WBICDPH Chapter 127

Chapter 127: Trouble Out of Nowhere

“Boom—!”

Spiritual energy from the cultivators collided with demonic attacks, erupting into deafening explosions. The bursts of color in the sky looked like fireworks blooming in broad daylight.

Lin Jin stood amid the chaotic currents of energy, gripping the Mountain-Sea Brush as he cast one talisman after another, helping the martial cultivators ahead of him fend off the demonic assault.

The front lines were in complete disarray. Cultivators in various sect uniforms clashed endlessly with demons. Every second, someone—human or demon—was torn apart, flesh and blood flying. The stench of blood saturated the air, enough to make anyone gag.

People were constantly being injured or killed around Lin Jin, while disciples from Luoyang Sect rushed through the battlefield, evacuating the wounded. The scene looked like utter chaos, yet beneath it all, a fragile order somehow held.

It had been six years since Lin Jin came to this world. One year of training, five years in seclusion—this was the first time he had witnessed a true cultivator battle, and the first time he truly understood how cruel this world was.

The casualties around him were real. The blood in the air had been spilled just seconds ago. Anyone near him could die—including himself.

This wasn’t a game. It wasn’t a performance. This was a real battlefield—real combat, real life and death.

Lin Jin didn’t dare slack off. He forced himself to stay focused, constantly casting talismans, hoping to help his comrades even a little.

But under this relentless strain, even with his special physique, he was starting to struggle.

His face grew pale, and cold sweat slid down his temples.

For a brief moment, he understood the helplessness Han Ao must have felt when he went on missions alone.

He had thought he’d grown used to this world—but now, standing on a battlefield facing life and death, he realized he still couldn’t stay calm. Fear rose instinctively within him.

“Damn it all!”

A streak of red shot across the field.

Hua Nanzhi rushed over, her hair disheveled, her body covered in wounds. Her Howling Moon Blade was soaked in blood.

She spat out a mouthful of blood and flexed her numb hand. “Lin Lin, give me more buff talismans—I can still kill a hundred more!”

“Take it easy.”

Lin Jin opened his storage ring, only to find he’d already handed out all his prepared talismans.

He pressed his lips together, pulled out fresh talisman paper and a few vials, handing them to her first. “Take some medicine and rest. I’m out of stock—what do you need? I’ll draw it now.”

“Keep it. You think I’d use your medicine?”

Hua Nanzhi pulled out a handful of high-grade pills from her own storage ring and swallowed them like candy, then shoved a bunch into Lin Jin’s hands. “Take these! If you don’t use them, give them to someone else later.”

Lin Jin didn’t argue. He nodded, stored the pills, and began drawing talismans for her.

While chewing, Hua Nanzhi glanced around. “Hey, where’s that wall-like black demon who was with you? Didn’t Senior Sister say he should stick with you?”

Lin Jin paused, speechless at her description. “Up ahead.”

Hua Nanzhi nodded. “I heard his surname is Xiao Lan. His lineage must be strong—he should be suppressing a lot of demons. So why is this fight still so hard?”

Without stopping his brush, Lin Jin replied, “His lineage is the strongest of this era. He’s already wiped out over half of the weaker demons. Otherwise, we’d be facing twice as many enemies.”

“What?!”

It was Hua Nanzhi’s first time facing Mingzhu Heaven head-on, and she hadn’t grasped their true strength before.

She sighed heavily. “This battle’s not easy. Master and Senior Brother are holding off the strongest enemies up front. That’s the only reason we can breathe. Lin Lin, if you’re not too tired, draw more talismans—I’ll bring them to the others.”

Lin Jin was already pushing himself, drawing high-level talismans nonstop. Hearing that, he felt helpless—but still nodded. “I’ll… try.”

“Good.”

After another gulp of spiritual liquid, Hua Nanzhi suddenly remembered something. “Wait—where’s Han Ao? He’s a sword cultivator too. Why haven’t I seen him?”

Lin Jin frowned slightly.

He hadn’t noticed—he’d gone straight to the front lines after leaving the hall.

But Han Ao had always feared combat—feared blood, feared killing. In a situation like this… he probably couldn’t handle it.

“Don’t worry about him,” Lin Jin said. “Our people are spread out everywhere. He’s probably somewhere else on the front.”

“No way! I’ve been everywhere except Swordheart Sect’s side. I didn’t see him at all!” Hua Nanzhi frowned. “He didn’t even fight in the tournament. Don’t tell me he’s hiding again!”

“Don’t say that,” Lin Jin sighed. “Everyone has their own reasons.”

“You’re being way too protective of him!”

She wiped blood from her face. “He’s a sword cultivator! Fighting is his duty! If he won’t fight, what is he? At a time like this, when everyone’s risking their lives, how can he run away?!”

Lin Jin stayed silent.

He understood—but he couldn’t explain.

Just then, he shoved a stack of talismans into her hands. “Here. Go. Be careful.”

Hua Nanzhi muttered something but didn’t argue further. “Fine. After this, I’m reporting him.”

Lin Jin couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

Then suddenly—

A strange wave of sound swept through him.

It pierced his body and struck his soul. His mind trembled violently.

The world spun. He nearly collapsed.

Hua Nanzhi steadied him. “Hey!”

After a moment, he regained his senses and looked forward.

In the sky stood a woman in white—long white hair, eyes covered with silk, playing a harp made of bone.

“That’s… the fifth of the Twelve Guards of Mingzhu Heaven—an ancient demon, inheritor of the Bewitching Bone Spirit.”

Her music suppressed the entire rear line. The cultivators’ music techniques were rendered useless.

Worse—her presence boosted the demons. Those previously suppressed were rising again.

A massive disadvantage.

Lin Jin tried to think of a solution—but his mind was a blur.

Then—

A thin black line shot across the battlefield.

It was coming straight for them.

Too fast.

It reached Hua Nanzhi in an instant.

Without hesitation, Lin Jin shoved her aside and summoned his strongest defensive artifact.

The Earth-tier Heart-Guard Mirror.

“Clang—!”

The black line struck the mirror like metal.

Blocked.

But then—

It didn’t retreat.

Instead, it split and twisted, forming a spiraling drill of blades, boring into the barrier.

Cracks formed.

“Crack—!”

The mirror shattered.

The attack surged forward—about to pierce Lin Jin’s shoulder.

He had no time to react.

He closed his eyes.

But…

Nothing happened.

He opened them again.

The black line hovered inches away—still spinning, but slowed.

Because—

Someone was holding it.

Lin Jin looked up.

Xiao Lanqi stood there, face dark, radiating danger.

His eyes glowed faintly, black runes swirling around him, wrapped in blue-green flames.

With a squeeze of his hand—

The black line shattered and burned to ash.

Then he grabbed the remaining strand and yanked.

As if choking someone through space.

He narrowed his eyes, voice cold and violent:

“…Who the hell do you think you’re picking on?”