The crisp voice echoed in the mountain breeze.

At dusk, Yang Wu's face was ashen.

The boy he had been repeatedly calling out to was actually the Lin Wudi?

This...

"During the battle at Dongting Lake, I was fortunate enough to witness Master Lin in action," Ling Yun said, clasping his hands to his chest, his eyes sparkling. "Master Lin is the person I admire most."

Yang Wu: "..."

「In the distance, above Mount Zoujiao.」

Xing Ge Da Wa landed on a mountaintop, his sinister eyes filled with smoldering rage. Just moments ago, he had unleashed the Secret Sect Great Palm Imprint and destroyed half a mountain. Although he had killed the thief, he had also killed the little girl in the process. His plan, years in the making, was now ruined in a single stroke, causing his murderous intent to flare.

He looked up toward the distant cliffs.

"Hmph!"

Xing Ge Da Wa hesitated. He decided it was best to leave now. With the hostage dead, these people would be furious and certainly wouldn't let him go easily. They might even resort to using powerful, large-scale weapons. Although he was a Grandmaster and unafraid of such conventional weapons, it would be troublesome if his opponents summoned several other Grandmasters to attack him together.

Hmph, as long as Lin Wudi stays out of it, I am invincible! he sneered to himself. If I want to leave, no one can stop me!

Full of confidence, Xing Ge Da Wa prepared to retreat.

"Want to leave? It's not that easy."

Just as Xing Ge Da Wa turned to go, an indifferent voice suddenly fell upon his ears. He whirled around to see a figure not far away. The man held an ancient sword, his expression impassive as he watched him.

"You're not dead?!" Xing Ge Da Wa exclaimed in shock. But what stunned him even more was that the man was holding a little girl—the very hostage he had worked so hard to capture.

"The hostage isn't dead either??" Xing Ge Da Wa was suddenly overjoyed. "Truly, the heavens are on my side! Once I kill you, that girl is mine!"

As his laughter died down, Xing Ge Da Wa's hands flew into a seal. A golden light erupted from his body, emitting a blinding radiance.

"Secret Sect Great Palm Imprint!" Xing Ge Da Wa roared, striking out with his palm.

His mastery of the Secret Sect Great Palm Imprint was profound, having reached a nearly supernatural level. It could not only kill but also restrain a person. As long as he could control Lin Mu, even for a few seconds, he could snatch the girl back. Then, he could kill his opponent with a single palm strike and leave at his leisure.

Xing Ge Da Wa's plan was sound, and the Secret Sect Great Palm Imprint shot forward, about to envelop Lin Mu.

Just as the palm imprint was about to land, Lin Mu casually lifted his wrist. The Yulong Sword swept out, effortlessly shattering the imprint.

"Hmm?"

Xing Ge Da Wa's expression changed. Just as he was about to make another move, he saw a mocking smirk play on Lin Mu's lips.

This is bad!

Xing Ge Da Wa cried out internally, his body recoiling.

"Only realizing it now?" Lin Mu said with a faint smile. "Don't you think it's a little late?"

ZING!

The next moment, a brilliant beam of Sword Qi shot up from below, streaking toward Xing Ge Da Wa.

"Hmph! You think a mere sliver of Sword Qi can harm me?" Xing Ge Da Wa sneered. "The secret arts of my Esoteric Sect are beyond your imagination."

The Esoteric Sect's secret arts could also be used to fortify the body. Having practiced them since childhood, Xing Ge Da Wa had long ago achieved the state of the Esoteric Sect's Golden Body. This Sword Qi, he believed, could be shattered with a wave of his hand.

"Break!" Xing Ge Da Wa bellowed, slamming his palm down.

However, the next moment, the smile froze on his face. The Sword Qi effortlessly pierced his palm, then his arm, his shoulder, and finally, his head.

Xing Ge Da Wa's body was sliced diagonally in two. Before he could even scream, the pieces tumbled from the sky.

He had killed Xing Ge Da Wa with a single strike!

「On the cliff.」

Everyone who witnessed this gasped in shock. The Yang Brothers, in particular, stared with their mouths agape in utter astonishment.

PFFT!

Suddenly, Yang Wu coughed up a mouthful of blood, and he looked utterly defeated.

"No, how can this be? It's impossible," Yang Wu muttered, shaking his head. His face was deathly pale, his eyes lifeless, as if his very spirit had been siphoned from his body in an instant.

Xiang Yunlong glanced at Yang Wu and shook his head slightly. To think that a Grandmaster like Yang Wu could be so frightened by Lin Mu's display that he'd vomit blood... It seems he's finished.

「...」

After slaying Xing Ge Da Wa, Lin Mu cast his gaze downward.

"Will you come out on your own, or must I 'invite' you out?"

His emotionless voice echoed through the area. Is someone else still hiding? the crowd wondered.

Just as they were feeling puzzled, a fierce blade light erupted from the ground, slashing straight toward Lin Mu. Simultaneously, a figure shot away into the distance at an incredible speed, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

"Haha, do you truly believe you can come and go from Huaxia as you please?" Lin Mu laughed. "You're not going anywhere!"

He shattered the blade light with one strike, then swung the Yulong Sword gracefully. A razor-sharp streak of Sword Qi shot out, cleaving the air as it howled into the distance. In an instant, it caught up to the fleeing figure.

"No, spare—"

A blood-curdling scream was cut short as a head flew into the air, spraying a fountain of blood. The headless body's momentum carried it forward for several more meters before it finally collapsed.

Two sword strikes. Two Grandmasters slain.

"Incredible!" Xiang Yunlong's face was flushed with excitement, and he couldn't help but roar, "Slaying two Grandmasters in succession! With such methods, he is no different than a Sword Immortal!"

The others watched, thrilled and exhilarated, their blood boiling with excitement. They felt that to have witnessed this battle in person made their lives complete. It was simply too astounding.

Two Grandmasters had been slain by Lin Mu. One had to remember that even Grandmaster Yang Wen had not only failed to save the hostage but had lost an arm in the attempt.

Riding the void.

Slicing artillery shells with a sword.

Executing Grandmasters.

Who else could perform such feats?

In the distance, Lin Mu walked over slowly, holding his sword in one hand with his other arm around the girl.

Countless pairs of eyes, filled with excitement, were fixed upon him.

"Salute!" Xiang Yunlong suddenly roared, his body snapping to attention as he rendered a sharp salute to Lin Mu.

SWOOSH!

Over a hundred people saluted in unison, welcoming him as a returning hero.

It was a salute of gratitude.

It was a salute of respect.

Gratitude to Lin Mu for saving their lives.

Respect for Lin Mu for venturing into danger to rescue another.

"First team, go!" Zhou Dalong commanded, lowering his hand. The dozen or so subordinates he had on standby immediately charged into Mount Zoujiao.

"Report! All enemies have been annihilated!"

The news came back quickly, shocking everyone once more.

All enemies annihilated? Over a dozen experts and two Martial Arts Grandmasters, all killed by Lin Mu single-handedly?

"Thank you! Thank you, Sword Immortal!" Granny Li cried, rushing forward. She took her granddaughter from Lin Mu's arms, then dropped to her knees and began kowtowing. "Thank you, Sword Immortal, for saving my granddaughter's life!"

Tears of joy streamed down her face as she bowed three times. Lin Mu calmly accepted her gesture.

"You murderer!" Liu Long suddenly charged forward, pointing a shaking finger at Lin Mu. "Lin! Why didn't you act sooner? If you had, Mr. Jin wouldn't have died!" he cursed. "Even if you didn't kill Mr. Jin, you're still responsible!"

At these words, everyone, including Xiang Yunlong, looked aghast.

"Am I wrong?" Liu Long roared, his eyes bloodshot. "If this guy had acted sooner, how could Mr. Jin have possibly died? It's all his fault—"

SWOOSH!

A flash of sword light whistled past. Liu Long clutched at his throat, but it was useless. His head tumbled to the ground.

"Noisy," Lin Mu said flatly.

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