85: Chapter 85 Hunting Down the Demonic Cult

Looking at Constable Lie Ming, who was standing before him with a respectful, even deliberately ingratiating attitude, the sense of dissonance in Lin Tian's heart not only failed to dissipate but grew even stronger.

Based on his understanding of Constable Lie Ming, the man was vengeful and narrow-minded. Especially now, after having achieved a Breakthrough in strength and having "rendered a great service," facing Lin Tian—his "enemy" and the person who "stole his credit"—even if he dared not provoke him openly, he should certainly not be acting in such a subservient, almost fawning manner.

When things are abnormal, there must be a demon at work.

However, the arrow had already left the bow. Centurion Shen Lian and the others within Tingtao Villa might have already engaged the Demonic Cult. Charged with the responsibility of guarding the perimeter, Lin Tian had no time to delve into Constable Lie Ming's abnormality.

Suppressing the doubts in his heart, Lin Tian issued a command in a deep voice: "Everyone, form groups of three and spread out in a fan shape. Using Tingtao Villa as the center, blockade all paths, gaps in the walls, and entrances to the mountain forest!"

"The distance between each group must not exceed twenty zhang, and maintain visual contact!"

"Once you discover anyone escaping from the villa, sound the alarm immediately and work together to capture them!"

"Remember, those coming out are likely remnants of the Demonic Cult—vicious and cunning. You must be on high alert; do not show the slightest slackness!"

"Senior Sister Chen Yu, you lead a group to guard the east side; Liu Hao, you lead a group to guard the west side; Constable Lie Ming, your men are familiar with the terrain, so take responsibility for the north and south flanks and the rear mountain forest entrance. The rest of you, follow me to provide support from the center!"

"Yes!" everyone replied in unison, quickly dispersing according to the instructions and hiding within the darkness and the shadows of the ruins surrounding Tingtao Villa, like an invisible net being cast.

Lin Tian himself chose a spot behind a broken wall that was slightly elevated, allowing him to keep an eye on both the villa's main gate and the walls on either side. He held his breath and focused, his gaze scanning the silent estate sharply.

Senior Sister Chen Yu and the others also took their positions. The air seemed to solidify, leaving only the rustling sound of the night wind blowing through the wild grass, and the shrill cries of unknown night owls occasionally drifting from afar.

Waiting time always seemed exceptionally long.

Every breath felt like it was silently striking against their taut heartstrings.

The interior of Tingtao Villa was deathly silent, as if the dozens of Imperial Guard elites led by Centurion Shen Lian had vanished like clay oxen entering the sea the moment they stepped inside, leaving not a single sound behind.

This silence was, instead, even more unsettling.

Senior Sister Chen Yu gripped her long saber tightly, her palms slightly sweaty. Liu Hao and the others also involuntarily adjusted their breathing, their eyes fixed firmly on their respective assigned areas.

Although they were Imperial Guards, most were still newcomers. Participating in an operation to suppress the "Demonic Cult" for the first time, nervousness was inevitable.

Lin Tian's heart was not calm either.

He believed in Centurion Shen Lian's strength and judgment, but the Demonic Cult was treacherous. That black-robed messenger had been able to produce a "burning blood demonic pill" to control Constable Lie Ming and had managed to plant "evidence" at the Wang family shop without anyone knowing. Its power and methods were far from ordinary.

This Tingtao Villa was likely truly a Dragon's pool and tiger's den.

Just as this suffocating silence reached its peak— "Centurion Shen Lian! You have finally come!"

A sharp, hoarse, and piercing shriek, filled with malice and wild joy, suddenly exploded from deep within the villa, like the wailing of a night owl or a ghost, tearing through the night sky!

Immediately after, the clanging of blades being drawn, the explosive sounds of Qi colliding, angry shouts, screams, and a strange, teeth-grinding noise—resembling both metal scraping and the roar of a beast—interwove instantly and erupted with a roar!

The fight had begun!

"They've started fighting inside!"

"It's the Demonic Cult evildoers!"

"Such strong Qi! There really are experts inside!"

Everyone lurking on the perimeter was shaken. Senior Sister Chen Yu and the others tightened their bodies instantly, their hearts pounding wildly.

Although they had anticipated it, actually hearing the intense sounds of slaughter inside, especially those strange noises mixed in that no human could possibly make, still made their scalps tingle.

Lin Tian's eyes were sharp as knives, fixed firmly on the villa gate that remained closed but trembled slightly amidst the sounds of slaughter within. His left hand was already pressed against the hilt of the saber at his waist.

He knew that the real test had perhaps only just begun.

Once the outcome of the battle inside was decided, whichever side won, there might be someone attempting to break out.

The sounds of battle inside the villa became increasingly intense, and faint firelight shone through, illuminating parts of the broken eaves.

Various eerie lights and the shockwaves of Qi burst forth from time to time, demonstrating the danger of the battle.

Just as the nerves of those on the perimeter were stretched to the breaking point, a short, startled cry suddenly came from the direction of the south mountain forest, which Constable Lie Ming was responsible for. This was immediately followed by Constable Lie Ming's deliberately raised, "anxious" shout: "Stop! A Demonic Cult remnant is running this way! Chase them! Don't let them get away!"

"Chase them!"

"Where are you going!"

A few shouts and hurried footsteps rang out, as if there really were fish that had slipped through the net, and they were fleeing toward the depths of the dense forest far from the villa.

"Banner Leader Lin! A thief has run into the southern forest! This subordinate will go chase them!" Constable Lie Ming's voice came from afar, carrying a tone of seeking permission, but his footsteps seemed to have already started moving.

"Stop!" Lin Tian's eyes turned cold, and he shouted sternly, "Constable Lie Ming, hold your position! Without my orders, no one is to leave their post without authorization! As for chasing the enemy, I will go!"

How could he feel at ease letting Constable Lie Ming "chase the enemy"? Not to mention that this person's actions were suspicious, the mere point of "neglecting duty and causing a gap in the defensive line" was something that could absolutely not be allowed.

In case this was a diversion, or if Constable Lie Ming had some other scheme...

"Senior Sister Chen Yu, hold your positions and stay alert! I will be back shortly!" Lin Tian quickly instructed Senior Sister Chen Yu and the others not far away.

With a tap of his feet, he instantly activated his Wind-Chasing Footwork at the Perfection Realm. His entire being became like a phantom merging with the night wind, and he dashed rapidly toward the direction where Constable Lie Ming had called out, his speed so fast that he left only a faint afterimage in his wake.

Watching the back of Lin Tian as he pursued without hesitation and with extreme speed, Constable Lie Ming, hidden in the shadows, slowly curled his lips, revealing a cold smile mixed with malice, gratification, and cruelty.

"Hmph... Fool, go on, go on... walk right into the trap. Inside, there are Demonic Cult experts waiting for Centurion Shen Lian. Outside, there are naturally people... waiting to deal with you. Once you are all dead, this Heishan City... will become lively."

He muttered to himself, then retreated back into the shadows like a lurking viper, quietly waiting for the slaughter inside and outside the villa to come to an end, waiting for... his "credit" and "reward."

Lin Tian pushed his footwork to the limit, crossing dozens of zhang in a few leaps, and plunged into the denser, darker, primeval mountain forest on the south side.

The night wind passed through the treetops, making strange wailing sounds that masked most other noises.

He could vaguely hear the rustling of branches and leaves being disturbed ahead, as if someone were indeed fleeing for their life.

He did not immediately pursue at full speed, but maintained a certain distance, opening his spiritual senses fully to carefully perceive everything around him. The air was filled with the damp, rotting scent of vegetation and soil, with no obvious traces of blood or evil energy remaining.

This made the doubts in his heart grow even stronger.

After pursuing for about a li or more, the trees ahead gradually thinned out, revealing a small clearing in the forest. Moonlight struggled through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting mottled spots of light.

Just at the moment Lin Tian was about to step into the clearing, the "fleeing" movement ahead suddenly vanished.

Following that, a figure slowly stepped out from the shadows of an ancient tree at the edge of the clearing and blocked his path.

By the faint moonlight, Lin Tian saw the person clearly. It was not the Demonic Cult evildoer he had imagined, but a face he was familiar with—missing an arm, his face looking exceptionally pale in the moonlight, yet his eyes were filled with malice, madness, and a kind of... abnormal excitement. It was Lie Yun.

"It's you?" Lin Tian stopped, his brows slightly furrowed. His gaze swept over Lie Yun's empty right sleeve and then fell upon his face, where his breath was clearly unstable yet abnormally surging. He said coldly, "Lie Yun? What are you doing here? Have you seen any Demonic Cult remnants fleeing this way?"

"Demonic Cult remnants? Hahahaha!" Lie Yun seemed to have heard a huge joke, letting out a hoarse and crazy laugh. The laughter echoed in the silent forest, sounding exceptionally harsh. "No need to look, Lin Tian! There are no Demonic Cult remnants here, only you... and me!"

He stepped forward abruptly, raising his only remaining left arm to point at Lin Tian. His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was twisted by extreme hatred: "I have waited for you... waited so bitterly! Finally, I have waited for this opportunity to personally... slaughter you!"

"Just you?" Lin Tian's eyes were cold as ten-thousand-year glacial ice, sweeping over his empty sleeve. "It seems severing one of your arms last time didn't teach you a sufficient lesson. A broken and defeated body, yet you dare to speak of revenge? Today, I will definitely not spare you!"

"A broken and defeated body? Hahahaha! Lin Tian, open your dog eyes and take a good look!" Lie Yun laughed wildly, his aura exploding suddenly from his whole body!

A surge of vigorous Qi and blood, far more powerful and scorching than before, yet carrying a sense of vanity and restlessness, shot up into the sky like an out-of-control volcano!

The fallen leaves around were swept up by this aura, spinning and flying, while the nearby shrubbery trembled!

Second Grade Middle Stage! And it was a Second Grade Middle Stage with extremely vigorous—even somewhat "excessive"—Qi and blood!

Sensing this fluctuation of Qi and blood, which was far superior to what Lie Yun had before losing his arm, and even a bit more surging than that of an ordinary Second Grade Middle Stage Martial Artist, Lin Tian's pupils constricted slightly.

A Breakthrough? How is that possible?! He clearly remembered that Lie Yun had been severely injured by him in the arena, his arms fractured. Even with Spirit Medicine treatment, it would require a long time of recuperation, and it would be fortunate if his strength did not regress.

Severing an arm was an even greater blow to a Martial Artist's Foundation, hindering the circulation of Qi and blood and making the difficulty of Cultivation increase exponentially. Yet this Lie Yun before him not only seemed to have recovered from his injuries but had actually broken through the Bottleneck and entered the Second Grade Middle Stage? This completely defied the common logic of the martial Dao!

Seeing the shock flash in Lin Tian's eyes, the crazy smile on Lie Yun's face became even more twisted and complacent, as if he were enjoying immense pleasure: "How about it? Kid, are you shocked? Surprised? Didn't expect it, right? I, Lie Yun, am not only not crippled, but even stronger! Now, I am also at the Second Grade Middle Stage! I am not weaker than you! The grudge of my severed arm will be repaid today! I will return the pain you inflicted upon me tenfold, hundredfold! I will tear you into ten thousand pieces to vent the hatred in my heart!"

The reason he was able to "Breakthrough" was naturally thanks to his brother, Constable Lie Ming. Three days ago, Constable Lie Ming had secretly given him a blood-red Medicinal Pill, saying it could make his injuries recover quickly and had a great chance of helping him achieve a Breakthrough. Lie Yun, eager for revenge and trusting his brother implicitly, had consumed it without hesitation.

That "burning blood demonic pill" was indeed overbearing. It not only stabilized his Qi and blood, which had been collapsing due to his severed arm, but also forced his cultivation to the Second Grade Middle Stage at the cost of burning his potential and overdrawing his life! However, this power was vain and restless, his Foundation was unstable, and he needed to take the Medicinal Pill every day to maintain it, otherwise, there would be the danger of Qi and blood backlash and a drop in cultivation. But Lie Yun, whose reason had been devoured by hatred, had long since ceased to care about such things.

"Go to hell! Lin Tian!" Lie Yun let out a beast-like roar, his only remaining left arm raised abruptly, his five fingers curled like hooks. In his palm, a crimson light condensed and flickered crazily, and the surrounding air was slightly distorted by the scorching heat!

He did not use a saber, but directly unleashed the ultimate technique of the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall—the Fire Sand Palm! Moreover, it was a palm strike infused with all the violent, vain, yet shockingly massive amount of Qi and blood currently in his body, without any reservation!

"Fire Sand Palm—Burning Heaven and Boiling Sea!" Before the palm wind arrived, a scorching, violent, fishy wind carrying the burnt stench of sulfur already rushed toward his face! The palm shadow was crimson, as if it had truly transformed into a wave of flames that incinerated everything, pressing down upon Lin Tian's head! The strength was so great that it faintly exceeded the scope of a full-power strike from an ordinary Second Grade Middle Stage Martial Artist! Lin Tian's eyes narrowed. Facing this crazy and fierce strike, his feet did not move, and his right hand slowly gripped the hilt of the long saber at his waist.