Gao Wu: Oh no! Young Master Zhen is a cultivator!

Lin Ran sneered, "It seems the Alliance really goes to great lengths to select talented individuals."

Take the ten people who entered the secret realm this time, for example. Huang Renli, who has the most outstanding cultivation and temperament, is not as good as the mermaid in the secret realm in terms of comprehension. How can he be a good choice for the inheritance token?

If it were a real selection of the nation's elite, surely a dozen or so smart people could be chosen?

Even if not everyone can instantly comprehend the secret technique, they are certainly no weaker than the merfolk in the cave.

"It's all part of my job, nothing to mention." Huang Renli waved his hand. "Nephew Lin has now gained an opportunity, and the Lin family will surely soar to great heights in the future. Our two families should maintain close ties."

Lin Ran nodded: "That's how it should be."

The Wang and Zhou families are no good, but the Huang family is even worse.

Zhou Rongxing nearly died because of the Huang family's dirty tricks, and Lin Ran wouldn't trust such people.

However, Huang Renli still owes him billions in compensation, and for the sake of this money, he doesn't mind playing along with the old fox in front of him for now.

"I've been away from home for many days, so I should go back and visit soon." Lin Ran cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Huang Shiqiu. "I don't know when the others will come out, so I'll take my leave now."

"That's only right." Huang Shiqiu returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Nephew, please take care."

Lin Ran leaped into the air: "We'll meet again another day."

Having said that, he flashed and quickly disappeared into the horizon.

Huang Renli frowned as he looked at the churning sea of ​​clouds in the sky: "This boy will likely be difficult to control from now on!"

On the outskirts of Xinhai City, thousands of miles away, dozens of cultivators dressed in blue robes stood in the air, their imposing aura heavy.

The group of leaders had powerful auras and unfriendly expressions.

A chilling pressure enveloped the entire city of Xinhai, making the air thick and heavy, even for ordinary martial artists.

Bai Zhenting of the Martial Arts Association, Bai Zhenyue and Wang Chen of the Special Affairs Bureau, Zhang Qichuan, the city lord, and the commander of the city defense army stood before the crowd.

Three experts with profound knowledge and two extraordinary abilities, together they exerted their full strength to create an aura and face powerful enemies head-on.

Behind them were solemn-looking Special Intelligence Bureau investigators and armed city defense soldiers.

Bai Zhenting stepped forward, his expression calm: "Senior, isn't there some misunderstanding here?"

In mid-air, an elderly man with white hair and a youthful face stood with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering in the wind, exuding a terrifying aura.

"Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?" The old man's eyes blazed with anger, his voice echoing throughout the city: "That thief killed my grandson and fled back to this realm; he must be from this realm!"

Wang Chen and Bai Zhenyue exchanged a glance, both already understanding the truth.

The culprit that these cultivators were desperately searching for was clearly Lin Ran, who had killed a cultivator in SSS-800 not long ago.

Bai Zhenting suppressed his panic and continued to negotiate: "Senior, please don't be angry. Even if the murderer is truly from this world, forcing us might not make the real culprit reveal themselves."

"It would be better to give me some time so that we can find out the truth for our senior."

He spoke earnestly and logically, but the other party had no intention of communicating properly.

The old man snorted coldly, his brows furrowing with murderous intent.

"No need! Since none of you can hand over the murderer, then all of you may be buried with my grandson!"

Before he finished speaking, the old man raised his hand and gathered his strength. The immense spiritual power of the Nascent Soul gathered in his palm and crashed down.

boom!

A massive palm print of spiritual energy blotted out the sky, carrying an overwhelming force as it slammed down.

The five of them dared not be negligent and simultaneously activated their full cultivation.

In an instant, five beams of light shot into the sky, intertwining to form a colorful defensive barrier to meet the palm print.

boom!

A violent shockwave descended, causing the great formation to tremble violently, and the spiritual light to flicker erratically.

Bai Zhenting clenched his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, as he channeled all his spiritual energy into the barrier.

Hang in there!

The five men groaned in unison, blood seeping from the corners of their mouths.

The force of the palm print had not yet dissipated, and cracks appeared in the barrier, spreading rapidly.

Click!Click!

The five-colored screen shattered, and the five people were injured again.

Zhang Qichuan's arms trembled violently, and the protective aura around his body instantly collapsed.

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Qiyang's protective aura dissipated, and he was thrown backward by the shockwave.

Bai Zhenyue roared and used his body as a shield to block the attack.

Bang!

Bai Zhenyue's body shuddered violently, blood gushing from his mouth and nose as he flew backwards for dozens of meters.

Upon seeing this, Bai Zhenting immediately leaped up and caught the seriously injured Bai Zhenyue.

Bang!

The remaining force of the palm strike sent him flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground, where he could no longer get up.

Zhang Qichuan and Zhang Qiyang both fell to the ground, their eyes closed and their breaths weak; they were clearly on the verge of death.

Of those present, only Wang Chen was in slightly better condition; he staggered back several steps but did not fall.

"puff!"

He suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, barely managing to steady himself, his face looking extremely disheveled.

With just one strike, the five top martial artists of Xinhai were completely defeated, utterly powerless to fight back.

The investigators and city defense soldiers behind the scenes were horrified when they saw this.

"Dad! Uncle!" Bai Ruolin was no longer as calm as before and took a step forward.

Bai Xingzhou quickly stopped her, grabbing her arm tightly: "Don't be ridiculous. Are you going up there to your death?"

"But... I can't just stand by and watch..."

"If you rush in now, you'll only distract them!"

Lin Ran sped through layers of clouds, his robes fluttering in the wind.

After leaving Kyoto, he found a remote, uninhabited mountain and slowly descended.

The surrounding mountains and forests were quiet, with vines winding around them and the mountain wind blowing through the trees. There was no one around.

With a thought, Lin Ran quietly opened the portal to the Nine Heavens Cave Heaven, and with a sway of his body, stepped into the cave heaven.

The three-eyed golden lion lay lazily on the ground, its fur gleaming.

Twenty-eight mermaids stood on either side, surrounded by shimmering water, each with a respectful expression.

The bear demon Chong Lie and the tiger demon Xiao Cangshan stood at the forefront, their auras calm and composed.

Lin Ran glanced at the group of relatives and said calmly, "Tell me what inheritance you all received."

"I have obtained the Eye of Truth, and no transformation technique can fool my eyes." Ao Zheng spoke first, his tone quite smug.

Lin Ran pursed his lips, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes: "Alright, looks like it's your exclusive skill."

Eye techniques are all about talent, and he has been practicing the Heavenly Eye Technique for so long, but the results have been minimal.

Even if one learns the Eye of Truth, they probably won't be able to use it.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have obtained the Mountain Moving Technique. After using it, one's strength can be greatly enhanced." Chong Lie stepped forward, his voice booming.

Lin Ran nodded slightly, and after a moment's thought, said, "I think I can learn this."

Techniques that increase strength are never superfluous.

However, due to differences in talent, the effects they produce should also differ.

Xiao Cangshan followed closely behind, his tone solemn: "Your subordinate has obtained a body-fixing technique, which can lock the opponent's soul, preventing them from controlling their body."

"Great stuff, I have to learn this!" Lin Ran's eyes lit up, and his face lit up with joy.

Invisibility, immobilization, and shapeshifting are the three essential skills for dealing with the unsavory characters among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

He already possessed the art of invisibility, and later learned the art of shapeshifting from the Xuanjiao.

Now that I've learned the immobilization technique, I can be considered a qualified ninja.

Although shapeshifting is not as effective as polymorph, it is perfectly adequate as long as he is quick-witted enough.

A slight smile played on his lips as he looked at Yuan Hong: "What inheritance did you receive?"

Yuan Hong bowed slightly, his attitude respectful: "Reporting to the Immortal, this old man has learned the art of water separation, which can cut off the flow of water and expose the land beneath the water."

"Yeah, this is pretty useful too." Lin Ran nodded.

The remaining twenty-seven merfolk spoke one after another, announcing the inheritances they had received.

Overturning rivers and seas, summoning wind and rain, condensing water into ice, and forming water shields to protect the body—all sorts of magical techniques and supernatural abilities emerge one after another.

All the inheritances are perfectly aligned with the Great Dao of Water, and are completely compatible with the innate bloodline attributes of the Merfolk.