CHAPTER 69: 67, WITHIN THE DOMAIN, I AM INVINCIBLE.

Lu Lin "saw" that the artist had already entered his domain, his fists clenched in excitement. This was merely a risky gamble he had taken. After all, he had never heard of anyone being forcibly pulled into *his own* Star Power Domain. Seeing the artist amidst the sky filled with swirling yellow sand, Lu Lin finally heaved a sigh of relief. Next, he would try to drain as much of the artist’s Spiritual Strength as possible within his domain.

Master Jiang Yueming had once said that though the Star Power Domain seems stable, it is actually very fragile. One mistake, causing abnormal fluctuations in the Star Power Domain, could deplete the Spiritual Strength of both the Guide and the Martial Artist within the domain.

Lu Lin did not want his mom and dad to fall victim to the artist’s vicious schemes. Nor did he want to perish himself. This was the only way. Even if, in the end, he became vegetative, at least he would still be alive, with a chance to recover. If he died, it would all be for naught.

Lu Lin brought his consciousness into the Star Power Domain. This was extremely dangerous, but he had no other choice.

In the domain, the artist spat out a mouthful of yellow sand-laden saliva and surveyed his surroundings. Yellow sand filled the air. The sky was a dull yellow, and the ground was scorching and dry. Is this a Star Power Domain? he wondered. He recalled the intelligence Wang Lihe had given him that afternoon—that Lu Lin was a Star Skill Instructor—and immediately relaxed. There’s no danger in a Star Power Domain, he thought. I can exit whenever I want. The artist looked around with interest, his artistic inspiration flaring once more.

Suddenly, a figure appeared before him.

"It’s you!" the artist exclaimed. "You’re quite capable, actually managing to pull me directly into your Star Power Domain. But so what? If I want to exit, I can leave anytime. I didn’t expect a genius like you to die by my hand. What a... pity."

Lu Lin’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly regarded the artist.

"You can try," Lu Lin said. "If you manage to exit the Star Power Domain, I’ll concede defeat."

The artist raised an eyebrow. He attempted to return to his Consciousness Universe several times but found he couldn’t. His expression flickered.

"Kid, are you tired of living?" the artist snarled.

"Yes!" Lu Lin nodded, and a knife suddenly materialized in his hand.

It was a broken knife. Blood seemed to burn on its blade; its edge was curled and nicked. Yet, within the domain, this was a supreme artifact. Lu Lin certainly wouldn’t let the artist conjure a western-style fine sword.

"Die," Lu Lin whispered, his figure instantly appearing before the artist.

Star Skill: Evasion!

With a single slash, the artist’s right arm was severed. His figure flickered, becoming a shade more transparent. He himself didn’t sense it, but Lu Lin, as the master of this domain, perceived it clearly. Although this depletion was minor, it still affected the artist. As long as Lu Lin’s Star Power didn’t wane, the artist’s spirit would eventually be completely shattered by him, dissipating into nothingness.

"Kid, it’s useless," the artist scoffed. "With such a minor depletion, I could stand here and let you hit me until you die of old age, and it probably wouldn’t affect me."

The artist had no thoughts of escaping. Where could he possibly run within Lu Lin’s domain?

Lu Lin shook his head without a word. He wouldn’t actually wait until his Star Power was exhausted to dispel the domain. He wanted to test something—an idea he’d had for a long time. Now, he would use the artist as a test subject. After all, no one would mourn him if he died.

"Star Skill: Falling Rocks!"

"Star Skill: Shatter!"

"Star Skill: Flame Dragon!"

"Star Skill: Stone Cannon!"

"Star Skill: Forest!"

"Star Skill: Elf!"

"Star Skill: Ice Seal!"

"Star Skill: Snowman!"

Lu Lin chanted the names of Star Skills one after another. Before him, a forest materialized, the desert froze over, a Flame Dragon roared, and Water Arrows rained down. These were all Star Skills he had recorded in his eyes while Guiding Star Skills for others. Now, at his call, they all manifested, surging towards the artist.

"This... What is all this...?" The artist’s face drained of color. As far as he knew, no one had ever been able to use so many Star Skills of different attributes. This is preposterous! It’s simply not something a human can do!

"Who... Who in the world are you?" he stammered. "What on earth is this demonic power?"

Faced with so many Star Skills, the artist grew frantic. He continuously dodged, evaded, and weaved, narrowly avoiding one attack after another. Nevertheless, several Star Skills still struck him. The artist’s spiritual form became increasingly ethereal.

Lu Lin, however, remained unfazed, continuing to chant the names of Star Skills. This time, his gamble had paid off. As long as his Star Power was sufficient, he could endlessly unleash the Star Skills engraved in his eyes within his own domain. There were no ability limitations, no attribute restrictions. Inside his Star Power Domain, he was the absolute master.

Bit by bit, fragment by fragment, piece by piece, the artist’s solidified spiritual form was battered, constantly shedding spiritual fragments. These fragments didn’t disappear; instead, they were being recorded by the blank eyes within the domain. Lu Lin had no idea what use recording these spiritual fragments served, but at this moment, that question was unimportant.

"Lu Lin, you’re definitely not human!" the artist shrieked. "You must be possessed by an evil god from the Exotic Battlefield! I have to report you! I’ll report you even if it means my death! You heretic! You lackey of demons! You..."

His tone suddenly shifted. "Lu Lin, I was wrong. I don’t want to die. I still need to go back to East Forest to teach children how to paint. Honestly, Lu Lin, I’m not a professional assassin; I’m just an ordinary art teacher. Many children are waiting for me to start their classes. Please, Lu Lin, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have accepted Wang Lihe’s mission. I’ll return all the money to him immediately, or I can donate it to the Hope Project! Lu Lin! Please, I can’t die! I can’t die!"

Lu Lin remained unmoved. Villains die from talking too much, heroes from being too soft-hearted. He wouldn’t let the artist go simply because he claimed to have children to teach. Even if it were true, it would only mean the children lost an art teacher. There are plenty of art teachers out there; they could easily find a replacement. Besides... Lu Lin recalled the artist’s works he had seen earlier. Frankly, they weren’t impressive at all. Perhaps without this particular artist, the children might even receive a better art education.

His expression cold, Lu Lin continued to unleash Star Skills. Although he didn’t understand how the artist, clearly just a Zero Level Star Core Warrior, possessed such powerful strength, Lu Lin had only one objective: to ensure his death.

After a spirit is annihilated, can a person still live? Or, can someone whose spirit has been annihilated still be considered human? Lu Lin didn’t know. Perhaps after completely destroying the artist’s spirit, he would find out.

"Lu Lin, I hate you! I loathe you!" the artist shrieked. "I shouldn’t have been merciful and spared you! I should have eliminated you and your parents together... Aaargh!"

The artist’s spiritual form grew steadily weaker, his figure so faint it was almost indistinguishable, on the verge of merging with the swirling yellow sand. The artist knew he was going to die. Even if his physical body remained alive, his consciousness, his self, would perish. At this point, he hurled every malicious curse he could conjure, damning Lu Lin’s ancestors, his children, his grandchildren, and all their descendants for generations to come.

Suddenly, Lu Lin stopped unleashing Star Skills.

The artist’s face was etched with feebleness, yet a flicker of hope ignited in his eyes. Has Lu Lin run out of Star Power?

But that wasn’t the case. Lu Lin had abruptly thought of something. He spoke, his voice calm, "Are you from the Black Shark Society?"