88: Wei Jingtong, dead!

In the east of the city, on the only path leading to a quiet courtyard outside the city.

This place was away from the main street, with few pedestrians. Dense bamboo forests and abandoned building Foundations lined both sides of the road, making it exceptionally quiet.

Chen Linsheng had been waiting here for a long time. He had changed his appearance once again, now looking like an ordinary woodcutter. Carrying a bundle of firewood on his back, he crouched behind an earthen slope by the roadside as if taking a rest.

His Aura almost blended into the surrounding environment. The powerful control brought by Hunyuan True Body allowed him to hide himself perfectly.

In the distance, the sound of horse hooves and wheels crushing the road surface drew closer.

That luxurious carriage, escorted by four arrogant Black Mountain Gang members riding inferior horses, approached at a leisurely pace. There weren't many guards; clearly, in the Black Mountain Gang's view, no one in Qinghe County dared to touch their Young Lord. Moreover, Zhang Yuchen himself was a Flesh Refining Realm Martial Artist, not entirely without the ability to protect himself.

The carriage drew closer and closer.

Chen Linsheng slowly set down the bundle of firewood on his back, his right hand quietly gripping the shaft of the Solid Iron Long Spear hidden within. The cold sensation heightened the killing intent in his heart.

He calculated the distance, wind speed, and the positions of the guards.

Fifty steps... thirty steps... twenty steps... Just as the carriage was about to pass the earthen slope where he was hidden, at the moment the guards' attention wavered—

Chen Linsheng moved!

Like a cheetah that had been lying in wait for a long time, his figure suddenly burst forth! His Movement Technique, a combination of Eight Steps Catching Cicada and Spirit Monkey Hundred Changes, was as fast as a ghost. Leaving a faint afterimage behind, he shot toward the carriage like an arrow from a bow!

"Enemy attack!" One of the guards reacted quickly, shouting sternly and drawing his blade to strike.

But Chen Linsheng was too fast!

He ignored the guards completely, his target clear: the carriage cabin!

While mid-air, the Solid Iron Long Spear in his hand turned into a bolt of black lightning that tore through the air. The "Triple Wave Surge" exertion technique he had mastered from Major Achievement in Overlapping Waves Archery was perfectly integrated into this earth-shattering thrust—Glimpse of a Startled Swan: Layered Waves!

"Boom!"

A loud crash echoed, not the clashing of metal, but the sound of the thick carriage wall being blasted open with a large hole by the spear tip imbued with terrifying force!

Wood chips flew like rain!

Without stopping, Chen Linsheng crashed directly into the interior of the carriage through the hole!

Inside the carriage, Zhang Yuchen jerked his head up. His hollow eyes suddenly constricted, flashing with a hint of shock and ferocity!

He clearly hadn't expected to encounter such a violent and direct assassination attempt on his own turf!

He subconsciously circulated his blood and Qi, his pale arms turning a greenish-black. Accompanied by a sinister, foul wind, he grabbed at the incoming spear!

However, Chen Linsheng had been gathering momentum for a long time; how could he allow any resistance?

"Die!"

Chen Linsheng shouted, his voice exploding like a thunderclap!

Python Dragon Strength erupted with full force. The lingering constriction of Python Strength and the explosive penetration of Dragon Force, along with perfectly fused icy Evil Qi, surged out along the spear's shaft!

Crack!

As Zhang Yuchen's arm came into contact with Chen Linsheng's spear force, the sound of bones shattering instantly rang out!

The meager power he had boosted through evil methods was completely fragile before Chen Linsheng's absolute strength, which came from the Perfection of tempering ninety-six muscles and Major Achievement in various Martial Skills!

The spear drove straight in, ignoring Zhang Yuchen's futile blocks and struggles, and pierced his heart with unerring precision!

Puchi!

The spear tip emerged from his back, bringing out a spray of dark red blood that seemed to carry wisps of black Qi.

Zhang Yuchen's body shook violently. The shock and ferocity in his eyes froze instantly, replaced by an unbelievable blankness and deathly stillness.

He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but could only make "he-he" sounds through the bloody froth.

With a flick of Chen Linsheng's wrist, the spear vibrated. The terrifying force exploded completely inside Zhang Yuchen's body, instantly shredding all his life force!

The important pawn of the White Lotus Sect's "Jade Sowing Plan," Young Lord of the Black Mountain Gang, Zhang Yuchen—

Dead!

After shattering Zhang Yuchen's heart Meridians with a single spear thrust, Chen Linsheng was about to withdraw when he suddenly felt a matchless, fierce palm wind pressing down from behind like a raging wave.

The air seemed to be sucked dry by this palm strike, letting out a dull whistle!

Alarm bells rang in his heart. The premonition of danger from Tracking Perfection only now frantically warned him, showing how fast the enemy's movement was and how deeply they had been hidden!

At the critical moment, Chen Linsheng did not hesitate. He kicked off the ground forcefully, combining the agility of Spirit Monkey Hundred Changes with the explosiveness of Eight Steps Catching Cicada, and forced his body to shift several feet to the side.

"Boom!"

The spot where he had originally stood was hit by a condensed white palm print. The ground instantly exploded into a deep pit, with soil splashing everywhere. The violent Qi further shredded the wreckage of the carriage.

Chen Linsheng turned abruptly, looking coldly at the newcomer.

A white-clothed figure stood like a ghost not far away. It was none other than the Envoy of the White Lotus Sect, Wei Jingtong, who was supposed to be recovering from his injuries deep within the Black Mountain Gang's headquarters!

His face was even paler than before, with a trace of uncleaned blood still lingering at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes burned with overwhelming rage and unbelievable shock.

"You... you dare!"

Looking at Zhang Yuchen, who was already dead in the carriage with a transparent hole in his chest, Wei Jingtong was about to explode with anger.

He had just been suppressing the backlash of the "Nether Soul-Erosion Curse" in a secret room. After absorbing the blood and Qi of two gang members to slightly ease his injuries, the "Jade Seal" in his mind, which was connected to Zhang Yuchen's Divine Soul to monitor his status, sent a warning of violent fluctuations and destruction.

Risking the worsening of his injuries, he pushed White Crane Wind and Cloud Song to its limit to rush over, but he was still one step too late!

What annoyed him even more was that Zhang Yuchen, who had been piled with resources and pushed to the Peak of Flesh Refining through secret methods, was so fragile before this assassin.

He couldn't even hold him off for a moment?

He didn't know that Zhang Yuchen had encountered Chen Linsheng, a "monster" with a pervertedly solid Foundation!

With ninety-six muscles tempered to Perfection, Hunyuan True Body governing all techniques, Golden Bell Shield and Iron Clothes Art at Major Achievement for protection, and the Layered Waves exertion technique integrated into his Martial Skills, his strength far exceeded that of an ordinary Flesh Refining Realm. Killing Zhang Yuchen, who relied on evil methods and had a hollow Foundation, was naturally as easy as cutting vegetables.

"Seeking death!" Wei Jingtong shouted. His figure blurred, like a white crane gliding through the air, as he lunged at Chen Linsheng with a trail of afterimages.

Although he was heavily injured, the Movement Technique of White Crane Wind and Cloud Song was still incredibly fast, far exceeding the evasion speed of Chen Linsheng's Spirit Monkey Hundred Changes (Initiate).

Seeing that he couldn't create distance with Movement Techniques, a sharp look flashed in Chen Linsheng's eyes. He turned without hesitation, the fierce wind bow already in his hand, his fingers brushing over the quiver—

Buzz— Shush! Shush! Shush!

Three arrows were fired almost simultaneously in a triangular formation. The arrow shafts contained the Triple Wave Surge force of Major Achievement Overlapping Waves Archery, tearing through the air with ear-piercing shrieks, instantly sealing off Wei Jingtong's left, right, and front!

"Mere child's play!"

Wei Jingtong snorted coldly. His body twisted strangely in the air as if he had no bones. Amidst the flickering white shadows, he actually passed through the gaps between the three soul-reaping arrows like a butterfly flitting through flowers!

At the same time, he flicked his sleeve, and several points of cold light shot toward Chen Linsheng at even greater speed! They were fine needles dipped in potent poison!

Clang, clang, clang!

The poison needles accurately hit Chen Linsheng's vital points on his chest and abdomen, but they produced a crisp sound like striking metal. They were all bounced off to the ground, failing to even fully pierce his outer coarse cloth clothes, let alone injure his flesh!

Wei Jingtong's eyelids twitched violently, his heart filled with shock and rage. "A hard-body Martial Artist?! And not just any ordinary hard-body skill!"

Although these poison needles weren't Treasure Artifacts, they were exceptionally sharp and imbued with his force. Ordinary Flesh Refining Realm Martial Artists' protective blood and Qi couldn't stop them at all, yet this person resisted them with his Physical Body and remained unscathed?

"Damn turtle shell!"

Wei Jingtong cursed inwardly, a flicker of heartache passing through his eyes, but his killing intent grew even stronger.

Without hesitation, he reached into his robe, took out a thumb-sized jade bottle, and crushed it!

A thick, green mist emitting a sickly sweet and fishy smell instantly exploded. As if alive, it shrouded Chen Linsheng with incredible speed—this was his trump card for saving his life, the White Lotus Sect's secret poison, Heavenly Silkworm Smoke!

This poison was extremely rare, and he only had this much left. Even the Evil Daoist had once fallen victim to it and suffered. At this moment, he couldn't care about the cost.

The green smoke rolled, instantly engulfing the area where Chen Linsheng was. The surrounding vegetation withered and turned black at a visible rate, showing how intense the toxicity was.

Wei Jingtong breathed a sigh of relief, a cruel smile appearing on his face. No matter how strong your hard-body skill is, if you inhale this Heavenly Silkworm Smoke, you will surely die... However, before his smile could fully spread, a cold sneer came from within the green smoke, full of vigor and showing no signs of poisoning:

"You think you can kill me with just this?"

"What?!" Wei Jingtong was pale with shock, hardly able to believe his ears and senses.

How could the Heavenly Silkworm Smoke be ineffective?!

At the moment his mind was shaken—

"Boom!"

A figure like a savage Vicious Beast suddenly broke through the thick green poison smoke, charging out with an indomitable momentum!

It was Chen Linsheng!

His blood and Qi were surging, and a faint golden phantom of a bell flickered outside his body. The Divine Effect of Golden Bell Protection kept the poison smoke firmly locked out!

The prototype of the "Indestructible Body" and the powerful resistance brought by Hunyuan True Body gave him extremely high immunity to such toxic mists!

Not to mention he also possessed the Divine Effect Immunity to All Poisons!

"Not good!" Wei Jingtong's face changed drastically, and he hurriedly used White Crane Wind and Cloud Song to retreat.

But Chen Linsheng had planned this for a long time; how could he let him escape again?

"Where do you think you're going!"

Chen Linsheng roared, violently throwing the fierce wind bow in his hand at Wei Jingtong's face to distract him. At the same time, he exerted force with his feet, causing the ground to explode into a small pit as his figure closed in like a cannonball!

He discarded the spear and used his fists. The condensed iron force of Iron Arm Skill and the explosive Dragon Force of Python Dragon Strength perfectly fused on his fists. A metallic, dull luster even appeared on the surface of his fists, which were like two heavy hammers striking straight at Wei Jingtong's vital points in his chest and abdomen!

Wei Jingtong hurriedly waved his palms to block. His palm technique was feminine and eerie, carrying a corrosive power.

But Chen Linsheng didn't dodge or avoid at all, relying on the dual defense of Iron Clothes Solidification and Golden Bell Protection to endure the opponent's palm force head-on!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Fists and palms collided, and the Qi force exploded!

Wei Jingtong felt as if his palm force had struck a bronze bell covered in iron armor, which contained the power of a volcanic eruption inside. Not only was it difficult to penetrate, but he was also shaken by the rebounding force, causing his blood and Qi to churn and his arms to go numb.

Furthermore, an icy Evil Qi invaded his Meridians through the fists, faintly echoing the Nether Soul-Erosion Curse within him, making it almost impossible to suppress his injuries!

"His force... how can it be so strange?!"

Wei Jingtong became more alarmed as the fight went on. He found that his proud Movement Techniques and eerie palm skills were restricted everywhere before this opponent, whose strength, defense, and endurance were incredibly high!

Chen Linsheng pressed his advantage. Fists, palms, elbows, knees... every part of his body turned into a killing weapon. The Layered Waves exertion technique was integrated into his close-quarters combat, and his offensive was like a violent storm, one wave higher than the last!

Wei Jingtong had already been suffering from unhealed injuries and had forced himself to use a secret method to travel. His mind was further unsettled by the fact that the Heavenly Silkworm Smoke was ineffective. Now, under Chen Linsheng's straightforward and heavy strikes, he finally couldn't hold on.

Crack!

With a crisp sound, Wei Jingtong's blocking arm was snapped by an elbow strike from Chen Linsheng that contained triple hidden force!

He screamed and stumbled backward.

Chen Linsheng's eyes were as cold as ten-thousand-year-old ice. Seizing this fleeting opportunity, he lunged forward, his right fingers spreading like a dragon emerging from its cave, instantly seizing Wei Jingtong's throat!

"Ugh..." Wei Jingtong's eyes bulged, filled with fear and resentment. He struggled desperately, the remaining White Lotus Sect secret methods in his body circulating frantically as he tried to make one last stand.

But Chen Linsheng gave him no chance. The fingers gripping his throat suddenly exerted force, and the terrifying power of Python Dragon Strength and Iron Arm Skill exploded instantly!

Crack!

The sound of the throat bone shattering was clearly audible.

Wei Jingtong's body suddenly stiffened, all his struggles coming to an abrupt halt as the light in his eyes quickly faded.

The Envoy of the White Lotus Sect, born of the Wei family in Jiangnan and possessing the White Crane Wind and Cloud Song ultimate technique, Wei Jingtong—

Dead!

Chen Linsheng released his grip, and Wei Jingtong's corpse slumped to the ground. In those wide-staring eyes, there were still traces of shock, resentment, and a hint of disbelief, as if even in death he couldn't understand why he had fallen at the hands of a seemingly ordinary Flesh Refining Realm "hard-body Martial Artist."

Chen Linsheng stood in place, breathing slightly, feeling the blood and Qi still surging within him and his almost undamaged state, his eyes scanning the surroundings sharply.

This place was not suitable for a long stay; he had to deal with the traces immediately and flee far away.

Without hesitation, he quickly searched Wei Jingtong's body, taking all valuable items. Then he picked up the body and hurried to Zhang Yuchen's remains, placing the two corpses together. He took out Corpse-Dissolving Powder from his robe and carefully sprinkled it over them.

With a sizzling sound, blue smoke rose.

Having finished all this, he did not look back. With a few leaps, he completely disappeared into the depths of the dark bamboo forest, as if he had never appeared.

Only the traces of fighting left behind and the gradually dissipating faint fishy smell spoke of the brief but deadly struggle that had just occurred.