concealed his presence and hid deep in the mountains. He knew that this battle was inevitable. It might not just be one Shura Shadow pursuing him, but the entire power of Tianyuan City. Lin Xiao had to prepare for the coming storm.

Soon, a group of men dressed in Tianyuan City official uniforms appeared near the village. Their aura was extremely powerful, clearly representing Tianyuan City's elite forces. At the front of the group was a middle-aged man in a black robe. His aura was rich and majestic, emanating an invisible pressure.

"Lin Xiao, since you don't want to see us, then we will come to you in person." The middle-aged man's voice boomed in Lin Xiao's ears like thunder, with a fierce momentum.

Lin Xiao sneered and thought to himself, "It really came faster than I expected."

He didn't rush to attack, but chose to take a deep breath and adjust his state. He knew that he had to deal with this group of people in the shortest time possible, otherwise if he was surrounded, the consequences would be disastrous.

Lin Xiao muttered a mantra and immediately activated the "Dragon Wandering the Four Seas" technique, disappearing from the scene. His speed was so fast that the air around him subtly shifted, creating gusts of wind.

"He's here, everyone be careful!" Zhang Liang obviously also felt Lin Xiao's movements, and ordered his men to disperse and start a siege.

But Lin Xiao's movements were so exquisite that the pursuers could not catch him at all. He was like a ghost, wandering around the enemy, and every time he flashed, he would take the life of a pursuer.

In just a few minutes, the pursuers had already lost three or four men. Lin Xiao, however, remained calm and swiftly launched a counterattack. His "Sword Dance" and "Sword Qi Strike" combined forces, his sword energy crisscrossing and his sword shadows swift as the wind, striking back the enemies in front of him with one blow after another.

Zhang Liang finally noticed something was wrong. He flashed and rushed towards Lin Xiao, appearing in front of him in an instant. At that moment, Zhang Liang's palm was like a mountain pressing down on his head, majestic and powerful, with an irresistible force.

"Are you Lin Xiao?" Zhang Liang's voice was deep and contained a hint of sneer. "Today, I will let you experience the authority of Tianyuan City."

A cold light flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes, and he unleashed the "Tiger Roar Palm" without hesitation. His palm power condensed into a giant golden tiger, which pounced towards Zhang Liang with an extremely violent energy.

Zhang Liang's lips curled slightly at the sight, and he swung his palms, colliding head-on with Lin Xiao's "Tiger Roar Palm." The two forces collided violently, and space seemed to distort instantly. The surrounding air fluctuated violently, trees were knocked down, and dust flew into the air.

However, Zhang Liang's palm power did not disappear at this point. He immediately used a more fierce palm technique - "Tianyuan Palm". The palm technique was like the collapse of the sky and the crack of the earth, pressing down as if it could crush everything.

Lin Xiao felt the strong pressure, his eyes focused, and he quickly used the "Illusionary Body Skill: Imitative Phantom Move". His body split into three figures in the air and disappeared from Zhang Liang's sight in an instant.

"You're quite capable." Zhang Liang's eyes turned cold, and he followed closely behind him, catching up in a flash.

However, just as Zhang Liang was chasing him, Lin Xiao suddenly appeared behind him and said coldly: "Your opponent is not me."

Before he finished speaking, Lin Xiao performed the "Sword Dance" and swung it quickly towards Zhang Liang's back. The sword energy turned into countless lights and shadows, tearing through Zhang Liang's defense almost instantly.

Zhang Liang was caught off guard, his body swayed, blood spurted from his mouth, and he flew backwards.

Lin Xiao took this opportunity to speed up and used the "Dragon Traveling Around the Seas" technique to quickly escape from the battlefield and disappear into the night.

The pursuers lost Lin Xiao's trace again, and their faces became more and more ugly.

Lin Xiao hurried, taking advantage of the night to quickly escape into the dense jungle surrounding Tianyuan City. He didn't dare stop for a moment, knowing his pursuers could catch up at any moment. After traveling dozens of miles, he finally found a seemingly deserted spot—an ancient cemetery. The surroundings were silent, and the deep, eerie atmosphere made him alert.

Cautiously approaching the cemetery entrance, he sensed an unusual fluctuation—the spiritual energy in the air seemed unusually dense, carrying a chilling, eerie air. This aura was distinctly different from that of ordinary cemeteries, seemingly the traces of some powerful being. Lin Xiao frowned slightly, about to investigate further when he heard soft footsteps ahead.

"Who is it?" Lin Xiao immediately became alert and hid in the darkness beside him holding his breath.

A man in a long robe and a stern face emerged from the depths of the cemetery. His aura was steady, yet he carried a faint, unfathomable power. He stood before the tomb, hands spread wide, slowly absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy. Lin Xiao's sharp eyes instantly recognized him—it was Zhao Yuan, the head of the Xiaoyao Sect.

The spiritual energy surrounding Zhao Yuan seemed to be drawn by some invisible force, forming vortices that surged towards him. Clearly, he was absorbing this energy through some special method, seemingly unconcerned with his surroundings. Lin Xiao's heart fluttered slightly, but he didn't immediately reveal himself. Instead, he continued to observe from the shadows.

After a moment, Zhao Yuan suddenly stopped moving and slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was cold and sharp. He didn't turn around, but pointed directly at where Lin Xiao was hiding. "I know you're there. Come out."

Lin Xiao's heart was shaken, and he walked out without hesitation. He said in a cold voice, "Zhao Yuan of the Xiaoyao Sect is indeed worthy of his reputation. He can even find someone as secretive as me."

Zhao Yuan didn't show any surprise. He smiled calmly, "Although your cultivation is powerful, it still seems a little inferior to mine. However, this spiritual energy doesn't seem to have much appeal to you. I wonder why you are here?"

Lin Xiao raised his eyebrows slightly. He knew Zhao Yuan was unfathomable, and his words were full of provocation and temptation, but he didn't reveal any flaws. Lin Xiao replied softly, "I didn't mean to disturb him. I just happened to be passing by and saw the unusual spiritual energy here, so I stopped."

A gleam flashed in Zhao Yuan's eyes, and he seemed not to completely believe Lin Xiao's words. He smiled slightly and said, "If that's the case, have you ever heard of the legend of this cemetery?"

Lin Xiao remained calm, but a sense of alarm grew within him. His intuition told him that Zhao Yuan wasn't simply absorbing this spiritual energy. So, he said nonchalantly, "I've never heard of it. I wonder what's so special about this cemetery?"

Zhao Yuan suddenly turned around, his gaze deep and his tone tinged with coldness. "This cemetery is the burial place of Gu Du'ao, the former leader of the Lonely Sect. It is said that during his lifetime, he inherited a mysterious relic and sealed his essence, martial arts skills, and body here, absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy to maintain the integrity of his body. There are even rumors that if one can obtain the power left by Gu Du'ao, they can break through the limitations of heaven and earth and achieve invincibility."

Lin Xiao's heart trembled. Gu Du Ao! What a powerful name! A figure who once dominated the land and intimidated countless cultivators. Lin Xiao didn't reveal much emotion, but he knew that the secrets hidden behind this cemetery were even more profound than he had imagined.

Zhao Yuan's voice was tinged with sarcasm. "Although I, Zhao Yuan, have long since gained some of Gu Du'ao's remaining power, this spiritual energy is far from enough for me to fully absorb. What I need now is the last bit of essence in this cemetery—Gu Du'ao's corpse and the true energy he left behind."

Lin Xiao looked at Zhao Yuan coldly, thinking to himself, "It seems that Zhao Yuan is not only absorbing spiritual energy, he has begun to have evil intentions and wants to plunder the treasures in this cemetery."

Zhao Yuan seemed to have sensed Lin Xiao's thoughts, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly: "Do you think I want to take possession of Gu Duao's inheritance? Indeed, the power here is strong enough to allow people to break through the realm, but who can obtain it depends on their strength."

Lin Xiao didn't respond, only slowly tightening his grip on the hilt. He knew Zhao Yuan wasn't just a cunning and treacherous opponent, but also a ruthless and merciless one. If he didn't act today, he would sooner or later become Zhao Yuan's victim as he devoured Gu Du'ao's legacy.

Suddenly, Zhao Yuan's eyes fixed, and his expression changed slightly: "Don't you realize that this cemetery is not simple?"

Before he finished speaking, the air around the cemetery suddenly fluctuated violently, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged, the ground began to shake slightly, and even a strong energy fluctuation came from deep underground, as if some seal had been broken.

Lin Xiao's heart trembled. He immediately understood that the cemetery not only contained Gu Du'ao's body, but also that some unimaginable power was awakening. Zhao Yuan was eager to seize this power, and he, too, must fight for his place in this conflict.

"It seems that today, no matter whether I want to participate or not, I can't stay out of it." Lin Xiao looked at Zhao Yuan coldly, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.

Zhao Yuan sneered: "If you want to leave me alive, you will have to pay the price."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Yuan stepped forward, his figure swiftly rushing towards Lin Xiao like a ghost. At the same time, spiritual energy quickly gathered around the cemetery, and powerful forces began to gather, as if to devour everything.

Lin Xiao's gaze grew incredibly sharp. Sensing the growing energy fluctuations, he knew this battle was inevitable. Zhao Yuan's cultivation was unfathomable, and he possessed a unique advantage standing in the center of this ancient cemetery. Although Lin Xiao had broken through to the fourth realm of Jiachen, the gap still gave him a sense of pressure.

"Since you are so determined, I will accompany you to the end." Lin Xiao whispered, the long sword in his hand flashed with a sharp light, and his figure rushed out like the wind.

Seeing this, Zhao Yuan sneered, then waved his hands, and the surrounding spiritual energy began to condense into a storm, forming a huge energy shield that instantly blocked Lin Xiao's sword energy. As the storm spread, his figure also disappeared in the airflow, like a ghost wandering around Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao's eyes flashed like lightning as he quickly activated his "Illusionary Body Skill: Imitating Shadow Moves." He transformed into several figures, quietly dispersing to deceive Zhao Yuan's sight. At the same time, his other hand tightly grasped the dagger as he silently moved around to Zhao Yuan's side.

A cold light flashed in Zhao Yuan's eyes, and then he laughed: "Interesting, your speed is quite fast, you are worthy of being a master of the Dragon Wandering Four Seas body movement. However, this little trick is useless in front of me."

Before he finished speaking, Zhao Yuan waved his hand violently, and suddenly, a huge vortex appeared above the cemetery, like an endless black hurricane pressing down. The intensity of the spiritual energy in the vortex was something Lin Xiao had never seen before. It pressed Lin Xiao's breathing hard, as if it was about to swallow him up.

"Break it for me!" Lin Xiao gritted his teeth, clasped his hands together, and the strength in his body surged out. He activated the "Sword Dance with Wind and Spin", and the powerful sword energy slashed towards Zhao Yuan's wind whirl like a hurricane.

The two forces collided, and a violent tremor resounded throughout the cemetery. The surrounding rocks and trees collapsed, and the ground shook as if it was about to crack. Lin Xiao's sword energy was swept up by the vortex, and some of its power was consumed. However, he did not stop. Instead, he suddenly leaped again, breaking through the vortex's restraints and rushing straight towards Zhao Yuan.

Zhao Yuan sneered, and with a flick of his hands, he summoned a wind blade, sending it flying towards Lin Xiao. The two energies collided violently, sparks flying everywhere, and the temperature in the air suddenly soared, as if even the air itself was being torn apart.

Lin Xiao's heart was beating wildly, yet he remained steady as a rock, his eyes clear of any panic. "You truly are worthy of being the head of the Xiaoyao Sect, your methods are truly formidable. Unfortunately, today, I'm taking not only this cemetery, but you as well."

Zhao Yuan's eyes flickered slightly, and suddenly a more powerful aura was released from his body, instantly condensing the surrounding spiritual energy into an invisible pressure, pressing towards Lin Xiao. The pressure slowed Lin Xiao's movements for half a beat, making it almost impossible to resist.

At this moment, deep within the cemetery, some force seemed to begin to vibrate, emitting a low rumbling sound. Lin Xiao's heart was suddenly shaken. This power did not belong to Zhao Yuan, nor to him. It seemed that some being in this cemetery was reviving.

"It seems that Gu Du'ao's body is really here." Lin Xiao said in his heart, but he did not stop fighting. Instead, he increased the speed of his attack.

Zhao Yuan's face changed. He knew that it was not advisable to delay any longer. He suddenly exploded the strength in his body to the limit. The surrounding storm instantly surged and turned into a huge wind blade, slashing straight towards Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly, and with a thought, the "Dragon Traveling the Four Seas" technique was immediately activated. His body suddenly turned into a stream of light, avoiding the attack of the wind blade. Then, he suddenly appeared behind Zhao Yuan, with the dagger flashing with cold light, pointing directly at Zhao Yuan's heart.

Zhao Yuan's reaction was extremely fast. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he suddenly turned around. The wind blade in his palm transformed into an invisible sword energy and rushed towards him. The two forces collided, and a violent explosion occurred instantly. Lin Xiao's figure was knocked back several steps.

Zhao Yuan's lips curled up slightly. Clearly, he wasn't defeated yet. However, at this moment, a violent tremor suddenly erupted from deep within the cemetery, as if something was awakening. The concentration of spiritual energy in the air reached an extremely terrifying level.

"You can't escape." Zhao Yuan said coldly, his aura surging as he prepared to launch the final attack.

However, Lin Xiao did not show any panic, but suddenly smiled: "In that case, I will take you with me."

Before he finished speaking, Lin Xiao suddenly released all the strength in his body, almost attracting all the spiritual energy around him, and activated the "Sword Qi Zongheng Jue". A dazzling sword light cut through the night sky, and rushed straight towards Zhao Yuan with the momentum of breaking the sky.

A hint of surprise flashed in Zhao Yuan's eyes, but he did not retreat. He clasped his hands together and then condensed a huge storm barrier in the air, trying to block the sword attack.

The two forces collided violently, breaking the storm barrier. Lin Xiao's sword energy instantly pierced Zhao Yuan's defenses and struck him directly in the chest. Zhao Yuan's face changed drastically, his previously calm eyes now filled with terror. His body was pierced by the sword energy, and blood spurted out.

"You...actually..." Zhao Yuan's voice was filled with disbelief, his eyes gradually lost their luster, and he finally fell to the ground.

Lin Xiao slowly put away his sword, his eyes icy, and said in a cold voice: "Now that you are dead, the secret of the cemetery will belong to me."