"You're delusional!"
"Even if I die today, I will never reveal the sect's secret techniques!"
"Lin Mu! A scholar may be killed but not humiliated! If you have the courage, kill us all!"
The moment Lin Mu mentioned the Clear Sky Sect's Nine Absolutes, Tang Xiao and the others immediately panicked.
These were the core secret techniques of the Clear Sky Sect. How could they possibly pass them to an outsider? Even if Tang San possessed the Clear Sky Hammer, in their eyes he was nothing more than an ungrateful traitor.
No matter what mistakes Tang Hao had made, he was still Tang San's father. Helping an outsider against his own clan was unforgivable.
"No one is willing?" Lin Mu raised an eyebrow, a faint smile forming on his lips.
Seeing that smile, Tang Xiao and the elders felt a chill run down their spines.
In the next instant, Lin Mu summoned the Thunder Atlas Armor. The Thunder Sword of Heaven and Earth materialized in his hand, arcs of lightning crackling violently at its tip.
Tang Xiao and the others recoiled instinctively.
Although several hours had passed, the agony of being electrocuted was still vivid in their memories. Now that their cultivation had been crippled, another round would likely leave them half-dead.
"Lin Mu! First you stole our sect's soul bone, and now you want our ultimate techniques! Do you have no humanity left?!" Tang Xiao roared hysterically.
Lin Mu remained calm. Without a word, he raised the Thunder Sword of Heaven and Earth and unleashed a surge of lightning at Tang Xiao.
Reasoning with enemies was the height of stupidity. Since matters had reached this point, there was no need for mercy.
"AHHHHHH!!"
Within moments, Tang Xiao convulsed violently and collapsed, foaming at the mouth.
Even though he was robust and strong, the torture was unbearable. Had it been one of the elderly men, they might not have survived.
Lin Mu's gaze shifted coldly to the remaining five elders.
"What is your decision?"
The elders exchanged glances before finally looking toward the Second Elder, clearly deferring to him.
Seeing Tang Xiao lying unconscious on the ground, the Second Elder sighed deeply.
Had he known Lin Mu's strength was this terrifying, he would never have agreed to this mission. Not only had they failed to retrieve the sect's soul bone, but they had also fallen into complete ruin.
Still, he retained some clarity.
If none of them returned, the Clear Sky Sect would descend into chaos. Worse, the sect might send more people searching for them, repeating the same mistake.
Someone had to make a sacrifice.
"Lin Mu, I am willing to hand over the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes, but on two conditions."
"Speak."
"First, the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes are the most closely guarded secrets of the Clear Sky Sect. I can teach them to your disciple, but you must guarantee they will not be spread to outsiders."
"I can guarantee they will not be passed to outsiders," Lin Mu replied calmly. "As for direct descendants, that is another matter."
The Second Elder hesitated but ultimately nodded.
"My second condition: you must allow us all to leave."
Their cultivation was gone. Revenge was impossible. At best, the sect could seal itself off for another hundred or two hundred years and wait for a chance to rise again.
"Absolutely not," Lin Mu said without hesitation.
Though their cultivation was crippled, releasing them could still cause complications. Soon, he would take Tang San to Slaughter City. If outside enemies attacked during that time, Dugu Bo alone might not be sufficient.
The Second Elder's expression darkened.
This entire mission had been Tang Xiao's decision. Two sect soul bones did not require six Title Douluo-level figures. They had come largely to avenge Tang Hao, and had been dragged into disaster.
Suppressing his resentment, the Second Elder spoke again.
"We five old men have lived long enough. It is meaningless for us to return. If you send someone to deliver a letter to the Clear Sky Sect, I will agree to teach the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes."
"Delivering a letter is acceptable."
Lin Mu nodded. With Dugu Bo overseeing them, there was no need to worry about tricks.
Once the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes were obtained, only the Great Sumeru Hammer remained.
That was a true divine technique, the simultaneous detonation of all nine soul rings pair with Level 99 soul power, could unleash a strike comparable to that of a god.
Although Tang Hao was dead, Tang Chen still possessed that knowledge. Since Lin Mu was heading to Slaughter City anyway, obtaining the technique there would not be difficult.
Soon, Tang San began learning the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes from the elders, while Lin Mu prepared to condense his second soul core.
His soul power had already surpassed Level 95. Attempting to condense a second soul core was entirely feasible, and if successful, even a third might be possible.
Without hesitation, Lin Mu chose lightning as the attribute of his second soul core.
Both the flames of Nava Flame Armor and the lightning of Thunder Atlas Armor had reached ultimate attribute standards. They were the most stable foundations.
As for placement, he chose his chest, forming a balance with the first soul core.
Some time later, Tang Xiao slowly regained consciousness.
The first thing he saw was Tang San calmly learning the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes from the elders.
His vision blurred.
Weren't they supposed to die before yielding? How had they betrayed him so quickly?
Turning his head, he saw Lin Mu sitting cross-legged in the distance. Lightning and flame energies erupted from his body simultaneously. It was clearly a critical moment in his cultivation.
Tang Xiao's eyes brightened.
If he could interrupt Lin Mu now, even if he failed to kill him, he might cause severe internal damage.
Gritting his teeth, he forced his numb body to crawl forward.
Just as he neared Lin Mu, a blue-gold vine lashed out violently.
Without soul power to protect himself, Tang Xiao screamed in agony as he was struck aside.
Looking up, he saw the true form of the Blue Silver Emperor.
"Ah Yin… have you truly been bewitched by Lin Mu?"
Ah Yin's ethereal figure descended, standing protectively before Lin Mu. Her beautiful eyes were cold.
"Mr. Lin Mu has saved me multiple times. Anyone who harms him is my enemy."
Hearing this, Tang Xiao was utterly stunned.
Tang Hao had only recently died, and Ah Yin was already protecting another man, even attacking him for Lin Mu's sake.
His worldview shattered.
Had he known things would come to this, he would never have risked everything out of old sentiment to save this "heartless" soul beast.
For the first time in his life, Tang Xiao began to question his own existence.