Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3540: No Diplomacy

The sky went silent for a fraction of a second.

Then chaos erupted.

Emergency signals flared across the city. Alarm formations activated. Bells rang from watchtowers. Messages shot through jade slips as word spread faster than wildfire.

”Enemy intrusion!”

”Unknown powerhouse entering the city!”

”The lockdown has been breached!”

Lin Mu continued forward, unhurried. Shrubby padded through the air beside him, flames licking at his mane. The twins coiled protectively near Lin Mu’s shoulders, their weapons still in hand, their eyes sharp and alert.

From every direction, cultivators began to gather. Some were city guards. Some were mercenaries. Some were clearly sect members already wearing their insignias openly. None of them dared to approach too close, not after witnessing what had just happened.

Elyon scanned the surroundings, his senses stretched to their limits. ”They are mobilizing quickly,” he said. ”Too quickly.”

Lin Mu nodded. ”They were already prepared for other issues. The incident in the forest only gave them an excuse.”

Daoist Chu let out a slow breath. ”Then there is no turning back now.”

”No,” Lin Mu replied. ”There was not, from the moment they reached for my beasts.”

The city trembled as more formations activated. Defensive arrays hummed beneath the streets. Somewhere deep within the Three Union City, the representatives of the three kingdoms and the two sects were undoubtedly being alerted.

And Lin Mu knew that soon, very soon, someone important would come to meet him.

Whether they came to negotiate, threaten, or fight would depend entirely on how well they understood the message he was about to send.

He did not draw his sword nor did he shout.

He simply continued forward, his presence pressing down on the city like an approaching storm, letting everyone understand one simple truth.

This was no longer a matter of politics.

This was a matter of power.

Lin Mu continued forward through the city at an unhurried pace, his steps through the air steady and deliberate as if he were merely walking through an empty street rather than the heart of a city on the brink of chaos. Above and below him, the air grew dense with tension.

”HALT!”

”STOP RIGHT THERE!”

”YOU ARE UNDER ARREST BY ORDER OF THE THREE KINGDOMS!”

The commands came from every direction.

Rows of soldiers lined the rooftops, cultivators hovered in the air with weapons drawn, and defensive formations flared to life one after another. The city’s calm façade shattered completely, replaced by a feverish urgency that spread like wildfire.

Lin Mu did not stop.

The first volley of attacks came moments later. Bolts of elemental Qi streaked toward them, blades of wind, spears of earth, and streams of water converging from multiple angles. None of them reached their mark.

Daoist Chu raised his sleeve and casually traced a formation in the air. The attacks struck an invisible barrier and dissipated harmlessly, scattering like mist.

Elyon moved like a shadow, his dark Qi swallowing stray projectiles before they could come close.

Cattaleya stepped forward and caught a blazing fire lance with her bare hand, crushing it until it dispersed into sparks. She looked almost bored.

Still, no one had died.

For now.

Lin Mu knew that this balance would not last forever. Fear could only restrain people so much before desperation took over.

Ahead of them, the city center loomed into view. The massive square beneath the towering statues was already crowded. Kings, sect elders, nobles, and high ranking cultivators had gathered in force, forming a wall of authority and power.

At their front stood familiar faces.

The princes and princesses.

The core disciples of the Golden Urn Sect and the Boundless River Sect.

The moment they spotted Lin Mu in the distance, voices rose in unison.

”That’s him!”

”He’s the one who attacked us!”

”He’s the one who crippled the army!”

Accusations rang out, sharp and furious.

Standing behind them were figures of far greater presence. Three men stepped forward, each radiating the authority of a ruler.

The King of the Olive Canopy Kingdom, tall and composed, clad in robes woven with Immortal vines.

The King of the Alabaster Plains Kingdom, broad shouldered, his pale armor gleaming like marble under the light.

And the King of the Great Steppe Kingdom, a towering warrior whose aura carried the scent of blood and conquest.

Beside them stood the highest elders of the two great sects. Their eyes were sharp, calculating, and cold. These were not impulsive youths. These were veterans of politics, war, and cultivation.

One of the sect elders stepped forward, his voice amplified by Qi.

”Unknown cultivator,” he said. ”You have committed grave crimes. Assaulting royalty, attacking sect disciples, destroying military forces, and violating the sovereignty of the Three Union City. By authority of the Golden Urn Sect and the Boundless River Sect, you are ordered to surrender immediately.”

The King of the Alabaster Plains Kingdom followed. ”Kneel and cripple your cultivation. You will be judged according to the laws of the three kingdoms.”

Lin Mu finally stopped walking.

He looked at them calmly, his gaze passing over the kings, the elders, and finally the trembling princes and princesses hiding behind them.

”The only crimes committed here,” Lin Mu said evenly, ”were committed by those youngsters.”

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

”They attacked my beasts,” he continued. ”They attempted to capture them by force. They mobilized an army to hunt them down. What I have done is nothing more than collecting the debt they owed.”

The King of the Great Steppe Kingdom laughed harshly. ”Impudent!” he roared. ”A random cultivator dares speak of debt to kings and sects?”

One of the Golden Urn elders sneered. ”You may possess some strength, but opposing us is a mistake you will regret for the rest of your life.”

Lin Mu closed his eyes for a brief moment.

When he opened them again, the last trace of hope for diplomacy vanished.

”Very well,” he said softly. ”Then I will simply force you to listen.”

The kings raised their hands simultaneously.

”ATTACK!”

Before the order could even fully echo across the square, Lin Mu moved.