Chapter 11: Crippling His Cultivation
Three days later, within Lin Feng’s room, the world’s natural energy was extremely dense, faintly shimmering with a hazy, misty luster.
Around Lin Feng’s body, the illusory Dark Martial Soul blended with the tangible world’s natural energy. If Lin Feng could see his own martial soul, he would notice that the shadow of his Dark Martial Soul seemed to have become clearer, the silhouette faintly taking on a human form.
At that moment, the world’s natural energy burst forth with a rich radiance, then all of it surged into Lin Feng’s body. His eyes snapped open abruptly, a sharp light flashing within them. The aura emanating from his entire being had also grown significantly stronger.
“Using three Returning Origin Pills, I’ve finally managed to smoothly advance to the Eighth Layer of the Qi Martial Realm.” A hint of a smile flickered in Lin Feng’s eyes. He had originally been only at the mid-stage of the Seventh Layer of the Qi Martial Realm, not at its peak, and still some distance from the Eighth Layer. Three Returning Origin Pills had allowed him to break through—it was worth it.
“Now, if I were to fight against a martial artist at the Ninth Layer of the Qi Martial Realm, I should have quite a few tricks up my sleeve.” When he was at the Seventh Layer of the Qi Martial Realm, using the Ninefold Wave, his force was only eight thousand five hundred jin. Using the Thunderclap Sword Technique, his destructive power could vaguely approach nine thousand jin. But others also cultivated martial techniques, so in terms of realm, he had been completely suppressed by martial artists at the Ninth Layer of the Qi Martial Realm. Now, however, he was confident he could fight.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Feng walked out of his room. It was late morning, and the autumn sunlight fell upon him, carrying a gentle warmth.
“Waste, you finally dared to come out.”
A voice rang out, shattering Lin Feng’s good mood.
“Lin Heng.” Lin Feng turned his gaze and saw Lin Heng standing a few dozen meters away, arms crossed, back turned to him, looking utterly lazy.
The Cloud Sea Sect had rules: fellow disciples were not allowed to forcibly enter another’s room or make noise outside, as many people liked to cultivate indoors, and being abruptly interrupted could have serious consequences. Thus, this rule was strictly enforced, and Lin Heng dared not break it. That was why he had waited outside for Lin Feng for two days.
Turning around, Lin Heng fixed his gaze on Lin Feng, killing intent flashing in his eyes. Three days ago, he had received a letter from home. In it, his father said that the waste Lin Feng had actually injured his younger brother, Lin Yun, and had insulted both his father and his brother, telling Lin Heng to find a way to deal with Lin Feng.
“I heard that after you came back to life last time, your cultivation improved quite a bit. Do you dare to come with me to the Wind Cloud Gorge for a fight?” Lin Heng said coldly.
Lin Feng sneered inwardly. Last time, Lin Heng had tricked him into going to the Wind Cloud Gorge. As soon as he entered, Lin Heng had beaten him half to death, leaving him barely breathing. But he hadn’t killed him, because the sect had a rule that disciples could not kill fellow sect members unless they were on the Life and Death Platform.
In truth, beating Lin Feng half to death was already a violation of the sect’s rules. But Lin Feng was just a waste at the Fifth Layer of the Qi Martial Realm, while Lin Heng was at the Eighth Layer. Who would bother to care? The strong rule—that was the main theme of this world, as well as its unspoken rule. Rules were dead, but people were alive.
“This grudge—it’s time to settle it.” A strange smile curled at the corners of Lin Feng’s mouth. The previous Lin Feng had died because of Lin Heng, allowing him to take over this body. Today, he would help his former self wash away this shame.
Raising his foot, Lin Feng walked straight ahead into the distance.
“Waste, are you scared?” Lin Heng sneered when he saw Lin Feng ignoring him.
“Didn’t you say we were going to the Wind Cloud Gorge?” Lin Feng’s indifferent voice drifted back, making Lin Heng pause for a moment. Then a cruel smile spread across his lips. A waste was a waste—he had almost died last time, yet he was still this stupid. This time, he would give Lin Feng absolutely no chance. Even if he didn’t kill him in the Wind Cloud Gorge, once Lin Feng left the Cloud Sea Sect heavily injured, he would strike the killing blow.
There were many corridor passages leading to the Wind Cloud Gorge, as well as iron chains spanning from above down into the gorge. Those skilled in lightness techniques could leap directly down from above the gorge.
With Lin Feng’s current strength, he could easily jump down using his lightness technique, but he didn’t. Instead, he slid down the iron chain into the Wind Cloud Gorge. If he showed off too advanced a technique and scared Lin Heng, that wouldn’t be good.
“A waste is a waste—still needs external help to enter the gorge.” Lin Heng sneered. Locking onto Lin Feng’s landing spot, he leaped into the air, spreading his arms like a roc spreading its wings, descending directly from a hundred meters high. His technique was graceful and agile. Just before landing, he lightly twisted his toes and landed steadily in the gorge, his feet sinking a foot into the ground.
“What a superb technique! Who is that?” Someone above the gorge saw Lin Heng jump down and couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
“I know him. That’s Lin Heng, at the Eighth Layer of the Qi Martial Realm. Very formidable,” another person replied.
Martial artists had excellent eyesight and hearing, so even from a hundred meters high, they could see the figures in the gorge, albeit somewhat blurry.
At this moment, Lin Feng and Lin Heng landed on a sand dune in the gorge. The surroundings were barren. Some sect disciples passing by saw the two and stopped, watching the confrontation between Lin Feng and Lin Heng with interest.
“Heh, I really didn’t expect a waste like you to dare come down. Last time, you didn’t die completely. Today, I’ll make you die again.” Lin Heng laughed—a wild, arrogant laugh. Once Lin Feng stepped into the Wind Cloud Gorge, his life and death were in Lin Heng’s hands. Because he was stronger than Lin Feng.
“You can try.” Lin Feng didn’t bother to say more. Lin Heng had tried to kill him several times. Today, old scores and new ones would be settled together.
“A waste dares to be this arrogant. Just because you defeated my brother Lin Yun, you think you’re something. Today, I’ll show you how formidable the Eighth Layer of the Qi Martial Realm is. You, Lin Feng, are still a waste.”
As Lin Heng spoke, he stepped forward and moved toward Lin Feng. It was a very simple punch, aimed directly at Lin Feng’s face. In his eyes, a waste like Lin Feng could be dealt with in one punch.
Lin Feng raised his hand, his palm shooting out, and caught Lin Heng’s fist.
Seeing this, Lin Heng sneered. This waste actually thought he could block his fist with his palm? Was that possible?
“Break!” A white light burst from Lin Heng’s hand, and powerful force surged from his fist. He intended to shatter Lin Feng’s palm with his fist.
“You’re overthinking it.” Lin Feng said calmly, unleashing an even more domineering force from his palm. In that instant, Lin Heng felt as if he were facing a violent storm in a vast ocean—fierce and unstoppable. Not only was his own power neutralized into nothing, but the surging force also spread from his fist up his arm, causing his right hand to swell. It was both firm and yielding, blending hardness and softness.
“How is this possible?” A storm raged in Lin Heng’s heart. Feeling the unparalleled pressure coming from his hand, he quickly retreated. The force was like a tidal wave, growing more intense with each moment.
“Want to retreat now?” Lin Feng’s face was cold with icy intent. His hand tightly gripped Lin Heng’s fist, and his body pursued Lin Heng closely, their forms almost maintaining the same distance.
“Crack!” The crisp sound was drowned out. Lin Heng felt an unbearable swelling pain in his arm, as if his tendons and bones were about to explode. He wanted to release his fist, but he couldn’t. He wanted to use his technique to get away from Lin Feng, but he couldn’t do that either. Because Lin Feng’s technique was in no way inferior to his—in fact, it was even stronger—allowing him to stay so close.
Seeing the cold smile on Lin Feng’s face, so close to his own, a sudden, intense fear surged in Lin Heng’s heart. Was Lin Feng toying with him?
When had this waste surpassed him? Lin Feng felt as if his mind was about to collapse.
“Time to end this.” Lin Feng smiled coldly. The Ninefold Wave fully erupted, unleashing nearly nine thousand jin of force, all of it crashing down on Lin Heng. It struck him like a heavy hammer, sending him crashing to the ground. At the same time, fresh blood sprayed from his mouth. His arm was wracked with excruciating pain—his tendons and bones had burst.
“You are my third uncle’s son, my cousin, after all. But your family colluded with Lin Ba Dao, coveting the position of family head, disregarding family ties, insulting me time and again, and even trying to take my life twice. Since you have no mercy, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
Lin Feng looked down at Lin Heng, lying on the ground, and said coldly. To those who sought his life, he would only repay them in kind.
“No, Feng Di, I’m your cousin! Spare me!” Feeling the chill emanating from Lin Feng, Lin Heng naturally understood the situation he was in now and cried out in panic.
“When you wanted my life, did you ever think I was your cousin?” Lin Feng wasted no more words. The Ninefold Wave blasted out, landing directly on Lin Heng’s body. Lin Heng let out a miserable scream, his face as pale as paper.
“I’ll cripple your cultivation. Now, you’re a true waste.”
Lin Feng waved his hand and turned to leave. The martial artists at the Eighth Layer of the Qi Martial Realm watching from a distance saw Lin Feng’s ruthlessness and quickly moved far away. Crippling someone’s cultivation was even more painful than taking a martial artist’s life.
“Lin Feng! You crippled my cultivation! You’ll die a horrible death!” Lin Heng roared with venomous hatred, utter despair in his heart. Now, he had become a complete waste? He hated—hated Lin Feng and his father. At the same time, he regretted not waiting a few more days before making his move. His cousin, Lin Qian, had already become a Spirit Martial Realm powerhouse, her martial soul having undergone its true awakening. She was valued at the Hao Yue Sect. Upon learning that Lin Hai had injured her father, Lin Ba Dao, Lin Qian was preparing to come to the Cloud Sea Sect to personally kill Lin Feng.
But he had thought he could finish Lin Feng off on his own, leading to this situation. Lin Heng—he hated it.