As Elder Lin rapidly retreated, two silver needles shot out from his hands. Friedrich, who was on guard, easily intercepted them with a wave of his arm. At the same time, a few more silver needles appeared in Elder Lin's hand. This time, instead of throwing them at the enemy, he tossed them into the air, and all the needles hovered in the air, turned around, and then embedded themselves into the major acupuncture points around Elder Lin's body.

"Hah!" Elder Lin let out a fierce shout. His originally emaciated figure rapidly expanded like a balloon being inflated as his wide sleeves fluttered. Raising his arms, he flung off his heavy cloak and threw a punch to meet Friedrich's incoming fist.

The two fists collided in mid-air with a thunderous boom, and both figures quickly retreated and then lunged forward again, grappling with each other once more. Pei Yan, observing from the edge of the battlefield, saw Elder Lin's fighting style for the first time. He couldn't have imagined that this usually amiable old man could fight so fiercely, his silver hair flying as he exchanged relentless blows without giving an inch.

But as Pei Yan watched, his heart gradually grew anxious. He had to admit that Friedrich, as a high-ranking member of the Demon Race, certainly had skills. His power and movements increased as the fight went on, showing no sign of stopping even after such a long time. Purely based on muscle strength, he was the strongest existence Pei Yan had seen, except for that monster Zheng Jia Ru.

Meanwhile, after being strengthened, Elder Lin's power no longer increased. With the ebb and flow of power, Elder Lin's offensive weakened, and he gradually fell into a disadvantageous position. Pei Yan noticed this and frowned slightly. He knew of Elder Lin's reputation for miraculous remedies, but could it be that Elder Lin was merely a support-type superpower user and not particularly strong in combat?

With this thought, Pei Yan was about to step into the battle to join forces with Elder Lin, but as soon as he moved, Elder Lin, still engaged in combat, detected him. A light cough and a shout stopped Pei Yan: "Young man, there's no need to worry about me, just watch the battle from the sidelines! I haven't fought in a long time, and this is a good opportunity to stretch my muscles!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Elder Lin took a solid punch to the face and was sent flying. Friedrich, standing where Elder Lin had been, looked at the halted Pei Yan and tilted his head with a sinister smile, saying, "Why so obedient? I think it's better if you both come at once! When it really comes to fighting, this old fool isn't as strong as I expected! It seems like you guys from the Foundation Plane are all a bunch of superficial weaklings."

Originally prepared to move forward, Pei Yan, upon hearing this, instead sat cross-legged on the ground, looked at Friedrich, and coldly replied, "Since I joined the investigation hall, the elders have always placed the highest trust in my strength. Since he has already given his word, I have no reason not to trust my senior."

"Hmph, a group of....."

"Well said!" Before Friedrich could finish, his abdomen was heavily punched, sending his figure flying back. Elder Lin exhaled slowly and nodded in satisfaction, saying, "To be trusted by such an outstanding junior, I'll exert some effort today. You horned deviant, use all your skills and let us see the so-called majesty of a high-ranking Demon Race!"

"Hahaha!" Friedrich, clutching his severely hit abdomen, stood up with a sinister smile. His eyes shone red, and boundless black aura surged out, enveloping his entire body. Within the black mist, Friedrich lifted his proud head and mocked, "I don't know where you get your confidence from. Just because you've easily slaughtered a few mid-level Demon Race, you think you've grasped the strength of our race and spout such arrogant words? Let me correct your naivety and stupidity!"

As he spoke, the black aura surrounding Friedrich was reabsorbed into his body. When he reappeared before them, he completely overturned Pei Yan's previous understanding of the Demon Race. Friedrich's horns no longer glowed red but turned an abyssal black with a restrained sheen. His body, once swollen, now seemed more slender and agile, covered entirely with scale-armored skin, his mouth lined with rows of gleaming sharp teeth.

Even before Pei Yan could adapt to this new appearance, he felt the ground slightly tremor. Friedrich stomped the ground, lunging forward, and merely with this power of a single step, the ground cracked wide beneath him.

Pei Yan inwardly exclaimed 'not good,' but before he could respond, a massive roar resounded along with an even stronger tremor, which flung him from his meditative pose into the air. When he scrambled back up, through the swirling dust in the distance, Friedrich's fist was hammering down onto the ground, revealing the half-buried body of Elder Lin beneath the pit formed from the powerful blow.

"Elder Lin!" Pei Yan's eyes turned red, and his mecha immediately powered up to full capacity.

Friedrich, observing Pei Yan's enraged expression, licked his lips mockingly, "Didn't you say to trust your senior? Can't hold back and fight now? Today you will pay for your arrogance and ignorance!" With that, he took an attack stance, poised to deliver a fatal blow to Pei Yan.

Just then, a light cough echoed from behind him: "Ahem, wasn't it agreed that I'm your opponent? Does the Demon Race lack the ability to confirm if their enemy is dead or alive?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Pei Yan was overjoyed, while Friedrich, startled, leapt to one side. To his shock, Elder Lin, whose upper body clothing was completely shredded, stood before him unharmed. He couldn't help but exclaim, "How is this possible!"

Just moments ago, he knew his punch had pierced the enemy's chest. It was no illusion; he truly felt the impact as his fist struck the opponent. Then, squinting his eyes, he coldly snorted, "Super-speed Regeneration!"

"Well-versed! Friedrich, this battle won't end so easily!" Elder Lin once again assumed an opening position for the Baji Fist, tauntingly.

"Hmph, regardless of how splendid a technique is, it becomes irrelevant before absolute power!" Friedrich disdainfully snorted, swaying as he closed in on Elder Lin's proximity.

Elder Lin swung an elbow strike directly at Friedrich's chest. The opponent didn't dodge, allowing the attack to come. Just as Elder Lin's elbow touched his chest, it instantly misted, effortlessly causing Elder Lin's strike to miss. Friedrich then clasped both hands for a double palm strike aimed at Elder Lin's temples.

Bam! It was the first time Pei Yan heard such a massive sound from a double palm collision. Realizing the danger, Elder Lin sagged his waist, leaning back just enough to evade the strike, the concussive blast distorting his old face.

In this effort, Friedrich stepped in quickly and delivered a knee-elbow strike to Elder Lin's chest. Even from a distance, Pei Yan clearly heard the sound of Elder Lin's bones cracking and saw the sunken chest cavity. However, Friedrich had no intention of giving Elder Lin a breather. He clasped his arms, hammering his elbows against Elder Lin's arched back like a shrimp.