Chapter 42: Strange Flame

“Wait, stop right there. I have something to say to you,” the elder called out to Lin Hao, stepping forward to pat his other shoulder.

“Young man, don’t be so headstrong. Sometimes, suffering a loss can be a blessing. Being too competitive isn’t always good.”

Having spoken these words with earnest gravity, the elder turned and let Lin Hao leave.

Lin Hao, hearing this from the elder of the White Robe Sect, felt less wary, believing the elder was simply trying to threaten him. He turned away in disdain and prepared to leave.

The elder made no further move to stop Lin Hao, simply watching as Lin Hao carried the red flood dragon away.

The three disciples of the White Robe Sect nearby were indignant, especially the fifth senior brother, who stepped forward and said, “Elder, about the flood dragon—”

Before he could finish, the elder slapped him hard across the face. “Shut up! Day in and day out, all you do is embarrass me. You’ve got the nerve to mention the flood dragon to me?”

With that, the elder turned and walked away.

The fifth brother, clutching his swollen cheek, followed after, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes before he quickly composed himself.

The second senior brother, who was rather clever, walked alongside the elder and asked, “Elder, are we really just letting that Lin Hao go?”

Noticing the question, a cold smile flickered at the corners of the elder’s mouth. “Let him go? Of course I’m letting him go—I’m letting him go straight to hell.”

He stopped and pointed at the group behind him. “You four, take this jade token. You’ll be able to find Lin Hao with it. Make sure you bring the flood dragon back, and execute Lin Hao on the spot.”

As he finished, everyone saw the jade token flicker with a red light, pointing down the path ahead.

Only then did the group realize the elder had marked Lin Hao.

So although Lin Hao had left openly, the elder could find him with the jade token in hand.

“Yes, sir,” the four men responded, took the token, and left immediately.

Seeing this, the second brother smiled and said, “The elder is truly wise.”

“Hmph. If I had to rely on you useless lot to handle things, you wouldn’t even know how to cover your tracks. Now I’ve ended up having to clean up your mess and let the boy get the upper hand,” the elder snapped, his anger barely contained.

The elder wasn’t actually against their scheming to frame Lin Hao in order to keep the flood dragon’s corpse for themselves.

What displeased him was their incompetence—they failed to do the job and forced him to resolve it for them.

Now, he was utterly humiliated, and Lin Hao was still alive in this world.

This, above all, made the elder furious.

The second brother, understanding the elder’s mood, quickly spoke with feigned remorse, “I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble. It’s all our fault. Don’t worry, once the flood dragon is back, you can take whatever you want from it, and we’ll be satisfied with whatever you leave for us. After all, you’re the one who resolved this.”

This mollified the elder somewhat; he was rather satisfied with the second brother’s attitude and nodded. “Alright, I can’t entirely blame you for this. The real fault lies with Lin Hao’s ingratitude. Rest assured, now that I’m taking action, Lin Hao won’t escape his fate. The flood dragon’s corpse will soon be back in our hands.”

Hearing how much the elder valued the flood dragon, the other two disciples were pained at the thought of giving it up to him.

He was a bloodsucker—who knew if they would even get a share.

But this was a difficult problem to solve, so all they could do was grit their teeth and accept it.

Of course, everything they said was unknown to Yutong.

The elder had also noticed Yutong was a traitor, siding with Lin Hao.

So along the way, he treated her with nothing but coldness, making her trail at the back of the group.

The fifth brother, noticing this, felt a bit sorry for her and tried to talk with Yutong, but she ignored him, her heart wholly worried for Lin Hao.

Now, as for Lin Hao—

After walking some distance, he stowed the flood dragon’s corpse in his system’s storage space. Carrying such a massive trophy would only invite trouble.

He didn’t want to draw public ire, so after securing the corpse, he began searching for a new path.

About half an hour later, Lin Hao sensed someone behind him. He turned, but saw nothing.

He asked the system, but at that moment, the system feigned silence and offered no answer.

Even without confirmation, Lin Hao trusted his instincts and became more vigilant, walking slowly and focusing on his rear.

This time, he clearly saw a shadow dart quickly past.

He was certain now—someone was following him.

He stopped in a clearing beside a small stream and called out, “Come out!”

His shout startled the four men hiding in the grass, revealing that he had discovered them.

But for the moment, they remained concealed.

After waiting a while and seeing no one emerge, Lin Hao sneered and unleashed a burst of otherworldly fire at one of their hiding spots.

The man, seeing the attack, immediately jumped out, dodging the fire like a startled monkey.

Lin Hao watched coldly as the man scrambled.

Furious at being exposed, the man signaled to the other three.

All four stepped out at once, surrounding Lin Hao.

Lin Hao glanced around at their attire. “Well, aren’t you all from the White Robe Sect? What a coincidence—after just parting ways, we meet again so soon!”

His words drew a flash of malice from all four.

A man with a scarred face stepped forward and said, “Hand over the flood dragon’s corpse and burn yourself alive before me, and I’ll leave your corpse intact.”

Lin Hao’s eyes gleamed with mockery. “Just the four of you? Is this how the White Robe Sect operates—murder and theft to silence witnesses? Is this your sect’s way?”

The four reddened with anger and shame at his taunt.

With rage, one shouted, “Enough talk! If you won’t surrender, don’t blame us for being ruthless. Let’s get him, brothers!”

Though all four were at Lin Hao’s level—third stage cultivators—their coordinated assault overwhelmed him. Like a living formation, they trapped Lin Hao, restricting his every move.

In no time, Lin Hao was covered in wounds.

He tried to break free, but their formation had no flaws. Neither his otherworldly fire lotus nor the Cloud-Swallowing Sword could harm them; instead, he grew more desperate.

He still had spiritual energy left, but the fight dragged on for nearly half an hour with no winner.

Gradually, Lin Hao’s energy was depleted. Worse, after taking the Spirit Infusion Pill, he knew a backlash would strike within two hours—and that time was nearly up.

He grew weaker and weaker, despair flickering in his eyes. Was this really the end for him?

Rage and frustration boiled within him. If he’d lost in a fair fight, he could accept it—but to fall victim to a secret plot, just like Elder Zhou of the Clear Wind Sect, was something he’d always despised.

Gritting his teeth, Lin Hao vowed to drag them all down with him, even if he died today.

Fueled by desperation, he fought with reckless abandon.

Just then, as he was prepared for a final stand, the system’s voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

“Four-Link Bagua Formation.”

Startled by the sudden message, Lin Hao hesitated for a split second—long enough for a blade to pierce his shoulder. He grunted in pain.

Refocusing instantly, he yanked out the blade and struck back, forcing his attacker to stagger backward.

He listened intently as the system continued in his mind.

“The four of them are linked—third is the key. Kill him and the formation breaks.”

Taking the hint, Lin Hao studied them closely. Though their teamwork was flawless, he now saw that the scarred man, while not dealing direct blows, was always supporting from the rear during every shift of the formation. He must be the third man—the lynchpin.

He asked the system in his mind, “Is it this one?”

There was no reply, but Lin Hao took the silence as confirmation.

He had to try.

Gripping his Cloud-Swallowing Sword, his eyes glinted with determination—today, he would kill him.

Letting out a fierce roar, Lin Hao hurled the fire lotus at the other three.

The fire lotus transformed into a red-clad child, blocking their pursuit.

Seizing the moment, Lin Hao charged the scarred man.

The man, still supporting his teammates, was caught off guard by Lin Hao’s sudden assault. Shock flashed in his eyes.

But before he could react, Lin Hao’s sword pierced his heart in a flash of light, and he collapsed with a crash.

The other three, as if struck in turn, spat blood and fell to their knees.