Chapter 101: Exaggeration

A sword pierced directly into the back of Lin Hao’s shoulder, while a fireball, unleashed by the Elder, struck his body, directly damaging his heart meridians. Even though Lin Hao had managed to block the attack with his Cloud-Swallowing Sword, he was still wounded. With a dull thud, he collapsed to the ground.

The scene left everyone stunned, unable to process what had just happened. The Elder, having only landed on the ground a moment later, finally saw the chaos that had unfolded. Glaring at Mu Sen, the Elder shouted, "Mu Sen!"

At this moment, Mu Sen, seeing Lin Hao sprawled on the ground, burst into hysterical laughter, his eyes wild as if possessed. "Hahaha! Lin Hao, don't even dream of walking out of here alive today. I must kill you! You dared to challenge an Elder—how truly pathetic."

Lin Hao, already suffering from internal injuries from the previous blow, felt a stabbing pain in his heart meridians just trying to sit up. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. With a sharp tearing sound, he gritted his teeth, pulled the blade from his back, and tossed it to the ground. He glared at Mu Sen and began to walk toward him, step by step, radiating an aura of darkness. The majesty emanating from Lin Hao at this moment filled everyone with dread.

Lin Hao spoke in a cold, icy tone, "You? You think you can kill me? Today, I will ensure you die right here."

Lin Hao was furious beyond words. He turned his hand into a claw and reached toward Mu Sen; his grip was so forceful that the veins in his hand stood out. Mu Sen was instantly pulled forward, landing directly in Lin Hao’s grasp, his neck firmly choked. With one heave, Lin Hao lifted him into the air and slammed him back down to the ground with a thunderous crash, followed by a swift, heavy kick. Mu Sen was sent flying until he slammed into the door with a loud thud.

The onlookers gasped in shock. "Wow! What is going on?"

The Elder frowned at the sight. Though he was incensed by Mu Sen’s cowardly sneak attack during a duel, he was, after all, a member of the Law Enforcement Hall. For Lin Hao to act so recklessly right in front of him, the Elder felt deeply displeased and further offended by Lin Hao’s lack of decorum.

"Lin Hao, stop!" the Elder shouted.

But Lin Hao was beyond hearing the Elder’s words. His focus was entirely on Mu Sen, his eyes filled with murderous intent. He never showed mercy to those who ambushed or deceived him. Today’s conflict had been instigated by Mu Sen; Lin Hao had come to the blessed grounds in high spirits to practice his Earth-element cultivation, only to be harassed by Mu Sen, leaving him brimming with bottled-up rage. Now that Mu Sen had dared to launch a sneak attack, Lin Hao felt he would be doing himself a disservice if he didn't kill him.

Cao Yi, who had not said a word since he arrived, continued to watch the scene silently without intervening. As Lin Hao passed him, walking toward Mu Sen, Cao Yi unexpectedly raised his palm and channeled a gust of wind, striking Lin Hao’s back.

"Ugh!" A surge of spiritual energy poured into Lin Hao’s meridians. The internal injuries he had just sustained were instantly healed. Lin Hao looked back at Cao Yi in surprise, but the latter stood there with an indifferent expression, as if he had done nothing at all. If not for the sensation of his wounds having vanished, Lin Hao might have thought it was an illusion.

Observing Cao Yi, Lin Hao gave him a solemn look of profound gratitude before turning back to continue his advance toward Mu Sen. Whether it was due to the sheer potency of the spiritual energy Cao Yi had provided, or some other reason, as Lin Hao walked, he felt his entire body growing hot and his spiritual power surging violently, as if something were about to burst out from within him.

Lin Hao struggled to suppress the rampaging energy, his hands clenched into fists, veins bulging on his face. He persisted, step by step, toward Mu Sen.

Lin Hao could not see himself, but Mu Sen could. Mu Sen watched with terror as Lin Hao’s spiritual energy surged, his aura becoming overwhelmingly powerful. Coupled with the ferocious expression on his face, Mu Sen backed away in fear. Sensing the mortal danger, he scrambled toward the door, trying to flee. Just as he was about to crawl out, Lin Hao grabbed his foot and dragged him back into the main hall.

With a loud thud, Mu Sen hit the floor, creating a crater in the ground. The sound was so resonant that everyone watching felt a sympathetic pang of pain.

"Ah!" A collective gasp swept through the crowd. Everyone was too shocked to speak. Even the Elder was momentarily dazed.

In that split second of hesitation, Lin Hao let out a roar. He slammed both palms onto the ground and struck.

*Rumble! Rumble!*

As Lin Hao’s knees hit the floor, the entire Law Enforcement Hall began to collapse, as if struck by an earthquake. The ground where his palms landed caved in, forming a massive pit. Despite the hall being built on high ground, the force of that strike instantly leveled the terrain.

As the building crumbled, everyone was terrified. "Run!" was all they could manage to scream. Those near the door managed to scramble out, while the rest were buried in the rubble. The Elder, Cao Yi, and a few other disciples managed to escape. The entire area for several miles around the Law Enforcement Hall began to sink. What was once a hillside had been transformed into a vast basin by the sheer power of Lin Hao’s strike. The tremors were felt not just by the hall, but across the entire inner sect of the Qingcheng Sect, as if a massive earthquake had occurred.

After the tremors ceased, the sound of falling debris echoed. The terrain had undergone significant changes, though not as drastically as at the Law Enforcement Hall. The commotion drew countless onlookers to the scene.

High atop the tallest peak of Mount Qingcheng, an old man who had been meditating in his room was shaken awake by the tremors. He opened his eyes, a brilliant light flashing within them. Seeing the chaos at the Law Enforcement Hall, he took flight and soared toward the site.

Upon arrival, he saw the devastation of the Hall and was most shocked by the drastic change in the landscape. He landed slowly and looked toward Cao Yi and the Elder, asking, "What has happened?"

At his voice, everyone fell silent. They turned and bowed respectfully. "Sect Master!"

So, this old man was the Sect Master of the Qingcheng Sect. Cao Yi, seeing his master, did not speak but looked toward the collapsed ruins with a worried expression. The Elder, however, was full of sorrow and immediately began to complain to the Sect Master.

"Sect Master, you must seek justice for the Law Enforcement Hall! You must give us an explanation today!" As the Elder spoke, he glared at Cao Yi. He was now dissatisfied with Cao Yi as well; if Cao Yi hadn't intervened earlier, he could have dealt with Lin Hao, and none of this would have happened. Looking at the scene of ruin—a place that, just a moment ago, had been a grand, majestic hall—the Elder felt his rage boiling over. He had almost been buried alive. With Lin Hao nowhere to be seen, he had to vent his fury on Cao Yi.

Cao Yi ignored the Elder’s resentment, his gaze fixed coldly on the ruins. Other disciples were busy frantically digging for those trapped inside.

The Sect Master listened to the Elder’s account with an unreadable expression. The Elder did not exaggerate, telling the story as he knew it, though he framed it as Lin Hao being the provocateur and blamed him for the destruction of the hall.

After listening, the Sect Master looked at Cao Yi. Cao Yi, however, had his eyes closed, using his divine sense to search for Lin Hao, paying no heed to the conversation. Just as the Sect Master was about to speak, Cao Yi suddenly opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them as he rushed toward the collapsed area.

The Sect Master watched as well. Suddenly, a loud "Bang!" echoed, as if something had exploded. Debris, wood, and stones were blasted outward from a single point at the center of the collapse. Those nearby were forced to dodge in panic.

When the dust settled, Lin Hao stood up. He walked out of the ruins, step by step, his body glowing with a faint light.

Cao Yi stepped forward and examined him, asking, "Are you alright?"

Lin Hao curled his lips into a smile. "I'm fine."

Lin Hao truly felt excellent; there was no falsehood in his words. Earlier, when he felt he could no longer control the primordial power within him, the surge of spiritual energy had been released through that single palm strike. He hadn't expected such a result, but the excess energy that had been rampaging through his body had been fully expended, leaving his meridians feeling light and refreshed, as if he could float away. Even when the building collapsed, a protective film had automatically manifested around him, leaving him completely unscathed.

Seeing Lin Hao’s relaxed smile and bright eyes, Cao Yi believed him.

The Law Enforcement Elder, seeing Lin Hao emerge unscathed and radiant, felt his lungs were about to burst with rage. He pointed a trembling finger at Lin Hao, his face turning green. "Lin Hao! You have destroyed my Law Enforcement Hall! Today, if you do not give me an explanation, this will not end!"