Evan Lin spotted the glow from the manager’s jade token and snorted, “Oh? You’re running off to tattle to the City Lord’s Mansion? Figures—you’re just Coldriver City’s boot-licking lackey. Trash like you isn’t worth a damn.”
The middle-aged man in fine robes was only early Golden Immortal—Evan Lin barely spared him a glance. But Evan’s words wiped the smugness off his face. “Don’t get cocky, kid. You’ll find out soon enough what happens to troublemakers in Coldriver City. You’ll be begging for death.”
“Oh? I’ll just cut you down before the City Lord’s goons even show up. Who do you think you are, sticking your nose in my business? A lackey like you dares yap in front of me?” Evan Lin snapped.
“Kill me? You’re not even close. You must be new here—don’t you know fighting inside the Martial Spirit Dominion’s cities is forbidden? If you break that rule, the whole Dominion will hunt you down. That’s the Martial Spirit Immortal Emperor’s law. You already committed a capital crime at the city gate. If I were you, I’d run for my life instead of spouting off like you’re somebody. Take a good look in the mirror!” the manager scoffed, full of bravado.
“Well said. But just for thinking you’re worth anything, you deserve to die a hundred times over. The Martial Spirit Immortal Emperor’s rules don’t mean squat to me. When I want someone dead, nobody can stop me—not even an Immortal Emperor.” Evan Lin’s killing intent surged, flooding toward the manager.
At first, the manager figured Evan Lin was at most late Heavenly Immortal—too young, even if he’d started cultivating in the womb, his realm couldn’t be high. That’s why he dared to talk tough; he was just an outer manager in Coldriver City, about as important as a City Lord’s Mansion guard.
But right now, Evan Lin’s killing intent was crushing—only a true powerhouse could radiate such murderous will. The suffocating pressure drenched the manager in sweat. Eyes wide, he stammered, “Who... who are you? Coldriver City’s never had anyone like you.”
“You don’t deserve to know. Coldriver City’s a speck to me. It’s time you died.” Evan Lin grinned, like killing was just another chore.
The manager whipped out a black, bowl-shaped artifact from his storage ring and barked, “If you want my life, let’s see if you’ve got the guts!”
He shot into the air with a flash. Evan Lin glanced up, then vanished and reappeared right in front of the manager—his speed stunned the crowd.
“Who is that kid? He’s not from Coldriver City, and his power’s off the charts. Late Golden Immortal, maybe? To be that strong at his age—freakish.” someone in the crowd muttered.
“Genius or not, he’s got a death wish. Stirring up trouble in Coldriver City always ends the same—dead. Guess even the heavens hate talent!” another chimed in.
“Maybe he’s from one of the big Dominion clans. Even the City Lord would grovel if that’s true. He’ll be fine—no way he’d kill at the gate if he hadn’t thought it through. Guys that strong and that young aren’t idiots. Let’s watch the fireworks!”
The crowd buzzed, rumors of Evan Lin defying Coldriver City at the gate spreading fast. More people rushed to watch, and the City Lord’s Mansion sent its own experts hurrying over.
Evan Lin eyed the black bowl in the manager’s hand and chuckled, “Even if you’re starving, you don’t need to drag a bowl around. Sorry, I don’t give handouts. And you—an early Golden Immortal—think you can act tough in front of me?”
The manager snarled, “Kid, today you’ll see the might of my Flowing Gold Bowl! I’ll show you real power!” He hurled the black bowl straight at Evan Lin.
Evan Lin was genuinely curious about Immortal-Realm treasures. He didn’t budge; with his second-layer Earthshift defense, he wasn’t worried about an early Golden Immortal’s artifact. He wanted to see how these people channeled heaven-and-earth power through their treasures—only then could his Heart-Sword break through.
If the manager knew what Evan Lin was thinking, he’d probably cough up blood and fall out of the sky from sheer frustration. The black bowl closed in, and Evan could feel its energy pulsing.
The manager’s fingers danced, sending bursts of white light into the bowl. Evan Lin focused his Divine Sense on the rim—just as Serena Frost had explained, Immortal artifacts sealed powerful attacks inside with restrictions.
The bowl trembled, then unleashed a fierce sword-qi slash at Evan Lin. He blinked in surprise—it was as strong as his own early Da Luo Golden Immortal Earthsplitter. That attack could wipe out a mid-stage Golden Immortal in a heartbeat.
Evan Lin caught the manager’s smug grin—he clearly thought Evan was doomed. Probably thinking, ‘All bark, no bite. Couldn’t even take one hit from my treasure. What a joke.’
But the sword-qi slammed into Evan Lin’s gray earth-stone shield and stopped cold. He was knocked back a few meters, but his defense didn’t crack—not even a scratch. In a blink, he appeared right in front of the bowl.
With a flick of his wrist, the black bowl flew straight into Evan Lin’s hand as if pulled by an invisible force. The manager panicked—no matter how he tried, the Flowing Gold Bowl wouldn’t obey, landing squarely in Evan’s palm.
Evan Lin swept the bowl with his Divine Sense—there were still one or two restrictions inside, maybe even stronger attacks. But the artifact was useless to him. He conjured a palm-sized black flame, and the bowl melted into liquid at a speed you could see.
With a casual wave, Evan hurled the molten liquid at the manager—its force rivaled several sword-qi attacks. Seeing his precious treasure reduced to a puddle, the manager finally tasted real fear.
He tried to run, but the liquid was already there. He scrambled to block it, but it was pointless—the molten stream punched straight through him, blasting a huge hole in his chest. Agony flooded his mind as his life drained away at terrifying speed.
Before he could even scream, Evan Lin’s Heart-Sword flashed out, obliterating the Immortal Infant in his chest. Just like that, an early-stage Golden Immortal was erased—Evan made it look as easy as swatting a fly.