### Chapter 26: Have You Forgotten?
*It's him?*
Who? The five raiders froze, confusion clouding their faces. Their companion's terror seemed genuine, but why? A Level 4 Qi Refinement cultivator facing seven Level 6s—what was there to fear?
"The spell-eating kid! From two months ago—Dong Dunsheng's story!" the terrified raider stammered, pointing at Lin Yi.
The five paused, then paled. They remembered Dong's tale now—a Level 2 who devoured spells. Back then, they'd scoffed. *A Level 2? Impossible.* But now? They'd witnessed it. In two months, he'd hit Level 4. He'd killed a Level 6 with a single palm strike. His speed, his power—it was terrifying. And he'd shrugged off a spell like it was nothing.
*He really can eat magic.*
How do you fight someone impervious to spells? Brawl like mortals? But he was a cultivator—martial arts alone shouldn't stand a chance. Yet here he was.
Invincible. The thought flickered in all six minds. Retreat tempted them, but the memory of failing to capture the apple-faced woman sent shivers down their spines.
"All together! Take him down first!" The leader gritted his teeth, gambling with his life. Fleeing meant death; fighting, a sliver of hope.
"Kill him, and we finish the mission!" one raider echoed.
"If spells don't work, use artifacts!" another added.
"Idiot! Do you think I'm easy to kill?" Lin Yi sneered, glaring at the first附和者 (fùhèzhě, supporter). "If it were that simple, would I be standing here? *Kill me?* I'll bury you first!"
He lunged, palm slamming toward the raider.
The man, having seen Lin Yi's palm shatter a Level 6, dodged sideways. He slapped his storage bag, summoning an iron ring, and hurled it at Lin Yi,灌注 with spiritual energy.
The other five followed, unleashing their shoddy artifacts. No more spells—they knew better now. But their tools were shabby, barely a threat to a Level 4.
Lin Yi scoffed. The ring's glow screamed "low-grade artifact." He wanted to test his palm against it.
*Bang!*
Palm met ring. A deafening crash split the air.
Then—*crack!* The ring shattered, fragments clattering to the ground, its light snuffed out. Just scrap metal.
The five raiders froze, their artifacts mid-flight. The apple-faced woman stared, horror-stricken. *Human?*
A Level 4 shattering an artifact with his palm? If he were a Foundation Establishment elder, it would make sense. But a Level 4? They gaped, minds blank,震撼 (zhènhàn, stunned) beyond words.
Lin Yi blinked, surprised himself. *That easy?* He'd expected a struggle, not a one-palm finish. *Maybe the ring was a fake?*
But the raiders' faces told him otherwise. He threw back his head, laughing wildly. "Told you I'm not easy prey! Now—*you die first*!"
He struck again, Iron Sand Palm whistling through the air.
Confidence surged. Invincible to spells, his palms crushing artifacts—he charged like a rampaging bull, no defense needed. His toughened body laughed at their attacks. Why bother blocking?
The apple-faced woman watched, wide-eyed, her fear mixing with curiosity. *What technique does he practice?* She'd forgotten to flee, mesmerized.
The five raiders hurled their artifacts. *One he can break, but five?* They prayed for a hit.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Palm met metal, again and again. Each artifact shattered, its light dying. The raiders' faces drained of color, despair settling over them.
Spells failed. Artifacts shattered. How could they fight this?
Six Level 6s vs. one Level 4—and they were losing. It was humiliating, enraging, soul-crushing.
"Fight to the death!" The leader snarled. "Zhang Sheng—you go."
A raider, Zhang Sheng, hesitated, then stepped forward, his pace slow, weighted with dread.
"Zhang Sheng, we swear—if any of us survive, we'll care for your family," the leader vowed.
*Fight and lose. Flee and die.* Zhang Sheng's mind raced, bitterness rising. *If I must die…*
"Remember your oath. Look after them," he said, glancing back with a tragic smile. Then he charged Lin Yi, spiritual energy roaring in his veins, wild and untamed.
"What the hell?" Lin Yi stared, baffled. *I didn't say I had to kill you! I'm in a good mood—I'd let you run!*
*Crazy fanatics. Just my luck.* He shook his head, exasperated.
"Watch out! He's self-destructing!" the woman cried, panic sharpening her voice. Her higher cultivation let her recognize the signs instantly.
"Self-destruct? Dammit, who does that? It's not that serious!" Lin Yi yelped, scrambling back. He summoned a flimsy spiritual shield, desperate to get clear.
A Level 6 self-destructing was like a high-grade artifact exploding. For a Level 4, it meant重伤—maybe death. But Lin Yi had an ace: the Five Elements Technique, which absorbed even狂暴 (kuángbào,狂暴 - violent) spiritual energy. He'd forgotten to use it, though, reacting on instinct.
*Boom!*
Zhang Sheng's body detonated. Violent energy erupted,撕裂 (sīliè, tearing) the air, churning the ground around Lin Yi. Flesh and blood sprayed, painting the dawn with crimson, turning the peaceful morning into a scene of sorrow.
*"My greatest regret? Becoming a raider."*
His last words hung in the air—regret heavy, longing for life sharp.
"Dammit, he really did it!" Lin Yi cursed, retreating faster.
The five raiders watched, venomous smiles twisting their lips. *Die, you bastard.*
The woman's heart sank. *He's finished.*
But as the dust settled, a figure emerged—disheveled, but standing. Lin Yi brushed off debris, coughing. The shield was gone, but he was alive.
*Close call.* He thought, glaring at the remaining raiders. *Now you're really asking for it.*