How to Evaluate Lin Xuan

The city walls were packed with people, more than ever before, and more kept arriving—all cultivators from Autumn Wind City.

They knew that a fierce battle was imminent.

No, it had already begun.

They gazed ahead.

The onslaught of ten thousand demon beasts was approaching. Although they had tried to conceal their movements, it was impossible to hide for long.

They were aware of this, but they intended to hold out as long as possible. After all, their plan was to crush Autumn Wind City and retreat before reinforcements could arrive.

In the darkness, pairs of crimson eyes glowed brightly.

The leader of the demon beasts this time was the Black Fiend Wolf King.

In his normal form, he stood on two legs, resembling a beast-man, with a sword scar across his chest.

Over eighty percent of his army consisted of his own kind, while the rest were a mix of various creatures—Cornered Serpents, Blood Jade Spiders, Scythe Mantises, and more.

The Black Fiend Wolf King walked at the forefront, leisurely and carefree, as if Autumn Wind City was beneath his notice.

Even though he thought Autumn Wind City would be difficult to conquer, he had to maintain a strong front and not show any weakness.

"It seems you’ve all been waiting for us. Good. Our previous failed plan cost us face among the demon beast army, so we’re here for revenge. Now, you’re doomed."

"It’s you. Eight years ago, I failed to kill you, and now you’ve come to deliver yourself to me," the City Lord retorted, his tone equally unyielding.

"Eight years ago, you couldn’t kill me..."

[The delight of a jester.]

"Hahaha..."

"It was your incompetence..."

"Hahaha..."

"So today, you will die..."

"Hahaha..."

The Black Fiend Wolf King roared in anger, "Have you laughed enough?!"

He slapped the laughing Black Fiend Wolf beside him, first with the back of his hand, then with the palm, knocking it to the ground.

"Can you wait until I finish speaking before laughing? They can’t even hear what I’m saying!"

The fallen Black Fiend Wolf, clutching its face, nodded in confusion. It didn’t understand why it had laughed either—it hadn’t wanted to.

The Black Fiend Wolf King repeated his earlier words, but as soon as he began, another demon beast burst into laughter.

"Do you not understand my words?"

The Black Fiend Wolf King grabbed the laughing beast by the neck and slammed it headfirst into the ground.

It wasn’t dead, but the beast didn’t dare to pull itself out.

It had happened too quickly—the beast hadn’t even had time to react before being planted into the ground like a tree.

It, too, was puzzled. Had it recalled something amusing?

No, it hadn’t.

The Black Fiend Wolf King didn’t care about its thoughts and continued to warn the other beasts.

"Anyone who laughs will meet the same fate."

The scene fell silent in an instant, and the demon beasts nodded in unison.

Satisfied, the Black Fiend Wolf King turned back to the city walls to continue his intimidation. But before he could utter a single word, another beast burst into laughter.

Three strikes and you’re out.

The Black Fiend Wolf King tore off the laughing beast’s head, killing it instantly.

Challenging my authority before the battle even begins? You don’t know how to spell death.

His eyes gleamed with ferocity as he warned the others. One more laugh, and the consequences would be severe.

Now, anyone who laughed would be a fool.

The Black Fiend Wolf King tossed the head aside and prepared to resume his conversation with the City Lord.

But as he turned, yet another beast laughed, even as it desperately tried to stifle the sound.

In the blink of an eye, the Black Fiend Wolf King held another head in his hand.

He was making it clear to the others not to challenge his authority, especially at a time like this.

But it was no use.

The laughter continued.

The third beast.

Hehehe...

The fourth beast.

Hahaha...

The fifth beast.

Jiejiejie...

The Black Fiend Wolf King: ...

He couldn’t keep killing his own troops. If he did, he’d end up looking like a spy for the enemy before the battle even began.

Reluctantly, the Black Fiend Wolf King compromised.

"Anyone who laughs will charge at the front!"

If it weren’t for the impending battle, none of you would escape.

As soon as he said this, more beasts bared their fangs and laughed—genuinely this time.

They weren’t afraid of battle; they craved it. The more they thought about tearing their enemies apart, the harder it was to suppress their primal instincts.

I want to see rivers of blood!

Unable to hold back, the demon beasts surged toward Autumn Wind City, each one eager to be the first.

The sight alone was overwhelming.

The people on the city walls knew they couldn’t match such madness, but there was no retreat.

To flee would only make them prey.

The City Lord didn’t understand the Black Fiend Wolf King’s earlier actions, but it didn’t matter. Battling demon beasts required no justification.

"Attack!"

The first wave of attacks would naturally rely on the advantage of the city walls, using long-range spells.

With such a massive wave of enemies charging forward, every spell would find its mark, and there was no risk of hitting allies.

So, at the start, the cultivators skilled in long-range spells unleashed a barrage, one after another.

If only it were that simple.

The demon beasts were no pushovers. They dodged spells, deflected them, and some even took them head-on to flaunt their strength.

Even with casualties, not a single beast hesitated or retreated.

After the initial wave of spells, the ten thousand-strong demon beast army had only been slightly reduced. The front lines had already reached the city walls.

There was only one gate, but they didn’t care. They could climb the walls or simply attack them directly.

If one beast couldn’t break through, several would join forces, trying to smash the walls apart.

The cultivators inside the city couldn’t hesitate any longer. They had to engage in close combat, or else the walls would be breached, and the civilians behind them would suffer.

Lin Xuan was the first to act, leaping down from the city walls.

Mid-air, crimson flames erupted from his feet, quickly engulfing his entire body.

As he landed, he unleashed the "Three Thousand Flaming Strikes."

A path of fire erupted through the demon beasts.

Finally, three beasts managed to grab Lin Xuan and hold him back, while a dozen more pushed from behind, halting his advance.

But the three beasts in contact with Lin Xuan were already screaming in agony, their bodies beginning to melt from the intense heat.

Lin Xuan was now surrounded by demon beasts.

But he didn’t care. He took a step back, drew his sword, and took a deep breath.

The flames concentrated onto his blade.

"Flame Execution: White Dragon Sword!"

With a single slash, a white dragon emerged, its fangs and claws tearing through the demon beasts in its path.

But it wasn’t over yet.

"Shift!"

Lin Xuan swung his sword horizontally, and the white dragon’s tail whipped around, transforming into a sea of flames that engulfed a wide area, reducing the beasts within to ash.

In just two moves, not only were the demon beasts stunned, but even his allies on the city walls began to doubt themselves.

"Is he on the same level as us? Are we even cultivating the same path?"

They knew Lin Xuan, as a disciple of the Seven Stars Sword Sect, was skilled, but this was beyond imagination.

From a high vantage point, Su Luo observed the scene, unfazed. Channeling the famous five-star general MacArthur, he remarked:

"The world will eventually discover Lin Xuan."