Lin Feng's ability to wound Li Ziyao in a single exchange relied entirely on his sword manipulation technique, enabling the flying sword to execute that 'impossible' attack that stunned onlookers. The blade's soul-attacking side effect further disrupted Li Ziyao, making Li Renyao's capture possible.
Yet, none of the enemies, including Li Ziyao himself, guessed the truth about the 'flying sword'. The sword's trajectory change had been minimal; it didn't scream 'remote control'. Most assumed Lin Feng had used invisible threads attached to the weapon – a rare but not unheard-of technique. Such threads allowed limited manipulation after disarming, enabling surprise attacks or retrieval.
Although not suspecting a flying sword, Li Ziyao's inner turmoil remained immense. His mind raced: "Soul attack… Was that a soul attack?! How could a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator unleash one? Unless… that artifact in his hand… is a Spirit Artifact!!"
The cultivation world categorized artifacts into tiers. Magic Artifacts and Treasure Artifacts were common, primarily sharper and tougher than mundane weapons, with little else distinguishing them. Only a few top-grade Treasure Artifacts possessed distinct elemental affinities, granting special effects – like He Wenyang's Lightning Arc Saber, a top-grade Treasure Artifact with lightning affinity, delivering electric shocks alongside physical cuts.
Top-grade Treasure Artifacts with affinities were rare among Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators. Many early Golden Core cultivators still used them. Only around mid-Golden Core did Spirit Artifacts become standard gear.
Spirit Artifacts formed the core arsenal for mid-tier cultivators. Beyond surpassing Treasure Artifacts in sharpness and durability, their defining feature was… an absolute, inherent elemental affinity!
Effects like the Lightning Arc Saber's basic paralysis were rudimentary. Spirit Artifacts could harbor far more devastating and esoteric powers unimaginable to low-level Qi Condensation or Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Li Ziyao wasn't Golden Core, but as Li Family Head, his knowledge dwarfed the average cultivator's. Recovering from the soul-rending agony, he instantly recognized the attack's nature. Soul attacks were legendarily difficult to master. The minimum requirement was Golden Core cultivation, and even that was just the baseline. Few Golden Core cultivators possessed such techniques; even Nascent Soul or higher experts capable of soul attacks were exceedingly rare.
Yet, he, Li Ziyao, had suffered one… delivered by an early Foundation Establishment cultivator! Ruling out cultivation techniques left only one explanation: the artifact's inherent power!
An artifact capable of such a heaven-defying effect had to be at least Spirit Artifact grade!!
For core disciples of major sects in powerful regions, owning a Spirit Artifact wasn't shocking. But where were they? A mere third-tier cultivation city! The strongest here were Golden Core cultivators. Even core disciples of the local powerhouse, the fourth-tier Biquan Sect, wouldn't possess Spirit Artifacts during their Foundation Establishment stage!
Yet this unknown cultivator before him, appearing out of nowhere, likely a minor rogue cultivator… possessed one!
...
Thoughts flashed through Li Ziyao's mind in an instant. Shock over the Spirit Artifact mingled with volcanic rage as he saw his son captured. His eyes blazed with murderous intent. The white sword in his hand trembled, emitting a low hum. A wave of biting cold mist erupted, plunging the courtyard's temperature.
Li Ziyao possessed an Ice Spirit Root. Ice, a rare variant of the Water element among the seven primary affinities, was inherently more aggressive. Generally, ice-based techniques surpassed water-based ones in raw destructive power at equivalent grades – though water excelled in endurance and recovery, aspects ice lacked.
"Bastard!! Release my son!!"
Seeing the formidable Spirit Artifact pressed against his son's throat, Li Ziyao's heart clenched. He roared furiously.
"You'd best calm down," Lin Feng stated icily, relieved as all hostile movements ceased. His gaze locked onto Li Ziyao. "I startle easily. If my hand slips and cuts your esteemed son's throat... that would be unfortunate."
To emphasize his point, he gave the flying sword a deliberate, tiny shake. Instantly, a thin red line appeared on Li Renyao's neck as skin parted, blood welling.
"AHH!!" Li Renyao felt as if his soul had been pierced. He shrieked, voice thick with terror. "D-Don't… don't kill me!! Father! Father, save me!!"
Li Ziyao's jaw muscles twitched violently. He ground his teeth. "Let him go!!"
"Relax," Lin Feng replied, expression unchanging. "I won't harm the young master... for now. I merely require his 'escort' for our departure. Stay put, don't make foolish moves, and once we're safely away, he'll be released."
"..."
Li Ziyao's face darkened. He hesitated for two tense seconds, then nodded sharply. "I can let you go! Release my son first!"
"Apologies," Lin Feng countered firmly. "I don't trust you. As I said, the young master sees us to safety. Then he walks free."
Ignoring any further objection, Lin Feng began dragging Li Renyao towards Zhang Fangzhou and Yao Wangtian in the center. Li Renyao, face deathly pale, offered no resistance, moving compliantly.
"Big Brother..."
Seeing Lin Feng approach, Zhang Fangzhou hurried forward with Yao Wangtian, relief and dread warring within him. While Li Renyao was a vital shield, confronting the entire Li family felt like staring down an unstoppable behemoth. Escaping today wouldn't mean safety. Unless they fled Biquan City immediately, their chances seemed bleak.
"Move!" Lin Feng nodded curtly at his companions. Without stopping, he cautiously advanced towards the main gate. The Li cultivators blocking the path hesitated, unwilling to attack yet unable to yield. They shuffled backwards, eyes darting anxiously to Li Ziyao for orders.
Li Ziyao's expression flickered wildly between rage and frustration. He yearned to strike but feared for his son's life. Resigned, he decided to let them leave for now. Once Li Renyao was safe, the hunt could begin. He was confident the Li family's reach could quickly find them, even if they fled Biquan City.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!!"
Just as Li Ziyao opened his mouth to order the gate cleared, two figures shot from behind the main hall. A blur of motion, and they stood before the gate, blocking Lin Feng's path.
"Grandfather! Second Uncle!! Save me!!"
Li Renyao reacted first, recognizing the newcomers. Hope flooded his eyes as he screamed for help.
The sudden arrivals were an elderly man in purple robes with steel-grey hair – Li Yanghui, the previous Li Family Head, Li Ziyao's father, Li Renyao's grandfather. A late-stage Foundation Establishment powerhouse who had attempted to break through to Golden Core three years prior, he was a well-known figure in Biquan City. Beside him stood a stern, thick-browed middle-aged man resembling Li Ziyao – Li Ziqing, Li Ziyao's younger brother, eighth level Foundation Establishment.
"Whose junior are you?! How dare you run rampant in the Li residence! Release my grandson immediately! Even your family elders won't save you from the consequences!!"
Li Yanghui's gaze was like honed steel, his voice a thunderous boom directed at Lin Feng.
"..." Lin Feng's brow furrowed deeper. Two more late-stage experts? He dismissed the threat and probing question coldly. "Since you know your grandson is my hostage, spare me the bluster! Let us leave. Or do you truly wish me to force you into mourning your descendant?!"
"You wouldn't dare!!"
Li Yanghui was both furious and fearful. His right hand flashed, producing a sword shimmering with purple light, poised to strike. Only Li Ziyao and Li Ziqing noticed the dull brown talisman concealed in his left hand behind his back.
Spotting the talisman, Li Ziyao's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. His grip tightened on his sword as his glare intensified on Lin Feng.
More figures poured from the inner residence – mostly Qi Condensation, but several more Foundation Establishment cultivators joined the throng. It seemed nearly the entire Li family force was assembling. Witnessing this, Lin Feng's expression turned murderously dark. A potent killing intent surged within him, barely restrained.
"Don't force me to kill!!"
Lin Feng's icy stare locked onto Li Yanghui, each word enunciated clearly. His meaning was unambiguous: it wasn't just Li Renyao's life on the line.
The situation was deteriorating rapidly. If truly cornered… he would have no choice. He would expose his flying sword's secret and carve a bloody path out!!