C14 The Strong Were Respected

After a heart-wrenching scream, Lin Hai clutched his stomach, howling in agony as large beads of sweat cascaded down his forehead.

"Brother, I really can't bring myself to take your life, so I'm left with no choice but to cripple your cultivation," Lin Feng said, his smile seemingly innocent, yet to Lin Hai, it was the epitome of terror. Lin Feng's mercy was a fate worse than death, effectively reducing Lin Hai to nothing more than a shell of his former self.

Yet, within the life-and-death arena, such events went unnoticed, with each participant relying solely on their own prowess.

"Lin Feng, my father will have his revenge!" Lin Hai glared at Lin Feng, venom in his eyes, though his threats rang hollow and powerless.

Regret gnawed at him; he had received word days earlier that Lin Mei was coming to the Sunfire Order to personally disable Lin Feng as retribution for their father's injury. Lin Hai, in a moment of arrogance, had sought to impress his cousin sister, only to spectacularly fail.

In Windhaven, at the Lin Family residence, Lin Tianyun sat contemplatively at the eight-immortals table, gazing at a portrait of a woman.

The woman in the painting was captivating, her back turned, her long black hair cascading like a waterfall over a red dress that accentuated her exquisite figure. A small snake, banded with green and white, coiled around her arm, its tongue adorned with dragon-like horns.

"Qingzhu, I have lived up to your expectations," Lin Tianyun murmured, his usually stoic eyes softening with emotion as he looked at the woman who was always composed.

Lin Feng's miraculous survival after his fall from the cliff had turned him from a nobody into a prodigy.

"Don't worry. Once Feng'er is strong enough, I will reveal the whole truth to him. I'll let them know that Tian City belongs to everyone," Lin Tianyun vowed, his gaze alight with fervor. He had once hoped Lin Feng would lead an ordinary life, content in mediocrity, but now, Lin Feng's transformation reignited his aspirations. Perhaps Lin Feng would realize the dream he had long harbored.

Lin Feng's recollections of his mother were incredibly hazy. All he could remember was a silhouette in a red dress and the sound of crying; beyond that, he knew nothing. Lin Tianyun, on the other hand, remained tight-lipped about any additional details.

Amidst the screams, Lin Feng felt his connection with his body strengthening, and the persistent fixation that once haunted his soul had vanished completely.

"Thank you!"

Then, a faint voice echoed through Lin Feng's mind, signaling to him that he had found peace.

However, as Lin Feng was about to leave the stage, a figure swiftly jumped up to face him.

Hmm?

Lin Feng's brow furrowed as he saw a masked woman standing opposite him. She was clad in a sleek black outfit, wielding a long steel sword. Despite her mask, her gaze was piercing and icy.

Cough, cough...

Lin Feng coughed awkwardly. Even with her face covered, he recognized her instantly. He had not only seen her before but had also inadvertently seen her in her entirety.

After a session of cultivation, Lin Feng had stumbled upon a serene spring. Thinking he was alone, he decided to bathe. But as he was halfway through, a scream pierced the air, and a naked figure emerged from behind the rocks.

Shua!

In the midst of Lin Feng's contemplation, a steel needle was suddenly hurled at him. His quick reflexes saved him, as he dodged, letting the needle whiz past his cheek.

Hiss! Lin Feng inhaled sharply. A direct hit from that needle would have been lethal.

"Nine Feet Sword Technique, Layered Waves!" Lin Feng didn't dare to hesitate. He flicked his wrist, and a burst of Sword Qi erupted, slicing through the air with explosive force due to its incredible speed.

Shua, shua, shua!

Another three steel needles were launched at him. Two were intercepted by the Sword Qi, but the third broke through and sped towards Lin Feng. The woman's strength was undeniable; had Lin Feng not made a recent breakthrough, he might not have been able to best her.

Boom!

Suddenly, a thunderous noise signaled imminent danger. Instinctively, Lin Feng rolled to the side, narrowly escaping a deadly blow. Where he had just been standing, a pitch-black iron rod was now embedded in the ground.

"Yao'er, who has been giving you trouble? Your senior brother will take care of it for you!" Standing atop the staff was a strikingly handsome man in grey robes, his chest adorned with a blue badge that confirmed his status as an inner sect disciple.

His gaze was one of utter indifference. To him, Lin Feng was no more significant than an ant. At Su Ya's mere word, Lin Feng could be reduced to a corpse in the blink of an eye. Not even the Sunfire Order's rules could bridge the chasm between them. Ultimately, might makes right, and the rules are nothing more than constraints imposed by the powerful upon the weak.

"Senior Brother Bai Ye, today's incident doesn't concern you," Su Ya said icily, her eyes conveying a deep loathing as she swiftly exited the stage.

Bai Ye chuckled and shook his head at Su Ya's dismissal. Without waiting for Lin Feng to react, he launched a punch through the air.

Puff!

Lin Feng's chest erupted in agony, blood spraying from his mouth. Bai Ye dusted off his hands, looking down at Lin Feng with scorn. "Next time, your body will surely lie in the Unmarked Common Graves."

Lin Feng's eyes blazed with murderous intent, his jaw set in determination. He was well aware that in this dog-eat-dog world, the weak were seen as nothing more than livestock by the strong, their rights nonexistent. Even with a just cause, their pleas would fall on the deaf ears of a cold grave.

"Bai Ye, there will come a day when I'll claim your life in retribution for today's blow," Lin Feng vowed under his breath, knowing that day was not far off.

As he left the stage, Lin Feng was about to depart when Liu Yan and Shi Po approached, their faces etched with concern.

"Lin Feng!" Liu Yan called out upon spotting him.

Lin Feng gave Liu Yan a gentle smile. "Xiao Yan, you've grown even more graceful in just a few days!" His compliment was genuine, not mere flattery.

Flustered by the praise, Liu Yan blushed, biting her lip as she shyly glanced at Lin Feng before bashfully lowering her gaze.

"Alright, if you keep talking like that, Xiao Yan is going to want to crawl into a hole and hide!" Shi Po said with a laugh, stepping in to defuse the situation. Seeing Lin Feng occasionally out of his element, they all felt much more at ease.

Oh?

"Brother Lin, how effective was the Profound New Year pill?" Shi Po asked, grinning from ear to ear. After their time in seclusion, had Lin Feng's strength improved?

Previously, Lin Feng had managed to slay the Demon King Sky-burning Tiger at the ninth level of the Qi Sea, so it was expected that his power would have surged forward after this latest breakthrough.

Lin Feng remained silent but subtly circulated his Qi Acupoints. His ninth-level Qi Sea strength was evident for all to see.

"Wow!" The two were instantly astonished. Lin Feng's breakthrough had brought him to the peak of the ninth Qi Sea level.

Shi Po, who had been feeling somewhat smug, was abruptly brought back down to earth. Lin Feng, slightly embarrassed, remarked, "Brother Lin, you truly are an exceptional talent."

The other two could not deny it and nodded in agreement. Shi Po had a slight edge in talent over the others, while Liu Yan and Han Xin were a bit behind, unable to achieve a breakthrough even with the help of the essence pill.

"Brother Shi, is there anything you need my help with?"

Uh...

At this, Shi Po scratched his head, displaying a bashfulness that was quite out of character, prompting Lin Feng to roll his eyes.

"Brother Lin, I've just broken through to the eighth level of the Qi Sea. I'm planning to visit the Valley of Ascending. Could you take me with you?" Shi Po's request was put forth gently, but the underlying intent was clear.

Lin Feng would naturally not turn down a request from Shi Po. These three were friends he truly valued.

Without hesitation, Lin Feng nodded and asked, "When would you like to go?"

"Tomorrow morning. I'll go buy some spider silk masks later!" Seeing Lin Feng's easy agreement, Shi Po was moved.

It was well known that with Lin Feng's talent and strength, he stood out among the inner sect disciples of the Sunfire Order. Unlike the other haughty disciples, Lin Feng showed no arrogance and was genuinely keen on including them. After all, they owed their success at Fallen Phoenix Slope to Lin Feng's efforts, yet when it came time to divide the spoils, Lin Feng didn't take a single extra share.

"Understood!"

Ling Jue Valley was a training ground for the disciples of the Sunfire Order. The majority of disciples who frequented the valley wore masks, mainly to prevent those with influential backgrounds from seeking retribution later on.

"I, I want to go too!" Suddenly, Liu Yan interjected with a hint of petulance.

Uh...

Lin Feng and Shi Po turned to look at Liu Yan, their faces a picture of incredulity. They couldn't help but wonder if the sun had started rising in the west.

"Hey, have you had your fill of staring?" Liu Yan shot them a sharp glance.

"Yep, we're good," Lin Feng quickly responded with an awkward chuckle. Truth be told, it was the first time he had seen Liu Yan display such a demure demeanor. Meanwhile, Shi Po's gaze held a deeper layer of affection when he looked at her.

After pondering for a moment, Lin Feng advised, "Little Yan, Ling Jue Valley isn't like other places. Try to avoid trouble during your training!" His caution was justified; the valley was accessible to all disciples of the Sunfire Order, and it was quite likely that they could encounter inner sect disciples there. Normally, these disciples wouldn't show themselves, but if they did, it could lead to serious injuries or worse.

Following their discussion, each of them returned to their quarters to dedicate themselves to cultivation, their encounter that day fueling Lin Feng's yearning for greater strength.

The following morning.

Lin Feng was roused by a persistent knocking at his door. After quickly getting ready, he and Shi Po set out to meet Liu Yan.

Upon reaching their designated meeting spot, they found Liu Yan with a furrowed brow, standing opposite a young man of similar age.

"Little Yan, what's going on?" Lin Feng stepped forward to inquire.

"Are you blind? How dare you interrupt me? Seems like you're asking for trouble!"