Top-Tier Superpower Student

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The black-clad figure and those evildoers were actually working together, could it be?

Some unforeseen event had occurred.

"Let's go check out what's happening ahead," Lin Tian said, leading everyone away. Before leaving, he didn't forget to take all the white stones with him, stowing them in his bosom.

After walking for more than half an hour without encountering any evildoers, they came across the corpses of two disciples, both of whom had met a gruesome end. They had been beaten to death with clubs before being dismembered and eaten. From the wounds on the bodies, it was clear that this was the work of evildoers.

Even Lin Tian felt a tingling sensation on his scalp. Eating human flesh raw was too cruel.

They worked together to dig a simple grave in the ground to lay them to rest. Though the burial was modest, it was better than leaving the bodies exposed in the wilderness.

"Help, someone save me...!"

As they were walking, a frantic voice suddenly rang out.

A figure hurriedly ran towards them from up ahead. Lin Tian recognized the man, having fought against him before. It was Chen Long from the Five Elements Sect, a tough fighter.

"What happened, what's the matter?" Lin Tian hurriedly advanced and asked eagerly.

"Lin Tian!" Chen Long shouted, seeing Lin Tian like a lifeline, "Ahead, there are more than twenty evildoers, including black-clad figures with the strength of a mirror image. They have surrounded a dozen disciples and three masters tasked with maintaining order here. Jian Cangsheng is leading many disciples in a bloody battle upfront. I risked my life to break out and find reinforcements."

Lin Tian said, "Where? Lead the way."

Chen Long nodded without hesitation and dashed off, with Lin Tian and Huo Shaotian closely following. However, the three disciples Lin Tian had just saved were panicking and turned to run. Clearly, they dared not join the battle, preferring to desert.

Lin Tian watched their retreating figures with contempt, shaking his head. If it weren't for his timely arrival, they would have already been dead. Now that others were in peril, they were turning tail and running, which was truly shameful.

"Let's go!"

Lin Tian shouted, no longer having the time to debate right or wrong. Saving people was the top priority.

Guided by Chen Long, Lin Tian and his companions saw Jian Cangsheng and his group.

At that moment, all three masters maintaining order had been killed in battle. Jian Cangsheng was left with eight disciples, with six corpses lying on the ground. Opposing them, there was one black-clad figure with the strength of a mirror image and over twenty evildoers.

Jian Cangsheng's group was encircled, each bearing wounds, trapped and in a dire situation.

Among them were two individuals who had previously crossed paths with Lin Tian—one was Wang Hai from the Divine Fist Sect, and the other was Yue Lei from the Three Talents Sect.

The disparity in strength between the two sides was vast, and the black-clad people didn't kill them outright, indicating a desire to recruit them.

The black-clad figure shouted at Jian Cangsheng's group, "Surrender, and you may live. Refuse, and no mercy will be shown!"

The group exchanged glances. Some people wavered, looking at each other, undecided. At that critical moment, Jian Cangsheng firmly rejected the offer.

"We received great kindness from our sect, and it is our duty to uphold justice and eliminate demons. You are brutal and shameless, bloodthirsty by nature. Even in death, we will not join forces with you."

Upon hearing this, the black-clad figure felt a surge of anger but still spoke in a low, persuasive tone, "Jian Cangsheng, you are a Sword Dao prodigy. Given time, you're destined for a boundless future, commanding respect far and wide. At such a young age, do you really wish to die like this? People live for themselves. For your sect, for your so-called justice, are you willing to have your corpse rot in the wilderness?"

"You can't have both, the fish and the bear's paw. I would rather die than compromise my integrity!"

Jian Cangsheng's gaze was resolute, as he held the treasured sword across his chest, prepared to fight to the death!

The black-clad figure clenched his fists tightly, and a murderous intent appeared in his eyes. He roared at the disciples behind him, "Jian Cangsheng is stubborn and refuses to yield. Do you all want to die with him?"

The situation was grim; they were overpowered, and if the black-clad figure gave the order, their death was certain. Two disciples, afraid of dying, dropped their weapons and stepped towards the black-clad figure.

"Come back," Jian Cangsheng yelled fiercely. "We pride ourselves on being righteous and vow never to associate with dark forces. Today if you bow to them, not only will you be scorned, but even your sect will be despised. Our sect has treated us with immeasurable kindness; is this how you repay them?"

"A true man seeks to live a life without regret. Death, what is there to fear?"

Jian Cangsheng's words made the two disciples feel some shame, their faces burning red with embarrassment. Despite this, they continued to walk away.

One disciple shamelessly said, "Jian Cangsheng, the most important thing is to be alive. Once dead, status, power, position, all are gone. I want to live, and I'll do anything to survive!"

The two of them came to the black-clad figure's side and knelt on the ground with a 'thud', kowtowing and begging for mercy.

"Please spare us. We will serve you like oxen and horses and toil like dogs and horses!"

Hope filled their eyes as they begged, a hope for life.

The black-clad figure sneered and, without the slightest mercy, struck with his fists, instantly killing both.

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Both men died without the chance to utter a single word, their eyes wide and filled with resentment. They didn't understand why, having surrendered, they needed to be killed.

Even Jian Cangsheng's eyes widened. Though their actions were disgraceful, not long ago, they were comrades who fought and killed enemies together, which made him somewhat regretful.

After all, those were two living lives!

The man in black sneered, staring at the two corpses on the ground, "Not just anyone can join us. We only accept geniuses, only the strongest. Jian Cangsheng, I'm offering you one last chance. Join us and you'll have access to superior Sword Path Techniques, esteemed masters, and everything you might need!"

Jian Cangsheng was infatuated with swordsmanship, to the point of obsession. Given a choice between a naked beauty and a book on Sword Dao, he would undoubtedly choose the Sword Dao.

Although he adored Sword Dao, Jian Cangsheng was firm-minded. There were lines he could not cross, for crossing them meant losing one's morals and integrity. Could one still be called human without those?

He didn't answer the man in black, pointing his sword tip at him, ready to fight to the death.

The man in black was furious, "You choose punishment over a toast, then. Attack, show no mercy!"

More than twenty evildoers launched their attacks together, surrounding Jian Cangsheng and the others.

Lin Tian, hiding aside, witnessed the scene and never expected Jian Cangsheng to be so principled, a true man of steel.

Lin Tian spoke to Huo Shaotian and Chen Long, "Huo Shaotian, you follow me and deal with that man in black. Chen Long, go help Jian Cangsheng and the others."

Both nodded in agreement, and the three sprang into action at once.

The enemy in black possessed the strength of the Condensed Mirror stage, but Lin Tian firmly believed that with Huo Shaotian's help, they were enough to eliminate the man in black.

Lin Tian used his Flight Technique and charged forward first, with Huo Shaotian sprinting desperately behind him.

"Burn the Heavens!"

He roared, and a Fire Dragon soared into the sky, flames raging, with a burning power that threatened to scorch the heavens.

The man in black was startled. He already felt the terrifying power emitting from the Fire Dragon, but glancing at Lin Tian, he realized that Lin Tian was merely at the half-step Condensed Mirror stage of cultivation, and so was Huo Shaotian, which reassured him.

"Mere ants daring to ambush me, courting death!"

He activated his superpower, raised his hand, and a massive palm imprint soared from his palm towards the Fire Dragon.

"Boom!"

With a tremendous noise shaking the sky and earth, the palm imprint collided with the Fire Dragon and both exploded on impact, their mighty residual force sweeping in all directions, shattering a large tree completely.

An overwhelming force surged into both Lin Tian and the man in black. Lin Tian spat out blood and quickly drank a healing potion.

A trace of blood also flowed from the corner of the man in black's mouth. He was utterly shocked, hardly believing that Lin Tian, with his mere half-step Condensed Mirror cultivation, could unleash the power of a full-fledged Condensed Mirror practitioner.

He had been careless, not using his full strength, and now injured, he was filled with annoyance.

Staring at Lin Tian, still not recovered from his shock, Huo Shaotian opened his mouth and sprayed another thick burst of flame.

"Damn it!"

The man in black cursed, activating his Ability Source to form a protective barrier. Huo Shaotian's fierce flames crashed against it, shaking the barrier repeatedly, but in the end, they couldn't break through the man in black's defense.

The man in black dismissed the barrier, thinking to catch a breath, but Lin Tian activated his superpower, Heaven's Punishment, and fiercely attacked him.

In his panic, the man in black was left with no choice but to dodge. Lin Tian took the opportunity to close the distance with the man in black.

Lin Tian unleashed his most formidable attack, one hand casting Heaven's Punishment, the other Burn the Heavens. As he raised his hand, superpowers surged, a vast force erupted, shaking the Eight Desolations and resonating through the Nine Provinces!

In his disarray, the man in black could only defend passively, a tinge of fear visible in the face of Lin Tian's aggressive moves.

He wasn't losing to Lin Tian now, but the fact that fear was showing meant his courage was already beaten.

He didn't dare to fight a life-and-death battle with Lin Tian and instead said, "Boy, you can wield the strength of a Condensed Mirror practitioner with only a half-step cultivation. You are strong. If you join us, I will ask our lord to provide you with the best resources, and I'll personally guide you so you improve faster in martial arts, how about it?"

Lin Tian didn't slow his attacks for a moment and replied with a cold laugh, "You think you can instruct me? Beat me first, then we'll talk!"

The man in black shouted angrily, "Boy, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. I haven't used my full strength yet. Condensed Mirror and half-step might seem a minor difference, but in martial arts, such a gap is as vast as a chasm. I've lived most of my life, seen countless talents, and never have I heard of anyone overpowering an opponent a level higher. No one can do it, and neither can you!"

After saying this, the man in black threw a punch with all his might, forcing Lin Tian to stagger back.

Lin Tian took several steps back; that punch had been truly powerful. Under the full-force blow from a Condensed Mirror practitioner, the strength was indeed terrifying.