Chapter 596: Taking Control of Tianya City!

"Retreat!"

Luo Cheng shouted, rapidly retreating while unleashing a massive palm strike, five zhang wide, to try to block the fiery red vermilion bird.

The Han Elders were terrified as well, desperately trying to flee from the vermilion bird's assault. When they looked back to where Xu Tao had been standing, they realized Xu Tao had already slipped away, fleeing a kilometer to the rear.

"That guy must have started running long ago!" the Han Elders cursed inwardly.

"Boom!"

A violent explosion rang out above the city. Fortunately, this was just the outskirts, with few people around, and most had already fled after Liu Ling released his aura.

The shockwave from the blast collapsed many buildings.

Luo Cheng's giant palm was unable to stop the enormous vermilion bird and collapsed after a single clash.

The fiery red vermilion bird only paused briefly before continuing its attack on Luo Cheng at full speed.

"Boom!"

A moment later, Luo Cheng was completely engulfed by the vermilion bird.

As a fire attribute cultivator, Liu Ling's Vermilion Bird Seal imbued the attack with intense heat. Once Luo Cheng was caught, terrifying heat and brutal energy raged over him. His protective energy shield shattered instantly, and the searing energy directly ravaged his body.

"Ah!"

Under such a heavy blow, Luo Cheng, wrapped in crimson energy, let out a wretched scream.

"Luo Cheng couldn't even put up a fight... This president of the Mercenary Guild is just too strong!"

"Luckily, that attack was aimed at Luo Cheng. If it had been aimed at us, we would have been wiped out on the spot!"

Seeing this, the Han Elders were shaken to their core. They never expected such a gap in strength between Luo Cheng and Liu Ling.

"Thank goodness, thank goodness!"

Farther away in the sky, Xu Tao felt nothing but relief. Once he realized Liu Ling’s true strength, he had escaped as quickly as he could.

"Ancestor!"

"Ancestor!"

"That visitor is so strong, even our ancestor couldn’t match him!"

"Hurry, let's work together and rescue the ancestor!"

At that moment, dozens of figures within Tianya City cried out in anguish as they saw Luo Cheng engulfed by the vermilion bird.

A moment later, more than twenty figures unfurled their Dou Qi wings and flew toward Luo Cheng.

By now, Luo Cheng’s desperate screams had grown weaker. The fire-red energy finally faded away.

Luo Cheng emerged from the center of the blast—his hair was burned off, his clothes tattered, skin badly scorched, his features almost unrecognizable. A ghastly depression marred his chest, clearly showing that his internal organs were badly injured.

"Pu!"

Luo Cheng spat out a mouthful of blood, barely able to remain upright in the air.

"Ancestor, Ancestor!"

Seeing this, the Luo family members hurried forward to support Luo Cheng.

With just one move, Liu Ling had completely stripped this dominant figure of Tianya City of his fighting power.

After witnessing such strength, none of the Luo family dared harbor any thought of resistance.

In fact, Liu Ling had not even used his full strength just now. The Vermilion Bird Seal, a high-rank earth-tier Dou Technique, was not even considered a truly top-tier skill in the Black Horn Domain or Tianya City. Many Dou Ancestor experts here possessed earth-tier Dou Techniques. The reason Liu Ling’s move was so devastating was because of his own overwhelming energy.

His high-rank heaven-tier cultivation method made Liu Ling’s Dou Qi far more concentrated and abundant than others of his level. With his peak Six-Star Dou Ancestor cultivation, even the Dou Qi control of an Eight-Star Dou Ancestor might not surpass him.

"Senior, spare us!"

"Senior, please spare our ancestor! The Luo family swears never to oppose the Mercenary Guild again!"

"Senior, if the Mercenary Guild wants to build a branch, you are welcome in Tianya City—just please spare our ancestor!"

Several of the Luo family’s Douhuang experts knelt in midair, pleading with Liu Ling.

At this moment, the Han Elders—who, when working together, could match a Three-Star Dou Ancestor—fled Tianya City without a backward glance, not even sparing another look at Luo Cheng.

Xu Tao, with only peak One-Star Dou Ancestor cultivation, instead slowly walked toward Liu Ling.

As the Luo family pleaded for mercy, Xu Tao suddenly cupped his hands to Liu Ling and said, "Senior, does the Mercenary Guild still accept new members? I, Xu Tao, am willing to join the Mercenary Guild and work for you!"

"Oh? You want to join my Mercenary Guild?" Seeing that Xu Tao hadn’t run away, but had instead come to pledge loyalty, Liu Ling turned his attention to him.

"Yes!"

When Liu Ling spoke to him, Xu Tao was delighted. He nodded respectfully.

"Granted. Wait here for now," Liu Ling said softly.

Xu Tao had shown no hostility toward the Mercenary Guild earlier—Liu Ling remembered this well. Xu Tao might be a smooth operator, but such people have their uses. Without much hesitation, Liu Ling accepted his request to join.

"Many thanks, President!" Xu Tao was thrilled at Liu Ling’s straightforward acceptance. He immediately obeyed and stood aside to wait.

At this point, the extremely weak Luo Cheng saw the actions of the Han Elders and Xu Tao, and felt both furious and helpless. All he could do was sigh inwardly.

After a moment of struggle, Luo Cheng sighed and spoke weakly, "Senior... opposing the Mercenary Guild was my decision alone. After my death, I hope you will spare the younger generation of the Luo family!"

"Ancestor!"

Hearing the sorrow in Luo Cheng’s voice, more and more members of the Luo family gathered around him, crying out in anguish.

"Remember, never provoke the Mercenary Guild again. Leave Tianya City as well." Luo Cheng quietly warned those around him. He knew clearly that Liu Ling would never let go of the spatial wormhole under the Luo family’s control in Tianya City. Even if Liu Ling spared the younger Luo generation, they would still have to withdraw from Tianya City.

With those words, the energy within Luo Cheng’s body suddenly turned violent. He shook off the two clan members supporting him and shot toward the city outskirts.

"Boom!"

A kilometer outside the city wall, the rampaging energy in Luo Cheng’s body reached its peak. With a thunderous explosion, Luo Cheng self-destructed in midair—completely ending his life.

Liu Ling did not stop him, nor did he feel pity. He knew that if things had gone the other way today, Luo Cheng would never have shown him mercy.

(End of this chapter)

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