Yuan Hong did not know why, but Lie Feng's gaze stirred a faint unease in him. Still, with such overwhelming numbers on his side, there was no possibility of defeat.Even so, Yuan Hong, cautious by nature, decided to test his opponent first. He declared to his men:"Whoever takes this man's head shall be richly rewarded by this city lord!"
As the saying goes, with heavy reward comes great courage. His words greatly boosted morale. His subordinates roared in unison, their voices shaking the arena, and even the spectators felt a chill of fear.Yuan Hong then raised his hand in signal, and aside from the four closest to him, the hundreds behind him surged forward like starving wolves, rushing straight at Lie Feng.
Zheng Jian, watching from afar, sighed."What a pity, for such a man of iron will."Though he knew Lie Feng's performance in the tournament was not his full strength, under such circumstances, he judged survival impossible.
But Zheng Jian was wrong. Lie Feng's true power exceeded all expectations.
With both palms slamming the ground, the arena itself shifted—dozens of stone walls erupted upward, blocking every line of attack.The attackers, undeterred, simply tried to circle around—only to discover that Lie Feng had vanished. Confused, they froze—until a scream split the air. One of their number spat blood and plummeted.
As others turned in shock, Lie Feng appeared at their backs. A blade-hand strike flashed, and multiple foes dropped with gaping wounds, their bodies falling like stones.
Again and again, the same scene played out—Lie Feng slipping into the earth with earth-escape arts, striking unseen, then vanishing into the stone once more."Earth root! He's using burrowing techniques!"
someone shouted. "Destroy the walls, or we'll never pin him down!"
They obeyed at once, shattering the stone barriers, finally forcing him back into the open.From afar, countless ice lances and fireballs rained down, sealing off every escape route. Yet this time, Lie Feng did not flee.
Planting his feet, he raised his hands like claws. Water streamed from between his fingers, spiraling faster and faster until it formed a great waterspout that whirled about him as a shield.The cyclone swallowed incoming attacks, even absorbing the ice lances, until it swelled into a massive water dragon coiling in the air.
With a slash of his claws, Lie Feng sent the dragon surging upward. The airborne cultivators narrowly evaded its charge, thinking themselves safe—until, in the blink of an eye, the water dragon crystallized into ice and detonated.
A storm of ice shards burst in every direction, far too dense to escape. Some managed to defend in time, but many were caught off guard, crying out as the icy barrage tore through them. A dozen fell dead, and many more were wounded.
Lie Feng gave no quarter. While his foes reeled, he surged into their midst, reaping lives with merciless strikes.Those who dared close combat fell beneath his hand-blades. Even a cultivator who thrust a sword into Lie Feng's back found his blade pierced only cloth, while he himself was cut down in an instant.
Fear spread. Doubt and hesitation crept into their ranks.
Some remembered the young boy, Zhao Dun."He cares for the child! Take the boy—he'll yield!"
Several men broke toward Zhao Dun. Though terrified, the boy drew his dagger, bracing to fight to the death. But before they reached him, the ground split open beneath their feet. Countless thorned vines erupted, skewering them where they stood.
One man, slower than the rest, escaped the initial strike. Relief barely touched him before a vine lashed about his waist, hurling him skyward. Dizzy and disoriented, he flailed helplessly—until a palm smashed into his chest. His heart burst, blood spraying.
Lie Feng's hand did not release. Flames roared to life in his palm, and with a thunderous shout he unleashed a pillar of fire that consumed the man utterly, reducing him to cinders.The inferno engulfed over a dozen more who were too close to flee. Charred corpses rained down upon the arena.
A hush fell. The crowd, both spectators and enemies alike, drew sharp breaths.
Qin Fen could not believe his eyes.How? he thought. That was clearly the fourth form of the Burning Heaven Art—but he never even borrowed that manual! I've spent a month to master the third form, and he… he just…
Li Qiuyun too was stunned, whispering,"You hid so deeply…"
Ji Wushi trembled with excitement, seizing Zheng Jian's arm."We were right to come. Truly right!"
Yuan Hong's face darkened. In mere moments, over sixty of his men had fallen. He could hardly believe it. Even Xiao Ji, one of the empire's Four Pillars, now wore a grave expression.
"I did not expect," Xiao Ji said slowly, "to meet a Prodigy of five reincarnations here."
Yuan Hong blinked."A… Prodigy of five reincarnations? What is that?"
Xiao Ji explained,"There are five elemental roots in the world—metal, wood, water, fire, earth. Every cultivator has but one. In rare cases, two. Dual roots may produce either unparalleled genius… or hopeless failure. But a Prodigy of five reincarnations is different.
Through reincarnation, such a soul gains a new root each life. All five different spirit roots coexist within one body, not in conflict but in harmony, their power multiplying geometrically. Worse—they carry fragments of past lives' memories. By my judgment, his techniques and instincts are inherited from those former incarnations. No youth could otherwise wield such power."
Yuan Hong's heart sank. How unlucky, to provoke such a monster… But at least he has not yet reached full growth. If he does, he'll be impossible to kill.
Almost as if reading his master's thoughts, a figure stepped forward from behind him."Do not worry, Master. His true strength is no higher than the Fifth Realm. Allow this disciple to kill him, as I killed his master."
This was Zhang Shan, Yuan Hong's third disciple, his cultivation already at the Fifth Realm, mid-stage. Yuan Hong studied him a moment. Indeed, Zhang Shan's words matched his own assessment. Confident in his disciple's ability, he gave consent.
The surrounding fighters, shaken by Lie Feng's slaughter, no longer dared to advance. Zhang Shan strode among them, sneering."Trash. Out of my way. Don't disgrace yourselves further."
Though they seethed, none dared defy him, and they retreated, leaving only Lie Feng and Zhang Shan facing each other.
Zhang Shan looked down at his foe from on high, waiting for words.
But Lie Feng only said coldly, "Another fool, rushing to his own death."