What The Intelligence is Fake

RUMBLE...

Dark clouds pressed down on the city, thunder rolled, and blinding bolts of lightning continuously struck from the sky.

But the scene itself was eerily silent.

Ye Shu and the others standing before the mountain gate were utterly stunned.

Was this what the older generation meant by a zero-preamble opening?

It was too arrogant.

Lin Heming stood with his hands behind his back, casting a commanding gaze over everyone. Though his aura was merely that of a middling Return to Void initial stage cultivator, no one present dared to meet his eyes.

Every member of the Mo family here,

except Mo Yu, had participated in that siege back in the day and had witnessed that bloody massacre with their own eyes. Back then, they had been nothing more than lackeys carrying the young master's shoes, unqualified even to step onto the field.

The name Lin Heming had left too deep a shadow.

Mo Yu's whole body trembled, his legs going weak.

Just moments ago, Old Mo had died right before him, exploding into a cloud of blood mist that splattered across his face, reeking of gore.

The breath of death had never felt closer.

Seeing him act like such a coward, Lin Heming only gave him a brief glance before losing interest.

A worthless piece like this wasn't even worth raising a fist against.

"The Mo family? It's been a long while."

"After all these years, I see you're still the same trash as ever," he said flatly.

At this insult, the faces of the men behind Mo Yu all changed, but none dared to retort.

Being called trash by this man was nothing to be ashamed of.

"Hmph!"

Finally, Mo Yu forced down the fear in his heart and let out a cold snort.

He was the destined ultimate villain, after all!

How could he be afraid?

"All of us here—can't one mere Return to Void initial stage cultivator kill every single one of us?" Mo Yu turned, glaring at them with a look of utter disappointment at their cowardice.

The black-robed men exchanged glances.

Actually... it wasn't entirely impossible, given who they were dealing with...

"Young master, maybe we should go back and report this to the clan head?" one black-robed man ventured cautiously. "If the clan head learns that Lin Heming is here, he might come personally to ensure absolute certainty."

"Fine."

Without a moment's hesitation, Mo Yu agreed at once.

What?!

Everyone present was dumbfounded.

Was this a joke? They were already planning to retreat? Four Unity of Essence cultivators, five Return to Void cultivators, and one Tribulation Transcendence great power, all scared into calling for reinforcements by a single Return to Void initial stage?

Even the Soul Locking Hall members were stunned for a moment.

"Young master, you agreed just like that? Not even going to drop some threats?" one black-robed man couldn't help asking.

Under normal circumstances, shouldn't he have first called them cowards and argued back? He hadn't even bothered to refute, leaving all the clever retorts they had prepared utterly useless.

"Do you think I'm stupid or something?"

Mo Yu let out a cold laugh. "When there's a fail-safe plan available, choosing to show off your bravery is what fools do."

"Do you think I'm a fool?"

Mo Yu stared wide-eyed at them. "Huh? LOOKING MY EYES!"

"We've talked enough; it's time to scram."

"Let's move!"

As he spoke, the Tribulation Transcendence black-robed man thrust out a hand. A rift split open in the void, and the group was about to slip through when Lin Heming suddenly waved his hand.

BUZZ!!!

A colossal, azure light barrier rose from the borders of Qingxuan Sect, trapping Mo Yu and his men inside. It was the sect's protective formation.

But now... it was being used to lock the door and beat the dogs.

"Did I say you could leave?"

Lin Heming withdrew his hand casually, his cold gaze fixed on the Soul Locking Hall members. "You come here, and you think you can just walk away? Does the world work that easily? Why not come and sit a while at my Demon Suppression Peak?"

"Wow! Grandpa is so awesome!!!"

Seeing the old man's majestic display of power, Lin Qingxue nearly jumped out of her skin in excitement, hugging Ye Shu around the neck, her eyes full of stars.

"That's my grandpa! Impressive, right?"

"Impressive, impressive."

Ye Shu smiled helplessly. "The old man sure is a legend."

"Who... who said 'your old man'?"

Lin Qingxue gave a soft hum, her face turning red again.

Unlike the lighthearted flirtation down below, the Soul Locking Hall members, who had failed to escape, had grim expressions.

"Lin Heming! Don't think you can push us around!"

The Tribulation Transcendence black-robed man stepped forward, his aura so imposing that the disciples below could barely breathe.

"I simply didn't want to get tangled up with you."

"But even if you are peerless and can face me, what about the people behind you? Can they hold off my men behind me?"

With that, the other black-robed men all stepped forward simultaneously, their momentum pounding down like a tidal wave, shaking the very mountain gate of Qingxuan Sect.

The disciples' faces turned white.

Right—just because they'd been caught up in watching Lin Heming's rampage, they'd almost forgotten how many enemies were still standing.

The sect master himself was only at Return to Void.

And the other side had four Unity of Essence great cultivators! How could they possibly stand against that?

For a moment, anxiety set in.

"What do we do?"

The disciples looked to the sect master, then to the other peak masters. Their bodies didn't retreat, but the heavy looks on their faces said it all—they had no confidence.

"HAHAHA!"

"Why not let me step in?"

Suddenly, a hearty laugh echoed across the field, followed by a sword light that streaked through the sky.

CHOP!

One Return to Void black-robed man couldn't dodge in time and was cleaved in two, blood spraying through the air.

"This aura!"

The other black-robed men's faces shifted again.

A figure flew out from the back mountain, white-haired, but with eyes that blazed with shocking intensity.

"The old gatekeeper?"

Ye Shu recognized him.

The black-robed men, however, collectively breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn't him, they still had a chance to play.

"Who are you?"

"I have no name,"

the old gatekeeper said, stroking his beard calmly. "Just a decrepit old man waiting for someone to return."

"Stop putting on airs!"

One Unity of Essence black-robed man grunted, raising his hand to strike a palm at the old man.

CRACK—

Another invisible sword light manifested in the sky, instantly shredding the palm strike and leaving a deep sword scar across the man's hand, blood gushing from the wound.

"Damned... can't see through him..."

the Tribulation Transcendence black-robed man frowned. He couldn't read this old man's cultivation level at all. His spiritual energy flow was abnormal, and his sword arts were utterly inscrutable.

A true master.

Just then, a golden light split open the heavens, and a flock of immortal cranes sang in unison.

"Who is breaking through?"

Everyone turned around as one.

They saw a figure in a white robe, treading the void with a broom strapped to his back, walking step by step to stand beside Lin Heming and the others.

It was Jian Wuhen.

He held his broom in one hand, his aura thrumming with energy.

"Now, there's one more."

"Hmph! What difference does one more Divine Transformation make?" the Soul Locking Hall members sneered.

But before the words died out, a fiery red figure took to the air, her figure alluring, her gaze disdainful as she looked down at them.

"And me!"

On the rear mountain, countless beams of light burst forth—the awakened will of successive sect leaders of the Azure Mystic Sect. One after another, phantom figures materialized atop the peaks, their icy gazes fixed on the group of black-robed figures. Each and every one of those phantoms’ auras was no weaker than the Void Return Realm.

“…”

The Soul Lock Hall members, who had been looking down on everything just moments ago, fell silent. Mo Yu, in particular, was utterly stunned.

Wait… how had the tables turned so completely?

“What… what the hell?”

“Damn system! Didn’t you tell me this was a newbie village? Then why are there so many endgame-level characters showing up? They’re even stronger than the major powers in the Central Continent!”

“Is this for real?!”

[Ding! Sorry, host—forgot to inform you. The plot of this world has already shifted a little, so all of this is perfectly normal.]

“Bullshit! You’d better get your intel straight!”

“Motherf—!”