Knowing that calling out again might genuinely cause a misunderstanding, Lin Feng let the woman depart. After all, he now had the sea chart. He swept his divine sense into the jade slip in his hand, giving it a cursory scan. His eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"The territory of Black Loong City?!"
The information within the map jade slip was fairly detailed. The cultivation city marked along the coastline was none other than Black Loong City.
Black Loong City was separated from Zhenhai City by Fufeng City. Lin Feng hadn't expected to have 'drifted' this far.
Nevertheless, possessing a sea chart simplified things immensely. His immediate goal was to reach land. He focused back on the chart, searching for his current location.
"Hmm?!"
Before he could scrutinize it further, his eyebrows shot up. He swiftly turned towards the right horizon. Two streaks of light were hurtling towards him at high speed.
Lin Feng didn't evade. They had clearly already detected him. He remained hovering, waiting. Moments later, the arrivals halted several tens of meters away. They were two male cultivators: an elder and a youth. The elder wore grey robes, had snow-white hair, and exuded an imposing aura – Nascent Soul Stage, Third Layer. The youth, dressed in elegant white robes with long flowing hair, possessed a cultivation level of Golden Core Stage, Eighth Layer.
Now armed with the sea chart, Lin Feng had no desire for further interaction. He simply wanted to gauge their intentions. If they meant nothing, they could pass by like ships in the night. But fate rarely unfolds so simply. The expressions of the two cultivators were troubled, marked by urgency. Upon arrival, their attention immediately snapped towards the nearby island – the very spot where the previous male and female cultivators had clashed.
The youth pointed towards a specific location on the island. "Master! There are signs of battle there! And the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy hasn't fully settled yet! This must be exactly where Senior Brother Xie sent his distress signal!"
Hearing this, Lin Feng's brow furrowed imperceptibly. A sense of impending trouble washed over him. As the elder's sharp gaze swept towards him, Lin Feng preempted any questions. He clasped his hands respectfully.
"Senior, please do not misunderstand. This junior only just arrived. I did witness two individuals fighting here when I approached. However, the conflict was already concluded by the time I reached the scene. The victorious cultivator has already departed."
The young cultivator glared at Lin Feng with undisguised hostility. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, focusing intently on the jade slip in Lin Feng's hand. Shock and fury contorted his features as he pointed an accusing finger.
"That's Senior Brother Xie's sea chart jade slip!! How is it in your possession?!"
Lin Feng frowned, momentarily taken aback. He glanced down at the jade slip. Indeed, its shape was somewhat unique, with wave patterns carved on both ends. He hadn't expected the youth's eyes to be so sharp. More surprisingly, the woman had given him the sea chart belonging to the man she had just killed. Was it deliberate?
Lin Feng groaned inwardly. He had no choice but to press on with his explanation. "When I arrived, your senior brother was already slain. Being lost, I asked the other individual for directions. That person gave me this map jade slip—" He gestured towards the direction the woman had fled. "They left only moments ago, heading that way."
It was likely the woman knew reinforcements for her victim would arrive soon. She hadn't warned him, handed him the dead man's belongings, and clearly harbored ill intentions. Probably hoping to frame him, or at the very least, use him to buy time for her escape. Given that, Lin Feng felt no qualms about 'revealing' her path.
"Still trying to deceive us?! Do you honestly expect us to believe that?!" The youth scoffed, his disbelief palpable. "And even if what you say were true, why didn't you stop the murderer when you saw my senior brother being killed?!"
Lin Feng couldn't help but roll his eyes internally. What does your senior brother's death have to do with me? I had no context, why should I risk myself to apprehend the killer for you? He instantly recognized the youth's nature: arrogant and domineering. Arguing further seemed pointless. He shifted his gaze to the elder, silently awaiting his judgment.
"..." The elder's face was dark, his gaze like a honed blade scrutinizing Lin Feng. Logically, he leaned towards believing Lin Feng's account. Lin Feng showed no signs of having just engaged in a fierce battle. Moreover, if he were truly connected to his senior disciple's killer, waiting here like a sitting duck would be idiotic. However, the possibility of a double bluff couldn't be entirely discounted. Even a one-in-a-thousand chance… Better to be safe than sorry. Kill the wrong man, rather than let the guilty escape.
Decision made, the elder spoke in a tone brooking no argument. "Even if your words hold truth, you witnessed the killer of my disciple. You will accompany us in pursuit! Once we apprehend the culprit and verify your innocence, you may leave!"
Help you track the killer? Are you joking? She could be leagues away by now! Lin Feng seethed. And the implication is clear: if we don't catch her, you'll vent your fury on me?!
Patience evaporating, Lin Feng's face turned frosty. He gave a curt, perfunctory salute. "Apologies. I have pressing matters. Pursue them yourselves. Farewell!"
His words struck the pair like a physical blow. The youth stared, slack-jawed with incredulity. Even the elder's eyes widened with stunned disbelief. Neither could fathom Lin Feng's sheer audacity—or perhaps, his sheer stupidity. A mere Golden Core cultivator, daring such insolence before a Nascent Soul expert? Was this not the epitome of courting death?
As Lin Feng genuinely began channeling power into his flying sword to depart, the youth finally snapped out of his shock. A harsh, disbelieving laugh burst from his lips. "Hah!! Such insolence!! Thinking you can just flee?! Master! This proves his guilt! Why else would he be desperate to escape? Let me capture him! We'll interrogate him thoroughly!"
Without waiting for permission, the youth surged his true essence. His right hand flashed out, sending a streak of golden light hurtling towards Lin Feng!
"Humph!" Lin Feng's expression darkened. He didn't dodge. Instead, his right hand gave a subtle flick. A faint glimmer flickered within his sleeve. Instantly, Spirit Serpent Threads wove an almost invisible net before him.
"Clang!"
The golden streak slammed into the net mere inches from Lin Feng's face, then rebounded violently. It revealed itself to be a strange, small, mace-like spirit artifact.
"Late Golden Core stage?!" The youth's face paled slightly. Lin Feng had previously concealed his aura, masking his true level. Now, during the clash, his late Golden Core (ninth layer) cultivation was unmistakably revealed. The youth instinctively glanced towards the elder. While he believed he might not lose to Lin Feng in a direct fight, he knew it would be arduous. He sought his master's intervention.
The elder's expression was equally thunderous. As a Nascent Soul powerhouse, Golden Core juniors typically treated him with reverence and obeyed without question. Lin Feng's attitude was nothing short of an insult. Compounded by the murder of his senior disciple, a raging fury already burned within him, desperate for an outlet. Lin Feng's utter disrespect poured fuel onto the fire.
"A brat still wet behind the ears, ignorant of heaven's height and earth's depth!!" the elder snarled. His powerful aura erupted like a volcano. His right hand lifted, fingers clawing at the empty air before him.
Suddenly, violent winds shrieked around Lin Feng! They coalesced with terrifying speed, forming a visible cage of howling gales that crushed inward!
"Tch!" Lin Feng's eyes blazed with fury he could no longer suppress. His right hand flashed. A brilliant crimson-silver radiance erupted. He swung—not a fist, but a sword!
"Swoosh—Crack!"
The Crimson Soul Flying Sword, materializing in his grip, sliced through the wind-prison like a hot knife through butter, tearing a jagged opening. Simultaneously, Lin Feng poured power into his flying sword beneath his feet, darting through the breach. By the time he cleared the turbulent winds, the Crimson Soul Flying Sword had vanished back into his storage.
Lin Feng hovered, face cold as glacial ice, staring at the visibly startled elder. His voice dripped with frigid warning:
"I told you your affairs are none of my concern! Don't push your luck too far! If you insist on forcing my hand… don't blame me for retaliating!"
"A Top-Grade Spirit Artifact?!" Shock flickered deep within the elder's eyes as Lin Feng burst free. He had been utterly confident that his wind-cage would effortlessly subdue the younger man. The ease with which it was shattered was startling. Though the Crimson Soul sword had appeared only momentarily, the elder had distinctly felt the potent energy signature unique to a Top-Grade Spirit Artifact. Such treasures were coveted even by Nascent Soul cultivators. A flicker of avarice ignited within him, quickly extinguished by Lin Feng's icy warning. Murderous intent flared brightly in the elder's gaze. He let out a cold, derisive snort.
"Retaliate? Such arrogant boasting, brat! Show me how you dare to retaliate!!"
Without another word, the elder unleashed his power. His aura exploded, doubling in intensity in an instant. Cyan light coalesced violently in the air before him. In the blink of an eye, a colossal tornado, easily ten meters tall, materialized out of nothingness. It seemed to possess a malevolent sentience, twisting and roaring as it hurtled towards Lin Feng with terrifying speed!