C15 Revenge!

Upon hearing the remark, Lin Feng's gaze instantly turned icy.

"Lin Feng, Stone!" Liu Yan's previously frosty face broke into a smile at the sight of the newcomers.

"Let's go," Lin Feng said dismissively, opting to completely ignore the young man.

As Liu Yan turned to leave, the desperate young man grabbed her arm. "Let go!" she demanded, struggling fiercely.

Crack!

In a flash, Lin Feng moved and struck the man with a slap that sent him flying, blood streaming from his face as he stared at Lin Feng in terror, unable to utter a word.

"Don't underestimate others!" Lin Feng retorted, giving the man a taste of his own medicine.

Watching the trio walk away, the young man stood there dumbfounded. He had been informed by Lin Hai that Lin Feng was nothing but a weakling, yet how could such a weakling possess such formidable strength?

"Little Yan, what's happening?" Shi Mu asked, his face etched with concern.

Liu Yan's frown deepened before she answered, "He claimed he saw Chen Hongyu's body at Fallen Phoenix Slope, wounded by a blade. So, so..."

Shi Po was taken aback by the news, realizing the gravity of the situation if Chen Hong found out.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng remained composed, showing no signs of concern.

"We'll meet force with force, and stem the tide with earth," he said calmly.

"Exactly, exactly, what's there to fear? Unless he becomes an inner court disciple, he can't lay a finger on us. I'm tough as nails; I'm not afraid of taking a few hits."

Sigh...

Liu Yan and Lin Feng could only exchange a look of exasperation at the bravado.

Before long, the three arrived at Ling Jue Valley, its entrance a sheer drop of a thousand meters. Typically, only those who had advanced to the Qi Sea Realm could leap down from the top, while Qi Sea Realm disciples often needed external assistance.

Descending rapidly down the ladder, they reached the valley floor where they spotted a masked disciple standing nearby. His strength was approximately at the eighth level of the Qi Sea Realm, marking him as quite exceptional among the outer court.

Who would have thought that upon seeing the trio, the other party would bolt away as swiftly as lightning?

Lin Feng and his companions were momentarily taken aback, but they quickly understood the situation. It seemed their presence had struck fear into the other, who worried they might overpower him and take his belongings. After all, if one were to be robbed in the Valley of Ling Jue, there would be nowhere to seek justice.

Lin Feng sighed in resignation and stepped back to maintain a distance from Shi Potian, resolved not to engage unless faced with a lethal threat.

Shi Potian, pleased with this development, confidently strode ahead.

Liu Yan, however, stayed close to Lin Feng. With her Seventh Level Qi Sea strength, venturing alone would be an exercise in futility. Ultimately, Liu Yan's role was merely that of an observer.

They hadn't gone far when they encountered a masked disciple. Despite his lean appearance, his robust Spiritual Qi far surpassed Shi Potian's.

Tsk tsk!

Lin Feng couldn't help but click his tongue in admiration. Shi Potian was incredibly fortunate to have stumbled upon a Ninth Level Qi Sea Realm master upon entering the valley.

Without any preamble, the two exchanged blows, channeling their Spiritual Qi with full force.

Boom!

Fist met palm in a thunderous clash. Predictably, Shi Potian was sent hurtling backward, his feet carving deep grooves into the earth, while the masked figure remained unmoved.

The masked disciple shook his head, contemplating leaving the scene. Engaging with the weaker Shi Potian held no value.

The journey of cultivation is about relentlessly seeking out and facing stronger adversaries to hone one's skills. Only those disciples lacking ambition would resort to overpowering the weak to assert their presence.

"Stop right there!" came a sudden shout, as the observer's Spiritual Qi burst forth, tinged with a wisp of gray. The once feeble Spiritual Qi now seemed incredibly resilient.

"Ah, the essence of the Spiritual Stone!" The opponent's doubt vanished in an instant, and the earlier condescension was reduced by half.

"Not a bad talent you've got there, but it still needs refinement. I'm curious to see if you can withstand my palm strike!"

The opponent leaped into the air, aiming a direct palm strike at Shi Potian's face.

Bang!

Another clash ensued. Predictably, Shi Po was sent flying once again, yet he too staggered back several steps.

"Interesting!" the opponent exclaimed, shaking out his wrist, while Shi Po hastily wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth.

No sooner had he spoken than the opponent formed a seal with one hand, and a golden light burst forth from his brow. A beam of golden light streaked towards Shi Po!

"Golden Soul Severing Needle!"

Shi Po was not to be outdone. Planting his feet firmly on the ground, he called out, "Spiritual Stone Shield!"

Clang!

A crisp sound echoed as the needle met the stone. The golden needle, seemingly fragile, possessed the power to pierce through metal. Upon contact with the Spiritual Stone Shield, it effortlessly penetrated it.

Crack! The newly formed Spiritual Stone Shield shattered into a myriad of glowing fragments. Just as Lin Feng prepared to intervene, the golden needle took a sudden turn and re-entered the body of its owner. A bead of blood rolled down from Shi Po's brow.

"Well done, indeed!" With that, the other party respectfully bowed with cupped fists and departed.

In that life-or-death moment, Shi Po had a profound realization and now stood there in silence.

Lin Feng held great respect for his actions. He observed Shi Po with eyes closed, his body enveloped in swirling Spiritual Energy.

Shi Po's skin rapidly turned a stony gray-brown, becoming as unyielding as a meteorite. This transformation astonished both Lin Feng and Liu Yan.

"War Will!" Lin Feng sensed that once Shi Po awakened, his strength would surge dramatically.

Cultivation is a journey that originates from the cosmos itself. Now, having barely grazed the threshold of cultivation, Lin Feng could scarcely fathom the might of those at the pinnacle.

Legends tell of beings who can traverse thousands of miles in a thought, shatter the heavens and split the earth with a mere gesture, and achieve immortality to exist alongside the universe itself. That was the pinnacle Lin Feng aspired to reach.

Meanwhile, a spectral figure emerged nearby, watching Shi Po meditate on the ground. A malevolent grin spread across his face.

"Break!" Out of nowhere, the figure surged with power, unleashing a scorching wave of heat towards Shi Po.

Puff!

Blood suddenly sprayed from Shi Po's mouth as his body shook uncontrollably. He was mere moments away from a complete breakthrough, but this rare opportunity was rudely shattered. Known for his fiery temper, Shi Po was now seething with rage.

Lin Feng's brow furrowed slightly as he coolly asked, "What are you trying to do?"

"Boring," the other party shrugged nonchalantly.

Boring? No one here was a naive child. Shi Po's fists clenched tightly, his rage palpable.

"Don't glare at me like that. If you're so capable, why not join me at the Platform of Life and Death?" the challenger taunted.

"Fine!" Shi Po responded impulsively.

"Brother Stone, don't be impulsive!" Lin Feng interjected urgently. It was clearly unwise to challenge the Platform of Life and Death without assessing the opponent's strength, especially since the challenger was deliberately provoking Shi Po.

"I..." Shi Po hesitated, then lowered his voice, "Don't worry, I'm on par with him."

Hmm?

Lin Feng's frown deepened. How could Shi Po possibly know the challenger's strength? In the realm of cultivation, only those with superior power could gauge the strength of those weaker than themselves, and even equals typically couldn't penetrate each other's true capabilities.

Shi Po shook his head, indicating his ignorance. Meanwhile, the trio followed the challenger to the Platform of Life and Death.

The platform was unusually deserted. Normally, few would venture here, as no one wished to face life-and-death confrontations without significant cause. Ultimately, facing mortality was a challenge for both the strong and the weak.

Upon reaching the platform, the challenger slowly removed his mask. Liu Yan gasped, her hand covering her mouth in shock.

"Yang Bao? How could it be him?" she uttered incredulously after a moment of stunned silence.

Onstage, Yang Bao regarded Shi Po with a sneer, flashing a row of pearly white teeth. True to his name, Yang Bao's visage bore an uncanny resemblance to a leopard, complete with two dark red streaks beneath his eyes, like bloody tears.

"Kid, I'll show you what real fighting spirit is!" Yang Bao's spiritual energy burst forth, and the ghostly image of a leopard shimmered behind him.

"Leopard Strike!"

In a flash, Yang Bao's fingers curled into a claw, lunging straight for Shi Po's chest.

"Crushing Stone Strike!"

Thud, thud, thud...

The two combatants recoiled from the impact, neither gaining the upper hand.

Yet, Yang Bao's expression twisted into a sinister grin as he spat a stream of yellow liquid onto Shi Po's face. Shi Po screamed in agony, and at that moment, Yang Bao's fist crashed down on his head.

"Despicable!" Lin Feng's eyes blazed with fury. He moved to rush the stage, but a dark figure blocked his way.

"Trying to save him, are you?" The figure eyed Lin Feng with a chilling gaze.

Chen Hong?

Liu Yan recognized him immediately. Yang Bao's behavior suddenly made sense.

A primal roar echoed from the Platform of Life and Death; Yang Bao was intent on finishing Shi Po.

The deceived Shi Po was powerless to fight back, and the disciples below the stage glared at Yang Bao, outraged. "That's disgraceful, resorting to such low tactics!"

"Indeed, it's the act of a scoundrel, utterly shameless."

Their complaints were swiftly met with opposition. "Here, life and death are in the hands of fate. If he's been outsmarted, it's his own fault. No one else is to blame!"

Lin Feng had no time for the crowd's debates. His eyes icy, he commanded, "Move!"

"Heh, an insignificant ant showing such defiance. But in the end, you can't avoid death!" Chen Hong was not perturbed, though Shi Po on the Platform of Life and Death was clearly struggling to endure.

"Chen Hong, listen closely. Your foolish brother met his end at my hands, and no one else is involved."