The wind howled through the Black Forest like a beast roused from slumber.
Flashes of light streaked across the sky as geniuses from every continent converged toward the same point — a crimson glow pulsing from the heart of a vast canyon. The air was thick with the scent of spirit energy and greed.
Hovering above the gorge, Lin Feng narrowed his eyes.
At the bottom of the chasm, a pool of molten gold and scarlet boiled and hissed — pure dragon blood, radiating an oppressive ancient aura. The surrounding mountains trembled as though bowing to its presence.
Qin Xiao hovered opposite him, black robes fluttering in the violent wind, his sword humming with killing intent.
"Lin Feng," he called out, voice laced with malice, "this is where your arrogance ends. You'll die here, and your body will serve as a vessel for my cultivation."
Lin Feng smirked faintly. "You talk too much."
Qin Xiao's aura exploded outward. Flames of violet qi spiraled from his body, shaping into the form of a massive tiger with glowing crimson eyes.
"Flame-Tiger Bloodline — Manifest!"
The tiger roared, scorching the sky. The ground beneath it cracked open, magma spewing upward. The heat distorted reality, warping the air.
Lin Feng's expression didn't waver.
Within him, the nine-headed dragon stirred, each head opening its maw in silent defiance.
"Let's see who devours who," Lin Feng muttered, stepping forward.
The instant his foot met air, a thunderclap erupted.
His qi surged like a tidal wave, shaking the heavens.
"Nine Dragon Heaven-Treading Step — Second Step!"
The sky shuddered.
A colossal dragon's shadow rose behind him, all nine heads roaring in unison. The very space trembled under its might, distorting from the force of Lin Feng's aura.
Qin Xiao's lips curled. "So you really have a dragon bloodline. Perfect — I'll take it along with the dragon blood!"
He raised his sword overhead. "Flame Heaven Slash!"
A massive arc of violet flame tore across the canyon, melting the stones midair.
Lin Feng's pupils contracted to slits. "Azure Sword Art — Fifth Stance!"
His blade cut horizontally, releasing a burst of red-gold light that clashed against Qin Xiao's flame arc. The explosion that followed could be heard across half the forest. Trees disintegrated into ash, and waves of spirit pressure rolled outward like hurricanes.
The spectators far away gasped.
"They're insane! One move from either could flatten a sect!"
Dust and fireclouds swirled as the two geniuses reappeared — both still standing, neither yielding an inch.
Qin Xiao's lips twisted into a sneer. "Impressive. But let's see how long that body of yours can withstand my flames!"
He stomped down, and fire qi erupted beneath him, forming a sea of flames. From within it, countless flaming tigers materialized, pouncing toward Lin Feng from every direction.
Lin Feng raised his blade, eyes gleaming with slaughter intent.
"Azure Sword Art — Kill Any Under Heaven!"
The sword's edge blazed crimson, its light stretching across the heavens like a divine judgment.
Each tiger that came close was sliced into nothingness, their flames absorbed into the vortex surrounding Lin Feng's sword.
But Qin Xiao wasn't done.
He spread his arms, chanting, and the tiger above him fused into his body. His skin turned golden-red, his pupils beast-like. His voice became a growl.
"This is my Flame-Tiger Fusion — your end!"
He vanished, reappearing right before Lin Feng, claws slashing forward.
Lin Feng blocked the blow with his sword, sparks flying, but the force sent him skidding backward. The air around him burned his skin, yet his eyes blazed brighter.
"Not bad," he said. "But you're not the only one with a monster's power."
His aura exploded.
The nine-headed dragon behind him roared again, louder this time, shaking the heavens.
"Dragon Fist — Heaven-Devouring Strike!"
Each of the dragon's heads released a beam of energy that converged into Lin Feng's right fist. The air cracked apart as he punched forward.
The punch collided with Qin Xiao's claws — and the world seemed to split.
BOOM!!
A column of light erupted skyward, swallowing both figures. The shockwave blasted through the canyon, scattering clouds and flattening miles of forest.
When the smoke cleared, Qin Xiao was on his knees, blood spilling from his mouth. His claws were shattered, and one arm hung limply. Lin Feng stood above him, chest heaving slightly but unbowed, his gaze cold and unmerciful.
Qin Xiao tried to speak, but Lin Feng raised his sword.
"Your flames were bright," he said softly, "but they burned too short."
The sword flashed.
A red arc split the air.
Qin Xiao's body fell backward, eyes wide with disbelief as the life drained from them.
Silence reigned.
The surrounding cultivators froze, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.
"Qin Xiao… defeated?"
"He's dead! Lin Feng killed the Western Continent's number three genius!"
"How terrifying… his power surpasses even Lan Yu's!"
But Lin Feng's eyes were already locked on the glowing pool below.
The dragon blood churned violently, resonating with the nine-headed dragon within him. The bloodline inside his body screamed with hunger.
He descended slowly, each step steady, controlled.
Even the air trembled around him as he neared the pool.
When he extended his hand, the dragon blood resisted, forming tendrils of golden flame that lashed out like whips. The power within it could melt bones and annihilate souls.
But Lin Feng didn't flinch.
He released his dragon bloodline fully — the nine-headed dragon's phantom emerged, surrounding him in an aura of divine dominance.
Roar!!
Nine voices echoed across heaven and earth, shaking the clouds.
The tendrils recoiled. The pool of dragon blood quivered as if bowing before a superior being.
Then, with a thunderous sound, the blood rose in a great spiral and poured into Lin Feng's body.
The moment it entered him, Lin Feng felt fire tear through his veins. His body convulsed — every bone, every drop of blood, every nerve burned and shattered before reforming stronger. His eyes glowed crimson-gold, his aura surging beyond imagination.
The nine-headed dragon behind him bellowed triumphantly, its scales shining brighter than ever. One of its heads opened, releasing a faint trace of divine energy.
"Just a taste," the ancient voice within him whispered, awed. "That was the blood of a True Fire Dragon, a creature that could dominate even the Lower Heavens. You… you've evolved again."
Lin Feng exhaled slowly, his breath shimmering with light.
The crimson mark of the dragon on his chest pulsed once before fading into his skin.
When he opened his eyes, the forest felt smaller — the world itself seemed slower, weaker.
"Lin Feng…" Fatty and Sun Mei ran toward him from a distance, eyes wide.
He turned slightly, a faint smile ghosting across his lips. "I'm fine."
Sun Mei stared at him, sensing the immense pressure radiating from his body. "Your aura… it's completely different."
"Of course," Fatty said with a laugh that barely concealed his awe. "Our boss just became a walking calamity."
Lin Feng looked toward the sky, where clouds were still trembling from the battle.
"The path to the Higher Realm…" he murmured. "It's just begun."