The Legend of the Netherworld

Chapter 219 Failure

Lin Xiao's steps were light yet firm, his gaze calm, yet the turmoil within him was far more complex than it appeared. Despite successfully defeating Chen Feng, his spiritual energy had been significantly depleted after this battle. Especially against such a formidable foe, he relied almost entirely on his internal remedies and secret techniques to maintain his rhythm. He still needed to recover quickly to face the challenges ahead.

However, as he approached the exit of the secret passage, heavy footsteps were heard from a corner of the underground palace. Lin Xiao's brows raised, and he stopped without hesitation, his eyes as sharp as swords as he scanned the surroundings. This was Chen Feng's ambush point after all, so there were undoubtedly more people lurking.

He looked down at the dagger in his hand, quickly sheathed it, and replaced it with the spirit sword. The blade of the spirit sword flickered with a faint light, carrying a strong murderous aura, just like Lin Xiao's mood at the moment - cold-blooded, decisive, and ruthless.

As the footsteps gradually approached, Lin Xiao stood quietly in the corner, using the "Dragon Swimming Around the Seas" technique, gliding into the shadows on the side like a ghost, concealing his breath, waiting for the prey to approach.

Finally, a figure in dark robes appeared in Lin Xiao's sight. The man walked slowly, clearly observing his surroundings carefully. However, for Lin Xiao, all this was no longer a cause for fear.

"Sure enough, there is someone here." Lin Xiao whispered to himself, the coldness in his eyes became even stronger.

The visitor was a middle-aged man with a resolute face and a heroic air, though his brow was slightly furrowed, evidently filled with suspicion about the movements in the underground palace. He clutched a longsword in both hands, his demeanor steady and composed. This man was no ordinary man, but the deputy commander of the Tianyuan City Guard, named Xu Hong. Over the years, Xu Hong had achieved numerous military exploits with his courage and formidable prowess, earning him great respect within the Shangguan family. In truth, he had appeared precisely to pursue Lin Xiao, whose whereabouts he had long known.

"Has Chen Feng failed?" Xu Hong's voice was low, as if he was talking to himself.

At this moment, Lin Xiao appeared in front of Xu Hong in an instant, and the cold light of the magic sword flashed, pointing directly at the opponent's throat.

"You're quite cautious." Lin Xiao's voice contained a subtle hint of sarcasm. "But, you're a little late."

Xu Hong was startled and turned back abruptly, but it was too late. Lin Xiao's spirit sword stabbed out quickly, cutting through the air and bringing with it a shocking gust of sword wind.

Xu Hong reacted quickly, drawing his sword to meet the attack, but the spirit sword was even faster than he had imagined. He quickly swung his sword to block, and the collision between the sword and the spirit sword produced a sharp metallic sound, sparks flying everywhere.

"Puff!" Xu Hong's chest was shaken by a violent tremor, and blood spurted out of his mouth. He took several steps back. Lin Xiao didn't give him a chance to breathe. His footsteps followed him like a shadow, and he approached again. The blade of his sword cut through the air like a deadly lightning.

"Damn it!" Xu Hong shouted angrily and swung his sword hard to resist, but Lin Xiao's attack was as surging as the tide, leaving no room for breathing.

After a few moves, Xu Hong finally couldn't hold on anymore and was slashed on the shoulder by Lin Xiao's sword. Blood gushed out and he fell to the ground with shock and anger in his eyes.

"What's going on? You can actually... fight back in this situation..." Xu Hong's voice was full of disbelief, as if he couldn't accept Lin Xiao's strength.

Lin Xiao put away his sword expressionlessly, looked at the fallen Xu Hong, and said coldly: "There are many strong people in the world, but that doesn't mean everyone can survive."

After saying that, Lin Xiao quickly left the underground palace and walked towards the exit of the secret passage. His body gradually blended into the darkness and disappeared without a trace.

He understood that even though he had killed Xu Hong, he still couldn't escape Tianyuan City's pursuit. The Shangguan family was implicated, and he himself was trapped on all sides. The only way to escape this abyss was to keep moving forward and seek new opportunities.

At this time, the night was getting darker. Lin Xiao walked out of the underground palace quietly, but his mind became clearer and clearer: he was not alone, and there were enemies waiting behind him in the darkness.

Lin Xiao walked silently through the streets of Tianyuan City. The night sky seemed shrouded in a thin mist, the atmosphere oppressive and heavy. He knew that every step he took would expose him to the sight of his pursuers, but now he had no choice but to go to the end and break through all these difficulties.

He slipped through the shadows of the street, quickly disappearing into the crowd, trying to avoid attracting any attention. Every pedestrian, every alleyway, could be hiding his enemy. Even though the Shangguan family had already received news of Chen Feng's death, Lin Xiao still didn't dare to let his guard down. After all, the Shangguan family was now in an unprecedented crisis.

He quietly approached an old house, where he had lived many years ago. Although it was abandoned, it now seemed to be his temporary refuge. He entered the dilapidated house, closed the door, and lit an oil lamp. The dim light inside the house illuminated his tired face.

"The Shangguan family..." Lin Xiao murmured softly. He knew that if he wanted to save the Shangguan family, his own strength alone would be far from enough. Moreover, with the annihilation of the Li family and Chen Feng's death, Tianyuan City would become even more prominent, and the imperial court would surely intensify its pursuit of him. The only forces he could rely on right now were those hidden in the shadows—if he could form an alliance with them, perhaps he could find a way out.

Just as Lin Xiao was deep in thought, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside the room. With a sudden thought, he quickly stood up, unsheathed his spirit sword, and instantly disappeared into the corner of the room.

The footsteps outside the door gradually approached, and a moment later, the door was pushed open, and a woman in white came in. The woman was tall and slender, with a cold temperament, and her face was vaguely familiar, but Lin Xiao's eyes became more alert.

"Xuanyuan Ling?" Lin Xiao's voice was low, a hint of doubt passing through his mind. He hadn't had any contact with the Shangguan family since their last separation, and he hadn't expected her to appear here.

"It's me." Xuanyuan Ling replied softly, her eyes filled with mixed emotions. "You're back."

Lin Xiao calmed himself down, put away his spirit sword, and looked at her with mixed feelings. "What are you doing here?"

"The Shangguan family can no longer protect you." Xuanyuan Ling's tone was calm, as if she was speaking of a perfectly normal matter. "Everything you have done has attracted the attention of the imperial court. The Li family has been slaughtered, Chen Feng is dead, and the storm that follows will be even more severe."

"I understand," Lin Xiao replied coldly. He never thought Xuanyuan Ling would do anything good for him. This woman, always by his side, was more like a chess piece than a friend. Yet, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at her presence. After all, in this hostile city, aside from the Shangguan family, there seemed to be few who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

"However, I have brought you some news." Xuanyuan Ling paused, then suddenly lowered his voice. "There is a more powerful force that is silently supporting you. They have already begun making arrangements behind the scenes, ready to provide you with assistance."

Lin Xiao frowned slightly, his doubts deepening. "Who is it?"

Xuanyuan Ling paused slightly, as if weighing whether to say the name, "Tian Jue Clan."

"Tian Jue Sect?" Lin Xiao was stunned. Something in his mind moved, and he thought to himself, "Could it be the person behind Tian Jue Sect?"

"That's right." Xuanyuan Ling nodded and whispered, "They have been observing you. They know you have the potential to fight against the Li family and the imperial court. Even when you were still in the Shangguan family, someone was already quietly watching your actions."

Lin Xiao's heart was filled with turmoil. The Tian Jue Clan was a little-known faction, but it possessed immense resources and profound background. Although they mostly hid in the shadows, their influence spread far and wide, even fearing the imperial court.

"Is Tianjuemen willing to help me?" Lin Xiao couldn't help but feel a little doubtful.

Xuanyuan Ling's eyes flashed with a complicated light: "They are willing, but the prerequisite is that you have to accept their conditions."

"What conditions?"

"They want you to serve them, to become a pawn," Xuanyuan Ling said slowly, a hint of worry in her eyes. "Their target isn't just you, but the immense potential you possess. They hope to use you to change the landscape of Tianyuan City at some point in the future."

Lin Xiao listened calmly, his thoughts already churning. He wasn't entirely clear on Tian Jue Clan's intentions, but it was undoubtedly a huge temptation. Given the current predicament, if he could gain Tian Jue Clan's support, perhaps he could escape this immense storm.

However, what would it mean to accept the conditions of Tian Jue Clan? He would completely become a pawn of theirs and lose his freedom.

Lin Xiao took a deep breath and made a decision in his heart: "Tell them that I am not in a hurry to make a choice. But I will not be bound by them, unless..."

"Unless what?" Xuanyuan Ling asked.

"Unless I can control enough power myself." A cold light flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes, "I need to be strong enough to change everything."

Xuanyuan Ling's eyes flickered slightly, as if she hadn't expected Lin Xiao to so decisively reject the Tianjue Sect's offer. She was silent for a moment, then finally sighed, "You're just as stubborn as I expected. If you want to continue on this path, it will probably be even more difficult. The Tianjue Sect's power is so great that even the imperial court is wary of it. If you truly reject them, you may pay a greater price."

Lin Xiao looked up at her, his tone calm but firm, "If I don't choose to control my own destiny, I will eventually become a pawn in the hands of others. You, like me, should have understood this long ago."

Xuanyuan Ling's eyes flashed with a complex expression after hearing this. She knew that Lin Xiao possessed unparalleled determination and ambition. If such a person were to be restrained by anyone, he would never achieve great things.

"Have you made a decision?" she asked finally.

"Yes," Lin Xiao nodded calmly, "but I have to solve the current trouble first, and then consider how to deal with Tianjuemen."

Xuanyuan Ling was silent for a moment, then finally spoke, "Okay, since you're so determined, I won't try to persuade you any further. But you must remember, the path you're taking is destined to be fraught with danger. The situation in Tianyuan City hasn't died down yet, and the deaths of the Li family and Chen Feng have made you a target of public criticism. And what you just did will surely attract even more people to hunt you down."

"I know." A cold light flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes, "But I won't stop."

Xuanyuan Ling looked at him deeply and suddenly whispered, "However, you have to be careful now, not only of the forces in Tianyuan City. There is also someone who has been secretly observing you. His name is Zhang Ming."

"Zhang Ming?" Lin Xiao was slightly startled, the name flashing through his mind. Zhang Ming, a disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect, had once clashed with him.

"He's not just a disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect." Xuanyuan Ling's voice became more serious. "There's a much greater power behind him, and their goal is to unleash the potential hidden within you. He'll be your biggest problem going forward."

Lin Xiao was silent for a moment, then sneered, "In that case, I'll go meet Zhang Ming first."

"Are you really planning to go alone?" Xuanyuan Ling was a little surprised. "Although Zhang Ming is a proud swordsman, his strength should not be underestimated. The power behind him is not something you can easily defeat."

"I know." Lin Xiao's eyes were firm, as if he had no hesitation at all. "But since they've already set their sights on me, if I don't take the initiative to confront them, won't I just end up in even greater trouble? Since they're enemies, we should eradicate them completely."

Xuanyuan Ling hesitated to speak, but ultimately didn't try to dissuade her. She simply sighed, "In that case, I can only wish you good luck. But if you want to find him, you'd better hurry. He's been active near Tianyuan City lately, and someone saw him in the desolate mountains not long ago."

"Desolate mountain?" Lin Xiao raised his eyebrows. "I see. Thank you."

Xuanyuan Ling watched Lin Xiao's back gradually disappear into the night, a complex look flashing in her eyes. She knew that Lin Xiao could not be bound, no matter what, and he was destined to walk a thorny road. All she could do was wish him well.

Lin Xiao left the Shangguan residence, quickly passing through Tianyuan City and heading towards the barren mountains. Zhang Ming, his former opponent, seemed to have never truly left. His name had long left a deep impression on Lin Xiao, and now that the opponent had locked onto him, he no longer avoided him.

The forest deep in the desolate mountain was shrouded in darkness. When Lin Xiao entered, he was surrounded by silence, save for the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind. The surroundings were empty, and the mountain breeze, mixed with a chill, made one feel a chill.

Suddenly, a cold sword energy struck from afar, bearing down on Lin Xiao's chest. He yanked out his spirit sword, and the sword light intertwined with the opponent's sword energy, emitting a deafening roar. Lin Xiao quickly retreated, vigilantly observing the movements around him.

A figure emerged from the darkness, his white robes fluttering, his brows sharp and his eyes gleaming. It was Zhang Ming. His gaze, like an icy wind, locked onto Lin Xiao. He sneered, "Lin Xiao, your reputation has spread throughout Tianyuan City. I never thought you could escape from Chen Yi and Li Zhenguo. You're quite capable."

Lin Xiao stood firm and responded coldly: "Since you have found me, then prepare for a fight."

Zhang Ming smiled slightly and pointed his sword directly at Lin Xiao: "But I want to see how long you can hold on."