"There's nothing I need in this spatial ring," Lin Feng muttered, sifting through its contents with his divine sense. "Still, I can sell these off later."
Just as he was about to close it, something caught his eye — an oddly shaped armor tucked deep within. Its surface shimmered faintly, runes flickering across it like living fire.
"There's something… strange about this armor," he murmured.
"Drip your blood on it," came the deep, ancient voice echoing in his mind.
Lin Feng raised an eyebrow. "Alright."
If that ancient being found something special, it had to be valuable. He sliced his palm with his sword and let a drop of blood fall onto the armor.
BOOM!
An explosive force erupted. Lin Feng was blasted backward, crashing hard into the ground. His vision blurred, and everything went dark.
The armor floated above him, glowing brilliantly. Waves of ancient symbols spiraled out, beams of light piercing through the sky before condensing into a pillar that sank into Lin Feng's chest.
The ancient voice trembled. "He… he truly carries the blood of that man…"
It went silent for a moment, almost fearful to continue.
"But how could this be possible? How could he have that man's bloodline?"
Moments later, Lin Feng stirred. He groaned softly, pushing himself up from the ground. The world spun for a moment before steadying.
"What happened…? Where's the armor?" he muttered, scanning the area. The sky was calm again, and the armor was gone.
"Check inside your dantian," the ancient voice advised.
Lin Feng closed his eyes and extended his divine sense inward. Within his dantian, a faint light shimmered. Floating at its center was the armor — pulsing softly, almost alive, like an unborn child within its mother's womb.
"So it's inside my body now," he murmured in wonder. He tried calling out to it, but it remained still, unresponsive.
"You're too weak to summon it," the ancient voice said. "Only when you reach the God Realm will you be able to bring it forth."
"I see," Lin Feng nodded thoughtfully. "Then this will serve as another hidden trump card until I reach that stage."
Just then, his communication talisman in the spatial ring vibrated.
"Senior Brother Lin Feng! We've found a Grade Four pill!"
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. "Where are you?"
"We're… in the northern ruins," the voice crackled.
In this world, pills and herbs were classified by grades — from Grade One to Grade Six and beyond. The highest quality that could be refined in the lower realm was Grade Six; anything higher belonged to the divine alchemists of the upper realms.
---
A short time later, Lin Feng arrived.
"Where's the pill you mentioned?" he asked.
The Sword Sovereign disciples pointed to an ancient building ahead. "Inside there, Senior Brother. But there are over thirty eighth-grade Xiantian experts guarding it. We couldn't even get close."
"What kind of pill is it?"
"A Nine Solar Pill," one replied nervously.
Lin Feng's eyes lit up. "A Nine Solar Pill… that can raise one's cultivation by a full grade. I need it." He smiled faintly. "We'll split it seventy-thirty."
"Understood, Senior Brother."
Without hesitation, Lin Feng stepped into the crumbling structure.
The moment he entered, countless eyes turned toward him.
"Isn't that the guy who defeated an eighth-grade expert with a slap?"
"He's the one. I heard he's only third-grade Xiantian!"
Before anyone could act, a golden glow filled the hall.
"The pills are appearing!" someone shouted.
Ten radiant Nine Solar Pills emerged from the ancient altar, floating midair, surrounded by swirling golden aura.
In the blink of an eye, Lin Feng's figure blurred. When he reappeared, all ten pills were gone—neatly stored inside his spatial ring.
"What?! How could you take all of them?!" someone roared.
"Too greedy!" another spat.
"Heartless bastard!"
Lin Feng turned his head slightly, eyes cold. "If you have the strength… come take them."
"Don't think you're invincible just because you beat one eighth-grade expert!" a Martial Sect disciple growled. "There are thirty of us here! Do you think you can handle us all?"
"Haha…" Lin Feng chuckled softly, his hand resting on his sword hilt. "You can all come together."
"Arrogant!"
"I'll test him first!" one man shouted and charged forward.
Swoosh!
A single flash of sword light — then silence. The man's body froze midair before splitting apart, blood spraying like rain.
"He killed him… with one strike…" someone whispered in horror.
Several disciples immediately backed away. "We're leaving," they muttered, retreating toward the exit — yet lingering just outside to watch.
"Don't falter! If we attack together, he can't block us all!" a bold voice cried. "He must've been injured blocking our earlier attacks!"
Their courage rekindled, they all surged forward.
Lin Feng's expression didn't change. "You're all truly eager to die."
He clenched his fist.
Dragon Fist!
A deafening roar shook the building. A golden phantom dragon materialized behind him, its eyes blazing with fury. The dragon surged forward, swallowing the incoming attacks in a single breath.
BOOM!
The ground cracked apart. Several cultivators were thrown backward, vomiting blood.
"Impossible! Our combined attacks… swallowed whole?!"
Lin Feng stood calmly amid the debris, his robes fluttering. "So this is the strength of your so-called top powers?"
"Don't give up! He's injured! Attack!"
Lin Feng's eyes turned cold. "Fools."
He raised his palm.
Cloud Palm — Split the Sky!
A massive spectral hand appeared above, its shadow engulfing the battlefield. It crashed down, consuming their techniques once more.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The entire building exploded into rubble. Dust filled the air. Blood painted the shattered ground.
Dozens of figures lay sprawled, groaning and broken.
"Please! Spare us! You can have all the pills!" one begged.
Lin Feng's gaze was ice. "From the moment you tried to kill me, your fates were sealed."
He lifted his sword.
Azure Sword Art — Kill Any Under Heaven!
A dazzling arc of sword light cleaved through the air.
Bang!
Hiss! Hiss!
Blood mist filled the ruins.
"Ahhhhhhhh!" agonized screams echoed as cultivators tried to flee.
"Lin Feng! Don't kill me! I'm a disciple of the Fire Pavilion!" someone shouted desperately.
"Who cares?" Lin Feng replied coldly.
Swoosh!
Silence followed.
When the dust settled, Lin Feng stood alone in the ruins, surrounded by corpses. Blood soaked his robes, and his sword dripped crimson under the dim light.
At that moment, he looked like a god of slaughter — silent, merciless, unshakable.