Chapter 69: Rebirth: I Am the Villain (Part 7)

The clash of countless prodigies, the terrifying chaotic energy of the battle, was breathtaking.
One after another, geniuses rarely seen in a century were blasted into dust, their cultivation and achievements merging into the Daoist essence of the sacred medicine, making it appear even more alluring.
Such a battle was far too brutal, and Su Chen, who witnessed it firsthand, felt a deep sense of lingering fear.
The battle between the geniuses of the Southwest Regions seemed like child's play here.
"Countless lives are but ants, one general's success is the demise of countless others."
Su Chen also saw Gu Tiangang, who was vying for the sacred medicine, blasted apart by a powerful passing prodigy with a single punch. He also saw ancient clan prodigies, no weaker than Gu Tiangang, besieged and killed by a combined attack from several prodigies from various regions, their deaths inevitable.
In this great battle, the geniuses of the ancient clans were no different from those on the roadside.
"The glory of the Holy Race is truly the most worthless thing."
Gu Lan, following behind Su Chen, felt a deep sorrow. He hadn't gone with Gu Tiangang, but instead stayed behind Su Chen.
Seeing Gu Lan's crumbling Dao heart, Su Chen had no time to comfort him, as he noticed Lin Zhan was already approaching the location of the Holy Medicine.
Su Chen took a step into the air. Some extraterrestrial prodigies, seeing someone still trying to join the battle, attacked Su Chen, but were forced back by Su Chen's sword.
However, this attracted even more prodigies.
Just as Su Chen was about to kill these people at all costs to stop Lin Zhan, Gu Lan appeared before him, his face ashen. He said to Su Chen, "I owe you a life. I'll stop these people for you, so we're even."
Su Chen didn't waste any words, only saying, "Take care."
Then he immediately withdrew from the battlefield, approaching Lin Zhan's direction.
Not long after, a scorching heat came from behind, and a huge roar seemed commonplace in this meat grinder.
Without hesitation, Su Chen unleashed a sword strike directly towards Lin Zhan.
"With this sacred herb, my master will surely be able to live a new life, perhaps even truly become a saint!"
Lin Zhan yearned for this. He used the Blue Spirit Clan's treasure to conceal his whereabouts. If he could obtain the sacred herb and help his master attain sainthood, he could then unleash his full power in the Heavenly Profound Domain, seeking revenge against the ancient clans!
The hatred of the past haunted him day and night, never daring to forget it for a moment.
However, a sword beam shattered Lin Zhan's illusions, turning everything into nothingness.
Lin Zhan blocked the sudden sword beam, only to see the figure he had longed for appear before him, a sword blocking his path.
Lin Zhan's eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth, shouting, "Gu Chen! It's you!"
Su Chen, meeting his murderous gaze, calmly said, "Lin Zhan, you can't get the Sacred Medicine."
"Then I'll kill you, and then I'll take the Sacred Medicine!"
Seeing his enemy, Lin Zhan was blinded by rage. Killing Su Chen was more important than obtaining the Sacred Medicine!
"War God Technique!"
With a sharp shout, Lin Zhan no longer concealed himself. A powerful aura erupted from his body. Wielding a silver halberd, he charged at Su Chen like a war god reborn. His cultivation was only at the sixth level of the Profound Realm, yet his combat strength was approaching the peak of the Profound Realm.
Su Chen swung his sword, the sword light flashing, his aura no longer concealed, flowing forth unrestrained.
Ninth level of the Profound Realm!
"Eclipse Moon Sword Technique"
A full moon appeared behind Su Chen, its swordplay resonating, drawing the attention of many prodigies.
"Who is this? Such mastery of swordsmanship!"
"So strong... While not on par with a Divine Body level prodigy, he's probably in the top tier below that level."
"Is that the Lord of the War God Temple? Damn it, he actually sneaked here! He wants to take advantage of our unpreparedness and seize the Sacred Medicine?"
"Lin Zhan of the War God Temple, you've finally shown yourself! Today is your death day!"
Instantly, prodigies with grudges against Lin Zhan joined the battle, beginning to besiege him!
Su Chen exchanged dozens of blows with Lin Zhan. Even with the advantage of a higher cultivation level, he had to admit that the Chosen One was truly monstrous!
Fortunately, Lin Zhan had many enemies, relieving some of the pressure on Su Chen.
"Gu Chen, I will kill you today!"
Lin Zhan, like a mad dog, ignored everyone and attacked Su Chen relentlessly.
Lin Zhan wanted to kill Su Chen, and Su Chen wanted to kill Lin Zhan just as much.
He refused to believe that with so many geniuses joining forces, they couldn't kill Lin Zhan.
"This War God Technique is incredibly tough!"
Su Chen cursed inwardly. Even while exchanging blows with Lin Zhan, it seemed the lower Lin Zhan's health bar became, the more powerful it seemed to be. Despite being severely injured and unable to fight, Lin Zhan always managed a sudden burst of power at crucial moments. If it weren't for his experience from several lifetimes and his cautious nature, he would have died countless times already.
The allies around him, filled with hatred for Lin Zhan, changed batch after batch.
Just as Lin Zhan was about to exhaust himself, the geniuses of the War God Palace broke through the encirclement.
"Your Excellency, we'll hold off the enemy for you, you must leave quickly!"
The prodigies from various races stood fearlessly before Lin Zhan.
Lin Zhan, dragging his broken body, watched as the geniuses of the various races he had gathered died one by one before his eyes. Hot tears of blood streamed from his eyes, his voice filled with heart-wrenching anguish: "Gu Chen, I will make you die!"
Su Chen, dragging his heavily wounded body, faced wave after wave of War God Temple geniuses without hesitation. One genius after another perished at his hands. He directly approached Lin Zhan; he knew he had to kill Lin Zhan!
Otherwise, who knew how much stronger Lin Zhan would become next?
Seeing they were no match for Su Chen, the geniuses chose to self-destruct, buying time for Lin Zhan to escape.
"Lin Zhan, you coward! You abandoned the Spirit Fox Clan and fled alone. Now you want to abandon the War God Temple you built with your own hands, abandon these subordinates who risked their lives for you, and flee alone?"
Su Chen tried to provoke Lin Zhan with words, forcing him to his death.
Lin Zhan clenched his fists, held tightly by a woman who appeared beside him.
The remaining members of the War God Temple roared, "Take the Venerable One away! Don't let our brothers sacrifice themselves in vain!"
The woman chanted an incantation, and black cracks appeared in the space before her. Just as she was about to escape with Lin Zhan, Su Chen panicked. He used his remaining energy, directly concentrating it into his sword.
"One sword, stop the fighting!"
Everything around him seemed to slow down dozens of times. In his final moment, Su Chen's swordsmanship advanced further. This sword strike was filled with chilling killing intent, determined to leave Lin Zhan here.
Just as a sword was about to kill Lin Zhan, the woman beside him used her frail body to shield him, pushing him into the crevice with her last strength.
"Brother Lin...you must live!"
The space healed, and Lin Zhan's heart-wrenching roar could still be faintly heard.
Seeing Lin Zhan escape for the second time, Su Chen was enraged. He beheaded the woman with a single sword stroke and left the battlefield without looking back.
Even with his years of experience, at this moment, he could only utter one word:
"Damn it!"