Chapter 83: Clash of Geniuses
Lin Feng's gaze shifted, once again landing on those inner sect disciples.
"Are there any among you who wish to take Wenren Yan's place and come up?"
No one dared to respond, not even the four powerful individuals ranked ahead of Tong Shou.
Mad Blade Tong Shou possessed formidable offensive power. Even if they encountered him, defeating him would require considerable effort. Yet Lin Feng had only used a single sword strike, and Tong Shou's blood had splattered on the spot.
What made them even more wary was this: was the strength Lin Feng had just displayed truly his full power?
Tong Shou had only forced Lin Feng to draw his sword once. They couldn't tell how many more trump cards Lin Feng held, nor how strong he truly was.
Everyone's gaze fell upon Wenren Yan. It seemed only he could suppress this rising prodigy.
"Today's sect competition seems to have become Lin Feng's rise to prominence."
The crowd smiled bitterly. The sect competition had already lost its original meaning. Lin Feng was the sole protagonist, and everyone in the sect was witnessing his unparalleled talent together.
Watched by countless eyes, Wenren Yan's eyes narrowed once again, shooting out a venomous, chilling light that made one's heart tremble.
Today, Lin Feng had shone brilliantly. Every time Lin Feng radiated glory, Wenren Yan felt as if he had been slapped across the face, because he had constantly insulted Lin Feng, calling him trash, an ant.
Now, among the inner sect disciples, aside from himself, no one even dared to fight Lin Feng anymore. Probably many people now thought that Wenren Yan was just spouting arrogant nonsense.
After all, Lin Feng's formidable strength was plain for all to see. How could he possibly be an ant or trash?
"Wenren Yan, now is the time for you to prove to everyone whether I, Lin Feng, am truly trash and an ant in your eyes."
Lin Feng's gaze also fell on Wenren Yan. Han Man, for contradicting him, had been severely injured by Wenren Yan, who even threatened to kill Han Man if he spoke another word.
Moreover, he had claimed Liu Fei as his woman, and because Lin Feng had walked together with her, he wanted to kill Lin Feng as well.
Arrogant, unreasonable, and looking down on everyone—that was Wenren Yan.
"Since you want to kill me because you think you're stronger than me, then if I am stronger than you, I will definitely kill you too."
Lin Feng's heart was cold. Wenren Yan and Mo Xie were the same—both must die.
If Lin Feng didn't kill them, they would kill him the moment they found an opportunity.
"Ridiculous."
Wenren Yan spat out two words. He took a step forward and instantly descended onto the highest central life-and-death platform.
In that moment, everyone's gaze was filled with anticipation.
Wenren Yan, the number one inner sect disciple. Before Lin Feng appeared, he had always been hailed as the most talented disciple of Cloud Sea Sect, surpassing even Linghu Heshan and the Butcher.
Lin Feng had risen powerfully, slaughtering all who stood in his way. Because of him, outer sect elder Lu Yuan would have his cultivation crippled and be expelled from the sect. He had even declared that he would drive inner sect elder Mo Xie out of Cloud Sea Sect.
These two were now the most promising disciples of Cloud Sea Sect—two geniuses. In their clash, who would laugh last?
"Do you think that just because you killed Lei Bo and Tong Shou, you have the strength to contend with me?"
Wenren Yan's gaze was filled with deep mockery. "Killing you would be effortless for me. But you are merely an ant in my eyes. I disdain to even make a move against you. Yet since you insist on forcing my hand, I can only prove to you how ridiculous your provocation is and how pathetic your confidence is."
"I will use your blood to prove to everyone that I, Wenren Yan, am unmatched by anyone."
Arrogant, domineering, looking down on everything.
"Your nonsense is truly unmatched by anyone."
Lin Feng's sarcastic voice rang out at that moment, causing Wenren Yan's arrogant and confident gaze to freeze slightly. The venomous look in his eyes grew even more sinister.
"Enough."
At this moment, Nan Gong Ling on the viewing platform suddenly spoke, looking at the two on the life-and-death platform.
"You are both geniuses of our Cloud Sea Sect. The future of the sect still depends on you. Why must you fight to the death? Each of you take a step back. Let this be treated as a friendly sparring match between fellow disciples. Do not harm each other's lives."
Nan Gong Ling tried to stop them. Both Wenren Yan and Lin Feng were geniuses. If either of them died in this battle, it would be a loss to the sect—far too great a waste.
He didn't want anything to happen to either of them. More precisely, he didn't want anything to happen to Lin Feng.
Because Nan Gong Ling understood Wenren Yan's strength—it was too great. Even if Lin Feng's martial soul really was a sword, he still couldn't surpass Wenren Yan, because Wenren Yan's martial soul was also extremely powerful, and it was a rare type.
"Sect Leader, you've seen it too. This trash keeps forcing me to make a move. Do you think I, Wenren Yan, would be afraid of him?"
Even Nan Gong Ling's intervention couldn't shake Wenren Yan's resolve. He had to kill Lin Feng. Only then could he prove his strength. The strongest genius of Cloud Sea Sect had to be him, Wenren Yan.
Lin Feng was merely his foil.
"Lin Feng, take a step back."
Nan Gong Ling had no choice but to speak to Lin Feng.
Lin Feng smiled lightly and looked at Nan Gong Ling. "It seems the Sect Leader still doesn't trust me. Do you think I will definitely lose?"
Nan Gong Ling's gaze froze, and he shook his head with a bitter smile. "Lin Feng, Wenren Yan's strength is at the peak of the Spirit Martial Realm, Third Layer. His martial soul is the beast soul Blue Bamboo. Although your strength is formidable, defeating Wenren Yan might still take some time."
Blue Bamboo? The demon beast Blue Bamboo?
Lin Feng's pupils contracted slightly. The words "Blue Bamboo" existed in his memory—a type of snake demon beast. It wasn't large in size, but it was extremely poisonous. It had blue demon eyes, moved as fast as lightning, and its evasive ability was also terrifying.
"No wonder his gaze is so sinister and carries a blue luster. So he has the Blue Bamboo martial soul."
Lin Feng recalled the look in Wenren Yan's eyes when they narrowed. It really was like a venomous snake, making one feel uneasy all over.
But just because he had the Blue Bamboo martial soul, did Lin Feng have to be afraid?
"Sect Leader, our Cloud Sea Sect has never restricted duels between disciples. This junior has repeatedly insulted my disciple. He deserves to die. Just because he has outstanding talent, the Sect Leader protects him in every way. Where does that leave my old face?"
At this moment, a cold, eerie voice came from afar. Above the canyon, a figure descended from the sky, her steps light as if she were strolling through the air. Moments later, she landed on the viewing platform.
"Who is this? Wenren Yan is her disciple?"
The crowd stared at the old woman who had appeared. Her face was withered, her hair disheveled, giving off a sinister and terrifying feeling.
Moreover, her words dared to question even the Sect Leader, clearly indicating her extraordinary status.
There were also those who knew the inside story and recognized the old woman. They were secretly shocked. Even she had been stirred. It seemed Lin Feng was truly in for bad luck.
"Master."
Although Wenren Yan was arrogant, when he saw the old woman appear, he was still respectful—even more so than toward Sect Leader Nan Gong Ling.
"Hmm." The old woman nodded indifferently, swept her gaze over Duan Tianlang and the others, then said to Nan Gong Ling, "Sect Leader, let's not get involved in the juniors' affairs. Don't let outsiders see a joke."
Nan Gong Ling smiled bitterly repeatedly. He hadn't expected this old woman to appear either. It seemed things were getting worse and worse.
"Old woman, you told the Sect Leader not to meddle in the juniors' affairs, but what are you doing here yourself?"
At that moment, in the sky above, a crane shadow flapped its wings, stirring up a whirlwind. It too descended onto the viewing platform.
"Bei Lao."
Nan Gong Ling's bitter smile grew even deeper. The conflict between Lin Feng and Wenren Yan had even alarmed the two guardians of the sect.
"Lin Feng, what do you think?"
"Willing to fight. Life or death."
Lin Feng naturally understood what Bei Lao meant. If he said he didn't want to fight, Bei Lao would probably protect him. But today's battle was inevitable.
If he started to retreat and dared not fight after learning about Wenren Yan's martial soul, what kind of martial path would that be? Even if he truly wasn't a match for Wenren Yan, he still had to fight.
Bei Lao nodded. "If you truly want to fight, then fight. Even if you die in battle, it is your own choice. I will not interfere. Even now, you can still back out."
"No need."
Lin Feng didn't hesitate at all, shaking his head.
"Good."
Bei Lao nodded approvingly. "If you win, I will help you expel Mo Xie from the sect."
Hearing Bei Lao's words, everyone's hearts trembled. Such domineering words. If Lin Feng won, he would expel Mo Xie from the sect. It seemed that the old man guarding the Star Pavilion had an extraordinary status to make such a promise to Lin Feng.
Mo Xie's face instantly turned extremely sinister. If Lin Feng won, Bei Lao would expel him from the sect. Damn it...
Mo Xie now hated Bei Lao to the core, but unfortunately, the old man's status was even higher than his father's. He was powerless. Now he could only hope that Lin Feng would die at Wenren Yan's hands.
"Old woman, if Lin Feng loses, I won't interfere. If Lin Feng wins, you won't interfere either, will you?"
Bei Lao's gaze shifted, landing on the old woman as he asked.
"Do you think I, this old woman, am that despicable? Besides, how could my disciple possibly lose?"
The old woman stared straight at Bei Lao, confronting him head-on. Her confidence in Wenren Yan was like Bei Lao's confidence in Lin Feng.
"Then let the battle begin."
Bei Lao nodded indifferently.
Caught between the two, Nan Gong Ling smiled bitterly. The appearance of the old woman and Bei Lao had made him, the Sect Leader, seem irrelevant.
Could it be that between Lin Feng and Wenren Yan, only one could be left standing?
Nan Gong Ling was very reluctant, but now he was helpless.
The battle between Lin Feng and Wenren Yan was unavoidable.
On the life-and-death platform, two figures stood facing each other. Wenren Yan looked at Lin Feng and mocked, "I really don't understand why Bei Lao is so confident in you, believing that you can fight me. But soon, he will find out that his expectations of you are far too high."
"In front of me, you are nothing but an ant. In my presence, your so-called talent only appears laughable. I, Wenren Yan, will now prove to everyone what a true genius is."
As Wenren Yan's voice fell, an extremely sinister aura was released from his body. Behind him, a cold, venomous snake with blue eyes materialized. Although this snake was only a phantom, it already gave a tangible feeling. This was Wenren Yan's martial soul—the Blue Bamboo martial soul.