The battlefield fell silent as Lin Feng snatched all five rare herbs from midair and sealed them into his spatial ring in a single motion.
For a heartbeat, no one moved. Then the outrage erupted like a storm.
"How dare you!"
"Hand over the herbs, Lin Feng!"
Lin Feng turned, his expression cold as winter steel. "You talk too much," he said. His voice carried no emotion — only the calm of someone certain of his power.
He stepped forward. In that instant, his sword aura erupted like a tidal wave. The air screamed under its pressure.
"Azure Sword Art — Kill Any Under Heaven!"
A blinding arc of light split the sky.
BOOM!
Three Ninth-Grade Xiantian experts were cleaved apart before they could even react, their blood raining down as their bodies fell lifeless to the ground.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"He killed three Ninth-Grade experts with a single strike!"
"He's not human—he's a demon in human skin!"
"Disciples of the Sword Sovereign Sect, fall back!" Lin Feng commanded sharply.
None hesitated. They withdrew at once. They all knew — joining this battle meant courting death.
From across the field, the leading disciple of the Ouyang Family roared. His fists glowed with golden light as he launched himself into the air.
"Great Fist of Devastation!"
Lin Feng didn't even blink. "Hmph."
He met the attack head-on, his fist tightening until veins bulged across his arm.
BANG!
When their fists collided, the world itself seemed to shudder. A violent shockwave erupted, flattening the ground and hurling debris outward.
The Ouyang disciple was blasted backward like a broken arrow, blood spraying from his mouth before his body crashed into the dirt.
Even the top geniuses watching from afar were pale with disbelief.
"Even Ouyang Ying can't match him…" someone whispered.
Ouyang Ying staggered to his feet, blood trickling from the corner of his lips. His furious eyes met those of the other four leading disciples — a silent understanding passing between them.
"I'm not getting involved in this," said the Fire Pavilion's leading disciple, instantly retreating several paces. He had no intention of dying here.
Lin Feng's gaze briefly rested on a veiled woman among them. A flicker of familiarity crossed his eyes — but the moment passed, and his focus sharpened once more.
"Jiang Cheng of the Jiang Family. Duan Qing of the Duan Family. Yang Long of the Martial Sect," Lin Feng said evenly, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
He stood against four of the strongest young cultivators in the realm — yet his expression showed only anticipation.
His battle intent ignited like a wildfire. Sword intent and slaughter intent surged around him, coiling together in a storm that made the air itself tremble.
"He truly carries the blood of that man…" murmured an ancient voice deep within his consciousness.
Another voice gasped from the sidelines.
"He has three intents — battle, sword, and slaughter! He's a monster!"
"He's truly the God of Death!"
Lin Feng raised his sword. The light along its edge shimmered like condensed lightning.
"Azure Sword Art — Fourth Stance!"
BANG!
The explosion of energy forced all four opponents backward, their feet carving deep trenches into the earth as they struggled to maintain balance.
"Even combined, we can't overpower him!" one of them exclaimed, horror creeping into his voice.
They could hardly believe it — Lin Feng was merely a Sixth-Grade Xiantian cultivator!
"Hmph!" Ouyang Ying snarled, rage distorting his face. "Attack together! Kill him!"
"Die!"
The four unleashed their techniques at once. The air howled with murderous Qi.
Lin Feng's eyes burned with excitement. He infused all three of his intents into a single devastating blow.
"Azure Sword Art — Fifth Stance!"
BOOM!
The impact was cataclysmic. The ground fractured, and energy waves blasted away hundreds of onlookers.
Lin Feng stumbled back five steps, a thin line of blood trailing down his chin — but his aura didn't waver.
His four opponents were worse off, coughing blood as they fell to one knee.
"Impossible… he injured us again!" Duan Qing gasped, his face pale.
"I refuse to believe he can take another exchange!" Ouyang Ying growled, veins bulging on his temples. "Kill him now!"
They surged forward once more.
"Great Fist of Devastation!"
"Heavenly Sword Art — Fifth Stance!"
"Heavenly Saber Art — Fourth Stance!"
Their combined attacks shook the heavens.
Lin Feng smirked, his pupils sharp as blades. "You think you can overwhelm me?"
He clenched his fist.
"Dragon Fist!"
A deafening dragon's roar filled the sky as a colossal spectral dragon burst forth, its scales glimmering with spiritual energy. It collided head-on with their attacks.
BOOM!!!
A storm of dust and light engulfed the field. The explosion echoed across the mountains.
When the smoke cleared, Lin Feng was thrown backward, blood dripping from his lips. His robes were torn, his skin cracked, yet his eyes burned brighter than ever.
"If not for my tempered body, I'd be dead," he muttered, flexing his trembling arm.
The four leading disciples were half-buried in the shattered earth, coughing blood, their auras flickering weakly.
"His sword intent is the problem," Ouyang Ying spat.
Yang Long's eyes narrowed. "I have a treasure that can seal it."
He pulled out a black talisman, inscribed with ancient runes, and channeled his Qi into it.
Instantly, Lin Feng felt an invisible pressure lock onto him. His connection to sword intent snapped like a severed chain.
"So, you've sealed my sword intent," Lin Feng said with a low laugh. "That doesn't matter."
He lifted his sword, his killing aura flaring again. "I'll still kill you!"
His laughter rang through the valley, wild and defiant.
"Hahaha! Come then — let's see who survives!"
He vanished from sight.
SHIIING!
"Azure Sword Art — Kill Any Under Heaven!"
A burst of blinding light split the battlefield.
BANG!
All four were blasted backward again, but Lin Feng didn't stop. His body blurred like lightning as he appeared before Ouyang Ying.
"Azure Sword Art — Fifth Stance!"
Ouyang Ying's pupils shrank. "Armor!" he shouted, activating his defensive treasure. Golden light wrapped around his body — but it was too late.
CRASH!!
The sword cleaved through both armor and flesh. Blood erupted like a fountain as Ouyang Ying's body split cleanly in two.
For a moment, the battlefield was deathly still. Even the wind refused to move.
"He… he killed Ouyang Ying…" someone whispered, trembling.
"Lin Feng truly is the God of Death!" another cried out.
The remaining three top disciples froze, terror creeping into their eyes as Lin Feng slowly turned toward them, his sword still dripping with blood. His aura was like a sea of blades, pressing down on everyone's hearts.
"We have to get those herbs, no matter the cost!" Jiang Cheng shouted, desperation twisting his voice.
"Duan Family disciples — with me!"
"Martial Sect disciples, to arms!"
"Jiang Family disciples, attack!"
The ground shook as hundreds of cultivators surged forward, their weapons flashing, spiritual energy roaring like thunder.
Lin Feng tightened his grip on his sword, his lips curling into a bloodthirsty smile.
"So… the slaughter continues."