Outside the city.
On the way back to the city, Lin Yu's wristband suddenly beeped.
He curiously opened it and found a message from Bai Xiaosao. He clicked to view it.
"Someone is assassinating you, be extremely careful on your way back to the city!"
Lin Yu frowned after reading the message.
He glanced at Zhao Ke beside him, noticing she was idly watching the surrounding scenery.
He said, "You go back first today, I still have something to do and might be back late!"
Zhao Ke asked strangely, "What is it? I'll accompany you!"
"I've had some insights. Before it gets dark, I'll find a place to consolidate my cultivation. Don't worry, I'll be very cautious and won't act rashly," Lin Yu said.
Zhao Ke nodded proudly upon hearing this.
However, she still insisted on going with him. Lin Yu cajoled her until he finally managed to persuade her to return.
Lin Yu observed his surroundings. He couldn't see anyone nearby, but he knew Zhao Ke definitely had protectors with her.
However, this was Lin Yu's problem, and he didn't want Zhao Ke to be caught in the assassination plot.
This was his trouble, and he had ways to resolve it. There was no need to involve Zhao Ke.
After Zhao Ke left, Lin Yu turned back and ran towards Death Canyon.
Along the way, Lin Yu opened his wristband and sent a message to Bai Xiaosao.
Lin Yu: "What's the strength of the assassins?"
Bai Xiaosao: "I just checked. Those who took your bounty on the dark market are at least Tier 2, with the highest being Tier 4. There are sixteen of them in total. One is Tier 4, six are Tier 3, and the rest are Tier 2. The enemy is very strong, though they all have B-class talent, you must be extremely careful!"
Lin Yu: "Thank you for the intel. I owe you one."
Bai Xiaosao: "We are friends, we almost became sworn brothers. Don't worry about it. I've already asked my dad to help you. Don't go back to the city yet, my dad definitely has a way."
Lin Yu: "Please thank your father for me!"
Bai Xiaosao: "Don't be so polite. Be extremely careful!"
Lin Yu: "Don't worry, I'll stay alive!"
Bai Xiaosao: "I believe you, but be careful. I won't bother you anymore. You must come back alive."
Lin Yu: "Definitely!"
Lin Yu closed his wristband, his eyes glinting with cold light. He scanned his surroundings and then looked ahead, towards the direction of Death Canyon.
Today, I will fight my way through Death Canyon and break through to Tier 3 combat power!
Lin Yu raised his saber, summoned his clones, and pointed his saber forward.
"Charge!"
The clones immediately split into four teams, with Number One, Number Two, Number Three, and Number Four each leading a team, charging in four directions.
Number One and Number Two were still the original clones, but their strength had increased, and their eyes were more spirited. It was only a matter of time before they became external incarnations with independent personalities, which Lin Yu eagerly anticipated.
Number Three and Number Four were slightly inferior, their eyes appearing a bit dull, but they were still the most outstanding among these clones, apart from Number One and Number Two.
The four teams of clones, with their late-stage Tier 2 strength, swept through all directions.
The monsters in Death Canyon, at their strongest, were only Tier 2. Faced with the powerful clones, they had no power to resist.
As the killing continued, Lin Yu became increasingly excited.
The system prompts kept ringing in his ears, a sound like celestial music, making him unable to stop, addicted to it.
"Ding, killed Silver Skeleton Warrior, Level Up Points +20!"
"Ding, killed Gold Skeleton Warrior, Level Up Points +50!"
"Ding, killed Black Knight, Level Up Points +100!"
The monsters on the periphery were quickly slaughtered. Lin Yu ordered the clones to advance further.
The surrounding environment changed drastically. Rocks were rugged, dead trees were everywhere, and crows flew overhead.
The sleeping undead were awakened by the presence of the living and raised their ferocious heads, all looking towards Lin Yu's clones.
Number One let out a cold snort and charged forward first, a faint blue light appearing on his saber as he did so.
Energy Slash!
The other clones followed suit and charged out.
The newly awakened monsters were mercilessly slaughtered and returned to the netherworld.
"Ding, killed Skeletal Knight, Level Up Points +100!"
"Ding, killed Platinum Skeleton Warrior, Level Up Points +70!"
"Ding, killed Red Robed Skeleton Mage, Level Up Points +80!"
"Ding, killed Green Fur Zombie, Level Up Points +120!"
Here, various undead creatures were clustered together, and almost all of them were monsters of Tier 1 or higher.
The clones' eyes shone brightly as they engaged in a frenzied battle, their sabers striking vital points with every blow.
Lin Yu hid outside, no longer paying attention to the battle within the canyon, and pondered the matter of the assassins.
His original plan was to increase his combat power to Tier 3 and then use his combined strength to deal with awakened individuals with ordinary Tier 4 talent.
"With my combined strength, even ten Tier 3 opponents would be no match. I only need to be wary of that one Tier 4 assassin!"
"The mastermind is most likely Li Wu and Li Cong!" Lin Yu mused inwardly.
He had only offended these two. They didn't dare to act within the city, but outside the city, they had no such reservations.
Revenge killings were all too common outside the city.
...
Rocky Forest.
More than a dozen masked assassins were scanning their surroundings, paying attention to any movement.
Suddenly, they spotted a young girl walking towards them.
"Don't attack. This is Zhao Ke, a student from High School Three, with SS-class talent. She's been admitted to the Chaos Element Academy early. She definitely has protectors behind her. Attacking her would be suicide!"
This warning made everyone's breathing quicken.
Fortunately, someone had warned them. If they had attacked rashly, they wouldn't have survived.
After Zhao Ke left, they waited for several more hours, but Lin Yu was still nowhere to be seen.
"Could the target have taken a detour back to the city?"
"Our contacts in the city sent a message, he hasn't returned."
"That means he's still outside the city. What is this guy doing? Not returning to the city at night?"
"Let's wait. This is the only way back to the city. If he doesn't come back now, he'll definitely come back tomorrow morning."
"If he dies outside, it saves us the trouble."
A few more hours passed.
Someone started yawning. Lin Yu still hadn't appeared.
Time flowed slowly. The sky was beginning to lighten. The group had stood guard all night, not daring to sleep, and were already exhausted, but Lin Yu still hadn't appeared.
"Damn it, where on earth did this guy go? Could he have known someone was trying to assassinate him?"
"Most likely. Zhao Ke returned alone, clearly he sent her away."
"Hmph, what a foolish person! If Zhao Ke were here, we would have to be a little wary!"
The group was very sleepy now, and the flames of anger made their heads feel a tingling sensation.
Their condition was poor. In the past, they might have considered abandoning the mission.
But they had investigated Lin Yu. A mere Tier 2 student, even if they were exhausted, they were not afraid.
"Hmph, thinking you can wear us down like this? Wishful thinking!"
...
Death Canyon.
Lin Yu's clones surrounded a Skeletal Knight.
Number One raised his sword high and brought it down heavily!
Bang!
The Skeletal Knight's head fell to the ground, its soul fire extinguished, and it died.
"Ding, killed Skeletal Knight, Level Up Points +100!"
Lin Yu looked around at the shattered corpses strewn everywhere, a smile unconsciously curling up on his lips.
"Level up!"
"Ding, requires 100,000 Level Up Points. Do you wish to upgrade combat power?"
"Yes!"