Chapter Ninety-Eight: The Deadly Game of Life and Death!

That night, the sky was shrouded in dense dark clouds, with not a trace of moonlight. A fierce, chilling wind swept through, stirring up thunder in its wake, followed by a sudden torrential downpour.

The ancient burial grounds beneath the black night exuded an indescribable aura—cold, cruel, and ominous. Occasionally, the roars of monstrous beasts echoed in the distance, sending shivers down the spine.

Crash.

A bolt of lightning tore across the heavens, illuminating the entire landscape in flickering bursts, a manifestation of overwhelming celestial power.

On the ground stood Wang Ran alone, facing a dozen or so disciples of the Hongyuan Sect at the half-Golden Core stage. His expression was unreadable, his eyes void and icy, filled only with lethal intent.

The others mirrored his demeanor. Led by Lin Jun, they subtly formed a tightening encirclement around Wang Ran, their gazes filled with ill intent.

For a moment, an oppressive sense of death hung heavily over the sky.

The shadow of death loomed over the stubborn, tenacious youth, while thunder roared above like a cold lament.

“Hand it over. That thing is not for you to possess,” Lin Jun said coldly, extending a palm as surging spiritual energy radiated from his body. He spoke from a position of dominance.

Wang Ran remained silent, his eyes meticulously scanning his surroundings. Within him, the Eternal Immortal Technique surged wildly. Like a flowing stream, vitality continuously emanated from his dantian, spreading through his meridians and bones, healing the wounds sustained in the recent fierce battle.

At present, Wang Ran’s greatest reliance was the Eternal Immortal Technique, which he had just begun to master. Thanks to this ten-star Dao method’s miraculous power, he dared to face a dozen half-Golden Core disciples with confidence.

The Eternal Immortal Technique was born from Wang Ran’s fusion of Dao methods from the myriad heavens and worlds, distilling their essence and discarding their dross, thus creating a transcendent cultivation art that granted the power of immortality.

Its most terrifying feature was the ability to increase the cultivator’s vitality and lifespan, continuously replenishing physical strength and enabling the body to heal injuries at any time.

Though Wang Ran had only reached the initial stage of this technique, his vitality and lifespan rivaled those of Golden Core cultivators. Unless struck by a fatal blow piercing his heart, he would not die; instead, he could gradually heal internal injuries over time.

At this moment, he bowed his head slightly. The Eternal Immortal Technique roared through his meridians. The shattered bones of his shoulder and arm began to regenerate bit by bit, though the process was excruciatingly slow—it would likely take at least a month or two to fully recover.

“Well? Have you thought it over? Will you hand it over willingly, or shall we capture you and torture you to death?” Lin Jun rubbed his fingertips together, speaking as he casually closed the circle around Wang Ran.

Suddenly, the silent Wang Ran shot his head up. His crimson eyes glared like a primordial beast’s, fixating on the nearest Hongyuan Sect disciple. In a flash, he dashed forward.

“Come on then!” The disciple shouted, planting his feet firmly into the ground. Spiritual energy surged from his body as he unleashed a powerful punch toward Wang Ran.

The man was tall and burly, his face fierce and imposing. His punch carried tremendous force, his half-Golden Core cultivation fully unleashed. His speed was so swift that even the surrounding raindrops seemed to part before him.

Wang Ran was already at the end of his strength, a fact apparent to all. This disciple wore a sly smile, confident he had caught an easy target and would soon receive great merit from Senior Brother Ling upon returning to the sect.

Yet Wang Ran showed no fear. His feet moved faster, spiritual power bursting forth to its peak. With equal force, he met the punch head-on.

Boom!

A tremendous explosion echoed. The disciple staggered back three steps. To his horror, all five fingers on his right fist shattered upon impact. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Wang Ran.

His body hair bristled when he noticed a silver radiance enveloping Wang Ran from head to toe, as if clad in diamond-hard crystalline armor.

Most terrifying of all were Wang Ran’s eyes—fiery red, brimming with murderous fury and ferocity unlike anything he had ever witnessed in a human.

At this moment, Wang Ran had activated the Diamond Crystal Body!

His injuries were severe, his spiritual energy nearly depleted. Although the Eternal Immortal Technique continued to supply him with vitality, he could no longer sustain the use of the Celestial Flame Burning Armor. Thus, he resorted to awakening the Diamond Crystal Body, a profound eight-star Dao method.

Despite his wounds, the mystic power of the Diamond Crystal Body allowed Wang Ran to severely injure the half-Golden Core disciple. However, the counterblow also inflicted pain; blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth. Yet, he did not falter. His eyes flashed with savage light as he gritted his teeth and lunged forward, clawing fiercely at the disciple’s throat.

Crack.

With a sound of bones breaking, the disciple’s struggling and regretful gaze faded as Wang Ran’s powerful hand crushed his throat. Having slain one, Wang Ran wasted no hesitation and immediately turned to attack the next nearest disciple.

That disciple, still stunned by his comrade’s death, barely reacted before Wang Ran’s ghost-like figure descended upon him, murderous intent engulfing his entire body.

“No! Brother Jun, save me!” he screamed, hastily conjuring a spiritual barrier for protection. But Wang Ran’s immense physical strength shattered it with a brutal collision. In the next instant, two fingers extended like eagle talons, aiming straight for his heart.

“How dare you!” Lin Jun roared in fury. The speed of Wang Ran’s sudden assault and killing of a disciple caught everyone off guard. Recovering from shock, Lin Jun was enraged beyond measure. Seeing Wang Ran about to strike again, he transformed into a blur and charged toward him.

However, Lin Jun was too far to stop him in time. Helpless, he could only watch as the disciple’s eyes dimmed and he coughed up blood, dying from Wang Ran’s claw piercing his heart.

Wang Ran’s attacks were merciless. In the blink of an eye, he had slain two. His ferocity sent chills through everyone present, their bodies trembling with dread.

“Die!” Lin Jun’s fury ignited. Two of his disciples had been brutally slain under his watch—a slap to his face he could never tolerate.

His palm blazed with deadly light as he struck Wang Ran before he could even turn.

Wang Ran let out a muffled grunt but cast a sidelong glance at Lin Jun, filled with mocking coldness.

“Oh no!” Lin Jun’s heart jolted. He realized too late what was happening and could only watch helplessly as Wang Ran’s body was hurled dozens of yards away by the force of his strike.

Spitting blood, Wang Ran swiftly formed a hand seal, using the momentum to speedily vanish toward the horizon.