"Sword Lord, this matter has nothing to do with you, so don't meddle in other people's business" Shi Nian said, his expression turning extremely ugly.
Jun Tianlin raised his sword "So what if I insist on intervening?"
"This Tang San defeated three of your Team, causing your team to lose face. Moreover, I overheard your conversation with him—there seems to be a rift between you. If I kill him, it will only benefit you." Shi Nian stepped forward while keeping his hands behind his back, secretly gathering strength. If possible, he wanted to avoid becoming Jun Tianlin's enemy. Compared to the seemingly powerless Tang San, he couldn't afford to offend the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan.
Even if he disposed of Jun Tianlin's body after killing him, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan could easily trace it back to him by investigating Tianlin's movements today. Whether or not they had solid evidence wouldn't matter.
They wouldn't need to take him to trial. Couldn't they just assassinate him? For powerful clans like theirs, suspicion alone was enough to seal his fate. After all, this wasn't a society governed by the rule of law like Jun Tianlin's previous life—evidence was irrelevant.
But if Jun Tianlin insisted on interfering, Shi Nian would have no choice but to act ruthlessly. At worst, after killing him, he would immediately flee—either to the Slaughter City or by joining the Spirit Hall. As a Soul Saint, he was confident he could find a way to survive.
"Haha, I've long heard that Mr. Shi Nian is vindictive and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Seeing it firsthand today, I must say—he truly lives up to his reputation." Jun Tianlin sensed Shi Nian's subtle movements and smirked 'He's exactly like me.'
With those words, Jun Tianlin's eyes flickered with fire. The other party was gathering strength, and so was he. The powerful murderous aura he released sent chills through the air.
The reason for using Tang San as bait was to claim Shi Nian's soul bone. How could he let him escape now?
"Seventh soul skill, Nightmare!" Sensing the overwhelming killing intent from Jun Tianlin, Shi Nian instinctively unleashed his Martial Soul True Body
A massive illusion engulfed Jun Tianlin. Shi Nian sneered "Sword Lord, since you don't know what's good for you, I'll make sure you regret it. Despair in agony!"
"Despair? Let's see who's really despairing—Golden Flames, Burn the Soul!" Jun Tianlin's eyes flashed, and in an instant, roaring golden flames erupted, consuming the illusionary space
"What? What kind of fire is this? How can it even burn my illusion?"
"Ahhh!!!" Shi Nian's agonized screams filled the air. If Tang San's earlier cries had been laced with despair, then Shi Nian's were filled with sheer agony
"First soul skill, Frostbite Edge!" Jun Tianlin seized the moment, stepping forward, ready to sever Shi Nian's head.
Just then, Shi Nian lifted his ferocious face. A light flashed on his forehead, and his mental power surged. Jun Tianlin immediately felt his own mental power being suppressed to a certain degree.
"Fifth soul skill, Phantom Body!"
Using the mental power disparity, Shi Nian barely managed to escape the flames and activated his fifth soul skill to evade Jun Tianlin's strike. What Jun Tianlin cut down was merely an illusionary clone.
"Oh, is this the Ten Thousand Year Illusionary Skull you stole after killing the Tiandou Auction House staff?" Jun Tianlin remarked with satisfaction "Quite a treasure. That move just now—Illusionary Space, right? It boosts your mental power, weakens your opponent's, and even has a hallucinogenic effect."
"You... you even know about that?!" Shi Nian was horrified, then realization struck him "I get it now. Tang San was just bait. His ability to see through illusions in his last match and defeat your Three team mate—it was all orchestrated by you. You staged everything to attract my attention, lure him out of the city, so I'd try to assassinate him. Then, you'd swoop in and kill me!"
"Exactly. Unfortunately for you, you've realized it too late. Brother Tian Meng, let's go!" Jun Tianlin shouted
Tian Meng understood immediately 'I see now, Xiaotian. He want to flaunt a mere ten-thousand-year-old skull in front of me? Let him experience the power of my million-year-old spiritual skull—Mental Interference Field!'
A domain far larger than the illusion space spread from Jun Tianlin as its center. The effect was similar to Illusionary Space, but its power was on an entirely different level. After all, there was a vast gap between ten thousand and one million years.
Illusionary Space was instantly suppressed. At that moment, a tremendous suction force emerged from Jun Tianlin's forehead, pulling Shi Nian's spirit inside without resistance. Within this special space, he found himself face-to-face with a massive, snow-white flesh worm.
"W-What is this?!" Shi Nian's face twisted in terror. He hadn't expected such a monstrous entity to reside within Jun Tianlin's mind
"How dare you use your Martial Soul True Body to bully my Xiaotian? I'll make you regret it!" Tian Meng released a powerful mental wave, instantly shattering Shi Nian's spirit into countless black particles. Though lacking combat ability, when it came to mental power, even many gods couldn't match it.
"How many people did he kill in his lifetime? His soul particles are as black as ink," Tian Meng mused
"Who knows? But Brother Tian Meng, illusions don't work on me. He never stood a chance" Jun Tianlin replied, knowing full well that Shi Nian had no real ability to threaten him
With Shi Nian's spirit obliterated, Jun Tianlin turned toward his lifeless body. Like the Tyrant Dragon he had previously slain, Shi Nian's heart still beat, and his blood still flowed—but his consciousness was completely gone.
"Shi Nian, you, an evil man, just happened to meet someone like me, who isn't much better. Consider yourself unlucky." With a swift slash, Jun Tianlin's extreme fire instantly reduced Shi Nian's body to ashes, leaving behind only a single soul bone
It was the Illusionary Skull. Jun Tianlin picked it up and stored it in his soul guide before turning to Tang San. He first tore away Tang San's Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night.
Tang San's poison soul bone was still inside. Leave it to him? Of course not. Tang San would only assume Shi Nian had stolen it.
Looking at the unconscious Tang San, his brows furrowed in pain, Jun Tianlin felt an unusual trace of guilt.
TL:(bruh)
He had no regrets about taking the Yin-Yang Eyes of Ice and Fire or the Human-Faced Demon Spider spirit ring—those things had never truly belonged to Tang San. But today, he had used Tang San as a pawn to achieve his own ends, indirectly bringing him to this state.
With a sigh, Jun Tianlin sent a wave of mental energy to heal Tang San's damaged soul. He also used his soul-reading ability to erase the unbearable memories Tang San had witnessed within Shi Nian's illusion.
Tang San's pained expression visibly relaxed
Jun Tianlin whispered "Tang San, consider this my compensation. Use this mental power well. You should be able to comprehend something from it. From now on, stay out of my way—next time, I won't be so merciful."