Chapter 275: Chapter 271: The Tragic Chang Family

A cruel smile spread across Chang Youde’s face when he saw Lin Hao appear on the Cyan Cloud Platform.

"You little bastard, any last words?" Chang Youde’s gaze was glacial as he stared at Lin Hao as if looking at a dead man.

Lin Hao shrugged. "Funny, I was about to say the same thing to you."

"You’re courting death!" A murderous light flashed in Chang Youde’s eyes, and his hostility surged.

Before the words had even left his mouth, a massive fist was already in front of Lin Hao’s face.

Chang Youde was incredibly fast.

But Lin Hao was prepared. He ducked his head to the side and threw up an arm to block.

BANG!

Lin Hao’s reaction was equally swift, but the blow still landed.

The blow was infused with the True Essence of a peak Fourth Layer of Elemental Realm cultivator. Despite his formidable physique, Lin Hao winced in pain.

Having landed a hit, Chang Youde gave Lin Hao no chance to recover, sticking to him like a shadow.

BANG!

Lin Hao was hit again.

The pain was excruciating.

"Hmph. Is that all you’ve got?" Chang Youde’s disdainful voice sounded in Lin Hao’s ear, and then he was struck again.

Although Chang Youde’s words were full of contempt for Lin Hao, his actions were utterly ruthless.

As someone who had reached the position of an inner sect elder, Chang Youde was naturally no pushover.

Some time ago, Chen Xing had returned to report that a youth who had secretly learned the Element Transformation Skill had appeared in Cyan Rock Town with a strange Devil Beast.

Chen Xing had then hyped up the Devil Beast, describing it as if it were a divine creature.

Although Chang Youde was intrigued, he cautiously asked Chen Xing about the youth’s cultivation level.

Afraid of losing face, Chen Xing claimed the youth was at the Elemental Realm Fifth Layer.

Afterward, Chang Youde sent two of his disciples to investigate.

Chang Bao, however, had insisted on tagging along on a whim.

None of the four ever returned.

Now, Chang Youde knew the youth was Lin Hao, and furthermore, he knew Lin Hao was only at the peak of the Fourth Layer of Elemental Realm.

This cultivation level didn’t match Chen Xing’s report, which only made Chang Youde more cautious, treating Lin Hao as a major threat.

In the Southern Border Prefecture, Lin Hao’s name was like an unstoppable blade. Even someone like Chang Youde had to be careful.

Right now, Lin Hao was being beaten so badly he couldn’t fight back, yet Chang Youde didn’t dare to let his guard down for a second.

He had discovered that Lin Hao’s physical body was absurdly tough.

Every time his fist landed on Lin Hao, he felt like he was punching a meteorite.

Even stranger, the body that seemed forged from steel possessed an extremely powerful rebounding force.

It was firm yet yielding, a perfect fusion of hardness and flexibility.

Such a physique left Chang Youde utterly stunned.

For a moment, Chang Youde found himself at a loss, able to do nothing but continue throwing punches.

He refused to believe that this body could withstand a continuous assault of hundreds of thousands of pounds of force.

Chang Youde threw another punch.

This time, however, his fist hit nothing but air.

Lin Hao shot backward, creating distance between them, his eyes fixed on Chang Youde’s arm.

Lin Hao was furious. He had taken at least ten punches.

Despite his powerful physique, even he couldn’t endure such a dense barrage of blows.

He wasn’t a masochist, nor was he trying to test the limits of his body; he simply couldn’t dodge.

Chang Youde cultivated the Element Transformation Skill, and his mastery was far more profound than his disciples’. He could manifest a third arm!

That was why Lin Hao couldn’t evade the attacks.

The first and second arms could be tracked, but the third arm was bizarre and completely unpredictable.

This, without a doubt, was one of the profound secrets of the Element Transformation Skill.

By using the Element Transformation Skill to manifest three arms, Chang Youde had put Lin Hao at a major disadvantage.

Lin Hao stood at the edge of the Cyan Cloud Platform, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

But now, an unyielding fighting spirit shone brightly in his eyes.

Seeing Lin Hao actually dodge his attack, Chang Youde thought, ’This is bad,’ and pressed forward again.

Activating the Element Transformation Skill, Chang Youde’s right arm suddenly split in two.

Lin Hao’s eyes blazed. Instead of retreating, he advanced, throwing a punch of his own!

And just like Chang Youde’s, Lin Hao’s arm split in two.

BOOM!

Their fists crashed together solidly.

The Cyan Cloud Platform trembled.

Chang Youde’s eyes narrowed. His third fist had been blocked by Lin Hao’s left hand.

This horrified Chang Youde beyond belief.

The Element Transformation Skill was a sect Secret Skill, incredibly profound. The ability to manifest a third fist, in particular, multiplied its power.

The third fist was controlled entirely by one’s will, appearing and disappearing like a phantom. Sometimes, even he only knew where it would land after he’d thrown it.

But now, this third fist that even he couldn’t fully control had been caught by Lin Hao. It was beyond his comprehension.

However, Chang Youde was a seasoned veteran with rich combat experience. After a brief moment of shock, he immediately changed tactics.

The manifested fist suddenly vanished, leaving only his real one. At the same time, an orange glow enveloped his arm.

The orange light shrouded his entire right arm, giving off a strange and terrifying aura.

Chang Youde had activated his Bloodline Power.

Chang Youde’s right arm shot forward at a speed the naked eye couldn’t track.

Even so, Lin Hao still tracked its movement and caught him by the wrist.

But Chang Youde’s fist bizarrely extended forward.

BOOM!

Even though Lin Hao bent over and sucked in his gut, the punch still connected.

And its power was double that of the previous blows.

Lin Hao suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. He felt as if his internal organs had all been scrambled.

That punch was vicious.

A cruel smile flashed in Chang Youde’s eyes.

"Any last words?" Chang Youde asked again.

Channeled through the Element Transformation Skill and empowered by his Bloodline Power, his strike was heavier than a mountain and had penetrated straight through the body’s defenses.

Even if Lin Hao were forged from iron, Chang Youde refused to believe his internal organs could be as tough as his flesh.

Lin Hao looked up and smiled at Chang Youde.

Chang Youde thought, ’Crap!’ He tried to retreat, but it was too late.

BANG!

Chang Youde’s body was sent flying like a paper kite.

He landed heavily on the Cyan Cloud Platform and skidded a long way before coming to a stop.

He was now only inches from the edge of the platform.

Before he could get up, Lin Hao appeared before him.

Looking down at him from above, Lin Hao smiled. "Any last words?"

"You..." He coughed, spitting more blood.

Enraged, Chang Youde spat out another mouthful of blood.

"I used my Bloodline Power... It’s impossible for you to recover so quickly! What kind of monster are you?" Chang Youde stared hard at Lin Hao, a feeling of helplessness welling up inside him.

No matter how much force he used, Lin Hao could withstand it. Yet with a single punch, Lin Hao had shattered his internal organs.

’This is completely unfair!’

"You’re just an idiot who hasn’t mastered the Element Transformation Skill," Lin Hao shrugged, his words dripping with lethal provocation.

Chang Youde trembled with rage. He pointed a shaking finger at Lin Hao, unable to utter a single word, as blood continued to pour from his mouth.

Lin Hao’s last blow had also pierced through his physical defenses, shattering his organs. If he didn’t receive immediate help, Chang Youde would undoubtedly die.

Lin Hao’s gaze was cold, devoid of pity.

’If you try to kill me, you’d better be prepared to be killed yourself.’

Just as he was about to finish Chang Youde, Lin Hao’s figure shot backward.

BOOM!

An instant later, the spot where he had been standing exploded with a deafening rumble, shaking the entire Cyan Cloud Platform violently.

"Come to collect his body? You’re a little early," Lin Hao said mockingly to the old man who had suddenly appeared.

The old man was, of course, Chang Youde’s father, Chang Qianxun.

Chang Qianxun didn’t reply. He stuffed a medicinal pill into Chang Youde’s mouth and prepared to carry him away.

He could see that his son’s condition was critical.

If they delayed any longer, even the gods wouldn’t be able to save him.

He wanted Lin Hao dead just as badly, but now was not the time.

He tried to leave, but Lin Hao wasn’t about to let him.

"Since you’re here, you might as well stay. You two can walk the road to hell together," Lin Hao said, his arrogance knowing no bounds.

Here, on the Cyan Cloud Platform, Lin Hao was actually challenging one of the four core elders of the Sanqing Sect.

"Junior, you’ve gone too far!"

Lin Hao’s expression turned icy. "Me? Gone too far? Who was it that just launched a sneak attack on me? Besides, he said it himself: a duel to the death on the Cyan Cloud Platform. He’s not dead yet, so what are you doing out here? Are you looking to die too? I’m just trying to grant your wish."

If Lin Hao hadn’t been on high alert, he would be the one lying on the ground right now.

Chang Qianxun’s lips moved, but no sound came out.

He could find no way to refute Lin Hao’s words.

However, Lin Hao had no intention of letting him off the hook.

"And they call you Chang Qianxun, ’Humble’? If I were your dad, I would’ve shot you onto a wall instead."

Chang Qianxun’s face flushed crimson, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.

He had lived for many years and, as a core elder of the Sanqing Sect, had always been a high and mighty figure.

But now, he was being repeatedly humiliated by Lin Hao, and he couldn’t find a single word to retort.

Blood rushed to Chang Qianxun’s head, and he completely lost his composure.

"I’ll kill you!" Tossing his son aside, Chang Qianxun lunged straight for Lin Hao.

In his towering rage, Chang Qianxun’s attack was wild and artless. He formed his right hand into a claw and aimed straight for Lin Hao’s throat.

Lin Hao sidestepped slightly, dodging the attack.

Then, Chang Qianxun saw Lin Hao giving him a thumbs-up.

"To sacrifice your own son for the sake of justice... impressive, truly impressive."

Lin Hao’s words exploded in Chang Qianxun’s mind, and he whirled around.

Behind him was nothing. There was no sign of Chang Youde.

Only then did Chang Qianxun remember what he had done. He leaped off the Cyan Cloud Platform.

Lin Hao walked to the edge and peered over. Below was pitch-black darkness; nothing was visible.

Shaking his head, Lin Hao prepared to leave.

"AAAAH!"

Suddenly, a roar filled with extreme grief and fury erupted from below.

The sound was so piercing it nearly shattered Lin Hao’s eardrums.

Lin Hao cursed inwardly. ’I’ve really stirred up a hornet’s nest now.’

But Lin Hao didn’t leave.

’If I leave this place, I’ll be dead for sure.’

’But the Cyan Cloud Platform suppresses cultivation levels. Here, I actually have a fighting chance.’

Just as he had that thought, another person appeared on the platform.

His disheveled white hair hung down, obscuring his face and making him look like a vengeful spirit.

"I want you dead." The four words that left his lips were bone-chillingly cold.

Then, the man charged at Lin Hao.

The rushing wind blew his hair back, revealing his face. Who else could it be but Chang Qianxun?

His grandson had been killed, and now his son was gone too. In his overwhelming grief and rage, Chang Qianxun’s hair had turned white in an instant.

Fueled by this grief and fury, Chang Qianxun’s combat power exploded.

Lin Hao could even smell the stench of death.