"Daoist Friend Zhou is too kind. Now that you are a guest of the He family, your affairs are naturally our He family's affairs!"
He Biao chuckled with satisfaction. As a cultivator at the late stage of Core Formation, he could naturally sense that the Long family's late-stage Core Formation expert was also hidden in the shadows.
Now that Zhou Xiang was willing to join the He family, he had to show some sincerity, didn't he?
"Good, with Daoist Friend He's words, I am finally at ease!"
After receiving He Biao's firm assurance, Zhou Xiang was completely relieved.
"Lin Chen! Get out and accept your death! The Long family can no longer protect you!"
Immediately, He Biao took a step forward, standing at the entrance of the banquet hall.
"Tsk tsk tsk, when did I ever say I needed the Long family's protection?"
Upon hearing He Biao's words, Lin Chen slowly pushed open the door and walked out, looking directly at Zhou Xiang without any intention of backing down.
"Heh, is that so? You broke one of Jiang Liang's arms, so I will take your life!"
Zhou Xiang wasted no time. He directly took out a flying sword from his storage bag and slashed it towards Lin Chen's face.
"Golden Dragon Transformation!"
In a flash, Lin Chen's aura completely changed.
His original early-stage Core Formation cultivation instantly reached the middle stage, matching Zhou Xiang's.
"Swish!"
With a light sound, Lin Chen shifted his steps, dodging half a meter to the side, narrowly avoiding Zhou Xiang's sword.
"Hmph, no wonder you're so arrogant. It turns out you have a secret art to boost your strength."
"I'd like to see how long you can maintain this state!"
Seeing Lin Chen's sudden surge in aura, Zhou Xiang sneered.
He had been a cultivator at the middle stage of Core Formation for several years. Even with Lin Chen's current cultivation boost, he was definitely no match for him!
Moreover, he knew that no temporary strength-boosting secret art could be used indefinitely!
Furthermore, using such a secret art consumed a tremendous amount of spiritual energy.
He was well aware that once Lin Chen's spiritual energy ran out, he would have no other choice but to die!
"It's enough to kill you!"
Lin Chen wasted no more words, and his Spirit Snake Sword was instantly unsheathed.
As Zhou Xiang had said, the Golden Dragon Transformation was incredibly powerful, but it also consumed spiritual energy at a terrifying rate.
To defeat Zhou Xiang now, he had to end the battle quickly!
"Sword Erupts Like a Startled Swan!"
Lin Chen's finger moved, and the Spirit Snake Sword instantly transformed into a rainbow light, piercing towards Zhou Xiang at an extremely fast speed.
"So fast!"
Seeing this formidable sword strike, Zhou Xiang was slightly surprised but quickly dodged.
Fortunately, having been at the middle stage of Core Formation for many years, his experience allowed the Spirit Snake Sword to graze his scalp as it flew past.
"Hmph! I'd like to see how many times you can unleash such a fast sword!"
After dodging this strike, Zhou Xiang chuckled coldly.
He could tell that this sword was incredibly fast, and even he had to dodge it with great difficulty.
But similarly, such a fast flying sword also consumed an astonishing amount of spiritual energy from the cultivator!
A cultivator who forcefully enhanced their cultivation through secret arts could not possibly unleash it multiple times!
"No, it's not enough for a second time."
"But in all my years of cultivation, you are the first person to force me to use a third sword."
Lin Chen also replied with a cold smile.
The Spirit Sword Art had three stances. The first stance, Sword Erupts Like a Startled Swan, focused on speed and surprise. The second stance, Galloping Dragon Sword Slash, relied on a multitude of moves, carrying a similar effect to the first.
Since Zhou Xiang had managed to dodge the first sword and was now on guard, there was no point in continuing with the second stance.
"Sword Cleaves Gold and Stone!"
Lin Chen's mind moved, and the third stance of the Spirit Sword Art was instantly unleashed. The Spirit Snake Sword, which was originally in the sky, instantly grew larger, at least ten times its original size.
The giant sword, with an overwhelming presence, pierced directly towards Zhou Xiang's location.
Zhou Xiang wanted to dodge, but he was astonished to find that his feet felt as if they were cast in lead, unable to move an inch!
"This is… draining all the surrounding spiritual energy?"
Sensing the abnormality in his body, Zhou Xiang gasped.
But before he could react, the giant sword smashed down upon his head.
"Boom!"
After a loud explosion, the spot where Zhou Xiang had been standing instantly formed a crater several meters deep.
As for Zhou Xiang, he was completely struck by the giant sword, bleeding from all seven orifices and dead.
"Retrieve!"
After killing Zhou Xiang, Lin Chen willed to recall the Spirit Snake Sword.
However, he discovered that the Spirit Snake Sword, a low-grade spirit artifact, had now shattered into pieces.
"This… the third stance of the Spirit Sword Art cannot even withstand a low-grade spirit artifact?"
Seeing this, Lin Chen was completely stunned.
Good heavens, the third stance was indeed powerful, but it was too destructive to spirit artifacts!
However, Lin Chen was unaware that Long Yuling and He Biao, who were watching from the side, were equally dumbfounded.
To them, this was clearly a fierce battle. Long Yuling had even secretly transmitted a message to the elder protecting her, asking him to protect Lin Chen.
But now?
Lin Chen had killed a cultivator at the middle stage of Core Formation with just two swords?
Moreover, Zhou Xiang had been at the middle stage of Core Formation for many years and was considered a top-tier cultivator in that realm.
Yet, unexpectedly, today he was killed by such a young man as Lin Chen?
"This child is truly extraordinary. His second sword drained the surrounding spiritual energy. Even I would find it extremely difficult to dodge."
As Long Yuling was lost in thought, a familiar voice sounded in her ear.
What was said made her eyes widen completely.
"Second Uncle, are you… sure?"
Long Yuling swallowed with difficulty, her expression filled with disbelief.
The person secretly protecting her now was her grandfather's own brother, her Second Uncle, and the true top expert of the Long family in Zhejiang Province!
A late-stage Core Formation expert was an invincible existence in the entire Zhejiang Province.
But now he claimed that it would be extremely difficult for him to dodge one of Lin Chen's swords?
Considering that Lin Chen's true cultivation was only at the early stage of Core Formation!
"You… you killed Zhou Xiang?"
The most surprised person on the scene was still He Biao.
He had just been happy that the He family had gained a Core Formation expert as a retainer, but unexpectedly, Zhou Xiang was killed in the blink of an eye?
Not only had he made a wasted trip, but he had also provoked a powerful enemy?
Although his cultivation was higher than Zhou Xiang's, he was well aware that the two swords Lin Chen had just used were incredibly exquisite!
"What? Do you want to avenge him?"
Seeing He Biao, Lin Chen showed no hint of a pleasant expression.
Earlier that morning, he had sent He Liang to the He family with a message: he would personally challenge them in three days.
It could be said that he and the He family were now mortal enemies.
If this He Biao truly wanted to avenge Zhou Xiang, it wouldn't be impossible for him to start consolidating his power within the He family beforehand!