Chapter 1931: Arrogant Words
The brand of death, accompanied by the Death Black River, submerged Zong Que's body and also drowned his life. The crowd watched the rolling black river in the void, feeling a great surge within their hearts.
"If I want you dead, then you shall die." Following his earlier disrespectful words to Ji Shang, Lin Feng once again issued his strongest declaration, and he was using his actions to prove his words. The black river of death engulfed Zong Que. As the crowd stared at the black river, only one thought echoed in their minds: Was Zong Que alive or dead?
A rumbling sound echoed as the black river rolled downward, then gradually dissipated as the Death Dao Intent. In the void, a powerless body slowly fell downward, devoid of any life force—already a corpse.
Zong Que, ranked fifth on the Heavenly King-Sealing List, leader of the Rock Gate, had fallen in battle.
And the one who killed him was Lin Feng, a figure from the lowest ranking of the Hidden King List: the Human List.
At this moment, the entire vast space seemed to fall silent. It wasn't just Zong Que's death; the members of the Rock Gate and the Moon Gate had also been almost completely wiped out. Heavenly Terrace, a newly risen force that had been oppressed and humiliated by the Ji Gate and the Rock Gate, had roared back after Lin Feng's return. And this happened on the very day of Ji Shang's enfeoffment as king, before the Enfeoffment Platform. Today was supposed to be a day of glory belonging solely to Ji Shang. Yet now, the halo of glory surrounding the newly enfeoffed king seemed dimmed by the fierce display of Lin Feng and the people of Heavenly Terrace.
The faces of the Ji Gate members were extremely ugly. Now, aside from the Sun Gate, the Moon Gate and the Star Gate were essentially crippled. The Rock Gate was also nearly erased from the War King Academy. And this battle had taken place during Ji Shang's Enfeoffment Ceremony, in front of all the assembled heroes. For the Ji Gate, this was an indelible disgrace.
Many eyes turned toward the direction of the Xuantian Ancestor. On the Enfeoffment Platform, the expressions of the War King Academy's strong practitioners remained calm. Even though the Moon Gate and Rock Gate had been nearly wiped out, it did not shake their resolve. Since the Moon Gate and Rock Gate had taken the initiative to provoke and oppress Heavenly Terrace, only to be eliminated by Heavenly Terrace's strength, it was their own incompetence. In the cruel world of martial arts, they were destined to be the backdrop for others' rise. If Lin Feng and his group had been weak and died, it wouldn't have caused even a ripple in their hearts. The weak would have been completely buried—that would have been the price of choosing to disrupt the Enfeoffment Ceremony. But Lin Feng and his group had won, and won so brilliantly and dominantly that it undoubtedly earned the attention of these old men. Beneath their calm faces, there was a considerable stir in their hearts. This young man, seemingly at the Low-rank Emperor realm, was actually a Mid-rank Emperor in cultivation. His comprehension of the Dao was even stronger than Zong Que's, allowing him to obliterate the fifth-ranked figure on the Heavenly King-Sealing List.
Lin Feng had long understood this hidden rule of the martial world. That was why he hadn't chosen another time to fight. Instead, he chose Ji Shang's Enfeoffment Ceremony—to let their glory bloom at the most critical moment, earning the academy's respect. Otherwise, what had happened on the battle platform last time could easily repeat itself.
A thud sounded as Zong Que's corpse hit the ground. Lin Feng's cold, deathly eyes indifferently swept over the body, and he said calmly, "Shi Haotian, weren't you quite arrogant that day too?"
This calm voice slowly spread through the void, causing everyone's pupils to contract again. All eyes turned toward one of the Ji Gate's strong practitioners.
The fourth-ranked figure on the Heavenly King-Sealing List, the second strongest of the Ji Gate—Shi Haotian.
That day, it was Shi Haotian and Zong Que's conversation that had led to Zong Que's attack. The one pulling the strings behind the Moon Gate was none other than Shi Haotian.
Shi Haotian met Lin Feng's deathly gaze and felt his expression stiffen. Looking at Zong Que's lifeless body, his heart trembled slightly. He clearly hadn't expected Lin Feng to return with such overwhelming force, bringing the people of Heavenly Terrace to appear on the battle platform of the Enfeoffment Ceremony.
"Dong!" Light flashed as Lin Feng's palm pressed toward the void. In an instant, a massive golden character for "contract" appeared in the air, radiating dazzling brilliance. At the War King Academy, the Life-and-Death Contract sealed life and death.
This Life-and-Death Contract was naturally prepared for Shi Haotian.
"Although Shi Haotian is ranked fourth on the Heavenly King-Sealing List, after Zong Que comprehended the power of the Dao, their strength was roughly equal. Shi Haotian is definitely not much stronger than Zong Que. But Lin Feng's obliteration of Zong Que was shocking and overwhelmingly dominant. If Shi Haotian accepts the Life-and-Death Contract, he will likely find it hard to escape death."
The crowd speculated silently. Based on the terrifying combat power Lin Feng had just displayed in killing Zong Que, he could even fight the top three on the Heavenly King-Sealing List. To completely suppress Lin Feng, it would probably take Ji Shang personally taking action.
"Today is the day of my Ji family's Ji Shang being enfeoffed as king at the War King Academy. All heroes are gathered here. For members of the War King Academy to cause such chaos during the ceremony, isn't that a violation of the rules?" A cold voice rang out. The speaker was a member of the Ji family. With Ji Shang's enfeoffment, the Ji family had sent the most strong practitioners.
Ji Yuan was also among the crowd. At this moment, his gaze toward Lin Feng was filled with a cold light. He naturally knew who Lin Feng was—the one who had brought Ao Xu and the Sword Blind to cause a scene at the Ji family's banquet. It was because of him that the young and arrogant Ji Wuyou was now nearly half-crippled. The loss of his eyes was secondary, but Ji Wuyou's heart could never return to what it was. He had already developed inner demons. If he couldn't overcome them, he would become a true waste.
Now, at this very moment, as Ji Shang was being enfeoffed as king, Lin Feng appeared again, disrupting the Enfeoffment Ceremony, stealing Ji Shang's glory, and despising the Ji Gate members.
"Every family has its rules, and the academy has its regulations. As for whether the rules have been broken, since when does the War King Academy need the Ji family to point fingers?" A faint voice carried a hint of provocation. The crowd's gaze turned to a young strong practitioner—the Realm King Body of the Ancient Realm Clan, Langxie. It was he who had just spoken.
"Since when does the War King Academy's affairs require the interference of your Ancient Realm Clan?" Ji Yuan's eyes flashed like lightning. Langxie's words were particularly sharp, pointing out that the Ji family wanted to meddle in the War King Academy's matters.
"I naturally won't interfere in the War King Academy's affairs. But Lin Feng is my brother. The conflict between the Ji Gate and Lin Feng within the academy is the academy's business. However, your Ji family also intervened to bully Lin Feng and a group of juniors—is that befitting your status? I thought the Ji family wouldn't interfere in matters between juniors. It seems I overestimated the Ji family."
In the Central Continent, strong practitioners were as numerous as clouds. Generations of figures from the various Ancient Saint Clans clashed with each other. Under normal circumstances, elders did not interfere in the affairs of juniors. Therefore, even though the Sword Blind had stabbed out Ji Wuyou's eyes, the Ji family had not taken action against the Sword Blind or the others. In fact, Ji Wuyou's position was even precarious. This was a very cruel reality. Families would provide support to their outstanding juniors, but whether they could strive for more depended on their own efforts. If one always lived under the family's protection, they could never truly become a top figure. Outside, one had to rely on themselves to explore and compete.
Thus, the Ancient Realm Clan allowed the Realm King Body, Langxie, to walk out and train alone—this was the path he needed to walk.
"I heard that the Ji Gate used its power to oppress Heavenly Terrace and destroyed my brother Lin Feng's avatar. Now that Lin Feng has returned and challenges those clowns who jumped around before, how is it that your Ji family wants to interfere again?" Another voice rang out. This time, it was Jun Moxi speaking. With Ji Shang's enfeoffment, all heroes had gathered. As the Realm King Body of the Ancient Realm Clan and the Nether Prince of the Nether King Palace, Langxie and Jun Moxi naturally wouldn't miss this.
"The Realm King Body of the Ancient Realm Clan and the Undying Nether King Body of the Nether King Palace—this matter is getting more interesting." The crowd saw Langxie and Jun Moxi step forward and revealed intrigued expressions.
"I didn't expect Lin Feng's group to be so formidable. Not only are the people of Heavenly Terrace all elites, but Langxie is also a figure of great importance—the Ancient Realm Clan hasn't seen a Realm King Body in a long time. And Jun Moxi is also a rare kingly physique. They are all Lin Feng's brothers. And Lin Feng's own strength and talent are definitely not inferior to any kingly physique."
The Ji family members clearly hadn't expected this situation. Ji Ping snorted coldly and said, "My Ji family naturally won't interfere in the War King Academy's affairs. However, Ji Shang is the master of the Ji Gate, and today is the day of his enfeoffment. If someone insults his Ji Gate and disrupts his Enfeffment Ceremony, Ji Shang will decide how to handle it himself. There's no need for my Ji family to interfere."
"This Ji family is hinting for Ji Shang to take action, giving him a reason to deal with Lin Feng."
"If Ji Shang acts, with his overwhelming strength, even if Lin Feng has comprehended the power of the Dao, he will still find it difficult to resist. He will be crushed and killed by Ji Shang's dominance. After all, Ji Shang's strength is too great. The rankings on the Heavenly King-Sealing List have all shifted, except for the first seat, which has remained unchanged for years. Ji Shang's strength is unimaginable. He is second on the Emperor's List of the Holy City Central Continent, second only to Ying Cheng. No one else can contend with him. Lin Feng can't do it now either."
The crowd thought to themselves, their eyes fixed on Lin Feng. But at this moment, Lin Feng's cold, gray eyes turned toward the Ji family crowd. Suddenly, a hint of sarcastic coldness appeared in his deathly gaze.
"The Ancient Saint Clan Ji family has been passed down for countless years, priding itself on its strength. Before Ji Shang's enfeoffment, you invited strong practitioners from the Central Continent to debate the Dao. But the only Martial Emperor realm junior you can truly put forward is Ji Shang alone. I really can't understand where your Ji family's arrogance comes from. I, Lin Feng, am at the Mid-rank Emperor realm. If I were to fight against members of your Ji family at the same cultivation level, I could kill as many as there are. Do you believe that?"
Lin Feng's calm words caused the smiles on the Ji family strong practitioners' faces to freeze. Lin Feng's voice was not loud, but for the Ancient Saint Clan Ji family, it was undoubtedly a great humiliation. The Ji family was an Ancient Saint Clan, and their juniors were mostly exceptionally talented, many of them studying in the four great academies. Yet Lin Feng said that at the same cultivation level, he could kill as many Ji family members as there were. The cruelty of this statement lay in the fact that everyone understood Lin Feng was telling the truth. For Lin Feng, who had comprehended the Dao, at the same cultivation level, he could sweep through the entire Ji family.
PS: Thanks to Youyou, Xiaoxi, Fanqie, Haichong, and many other brothers for their generous tips. I won't list them all. In the past few days, during the Zhulang annual meeting, I had already informed everyone that there would be one update per day. Although a few people complained, what I saw was the enthusiasm of even more brothers. Thank you. The Martial God is wonderful because of you. Today, there are 2 updates. Updates will resume tomorrow!!!