This scene was clearly another common play of chase and escape. Both cultivators were at the third layer of Golden Core cultivation. However, the one in front was no match for the pursuer behind him, though his speed was astonishingly fast. He was gradually pulling away from the chaser. If this continued, he would likely escape soon.
Such occurrences were commonplace in the cultivation world. Lin Feng had no intention of meddling. He had no context—it wasn't certain that the one fleeing was a pitiful innocent while the pursuer was the villain. Rashly interfering could backfire, inviting unnecessary trouble.
During this brief moment of consideration, the two figures closed the distance rapidly. Coincidentally, they were heading straight towards Lin Feng's location. The man in front likely hadn't initially noticed Lin Feng standing behind the bushes, only spotting him as he drew near, his expression shifting slightly.
The pursuer behind him noticed Lin Feng almost simultaneously. A flash of delight crossed his eyes, and he immediately shouted loudly, "Fellow Daoist ahead! This man is a foreign cultivator from Yue Country! He harbors ill intentions trespassing within our Xia Kingdom's borders! Please help intercept him!!"
Hearing this, Lin Feng frowned slightly. He knew of Yue Country—it bordered Xia Kingdom to the south. But whether the man was from Yue Country or not was utterly irrelevant to him. Naturally, he wouldn't act rashly based on such a claim.
However, the Yue cultivator's face paled dramatically upon hearing the pursuer's shout. Panicked, he had no mind to discern whether Lin Feng would actually attack. To him, striking first was the only way to avoid being caught off guard. Moreover, he perceived that Lin Feng seemed only at the first layer of Golden Core, making him breathe a little easier internally.
"Get out of my way!!"
A ferocious glint suddenly flashed in the man's eyes. With a sharp cry, he pointed his right hand forward. A cyan flying sword whistled through the air, aimed directly at Lin Feng. In his mind, a mere first-layer Golden Core cultivator might not even possess a flying sword. His strike should at least kill or, at the very least, scare the obstacle away.
"Hmph!!" Lin Feng's expression turned cold. The other party resorting directly to a lethal attack instantly changed his mind. His right hand flickered, and the Crimson Soul Flying Sword appeared in his grasp. Without hesitation, he slashed forward ruthlessly!
"Clang!! Snap..."
The Yue cultivator's flying sword arrived in an instant. Lin Feng's downward slash struck its blade squarely. A sharp clang of metal meeting metal rang out, followed immediately by the distinct sound of something shattering...
The cyan flying sword, which had seemed so imposing, snapped cleanly in two right before Lin Feng's eyes. The two pieces flew past him on either side before clattering to the ground—a mere low-grade spirit artifact flying sword stood no chance against the current Crimson Soul Flying Sword.
"What?!" The Yue cultivator's eyes widened in shock and horror. Instantly, his face blanched, and he 'Pfft!' spurted a mouthful of blood!
His flying sword was destroyed, damaging his soul. Though he snapped back to awareness instantly, a clear sword chime had already reached his ears. In his vision, a flash of crimson-silver light was terrifyingly close!
"NO!!" He only managed to let out a despairing shriek before the Crimson Soul Flying Sword severed his head. The head didn't even hit the ground before flames spilling from the sword reduced it to ash.
The headless corpse crashed to the ground, its momentum causing it to roll forward until it stopped at Lin Feng's feet. Lin Feng casually tossed a fireball onto it. With a grasping motion in the air, he retrieved several items from the flames before they could be consumed. By the time he stored these items away, the fire had dissipated, leaving only a pile of bone ash that scattered instantly in the wind.
In just a few breaths, a living person vanished from the world...
"..."
About thirty meters away, the young male cultivator wearing deep purple robes had stopped dead in his tracks. He stared dumbfounded at Lin Feng, momentarily unable to process what had just happened.
Lin Feng glanced at the man, gave a slight cupped-fist salute in acknowledgment, and then turned to leave. Although this man had been chasing the Yue cultivator, he clearly couldn't have caught him without Lin Feng's intervention. Since Lin Feng had made the kill, he saw no reason to share the 'spoils'.
"Wai... Wait!!" Seeing Lin Feng about to depart, the young man snapped out of his stupor and hastily called out to stop him.
Regaining his composure, a complex mix of emotions flickered in the young man's eyes—shock still present, but now mingled with a strange, fleeting light. He politely returned Lin Feng's salute and said, "Esteemed Fellow Daoist, greetings. I am Yu Zhun of the Cang Dian Sect. Might I inquire as to your esteemed name?"
Of course, revealing his real name was out of the question now. Lin Feng cupped his fists in return and replied casually, "I am Mu Feng, a mere rogue cultivator. Pleased to meet you."
"So it's Fellow Daoist Mu Feng. A pleasure, a true pleasure..." Upon hearing Lin Feng identify as a rogue cultivator, Yu Zhun's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly. His face, however, remained warm and enthusiastic. "I am truly indebted for your assistance just now. If not for you, that villain would have escaped."
"He attacked me. I merely defended myself." Lin Feng responded noncommittally with a nod. "I have pressing matters to attend to and cannot linger. Farewell."
Seeing Lin Feng's aloof and distant attitude, a trace of displeasure flashed in Yu Zhun's eyes. He quickly interjected again, "Fellow Daoist, please stay! I have one more request!"
Lin Feng frowned slightly. "What else, Fellow Daoist Yu?"
Yu Zhun explained, "It's like this: Since you were the one who killed that man, his belongings rightfully belong to you. I have no objections. I know that without your intervention, he would have likely escaped my grasp. However... that man killed a companion of mine earlier near Cold Mist Valley. He even took his body away. If possible, I wish to retrieve my companion's remains and his personal effects to return them to his family. I beseech you, Fellow Daoist Mu, to grant me this. I would be eternally grateful!"
"Oh?" Lin Feng was slightly surprised. The man didn't seem to be lying. He retrieved the Yue cultivator's storage ring and swept it with his spiritual sense. Sure enough, he immediately located a corpse inside. After a brief moment of consideration, Lin Feng transferred the corpse into another empty storage ring and tossed it to Yu Zhun. He hadn't touched any of the items on the body.
A gleam of delight surfaced in Yu Zhun's eyes. He hadn't expected Lin Feng to be so accommodating. He caught the ring, scanned it quickly with his own sense, then expressed his gratitude profusely, "Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Mu!!"
Lin Feng gave a slight nod. "Then I shall take my leave."
"Very well. Since you have urgent business, I won't detain you further." Yu Zhun smiled, cupping his fists again politely. "Farewell, Fellow Daoist Mu. Travel safely."
Lin Feng said nothing more and turned to leave.
However, the very instant he turned his back—A sudden, treacherous change occurred!!
Yu Zhun, whose face still held a trace of a smile as if bidding Lin Feng farewell, suddenly erupted with intense killing intent in his eyes! Without the slightest warning, his right hand shot up, flinging out a purple talisman!
"CRACK!!"
A thunderous boom erupted! The purple talisman blazed with violet light the moment it left his hand. A bolt of purple lightning, thick as a bucket, materialized instantly in the air above and crashed down with devastating speed, engulfing Lin Feng below in its blinding, destructive fury!!