C9 Energy Discharge!

"What?!"

Zhang Zhong and his group's faces paled in shock. In that same instant, Lin Tian, who had evaded their strikes, abruptly returned to his normal form. The bones inside him emitted a series of sharp, crackling sounds. He lifted his hands and delivered two powerful palm strikes to the chests of the two disciples nearest to him!

Bang! Bang!

The thuds echoed as the young men were hurled through the air. Hitting the ground, they coughed up blood in great gouts, their bodies crumpling and writhing in pain as they clutched their chests and howled.

Zhang Zhong had the quickest reflexes. Sensing the tide turning, he unleashed his power and swiftly retreated, putting distance between himself and Lin Tian.

Lin Tian, unfazed, moved again, closing in on the other two dazed disciples. In a flash, he seized their hair and viciously slammed their heads together!

Bang!

The sound of the impact was followed by the sight of both disciples bleeding profusely, their skulls visibly misshapen as they slumped into unconsciousness.

At this, even Zhang Zhong was stunned.

He could never have imagined Lin Tian was so formidable that he could disable four Martial Apprentice Level Three disciples with a single move!

Then, Lin Tian's gaze shifted to Zhang Zhong, sending a shiver through him. The next second, Zhang Zhong bellowed, "Lin Tian! You must be sick of living, attacking my men like that! Well, you can just go to hell!"

With his roar, Zhang Zhong charged at Lin Tian, his hands balled into fists, aiming a devastating blow at Lin Tian's chest!

A surge of earthy yellow energy rose from Zhang Zhong, brimming with a dense aura—the hallmark of the Earth Attribute Spirit Body's power.

"So powerful!"

The onlooking disciples' eyes widened, perceiving Zhang Zhong as if he'd become a massive, ten-thousand-kilogram boulder intent on crushing Lin Tian beneath its weight.

"Lin Tian, I refuse to believe you can withstand this move! This is Earth Boxing, a common-level martial skill! One punch unleashes the force of ten thousand kilograms! If my fist so much as grazes you, even just the hem of your garment, my power will resonate through your bones. I'm eager to see you shattered to pieces!" Zhang Zhong roared as he launched his fist, his body a whirlwind of energy, his intent to kill palpable.

Lin Tian merely chuckled. As Zhang Zhong's fists neared his body, Lin Tian's hands shot out with lightning speed, gripping Zhang Zhong's fists with a resounding thud!

Boom!

The sound of an explosion echoed as a deep, several-feet-wide pit formed beneath Lin Tian's feet, yet he remained unharmed.

"Deflecting force! Impossible!"

Zhang Zhong exclaimed in shock, instantly recognizing the martial technique Lin Tian employed—it was a force-deflecting method!

Such techniques were typically used by the more powerful against the less powerful. For instance, high-stage martial cultivators would employ this method when training their disciples to enhance their combat skills. But here, Lin Tian had effortlessly neutralized Zhang Zhong's full-powered strike!

What incredible strength! Had Lin Tian's combined power truly surpassed his own?

"What's this 'Earth Boxing' nonsense? Might as well call it 'Cotton Fist.'"

Lin Tian's mocking laugh cut through the air. In an instant, he released his grip and transformed his hands into fists, slamming them hard into Zhang Zhong's chest!

"Ah!"

Zhang Zhong let out a pained scream, sent flying backward to crash into a boulder, blood spewing from his mouth. The rock behind him was now riddled with cracks.

The onlookers' jaws dropped in utter astonishment.

"Hehe."

Lin Tian sneered, swiftly moving to step on Zhang Zhong's chest, eliciting another agonized scream as the boulder behind him burst into fragments.

Simultaneously, the sound of bones snapping emanated from Zhang Zhong's body, his legs gruesomely misshapen in an instant.

"What was that you said earlier? Break all my bones? Now, whose bones are broken?"

Lin Tian lifted his foot and leaned in, tauntingly questioning Zhang Zhong, who was seething with rage.

Despite the excruciating pain, his fury surged uncontrollably.

"Lin Tian! I'll kill you!"

With a roar, Zhang Zhong forcefully slapped the ground, propelling himself upward, and launched a ferocious punch towards Lin Tian's face.

As he moved, a surge of earthy yellow energy rose from the ground, infusing his body and lending his punch an explosive force.

"The power of the earth! Who would have thought Zhang Zhong's Earth-attribute Spirit Body was so formidable, capable of harnessing the earth's power!"

"Truly a prodigy of the Zhang family! To harness the power of the earth, his combat prowess defies the usual metrics. He's at Level Four, yet his strength is undoubtedly on par with Level Five. Lin Tian, you stand no chance!"

A chorus of astonished voices erupted as Zhang Zhong bellowed, "Lin Tian, prepare to meet your end!"

With his roar, a terra-cotta glow enveloped Zhang Zhong's fist, warping the air around Lin Tian.

"Big Brother Lin!"

Kong Ling and Zhao Hai called out in desperation, straining to move closer. But the sheer force of Zhang Zhong's punch and the resulting gusts forced them back, unable to advance.

"Earth's power? Heh, such might wasted on you is like casting pearls before swine!"

Lin Tian scoffed, countering the punch head-on rather than retreating in panic.

"Stay down!"

A roar akin to a dragon's cry burst forth from Lin Tian. All eyes watched as his fist collided with Zhang Zhong's, instantly freezing Zhang Zhong mid-air before he was violently hurled back, slamming into a boulder.

"Ah!"

A piercing scream echoed as Zhang Zhong's right arm was shredded, blood and bone fragments scattering across the ground. His face contorted in agony, tears and snot streaming down.

"My heavens!"

The onlookers' faces paled at the sight, staring at Lin Tian in horror. They could hardly believe the ferocity of his power, strong enough to leave Zhang Zhong in such a state.

"Ah... Wuu... Lin Tian... Lin Tian! I swear I'll kill you..."

Zhang Zhong's cries, laced with sobs, filled the air. Yet Lin Tian, with a chilling smirk, approached him once more and with a swift kick, shattered Zhang Zhong's other arm.

The sound of splintering bone was followed by a gush of blood, Zhang Zhong's eyes rolling back in pain, his screams silenced as he teetered on the brink of unconsciousness.

Seizing the severed limb, Lin Tian twisted it mercilessly, a fresh spray of blood dousing Zhang Zhong's face, jolting him back to consciousness with a scream of sheer terror.

The onlookers were all shaking uncontrollably!

It was brutally savage!

To rouse Zhang Zhong with his own blood—what kind of merciless person could do such a thing?

When had Lin Tian turned so heartless?

"Mr. Lin..."

Zhao Hai and Kong Ling were equally shocked. They couldn't have imagined that Lin Tian, who had been so downcast in recent years, would suddenly become so vicious!

"Wuu... Lin Tian! How could you treat me this way? My Zhang family will never forgive you! I swear my older brother will kill you!"

Zhang Zhong's wails spilled from his lips as his presence grew fainter. Lin Tian, however, just sneered coldly. "Zhang Zhong, it seems you really don't know the meaning of the word 'death.' Still threatening me at a time like this? Do you actually think I give a damn about your pathetic Zhang family?"

With those words, a chilling aura of murderous intent began to emanate from Lin Tian, instilling a deep fear in Zhang Zhong's already agonized gaze.

He saw an unrelenting desire to kill in Lin Tian's eyes—a genuine intent, not a mere facade!

Recalling the rumors he'd heard about Lin Tian not only slaughtering Ye Ku but also gouging out Ye Hu's eyes, Zhang Zhong realized that Lin Tian was truly without reservations.

Understandably, he didn't dare utter another word, just shaking as he watched Lin Tian.

"That's more like it. Plus, you should consider yourself lucky—I'm busy with other matters right now."

Lin Tian's sneer deepened as he stared at the silenced Zhang Zhong. "Otherwise, you'd be dead already."

With that, Lin Tian turned and signaled to Zhao Hai and Kong Ling with a glance. They both shuddered and quickly followed, vanishing with Lin Tian.

As the trio departed, the remaining disciples were at a loss for words. Those who had been knocked out by Lin Tian staggered to their feet and approached the disfigured Zhang Zhong. One disciple, his face ashen, managed to say, "Senior Brother Zhang, you..."

"Don't just stand there—get someone to heal me!" Zhang Zhong barked. "If my injuries worsen and affect my Spirit Body, none of you will get off lightly!"

"Yes, yes!"

The several disciples with severe injuries immediately answered, with a few beginning to stagger away, while the others remained to stand vigil by Zhang Zhong's side.

Yet even as they protected him, a flicker of anger crossed their eyes. Zhang Zhong had been as submissive as a dead dog in Lin Tian's presence, not daring to utter a peep. Now, he was flexing his authority over them, which naturally earned their contempt.

But they were powerless to change their situation. Lacking status and influence, their quickest path to prominence within the Celestial Dragon Sect was to align with the scions of influential families and swallow any indignities.

At the moment, Zhang Zhong was indifferent to his junior brothers' sentiments.

His concern wasn't the disgrace of his behavior, but rather the astonishing rise in Lin Tian's strength. In just a few days, Lin Tian had advanced to Martial Apprentice Level Four, his demeanor transforming from timid and insecure to one of ferocity and ruthlessness.

Had Lin Tian's appearance not remained the same, Zhang Zhong might have doubted whether it was the same person at all.

"Something's off! Definitely off! Lin Tian must be hiding something, or perhaps he's received guidance from a master! I must inform the family to investigate. I'm eager to uncover what this kid has gained to change so drastically!"

A glint of icy resolve shone in Zhang Zhong's eyes as he pondered.

Having left the mountain's base, Lin Tian, Zhao Hai, and Kong Ling had found a quiet spot to regroup.

Arriving there, Lin Tian turned to the two behind him. Zhao Hai, unable to contain his excitement, blurted out, "Mr. Lin, how did you manage to improve your strength so rapidly? Have you awakened your Spirit Body?"

"Not yet," Lin Tian replied with a smile, his gaze settling on Zhao Hai and Kong Ling. "Right now, you should be more concerned about yourselves. How are you holding up? I hope your injuries aren't too severe."

"Oh, this is nothing. Just a minor wound. A few days of rest and I'll be as good as new. But Mr. Lin, how did you achieve such a breakthrough? And how did you suddenly become so formidable? Your moves earlier were incredibly satisfying!"

Zhao Hai's face brimmed with excitement.

Kong Ling gazed at Lin Tian with joy. She noticed the change in him; he seemed different, almost a stranger now. But she understood that this transformation was positive.

After all, this slightly unfamiliar Lin Tian was far more formidable than the timid and insecure Lin Tian of years past!

"Just remember, Brother, to be cautious! Zhang Zhong is the third young master of the Zhang family, holding a lofty status. If you discipline him now, rest assured, he will seek retribution."