"What? Fire Cloud City has been invaded?"
Lin Feng's face darkened. That was his hometown. Though he had long severed ties with the Lin family, the city was still where he had grown up — and he couldn't stand by while it was destroyed.
"They haven't fallen yet," the officer said. "But they won't be able to hold their ground much longer."
Lin Feng exhaled in relief. "Understood. Where is my team?"
The officer blinked, surprised that he agreed so easily. "Follow me. I'll take you to them."
They walked across the encampment until they reached a training ground where twenty-five men stood in formation.
"Attention!" the officer barked. "This is your new captain, Lin Feng."
The soldiers saluted, though several exchanged doubtful looks.
"Sir, who is this?" one of them muttered.
"This man will be leading you from now on," the officer replied firmly.
"What? A mere second-grade Xiantian expert as our captain?" someone scoffed.
"I object," said a tall, broad-shouldered man at the front. "Only the strongest should lead the team."
Lin Feng met his gaze calmly. "So what do you suggest?"
"If you can defeat me, I'll accept you as our captain," the man said arrogantly.
The officer frowned but decided to allow it. "Fine. Lin Feng, do you agree?"
Lin Feng smiled faintly. "Of course. If I don't show my strength, none of you will follow me."
They stepped into the open yard.
"Captain, don't worry," the man laughed. "I'll hold back so you don't get hurt."
Before the laughter faded—
Bang!
Lin Feng's figure blurred. The challenger was blasted through a wall before anyone even saw what happened.
The soldiers froze in disbelief. The man groaned, half-buried in rubble, blood trickling from his lip.
"One punch…" someone whispered.
Lin Feng stood calmly, his hand still lowered. "Anyone else wish to challenge me?"
Silence.
The officer nodded, impressed. "Are you satisfied with his strength?"
"Yes, Captain!" they all shouted in unison.
"Good. Lin Feng, familiarize yourself with your team," the officer said before leaving.
The man Lin Feng defeated walked up, now respectful. "Captain, my name is Huang Yin."
One by one, the others introduced themselves.
Lin Feng nodded. "We've been assigned to defend Fire Cloud City from invasion."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
"What? That's suicide!" one of them exclaimed. "That area is a red danger zone for small teams like ours!"
Lin Feng frowned. "Red danger zone? Explain."
Huang Yin stepped forward. "Captain, danger zones are ranked — Normal, Black, Purple, and Red. Red zones are death traps. Even Heaven Realm cultivators fall there. Our twenty-five-man team doesn't stand a chance."
He hesitated, then added, "The enemy forces there include Xiantian seventh and eighth-grade experts."
Lin Feng's expression hardened. His current strength could barely handle a seventh-grade opponent. Now he understood why the disciple had warned him — this was clearly a setup.
"They want me dead," he thought grimly.
Still, he smiled calmly. "Don't worry about it. We'll move out immediately. How long until we reach Fire Cloud City?"
"Ten days' travel, Captain," Huang Yin replied.
"Then let's go."
---
Ten Days Later — Fire Cloud City
Lin Feng sat cross-legged within the transport carriage.
I've reached the second level of the Sword of Destiny Manual, he thought. The three sword skills are now perfected, though I can't yet draw out their full power — they're Saint Realm techniques, and my cultivation is still too low. Still, with this, I can face a seventh-grade Xiantian expert head-on.
A soldier's voice interrupted his meditation. "Captain, we've reached the city!"
Lin Feng stepped outside. His chest tightened — Fire Cloud City lay in ruins. Smoke rose from collapsed buildings, the streets filled with corpses and rubble.
"Go into the city," he ordered, voice heavy. "Find out where the Lin family is."
"Yes, Captain!"
Minutes later, a scout returned. "Captain, the survivors are taking refuge at the Lin family mansion. The enemy has set up camp outside the city."
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. "Then we'll head to the mansion."
---
At the Lin Family Mansion
Inside the great hall, panic spread among the elders.
"When will our reinforcements arrive?"
"We can't hold much longer!"
"Patriarch, our help has arrived!" a guard shouted.
The Lin Family Patriarch rose quickly. "Let's go and welcome them."
Outside the gate stood the twenty-five-man team.
"Esteemed sir, where is your captain?" the Patriarch asked.
"He'll be here shortly," Huang Yin replied.
Moments later, Lin Feng stepped forward.
The elders froze.
"What? Lin Feng is your captain? Is this some kind of joke?" one of them barked.
"How dare you speak to our captain that way!" Huang Yin snapped.
Lin Feng raised a hand to calm his men. "It's fine." His gaze swept across the familiar faces. "So, you all still remember me?"
"Of course," someone sneered. "How could we forget?"
"That's good," Lin Feng said softly.
"Hmph! Don't get ahead of yourself," Lin Wang said, stepping forward. His tone dripped with resentment. "You were just a sixth-grade Mortal Realm ant four months ago. With your trash talent, you couldn't possibly have reached the Xiantian Realm."
The hall murmured in agreement.
Lin Feng smiled faintly. "So how should I convince you?"
"By defeating me," Lin Wang snorted, gripping his sword.
"Very well." Lin Feng's eyes glinted. "You're a first-grade Xiantian expert. I'll give you one move. If you can make me take even one step back, I'll admit defeat."
"You're too arrogant!" Lin Wang growled. "But since you're asking for humiliation—take my strongest strike!"
He lunged, his sword flashing with blue qi.
Boom!
The blade struck Lin Feng's chest — and shattered on impact. Lin Feng didn't move an inch.
Lin Wang staggered back, disbelief filling his eyes.
"My strongest attack… barely scratched him?"
Lin Feng looked at the faint mark on his sleeve. "That's all? Your strength is too weak."
Lin Wang's face turned pale. He wished the ground would swallow him whole.
"Are you convinced now?" Lin Feng asked coldly.
Silence filled the hall.
"Who else isn't convinced?"
The Patriarch stood up, expression stern. "Defeating my son doesn't prove anything. He's only a first-grade Xiantian. If you can defeat me — the strongest in Fire Cloud City — we'll all acknowledge you."
The crowd nodded in agreement.
Lin Feng's eyes glimmered. "Then let's fight."
The Patriarch vanished, his aura flaring like a storm—
Bang!