Bang!
The door to the room exploded into countless fragments.
Smoke and dust immediately filled the air.
The sudden, tremendous noise startled everyone.
Following this, Jueya, with a grim expression, let out a cold snort and walked in.
He intended to personally apprehend that young man.
Mu Yiyi's small face showed even greater anxiety.
Yet, she was powerless to do anything.
She could only tightly clench her small fists, silently praying for Ling Fan in her heart.
Meanwhile, the grandfather and grandson duo, Mu Liuma and Mu Tianlang, wore smiles of schadenfreude.
The thought that Mu Liuma might soon ascend to the position of Maplewood City Lord made the pair feel as if they were floating on air, about to soar to the heavens!
The feeling was incredibly exhilarating.
At this very moment.
Inside the room.
Upon entering, Jueya immediately sensed a trace of extremely pure spiritual energy lingering in the room.
This further solidified his conviction that the young man named Ling Fan possessed a spirit core.
Swish.
His eyes blazed with sharp light, like the keen gaze of a hawk, piercing through the heavy dust and locking onto a figure cultivating cross-legged within.
"Hmph! You, Ling Fan, I told you to get out just now. Are you deaf?"
"Listen carefully, I am Jueya, an elder of the Four Symbols Sect. I strongly suspect you of stealing our sect's spirit cores. I order you to hand over all spirit cores immediately. If you dare to refuse even a single word, this elder can strike you down on the spot! Do not blame this elder for being ruthless."
After speaking, Jueya crossed his arms, leisurely awaiting the young man's reaction.
In his estimation, upon hearing the name of the Four Symbols Sect and his own name, this young man would undoubtedly be instantly terrified and prostrate himself, begging for mercy.
However, after waiting for a while.
The young man completely ignored him, not even opening his eyes to look at him.
Damn it!
What arrogance.
To dare to disregard me, Jueya.
Jueya's temper flared immediately.
Boom!
He fiercely waved his sleeve, and his powerful martial qi, almost solidified, transformed into terrifying chains, whipping viciously towards Ling Fan.
If struck by this, even a peak Heavenly Origin Realm grandmaster would lose half their life.
A cold smile appeared on Jueya's face.
He could already envision the detestable young man being torn to shreds by his attack.
However, in the next moment…
A scene that horrified him unfolded.
He saw his strike, as it neared within three inches of the young man, inexplicably vanish without a sound…
Upon closer inspection.
The space around the young man was rippling with distortion.
This was a phenomenon that occurred when the physical body's strength reached an unimaginably terrifying level.
What the…
Jueya's eyes widened in shock.
He stumbled back a couple of steps.
Clutching his chest, he almost had a heart attack from fright.
"You… Who exactly are you! You are definitely not in the Profound Gang Realm…"
Jueya extended a trembling hand, pointing at Ling Fan, and stammered incoherently.
"Swish."
Ling Fan, who had been cultivating cross-legged at the far end of the room, opened his eyes.
In an instant.
It was as if two incredibly fearsome bolts of lightning had sliced through the dimness.
The void crackled with electricity.
Ling Fan cast a faint glance at Jueya.
That single glance sent a chill through Jueya, making him feel as if his very soul were being frozen.
"You, you, I, I… I warn you, don't do anything rash! I am an elder of the Four Symbols Sect, here in Maplewood City to collect tributes. If you dare to harm me, you cannot bear the wrath of the Four Symbols Sect. Our sect has several Giant Spirit Realm kings!"
Jueya said, his voice laced with feigned bravado.
A dismissive smile played on Ling Fan's lips.
He extended a hand, grasping through the air. This grasp held no particularly terrifying aura, but it caused Jueya's pupils to contract violently.
This was a manifestation of power controlled to an extremely high level.
It appeared to have no power, yet in reality, not a single trace of force was leaked.
Jueya adopted a posture of facing a formidable enemy, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
He gritted his teeth, resisting the terrifying pressure, and frantically urged his own power.
However, with Ling Fan's grasp from afar, all of Jueya's efforts turned to naught.
His martial qi, mixed with spiritual energy, shattered with a roar, and Jueya, like a dead dog, was lifted into the air without any ability to resist.
"Spare… spare my life!"
At this moment.
Jueya's heart was filled only with shock and terror.
His eyes showed extreme regret.
This young man was too terrifying!
Unfathomable!
Even when facing the several Giant Spirit Realm elders, or even the sect leader of the Four Symbols Sect, he had never felt such a terrifying, abyssal pressure!
Damn it.
He should never have entered this unlucky Maplewood City!
If given another chance, he would have taken Maplewood City's tribute and the twelve spirit cores and left immediately.
He wouldn't want to stay in Maplewood City for a single moment, let alone seek trouble with this young man.
But now, it was too late for regrets.
"I think I just heard you say that if I dared to say even half a word of refusal, you would strike me down on the spot?"
Ling Fan spoke indifferently.
Jueya's face contorted in bitterness, and he hastily offered a fawning smile, "Esteemed… Young Master, you must have misheard! I didn't say that, I truly didn't. The moment I saw your magnificent bearing and extraordinary spirit, I knew you were an exceptionally talented, world-shaking prodigy. My humble abilities are nowhere near enough to dare to be presumptuous before you!"
"Hmph, do you think I'm deaf?"
Ling Fan snorted lightly.
The invisible hand tightened.
Instantly, Jueya's body emitted cracking sounds. He tried to mobilize his internal cultivation to resist, but his cultivation seemed to have vanished like a stone sinking into the sea, completely silenced.
As the hand tightened, Jueya's chest began to emit creaking sounds from the unbearable pressure. He couldn't even scream, and it seemed he was about to be crushed.
Jueya was utterly terrified, using his last ounce of strength to beg for mercy, "I was wrong, I was wrong! I was blind, I was foolish! I deserve to be beaten, I deserve to die! I shouldn't have been greedy for the spirit cores on you. Please, for the sake of the Four Symbols Sect, spare me this time! I will never dare again!"
"Tell me the truth, why did you find me? If you dare to lie even a little, I'll grind you to dust!"
Ling Fan said coldly.
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Jueya was completely intimidated by Ling Fan.
He quickly recounted how he came to Maplewood City to collect tribute, then how he extorted Mu Renmin, and how Mu Liuma revealed that Ling Fan possessed spirit cores.
Ling Fan pondered for a moment, a cold smile appearing on his face.
"Get out!"
Ling Fan released Jueya.
The moment Jueya fell to the ground, he greedily gasped for air, his eyes filled with profound fear.
He dared not disobey in the slightest.
He immediately got up and obediently walked out.
Ling Fan followed behind Jueya and also emerged.
…