Inside Lin Feng's body, chaos erupted.
He sat cross-legged, veins bulging, as the Sword of Destiny Manual circulated wildly through his meridians.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Three deafening explosions shook his dantian. His entire body pulsed with golden light, the ground around him fracturing like glass.
Lin Feng's aura soared higher and higher until it pierced the heavens themselves.
He had broken through.
Ninth Grade Xiantian Realm!
The energy storm around him finally subsided, but his killing intent remained sharp as a blade.
"Kill him!" someone shouted in panic.
"We'll suck the Stone Fruit's power out of his body once he's dead!"
Lin Feng slowly rose, his gaze calm but cold as winter frost. The wind howled as his qi surged.
He vanished.
In the next instant—
WHOOSH!
A white arc of sword light tore through the battlefield.
"Azure Sword Art – Kill Any Under Heaven!"
The strike split the air like a bolt of lightning. Blood mist exploded in midair.
Two heads spun into the air before falling silently to the ground.
The two Seventh Grade Heaven Realm experts—dead before they could react.
Screams erupted.
"Run!"
"He's a monster!"
"Azure Sword Art – Fifth Stance!"
Another sword light flashed, too fast for mortal eyes.
BANG!
A dozen more fell, their blood dyeing the earth crimson.
Lin Feng moved like a reaper from the underworld—every step leaving a corpse in his wake. His Slaughter Intent radiated outward, suffocating everyone who dared to watch.
The killing continued until the entire battlefield fell silent.
Only Lin Feng remained standing, drenched in blood, his sword humming softly like it mourned the dead.
---
The News Spreads
Before the sun could rise again, the lower realm trembled with a single name—
"The God of Death has struck again."
Inside the Ouyang Family mansion—
"Damn it!" the patriarch roared, slamming his palm through the armrest of his throne. "Send the top five elite disciples to Fire Cloud City—now! I want his head brought back!"
"The bounty on Lin Feng has been tripled!"
Across the continent, orders flew.
But by then, it was already too late.
The Ouyang, Jiang, Duan families, and even the Martial Sect had all been annihilated by Lin Feng's sword.
Only the disciples of the Fire Pavilion and Sword Sovereign Sect were spared.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Lin Feng!" they bowed deeply before transforming into streaks of light, fleeing the ruined battlefield.
Lin Feng turned to Yang Busi. His voice softened.
"Yang Busi... about the Stone Fruit—I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you."
"Forget it," she said quietly, though her tone carried a trace of anger she couldn't hide.
Lin Feng smiled faintly. "If you say so."
Fatty ran up, nervous sweat on his brow. "Boss, we need to leave. They'll be coming for us!"
Lin Feng sheathed his sword with a soft click.
"Afraid? Since they want to die, let them. My sword still thirsts for blood."
"But boss," Fatty swallowed hard, "they're sending their top five elite disciples after you!"
Lin Feng's eyes gleamed. "That just makes it more interesting. Let's go—to the entrance of Fire Cloud City."
He refused to fight near the Lin Family mansion. He would not drag them into this storm.
---
At the City's Edge
The wind howled across the plains outside Fire Cloud City.
Lin Feng hovered above the gate, robes fluttering in the breeze, his sword on his knees as he meditated calmly.
"Boss," Fatty whispered, "should we stay?"
"You two hide," Lin Feng said quietly. "Don't let them see you."
"Okay, boss."
They vanished into the crowd.
Whispers rippled through the gathering cultivators.
"That's Lin Feng—the God of Death himself."
"He's insane. He's waiting for them to arrive!"
At the Lin Family mansion, a disciple burst in.
"Patriarch! A pinnacle battle is about to start at the city gates—it's Lin Feng!"
"What?!" The patriarch shot up from his seat. "Everyone, follow me!"
The old man's eyes blazed with admiration. Whatever enmity had once existed between them was gone. After seeing Lin Feng fight the First Commander, only respect remained.
Disciples from countless sects and families swarmed toward Fire Cloud City to witness the coming storm.
---
The Arrival of the Jiang Family
A cold voice echoed from above.
"Lin Feng! You actually had the guts to wait here instead of running. You're seeking your own death!"
Five powerful figures descended from the clouds—the Jiang Family's top elite disciples. Their combined aura warped the air.
Lin Feng stood slowly, his eyes glinting like cold steel.
"I have nothing to say to you. But remember this—when you die, it will be my name that sends you to the underworld."
Then he vanished.
His qi surged like a tidal wave. He extended his palm.
"Cloud Palm – Splitting the Sky!"
A massive handprint of condensed spiritual energy appeared in the heavens, descending like a divine punishment.
"Hmph! Arrogant!"
"Thousand Mountain Fist!"
Five of them struck simultaneously, their combined fists forming a mountain-shaped wave of energy that shot upward to collide with the palm.
The ground trembled violently as the two techniques met.
BOOOOM!
The mountain shattered instantly. The palm kept descending, unstoppable.
"No—!"
"Run!"
They tried to retreat, but the energy closed around them like the grasp of death.
BANG!
Blood rained down. The five elites were crushed into a mist of red, their bodies obliterated on impact.
The world fell silent again.
"Oh my god... he killed them with one move!"
"The God of Death truly lives up to his name!"
The news spread like wildfire.
"The Jiang Family's top five elite disciples—slain by Lin Feng with a single palm!"
The entire lower realm buzzed with excitement and fear.
---
Rising Storm
At the Jiang Family headquarters—
The patriarch's face twisted with fury.
"Take me to Fire Cloud City! I'll kill that Lin Feng myself!"
"Yes, Patriarch!" The elder bowed deeply.
"Do not underestimate him," the patriarch warned. "Use every trump card we have!"
---
At the Sword Sovereign Sect
"Sect Master," an elder reported anxiously, "Lin Feng has caused another... incident. This time, it's serious."
The sect master sighed heavily. "Lin Feng again? What did he do now?"
The elder explained everything.
By the time he finished, the sect master was already standing. "What?! He destroyed four great families?! Contact the First Elder immediately. We're going to Fire Cloud City."
"Yes, Sect Master!"
Moments later, a communication talisman flashed into the air, disappearing into the sky.
---
Meanwhile, in the Disciplinary Hall
The hall master smirked. "Lin Feng's gone too far this time. The Sect Master won't be able to protect him."
"Indeed," another elder chuckled. "Even the Jiang Patriarch is on his way."
"Good," the hall master said coldly. "Contact the Ouyang Patriarch. It's time Lin Feng pays the price."
---
As they plotted, the ground of Fire Cloud City trembled once again.
Five new figures appeared on the horizon—the Martial Sect's top elite disciples—each radiating terrifying strength.
And high above them, sitting cross-legged on the gate like a lone deity of war, was Lin Feng.
His sword rested across his knees. His killing intent stretched for miles.
He opened his eyes.
Twin beams of sword light flashed through the clouds.
"Come," he whispered. "Let's see who dares to challenge death."