Full-time sword repair

At the border of the Dragon Realm, the Void Gate glowed with a faint blue light.

Several figures slowly stepped out from the void gate. They were Lin Jichen, Wan Yincai, Ao Qinhan, and Situ Haokong, who was following at the back with a face so gloomy it could drip water.

The trip to the Dragon Realm had come to an end, and Lin Jichen had no intention of staying any longer. Moreover, although the conflict with the Candle Dragon lineage had been forcibly suppressed, it had also sown the seeds of future troubles.

Although the young Zhulongs held back due to their strength, they couldn't hide the resentment in their eyes. Every second they stayed would bring more variables.

The Azure Dragon King was clearly well aware of this principle. Fearing that Lin Jichen and the others might cause more trouble if they stayed any longer, he personally delivered the nine thousand-year-old dragon blood woods to the exit. His attitude was polite but distant, which fulfilled his promise of compensation and also indirectly gave them an "eviction notice".

One of Lin Jichen's core objectives for this trip was to gather the materials needed for the Dragon Locking Formation. Now that he had obtained the nine thousand-year-old dragon blood wood, his goal was achieved.

Although Ao Qinhan's wish has not yet been fulfilled, the Azure Dragon King has said that everything will be handed over to the Holy Dragon after Zhu Jiuyin's death.

Ao Qinhan accepted it, since even if the Azure Dragon King agreed now, it would be useless if the Holy Dragon came of age and became the leader of the Dragon Clan and then flatly refused.

The trip went relatively smoothly, and everyone was quite satisfied. At least they found the Dragon Bloodwood and confirmed the Azure Dragon King's attitude.

Only Situ Haokong remained silent the whole way, one side of his face was swollen, and there were still traces of blood on the corner of his mouth. His shoulders were slightly slanted as he walked.

Lin Jichen's iron fist was no joke; although it didn't seriously injure him, it still left him with unbearable soreness all over his body.

He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white, a surge of resentment rising in his chest, his eyes occasionally glancing at Lin Jichen with venom, yet he dared not openly lash out.

Lin Jichen took in his subtle movements but didn't care. He turned around and looked directly at him, his tone calm but imposing: "Sect Leader Situ, judging from your expression, do you have a problem with me?"

"How dare I!" Situ Haokong sneered, his voice slightly muffled by the injury on his cheek, but the sarcasm in his tone was undisguised.

He held his head slightly, his expression a mixture of extreme frustration and forced arrogance, as if Lin Jichen owed him ten billion spirit stones.

Lin Jichen didn't mince words with him, his tone blunt and almost sarcastic: "That beating you just got was entirely your own fault. To be honest, I'm quite curious how someone as stupid as you has managed to survive in this dog-eat-dog world of the Eight Desolations. How could such a large sect as Nine Dragons Valley choose an idiot like you who can't tell right from wrong as its sect leader?"

"Lin Jichen!" Situ Haokong was hit where it hurt and roared out, his spiritual power surging uncontrollably.

"Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're strong! Don't forget, you were the one who took the initiative to seek an alliance with our Nine Dragons Valley! What kind of attitude is this now? Without the Nine Dragons Valley's Dragon-Locking Formation, are you absolutely confident in dealing with Zhu Jiuyin?"

Lin Jichen scoffed, his eyes filled with disdain: "To be honest, I don't care at all how powerful your Nine Dragon Valley's Dragon-Locking Formation is, nor do I have any way of knowing. The reason I accompanied you to the Dragon Realm to find materials was simply to have an extra layer of insurance. More importantly, my purpose in coming here is to help Senior Ao seek justice and to gather the materials along the way. As for you, whether you're willing to join forces or not is up to you."

"You!" Situ Hao trembled with rage, his chest heaving violently. He could no longer contain his anger and gritted his teeth, saying, "Fine! Since that's how you put it, then you can deal with Zhu Jiuyin yourselves! My Nine Dragons Valley will not keep you company!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly turned around, flicked his sleeves, and walked away, his back view exuding a sense of determination.

"You're free to leave." Lin Jichen's cold laugh suddenly rang out, his voice not loud, but it carried a chilling edge.

"I can do with or not use this Dragon-Locking Formation. But I must warn you, after the Dragon-Slaying War ends, it will be the end for you and your Nine Dragon Valley."

Situ Haokong suddenly stopped, slowly turned around, and said with a sinister sarcasm in his eyes, "Are you so confident that you can defeat Zhujiuyin?"

“It’s not that I’m confident of winning, but that I know that if you leave, you’re definitely doomed.”

Lin Jichen's eyes were sharp as knives as he spoke each word clearly.

"If we are lucky enough to kill Zhu Jiuyin, the various sects of the human race will surely settle accounts with you, a coward who deserted the battlefield and did nothing. If we are defeated by Zhu Jiuyin, given the enmity that your Nine Dragons Valley has built up with the Dragon Clan over the years, especially your actions today that offended the Zhulong lineage, do you think Zhu Jiuyin will let you go, you dog?"

Situ Haokong was instantly speechless, and all the color drained from his face.

Lin Jichen was right. He had already understood the advantages and disadvantages of the alliance when the Tianyan Sword Sect was discussing it.

He had no way out.

I was just blinded by anger and acted impulsively, which is why I said I wanted to quit.

At this moment, Lin Jichen's words exposed his anger, which was extinguished as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on it. Reason quickly returned, leaving only a deep sense of powerlessness.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found himself unable to refute it. He could only grit his teeth, staring at the rubble on the ground, his face turning pale and then red.

Lin Jichen was too lazy to waste any more words with him. He raised his hand and tossed nine thousand-year-old dragon blood woods towards Situ Haokong like streaks of light, landing steadily in his arms.

The dragon blood wood was incredibly heavy, and Situ Haokong instinctively caught it.

"The Dragon-Locking Formation has been set up perfectly for me."

Lin Jichen's tone was icy, carrying an unquestionable command: "If you defeat Zhu Jiuyin, I might show leniency to your Nine Dragons Valley as a way for you to atone for your sins. If you lose, we'll just die first, and then it will be your turn and your Nine Dragons Valley's turn."

Having said that, he didn't look at Situ Haokong again. With a swift movement, he transformed into a golden light and vanished into the horizon in an instant.

Wan Yincai nodded slightly to Ao Qinhan and followed Lin Jichen. Ao Qinhan hesitated for a moment, then leaped after her, leaving Situ Haokong standing alone.

Situ Haokong stood at the exit of the Dragon Realm, holding the heavy Dragon Blood Wood in his arms. The wind swirled fine dragon scales onto him, but he was completely unaware.

The thought of Zhu Jiuyin's unfathomable strength, and the deep-seated hatred between Nine Dragon Valley and the Dragon Clan over the years, instantly dissipated any remaining stubbornness in his heart.

Not participating in the war means certain death; participating in the war may offer a glimmer of hope.

He had no other choice, but he truly hated Lin Jichen to the core.

"Lin Jichen..." Situ Haokong slowly clenched his fist, his nails digging deep into his palm, drawing blood. His eyes churned with resentment and unwillingness as he secretly swore a poisonous oath.

"One day, when I achieve immortality, I will make you pay for your crimes with your blood, and use your blood to appease the spirit of my son in heaven!"

Meanwhile, Lin Jichen and his two companions flew thousands of miles away in the blink of an eye, landing atop a mountain shrouded in clouds and mist.

The three parted ways here.

...