118: Chen Jiangping?

Boom!

A massive roar resounded as a colossal saber light, resembling a galaxy-like flood dragon, collided with the layered manifestations formed by the seven Dragon Guards in the sky.

In an instant, it was like Mars crashing into Earth. The immense force generated a terrifying surge of energy that erupted in all directions, and the fierce astral winds, like sharp steel blades, plowed through the surrounding ground inch by inch, revealing the grayish-brown soil beneath.

At the center of the battle...

"Bang, bang, bang!"

A series of explosions rang out. Under the combined attack of Lin Yi and Jiang Hanhan, the seven Dragon Guards were sent flying back like balls being struck, retreating instantly. They flew backward for over a hundred meters before finally coming to a stop.

"What! How is this possible! Although the Dragon Guards' Formation requires ten people to be complete and unleash its maximum power to rival an Innate..."

"Even if only seven of us use an incomplete Formation, its power should definitely surpass a First Rank Invincible and reach the 'Half-Step Innate' level."

"How could the two of them possibly withstand it! How could their strength be so terrifying?"

"No! It's not that both of them are terrifying; it's this Lin Yi! He's too terrifying!"

"He is much stronger than Jiang Hanhan! He's likely standing at the Peak even among First Rank Invincibles!"

"Heavens! He's only seventeen years old!"

Seeing this scene, everyone was shocked once again.

When Lin Yi had previously slain three Dragon Guards with a single strike, they could only see that his strength had reached the First Rank Invincible level.

After all, those three Dragon Guards were only at the Middle Stage of the First Rank. Even combined, they could barely rival the Peak of the First Rank.

This strength was far weaker than the Baiyu Sect Elder, the First Rank Peak expert 'Mystic Light Blade' Feng Leidian, whom Jiang Hanhan had defeated in fifty-six moves. If it were Jiang Hanhan, he could have also killed those three Dragon Guards in a single move.

So, although they knew Lin Yi had achieved a Breakthrough, they thought he was just an ordinary First Rank Invincible. They never expected his strength to be this formidable; it was simply unbelievable!

"A bunch of trash! Pure trash! I'm really going to be killed by you lot this time!"

On the other side, seeing the seven-man team sent flying by Lin Yi and Jiang Hanhan, Chen Zhao couldn't help but curse, shouting at the seven Dragon Guards:

"Seven of you, and you can't even handle two little brats. You're absolute trash!"

"What are you still standing there for? Since you can't handle them, get the hell out of here! Do you want to wait here to die?"

Chen Zhao cursed loudly.

By now, he understood that this assassination attempt had failed again.

In the two battlefields, within the Innate battlefield, Black and White Impermanence and Marquis Huailin Chen Zhao were already barely holding their own against Liu Donglai, even being slightly at a disadvantage.

And in the First Rank battlefield, the seven Dragon Guards were actually no match for Lin Yi and Jiang Hanhan.

Under these circumstances, if they continued to fight, those of them at the Innate realm might barely manage to escape with their lives, but the seven Dragon Guards would definitely be doomed!

Because the Dragon Guards' combined Formation consumed an immense amount of blood and Qi. In terms of endurance, they were not as good as First-Rank Martial Artists like Lin Yi and Jiang Hanhan.

So, rather than fighting until everyone was dead, it was better to retreat now and preserve as much of their strength as possible.

After all, the Dragon Guards were quite important to the Great Yuan Dynasty, and even the Yuan Emperor valued them highly.

This time, Chen Zhao had already committed a great crime because of his poor decision-making and greed, wanting to kill both Lin Yi and Jiang Hanhan at once, which led to the loss of three Dragon Guards at the start and indirectly caused the failure of the assassination of Lin Yi.

If he let the remaining seven Dragon Guards fall here as well, he really wouldn't know how to answer to His Majesty the Yuan Emperor.

At that time, even if the Yuan Emperor spared his life considering he was a Xiantian Golden Core Realm master, he would definitely be severely punished.

Thinking of the terrifying punishments of the Great Yuan Dynasty, even as a Xiantian Golden Core Realm master with extraordinary willpower, he couldn't help but shudder.

"Yes! Lord Marquis Huailin, we will flee at once!"

"Go! Scatter and escape!"

Among the seven Dragon Guards, the captain, a burly man named Huang Jiu, shouted. Immediately, he and the other six Dragon Guards fled like lightning in seven different directions.

"Kill!"

Lin Yi and Jiang Hanhan exchanged a glance, and then simultaneously gave chase to the six ordinary Dragon Guards.

There was no choice! Although they also wanted to kill the captain, Huang Jiu, to weaken the Great Yuan Dynasty's strength as much as possible...

Huang Jiu's strength was simply too great. Although he hadn't reached First Rank Invincible, he was very close.

With such strength, even Jiang Hanhan or Lin Yi wouldn't be able to finish him off in a short time.

Therefore, if they insisted on chasing Huang Jiu, he might eventually die, but at least three or four of the other Dragon Guards would escape. It wasn't worth it.

"Boom!"

With thoughts racing, in the next instant, Lin Yi and Jiang Hanhan's figures flashed. Using their terrifying Force Exertion Realms—the Perfection of the Fourth Level and the Fifth Level of Breaking Limits—their bodies instantly broke through several sonic barriers, appearing behind two Dragon Guards like they had teleported.

"Slash!"

"Whoosh!"

Terrifying saber and sword light flared. A broad galaxy and a frigid hornless dragon flew out, instantly striking the two Dragon Guards.

And then... *Puchi!*

*Puchi!*

Accompanied by the sound of sharp blades entering flesh, under the weapons of these two First-Rank Masters, the two Dragon Guards were like ants, having no power to resist at all, and were instantly slain on the spot.

"Continue!"

After killing these two Dragon Guards, Lin Yi and Jiang Hanhan did not delay and charged toward the other Dragon Guards again.

Soon, in less than five breaths of time, Lin Yi and Jiang Hanhan caught up with their respective targets once more.

Then... *Puchi!*

*Clang!*

In two different parts of the ancient forest, two completely different sounds rang out almost simultaneously as Lin Yi and Jiang Hanhan struck at nearly the same time.

Jiang Hanhan, just like before, killed his Dragon Guard effortlessly.

However, Lin Yi, who was even stronger, found his strike blocked by the seemingly ordinary Dragon Guard in front of him. That Dragon Guard even used the recoil from Lin Yi's strike to suddenly boost his speed and flee into the distance.

"What! Peak of the First Rank! How could a lowly, ordinary Dragon Guard be this strong?"

Seeing this, even Lin Yi was somewhat stunned.

One had to know that although his strike just now was a casual one, its power was still immense. Anyone below the Peak of the First Rank would basically be killed instantly.

Even a normal Peak First Rank, if they could block it, would definitely be injured and could not possibly use the force to escape instead.

But this Dragon Guard could do it, which proved his strength was very high even among Peak First Ranks. Even if Lin Yi went all out, the opponent might be able to trade three to five moves with him.

How could a mere ordinary Dragon Guard be so powerful?

"And..."

"Besides that, the sword technique he just used didn't look like a technique of the Great Yuan Dynasty. Instead, it seemed a bit like the Wanxiang Tower's exclusive First Rank martial art—"

"Mystic Yuan Heavenly Light Sword!"

At this thought, Lin Yi's pupils constricted slightly. A person instantly came to mind, a person with whom he shared a blood feud!

That was the former Vice Tower Master of the Dongshan Prefecture Wanxiang Tower, who was once famous throughout the prefecture for his 'Mystic Yuan Heavenly Light Sword,' and who later betrayed the Wanxiang Tower and disappeared after killing Zhou Feng—Chen Jiangping!

PS: I haven't abandoned any settings. I haven't forgotten the setting that the Dragon Guards have trained together since childhood and share a telepathic connection; I'll explain it tomorrow.

And soon, a series of major climaxes is coming!