"Dare to challenge the authority of Medicine King Valley? The only outcome is death!"
A sinister smile flashed across Elder Mark Mu's face. He suddenly raised his hand and roared, "Heaven and earth obey me—Thousand‑Wood, I am the master!"
"Thousand‑Wood Massacre Art!"
Elder Mark Mu howled, lifting both hands high.
"Hmm?"
Sensing an extremely subtle ripple of spiritual qi in the air, Evan Lin was mildly surprised. He turned to look at Elder Mark Mu, catching sight of his deeply wrinkled face.
In that instant, Elder Mark Mu's face seemed to age even further.
"So after all that buildup, you're finally making your move?"
Evan Lin narrowed his eyes, watching intently.
The entire floor began to tremble with Elder Mark Mu's movements.
It was like an earthquake was about to hit.
Something wild and chaotic quickly condensed in the air.
"What exactly is the Thousand‑Wood Massacre Art?"
A gloomy, murderous aura filled the air. The spectators, who had been calmly watching from their seats, suddenly felt a surge of terror in their hearts. They scrambled up and rushed away from the arena.
"It feels like an earthquake!"
The ground shook, gravel rattling and colliding over and over.
The crowd was thrown into chaos, faces full of shock and confusion.
"Grandma, what is the Thousand‑Wood Massacre Art?" Wendy Ding's eyes sparkled with excitement, feeling the presence of an overwhelming, unknown power.
"It's Elder Mark Mu's signature technique. A Mystic Arts Adept's secret arts are nothing like a martial artist's—they're true powers of heaven and earth!"
"I've only ever heard about it before—today is the first time I've actually seen it. With skills like this, even if I died here, I'd have no regrets!"
Old Madam Ding's face was glowing with excitement. Bracing herself on the armrest, she rose from her seat, her silver hair flying as she stared at Elder Mark Mu in awe.
Suddenly, the ground in front of Elder Mark Mu shattered completely. From deep below, a gigantic root shot upward.
That massive brown‑yellow root broke through in an instant.
One after another, more roots burst out of the ground—each one as thick as the branch of a giant tree!
Evan Lin watched the roots shoot up all around him, his expression calm.
Gavin Cheng, still bound by the Soul‑Locking Chain, was desperately struggling to break free.
Boom!
At that moment—
The ground beneath Evan Lin's feet split wide open. A root like a giant hand wrapped around him from head to toe, binding him tightly.
More roots shot into the air, tangling and clashing with the Soul‑Locking Chains.
On one side, the Soul‑Locking Chains floated through the dust like living snakes; on the other, the thick brown roots pulsed with savage, plant-like power.
Those roots were even bigger and fiercer than the Soul‑Locking Chains.
Root after root strained to pull apart the chains trapping Gavin Cheng. Gavin gripped the Soul‑Locking Chains with both hands, muscles bulging as he roared, and finally tore open a gap!
His face lit up with joy as he squeezed through the opening!
He was free!
Gavin Cheng burst out laughing and jumped to the ground.
He looked at the youth now tightly bound by countless roots, a cruel smile crossing his face. "Looks like I win this time!"
"The Thousand‑Wood Massacre Art is my signature move. Last time I used it, I managed to bind a giant serpent that had cultivated for a hundred years! Kid, you should feel honored—you actually forced me to use this trick!" Elder Mark Mu grinned, his smile cold and sinister.
The Thousand‑Wood Massacre Art took a heavy toll on him. Every time he used it, it drained part of his life force.
This time, just to get his revenge, Elder Mark Mu was willing to burn his own essence.
"You killed Medicine King Valley's Peony, killed our Guardian Victor Frost, and killed my disciple Zane Zhen! For these crimes, you deserve death!"
"At such a young age, you possess such cultivation. If you had submitted to Medicine King Valley, your future would have been limitless. But you remain stubborn and arrogant—today, you must die!" Elder Mark Mu's eyes flashed, then burned with heat. "But don't worry, with your talent, after you die, I will refine your flesh and bones into Bone Pills to create another master for Medicine King Valley!"
"That way, you will have repaid Medicine King Valley's debt!"
After speaking, Elder Mark Mu snorted coldly and looked at Gavin Cheng: "What are you waiting for? Kill him! The Medicine King Valley guest-elder position will be yours!"
"Sir!" Shawn Shi went pale at the sight.
Beside him, Yvonne Ding was so frightened she fell to the ground.
Keaton Wang pulled out his phone to call Summer Mu, shouting into it, "Hey, hey, hey! Summer! Hey!"
"Damn! The signal's gone?" Keaton Wang stomped in frustration, not daring to step forward. Megan Liu's face was pale, her lips trembling with fear.
"Medicine King Valley guest elder! Hahaha!" Gavin Cheng laughed wildly, instantly condensing a blade of qi and charging toward Evan Lin.
"Now you're completely bound and can't move! I'll chop off your head right in front of you—what can you do about it?"
"You think I'm an ant? An ant shaking a tree? Ridiculous! I'm a fourth-grade Vajra!"
Whoosh!
As Gavin Cheng finished speaking, he suddenly leaped into the air, bringing his long blade down on the youth bound by the Thousand-Wood Massacre Art!
"All those Soul-Locking Chains are trapped by the Thousand-Wood Massacre Art—what could possibly stop me now?" Gavin Cheng grinned madly. "Die!"
He chopped down with his blade, unstoppable.
"If I call you an ant, then you are an ant. And as an ant, you should know your place." Evan Lin spoke coldly. Deep underground, a flash of light appeared.
"What?!"
The blade was about to fall on Evan Lin's head.
From now on, I will be Medicine King Valley's guest elder, walking sideways across the world!
But suddenly, a Soul-Locking Chain burst from the ground like a serpent lying in wait, finally meeting its prey and delivering the fatal blow!
Splurt!
A crisp sound rang out.
The Soul-Locking Chain pierced right through Gavin Cheng's body.
The chain, like a serpent, twisted and drilled through his flesh, blood, and bones.
More crisp sounds echoed again and again.
Gavin Cheng's body was riddled with bloody holes.
Blood poured from those wounds, dripping onto the floor.
Gavin Cheng's eyes widened as a Soul-Locking Chain shot through his mouth, curled up, and pierced his crown.
The chain hoisted Gavin Cheng's corpse high into the air, like a war captive nailed to a city wall.
Elder Mark Mu's face twisted in shock.
Evan Lin slowly turned his head to look at Elder Mark Mu, shook his head slightly, said nothing, and reached out to touch the roots coiling around him.
He casually crushed them.