From Fanwu to Xinghai

Chapter 48 Fighting Side by Side

On the battlefield, swords flash and shadows dance.

Lin Chen, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, attracted the attention of several men in black robes the moment he charged into the battlefield.

"Another one looking for trouble!"

A man in black robes sneered and swung his sword at Lin Chen.

His cultivation level was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, two minor realms higher than Lin Chen's. In his view, killing this arrogant youth was just a piece of cake.

But the next moment, his smile froze on his face.

Lin Chen's knife was too fast.

It was so fast that he didn't even have time to react.

"time!"

He tried to shout "Slow down time," but found his voice crushed into fragments by the blade's energy.

Lin Chen's blade was already slashing towards him.

The man in black robes desperately raised his knife to block, but only heard a "crack" sound!

His long sword was severed in two.

The blade's energy remained undiminished, slicing through his chest and sending up a cloud of blood mist.

"you……"

The man in black robes looked down at the wound on his chest, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"How is that possible...?"

Before he could finish speaking, his body collapsed to the ground, and he died.

A knife.

Just one cut.

A Dark Blade Pavilion assassin at the peak of Foundation Establishment died under Lin Chen's blade.

The others on the battlefield who witnessed this scene gasped in shock.

This young man... is incredibly strong!

"Lin Chen!"

Lin Yuan's voice came from the center of the battlefield.

Lin Chen looked in the direction of the sound and saw Lin Yuan being attacked by three men in black robes, already in grave danger.

Without the slightest hesitation, he flashed forward like a ghost, rushing towards the center of the battlefield.

"Get out of the way!"

Lin Chen roared and swept his long sword, forcing back the three black-robed men who were attacking Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan staggered back to Lin Chen's side, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"What brings you here?" he asked.

"I'm here to support you," Lin Chen said.

"Support?" Lin Yuan smiled wryly. "You shouldn't have come. It's too dangerous here."

"Danger is inevitable." Lin Chen's gaze hardened. "You told me to protect those who need protection."

"The three thousand soldiers of Yanhuang Pass need protection."

"And you!"

He looked at Lin Yuan.

"They're also people I need to protect."

Lin Yuan was taken aback.

Then he laughed.

"You're just like your father, stubborn and inflexible."

"Then let's fight together."

He raised his longsword and stood shoulder to shoulder with Lin Chen.

"Kid, your opponents are us!"

A tall man in black robes stepped forward, exuding a terrifying aura.

"Peak Foundation Establishment? No, early Golden Core stage!"

Lin Chen's pupils contracted slightly.

Early stage of Golden Elixir.

He is on a completely different level from Lin Yuan.

"You Dark Blade Pavilion really think highly of us," Lin Yuan sneered.

"There's no other way," said the tall man in black robes. "General Lin Yuan is a descendant of the Time Guardians; he possesses something we need."

"As for you!"

His gaze fell on Lin Chen, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes.

"The successor to the Time Guardians, the chosen one of the Dimensional Rulers. Good luck today, I've wiped them all out."

A cold glint flashed in Lin Chen's eyes.

He knew that today's battle would not be easy.

But he had no way out.

"Xiao Yan!" he shouted.

"Here!" Xiao Yan's voice came from the edge of the battlefield.

"You lead men to cover General Lin Yuan's retreat and escort the wounded soldiers!"

"And what about you?"

"I'll hold him off!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Chen rushed out.

"court death!"

The tall man in black robes sneered and raised his fist to meet the attack.

Fists and knives clashed, unleashing a deafening roar.

Lin Chen felt a terrifying force coming from the opponent's fist, which made his entire arm go numb.

The power of the Golden Core Realm far exceeded his imagination.

"Boy, your cultivation level is too low."

The tall man in black robes approached with a cold smile.

Even with the blessing of time imprinting you, you are no match for me!

His fists rained down like raindrops, each punch carrying a surge of spiritual energy.

Lin Chen tried his best to resist, but he was still forced to retreat.

"Lin Chen!" Lin Yuan's voice came from behind.

He wanted to go forward to help, but he was entangled by the other men in black robes and couldn't spare the time.

"Don't worry about me!" Lin Chen roared, "Take the men and retreat!"

He knew he couldn't hold on for much longer.

But as long as he can hold off this Golden Core expert for a quarter of an hour, Xiao Yan can lead Lin Yuan and the wounded soldiers to a safe place.

"bring it on!"

Lin Chen roared, a resolute look flashing in his eyes.

Even if it costs me my life!

"I'll stop you too!"

---

"Fight to the death?"

The tall man in the black robe sneered.

"You think you can compete with someone at the Foundation Establishment stage?"

"Let me tell you, there are so many things in this world that you can't even imagine. You think you're a chosen one, that you have a protagonist's halo!"

"But in my eyes, you're nothing more than a slightly stronger ant."

His fist slammed out again.

This punch was more ferocious than any of the previous ones.

Lin Chen crossed his arms and desperately tried to block.

"boom!"

He was thrown backward by the shock and crashed into the city wall, creating a huge crater.

"Lin Chen!" Xiao Yan exclaimed.

Lin Chen crawled out of the ruins and spat out a mouthful of blood.

His face was as pale as paper, and his breathing was disordered.

But his eyes remained sharp as knives.

"He's...not dead yet..."

He struggled to his feet.

A hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the tall man in the black robe.

"He can actually stand up?"

"That's interesting."

"But that's all there is to it."

He closed in again.

"The next punch will send you on your way."

At this critical moment.

"That's enough."

An aged voice suddenly rang out from the void.

Everyone was stunned.

The tall man in black robes suddenly looked up and saw a huge crack that had appeared in the sky.

A figure slowly emerged from the crack.

He was an old man with white hair and beard, and a dignified, otherworldly air about him.

He was dressed in a blue Taoist robe, holding a whisk, and exuded an aura that sent chills down one's spine.

"Who are you……"

The tall man in the black robe suddenly contracted his pupils.

"The Supreme Elder of the Qingyun Sect?!"

The old man's gaze swept across the battlefield, and he spoke calmly:

"You juniors of the Dark Blade Pavilion, you've overstepped your bounds."

He raised the whisk in his hand and waved it gently.

An invisible pressure descended from the sky, instantly turning the three black-robed men who were besieging Lin Yuan into dust.

"this!"

The tall man in black robes' expression changed drastically.

"Retreat! Retreat now!"

He dared not linger for a moment, and with a flash, he was about to escape.

But the old man didn't give him a chance.

"Want to leave?"

The whisk was waved again.

A sword light descended from the sky, cleaving the tall, black-robed man in two.

The battlefield fell silent instantly.

Everyone stared blankly at the figure in the sky.

Supreme Elder.

The Qingyun Sect's strongest fighting force.

It is said that his cultivation has reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, and he is only one step away from becoming a Deity.

"Greetings, Supreme Elder!"

Someone shouted, and the soldiers on the battlefield all knelt down.

Lin Chen also wanted to bow, but was held up by a gentle force.

"No need for such formalities."

The Supreme Elder descended from the sky and came to stand in front of Lin Chen.

He carefully examined Lin Chen, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

"Not bad, indeed a promising talent."

"Although the marks of time have been temporarily damaged, the foundation remains. With proper nurturing, it will surely achieve great things in the future."

Lin Chen's heart stirred.

Did the Supreme Elder know that he had a time imprint?

"Don't be surprised." The Grand Elder seemed to see his confusion. "I know everything about your father."

"Thirty years ago, your father was also a child I watched grow up."

His gaze turned somewhat wistful.

"It's just a pity..."

He stopped mid-sentence.

"Elder, what brings you here?" Lin Yuan asked as he stepped forward.

"I'm here to help you," the Supreme Elder said. "I received news of the crisis at Yanhuang Pass a long time ago. I just didn't expect the Dark Blade Pavilion to go to such lengths this time, actually sending a Golden Core Realm assassin."

He looked at Lin Chen.

"If it weren't for you holding them back, the entire Yanhuang Pass would probably have fallen."

Lin Chen shook his head.

"It's Uncle Lin Yuan who's holding things together. If it weren't for his desperate resistance, even if we had come, it would have been too late."

The Supreme Elder nodded.

"Lin Yuan, you did a great job."

"As expected of Lin Yuan's younger brother."

Lin Yuan's eyes reddened slightly.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he just lowered his head.

"Leave the matter of Yanhuang Pass to me from now on."

"That's what the Supreme Elder said."

"The Dark Blade Pavilion suffered heavy losses this time, and they are unlikely to make any major moves in the near future."

"You can return to the Qingyun Sect to rest first."

Lin Chen thought for a moment and shook his head.

"I want to stay."

"Um?"

"There are still three thousand soldiers at Yanhuang Pass," Lin Chen said. "They've been through this battle, and many are wounded. I want to stay and help."

His gaze deepened.

"The Dark Blade Pavilion won't give up so easily. Now that they've set their sights on Uncle Lin Yuan, they'll definitely come back stronger."

"By staying here, I can help ease some of his burden."

The Supreme Elder looked at Lin Chen, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

"Have you thought this through?"

"It's dangerous here."

"I've thought it through," Lin Chen said.

His tone was calm, but his eyes revealed an unwavering determination.

The Supreme Elder paused for a moment.

Then he laughed.

"good."

"Since you're willing to stay, I won't force you."

He turned to Lin Yuan.

"Lin Yuan, I'm entrusting this child to you."

"Take good care of him."

Lin Yuan nodded.

"I will."

After the Supreme Elder left, Lin Chen and Lin Yuan stood on the city wall, looking at the distant horizon.

As the sun set, it dyed the sky a blood red.

Why did you stay?

Lin Yuan asked.

"Didn't I say I wanted to help?" Lin Chen said.

"That's not the only reason, is it?" Lin Yuan looked at him.

Lin Chen paused for a moment.

Then he laughed.

"You saw right through me."

"I stayed because I wanted to get to know you."

"Do you understand me?"

"You're my uncle," Lin Chen said. "Although this is our first meeting, I can sense that you're a trustworthy person."

His voice became low.

"You are protecting all of this for my father."

"I want to know, what kind of power has sustained you in this battle for so many years?"

Lin Yuan remained silent.

He simply watched the sunset in the distance, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

After a long silence, he finally spoke:

"Because of your father."

"He is the best brother I've ever had."

"I'd do anything for him."

Lin Chen nodded.

He understood that feeling.

Because if he were in his shoes, he would make the same choice.

"Uncle Lin Yuan."

"Um?"

"Once things are settled at Yanhuang Pass, I want to go and rescue my father."

Lin Yuan turned to look at him.

Do you know how dangerous that is?

"Know."

"Do you know that the Dark Blade Pavilion won't let this go?"

"Know."

"Do you know that even if he's rescued, he might not be the same person anymore?"

"……Know."

Lin Chen's voice became firm.

"But I have to go."

"Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, I'll still give it a try."

"Because he is my father."

"Because he is still alive."

"As long as you're alive, there's hope."

Lin Yuan looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"You really are Lin Yuan's son."

"Stubborn in the same way."

He reached out and ruffled Lin Chen's hair.

"good."

"I'll take you there once you're ready."

"Go to the deepest part of the river of time."

"Rescue your father."

The sun has completely set, and night has fallen.

On the city wall, two figures stood side by side.

One is a younger brother who fought for his older brother for thirty years.

One is a boy who decides to travel through the river of time for his father's sake.

Their shadows stretched long in the moonlight.

But their eyes were equally resolute.