"Is that the Stone Fruit?" Lin Feng asked, his gaze fixed on the glowing orb nestled in a bed of spiritual mist.
"Yes, boss," Fatty said, awe in his tone.
"It really looks like a stone... just as the name suggests." Lin Feng's lips curved slightly. "Fatty, stay here. Don't move, no matter what happens."
Fatty nodded nervously.
From the ridge above, mocking laughter echoed. "Haha! The Stone Fruit is truly here!"
Yang Long turned his head. "Zhao Feng. What are you doing here?"
"Why can't I be?" Zhao Feng sneered.
Someone from the Sword Sovereign Sect shouted, "What is an invader doing here? Do you have a death wish?"
Another disciple pressed his talisman. "Report to the Elders—"
"Don't bother," Zhao Feng interrupted with a cold grin. "This area's sealed. Your communication talismans won't work here."
"Damn it!" the disciple cursed. "Zhao Feng, what do you want?"
"I'm looking for someone named Lin Feng," Zhao Feng said.
As soon as the words left his mouth, every gaze turned toward Lin Feng.
Lin Feng met Zhao Feng's eyes and sensed his cultivation. Only Fifth Grade Heaven Realm. His expression remained calm. "I'm not interested in you. You're too weak."
"What did you say!?" Zhao Feng's eyes widened in fury. "A mere Xiantian expert dares to call me weak? Do you want to die?"
Another cultivator whispered in his ear, "Don't... he killed a Fifth Grade expert earlier. One strike."
Zhao Feng froze, his arrogance cracking. After a moment, he forced a laugh. "Ah... let's forget about this. I came here for the Stone Fruit, not trouble. Consider this a small gift for my ignorance."
He tossed a spatial ring toward Lin Feng.
Everyone stared in disbelief. Wasn't he about to kill Lin Feng a moment ago? But they all understood—attacking Lin Feng was suicide.
Lin Feng caught the ring and scanned it with his spiritual sense. "Fifty Heaven-grade monster cores and twenty million purple crystals... not bad."
He looked up. "You're smart. I'll guarantee your safety during the battle for the Stone Fruit."
Zhao Feng's face stiffened. He's looking down on me! He wanted to lash out, but his instincts screamed otherwise. Instead, he forced a strained smile. "Thank you for your... kindness, Lin Feng."
"Lin Feng, you dare help an invader?" Yang Long shouted. "You traitor!"
"That's none of your business," Lin Feng said coolly. "If you can give me fifty Heaven-grade demon beast cores, I'll also guarantee your safety."
"You—!"
"Or," Lin Feng added, his eyes gleaming coldly, "you can keep barking and die."
"I'll do it," Duan Qing suddenly said, stepping forward. "I'll give you the cores."
"You're smarter than this fool," Lin Feng said.
"Duan Qing! What are you doing?" Yang Long shouted.
"I'm not ready to die yet," Duan Qing replied bluntly.
"You're a disgrace to your family!" someone roared.
"Hmph. My life, my decision," Duan Qing said.
Yang Long clenched his fists. "Fine! Lin Feng, I'll offer sixty Heaven-grade cores!"
The crowd gasped.
Both men fell silent after that. They had seen Lin Feng's power in the secret realm—his sword, his presence, the way he slaughtered Heaven Realm experts like flies. Fear sat heavy in their hearts.
"Fatty, take these spatial rings," Lin Feng said, tossing them over.
Just then—
A deep rumble shook the mountain. White light burst from the ground as the air vibrated with raw spiritual power.
"The seals are breaking!" someone shouted.
A radiant beam shot into the sky.
"It's coming from the Myriad Mountains!"
"The treasure has emerged!"
Cultivators surged forward.
"Haha! The Stone Fruit is mine!"
"Wait!" Yang Busi's voice cut sharply.
Lin Feng frowned. "Why?"
She pointed. "Look—the disciples from the top sects aren't moving."
Before he could reply—
BOOM! BOOM!
The ground exploded as massive shapes charged out of the mist.
ROAR!! ROAR!!
Over twenty Heaven-grade demon beasts stormed into the clearing, their killing intent sweeping through the valley.
"AHHH!"
"Don't kill me!"
Screams erupted as beasts tore through the crowd, crushing cultivators underfoot. Blood painted the rocks crimson.
"Attack!" someone shouted.
"The Stone Fruit belongs to me!"
The entire battlefield descended into chaos.
Lin Feng turned to his companions. "Yang Busi, Fatty—stay here. I'll retrieve the Stone Fruit."
"But—"
Before she could finish, Lin Feng vanished.
"Lin Feng's joined the battle!"
"Stop him! Don't let him reach it first!"
"Hmph."
Lin Feng appeared in midair, sword in hand. His aura surged like a tide.
"Azure Sword Art – Kill Any Under Heaven!"
A white arc of sword light cut across the valley like lightning.
BOOM!
Five Heaven Realm experts were bisected before they even realized what had happened. Their bodies fell lifelessly to the ground.
"Damn it! He's too powerful!"
"You three—stop him!"
Three cultivators launched at once, their qi flaring.
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. He clenched his fist, his veins pulsing with golden light.
"Dragon Fist!"
He punched forward.
BANG!
The air rippled as a golden dragon roared out of his fist, the shockwave blasting the trio backward. They spat blood, bodies cracking under the pressure.
"H-he's as strong as the rumors said!"
Lin Feng smirked. "Still alive? Impressive."
He slammed his fist forward again. "Dragon Fist!"
The golden dragon materialized once more, coiling through the air.
ROAR!!
It devoured two of them in a single bite, their screams vanishing in a burst of light.
"BROTHERS!" the last one howled. "You'll pay for this!"
"You'll join them soon enough."
BANG!
Lin Feng's punch shattered the man's skull, his head exploding into mist.
"Send someone stronger next time," Lin Feng muttered coldly.
From afar, a cultivator cursed. "Damn it! I spent all my resources hiring those three assassins—now they're dead within seconds!"
"LIN FENG!" someone roared. "Come face your death!"
"Attack him!"
"Kill!"
"The Ouyang Family disciples—attack!"
Lin Feng's aura flared again, his sword vibrating in his grasp. "You all want to die? Fine."
He swung his blade.
"Azure Sword Art – Kill Any Under Heaven!"
The slash exploded outward in a storm of light.
BOOM!
Blood mist filled the air as heads and limbs flew.
Within seconds, three more experts fell lifeless to the ground.
Lin Feng strode forward, only fifty meters from the Stone Fruit.
"Don't let him get it!" someone shouted. "Senior Brother—attack him now!"
Lin Feng reached out, his hand almost brushing the glowing fruit—
BANG!
A thunderous force struck him square in the chest, blasting him backward. He crashed into a boulder, blood spraying from his lips.