The first part of her plea was within Lin Feng's expectations. But the final two words left him stunned—she knew him?
He'd been in the Starry Sea for nearly four months, yet the only person he knew was Wang Chen. This strikingly beautiful female cultivator before him was a complete stranger. Could she have mistaken him for someone else?
Doubt flickered in Lin Feng's mind. He scrutinized her more closely. Oddly, a faint sense of familiarity washed over him. Had he seen her somewhere before? But he couldn't place her at all.
The brief hesitation cost precious seconds. The pursuing cultivator closed in rapidly. A flash of indecision crossed the woman's eyes. Then, gritting her teeth, she abruptly changed course, veering away from Lin Feng as if unwilling to implicate him further.
WHOOSH!!
A streak of crimson light shot from behind her, closing the distance in an instant! Her expression tightened with dismay. Forced to turn, she activated her Spirit Light Barrier just as the attack struck.
BOOM!
The crimson radiance exploded against the barrier, halting her flight. The impact sent her tumbling backward a dozen meters. By the time she regained her balance, her pursuer had arrived.
Despair clouded her eyes. She bit her lower lip, a flicker of movement catching her peripheral vision. Turning, she realized her backward tumble had brought her right beside Lin Feng. A bitter, almost desolate smile touched her lips.
"I didn't know it was you... I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "You... you should leave. That man is from the Great Wave Alliance of Black Loong City. If he remembers your face… it will be disastrous..."
Her initial impulse had indeed been to use Lin Feng as a shield against the danger. But recognizing him—or who she thought he was—had shifted her resolve, albeit too late. Seeing his cultivation was only at Golden Core fourth-layer further dashed any hope; her pursuer was at the eighth layer. Even together, they stood no chance.
Lin Feng, however, only frowned slightly, his gaze still locked on the woman. Her words deepened his confusion. Her voice carried a faint, nagging familiarity, yet the identity remained elusive. Then, his eyes fell upon the pale cyan flying sword beneath her feet.
His eyebrows shot up in sudden recognition. Astonishment colored his voice. "You… are you the one who sold me the Thunder Extreme Crystal Essence?!"
The flying sword looked familiar. Connecting it to the memory of trading a low-grade spiritual artifact sword for that precious crystal in the free market, combined with her build and voice, led him to the conclusion. Yet, the disparity in appearance was staggering, leaving him uncertain.
The woman offered a pained smile. "The young master remembers me…"
"Is it really you?" Lin Feng pressed, skepticism warring with recognition. "But your appearance…"
"Certain circumstances prevent me from showing my true face," she explained hurriedly. "I used a special technique to alter my features back then."
She sighed inwardly. To evade pursuit, she habitually disguised herself in populated areas. Venturing alone into the Starry Sea this time, however, she'd prioritized conserving every wisp of true essence. The odds of encountering someone who knew her seemed infinitesimal, so she hadn't bothered. Fate, it seemed, loved cruel irony. While battling a demon beast on an island, a passing member of the Great Wave Alliance had recognized her. The chase had ensued. Spotting the dazzling, sky-reaching phenomenon earlier, she had steered towards it, hoping other cultivators drawn to the spectacle might offer an escape route. Running into Lin Feng was entirely unexpected.
"An appearance-altering technique?" Lin Feng's eyes glinted with sudden interest. During their previous encounter, he had detected no trace of disguise. That implied a high-level technique, vastly superior to the crude masks he'd used before. Intrigue bloomed within him.
"…" The woman stared at him, perplexed. He seemed utterly unconcerned about the imminent danger she'd just described, his focus instead on her disguise technique. A quick glance forward confirmed her fear—the brief exchange had sealed their fate. Escape was now nearly impossible.
The Great Wave Alliance cultivator had closed the gap, halting twenty meters away. He was a middle-aged man clad in deep blue robes, his features sharp with thin eyebrows and small eyes radiating icy killing intent. His gaze swept over Lin Feng, pausing briefly on the Golden Core fourth-layer aura. Visible relief washed over him, swiftly replaced by cold calculation. With a flick of his right hand, two crescent-shaped blades—one larger, one smaller, both shimmering with blue light—materialized before him.
He made no attempt to hide his murderous intent, a cruel sneer twisting his lips. "Heh... Tough luck, kid! Since you've seen this, I can't have you talking. Better make you permanently silent!"
"Oh…" Lin Feng nodded nonchalantly. He turned back to the woman beside him, his tone casual. "Let's make a deal. I'll handle this guy. You give me that appearance-altering technique. What do you say?"
"Ah?" The woman's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief, her mind struggling to process his audacity. After a stunned pause, she blurted out, "What did you say?"
"I said," Lin Feng repeated patiently, "I'll take care of this nuisance. In exchange, you give me that technique. Deal?"
"Such insolence, you arrogant brat!! Seeking death!!"
Before the woman could respond, the blue-robed cultivator exploded with rage. He'd heard Lin Feng's words clearly. Being dismissed so casually by a mere Golden Core fourth-layer cultivator—spoken of as if he were livestock to be slaughtered—was an unbearable insult. Admittedly, Lin Feng's unnerving calm also stirred a sliver of unease within him. He likely has some hidden card. Determined not to lose the initiative, he acted immediately. With a furious roar, his true essence surged. The twin crescent blades blazed with intense light, slicing through the air with lethal precision—one aimed at Lin Feng's left, the other at his right.
Lin Feng felt a flicker of irritation. The deal wasn't even settled, and this guy was already attacking? A cold glint flashed in his eyes. Yet, before retaliating, he managed a final remark to the woman. "No answer? I'll take that as a yes…"
"You…" The woman's heart had lurched in terror as the enemy struck. Lin Feng's absurdly calm comment almost made her laugh hysterically amidst the panic. Is he insane? she wondered. Talking like this moments before death? Then, she understood the source of his composure…
As Lin Feng spoke, his right hand lifted slowly. His index finger pointed directly at the enraged attacker—a deliberate, almost mocking gesture.
Fwip!
A sliver of purple light streaked forth! Its speed defied comprehension. There was no warning, no build-up. It simply was there.
CLANG!!
A crisp shattering sound echoed. The purple light struck the larger crescent blade hurtling towards Lin Feng. The mid-grade spiritual artifact might as well have been made of glass. It exploded into useless fragments. The purple light continued its trajectory, unimpeded, reaching the blue-robed man's face in the blink of an eye.
Thwick!
Shock had barely begun to register on the man's face when a soft, wet sound emanated from his chest. He looked down, bewildered, at the neat, blood-seeping hole punched clean through his torso. The terrifying realization of his fate—the utter draining of life force—flooded his eyes with pure horror and despair. It was too late for anything. Darkness swallowed his vision.
Lin Feng, having learned from the near-disaster with Hu Tonghai, had gone straight for the kill with the Demon Light Ring. As the body began its descent, a fireball shot from his hand, incinerating the evidence. He deftly collected the falling storage pouch and other items.
"..."
The woman stared at Lin Feng, dumbfounded. Her clear, limpid eyes were wide with utter disbelief. The speed, the brutality, the sheer ease of it left her reeling. Only when Lin Feng finished his grim task and turned his calm gaze back to her did she jolt back to reality.
"You… You…" she stammered, unable to form coherent words.
Lin Feng offered a faint, almost indifferent smile. "Enemy handled. No need for thanks. Just hand over that technique, as agreed."
It took several long moments for the woman to regain her composure. She regarded Lin Feng with intense scrutiny—a mixture of lingering shock, profound curiosity, and unspoken thoughts swirling behind her eyes.
Lin Feng began to feel slightly uncomfortable under her prolonged gaze. He cleared his throat. "Ahem… Miss, if you've changed your mind about the technique, that's fine. I'll just be on my way then…"
The woman snapped out of her reverie, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as if realizing her rudeness. "My apologies, young master," she said softly, bowing her head slightly. "That wasn't my intention. Your life-saving grace is beyond repayment. If you wish for my Thousand Faces Illusion technique, it is yours." She met his eyes, a new firmness in her voice. "This humble one is named An Yuexi. May I ask the young master's esteemed name?"
Hearing her agreement, Lin Feng felt a surge of satisfaction. A genuine smile touched his lips. "Lin Feng. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, An Yuexi."