Along with Xiao Lin's strike, amidst the shaking of the earth and mountains, ten or so Dou Ling and a hundred Da Dou Shi died just like that—unremarkably.
This lineup, which could originally be used to deal with a Dou Wang, was as fragile as a child before a Dou Huang powerhouse. It must be said, such is the gap between Dou Ling, Da Dou Shi, and Dou Huang powerhouses.
After all, among the various nations of the Northwestern Region, if a Dou Wang is considered a sub-top tier expert, then a Dou Huang is a top-tier powerhouse in the true sense, an existence capable of dominating a region.
The Dou Zong above them are basically as rare as phoenix feathers or unicorn horns and usually do not participate in these mundane world affairs. Therefore, the realm of Dou Huang, except for on the Central Plains, can be considered a powerhouse on any continent.
Just like right now, after Xiao Lin utilized the power of a Dou Huang, these dozens of Dou Ling and hundred or so Da Dou Shi were essentially wiped out in the flip of a palm. Furthermore, this was not even Xiao Lin's full effort.
At most, it was merely equivalent to a casual strike from a Dou Huang.
"How... how could this be?"
At this moment, that Eight-Star Dou Ling from the Chu Yun Empire, whom Xiao Lin had intentionally left alive, was already dumbstruck.
One strike; it was truly just one strike! So many of them, dead just like that until only he was left?
At this moment, he had no doubt that if that mysterious person were willing, he would absolutely be unable to escape death either. Thinking of this, he understood that his small life was no longer in his own hands.
Judging from the mysterious person's display of power just now, the opponent's strength was at least that of a peak Dou Wang, or perhaps even a Dou Huang. Before a powerhouse of such strength, a mere Eight-Star Dou Ling like him simply wasn't enough to look at.
So, while the opponent had not yet moved against him, he felt he should leave behind some backup measures. In this way, even if he died, he could leave behind useful information for the Chu Yun Empire!
To this end, he directly pulled a specially crafted pill from his robes and swallowed it without hesitation. Do not misunderstand; this was not some pill to enhance strength.
After all, no matter how heaven-defying a pill might be, it was absolutely impossible to bridge the strength gap between himself and that mysterious person. Similarly, this wasn't some poison for suicide; as long as he could live, he had no intention of dying a heroic death.
The sole function of this pill was to make the person who killed him become tainted with a scent from his body. This scent was undetectable to ordinary people; only a Poison Master stronger than himself could use special means to draw this scent out.
This was a common tactic used by many who practiced Poison Dou Qi.
This was why the Poison Masters of the Chu Yun Empire were so terrifying to people. It wasn't just the reputation brought by Poison Dou Qi, but also their methods of marking the person who killed them!
It could be said that once a Poison Master with a certain status in the Chu Yun Empire was killed, it would often lead to a whole crowd of people coming to avenge them. Right now, this Eight-Star Dou Ling Poison Master of the Chu Yun Empire was preparing exactly this move.
Indeed, he was not the match for this mysterious person.
But even if he died, he wouldn't let the mysterious person in front of him have an easy time.
Once he died, many Poison Masters in the Chu Yun Empire who were acquainted with him would seek revenge for him. However, little did this Eight-Star Dou Ling Poison Master know that his every move had fallen into Xiao Lin's eyes.
Rather, this was exactly what Xiao Lin was pleased to see!
Don't forget, Xiao Lin had awakened his past memories, but he hadn't just traveled to this world. With twenty years of life experience, and with the Jia Ma Empire and Chu Yun Empire frequently at war, how could he not be clear about the methods of Poison Masters?
This naturally included the method of marking the one who killed them!
"Heh, I hope you don't let me down!"
Seeing that the Eight-Star Dou Ling had swallowed an unknown pill, Xiao Lin chuckled and muttered to himself in a low voice.
At this time, Xiao Lin didn't look at all like someone who had just wiped out a hundred people with the flip of a palm; behind his black face-veil, the upward curve of his lips couldn't be suppressed no matter what.
Because everything before him was progressing according to his plan.
"Whew~ Friend, I don't know who you are, perhaps a helper invited by the Jia Ma Empire, but I suggest you stop interfering in the war between our two countries. Otherwise, even if you are a Dou Huang powerhouse, you won't be able to withstand our fury!"
Although he was speaking harsh words, this Eight-Star Dou Ling appeared completely weak and fearful at this moment.
Regarding this, Xiao Lin naturally wouldn't take it to heart.
"What you're saying... is there still room for compromise between us? Your Chu Yun Empire wouldn't investigate me at all for killing so many of your people? If you say that, do you believe it yourself?"
Following this string of rhetorical questions, the Eight-Star Dou Ling of the Chu Yun Empire fell silent.
At this very moment, he truly couldn't say in good conscience that the Chu Yun Empire wouldn't pursue this matter. Not only that, if he could survive, he guaranteed he would report today's events!
When that time came, not only the Chu Yun Imperial Family but even the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate would send people to hunt the opponent down. It could be said that from the moment Xiao Lin acted, regardless of his identity, it was impossible for the two sides to reconcile.
"What? Nothing left to say? Then, you can please go die!"
Since the opponent had already swallowed that special pill, Xiao Lin naturally had no intention of letting him remain alive.
"Dammit! Even if you really are a Dou Huang powerhouse, you cannot dictate my fate! In the future, powerhouses from the Chu Yun Empire will surely emerge to kill you and avenge us! Now, accept my final curse!"
As the words of this Chu Yun Empire Eight-Star Dou Ling fell, his entire body began to expand.
"Self-detonation?"
Even though he saw what the opponent intended to do, Xiao Lin still maintained an air of calm and indifference.
A mere Dou Ling self-detonating; perhaps it would cause some trouble for a Dou Wang powerhouse, but for Xiao Lin, with his Dou Huang cultivation and Heaven Realm Soul Power, it was as easy as sprinkling water.
Rumble!
Finally, after the body of the Chu Yun Empire's Eight-Star Dou Ling Poison Master expanded to a certain point, the whole person exploded. Suddenly, along with a powerful impact force, a wave of purple mist with a faint bloody scent surged out, enveloping Xiao Lin's entire body.
The Poison Masters of the Chu Yun Empire, besides being able to plant a mark upon being killed, could also plant a mark through this kind of self-detonation. The key to this lay within this purple mist with a bloody scent.
However, just as the purple mist was about to envelop Xiao Lin, a blue starlight emerged from the surface of his body, isolating the purple mist outside his skin.
The property of Star Dou Qi to be untainted by ten thousand laws immediately played its role. Because of the unique nature of Star Dou Qi, this was the main reason Xiao Lin was not worried about being marked by the Chu Yun Poison Master.
At the same time, another giant palm shimmering with starlight appeared out of thin air, grabbing the purple mist that had resulted from the Eight-Star Dou Ling Poison Master's self-detonation.
Furthermore, as the giant star palm clenched, that clump of purple mist transformed into a sphere the size of a fist.
The surface of that sphere still shimmered with a faint starlight.
"With this, everything is ready; we just need the finishing touch!"
Playing with the purple sphere shimmering with faint starlight in his hand, Xiao Lin knew his plan was already more than half successful.