53: I'm killing you for your own good!

Inside the Holy Sons Palace.

Lin Chen played with the three supreme treasures in his hand, radiant and majestic, and a genuine smile finally appeared on his face.

He had long seen through True Monarch Zi Wei's "open scheme."

These three treasures were simultaneously "protection," "investment," and an invisible "shackle."

Taking her items was tantamount to fully solidifying his identity as the "future helmsman of the Purple Cloud Holy Land," binding himself completely to this great ship.

But... what of it?

Lin Chen looked at the wider world outside the window, his eyes gleaming with an unprecedented surge of fighting spirit!

His current strength was at a bottleneck.

To achieve another qualitative leap, isolated cultivation was absolutely impossible.

He needed stronger opponents, greater opportunities, and... more, higher-grade "fertilizer"!

And this Grand Competition of the Three Kingdoms' Hidden Dragon List, which gathered the three great dynasties and countless top talents, was undoubtedly the best stage!

"It seems it's time to go out and stretch my muscles."

...Three days later.

Purple Cloud Holy Land's mountain gate plaza.

A colossal flying boat, crafted from thousand-year spiritual wood, exquisitely designed and magnificent, floated silently in mid-air.

The flying boat was already filled with hundreds of elite inner sect female disciples, who had passed through layers of selection and were about to represent the Purple Cloud Holy Land in the hidden dragon list Grand Competition.

Lin Chen, however, arrived late, surrounded by his "harem" including Luo Bingli, Lin Ziyan, and Lin Xiaoya.

Today, he had changed into a moon-white brocade robe, transformed from the Moon God Feather Robe, its corners gently fluttering in the mountain wind, making him appear even more handsome and refined, like an immortal banished from heaven.

The seemingly ancient Heaven-Shrouding Ring on his finger perfectly concealed his astonishing cultivation and vital energy.

Making him look like a harmless boy next door.

"Respectfully sending off the Holy Son!"

"May the Holy Son achieve a resounding victory and uphold our sect's prestige!"

Below the mountain gate, countless lower-ranking disciples spontaneously came to see him off, their eyes filled with fervent adoration and trust as they gazed at the figure about to embark on a distant expedition!

In their opinion, with this omnipotent Holy Son leading the team, wouldn't the top spot on the hidden dragon list be easily within reach?

In stark contrast to this fervent scene, on the other side of the plaza, in the Elder Hall's camp,

Elder Wang and a group of core elders, including Yun Yun who was preparing to descend the mountain,

watched the man who was universally adored and full of vigor.

They looked at the three supreme treasures on him, which should have belonged to their sect's highest inheritance.

Their faces were all as black as the bottom of a pot, their eyes filled with resentment, venom, and a trace of uncontrollable, morbid anticipation.

(Go! Go!)

(It would be best if you died outside and never came back!)

They cursed fiercely and viciously in their hearts.

Lin Chen naturally felt those venomous gazes.

He merely turned back and flashed them a brilliant, sunny smile, full of "gratitude."

As if saying:

"Thank you, Elders, for securing this 'all-expenses-paid trip' for me."

"And thank you for the 'souvenirs' you gave me."

"When I return, I will surely 'repay' you handsomely."

"Pfft—!"

The moment Elder Wang saw this smile, she felt a tightness in her chest and a sweet taste in her throat.

A mouthful of old blood, accumulated for several days, could no longer be held back and spurted out on the spot!

The gigantic flying boat, like a silver whale breaking through a sea of clouds, sailed steadily and swiftly across the nine heavens.

Lin Chen did not stay in the luxurious cabin but stood alone on the foremost deck of the flying boat, letting the biting high-altitude winds ruffle his moon-white brocade robe.

Beneath his feet was a magnificent scroll of mountains and rivers rapidly receding.

Initially, beneath the flying boat, it was the ethereal and picturesque scenery of the Purple Cloud Holy Land. Beautiful peaks dotted the earth like jade hairpins, interspersed with scattered sects and cities, appearing tranquil and peaceful.

But as the flying boat continued westward,

The scenery began to subtly change.

A colossal volcano, entirely engulfed in raging flames as if piercing the heart of the sun, appeared at the edge of the horizon.

Even from tens of thousands of miles up, Lin Chen could still feel the scorching and domineering aura emanating from it.

"Master, that is the dragon 脈 of the Great Yan Dynasty—Crimson Sun Divine Mountain."

Luo Bingli had appeared beside him at some point, explaining softly.

"Legend has it that within the mountain, the remnant soul of an ancient Golden Crow is sealed. The Crimson Sun Divine Palace is built upon it, and disciples within the palace can all draw upon the Golden Crow's fire to temper their bodies; their cultivation methods are incredibly domineering."

"You see, that faint, sun-like glow emanating from the mountain peak is the Great Yan Imperial Daughter's sleeping quarters—the Sun God Temple. It is said that when she cultivates, she can even evoke true Solar True Fire phenomena, astounding the heavens."

Lin Chen nodded, his gaze lingering on the majestic divine mountain for a moment before looking further into the distance.

The flying boat continued its journey.

The topography shifted once more.

A vast, desolate Gobi Desert, riddled with countless broken giant swords, appeared in their view.

Each giant sword exuded a sky-piercing sword intent, remaining incredibly sharp even after tens of thousands of years, cutting the clouds in the sky into shattered fragments.

"This is the 'Sword Tomb' of the Myriad Sword Pavilion." Luo Bingli's voice also carried a hint of solemnity. "The disciples of the Myriad Sword Pavilion are all battle maniacs. Their first lesson upon entering the sect is to come here and face thousands of sword intents, enduring nine deaths for one life. Those who survive are all sword dao prodigies."

Lin Chen could even see sporadic, ant-like figures sitting cross-legged on that desolate Gobi, allowing the violent sword intent to wash over their bodies.

That sharp, unyielding, and indomitable spirit even made Lin Chen look sideways.

The flying boat flew over the volcano, flew over the Gobi.

A fantastical archipelago, surrounded by a blue ocean and shrouded in mist like a mirage, then appeared before their eyes.

On the islands, palaces and pavilions were all crafted from crystal and coral, reflecting colorful light under the sun.

"That is the Mystic Water Holy Palace of the Canglan Dynasty. Their cultivation methods are the most peculiar, excelling in illusions and water manipulation, killing people invisibly."

"And over there, that valley perpetually shrouded in pink miasma is the Hundred Flowers Valley. Their disciples never act alone; once they strike, it's a hundred flowers blooming, with continuous formations. Even Nascent Soul cultivators trapped within would be slowly confined to death."

"Buzz—!!!"

A terrifying sword intent, filled with endless sharpness as if it could cleave the sky, shot out from the rear-side of the flying boat without warning!

Immediately after!

A "sword boat," entirely crafted from dark profound iron, shaped like a drawn sword, and moving at extreme speed, crashed into the Purple Cloud Holy Land's flying boat from the side with an utterly barbaric and unreasonable force!

"Oh no! It's the Myriad Sword Pavilion's 'Sky-Rending Sword Boat'!"

The elder responsible for piloting the flying boat let out a cry of alarm and immediately activated the flying boat's defensive formation with full power!

However, it was already too late!

"Boom—!!!"

A deafening crash!

The Purple Cloud Holy Land's giant flying boat, known for its stability and elegance, violently shook like a small wooden boat struck by a boulder in a turbulent current under this barbaric impact!

The defensive light shield on the flying boat even let out a strained "creak," and its glow instantly dimmed!

Hundreds of female disciples with lower cultivation on the boat lost their footing, letting out cries of surprise and falling haphazardly, looking utterly disheveled!

And the black "Sky-Rending Sword Boat" was completely unharmed after the collision!

With a graceful tail flick, it directly positioned itself in front of the Purple Cloud Holy Land's flying boat, blocking its path!

Immediately after.

Several figures, similarly dressed in black, with long swords on their backs, and exuding a sharp sword intent that warned others to keep their distance, leaped out from the sword boat and hovered in mid-air.

Leading them was a young woman with a cold, stern face and eyes as sharp as a hawk's.

Her cultivation had also reached the peak Golden Core stage!

She didn't even glance at the female disciples on the Purple Cloud Holy Land's flying boat who were injured by the collision.

She merely directed her gaze, full of provocation and disdain, towards Lin Chen, who stood at the very front of the deck.

Then, in a cold voice full of condescension and arrogance, she shouted:

"Hey!"

"Are you people from the Purple Cloud Holy Land blind?!"

"How dare you block our Myriad Sword Pavilion's path on such a wide sky-road?!"

"Now, immediately get down and kowtow in apology!"

"Otherwise, your broken boat won't be taking another step forward today!"

The villain striking first!

Utterly unreasonable to the extreme!

Everyone on the Purple Cloud Holy Land side was so angry their faces turned red and their bodies trembled!

"You... you're talking nonsense! You were the ones who crashed into us from behind!" A young female disciple bravely retorted loudly.

"Oh?"

The leading woman from the Myriad Sword Pavilion heard this and a cruel arc appeared on her lips.

She didn't even look at that female disciple.

She merely flicked her finger casually in her direction!

"Whoosh—!"

A sword qi, incredibly fast and almost invisible, instantly tore through the air!

"Ah—!"

The female disciple who had just dared to retort instantly let out a piercing scream!

A deep, bone-visible bloodstain instantly appeared on her right arm!

Blood stained her purple robes!

"Do you, a piece of trash, have the right to speak in front of this lord?"

However, the leading woman acted as if she had done something perfectly normal.

She looked at the female disciple, whose face was pale from intense pain and fear, and slowly spoke in a cold, almost "instructive" tone:

"It seems your Purple Cloud Holy Land elders haven't taught you the rules of sword cultivators."

"First," she extended a finger, "in the world of sword cultivators, there's no 'first come, first served,' only 'the strong go first.' Our boat is faster than yours. So the path should be ours. It's your fault for blocking our way."

"Second," she extended a second finger and pointed at the injured female disciple, "the weak have no right to question the strong. Her daring to speak is provocation. I only injured her arm and didn't cut out her tongue; this is already my greatest grace to the weak."

After the leading Myriad Sword Pavilion woman had thoroughly humiliated the Purple Cloud Holy Land group with her distorted "sword cultivator rules,"

Her gaze finally fell upon Lin Chen, the man who had remained silent and watched her calmly throughout.

This time, there was no longer "disappointment" in her eyes.

Instead, there was a strange and mocking look, like one would have when viewing an "object" or an "ornament."

"I did hear,"

Her voice was full of undisguised mockery.

"That the Purple Cloud Holy Land produced a 'freak' this time, actually finding a 'man' to be their leading Holy Son."

"Seeing it today, it truly is better to meet than to hear about."

She scrutinized Lin Chen from head to toe, her gaze like someone appreciating a somewhat delicate but utterly useless porcelain.

"He does look good, indeed."

She nodded, then changed the subject, her tone filled with condescending "preaching."

"But has your Purple Cloud Holy Land perhaps gotten something wrong?"

"Men should know their place."

"Staying at home, taking care of children and husband, washing clothes and cooking—that's where you belong."

She looked at Lin Chen, the mockery on her lips growing thicker.

"Not showing your face like this and making a fool of yourselves!"

"You are merely our women's 'accessories.'"

"A somewhat pretty but fragile vase!"

Boom—!!!

These words were like the most vicious curse, the loudest slap, fiercely striking the faces of all the Purple Cloud Holy Land disciples present, especially Lin Chen!

This was no longer mere provocation!

This was the ultimate, most deeply ingrained trampling and humiliation of the entire identity of "male"!

All the female disciples on the Purple Cloud Holy Land side showed expressions of immense humiliation, yet complex inability to refute.

Because they knew.

In this world, most people thought the same way.

And Luo Bingli and Lin Ziyan trembled with rage, their eyes burning with fury!

Their man!

The man they regarded as a god in their hearts!

Was actually publicly humiliated as an "accessory" and a "vase"?!

However.

As the person involved, Lin Chen's face remained calm.

He even flashed a benevolent smile, full of "agreement," at the woman who had uttered such malicious words.

"This Senior Sister's lesson is well-taken."

He spoke.

His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"You are very right."

"The strong prey on the weak, and the strong are revered."

"This is indeed the only rule of this world."

Hearing this, everyone from the Myriad Sword Pavilion showed the smug smiles of victors.

(Hmph, at least this 'vase' knows his place.)

Meanwhile, the Purple Cloud Holy Land side all showed expressions of humiliation and disappointment.

They hadn't expected this Holy Son to actually back down like this?!

However.

Lin Chen's next sentence instantly froze everyone's smiles.

"Then, as an 'accessory,' a 'vase,'"

"To be replaced by a more powerful 'work of art,' or even completely 'erased,'"

"For you crude 'earthenware' that can't even be considered 'works of art,'"

"Presumably, it should also be a supreme 'honor,' right?"

"So today, I will kill you all, and liberate you completely from this filthy world full of the weak!"

"Oh, and also..."

"Remember to say thank you before you die!"