33: The shopkeeper seeks revenge, and the evil spirits lock his meridians.

The morning mist of Qingshi Town carried the scent of medicine and cooking smoke. Lin Yang led the Liu sisters through the familiar stone-paved road, with the tall gatehouse of the Lin Family already in sight. The exhaustion from successive fierce battles was diluted by the urgency of returning home, but the chaos star core in his Sea of Consciousness was not completely calm, still emitting a faint, continuous pulsation, like an overtone, hinting that the potential threat was not only from the grand mansion ahead.

Just as they passed the side alley of Huichun Hall, that pulsation suddenly intensified!

A grey shadow, like a ghost, drifted out from the shadows of the alley entrance, silently blocking their path. The person was dressed in the common brown satin jacket of a Huichun Hall shopkeeper, with a gaunt face and eyes as murky as if covered in a layer of ash. Only his hands were fair and slender, with faint black threads of Qi lingering around his fingertips, emitting a chilling and heart-palpitating aura.

It was the third shopkeeper of Huichun Hall, Zhu Ming.

His gaze swept over Lin Yang, finally landing on the slightly nervous Liu Qingluan behind him. His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing: "My nephew, Zhu Dahai, met with misfortune in Lantern Alley a few days ago, along with Ma Qi and Wu Gang. Someone saw that you were the last one to conflict with them."

His tone was flat, without a trace of the anger of someone seeking justice, which made it even more terrifying. The faint black threads of Qi twisted slightly with his words, and the surrounding air temperature seemed to drop by several degrees.

Lin Yang's heart tightened, and he instantly understood that this was the "Gang Qi Realm uncle" Zhu Dahai had boasted about before his death. He stepped forward, shielding the Liu sisters behind him, his Chaos True Essence quietly circulating: "Zhu Dahai conspired with others to rob on the road and intended to commit wrongdoing; his death is well deserved. Is Your Excellency going to disregard right and wrong and seek revenge for him?"

"Right and wrong?" Zhu Ming's mouth pulled into a stiff arc, the murkiness in his eyes deepening. "This old man doesn't care about right and wrong. I only know that the only descendant of my Zhu Family died by your hand. Even if he had a thousand faults, it wasn't for you to act."

Before his words finished, his fair right hand suddenly shot out, fingers forming a claw, grabbing at Lin Yang from a distance! The faint black threads of Qi lingering around his fingertips suddenly surged, transforming into several chilling and bone-piercing chains, moving at an astonishing speed. They completely ignored spatial distance and instantly wrapped around Lin Yang's wrists, ankles, and even his neck!

"Gangsha Meridian Lock!"

Liu Qingluan exclaimed in shock. This was an extremely sinister method of Protective Aura application, capable of locking an opponent's Meridians and eroding their True Essence Origin. Those afflicted often had their cultivation completely crippled, living a life worse than death.

Lin Yang felt a cold, malicious power instantly penetrate his Meridians. The circulation of his Chaos True Essence suddenly became incredibly sluggish, as if bound by countless cold iron chains, and even his thoughts seemed to be freezing. The Innate Fifth-Layer Chaos True Essence actually seemed somewhat powerless before this eerie Gangsha!

"Kid, hand over the secret method for stripping Stone Root Grass and the evil art you used to kill Dahai." Zhu Ming slowly approached, his gaunt face expressionless. "This old man might give you a quick death; otherwise, I'll let you taste the flavor of Gangsha eroding bones, where you can neither live nor die!"

He simply did not believe that Lin Yang could kill Zhu Dahai and the other two with his true strength, convinced that he had used some strange trick or possessed a unique treasure, as Lin Yang's reputation as a Trash was well-known.

The icy Gangsha Qi frantically corroded him, and cold sweat seeped from Lin Yang's temples, but his eyes grew colder. He tried to activate the chaos star core to forcibly swallow it, but this Gangsha Qi was of extremely high quality and exceptionally malicious, making it difficult for the star core to quickly transform it.

Just as Zhu Ming's claw was about to press onto Lin Yang's crown—

"Buzz!"

In Lin Yang's embrace, the ice soul pearl he obtained from Bai Wanqing suddenly emitted a cool aura on its own! This aura circulated through his Meridians, and wherever it passed, the chilling Gangsha chains actually melted slightly like ice and snow meeting the sun, allowing his Chaos True Essence to instantly break free, creating a small gap!

"Now!"

A fierce glint flashed in Lin Yang's eyes. Seizing this fleeting opportunity, he fully activated the Chaos Swallowing Heaven Art! The chaos star core in his Sea of Consciousness erupted with an unprecedented suction force, no longer merely devouring energy, but targeting the Gangsha Origin that had invaded his body!

"Hmm?!" Zhu Ming's expression changed for the first time. He felt that the Gangsha Qi he had painstakingly cultivated for many years was uncontrollably pouring out, being frantically absorbed by the other party! "You... what Demonic Technique is this?!"

He was horrified and wanted to withdraw his hand, but found that his Qi seemed to be stuck to the other party. That suction force was incredibly domineering, not only devouring his Gangsha but also subtly pulling at his life Origin!

"Pfft!"

Lin Yang, taking advantage of Zhu Ming's mental shock and chaotic Protective Aura, forcibly broke free from the remaining restraints and unleashed his long-prepared left fist with a fierce punch! This punch condensed a portion of the Gangsha power he had just swallowed and transformed. Grey-black Qi flowed around his fist, carrying a bone-chilling coldness, and solidly struck Zhu Ming's hastily blocking arm.

"Crack!"

The sound of bone breaking was clearly audible. Zhu Ming grunted, staggered back several steps, his entire left arm hanging unnaturally, his face showing a mix of fear and dread for the first time. He stared fixedly at Lin Yang, as if looking at a monster. His invincible Gangsha had actually become nourishment for the opponent's counterattack!

"Good... very good! You little bastard, this old man will remember you!" Zhu Ming clutched his broken arm, his voice filled with venomous hatred. "Once I report this to the Immortal Palace Deacon, I will definitely extract your soul and refine your spirit!"

After throwing down this harsh threat, his figure swayed, transforming into a grey shadow that vanished into the depths of the alley. He dared not fight again; Lin Yang's eerie devouring ability made him feel a fatal threat.

Lin Yang did not pursue. His face was somewhat pale, and he was breathing heavily. Forcibly devouring and transforming the Gangsha Qi had put an immense burden on him, and his Meridians throbbed with pain. The cool aura of the ice soul pearl was still slowly repairing his injuries.

"Young Master!" Liu Qingluan and Liu Hongluan quickly stepped forward to support him, their eyes full of lingering fear and worry.

"I'm fine." Lin Yang shook his head, his gaze sharply fixed in the direction Zhu Ming had disappeared. Misty Immortal Palace Deacon... Lin Hongfeng... Zhu Ming... these clues finally connected.

"It seems that before returning to the Lin Family, I must first clear out these venomous snakes hidden in the dark," he muttered to himself, suppressing his surging blood Qi, and quickly walked towards the Lin Family with the two girls. The current Family strife seemed to involve even larger forces.