Chapter 17: The Sparrow Behind the Scenes!

Deep within the cave, the Zhang family members were locked in fierce combat with other demonic beasts.

Such a vast Jinglei Mansion could never be guarded by just one Cold Scale Bear.

Lin Chen’s expression grew colder still. Through his senses, he perceived that more elders of the Zhang family were grievously wounded. Even Zhang Xuan, their leader, was drenched in blood with his aura wildly unstable. The ghost-fire silver serpent beside him was already covered in injuries.

"Fight to the death in one breath!" Zhang Xuan shouted fiercely. "As long as we obtain the treasures here, all sacrifices will be worth it!"

“Pfft!” Another elder failed to dodge in time and was pounced on and killed by a beast.

By now, two elders had fallen, and three more were injured.

Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth with fury blazing in his eyes.

Retreat was not an option!

At this point, any fallback would mean all efforts wasted.

The family’s powerful warriors had suffered heavy losses. The only way to minimize damage now was to take all the treasures from Jinglei Mansion.

So they fought on for another incense stick’s worth of time.

When the last beast fell, Zhang Xuan was left with only one arm, leaning heavily against the cave wall, gasping for air.

In front of him stood one remaining elder, equally battered and covered in blood, evidently at his limit.

"Finally, all these beasts are dead," Zhang Xuan muttered, swaying as he pushed open the last bronze door.

“Rumble!”

As the bronze door opened, the hidden chamber instantly burst forth with dazzling spiritual jade energy!

Piled on the ground were spiritual jades, ranging from two-lined to three-lined varieties, and everything in between.

Besides the jade, there were several transcribed cultivation manuals.

The chamber’s stone walls were also inscribed with characters.

"Now, my Zhang family will truly rise!" Zhang Xuan’s hoarse voice trembled with excitement.

Then he ordered the elder, “You go in first!”

The elder steeled himself and entered quietly. Inside, it was silent—no sound, no ambush from beasts.

"Good, very good!" Zhang Xuan finally relaxed and laughed heartily as he stepped inside.

But just as the elder was about to follow, a soft sound rang out—a sharp vine suddenly pierced through his heart from behind!

His eyes widened, blood foaming from his mouth.

The elder’s remaining life force was drained silently, without a single sound.

Lin Chen carefully set Lin Ninger down, then, with one person and one tree, entered the chamber.

"Come, gather all these spiritual jades!" Zhang Xuan, still immersed in ecstasy, failed to notice the figure approaching behind him.

---

“Swish!”

Lin Chen’s palm shot out, aimed at the back of Zhang Xuan’s neck.

Sensing the gust, Zhang Xuan’s pupils constricted sharply. Instinctively, he dodged.

“Lin Chen, it’s you!” Zhang Xuan staggered back several steps, his face turning ugly.

Could it be that Lin Chen had been quietly following all along?

If so, then everything that had happened on the way...

His pupils reddened with hatred and rage. “My Lin’er…”

“Dead.”

Lin Chen stepped forward, his expression cold and murderous. “Next, it’s your turn, Zhang family head!”

“I’ll slaughter you, you little beast!” Zhang Xuan lost all reason and roared, charging at Lin Chen.

The ghost-fire silver serpent lunged, lightning-fast, to bite Lin Chen.

Its mouth gleamed with razor-sharp venomous fangs.

“小Snake, take this stick from your Tree Bro!”

The little sapling leapt down from the cave wall, gripping a thick wooden staff, and smashed the ghost-fire silver serpent flat onto the ground!

It had been lying in wait all along!

The serpent, already heavily wounded from earlier battles with beasts, was dizzy and weakened in strength and speed.

“Hissss!” The serpent raised its head in fury, its green eyes fixed on the sapling.

A first-rank illusion beast!

Such a creature was utterly trash.

Had it not been so injured, it would never have let this fool act so arrogantly.

Lin Chen clenched his fingers and collided his one-armed fist with Zhang Xuan’s.

“Boom!”

A loud crash echoed. Lin Chen stepped back several paces, feeling numb in his half-arm.

He marveled inwardly at Zhang Xuan’s power.

Even so battered, he still had such explosive strength.

If both were at their peak, Lin Chen knew he would never be Zhang Xuan’s match.

On the other side, Zhang Xuan was in even worse shape.

With only one arm left, the heavy blow tore open his wounds anew, twisting his face in agonizing pain, nearly fainting.

Lin Chen moved with the agility of a leopard, delivering relentless strikes.

After invoking his imperial technique, a faint green glow surrounded his arm, and his fists thundered like storms.

At first, Zhang Xuan managed to block, but as the fight dragged on, he faltered.

Lin Chen showed no mercy; several heavy punches landed, making Zhang Xuan tremble with pain, roaring aloud.

---

“Crack!”

Lin Chen’s palms flew like lightning.

One strike severed Zhang Xuan’s remaining arm!

Sweat poured from Zhang Xuan’s agony-filled face as he shouted for the ghost-fire silver serpent, “Come help me!”

But the illusion beast was already pinioned by the sapling, curled up tightly.

The sapling pointed to the serpent’s body, grinning, “You dare bite Tree Bro? Hope you don’t mind the bite marks!”

The serpent’s venom was useless against the sapling.

Risking a bite, the sapling had struck like lightning to seize the beast’s vital spot and lifted it up.

Seeing this, Zhang Xuan’s pupils shrank again.

He retreated a few steps and roared, “Lin Chen, even as a ghost, I won’t let you go!”

Lin Chen sneered and punched straight at Zhang Xuan’s face.

Against such a formidable foe, he dared not slacken.

“Pfft!”

Zhang Xuan’s head smashed against the cave wall and shattered like a melon.

The Zhang family head, a sixth-layer Earth Spirit Realm warrior, died instantly!

“Pant, pant.”

After slaying Zhang Xuan, Lin Chen took several deep breaths.

His eyes gleamed with excitement at the countless treasures in the chamber.

Now he was rich!

“Xiao Chen, where… where is this?” Outside the chamber, Lin Ninger woke from unconsciousness, her delicate face pale at the sight.

“It’s okay, sister. I’ve killed them all,” Lin Chen smiled.

He then explained everything that had transpired.

“Xiao Chen, you took such a risk!”

Lin Ninger covered her mouth, tears welling in her eyes.

She knew in her heart that Lin Chen had done all this for her.

If she hadn’t been afflicted with the cold poison sickness that urgently needed treatment, he could have found a quiet place to slowly cultivate his realm.

With his talent, he would reach the peak eventually.

Why risk his life like this?

“Sister, I promised you that from now on, I will never let you suffer even a little,” Lin Chen smiled softly, gently wiping her tears.

“Once I’ve dealt with Lin Hongbin, we’ll leave Fanyun City and head to the imperial capital!”