The night tightened around them.
Wind swept through the broken hills, carrying dust and the faint scent of blood. The fire behind the rogue cultivators flickered wildly, casting shifting shadows across the jagged terrain.
Three remained.
Two at Core Condensation.
One just below—but still dangerous.
And all of them—
Focused on Lin Feng.
The Shift in Atmosphere
No one rushed this time.
No reckless attacks.
No underestimation.
They had seen enough.
"You're not just some passerby," one of the Core Condensation cultivators said, his voice low.
Lin Feng shrugged.
"Took you long enough."
The man's eyes narrowed.
"…You're going to regret coming here."
No More Holding Back
The three of them moved at once.
But unlike before—
This was coordinated.
The weaker one circled wide, looking for an opening.
The two stronger ones came head-on.
Pressure.
Direct and overwhelming.
First Clash
Lin Feng stepped forward instead of back.
His fist met the first attacker—
BOOM!
The impact shook the ground.
But this time—
He wasn't fighting one opponent.
The second Core Condensation cultivator appeared instantly from the side.
A sharp strike aimed at his ribs.
Hit
Lin Feng twisted—
But not fully.
The attack connected partially.
A dull impact echoed through his body.
He slid back several steps.
"…Okay," he muttered.
"This is better."
Constant Pressure
They didn't give him time to recover.
Attack after attack came in waves.
One pressured him from the front.
The other cut off his movement.
The third watched—
Waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Different From the Arena
Lin Feng's eyes sharpened.
This is real combat…
No pauses.
No rhythm.
No fairness.
Just survival.
Adapting Fast
He changed his approach.
Stopped chasing openings.
Started creating them.
Breaking Formation
He suddenly shifted direction—
Charging straight toward the weaker opponent.
The unexpected move broke their rhythm.
"Stop him!" one of them shouted.
Too Late
Lin Feng was already there.
The weaker cultivator reacted—
But too slow.
A single punch—
BOOM!
He dropped instantly.
Two Left
Lin Feng turned.
Facing the remaining two.
Now—
Equal ground.
Their Reaction
The two exchanged a quick glance.
Something changed.
Their expressions hardened.
"Fine," one of them said.
"We'll end this together."
True Coordination
Their auras flared.
Stronger than before.
More synchronized.
They moved—
Perfectly in sync.
Pressure Multiplied
One attacked high.
The other low.
One distracted.
The other struck.
Lin Feng blocked one—
But the second hit connected.
Another impact.
Another step back.
Taking Damage
Blood ran down his arm.
His breathing deepened.
His body felt heavier now.
But—
His eyes burned brighter.
The Titan Core Responds
Inside him—
The Titan Core pulsed again.
Not wildly like before.
But steadily.
Powerfully.
Supporting him.
Stabilizing him.
Finding the Pattern
Lin Feng watched closely.
Every movement.
Every timing.
Every shift.
They're not random…
They're trained.
A Plan Forms
He exhaled slowly.
"…Alright."
The Trap
The next attack came—
Just like before.
One from the front.
One from the side.
But this time—
Lin Feng didn't block both.
Risk
He let one through.
A calculated risk.
The strike hit his shoulder—
But—
Opening Created
He stepped in.
Inside their formation.
Too close for them to coordinate properly.
Counterattack
His fist shot forward.
Fast.
Direct.
BOOM!
One of them was sent flying.
Now One-on-One
The last Core Condensation cultivator froze for a split second.
That was enough.
Final Clash
Lin Feng stepped forward.
Closing the distance instantly.
The man tried to strike—
But Lin Feng was faster.
Stronger.
More aggressive.
Decisive Blow
A single, clean punch.
Everything behind it.
Impact
BOOOOM!
The man hit the ground hard.
And didn't get up.
Silence Returns
The broken hills fell quiet again.
The fire crackled softly.
Four bodies lay scattered across the ground.
Lin Feng stood in the center.
Breathing heavily.
But standing.
Aftermath
He wiped blood from his face.
"…Yeah."
"That's done."
Inside him—
That familiar awareness returned.
Not just victory.
But growth.
Real growth.
Unexpected Presence
Then—
He felt it.
A presence.
Different.
Not hostile.
But—
Strong.
Very strong.
Someone Watching
Lin Feng turned slowly.
Toward a nearby ridge.
A figure stood there.
Silent.
Still.
Watching him.
Cliffhanger
The wind shifted.
Revealing a glimpse—
Long hair.
Flowing robes.
A sword at her side.
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…So you've been watching the whole time."
The figure didn't move.
Didn't speak.
But the pressure she gave off—
Was far beyond anything he had faced tonight.
And something told him—
This meeting…
Was not a coincidence.