Lin Feng's recent rise to fame had garnered him both admiration and reverence from many. Yet, there were also those who scoffed or felt a hidden contempt. The rumors surrounding him were simply too exaggerated to believe, especially the part about him single-handedly defeating Wu Luosen. Unless one witnessed it firsthand, it strained credulity. Some, recalling Lin Feng's identity as a 'repair expert', formed their own conclusions. They suspected that those praising him were merely flattering him, vastly exaggerating his exploits on Devil Dragon Island. In short, they believed it was all fabricated bootlicking hype.
Duan Weiqi, along with the other three cultivators accompanying him now, belonged firmly in the camp of skeptics. Accustomed to being hailed as 'geniuses' and showered with admiration, they naturally felt resentment towards Lin Feng, this sudden upstart who stole the spotlight. Their feelings were a toxic mix of scorn and secret envy.
Ever since learning Lin Feng would participate in the Five Cities Competition, crooked thoughts had begun to stir in their minds. While they dismissed the tales of his prowess, they did believe the rumors about the numerous treasures he possessed. Each of these treasures held immense allure, tempting enough to make some individuals capable of anything for a chance to possess them.
To Duan Weiqi and his companions, a perfect 'opportunity' now lay before them. Unwilling to 'miss' it, they had orchestrated this confrontation.
...
In Duan Weiqi's estimation, even if Lin Feng possessed some formidable skills, he was still alone. With the four of them attacking together, they could overwhelm him before he even had a chance to unleash any deadly ultimate moves.
Moreover, despite their arrogant taunts, they weren't truly underestimating Lin Feng as much as their words suggested. Their display of brash confidence upon appearing was largely a ruse – an attempt to distract Lin Feng and catch him off guard for a swift, deadly strike.
Scaleclaw Beast. A savage, leopard-like creature armored with scales. It was surprising that one among Duan Weiqi's group possessed such a powerful beast servant, and one at the formidable level of Grade 3, Tier 8.
Such a potent beast launching a surprise attack posed a very real threat. Duan Weiqi himself privately admitted that if their positions were reversed, he might struggle to defend against it. Consequently, as the Scaleclaw Beast descended upon Lin Feng, he and his three companions couldn't help but smirk, convinced Lin Feng was doomed.
Unfortunately for them, their victory was shattered in the very next instant – or rather, blown apart mercilessly by Xiaoqiu.
— Sensing the danger behind him, Lin Feng didn't even turn his head. A small, yellow figure simply shot out from the folds of his robe. Perching on his right shoulder, it simultaneously hurled a brilliantly glowing spirit stone directly at the pouncing Scaleclaw Beast.
"BOOM!!!"
A thunderous explosion ripped through the previously quiet forest. Duan Weiqi and his cohorts felt a powerful shockwave slam into them, forcing them to stumble back instinctively. As they retreated, the ostentatiously dressed, slick-haired young cultivator's eyes bulged suddenly. His face twisted grotesquely, and an involuntary groan of agony escaped his lips.
Thump! A heavy impact sounded immediately afterward. Duan Weiqi and the others looked on in horror. Lin Feng stood perfectly unharmed, seemingly having not moved an inch. Only now was a shimmering spiritual barrier visible around him, shielding him from the blast's effects. About ten meters behind him and to his right, the Scaleclaw Beast lay in a freshly formed crater. Over half its body was mangled to pulp, leaving it barely clinging to life.
"What... what was that?!" Duan Weiqi gasped, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at the creature on Lin Feng's shoulder. His mind struggled to process it – none of the rumors about Lin Feng had ever mentioned him owning such a bizarre beast...
Whoosh!!
While Duan Weiqi and his remaining companions were reeling from shock, Lin Feng's expression remained impassive. He casually flicked his right hand. A streak of fiery silver light tore through the air!
"Look out!!" Duan Weiqi's pupils constricted. He instantly recognized the legendary top-grade spirit artifact flying sword from the tales. Knowing he couldn't block it head-on, he tapped the ground with his foot, darting aside. The other three reacted almost as quickly, scrambling backward to evade.
The Soulburn Sword shot through the space where they had just stood. Its initial thrust missed, but its speed didn't diminish in the slightest. It banked sharply and ruthlessly pursued one specific target.
"Aah!!" The face of the slick-haired cultivator turned deathly pale, terror flashing in his eyes. Seeing the fiery sword close in, he roared defiantly. Surging his spiritual power, he flung his arm out, unleashing a beam of cyan sword light to intercept the Soulburn Sword.
Clang!! CRACK...
The two swords collided in a fleeting instant. A distinct shattering sound echoed. The fiery silver radiance cleanly sheared through the cyan light. Amidst a spray of sword fragments, the Soulburn Sword continued its lethal trajectory, darting toward its target like a deadly serpent!
"No!!" The cultivator couldn't believe his treasured sword had shattered so easily. Soul-chilling fear gripped him. He screamed in utter panic, his right hand instinctively jerking up to summon another defensive treasure. But he was out of time. A soft thwick pierced the air. The Soulburn Sword plunged through his chest and burst out his back. His movements froze mid-action. He looked down, bewildered, at the hole in his chest, then mechanically lifted his gaze towards Duan Weiqi nearby. His mouth opened and closed soundlessly, perhaps trying to plead for help, before his body stiffened and toppled backwards.
"Damn it!! Attack together!! Kill him!!"
Witnessing a comrade slain before his eyes made the hearts of the remaining three skip several beats. Duan Weiqi reacted fastest. Gritting his teeth, a murderous gleam flashed in his eyes as he bellowed the command at the others. Simultaneously, he swung his right hand, summoning a purple flying sword that shot straight towards Lin Feng.
"Aah!!" "Die!!"
The other two snapped out of their stupor, pushing aside their shock. They immediately unleashed their most potent artifacts: a massive golden blade and a swift cyan short sword joined Duan Weiqi's purple weapon, streaking towards Lin Feng from both flanks.
The Soulburn Sword was still dozens of meters away – recalling it for defense seemed impossible now. Blocking attacks from three directions simultaneously appeared equally futile. Yet, Lin Feng's expression remained utterly unchanged. Rooted to the spot, he simply raised his right hand again, almost casually, and extended his index finger, pointing towards the narrow-eyed man on his right.
The narrow-eyed man's pupils shrank. A primal sense of danger screamed within him. He tried to react, but all he saw was a flash of purple radiance. He couldn't even track its path before his mighty golden blade shattered like glass. Then, a sudden numbness blossomed in his chest, darkness swallowed his vision, and consciousness fled entirely...
"Qiu!!"
While Lin Feng activated the Devil Light Ring to kill the narrow-eyed man, Xiaoqiu on his shoulder let out another sharp cry. A spirit stone 'grenade' flew from its tiny paw, meeting the incoming cyan short sword mid-air.
"BOOM!"
Another deafening explosion echoed. The short sword let out a metallic screech as it was violently blasted away.
"Tie Yang!!" The wiry cultivator cried out, ignoring his own weapon being flung aside. His horrified gaze was fixed on the narrow-eyed man who had just been instantly killed by the Devil Light Ring. But as he turned his head, he saw a streak of fiery silver light hurtling directly towards him...
"AAGH!!" A blood-curdling scream tore from his throat as the Soulburn Sword swept across his neck, trailing a spray of unnaturally crimson blood.
Clang!!
By the time the wiry cultivator crumpled to the ground, hands clutching his ruined throat, Duan Weiqi's purple flying sword finally reached Lin Feng. It merely struck the luminous barrier shielding him, sending ripples cascading across its surface before being violently rebounded.
"..."
Duan Weiqi didn't even try to regain control of his deflected sword. He stood frozen, his gaze locked on the three corpses sprawled nearby. His mind seemed to crash, utterly overwhelmed by the horrifying speed and finality of what had just transpired. Utterly defeated.