Chapter 82: The Rising Genius
The inner disciples standing on the life-and-death platforms all wore cold expressions, especially those ranked in the top twenty.
They all considered themselves geniuses of the sect, proud and unruly, but at this moment, Lin Feng stood on the highest life-and-death platform, speaking arrogantly, declaring that he would challenge any of them single-handedly.
However, many of them were wary of Lin Feng's strength, especially those ranked close to Lei Bo. Lin Feng's strength was formidable; being able to kill Lei Bo meant he could threaten them as well.
What made them even more cautious was that Lin Feng had not released his martial soul from start to finish. If his martial soul were a sword, once released, his strength would surely skyrocket, making him even more terrifying.
Thus, for a moment, no one responded to Lin Feng's challenge. The space fell into dead silence, broken only by the occasional whistling of sword energy on the platform where Lin Feng stood, the lingering resonance of the sword still present.
"Wenren Yan, you called me trash, an ant, said you could kill me easily, and demanded I kneel and beg you. Now, I'm giving you the chance to kill me. What are you still doing over there?"
Lin Feng's gaze fell on Wenren Yan, his calm voice stirring waves in everyone's hearts.
Lin Feng's words were shocking, never ceasing to amaze.
With one sentence, he challenged the strongest inner disciple, the number one ranked Wenren Yan.
Wenren Yan was at the peak of the Spirit Martial Realm, Third Layer. Although he was at the same cultivation level as Lei Bo, no one would ever compare Lei Bo to Wenren Yan. Lei Bo didn't even have the qualifications to challenge Wenren Yan; they were worlds apart—one in the heavens, the other on the ground.
Having the same cultivation level didn't mean equal strength. Just like Lin Feng, who was only at the Spirit Martial Realm, Second Layer, but which Second Layer cultivator dared to challenge him? Even Lei Bo, at the Third Layer, had died by his hand. At the same cultivation level, combat power could differ by millions of miles.
Wenren Yan was like Lin Feng—those at the Spirit Martial Realm, Third Layer, were utterly helpless before him. Even many core disciples at the Spirit Martial Realm, Fourth Layer, feared him.
"You overestimate yourself. Do you think that just because you killed Lei Bo, you can contend with me? Lei Bo doesn't even have the right to carry my shoes. In my eyes, he's no different from you—trash, an ant."
Wenren Yan looked down at Lin Feng with contempt. This guy, relying on his mediocre talent, dared to provoke him? He was seeking death. Talent was talent, strength was strength. In front of him, Lin Feng was still trash.
"Are you spouting all this nonsense just to show off how great and powerful you are?"
Lin Feng understood Wenren Yan's intention perfectly and sneered, "You don't have to go to such lengths. Since you claim to be so strong and I'm just an ant or trash in your eyes, then step up here and obliterate me with absolute power. That would make your strength clear to everyone and engrave your authority in their minds. That's what counts—not standing down there and farting like you are now."
"Anyone can talk big. Before I killed Lei Bo, he also called me trash and boasted about how strong he was. And what happened in the end?"
Lin Feng's words were full of provocation, but he was speaking the truth. Anyone could talk big, couldn't they?
If Wenren Yan stepped onto the life-and-death platform and crushed Lin Feng with overwhelming force, it would undoubtedly elevate his image to new heights.
However, Wenren Yan did not do so. He was arrogant and conceited.
In his eyes, Lin Feng was an ant. Since he was an ant, why should he bother to act? He could have Lin Feng killed with just a word—wouldn't that make him seem even more authoritative?
Glancing at the people around him, Wenren Yan spoke haughtily.
"Which one of you will go kill him? I will reward you handsomely."
Hearing Wenren Yan's words, many eyes flickered with sharp light. Everyone knew who Wenren Yan's master was. When Wenren Yan spoke of a generous reward, they could roughly guess what it meant.
Pills. Wenren Yan had no shortage of pills, and some of them held a fatal allure for others.
"I'll go kill him." A figure stepped forward. This person was also very young, around seventeen or eighteen, with sharp, knife-like eyes and an overbearing aura.
"Mad Blade, Tong Shou."
"It's him. Lin Feng is in danger now."
The crowd immediately recognized this person. If there were two most famous inner disciples after the Butcher advanced to the core, aside from Wenren Yan, the other was undoubtedly Mad Blade Tong Shou.
Although Tong Shou was only ranked sixth on the stone wall, with four people between him and Wenren Yan, no one doubted that Tong Shou would surpass those five.
This was because Tong Shou's martial soul was a blade—a domineering blade. If he only had a blade martial soul, Tong Shou wouldn't be so dazzling. However, Tong Shou was the only inner disciple who had comprehended momentum—blade momentum—which clashed directly with Lin Feng's sword momentum.
Although Tong Shou's understanding of blade momentum wasn't as strong as Lin Feng's sword momentum, and there was even a gap between them, Tong Shou's strength at the Spirit Martial Realm, Third Layer, was enough to compensate for this weakness.
Tong Shou versus Lin Feng was a perfect counter.
"Good. Don't kill him immediately. Leave him with a breath of life, make him kneel before me, and let him understand before he dies that he can't even defeat you. How great is the gap between him and me?"
Wenren Yan said calmly.
"Don't worry, I understand."
Tong Shou nodded slightly, leaped up, and landed on the highest life-and-death platform, standing opposite Lin Feng.
Reaching behind his back, Tong Shou took down the long blade wrapped in cloth, then slowly unwrapped it, saying, "It's been a long time since I last used this blade. You should feel honored to die by it."
"Does that mean you want a life-and-death battle?"
Lin Feng asked calmly.
"Do you think I have time to play with you?"
Tong Shou glanced sideways at Lin Feng, his gaze domineering, like a blade.
The cloth finally came off, revealing the ancient scabbard. Tong Shou caressed the scabbard gently, as if treating his lover.
"The blade is powerful, domineering, and unparalleled. It is the strongest among weapons. The blade martial soul is also the strongest weapon martial soul."
"I've only ever heard that the sword is the king of weapons. This is the first time I've heard that the blade is the strongest."
Lin Feng questioned.
"What do you know? The sword is light and has no presence at all. How can it compare to the blade? Today, I'll show you what a blade truly is and what it means to be the king of weapons."
A domineering dragon's roar rang out as the long blade left its sheath, exuding an overbearing aura. The wild, fierce momentum surged forward like a flood or a beast, ready to devour everything.
"Blade momentum."
Lin Feng's gaze sharpened. No wonder this guy was so arrogant and domineering—he had also comprehended momentum. But this blade momentum was far too weak.
A surging sword momentum roared forth, and the space seemed to echo with the clash of weapons. On the life-and-death platform, the fierce and sharp gusts raged, carving fine marks into the extremely hard surface.
"Blade momentum and sword momentum—how terrifying."
Many people near the life-and-death platform stepped back. Standing nearby was too oppressive, as if the sword and blade momentum could descend upon them at any moment, tearing them to shreds.
"But Tong Shou's blade momentum seems more domineering. After all, he's a Spirit Martial Realm, Third Layer expert, higher in cultivation than Lin Feng. It looks like Lin Feng has met his match this time."
"Do you still think the sword can compare to the blade now?"
Tong Shou looked at Lin Feng, pride in his voice.
"Ignorant."
Lin Feng didn't answer Tong Shou's question but instead mocked him.
"I'm ignorant? Fine, I'll make you understand who's really ignorant."
As Tong Shou's words fell, his blade momentum surged again, filling the life-and-death platform with an overbearing aura, as if trying to engulf the sword energy.
"Martial soul, Heavenly Radiance."
Lin Feng whispered in his heart, and instantly, heaven and earth changed.
The world turned gray. Everything around became incredibly clear, and even every strand of blade and sword energy was vividly captured by Lin Feng.
His pupils gradually turned cold and emotionless, as if they could see through everything, unfathomably deep.
"The blade is the king of weapons, domineering and unparalleled. The sword can only submit before the blade."
Tong Shou stepped forward, and heaven and earth shifted. The terrifying blade momentum dominated the world.
In an instant, Tong Shou appeared before Lin Feng. An overwhelmingly domineering blade strike descended from the air, its power reaching its peak, like a great mountain pressing down on Lin Feng.
"Chop!"
Tong Shou roared, as if about to split heaven and earth.
Lin Feng's eyes remained calm, his emotionless pupils showing no ripples as he completely ignored the domineering blade.
An invisible sword light moved forward, following the weakest point of the blade momentum—fast, incredibly fast.
"Boom."
Nangong Ling's mind trembled as he stood up from his seat. Tong Shou's blade had already descended, unstoppable and lightning-fast. The sword momentum was being continuously destroyed. In just an instant, it would land on Lin Feng. But this guy didn't dodge; instead, he counterattacked with his sword.
Although his sword was light and agile, its momentum wasn't as strong as Tong Shou's. The time it took for the sword momentum to break through the blade momentum would certainly be longer than Tong Shou's. How could this strike possibly succeed? Before the sword could reach him, he would already be cut in half by the blade.
In that extremely brief moment, countless thoughts flashed through Nangong Ling's mind. Was this rising young genius about to be slain just like that?
Lin Feng was too impulsive. He should have avoided the sharp edge.
Tong Shou sneered as well. He hadn't intended to kill Lin Feng so easily, but Lin Feng was asking for it. He wanted to strike after Tong Shou had already acted. Didn't he know that his blade momentum had already crushed Lin Feng's sword momentum, and the speed of his blade would definitely be faster than Lin Feng's sword?
Foolish!
Tong Shou could almost see Lin Feng being cut in two by this strike.
The crowd stared intently at this scene. Their breathing stopped in that moment, their eyes fixed only on that one blade and one sword.
Finally, the blade light dissipated, the sword energy vanished, and everything came to a halt.
Tong Shou's blade was a foot above Lin Feng's head. Lin Feng's sword was a foot beside Tong Shou's body.
Their bodies froze in that moment, eerily still.
A gentle breeze blew, bringing a hint of chill. Someone coughed, breaking the terrifying silence.
"Who? Who won between them?"
Someone asked, uncertain of the outcome. The blade light and sword radiance were too fast, too fast for their eyes to follow.
Tong Shou's lips moved, making everyone's hearts jolt. Had the rising young genius been slain by Tong Shou?
"How did you do it?"
A voice came from Tong Shou's mouth, filled with disbelief.
At that moment, Lin Feng's body moved slightly as he spoke slowly.
"Blade momentum and sword momentum are both forms of momentum. They can aid in battle and enhance attacks, breaking through like a bamboo. But that's all they do—aid in battle. My sword isn't meant to compete in momentum. It's meant for killing."
Lin Feng straightened up. Suddenly, blood gushed from Tong Shou's waist, causing everyone's eyes to freeze there.
"I understand." As Tong Shou's voice fell, his eyes slowly closed, and his body gradually collapsed.
With a loud crash, the crowd's minds buzzed.
Tong Shou had lost. Another genius had been slain by Lin Feng.
"How terrifying."
Looking at that figure, the crowd felt as if they were in a dream. Lin Feng was rising with unstoppable force, killing gods and Buddhas alike. No one could stop his advance. The stronger the opponent, the stronger he became.
"Whoosh..." Nangong Ling let out a long breath, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Another genius of Cloud Sea Sect had fallen, merely to witness this guy's rise.
The price was far too great.
But despite some regret in his heart, Nangong Ling felt gratified. From Lin Feng, he saw an overbearing spirit and the shadow of a supreme powerhouse.
Such dominance, such arrogance—who could rival it?
He began to believe Lin Feng's words: given time, ten or a hundred Mo Xie wouldn't be worthy of comparison with him.