Changgong Linglan regarded Lin Feng with astonished eyes. He was still processing the events in Chiyan Mountain he'd just heard about. Even though it was his own daughter recounting them, he found it hard to believe this young man before him had actually exterminated a Tier 3 demon beast.
Not only Changgong Linglan, but Zheng Kai's father, Zheng Changqing, Kou Tingting's father, Kou Xuyun, and the numerous elite experts standing behind them shared the same incredulity.
"Lin Feng? Wait... you're called 'Lin Feng'?! The rumored Level 4 Artificer from Biquan City?"
Suddenly, Changgong Linglan raised an eyebrow, asking with surprise.
Lin Feng was momentarily taken aback, but then understood. Though Qingyun City was some distance from Biquan City, it wasn't strange for someone of Changgong Linglan's status to know of major events there. Judging by the expressions on Zheng Changqing and Kou Xuyun's faces, they were also aware. Seeing no need to hide his identity now, Lin Feng smiled and nodded. "This junior did indeed visit Biquan City recently. The person Senior Changgong speaks of is likely me."
"It truly is you?!"
Zheng Changqing's eyes flashed with a strange light, seeming pleasantly surprised. Recalling the rumors he'd heard about Lin Feng, he began to find the claim of Lin Feng slaying a Tier 3 beast more believable. After all, the rumors stated Lin Feng had a Golden Core realm master, a Level 5 Artificer. Possessing the means to kill a Tier 3 beast wasn't impossible.
Moreover, they couldn't help but think maybe it was Lin Feng's 'master' who had resolved the Tier 3 beast situation. After all, no one except Lin Feng had actually seen how the Tier 3 beast was destroyed...
"Level 4 Artificer? Father, what are you saying? Lin Feng is a Level 4 Artificer?" Changgong Xiaojing's eyes widened, her face full of confusion as she turned to stare at Lin Feng. Zheng Kai and the others wore equally dumbfounded expressions.
"What? You didn't know?" This time it was Kou Xuyun and the others who were stunned.
Zheng Kai looked Lin Feng up and down as if seeing him for the first time, grinning. "Well, Lin Feng! Keeping this from us? Are you really a Level 4 Artificer? But... you just advanced to Foundation Building, right?"
Lin Feng replied, "I... didn't intentionally conceal it. My apologies."
"Heh, it's fine! Not too late to know now! Tsk, tsk, no wonder you have so many powerful magic treasures! Turns out you're a Level 4 Artificer yourself! Respect!" Zheng Kai laughed heartily. He genuinely wasn't displeased about the omission; Lin Feng had no obligation to reveal everything. He was simply amazed and delighted to have unwittingly befriended someone so formidable.
Kou Xuyun chuckled warmly. "Haha, I'd heard news from Biquan City before and had some doubts. Never imagined Young Friend Lin was actually one of our Qingyun City's own. Seeing you today, heroes truly emerge from the young!"
Lin Feng humbly demurred, "Senior flatters me."
Changgong Linglan interjected, "Alright, let's not converse standing here. Since everyone is safe now, we should return to Qingyun City. We can speak more once we're back."
No one objected. The large group began marching purposefully together towards Qingyun City.
Throughout the journey, Lin Feng inevitably became the focal point. The heads of the three families – Changgong Linglan, Zheng Changqing, and Kou Xuyun – walked alongside him, chatting amiably and laughing. Zheng Kai, Changgong Xiaojing, and the others followed behind like attendants.
Lin Feng understood their intentions perfectly. He knew he was now a 'coveted delicacy'. Even discounting the fabricated powerful 'master', his status as a Level 4 Artificer alone made him worth cultivating. Of course, this wasn't necessarily blatant opportunism by the family heads; it was simply natural networking.
Changgong Xiaojing watched Lin Feng walking ahead, 'laughing and chatting' easily with her father. Her gaze drifted, lost in thought. Even when Kou Tingting spoke to her beside her, her replies were distracted, half-hearted.
Before long, the high walls of Qingyun City appeared before the group.
"Huh? Something seems off!!"
Zheng Changqing, glancing up casually, suddenly frowned, staring towards the city gates ahead.
The others paused, startled, and also peered intently. They quickly realized something was indeed wrong – inside the gate, chaos reigned!!
Lin Feng saw numerous people surging out of the gate. Every one of them appeared frantic. The open ground outside the gate was already crowded with over a hundred people; some, clearly terrified, were running straight towards their group.
"Something's happened! Let's go!!"
Changgong Linglan's expression sharpened. He exchanged a brief nod with Zheng Changqing and Kou Xuyun beside him. The whole group immediately quickened their pace, heading forward.
"Chiii!!"
As they hurried, Xiaoqiu suddenly wriggled out from Lin Feng's embrace. In a few quick movements, he scrambled onto Lin Feng's right shoulder. His fur stood completely on end, baring his teeth as he glared intensely towards the direction of Qingyun City, radiating tension.
Seeing Xiaoqiu's reaction, Lin Feng's gaze focused. He raised his head to look towards the city, his eyes filled with gravity and bewilderment.
— What in the world was happening inside?!
Meanwhile, within Qingyun City...
"ROAR!!!"
An ear-splitting roar, akin to a lion's, reverberated through a street in the south city. It was accompanied by countless screams and even wails of terror.
On the street, people ran desperately, scattering in panic. Every face bore expressions of terror, even despair.
"BOOM!!!"
A thunderous crash shook the entire street. At the far end, near a corner, a section of the wall was smashed apart as if hit by a battering ram. Amidst a cloud of shattered stone and dust, a massive, pitch-black figure lunged out, pinning a person who hadn't dodged fast enough to the ground.
"Aaaah!! Hel—"
"SCHLUCK!!"
The plea for help was cut short. The enormous black shape lowered its head and savagely clamped its jaws onto the person's skull. With a powerful wrench, it tore the entire upper half of the body clean off!
Blood, shredded flesh, and entrails rained down like gory droplets onto the surrounding area, splattering onto nearby people. This only amplified their horror; some fainted on the spot from sheer fright.
"ROAR!!!"
Another beastly bellow. The immense black shape threw its head back, swallowing its grisly mouthful whole. As the dust settled slightly, its form became clearer—a terrifying creature roughly the size of an ox. Its body was entirely pitch-black, resembling a massive lion, yet it sported a long, horselike tail.
A demon beast!!
This unknown, bizarre beast radiated an aura of heart-stopping, primal ferocity. Its horrific appearance was matched by its blood-red eyes – solid crimson orbs with no discernible pupils, emitting a flickering, ghastly light that chilled the marrow.
It roared again, utterly ignoring the half-eaten carcass at its feet. Instead, it raised its head, fixing its gaze on the fleeing crowd ahead. Then, with explosive force, it launched itself forward at an unimaginable speed!
"AAAAGH!!!"
In mere moments, another unlucky soul, too slow to escape, was struck in the back by the beast's claw. Half his body was ripped away instantly; a single shriek, and he was dead. The beast paid the kill no mind, lunging insanely towards its next victim...
"Attack!!"
Suddenly, a fierce shout erupted. Seven agile figures burst out from buildings flanking the street, converging on the beast from all directions.
Cultivators!! And all seven were Foundation Building cultivators!
"SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH..."
As they emerged, the seven cultivators simultaneously unleashed beams of multicolored light—activating spell talismans aimed directly at the monstrosity.
Most used Tier 2 Continuous Spell Talismans. The three cultivators at the seventh or eighth layer of Foundation Building employed Low-grade Tier 3 Talismans. A torrent of fireballs, wind blades, violet lightning bolts, and more cascaded down, engulfing the beast at the center.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!"
The next instant, the beast vanished within the onslaught. A dazzling kaleidoscope of energy explosions erupted on the street.
Simultaneously, the seven cultivators didn't relent. Each drew their own attack-focused magic treasures, preparing to encircle and kill the beast.
"ROAR!!!"
However, before they could even land, a furious roar blasted from within the dissipating light. A black shadow shot out like lightning, pouncing towards a blue-robed cultivator on the right!
"What?!"
The man's face paled drastically. He hadn't expected their combined barrage of talismans to have absolutely no effect! Seeing the shadow descend, he swung the large saber in his hand with all his might.
"CLANG!!!"
His horror intensified. His saber struck squarely on the creature's skull... but the sound was of metal striking metal! A tremendous recoil surged up the blade, nearly wrenching it from his grasp. It felt like he'd struck an indestructible boulder!
"What beast has a head this hard?!"
This was the cultivator's final thought. He had no time for any other action. One of the beast's lethal claws swiped down, shattering his skull like an eggshell...
"Brother Li!! NO!!"
All of this transpired in mere moments. Witnessing the blue-robed cultivator killed in a single exchange, a white-robed middle-aged cultivator nearby roared in shock and fury. He thrust forward the golden spear in his grasp, aiming viciously for the beast's neck.
"WHOOSH!!"
But before his spear reached its target, a black blur flashed. A whip-like shadow lashed out. The man's movement froze abruptly. Bloody lines appeared across his body... and then... his entire form disintegrated into multiple pieces!!
— What had swept past was the beast's long 'horse-tail'. Its terrifying power was beyond belief!
"AHH!! RETREAT!!"
Two deaths in the blink of an eye shattered the morale of the remaining cultivators. The beast's strength far exceeded their worst fears. Everyone instantly realized they were hopelessly outmatched. The eighth-layer Foundation Building cultivator yelled desperately, trying to signal a withdrawal.
"ROAR!!!"
His shout, however, seemed to draw the beast's attention. Landing from its pounce, it instantly pivoted and lunged directly at him!
"AAAH!!"
The eighth-layer cultivator's face drained of all color. In a panic, he raised his left hand. An orange jade talisman in his grip, radiating the aura of a top-grade artifact, flared brilliantly. A shimmering barrier of protective spiritual light snapped into existence before him.
"CRUNCH!!!"
Yet, when the beast's massive claw descended, the light barrier shattered like tissue paper. The cultivator didn't even have time to scream before his head was pulverized by the force!
"Agh!" "No!" "AAARRGH!!"
Screams rang out continuously. The remaining cultivators had no time to flee. One after another, they fell victim to the beast's claws!
Seven Foundation Building cultivators. From their charge to their complete annihilation, less than ten seconds had passed!!
This scene paralyzed all witnesses with terror. Any cultivators who had been contemplating joining the fight felt their fighting spirit evaporate. Everyone turned and resumed their desperate flight!!
"Tier 3... It's a Tier 3 demon beast!! RUN!!"
The beast's power so far exceeded the cultivators' understanding that some were convinced only a Tier 3 beast could possess such might. They shrieked the warning as they scrambled away.
"ROAR!!!"
The beast bellowed once more, ignoring the carnage strewn around it. It lifted its head, fixing its blood-red gaze on a specific cluster of people in a certain direction. Then, with terrifying speed, it surged towards them!!