Long Chen knew that he did not have the resources of Lin Zichen's clan. Long Chen's rise was really too fast. From the time he started cultivating in Baiyang Town to the time he reached the sixth level of the Heavenly River Tier, not even a year had passed. Lin Zichen, on the other hand, was different. He had grown up under the tutelage of the Sword Emperor. The cultivation technique he cultivated was the best, and the guidance he received was also the best.
Now, besides the Ancient Blood Spiritual Dragon, Long Chen also had the Divine Fire Doppelganger, which could barely be used in front of Lin Zichen. As for the other techniques, the strongest was only at the medium level of the Earth Tier, the defensive techniques were also at the medium level of the Earth Tier, and the movement techniques were only at the high level of the Black Tier. As for the body-refining techniques, the level three Thunder Flame Battle Body, in Lin Zichen's opinion, was as good as nothing.
And Lin Zichen definitely had everything at the high level of the Earth Tier. He might even have a super technique at the Heaven Tier. How could he fight against him?
To be honest, if it was anyone else, they would have lost all hope at the thought of such a huge gap. But Long Chen didn't. The stronger his opponent was, the more people he needed to protect. No matter how strong his opponent was, he wouldn't take a step back.
Sometimes, only unswerving perseverance could one win the final victory.
"I've heard your story along the way …" Lin Zichen looked at Long Chen and Lingxi playfully. He chuckled and said, "It's very touching. Hero, beauty, passion, killing the six great commanders, and exterminating the Wu Tribe. From this, it can be seen that your relationship must be very deep. But I don't believe that there's such a strong relationship in this world. I'll give you two a choice. Between the two of you, one will die today, and the other will follow me back to the Imperial City. I'll give you 15 minutes to discuss among yourselves. I, Lin Zichen, always keep my word."
His meaning was clear. If Lingxi died, he would bring Long Chen back. If Long Chen died, he would bring Lingxi back. Although he didn't know if she would survive in the Imperial City, she would at least live for a few more days.
"Do you keep your word?"
Lingxi immediately replied, "As long as I die, will you let Chen live?"
Looking at her earnest eyes, it was as if she was suddenly in a state of drowning and grasping at a life-saving straw.
"Little Xi, shut your mouth."
Long Chen's cold gaze scared Lingxi so much that she took a few steps back. He knew what Lingxi was thinking. Right now, Lingxi's body was nothing more than the Mysterious Sky Jade Lotus. If Lingxi were to abandon this body, then she would definitely be willing to give Long Chen a chance to live.
However, Long Chen knew that even if he was allowed to return to the Imperial City safely, the final outcome would only be death.
"But …" Lingxi wanted to say something, but Long Chen's fierce gaze forced her to swallow her words. She knew that Long Chen was thinking for her sake. The Nine Heavens Immortal Fruit was still an ethereal thing. Long Chen wasn't willing to place his hopes on such an ethereal thing.
"So that's how it is. Long Chen, it seems that I've overestimated you. This girl is willing to die for you, but you're afraid of death. It seems that you're not a real man. How about this, if you say that you're dead, I can let her go and let her leave safely. Are you willing or not?" Lin Zichen teased.
There was a hint of provocation in his words. If Long Chen really loved Lingxi, he would naturally give up his life in exchange for Lingxi's safety. However, Long Chen wasn't a fool. He only believed in fighting and his own strength. He didn't want his enemy to give him a way out.
"Cut the crap. Come at me if you have the guts. Lin Zichen, don't say such meaningless words. Otherwise, I'll look down on you."
Long Chen took out his Blue Dragon Halberd. In the process, blood-red scales gradually covered his body.
"Little Xi, step back."
Under Long Chen's order, Lingxi's face turned pale. She could only retreat and try her best to leave the battlefield. However, Lin Zichen's words still made her feel uneasy. She was clearer than Long Chen about the comparison of their strengths, so she knew that it was impossible for Long Chen to do anything …
'If what this guy said is true, as long as he's not dead, Chen still has a chance. What does my life count for? It's just a Mysterious Sky Jade Lotus. I stayed in Lingxi's sword before, so why can't I stay with you now?' Because she was worried about Long Chen's safety, Lingxi looked at the two of them nervously, her thoughts running wild.
"Let's see how the battle goes first. If Chen can't do it, then this is the only choice …" Lingxi sighed slightly.
And at this moment, Long Chen and Lin Zichen were already facing each other. The battle was about to break out at any moment.
"Your Beast Soul transformation seems to have increased your strength quite a bit. You're only at the sixth level of the Heavenly River Tier, but it seems like you're already close to the seventh level of the Heavenly River Tier," Lin Zichen exclaimed.
In reality, he had underestimated Long Chen. The level of Long Chen's True Energy had already reached the eighth level of the Heavenly River Tier. This was the nature-defying aspect of the Dragon Soul transformation.
"However, even if you're at the seventh level of the Heavenly River Tier, you're still too weak in my eyes. You don't even have the right to make me use my battle techniques." Lin Zichen smiled proudly.
"Then let's try."
After Long Chen finished shouting, his body turned into a blood-red arrow, piercing towards Lin Zichen. With a whistling sound, a blood-red line instantly turned into a dragon, piercing towards Lin Zichen's head.
"Too weak."
Lin Zichen laughed heartily. He threw a light punch, and directly sent Long Chen's Dragon Emperor's Mortis flying. It was just a light punch, but Long Chen finally stabilized himself with great difficulty. At this moment, he deeply realized the strength of both sides.
However, Lin Zichen's strength was also within his expectations.
"You're only so-so."
Long Chen gritted his teeth, turned his body in mid-air, and attacked ferociously like a storm, once again attacking Lin Zichen. His attacks were very ruthless, and could even be described as suicidal. However, every time, even if Lin Zichen did not use any techniques, he could easily send Long Chen flying with a light push.
"What's going on? With your strength, you can't even defeat an ordinary seventh level of the Heavenly River Tier. How did you kill the Six Great Commanders and the Wu Tribe's Pinewood City?"
Lin Zichen was really too disappointed with Long Chen's strength. Now, Long Chen was only an ordinary sixth level of the Heavenly River Tier, and there was nothing special about him.
"Looks like the outside world has made you sound so amazing that I was shocked. How disappointing …" Lin Zichen's face was full of pity and disappointment. He had taken the initiative to chase after Long Chen because he had heard of his nature-defying abilities. He had always been a superhuman genius, and in the Cangyang Nation, it was not easy to find an expert of the same generation. Now that Long Chen had appeared, he immediately ran back. Who would have thought that the legendary Long Chen was only so-so …
Long Chen didn't care about his sarcasm at all. He continued to attack with all his might, his eyes bloodshot. As soon as he started fighting, his Primordial Blood Spirit Dragon personality would immediately erupt, and Long Chen's aura would be adjusted to a sufficiently violent state.
"What is Chen doing?"
Lingxi was a little confused. She had the best understanding of Long Chen's strength. Currently, Long Chen did not use the Devouring Blood World, nor did he use the Divine Fire Clone. He also did not use the even more nature-defying Blood Sacrifice.
Could it be …
As expected, at this time, Lin Zichen had already lost his patience with Long Chen. When he truly tested Long Chen's strength and found out that it was only the standard of the sixth level of the Heavenly River Tier, he directly punched Long Chen's lower abdomen, causing him to spit out blood and fly backward, falling to the ground.
"What a piece of trash. Such a piece of trash actually caused such a huge commotion in the Cangyang Nation. It's really unbelievable …" Lin Zichen approached Long Chen step by step. It was obvious that his next attack would take Long Chen's life.
"Such a light punch, but he actually can't get up."
Seeing that Long Chen was actually struggling on the spot, Lin Zichen was really a little speechless. He casually walked towards Long Chen, glancing at Lingxi along the way. To be honest, he was also a little moved by such a beautiful girl. However, in his opinion, no matter how beautiful a girl was, she would still distract him on the path of the sword, so he suppressed his impulse.
"Ninth Brother actually died because of a woman. What a useless guy."
Lin Zichen shook his head. He was just about to bend down and end the painfully struggling Long Chen's life with a punch, but at this moment, a blood-red space instantly surrounded him.
"What is this?"
Lin Zichen was taken aback. The sudden turn of events had caught him off guard and he could not react in time.
The surrounding blood-red mist whizzed and danced around Lin Zichen like a blood-red dragon. A suction force caused Lin Zichen's blood to boil, and he even lost control of it.
At this moment, endless red flames suddenly rose from Long Chen's body. In an instant, 125 Divine Fire Clones formed in an instant, and countless attacks covered the sky and earth as they attacked Lin Zichen. In an instant, the flames howled and the ground shook.
"He was hiding his strength just now."
Lin Zichen suddenly recalled this. He recalled that when he looked at Lingxi just now, he realized that although Lingxi was nervous, she did not feel heartache or fear because of Long Chen's injuries. This meant that she was fully aware that Long Chen was fine.
"Bastard, how dare you trick me."
Lin Zichen was extremely furious. The combat power of these Divine Fire Clones in front of him was not high. It seemed to be a domain-type battle technique. Although it was very troublesome and required True Qi to suppress the blood Qi, it was definitely not to the extent that Lin Zichen could not react. Even if Long Chen suddenly attacked, he could still easily deal with the attack.
"Even if he hibernates and then explodes at this moment, with Long Chen's strength, it is still a little difficult to come out on stage."
For someone at the ninth level of the Heavenly River Tier like him, the current Long Chen was really too weak to withstand a single blow.
And at this moment, a powerful aura suddenly exploded where Long Chen was.