The moment Jiang Ran, Chen Mo, and Song Zhiyi saw Lin Yuan, the first thought that flashed through their minds was... they were saved.
Unfortunately, that thought lasted for less than a second.
They suddenly remembered that Lin Yuan was only at Tier 1, Level 9. Even though he had the strength to kill monsters above his level, he was facing three Shadow Abyss Wolves at Tier 2, Level 5.
Moreover, these weren't ordinary Shadow Abyss Wolves...
...
The three Shadow Abyss Royals turned their heads in unison, three pairs of emerald-green pupils locking onto the uninvited guest in the corner of the lobby.
The Royal whose claw had been struck by the Thunder Arc looked down at its front paw. A shallow bloody gash had been sliced into its dark silver fur, and beads of dark red blood were seeping out.
It licked the wound in disbelief, its emerald pupils narrowing slightly.
A Tier 1, Level 9 human had injured a Tier 2, Level 5 Shadow Abyss Royal with a single move.
Even if it was just a tiny scratch, this was something that simply shouldn't have happened.
In the center of the lobby, in front of the Shadow Abyss Wolf statue.
The claw the Imperial Prince had been about to raise froze in mid-air.
It had felt the attack from that Thunder Arc. Although the pressure of the Tier 7 combat technique was mostly diluted by the user’s low cultivation realm, the inherent grade of the technique was undeniable.
The moment the lightning exploded, even the Imperial bloodline within its body stirred slightly.
The Imperial Prince slowly turned around, its gaze falling upon the human youth in the corner of the lobby.
Tier 1, Level 9.
A faint trace of surprise flickered in the Imperial Prince’s golden pupils. Its gaze lingered on Lin Yuan for a moment before shifting away.
“I’ll leave them to you,” it said.
Its voice was flat, devoid of any unnecessary emotion.
“Do not let these insects disturb me.”
Upon hearing this, the three Shadow Abyss Royals immediately lowered their heads, placing their right front claws over their left chests in a salute.
The Imperial Prince turned back, facing the tall Shadow Abyss Wolf statue once more.
It no longer cared about the battle behind it. There was no suspense in three Tier 2, Level 5 Royals facing a single Tier 1, Level 9 human.
Following that, the Shadow Abyss Royal that had been injured by Lin Yuan slowly turned back around.
It shook its front claw that had been struck by the Thunder Arc and looked down at Lin Yuan with a condescending sneer, its face still full of disdain.
Standing two and a half meters tall at the shoulder, it released the pressure of a Tier 2, Level 5 beast without reservation, making the air in the lobby feel several times heavier.
“Tier 1, Level 9,” it growled.
Its voice was raspy and low, carrying the guttural tones unique to beasts, but there was a hint of uncertainty in its tone.
“What rank is your combat technique?”
Lin Yuan rested Purple Lightning on his shoulder.
“Call me ‘Otousan,’ and I’ll tell you.”
The Shadow Abyss Royal’s emerald pupils shrank as its face filled with confusion. It turned to look at the other two Shadow Abyss Wolves beside it.
“What is an ‘Otousan’?”
Bai Li stumbled from another corner to Lin Yuan’s side.
Her moon-white casual clothes were covered in dust and bloodstains, and a smear of blood still clung to the corner of her mouth.
She ran up to Lin Yuan and looked up at him—she only reached his chest, and as she tilted her face up, her eyes shone with incredible brightness beneath her dust-covered lashes.
“Senior, you’re here.”
Her voice was very soft, trembling slightly with the relief of a survivor.
However, her tone wasn't stating a fact; it was more like she was confirming something she had known all along would happen.
Just like the year in high school when she had been cornered against a wall, she wore the same expression when he appeared.
It wasn't “Why are you here?” but rather “I knew you would come.”
Xiaxia, having picked herself up from the floor, limped over. There was no smile on her face, but her voice carried a trace of irrepressible weakness.
“How did you find us?” She paused, then added, “These wolves are wrong. Their hides are incredibly tough; my Azure Peak blade energy barely scratched them. You alone...”
Lin Yuan didn't let her finish, interrupting her in a calm voice. “Leave it to me.”
The three of them fell silent for a moment.
Bai Li looked up at his profile. She knew Lin Yuan was acting casual.
But standing so close, she could see his knuckles turning white as he gripped Purple Lightning.
His mouth was still curved at that same angle, but his eyes weren't smiling. Lin Yuan’s eyes never smiled when things were truly dangerous.
Three Tier 2, Level 5 Shadow Abyss Royals, plus an even stronger one standing behind them.
He was alone, with people behind him that he had to protect.
The forty-odd citizens huddled in the corner didn't make a sound. They had basically given up hope.
They knew that the team leader at the safe point still hadn't come to rescue them, which likely meant...
...
The three Shadow Abyss Royals fanned out in a triangular formation.
One stayed in place, while the other two began to move slowly along the sides of the lobby. Their steps were deliberate and unhurried as they surrounded Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan tightened his grip on Purple Lightning.
He could sense that the energy within these three Shadow Abyss Wolves was much denser than that of ordinary Shadow Abyss Wolves. Their dark silver fur was also interlaced with faint golden patterns.
Royal bloodline!
And the Shadow Abyss Wolf standing before the statue possessed energy fluctuations stronger than all three Royals combined.
“Tier 2, Level 6. Its bloodline might even be above the Royal level... an Imperial?”
Lin Yuan took Purple Lightning off his shoulder as Sands of Time silently activated.
Within a four-meter radius, invisible grains of sand slowly dispersed.
The two Shadow Abyss Royals flanking him moved first.
The one on the left lunged forward, its massive body moving at a speed completely inconsistent with its size. Its right front claw, wreathed in shadow energy, swiped directly for Lin Yuan’s left shoulder.
The one on the right attacked simultaneously from the other direction, opening its blood-red maw to bite at Lin Yuan’s right leg.
The Shadow Abyss Royal in front, the one Lin Yuan had injured, held its position. it watched, its eyes fixed on Lin Yuan’s movements, waiting for him to show a weakness.
Faced with this, Lin Yuan did not retreat.
Within the deceleration field of the Sands of Time, the speed of both Shadow Abyss Royals plummeted.
Although the Tier 2, Level 5 realm reduced the effectiveness of the slow, it was enough to turn their movements from “unreadable” to “clear.”
He stepped to the left, twirling Purple Lightning in his hands...
“Thunder Walk Through Nine Heavens, First Form: Awakening of Insects.”
The tip of the spear flicked upward from below, precisely striking the joint of the left Shadow Abyss Wolf’s front claw. Lightning exploded at the tip of the spear.
But this time, when the lightning struck the golden patterns on the Royal wolf’s body, the patterns only flickered violently without being pierced through.
The Shadow Abyss Wolf’s front claw was blasted aside, missing its mark, but only a shallow scorch mark appeared on its joint.
Lin Yuan’s pupils shrank slightly, his expression growing solemn.
Awakening of Insects was the opening move of a Tier 7 spear technique, and its piercing power was among the best in its tier.
Against an ordinary Tier 2, Level 5 monster, it would have at least shattered the carapace.
But against this Royal Shadow Abyss Wolf, it only left a scorch mark.
...
Rate on N.U.
