"Ah—!"Qin Feng instantly straightened up, clearly asserting that he was not a man of frivolity.
At that moment—Zi Yan's body trembled ever so slightly, as if sensing something had vanished.
In order to preserve the image of a virtuous gentleman, Qin Feng discreetly stored the little duck figurine into his portable space and feigned a look of enlightenment, pretending to be deep in epiphany.
"Uh…"When Zi Yan opened her eyes, she clutched her chest in panic.
What was happening!?Why had her intimate undergarment disappeared without a trace?
Aside from herself, only Qin Feng and Lin San remained in the cave. Qin Feng, a mere eight-year-old boy, could be ruled out immediately—what could such a child possibly understand?Moreover, he appeared to be absorbed in a spiritual awakening, which made it even more unlikely.That left only Lin San.
"Still pretending?!"Flushed red with embarrassment, Zi Yan glared at the meditating Lin San. Her anger surged wildly, driven more by indignation than shame.
She had not expected such depravity from him!
"Shameless scoundrel! Return what is mine!"Finally, Zi Yan's fury erupted. She stormed forward and gave Lin San a stinging slap across the face.
"What… what did I do!?"Lin San awoke in utter confusion, unable to comprehend her wrath.
"Zi Yan-jie, what exactly did Lin-ge take from you?" Qin Feng, too, stirred as if from sleep, donning an innocent expression.
"I…"Zi Yan could not bring herself to say the word du dou, her undergarment. Fuming with frustration, she stomped her foot and fled the cave into the night.
Ding-dong! Congratulations, Host! Successfully framed the Chosen One, earning the female's scorn. You have received 500 Villain Points!
"Thank heavens for my quick wit,"Qin Feng exhaled in relief, though he grew increasingly wary of the system's roguish tendencies.Though it clearly knew he was a man of virtue, it insisted on assigning him such scandalous skills. It was as if it intended to tarnish the noble image he had spent years cultivating.
Suddenly—Zi Yan's scream pierced the night, signaling danger.
"Something's wrong!"Lin San rushed out of the cave with sword in hand, his earlier grievance forgotten.
"You've got to be kidding me! Just earned her resentment, and now comes a chance to play the hero and gain favor?"Qin Feng scowled at the unfairness of fate. No longer bothering to feign enlightenment, he sprang forward like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, shooting into the darkness.
Aspiring to become the fastest man of the Ancient Wilderness, Qin Feng's speed was no idle boast. Even with Lin San enjoying a hundred-meter head start, he effortlessly closed the gap.
"What kind of movement technique is that!?"Lin San was stunned as Qin Feng glided past overhead.
Most movement techniques at the Extraordinary realm merely increased speed, but Qin Feng's technique rendered him light as a feather, his steps leaving no trace—he soared across the air as if flying, his toes barely tapping the trees for leverage before soaring again.
It was evident: Qin Feng's technique had already reached a preliminary form of flight.
ROAR!A thunderous growl split the night, shaking both the air and the earth.
"A spirit beast?"Qin Feng frowned, landing on the treetop.Peering from above, he saw Zi Yan being forced back by a monstrous beast that resembled a saber-toothed tiger.
It stood over six meters long, its gaping maw lined with half-meter-long fangs that gleamed like steel. Its body was covered in coarse, metallic fur.
A Saber-Toothed Demon Tiger!A ferocious beast of significant power—judging from its aura, it was of the ninth level of the Extraordinary Realm.
"Brother Qin, we'll have to join forces!"Lin San finally arrived, face pale with tension.
Due to physical and environmental advantages, spirit beasts were generally stronger than humans of the same realm—especially carnivorous ones, who were not only more powerful but also more aggressive.
Now, with him at level four, Qin Feng at level two, and Zi Yan—a so-called noble lady—at level three but utterly useless in combat, this battle was destined to be a grueling one.
"You need help with this?"Qin Feng had no intention of playing sidekick to the Chosen One while he basked in glory and charmed women.
Besides, his Great Might Dragon Chant was a divine skill born to counter demon beasts.
With a single leap, Qin Feng descended from the treetops and landed firmly before Zi Yan.
"Young Master Qin!"Zi Yan's voice quivered with emotion. Looking at his not-so-tall figure shielding her, her previously frantic heart found a strange sense of calm.
ROAR!The saber-toothed beast bellowed at Qin Feng, its icy aura flooding the forest like a tidal wave.
Sensing danger, Qin Feng wrapped his arm around Zi Yan's slender waist and leaped back, landing gracefully on a large tree.
BOOM!The beast lunged, crashing into the spot Qin Feng had just vacated. Trees as thick as thighs were reduced to splinters.
"Such terrifying speed!"Zi Yan swallowed hard. If not for Qin Feng's timely rescue, she would have become the beast's midnight snack.
ROAR!Having missed, the beast grew even more frenzied and lunged again.
"Brother Qin, stop being reckless! We must work together!" Lin San shouted in desperation.
"You're really quite annoying!"Qin Feng's eyes grew colder, their sharpness turning venomous.
As the beast's claws neared, Qin Feng drew his Skybreaker Sword with lightning speed.
Heaven-Sundering Sword Art!
CLANG!The sword rang as it was unsheathed, its flash briefly illuminating the forest.
The rampaging beast suddenly froze.
HUFF—HUFF!Qin Feng gasped for breath, his arm trembling uncontrollably.
SPLURT!A deep gash split across the beast's body, flesh torn to the bone. Blood gushed forth like a fountain.
But due to the massive gap in their cultivation, this blow failed to kill the creature—instead, it provoked its full fury.
ROARRRR!The beast let out a maddened roar, its mountainous frame charging toward Qin Feng like a juggernaut.
Trees were shattered in its path, the pressure overwhelming.
"Young Master Qin, look out!!"Zi Yan cried out, heart in her throat.
"Fear not, Qin-ge is here!"Lin San rushed forward, sword in hand—clearly aiming to steal the final blow.
"D*mn it, he's trying to steal my glory!"Qin Feng cursed inwardly, then stopped holding back. He began forming complex hand seals—
"Great Might Dragon Chant… World-Honored Kṣitigarbha…"