Chapter Ninety-Seven: A Chill Sweeps Through the Valley

“How is this possible?”

Everyone was stunned and horrified by the scene unfolding in the sky, especially the disciples of the Hongyuan Sect, who were momentarily dumbfounded.

The invincible Senior Brother Ling in their minds was pierced through by that young man’s brushstroke? How could that be!

Even though Senior Brother Ling only existed as a projection now, this shouldn’t have happened. They knew his strength too well—he had become the top prodigy of the premier sect Hongyuan not by mere background, but through genuine power.

Even Senior Brother Ling himself now wore an expression of shock and disbelief, glancing down at the massive brush piercing his projected form, his eyes twitching involuntarily.

Centered on that brush tip, cracks like spiderwebs began to spread rapidly across his spirit-formed projection, expanding until they covered his entire body in an instant.

He appeared like a shattered glass figurine, terrifying and chilling to behold.

“This disgrace today, I, Wang, will repay it to Senior Brother Ling in due time,” Wang Ran said with a grim smile, glancing at his crushed left shoulder, then softly addressing Ling Tianchen, who stood nearby.

Ling Tianchen’s face darkened at these words. He too looked down at his own fading, fracturing form, veins bulging on his forehead.

“Do you think you can escape? All disciples of Hongyuan Sect, heed my command! This man has been severely injured by me and is no longer a threat. Pursue him to the ends of the earth and kill him without mercy!”

Before his projection vanished, Ling Tianchen flashed a cold, triumphant smile at Wang Ran, his voice booming like thunder, reaching every ear.

“Obeying Senior Brother Ling’s command!”

The disciples of Hongyuan Sect responded with fierce determination, raising their fists in unison toward the sky.

Watching Ling Tianchen’s smug expression fade, Wang Ran’s brow furrowed slightly. Indeed, as Ling had said, Wang Ran was now extremely exhausted. His body was not made of iron; after continuous battles, his strength was waning.

Moreover, having lost an arm to Ling Tianchen’s crushing grip, he had lost half his combat power, making it difficult to face Lin Jun and the many elite disciples of Hongyuan Sect.

“Since Senior Brother Ling has spoken, then even if it costs us our lives, we will kill you!” Lin Jun’s eyes glinted with murderous intent as he stepped forward coldly, fixing his gaze on Wang Ran in the sky.

“Nonsense! With us here, who dares lay a finger on Senior Brother Wang today!” At this moment, Xu Ke from the WeWo Sect slammed his fist on the table and shouted furiously at Lin Jun.

Zhao Xiaobai and the junior sister, among others, cast wary glances, cautiously watching the hostile Hongyuan disciples.

“Hmph, arrogant words,” Lin Jun sneered at Xu Ke’s interruption. In a flash, he appeared before Xu Ke like a ghost, delivering a palm strike from afar.

Bang!

Xu Ke’s tower-like frame was flung backward, scraping a long trail on the ground over ten meters until he crashed against a massive rock and stopped.

“Ugh—”

Many disciples of WeWo Sect gasped sharply at the scene. Zhao Xiaobai’s pupils contracted, having barely caught how Lin Jun struck.

Lin Jun’s cultivation was at the peak Foundation Establishment stage, with spiritual power nearly matching that of a Golden Core cultivator, though he had yet to break through the mortal-immortal barrier.

Therefore, even a strong half-step Golden Core like Xu Ke struggled to withstand Lin Jun.

Xu Ke scrambled up from the rubble, coughing out mouthfuls of fresh blood. Looking at Lin Jun in disbelief, a surge of defiance and anger arose within him, charging forward like a raging elephant.

Bang!

The massive shadow was flung backward again, crashing at the same spot.

“No matter how many times, you will never defeat me,” Lin Jun said coldly, staring at Xu Ke in the rubble with aloof pride.

Xu Ke refused to surrender. In his heart, Wang Ran was not only the leader of the Haoran Alliance but also like an elder brother figure—protective and proud, yet willing to devote everything for the disciples of Haoran Alliance without reservation.

Whether sparing his life in fights or shouting “Those who oppose Haoran Alliance shall meet such a fate” when defeating Beiming Lie earlier, those moments had left an indelible mark on Xu Ke.

So this time, he would give his all to protect Wang Ran, his revered senior brother.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Seeing Xu Ke’s massive body repeatedly thrown aside only to charge again resolutely, the disciples of WeWo Sect couldn’t help but feel a pang in their hearts.

“Stubborn fool!”

Irritated by Xu Ke’s relentless assault, Lin Jun formed a hand seal, instantly summoning a powerful surge of spiritual energy several times stronger than before, his eyes flashing with deadly intent.

Wang Ran, suspended in midair, noticed this and, moved yet resolute, took a deep breath and shouted, “Old Xu, have you gone mad? Stop this at once!”

Xu Ke’s charging form froze. He looked up at Wang Ran, and the other disciples trembled as they looked on.

“All WeWo Sect disciples, listen carefully! Since I brought you out, I won’t let any of you return maimed or crippled. Now, stop this nonsense immediately! Go back to the sect and cultivate for decades before coming out again, or don’t disgrace me!”

Hearing these words, everyone’s expression changed, struggling within. The junior sister’s voice even choked with emotion, her large eyes misty as she cried out, “Senior Brother, I won’t leave!”

“Shut up!” Wang Ran’s face turned stern. He flicked a finger, striking the junior sister’s neck. Her body went limp, collapsing onto a nearby disciple.

After doing this, Wang Ran swept his gaze over the group again before finally resting on Zhao Xiaobai.

“Xiaobai, I entrust these disciples to you. Please... bring them back to the sect.”

Zhao Xiaobai’s eyes were complicated. Facing the powerful half-step Golden Core disciples of Hongyuan Sect, a sense of helplessness washed over him for the first time. He deeply understood the severity of the situation, beyond his control.

After a moment’s hesitation, he gritted his teeth, formed a hand seal, enveloping the WeWo Sect disciples in a protective shield. A large sword appeared beneath his feet.

“Be careful!”

With that, Zhao Xiaobai didn’t linger further. Turning, he led the group swiftly across the sky.

“Jun, are we really letting them go just like that?” a Hongyuan disciple whispered to Lin Jun, the implication clear.

Lin Jun didn’t even glance at Zhao Xiaobai and the others, his gaze locked tightly on Wang Ran.

“Ignore those distractions. Just focus on the main target,” he said coldly.

The others nodded solemnly, spiritual energy surging as they fixed their eyes on the figure in the sky, whose presence now seemed diminished and vulnerable.

Meanwhile, Wang Ran, wavering and suspended midair, quietly watched Zhao Xiaobai and the others depart. After a long moment, a faint smile appeared. Lowering his gaze to Lin Jun, his eyes burned with murderous intent.