Chapter 427 426: Cherishing Talent

Mu Lin said, "Auntie, I have to go."

Madam Qiao could also tell something was wrong. She knew Mu Lin's mind was already elsewhere.

"Go on, then. Be careful on your way!"

Mu Lin told Shi Huiguang to wait at the Chen Martial Arts Hall, while he himself rushed toward the residential complex where Luo Wanqing and Jiang Lan lived.

When he arrived, Mu Lin found that the door had been broken.

The handle was twisted as if it had been subjected to immense force. Mu Lin judged that the door had probably been ripped open by hand.

It was a savage act.

'This is the work of an Innate realm expert, at least.'

Mu Lin hurriedly searched the room for clues, looking for something Luo Wanqing had used.

He then cast a Tracking Technique. A ball of smoke guided Mu Lin forward.

'This must be the Feng Family's doing.'

For them to wait so long to retaliate after Mu Lin killed their child, they had certainly plotted meticulously.

Along the way, he had contacted the Patrol Team, the Government Office, and the Military Suppression Bureau, hoping they would cooperate to control the exits out of the city.

This caused long lines of traffic to form on the roads leading out of the city.

Inside a car, an old man sat in the back. The driver in the front seat looked at the long line of cars with great frustration.

"Dammit, who'd have thought Lanyang would ever have a traffic jam!"

Elder Weng, however, was very calm. "This isn't a traffic jam. Someone doesn't want us to leave."

"Are you talking about Mu Lin? That's impossible. What kind of connections could he have in Lanyang?"

Elder Weng said, "He doesn't, but the Military Suppression Bureau does. As long as you have connections with the Military Suppression Bureau, pulling something like this off isn't difficult."

The middle-aged driver's expression turned ugly. "It seems we've underestimated him! The fact that he could take out that guy surnamed Deng shows he has some skill!"

Elder Weng said, "But that's just here, in a small place where it works. Let's see if he still has these tricks when he gets to the provincial capital."

The middle-aged man nodded repeatedly and then said, "Elder Weng, do you think he'll catch up to us?"

Elder Weng chuckled. "The roads are blocked. He's blocked us, but he's also blocked himself. How do you suppose he'll get here? It's a joke."

Suddenly, Elder Weng felt a sense of crisis rise up his spine. He looked up.

A transparent human figure was floating in the sky. He knew exactly what it was and immediately let out a sharp shout imbued with power.

The shadow immediately dispersed.

Elder Weng sighed. "One truly cannot underestimate the heroes of this world. This boy is no simple character!"

Hearing Elder Weng's words, the middle-aged driver asked, "Elder Weng, did you find him? Where is he?"

Elder Weng gave a wry smile. 'How could I explain this sort of thing to a layman?'

"Just drive. Don't overthink it," Elder Weng said, pointing ahead.

A short while later, the line of cars began to move slowly. Elder Weng told the middle-aged man to get off the highway at the next exit.

The middle-aged man quickly complied. After exiting the highway, he drove toward a remote area.

He finally stopped near a deserted, barren patch of land. The middle-aged man truly couldn't understand what they were doing here.

But within a few seconds, Mu Lin appeared behind them.

What!

The middle-aged man was scared to death. 'How did Mu Lin know their location?'

'He couldn't figure it out!'

Mu Lin ignored the middle-aged man, his gaze locking directly onto Elder Weng, who had the highest cultivation. "Let Luo Wanqing and Jiang Lan go. Now."

Elder Weng smiled faintly. "You're quite interesting. To be able to coalesce a Yin Spirit at such a young age... even many of the so-called geniuses from the major powers can't compare to you!"

Mu Lin sneered.

Just now, he had used his Yin Spirit to search for Luo Wanqing's trail, but Elder Weng had spotted it and shattered the Yin Spirit with a powerful shout.

This Elder Weng was clearly not weak, which earned him a measure of respect from Mu Lin.

But Mu Lin despised him for aiding a tyrant. The fruits of cultivation were not meant to be used in service of a wealthy family, but to transcend the mortal world and be free. To do otherwise was to court retribution sooner or later.

'There's no escape.'

Mu Lin said quickly, "You're already so powerful, just a hair's breadth from becoming a true Immortal. Why are you still doing evil for others? Don't you know how disgusting that is?"

Elder Weng laughed coldly. "Young man, you might think I'm a fool. Fine, then I'm a fool. Do you think becoming an Immortal means you can be free and unfettered? You're overthinking it."

"Your talent is truly remarkable. You should leave now. As long as you don't oppose the Feng Family from now on, I'll leave you alone."

The middle-aged man at the side grew anxious. "Elder Weng, you can't do that!"

"Is it your place to speak?" Elder Weng raised his voice, and the middle-aged man coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Just the small amount of power released by his raised voice was enough to make the middle-aged man vomit blood and suffer internal injuries.

Elder Weng had no favorable impression of this ant who was driving for him.

Mu Lin released his divine sense, which instantly swept across the surroundings. He immediately discovered Luo Wanqing and Jiang Lan in the trunk, their hands and feet bound and their mouths gagged.

Both of them were already conscious, and their emotions stabilized upon hearing that Mu Lin had arrived.

After a quick check, Mu Lin saw no signs that they had been harmed, which relieved him considerably.

'He's still human, at least.'

Mu Lin said, "Based on those words, you don't have to die."

Elder Weng laughed heartily, an invisible Qi Force spreading out from him. "Are you kidding me? You think you can kill me?"

Mu Lin smiled faintly. "And why not? You're too confident, old man."

As he spoke, Mu Lin abruptly raised his hand and struck heavily toward Elder Weng.

The Heaven-Falling Palm, and at full power.

Elder Weng sneered and immediately struck at the curtain of fire formed by the Heaven-Falling Palm. The fiery curtain was split by five thin lines—Elder Weng's five fingers.

It was torn apart by that single claw-like strike, passing by Elder Weng.

"Young man, I've already said my piece. Why must you make things difficult for me? Do you have any idea how much pressure I'll be under if I let you go? You have no consideration for an old man's feelings at all!"

"Since you refuse to compromise, then let this old man tell you, I'm not afraid to kill!"

Elder Weng's figure immediately shot toward Mu Lin like a flash of lightning. His killing intent was sharp as he raised his hand to smash down on the crown of Mu Lin's head.

This!

If it landed, blood would surely splatter everywhere. At least, that's what Elder Weng thought.

But when his palm landed on Mu Lin, he felt that something was wrong.

'This isn't right. This feeling is completely wrong!'

A sudden, sharp pain shot through Elder Weng's hand. It felt as if his palm had split open.

The force he had tried to pour into Mu Lin's skull had all rebounded back into his own palm.

Blood was now dripping from his palm.

"Vajra Shield! You're actually a Horizontal Training master!"

Mu Lin smiled faintly and calmly gripped Elder Weng's arm.

"Since you wanted to hit me, you're not going anywhere," Mu Lin said slowly.

Elder Weng tried to pull his arm back with all his might, but Mu Lin refused to let go, which was incredibly frustrating.

"You... you..."

Mu Lin's arm suddenly jolted, and in an instant, the force traveled up Elder Weng's arm and surged through his entire body.

A moment later, it exploded out of his back, tearing all his clothes to shreds.

The pain was immense.

Mu Lin continued his ferocious assault, and in an instant, severe bruises appeared on Elder Weng's internal organs.

After delivering a sound beating, Mu Lin released his grip, allowing Elder Weng to stumble back.

Elder Weng was astounded. "How are you so strong!"

Mu Lin was also inwardly shocked. This Half-Step Immortal expert was surprisingly durable. His resilience was simply beyond Mu Lin's imagination.

Mu Lin had actually attacked with his full strength, but when it landed on Elder Weng, it seemed like nothing more than a common beating.

It hadn't left a single mark.

Elder Weng's expression turned grave. 'This Mu Lin is truly difficult to deal with.'

'A Vajra Shield protecting his body, incredibly dense True Qi, and on top of that, immense physical force.'

'Such talent is simply astounding.'

'Elder Ning's godson, Sun Tiandang, is hyped up by countless people as the number one genius.'

'But compared to Mu Lin, he's nothing.'

A deep appreciation for talent welled up in Elder Weng. 'A genius like this truly shouldn't die here.'

'Such a great talent will surely create world-changing disciplines in the future.'

'So, what is to be done?'

While Elder Weng was lost in thought, Mu Lin moved again.

In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Elder Weng.

"My word! The Taoist secret art, Vertical Cloud Ladder... you've even learned to use it horizontally. Such talent is simply terrifying."

Elder Weng hurriedly raised his hands to counter. The immense force of their clash sent massive tremors through the surrounding ground.

The earth rippled in waves, and their feet were buried in the dirt.

When they stopped, the scuff marks under Elder Weng's feet stretched for more than seven or eight meters, while under Mu Lin's feet, the mark was only half a foot long.