Li Xianzong nodded and subtly retreated into the crowd. Although Lin Yi found it somewhat strange, he understood that this was a responsibility he had to bear, as well as another opportunity to prove himself.
At that moment, several figures appeared atop the high steps of the council building. Lin Yi sensed that one of them possessed an incredibly strong power; it must be the rumored Vice Chairman. However, Lin Yi was puzzled as to why this Vice Chairman looked so young. But then he recalled Li Xianzong's words about the "young old guy." The Zombie Virus could make people appear younger, which was indeed a strange phenomenon.
"Thief Lin, are you here to surrender?" the "young" Vice Chairman asked, hands clasped behind his back, confronting Lin Yi with an air of superiority.
"No, I have returned to reclaim what belongs to me!"
Lin Yi narrowed his eyes, his Psychic Power already spreading out as he searched for any hidden ambushes nearby. Strangely, he found nothing. Had Li Xianzong's insider cleared all obstacles?
"Hahaha, absurd! Don't think we are mere decorations; if you can defeat me, then try!" The exceptionally youthful Vice Chairman suddenly shouted, his chestnut hair billowing without wind. The people standing around him were caught off guard by the sudden gust and struggled to maintain their footing!
Then, the Vice Chairman's figure blurred and he appeared right in front of Lin Yi!
At that moment, Lin Yi had already locked onto this Chairman with his Psychic Power. As soon as the figure moved, Lin Yi detected it!
In the next instant, Lin Yi clenched his right fist tightly, a layer of ice crystal forming around it as protective armor! Just then, he noticed that the opponent's fist had suddenly transformed into a brass color!
However, it was too late to withdraw now. Taking advantage of the fact that their fists had not yet collided, Lin Yi immediately channeled his internal power into his right fist.
"Bang—"
A crisp sound echoed as Lin Yi felt as if his hand had struck a heavy hammer; his entire palm shattered in that instant!
The Ice Crystal Armor that had enveloped his fist was now reduced to powder, and Lin Yi's slender fingers were now soaked in blood from the broken bones. His fingers hung limply down.
It had been so long since he had suffered such an injury in a single clash. The thought of just how much stronger this opponent was than Pachy sent a chill through Lin Yi.
"Captain!"
Among those present, only Pachy reacted quickly enough to rush to Lin Yi's side first. Fear flickered in Pachy's eyes as he looked at Lin Yi's bloodied right hand.
"Boss!"
Renesmee and Nicolas reacted at the same time, their faces filled with concern as they gathered around Lin Yi.
"Don't worry, everyone. There are more exciting things waiting for you. Only you, Pachy, know that I have never had a good impression of traitors. There will be even more thrilling events in store for you!"
The Vice Chairman looked at everyone with a half-smile. His expression revealed nothing unusual, but inside, he was churning with turmoil. He had initially planned to use his combat power that surpassed ten Star Levels to pierce through Lin Yi's body entirely, but unexpectedly, he had only managed to break a few fingers.
He had carefully observed Lin Yi's strength before and concluded it was merely the aura of a nine Star Level. Even if one were exceptionally strong, it shouldn't surpass the might of a ten Star Level! Yet the reality was that this seemingly weak individual unleashed power comparable to the Vice Chairman's.
Now, the Vice Chairman put on a confident facade, which was merely to boost morale among his allies. Pachy's strength was already formidable; even against Lin Yi alone, the Vice Chairman felt a twinge of insecurity.
"Is that so? I don't think so!"
Lin Yi replied, and his previously injured hand visibly healed at an astonishing rate, faintly shimmering with an unusual metallic luster.
Then, Lin Yi's figure vanished. The Vice Chairman's lips curled into a slight smile, yet he remained motionless.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three dull sounds resembling metal strikes echoed, causing everyone to feel a surge of blood and energy.
At that moment, they realized that the Vice Chairman had transformed into a statue-like presence in the plaza of the assembly hall. A shadow moved swiftly around this statue. The metallic clashing sounds continued in an unbroken rhythm, like a tightly paced march, striking at everyone's hearts and causing discomfort.
"Everyone gather!" Seeing that he didn't need to intervene himself, Pachy immediately unleashed his Water World, encircling everyone within it. Even inside the Water World, they could see the situation outside.
The external sonic attacks were powerful enough to continuously bombard the water sphere, causing many areas to dent inward.
Lin Yi was now rapidly striking around the Vice Chairman, who had turned into a statue. With each forceful blow, he could feel the opponent's body tremble slightly.
The Vice Chairman's Bestow Unique Ability was evidently similar to Froeman's steel hardening; however, he was clearly much stronger than Froeman. Lin Yi intended to win through speed, continuously layering his strength to break through the opponent's defenses. In just a blink of an eye, tens of thousands of strikes had been delivered. Lin Yi felt his arms beginning to numb, yet there were still no signs of breaking through the opponent's defenses.
Caught in the storm of punches from Lin Yi, the Vice Chairman was not faring much better. Although each of Lin Yi's strikes did not inflict substantial damage, the relentless barrage of blows was gradually taking its toll on him.
At that moment, a chilling aura suddenly enveloped the area around Lin Yi, who had been relentlessly attacking. This coldness seemed to have a mind of its own, wrapping itself tightly around the Vice Chairman!
Lin Yi intended to break through the Vice Chairman's defenses with an extremely low temperature. However, he soon noticed a strange smile creeping onto the Vice Chairman's face.
This is bad, Lin Yi thought to himself! It was clear that it was too late to retreat. Just as Lin Yi prepared to pull back, the Vice Chairman's hands blurred and suddenly locked tightly around Lin Yi's arms!
As Lin Yi exerted force to struggle free, dozens of slender brass serpents erupted from the Vice Chairman's arms. In an instant, these serpents coiled around Lin Yi, binding him tightly!
The two appeared to be locked in an odd embrace. However, Lin Yi couldn't afford to think about that now; those serpent-like entities were thrashing about, attempting to invade his mouth.
Indeed, facing an existence beyond ten Star Level was no easy task. Suddenly, two long blades made of condensed ice crystals materialized in Lin Yi's hands. With a swift motion, these blades shot into the air.
In the next moment, one Ice Crystal Longsword turned sharply and sliced toward the flailing serpents!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of metal clashing erupted as the Metal Serpents twisted and writhed like frenzied ropes, desperately trying to evade the blades' assault!
Yet under Lin Yi's full control of his Psychic Power, the speed of the two swords reached an extreme level. Onlookers could only see flashes of cold light; even the blades themselves were nearly impossible to catch a glimpse of.
The Vice Chairman's eyes revealed a hint of disdain. Then, without any visible movement from him, the Metal Serpents that had tightly bound Lin Yi seemed to melt away, directly enveloping him instead!
At that moment, Lin Yi felt his strength freeze up; he realized he was struggling to exert any force! Then came a bizarre scene: the previously quiet metallic substance began to collectively flow toward Lin Yi’s mouth, nostrils, and eyes!
These "melted" metals surged into his body, causing Lin Yi to feel a tingling sensation all over. If these substances penetrated his body, who knew what strange consequences would follow?
Before Lin Yi could react, the Vice Chairman’s right hand suddenly opened and clutched Lin Yi’s neck. Instinctively, Lin Yi opened his mouth just as the flowing metal covering him surged inside through his mouth and nostrils!
In an instant, aside from being able to think in his mind, Lin Yi felt as though his entire body was no longer under his control. At that moment, he saw a metallic sheen spreading across his arms!
“Ha ha ha, don’t think I’m just good at defense. My metal ability can also assimilate you into a bronze statue! At that point, I’ll erect your statue right in the center of the square for everyone to come and curse you!”
As soon as the Vice Chairman finished speaking, metal began to cover Lin Yi’s entire body, even turning his hair a bronze color!
“Is that so?”
At that moment, the Vice Chairman heard Lin Yi’s voice echoing in his ears!
In the next instant, while still in shock, the Vice Chairman suddenly noticed flames erupting from Lin Yi’s body. The temperature of the fire was so intense that even this Vice Chairman, who surpassed Ten-Star Combat Power, felt a wave of heat.
Then, as if the flames had a mind of their own, they spread directly to the Vice Chairman, who was still in a metallic state!
“No—”
Just as the Vice Chairman made contact with the flames, a piercing scream escaped his lips. The sound was so shrill that it made Lin Yi’s eardrums throb painfully!
Immediately after, a torrent of flames surged into the Vice Chairman’s mouth, completely enveloping him! No matter how rigid the metal was, if the temperature was high enough, it could be melted or even vaporized!
“Please… don’t kill me… whatever you want, I’ll give it to you!” At that moment, the Vice Chairman felt the threat of death looming over him. His eyes locked onto Lin Yi as he pleaded for mercy.
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