"Disciple, you're back. How was the warzone? How did it go?"
"It was fine, Master."
Lin Feng sat cross-legged before his master and recounted everything that had happened on the battlefield.
"Hmph! To think they tried to set you up," his master said with a low growl. "But disciple, to face an eighth-grade Xiantian expert with your current cultivation… that's truly remarkable."
"It's nothing, Master," Lin Feng replied with a light laugh. "I'm sure you were even stronger than me at my age."
"You scoundrel!" the old man snorted, though there was a faint smile in his eyes.
"Master, where's Fatty?"
"He's at the back of the peak."
Lin Feng stood and walked off, calling out, "Fatty, I'm back!"
A loud voice boomed from behind the training grounds. "Haha! Boss, you're back! I thought you were dead!"
"What do you mean dead? How could the future ruler of the lower realm die so easily?" Lin Feng grinned.
"I knew you wouldn't die that easily!" Fatty laughed, his round face glowing with excitement. "Boss, I've reached the First Grade of the Xiantian Realm!"
"Oh?" Lin Feng raised a brow. "Then let's go register as inner disciples."
"Boss, before I forget," Fatty said quickly, "a secret realm is opening soon — it happens once every five years."
"Tell me more," Lin Feng said as they walked toward the inner disciple court.
"To enter, you need to be among the top ten inner court disciples," Fatty explained. "The top five are Ninth Grade Xiantian experts, and the remaining five are Eighth Grade."
Lin Feng's eyes sharpened. "When does it open?"
"In three days."
---
The Inner Disciple Court
"Elder, we're here to register for the inner disciple exam," Lin Feng said respectfully, cupping his fists.
"Oh? You've already reached the Xiantian Realm?" the elder asked in surprise.
"Yes, Elder."
The old man handed each of them a golden robe and an identity token. "These will serve as proof of your status. Welcome to the Inner Court."
"Thank you, Elder."
They bowed and left.
"This courtyard is yours," an attendant told them later.
"Thank you."
As soon as they settled in, Lin Feng turned to Fatty with a mischievous smile. "Fatty, let's do something lively."
Fatty blinked. "Boss… what are we doing this time?"
"Announce that I'm challenging the sixth-ranked inner disciple."
"What? You're challenging an Eighth Grade expert?!"
"Don't worry about it. There's also a ten-thousand-point stake."
Fatty sighed. "Okay, Boss. I'll spread the word."
---
The Challenge Spreads
"Have you heard? Lin Feng just challenged Ouyang Yin, the sixth-ranked inner disciple!"
"Lin Feng? He just became an inner disciple!"
"I heard there's a ten-thousand-point wager!"
"Ouyang Yin agreed to the battle — it's happening in the arena!"
"Lin Feng's only a Third Grade Xiantian, and Ouyang Yin's Eighth Grade. He's going to get crushed!"
---
The Battle Arena
Crowds gathered, filling the seats.
"Ouyang Yin has arrived!" someone shouted. "Where's Lin Feng? Did he get scared?"
At that moment, Fatty ran into Lin Feng's courtyard. "Boss! Today's your battle!"
"Oh, right," Lin Feng said lazily. "I almost forgot."
He wasn't worried. Compared to the first commander he had fought in the warzone, Ouyang Yin was far weaker. His sword intent had reached the second level — enough to slay his opponent with a single stroke.
"I can even battle an ordinary Ninth Grade Xiantian now," Lin Feng murmured. "Let's go."
When he arrived, Ouyang Yin's eyes were cold. "Do you think this is a joke?"
"Sorry," Lin Feng said casually. "I almost forgot about the battle."
"You forgot?" Ouyang Yin's expression darkened. "Are you mocking me?"
The crowd roared.
"He forgot the battle?!"
"So arrogant!"
"Ouyang Yin, teach him a lesson!"
Lin Feng smiled faintly. "If you say so."
He didn't like the Ouyang family — their arrogance, their schemes.
"Hmph, sharp tongue," Ouyang Yin sneered. "So you're the one who killed Ouyang Ye and Ouyang Yun?"
"I've killed too many people," Lin Feng replied flatly. "I don't remember who they were."
Ouyang Yin's killing intent flared. "Then let's make this a life-and-death battle."
"Alright," Lin Feng said simply.
The presiding elder raised his hand. "This match is now a life-and-death battle! Begin!"
---
Ouyang Yin smirked. "Tell me, how do you want to die?"
"You talk too much."
Lin Feng moved. His sword flashed — smooth, silent, and impossibly fast. The air trembled.
Swoosh!
The light of the sword passed.
Ouyang Yin's eyes widened. He didn't even have time to scream before his head separated from his shoulders.
Gasps erupted from the stands.
"Sword intent…!"
"One move! He killed him in one move!"
"Lin Feng comprehended sword intent!"
Lin Feng looked at the corpse and muttered, "So weak. Couldn't even withstand a single swing."
---
"Lin Feng!" a furious voice shouted.
A middle-aged man stormed forward, face twisted in rage.
"Who are you?" Lin Feng asked calmly.
"You dare not recognize me? I am his master — the Seventh Elder of the sect!"
The crowd whispered.
"That's Ouyang Yin's master!"
"This is going to get messy!"
"He was your precious disciple?" Lin Feng said, his tone laced with mockery. "Then your precious disciple was too weak. He couldn't even handle one strike."
"You…!" The elder's face turned purple.
"As a matter of fact," Lin Feng continued coldly, "it was a life-and-death battle. What right do you have to interfere?"
"You'll regret this!" the elder spat.
"I probably will," Lin Feng said with a laugh, turning away. "Fatty, let's go."
Everyone stared in stunned silence as he walked off, his golden robe fluttering in the wind.
---
"Did you hear? Lin Feng has comprehended sword intent!"
"He killed an Eighth Grade expert in a single move!"
"There are only five people in the sect who've done that — now there's six!"
In a quiet courtyard elsewhere, a young man dressed in blue robes stood beneath the moonlight, his sword flickering with ethereal light. The blade itself was formed entirely from sword intent.
"This Lin Feng…" he said softly. "Interesting. To kill an Eighth Grade expert with that cultivation, and to reach the second level of sword intent... truly fascinating."
If Lin Feng had seen him, he would have been shocked — it was the same disciple who had escorted him to the warzone.
---
When Lin Feng returned to his courtyard with Fatty, they saw a young man in black robes standing before the gate.
Lin Feng froze. Recognition flashed across his eyes.
It was the same man who had admitted defeat after exchanging only a single move with him — back when Lin Feng had challenged all the outer court disciples.