Zhang Xuan's Profound Ice Palm froze the air, cold qi slashing through every inch of the dilapidated temple like tangible blades. Frost spread across the walls, ground, and even the Buddha statue at a visible speed, emitting a cringe-worthy "creak." Moonlight refracted through the cold, cloaking the entire temple in an eerie azure hue, with the temperature dropping dozens of degrees in an instant.
Holding Lin Ying, Lin Che retreated like a ghost. His back slammed hard against a rotting pillar, sending wood chips flying. Lin Ying, startled by the cold, turned purple instantly, her teeth chattering uncontrollably.
[Warning: Spiritual Energy Reserve 3.7%. Host will lose mobility in 7.2 seconds. Friendly Reminder: What can you do in 7.2 seconds? Leave a last words—probably three characters: "I regret it."]
The system's cold mechanical voice carried an unprecedented urgency.
Zhang Xuan approached under the moon, leaving three-inch-thick ice marks with each step. His eyes were as cold as a venomous snake, his voice scraping like ice shards against iron: "Killing my disciple and slaughtering the Zhao family's bodyguards. Tonight, you won't escape even if you grow wings."
His ten fingers were pitch black, and the venom dripping from his fingertips hissed as it corroded the ice, releasing white smoke. The pressure of Mid Qi Gathering Realm crashed down like a landslide and tsunami, making the temple's beams groan under the weight.
Lin Che shielded Lin Ying behind him, forcing himself to stand straight, his voice hoarse: "She has nothing to do with this."
"Nothing to do with it?" Zhang Xuan sneered, venom swirling on his tongue. "The Zhao family always gets what they want. This girl is quite delicate—selling her to Chunfeng Pavilion in town could cover some debts. Maybe even more valuable than that Blood Spirit Herb."
His gaze wandered over Lin Ying's pale little face, filled with disgusting greed.
[Detected host's Killing Intent exceeding 1200, reaching 1227 points. Killing Intent bar overflowing. Recommend immediate release, or host will explode in 3.8 seconds—just kidding, but you'll get a headache for real.]
[Recommendation: Activate God of Slaughter Domain · Ten Thousand Souls Devour. Success Rate: 41.3%. Failure Cost: Host's cultivation drops to Early Qi Gathering Realm, Lin Ying is abducted by Zhang Xuan, and this novel ends early. Please choose carefully.]
"41.3%?" Lin Che sneered inwardly. "Why so low?"
[System Explanation: First, your spiritual energy is only 3.7%—not even enough to fart. Second, Zhang Xuan isn't a fraud like Zhao Kun; he's a genuine Mid Qi Gathering Realm with solid foundations. Third, you're carrying a burden, reducing your combat effectiveness by 30%. So 41.3% is a favor score from me, out of respect for the Ten Great Slaughter Gods.]
"Burden?" Lin Che glanced down at Lin Ying in his arms. Though trembling with fear, the little girl covered her mouth to hold back her tears. Her clear big eyes reflected his blood-stained face.
"Brother…" Lin Ying whispered. "Can I help you?"
"No need." Lin Che's voice was hoarse. "Close your eyes and count to ten."
Tidal waves of Killing Intent surged forth, and a scarlet domain erupted around Lin Che! The domain's edge rolled like blood waves, shattering Zhang Xuan's Profound Ice into countless ice crystals on contact.
[God of Slaughter Domain · Ten Thousand Souls Devour activated successfully!]
[Warning: Current spiritual energy reserve can only sustain the domain for 15 seconds. Countdown starts: 15…14…]
Zhang Xuan's spiritual energy circulation stagnated instantly, like rusted gears jamming. His face changed drastically: "What… what kind of evil technique is this?!"
"The kind that kills you." Lin Che exhausted his last bit of strength, his figure turning into a black stream of light.
Boosted by the God of Slaughter Domain, the woodcutter's knife was wrapped in countless wailing vengeful spirits—all those who had died under Bai Qi's inheritance.
Squelch!
The blade pierced Zhang Xuan's heart precisely. His protective spiritual energy was as fragile as paper under the God of Slaughter Domain, unable to hold for even a breath. His proud Mid Qi Gathering Realm cultivation was a joke in the face of Bai Qi, the leader of the Ten Great Slaughter Gods.
[Absorbing spiritual energy…35%…70%…100%]
[Memory fragment extraction failed. Detected soul restriction on target. System Comment: This old fart is cautious—encrypted himself before dying.]
Zhang Xuan's body shriveled rapidly, collapsing to the ground as a mummy. Before dying, his eyes were filled with unwillingness and fear, his lips moving as if to say something, but only gurgling sounds escaped.
=== System Update ===
Host: Lin Che
Cultivation: Qi Gathering Realm · Peak (Solid Foundation)
God of Slaughter Domain: Fully Activated (Range: 30 Zhang Radius)
New Mission: Establish a temporary stronghold outside Qingfeng Town
Mission Reward: Unlock Xiang Yu's Inheritance [Overlord's Formation Break] (Layer 1)
[Friendly Reminder: Host, you look like a blood gourd. Recommend stopping the bleeding before fleeing. Otherwise, you'll die of blood loss before the Zhao family's reinforcements arrive.]
Lin Che knelt, gasping violently. Each breath sent a sharp pain through his chest. After two consecutive fierce battles, his spiritual energy was completely exhausted, and he relied solely on willpower to hold on. He looked down at his hands—his palms were split open, his arms covered in bone-deep wounds, with charred marks from venom corrosion mixed with blood.
Lin Ying wiped her tears, stumbling over to him. She pressed her little hands to his chest. As her palms made contact, Lin Che caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye—but when he focused, only faint moonlight shone between her brows. He frowned, suspecting it was an illusion from blood loss.