The Legend of the Netherworld

Chapter 212 Shangguan Family

Lin Xiao gathered his equipment and calmly walked toward the woods by the lake, his steps brisk yet filled with caution. He knew that even though he had defeated his opponent, the conflict was far from over. The Zhuge family was a powerful force, and this person was merely one of its branches. There must be even more powerful forces behind them.

He gently picked up the spiritual flower grass in his hand, felt the gentle breath it exuded, and felt a little relieved.

Just as Lin Xiao entered a dense forest, he suddenly felt a strong presence coming from behind him. He turned quickly, his eyes sharp as a knife, scanning the surroundings. He saw several figures rapidly approaching from the shadows of the trees not far away, with menacing momentum.

"How dare you kill my friend? Today, I'll make you pay!" The leading man's voice was deep and angry, his eyes filled with murderous intent. He was a burly figure with a calm aura, clearly a powerful figure not to be underestimated.

Lin Xiao raised his eyebrows slightly, smiled calmly, and said with a hint of indifference: "It seems that you are also a friend of Zhuge Qing?"

"Yes, it's me!" The man smiled coldly, and his aura surged towards Lin Xiao like a tide. "If you kill him, you won't be able to leave alive today."

Lin Xiao's eyes were cold, and he gently turned the spiritual flowers and grass in his hand, and the sword intent fluctuated: "If you want to kill me, you have to have some skills."

A murderous intent flashed in the man's eyes. He suddenly raised his hand, his energy overflowing, and his palm wind slashed towards Lin Xiao like a knife. At the same time, the two young men behind him also quickly launched an attack, one holding a spear and the other wielding a sword, coordinating seamlessly.

Lin Xiao didn't hesitate at all. He moved suddenly, unleashing the "Dragon Swimming Across the Seas" technique, and instantly disappeared from the spot. The leading man's attack fell flat on his face, and he shouted angrily, "You really have some skills!"

Lin Xiao's figure appeared dozens of meters away, and he sneered: "Your speed is not even as fast as mine." Before he finished speaking, Lin Xiao used the "Illusionary Body Skill·Imitation Phantom Moves", and two powerful Lin Xiaos appeared in an instant, and the three figures quickly dispersed.

"What should I choose?" Lin Xiao's voice was full of provocation. "You are too slow."

"Want to come again?" Lin Xiao looked at them sharply. The two young men instantly looked panicked. They had used all their strength in the joint attack just now, but still could not shake Lin Xiao at all.

At the same time, the leading man charged at Lin Xiao with a fierce look in his eyes. With a low roar, his energy exploded, and his body suddenly expanded. He seemed to transform into a gust of wind and rushed towards Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao smiled faintly, wielding the sword in his hand as he charged forward. The two quickly engaged in a fierce exchange of blows, their sword energy and palm power colliding continuously. The surrounding air vibrated violently, emitting bursts of loud noises.

Lin Xiao's expression changed slightly. The palm strike was indeed powerful, and he felt a surge of oppression. Without hesitation, he stomped his foot forward and unleashed his "Sword Qi Strike." A powerful burst of sword energy shot out from the tip of his sword, colliding directly with the palm strike, causing a violent collision.

"Bang!" With a dull sound, the man's body was instantly blown away, blood spurted out of his mouth, and he fell heavily to the ground.

Lin Xiao looked at the fallen man coldly and said softly, "Isn't it time for you to give up?"

The man's face was pale, and a flicker of unwillingness flashed in his eyes, but he didn't struggle any further. He knew he had already lost.

Lin Xiao's eyes remained cold. He looked in the direction of the two young men and smiled coldly: "You still have a chance. It's best to retreat quickly."

The two young men exchanged a glance, their faces pale, having already decided to give up. Though they were unwilling to give up, they knew they were no match for such a powerful enemy. Ultimately, they both quietly retreated and quickly left the battlefield.

Lin Xiao stood still, slowly sheathing his sword, his gaze fixed on the fallen man. Killing or not killing no longer mattered to him. Since these people couldn't threaten him, he didn't bother wasting any more time.

He turned around and prepared to leave, but suddenly heard the man gnashing his teeth and saying, "Do you think you can get away with this? The Zhuge family will never let you go!"

Lin Xiao stopped and turned back calmly: "Your family can give it a try."

After he finished speaking, Lin Xiao left the lake without looking back and walked towards the deeper forest.

Suddenly, the ground shook, and a thick heat filled the air, as if the entire earth was trembling violently. Lin Xiao stopped and frowned, secretly alert. The cracks in the ground continued to expand, and a roar could almost be heard from deep within.

"Volcanic eruption?!" Lin Xiao's mind moved, and he immediately activated his body skills and quickly rushed towards the direction of the earthquake source.

Soon, Lin Xiao arrived in front of a massive volcanic crater. The top of the volcano had cracked, spewing out blazing flames, roiling lava, and scorching air currents that continuously impacted the surroundings. The sky was obscured by thick smoke, as if entering a world of flames. Lin Xiao observed intently, and suddenly, his eyes focused on the rocks surrounding the crater.

"Fire Stone!" His heart was shocked.

This is a rare spiritual stone, commonly found in the aftermath of volcanic eruptions. It possesses powerful flame energy and is extremely helpful in enhancing a cultivator's fire power. More importantly, Fire Stone often coexists with certain special refining materials and alchemy herbs, making it extremely valuable.

However, just as Lin Xiao was about to jump into the crater, he suddenly heard a sneer from behind him: "It seems that I am not the only one who wants these fire stones."

Lin Xiao turned around and saw a man dressed in black, his aura calm and composed, emerging from behind a rock. He was tall and slender, with a sharp gaze, and a faint aura of fire lingered around him. Lin Xiao recognized him instantly: Shangguan Chaoran, a renowned and gifted cultivator who had defeated countless opponents in numerous trial fields and possessed formidable strength.

"Shangguan Chaoran? I didn't expect to meet you here." Lin Xiao had a blank expression and a cold look in his eyes.

Shangguan Chaoran chuckled, his eyes narrowed slightly, and his gaze swept over Lin Xiao like a knife: "No matter who you are, now that you have seen these fire stones, don't think you can take them away easily. I think you should understand their value. Since I came here first, it's not your turn."

Lin Xiao's brows raised slightly. He didn't answer, but instead calmly looked around. He knew this fight was inevitable. The Fire Stone was too valuable to let anyone give it up so easily.

"You want to compete with me?" Lin Xiao said calmly, his voice as calm as a leaf drifting in the wind. "Do you think you have that kind of strength?"

Shangguan Chaoran remained unmoved and smiled faintly: "Do you think you can seize the Fire Stone by yourself? I, Shangguan Chaoran, am not someone that can be easily shaken by someone like you."

Before he finished speaking, he had already moved, quickly approaching the crater, and instantly unleashed his "Flame Palm." A powerful flame erupted from his palm, and he slammed it against the rocks in the crater. The surface of the rocks instantly cracked, and the flame stones burst forth, transforming into dazzling red points of light that quickly flew towards Shangguan Chaoran.

"All these fire stones belong to me!" Shangguan Chaoran's eyes flashed with fanaticism. He was extremely fast and collected all the fire stones in his arms in almost an instant.

Lin Xiao sneered, and with a flick of his body, he transformed into a shadow and charged straight towards Shangguan Chaoran. He unleashed the "Dragon Swimming Across the Seas" technique, so fast that he appeared before Shangguan Chaoran before he could even react.

"You can't take these fire stones away." Lin Xiao's eyes were cold, and he waved his hand and slashed at Shangguan Chaoran with a sword.

Shangguan Chaoran frowned slightly and quickly blocked his body with his palm. Flame energy surged out like a tide, blocking Lin Xiao's sword energy. The two of them immediately engaged in a fierce exchange, sword energy and flame energy intertwined into a sea of ​​fire, and the surrounding air seemed to be burning.

"Your swordsmanship is quite good, but it will be ineffective against my fire energy." Shangguan Chaoran sneered, then raised his palms together, and a blazing flame burst out, sweeping towards Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao's eyes focused, and he retreated, performing the "Illusionary Body Skill: Imitating Phantom Moves", and immediately split into two phantoms. He dodged away with the phantom and instantly disappeared in the flames.

"Hmph, can you escape my eyes with this little trick?" Shangguan Chaoran snorted coldly, his eyes locked on one of the phantoms, and the flame energy instantly burst out again, rushing towards the phantom.

However, Lin Xiao's true figure had already quietly approached from the other side, and the long sword in his hand turned into a cold light, piercing Shangguan Chaoran's heart.

"Hmph, the flaw is finally revealed!" Lin Xiao sneered in his heart, and stabbed Shangguan Chaoran with the sword in his hand without hesitation.

A trace of panic flashed in Shangguan Chaoran's eyes, but he remained calm. He moved sideways suddenly, put his hands together, and a strong flame shield instantly unfolded, blocking Lin Xiao's sword.

"Fireworks shield!" Lin Xiao said softly, with a cold light flashing in his eyes. He knew that Shangguan Chaoran's defense was very strong, and simple swordsmanship might not be able to break his defense.

But this did not mean that Lin Xiao gave up. He took a big step and performed the "Sword Dance in the Wind". The long sword was like a flower dancing in the wind, quickly changing into hundreds of sword lights. At the same time, he performed the "Shadow Spirit Sword Stab". Countless sword energies were like shadows, hitting Shangguan Chaoran from different angles.

There was a hint of surprise in Shangguan Chaoran's eyes, but then he sneered: "No matter how good your swordsmanship is, what can you do to me?" He suddenly unleashed the "Firework Burst Fist", and a huge flaming fist blasted towards Lin Xiao. The surging energy directly dispersed Lin Xiao's sword energy.

However, at this moment, Lin Xiao's sword energy suddenly changed - he combined the "Illusionary Body Skills·Imitation of Phantom Moves" with the "Sword Energy Technique", and instantly used an unexpected move, with sword energy running wild, slashing towards Shangguan Chaoran from all directions at the same time.

Shangguan Chaoran's face finally changed slightly. He had no time to dodge and hurriedly used all his strength to protect his shield.

"boom!"

With a loud bang, Lin Xiao's sword energy finally penetrated Shangguan Chaoran's flame shield and directly hit his shoulder, spurting blood. Shangguan Chaoran took a few steps back, his face ashen, his eyes filled with anger and unwillingness.

"You lost." Lin Xiao looked at the retreating Shangguan Chaoran calmly, his voice low and cold.

Shangguan Chaoran covered his wound, a trace of blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. He gritted his teeth and said angrily, "If you don't kill me today, there will be trouble in the future!"

Lin Xiao didn't hesitate at all. He raised the tip of his sword and pointed it at Shangguan Chaoran's heart: "You make your own choice."

Shangguan Chaoran took a deep breath, and the anger in his eyes gradually gave way to calmness. He lowered his head and said through gritted teeth, "If you want to kill me, come on. But I can give you a chance."

Lin Xiao was slightly startled. He didn't move immediately, but instead stared at Shangguan Chaoran with a sharp gaze. He was no coward. Since Shangguan Chaoran had chosen to surrender, he would naturally have to pay the price. But he understood that the more cunning the enemy was, the more he couldn't let them go easily. However, faced with such a proposal, he didn't act immediately.

"Tell me, what opportunities can you give me?" Lin Xiao's tone was calm, but he was deducing possible situations in his heart.

Shangguan Chaoran took a few deep breaths, a flicker of struggle in his eyes, but he finally spoke in a low voice: "I am willing to give you the Fire Stone and all my spoils of war. I am even willing to take you to our Shangguan family's territory. If you are willing to cooperate with me, you can obtain more resources. I know that you may not be able to challenge a larger enemy on your own. My family is powerful, and I can provide you with better support."

Lin Xiao's heart stirred, and he calmly scanned Shangguan Chaoran's eyes, as if trying to gauge his sincerity and calculations. He knew that if he handled this situation properly, it might bring him great benefits, but he also had to be wary of Shangguan Chaoran's ulterior motives.

"You do have some truth to it." Lin Xiao's tone changed, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes: "But what can your Shangguan family provide me?"

Shangguan Chaoran breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this, and continued, "My Shangguan family is a vast power, with intelligence networks and resources spread all over the world. If you are willing to cooperate with us, I can introduce you to our territory. The Shangguan family possesses numerous secret cultivation realms and countless alchemy resources. There is nothing we cannot achieve, only your imagination. I believe that with your high talent, you will definitely gain more opportunities within the Shangguan family."

Lin Xiao still refused to agree, remaining silent. Although he could sense the sincerity in Shangguan Chaoran's proposal, he didn't want to make a decision lightly. He knew that any cooperation carried enormous risks, and Shangguan Chaoran's proposal, while tempting, could also be a trap.

"You should know that I'm not someone who trusts others easily." Lin Xiao finally spoke in a cold voice, "But if you're sincere, why not take me to your Shangguan family's territory? If it's really as you say, then I won't rule out the possibility of cooperation."

Shangguan Chaoran smiled slightly, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes: "Okay, I understand. In that case, come with me, and I will take you to our family's territory today."

Lin Xiao nodded, then followed Shangguan Chaoran out of the crater and headed towards the Shangguan family's territory.

A few days later, Lin Xiao followed Shangguan Chaoran to a secluded valley. Far from human habitation, surrounded by dense forests, even the sound of birdsong seemed rare. Shangguan Chaoran led Lin Xiao through a deep cave and finally arrived at a vast plain.

"This is our Shangguan family's territory," Shangguan Chaoran said softly, his eyes shifting slightly with a hint of pride. "This is not only our Shangguan family's sacred place for cultivation, but also the foundation of our family."

Lin Xiao remained silent, simply scanning his surroundings. He had already formed a rough idea in his mind. He knew that any family with such immense power must be hiding countless conspiracies and schemes.

They crossed a large bridge and arrived at a magnificent courtyard. In the center, an ancient temple stood before them, its grandeur extraordinary. Outside, many monks were busy, seemingly carrying out some mission.

Shangguan Chaoran led Lin Xiao into the hall, which was brightly lit and filled with an ancient atmosphere. In the center of the hall, a beautiful woman was cultivating. She was dressed in white, her eyebrows like distant mountains, her eyes like stars, and her aura of transcendence, as if she didn't belong to this world.

"This is my sister - Shangguan Qingqing." Shangguan Chaoran said with some pride.

Lin Xiao was slightly stunned, his gaze falling on Shangguan Qingqing. She had an extraordinary aura, and exuded an undeniable pressure. It was obvious that she also had an extremely powerful cultivation base.

Shangguan Qingqing stopped practicing and slowly raised her head, a scrutinizing look flashing in her eyes. Her gaze swept over Lin Xiao, as if she had taken an interest in this unexpected outsider.

"Are you Lin Xiao?" Her voice was soft, but with a hint of majesty that could not be ignored.

Lin Xiao nodded slightly, feeling somewhat alert. This Shangguan Qingqing before him was clearly no ordinary woman. Her temperament and eyes revealed an innate aristocratic air.

"Yes, I am Lin Xiao." He responded calmly.

Shangguan Qingqing smiled, a meaningful glint in her eyes. "Since you were willing to follow Shangguan Chaoran at his suggestion, it seems you're no ordinary person. I've also heard about your fight with him in the volcano, and it seems you do have some strength."

Lin Xiao smiled slightly and said nothing more. Instead, he turned his gaze to Shangguan Chaoran: "You said that your family has many resources. Now that I have come to your territory, I wonder if you can give me a clear answer."

Shangguan Chaoran nodded. "Since you're here, you can stay here for a while. If you're willing, we can discuss further cooperation. There are many resources here that are worthy of your attention, as well as some secret realms for cultivation that may be of help to you."

Lin Xiao was silent for a moment, forming a preliminary plan. This time, he had come to the Shangguan family not simply to compete for resources, but to understand their true purpose and the future distribution of benefits. If he could grasp this information, perhaps he would be in a more advantageous position in future trials and confrontations.