Sean Xiao glanced at Ethan Fenn and grinned. "Chill out. And drop the 'senior' stuff—sounds way too uptight. You're Evan's buddy, so you're mine too. Just call me Big Sean from now on!"
Ethan blinked at Evan, totally thrown off. If Sean was really some ancient guy from ten thousand years ago, shouldn’t he be called ancestor or something? Now he was acting like a big brother—Ethan just couldn’t wrap his head around it.
"Don’t look so stunned. Just call him Big Sean from now on. Anyway, Sean, since you’re here, how about you clear out these clowns for me? Or are you not in the mood for a drink? The wine at this place is actually pretty great," Evan said.
"Why didn’t you say so sooner? Piece of cake—I’ll wipe them out right now!" Sean replied, eyes lighting up at the mention of wine. Nothing made him happier than a good drink.
"Just don’t trash the place, or you’ll be the one cleaning up!" Evan finished, then turned back to his drink with Ethan, not giving Sean another thought.
"Evan, aren’t you worried you’re being way too casual with him? What if you tick him off and he turns on you? A guy from the ancient era must be crazy strong—just thinking about it gives me chills," Ethan whispered.
"Relax. He’s only at Fourth Layer of the Venerable Martial Realm. In the Netherworld, if you don’t have starstones, leveling up takes forever. If Sean had starstones, he’d probably be at Sixth Layer by now.
But don’t sweat it—even if he blows up at anyone, it won’t be me. Simple reason: we’re friends, and I’m stronger than he is. If he steps out of line, he’ll just get smacked down. Got it?" Evan chuckled.
Ethan didn’t say another word. Ever since he’d met Evan, the guy had been a walking surprise. Back in the Azure Tide Ruins, everyone knew how mysterious he was. If Evan said he could beat this ancient Fourth-Layer Venerable, it was par for the course—because Evan was just a freak of nature.
Right then, Young Master Hua spotted the Black Lotus and Red Lotus Guards rushing in. Gritting his teeth through the pain, he barked out orders: "Take those three women back to the City Lord’s Mansion. Kill everyone else. You dare lay a finger on me? Tonight I’ll show you what real power looks like!"
Everyone in Shadowlin City knew there were four types of Lotus Guards at the City Lord’s Mansion: Black Lotus, Red Lotus, Silver Lotus, and Gold Lotus. Gold Lotus Guards were the strongest—only Venerable‑Realm experts could serve, and there were just three in the whole city.
Silver Lotus Guards were peak Saint Martial Ninth‑Layer to initial Venerable‑Realm experts, and there were about a dozen in Shadowlin City. Red Lotus Guards were Saint Martial Seventh‑Layer to Ninth‑Layer, numbering thirty to fifty.
Black Lotus Guards were the most ordinary soldiers, none stronger than Saint Martial Seventh‑Layer, but there were over a hundred of them. With these Lotus Guards, the City Lord’s Mansion was as solid as iron—no one dared act up in Shadowlin City. That’s why Young Master Hua was so arrogant.
But he only had authority over the Black and Red Lotus Guards—he couldn’t mobilize Silver or Gold Lotus Guards, and could only call up to five Red Lotus Guards at a time. Even so, no one dared defy him. Now that the Black and Red Lotus Guards had arrived, he was full of confidence.
Princess Ivy and Roxanne Lin both hated Young Master Hua. His words were intolerable, and they were just about to explode when Sean Xiao said, "Leave these ants to me. You two go back and drink!"
He immediately unleashed his space domain, freezing everyone inside. "How do you like the taste of my domain? You dare act up in front of me? Even if the City Lord himself came, he’d have to bow before me. Who do you think you are? Killing you is easier than squashing an ant."
"Sean, let two of them out to call for help. If no one comes in half an hour, let them leave this world. Consider it a good deed for the people of Shadowlin City!" Evan said coolly. His tone shocked everyone—this young man could order around the middle-aged powerhouse, making everyone wonder who he really was.
Evan knew Sean’s space domain well—it was special, not even a Five Elements domain. If it was a Time Domain, even Evan would need powerful attacks to break out.
A Red Lotus Guard and one of Young Master Hua’s attendants quickly left. Sean withdrew his domain and told the crowd, "Stay put. If anyone tries to leave, there’s only one outcome—death. If you don’t believe me, try it."
Some people on the second floor had come up just to watch the excitement, but they hadn’t expected this. Now they deeply regretted it, but in front of Sean Xiao’s overwhelming power, all they could do was obediently stay, hoping he’d change his mind and let them go.
Young Master Hua was losing his cool. His already pale face turned even whiter—he never expected to meet such terrifying experts today. He glared at his attendant and snapped, "This is all your fault! You said there were three fairy‑like beauties, and now I might lose my life here. If I make it out alive, I’ll make you wish you were dead!"
Young Master Hua vented his anger on his attendant, who immediately knelt, "Young Master, please don’t! I’ve always been loyal to you, you can’t treat me like this!"
"So noisy. It’s lackeys like this that let their masters run wild. Sean, kill him," Evan said offhandedly.
Everyone looked at Evan. Only now did they realize this youth was the one they really couldn’t afford to provoke. They pitied the attendant, but thinking they might be next, they grew even more anxious. Now, no one dared make a sound—they just quietly stayed in the inn.
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Sean smiled and said, "No big deal. We’re still drinking, so I’ll just toss him outside and kill him—no need to ruin our appetite."
As soon as he finished, the kneeling attendant suddenly flew up and shot out the window. With a crisp sound, a cloud of blood mist appeared outside the inn—he was reduced to a pile of blood and flesh, dead beyond saving.
Sean’s methods made everyone in the inn even more terrified. To kill like that—what kind of expert was he? Maybe even the City Lord of Shadowlin couldn’t beat him.
Roxanne Lin saw Ethan’s shocked expression and smiled, "Ethan, don’t be so surprised. Evan is even scarier! He’s not the same as before—maybe there’s no one in the Netherworld who can beat him now."
You know Logan Shaw, right? Evan already killed him. He also killed the Beast King and the Ghost King. Do you get what I’m saying?"
Ethan’s hand shook as he held his wine cup. Roxanne’s words shocked him even more than Sean’s display. He slowly set the cup down, took a deep breath, and asked Evan, "Roxanne, is that true?"
"Absolutely true. Surprised? Otherwise, do you think he’d listen to me—killing on command? That’s what real strength means. Only power can prove everything. You’d better work hard—the Obsidian Tortoise Clan is counting on you to revive it," Evan said with a smile.
Just then, a stern voice rang out from the sky: "Who dares harm my son? If I don’t teach you a lesson today, will you really think Shadowlin City has no one?"
As soon as he finished, a square-faced, purple-robed middle-aged man smashed through a second-floor window and flew inside.
When he saw his son—Young Master Hua—covered in blood and pale, he roared, "None of you are leaving today! Whoever hurt my son will be torn to pieces!"
His shout thundered in everyone’s ears like a lightning strike. The City Lord was a Third‑Layer Venerable expert—his power was terrifying. Some of the weaker cultivators had blood pouring from their ears—the City Lord’s fury had ruptured their eardrums.
Then several more figures flew in through the window—two middle-aged men and three elders. Two had golden lotus emblems, and three had silver lotus emblems. Clearly, they were Gold Lotus and Silver Lotus Guards.
The City Lord spotted Ethan drinking at the table and frowned. He barked, "Ethan, what’s going on here? I asked you to protect my son, but you’re sitting here drinking! Such fine taste. I was planning to send you to the royal capital soon, but you’ve really disappointed me.
Since you don’t know how to appreciate kindness, there’s no point keeping you around. Guards! Take my son back for treatment, and take Ethan too—the City Lord wants to give him some special attention."
Two Red Lotus Guards immediately rushed at Ethan, but Evan just smiled, "Shadowlin City Lord? Third‑Layer Venerable and you dare act arrogant in front of me? You’re not City Lord anymore—dead men don’t qualify."
"How dare you! Such insolence to the City Lord!" a Red Lotus Guard shouted, clearly trying to curry favor. He punched at Evan with all his strength—the force was impressive.
Sean was about to act, but Evan stopped him. With a thought, Evan summoned a streak of purple lightning into his hand and flicked it out. The lightning struck the charging Red Lotus Guard, instantly turning him pitch-black, his hair standing on end and smoke rising. He collapsed, dead on the spot.
Then Evan quickly sent out a burst of flame, burning the Red Lotus Guard to ash in a few breaths. Everyone stared in shock at this young man—one move, just one move to kill a Saint Martial Ninth‑Layer Red Lotus Guard. What realm was this youth at? Everyone was full of doubt.