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Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Settling Accounts! The Dragon’s Reverse Scale!
Lin Jintai was indeed very surprised.
So many people surrounded and hunted Luo Cheng. He originally thought Luo Cheng must have already died, devoured by the Demon Beast, with no remains left. Yet, he was able to appear here completely unscathed.
In the crowd, Gu Lingfeng and Yuan Zhilan exchanged a glance and looked at Luo Cheng thoughtfully.
The ten championship seed contenders were calm, but those Fifth Layer of Transcendence Realm Martial Artists stared at Luo Cheng with fiery eyes, itching to act.
Their rankings were destined to not enter the top ten.
But as long as they could capture Luo Cheng’s head, they could directly ascend to the Outer Sect!
Luo Cheng ignored the gazes of the crowd. He looked at the Golden Stone Platform and shook his head indifferently:
"Looks like my being alive is quite disappointing to you. It’s a pity—you’re destined to be disappointed."
If all of this was Elder Gu’s scheme, as his trusted disciple, Lin Jintai couldn’t possibly be unaware of it.
Lin Jintai raised his eyebrows slightly and chuckled faintly:
"Whether you’ll disappoint me isn’t up for words to decide. Since your tongue is so sharp, it seems the lesson I gave you last time wasn’t enough."
Luo Cheng’s gaze turned cold, his voice steely as iron: "I’ve been meaning to settle this debt with you properly!"
The two were tense and brimming with murderous intent, poised to strike at any moment.
At this time, a tall, youthful spear wielder stepped forward, speaking gruffly:
"Lin Jintai, I don’t know what kind of grudge you two have! But right now, figuring out how to get the Primordial Spirit Fruit is what matters! We don’t have much time left! If we catch the attention of that old python, we all risk wasting our efforts for nothing!"
The spear wielder was none other than Zuo Changshan, one of the ten championship seed contenders!
"Zuo Changshan’s right. Personal grudges should be set aside for now. The Primordial Spirit Fruit is crucial to our future prospects."
Wearing a colorful dress, with a face like a blossoming peach, Zhou Ruo—also one of the championship seed contenders—spoke up.
Upon hearing this, Lin Jintai’s eyes flickered momentarily, then he cast a cold glance at Luo Cheng:
"Kid, I’ll let you live a little longer. Don’t think about escaping! Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, you’ll find nothing but a dead end. You won’t escape me!"
"No need to worry—you’re not qualified to make me run."
Luo Cheng’s voice was calm, and he didn’t make a move immediately.
He was also curious to see how they would claim the Primordial Spirit Fruit.
This Demon Python was no ordinary beast; judging by its aura, it was certainly a Two-star Top Level Demon Beast, comparable to a Sixth Layer Transcendence Realm Martial Artist.
Sixth Layer of Transcendence Realm Martial Artists brim with vitality, their Essence Qi blazing like fire, each move imbued with spirit pressure, and their bodies harboring the strength of three savage elephants! Even Luo Cheng wouldn’t dare underestimate them.
What’s more, Demon Beasts possessed bodies far tougher than those of martial artists at the same level—their combat power often exceeded them by several degrees.
Attempting to seize the Primordial Spirit Fruit would not be an easy task.
Judging by the blood-stained corpses scattered around the giant tree, others had already tried before—and their outcomes had been tragic.
Lin Jintai spreading this information undoubtedly meant he understood these risks.
Upon hearing Luo Cheng’s comment, Lin Jintai’s face darkened. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his rage, and said:
"That Black-scaled Python is a Two-star Top Level Demon Beast. Attacking it head-on is absolutely impossible; we can only outwit it. We’ll form a battle formation, with one group to draw its attention, while the others use the opportunity to pluck the Primordial Spirit Fruit! Once successful, we’ll withdraw immediately."
Zuo Changshan added, "Everyone understands that much. However, how will the spoils be divided? There are only about ten Primordial Spirit Fruits on the tree."
The others all looked toward Lin Jintai.
With so many people present, Lin Jintai dared not act partial. He said:
"The Primordial Spirit Fruit’s first effect is the most potent. The ten championship seed contenders will each get one fruit. The people who obtain fruit will also pool a sum of money to provide fifty Essence Energy Pills for each of the other participants!"
"How can Essence Energy Pills compare to Primordial Spirit Fruit..."
One Fifth Layer of Transcendence Realm Martial Artist couldn’t help but murmur.
Lin Jintai shot him a cold glare and snorted: "Know your strength, know your status, and say the appropriate words! If you think it’s unfair, step out and show us!"
The complainer shrank their neck, no longer daring to speak.
Lin Jintai raised his voice: "If there are no objections, then that’s the plan! If anyone dares to go back on their word, they’ll face an attack from everyone here and die without a burial!"
"No one would dare!"
Zuo Changshan sneered.
Even a championship contender couldn’t withstand being surrounded by so many people!
Soon, the group finalized their arrangements.
Aside from the eight championship seed contenders present, more than a dozen Fifth Layer of Transcendence Realm Martial Artists were coerced by Lin Jintai and the others to participate. These individuals would be tasked with distracting the Black-scaled Python.
"Dammit, the biggest gains go to them, while the riskiest roles are assigned to us."
"What choice do we have? Under the eaves, we can only bow our heads. At least distracting the Black-scaled Python shouldn’t be too dangerous."
"Bear with it. When they move up to the Outer Sect, among the servant disciples, we’ll reign supreme and will be just as arrogant as them."
These coerced Fifth Layer of Transcendence Realm Martial Artists were all discontented but could only accept it reluctantly.
Luo Cheng overheard the grumbles and sighed inwardly.
Strength was revered—everywhere was the same. Without strength, one would always be subordinate! n𝚘vp𝚞𝚋.com
Gazing at the distant giant tree, Luo Cheng silently thought: "They’re organizing personnel to distract the Black-scaled Python. That might just give me the chance to fish in troubled waters..."
While pondering how to seize the Primordial Spirit Fruit, Luo Cheng suddenly noticed Lin Jintai looking his way and heard him issue an order:
"You, come here! You’ll take the lead!"
Hearing this, the others present felt uneasy and somewhat schadenfreude.
The one tasked with going first would undoubtedly attract the Black-scaled Python’s attention—this was as good as sentencing Luo Cheng to death!
Luo Cheng glanced over indifferently, remaining unmoved and unresponsive.
"Hmm?"
Lin Jintai narrowed his eyes. Luo Cheng’s repeated defiance had finally exhausted his patience. He said coldly:
"Did you not hear me, you bastard? Get over here and stand in the front! Otherwise, I’ll make you experience what it means to be better off dead!"
"What did you say!"
Luo Cheng’s voice deepened as he fixed his gaze on Lin Jintai, his eyes like meteors crashing down and stars exploding. A murderous aura radiated from him, making nearby people involuntarily shiver.
Back in Qishan City, when someone had once called him a bastard, Luo Cheng had beaten them to the brink of death with his own fists!
Since then, no one ever dared say those words in his presence again!
A dragon has its reverse scale—touch it, and you die.
Those two words were Luo Cheng’s reverse scale!!
Lin Jintai was startled momentarily by Luo Cheng’s gaze, but he quickly steadied himself and sneered:
"Heh, now the entire Xuanyuan Sect’s Outer Sect knows you’re the bastard abandoned by the Ji Family! You..."
Before Lin Jintai could finish speaking, he saw a figure draw a sword and approach swiftly, a cold smile on their face:
"Since you’re courting death, I’ll grant your wish! Golden Radiance Soars!"
The long sword came out of its sheath, and Lin Jintai slashed at Luo Cheng with dazzling cold light.
Clang!
Their swords collided, and Lin Jintai’s expression changed. An overwhelming force instantly disarmed him, sending his sword flying!
"How can this be!"
Lin Jintai was horrified, and before he could react, he felt a sudden chill on his right arm. He watched in shock as an arm flew away, followed by an unbearable, searing pain.
"Ah! My arm! My arm..."
Lin Jintai’s agonized screams reverberated through the Pine Forest.
