Bill stared down at Yellow Fang, lying motionless on the ground, his eyes brimming with unshed tears.

Of all the people present, Yellow Fang had been the closest to him. They had grown up together, studied magic side-by-side, and undertaken missions as a pair. In Bill’s heart, Yellow Fang had long been considered a true brother.

And now... hot blood steamed from Yellow Fang’s throat, emitting a raw, potent stench. His eyes were wide open, frozen in a gaze that spoke of bitter resentment, or perhaps sheer disbelief.

Bill clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, veins throbbing visibly on his forehead. “Yellow Fang, I swear I will avenge you!” He spun around. “Everyone, be alert! Watch your surroundings. If you spot anything unusual, unleash full-coverage magic immediately! Capture that boy… dead or alive! I’ll handle reporting this to the Clan Elder!”

The other three were likewise consumed by grief and rage. The inherent pride of a Mage felt this outcome a profound humiliation—to be slain by a mere Fighter was one thing, but this killer was only a fourteen-year-old child, possessing only the cultivation of a second-rank Dou Qi!

But... could this truly be a child? How could someone, struck by the dual blows of a severed arm and banishment from his own clan, maintain such clear-headed strategy, act with such decisiveness, and exploit the environment with such mastery?

If they hadn't known the pursuer was Chen Feng, they would have suspected a professional assassin or a master recluse!

Terrifying.

All three sucked in sharp, cold breaths. A second-rank Dou Shi facing five formal Mages, all of whom significantly surpassed him, yet showing not a shred of panic—such willpower sent a tremor deep into their bones.

The middle-aged man with the golden earring crouched down, examining the ground. His expression deepened with astonishment as he murmured, “What kind of monster are we hunting...?”

Hearing this, Bill lowered his gaze to where the older man was looking. His face immediately darkened further.

A bald Mage asked, confused, “What is it?”

The middle-aged man explained, “This area is dense with Klin grass. This grassland is characterized by tall, thick growth, but the stalks break easily. Yellow Fang was lagging behind the four of us. The opponent must have seized that chance to strike him from behind and kill him. But look around—is there any sign of disturbance in the Klin grass!”

The bald Mage surveyed the surroundings. The thick Klin grass swayed in the slight breeze, showing absolutely no indication that anyone had passed through.

“You mean to say…” The bald Mage’s face changed sharply, “That his stealthy attack and subsequent retreat occurred without snapping a single blade of Klin grass?”

The middle-aged man nodded, a flicker of stark terror crossing his eyes. “He drew our attention from the front while moving rapidly to the rear to deliver a fatal blow to Yellow Fang! He… he is too composed. He’s barely human…”

Bill listened to the analysis, silent for a long moment. He slowly closed his eyes, drew a breath through his nose, and pointed ahead with his hand. “He’s up ahead. Let’s continue the pursuit! But this time, everyone must stick close together. Do not allow anyone to fall behind!”

…………

Chen Feng’s condition was precarious.

He hadn't had a drop of water since morning, and his fractured arm sent waves of dizziness through his mind.

The killing of Yellow Fang, which looked effortless from the outside, was in fact fraught with extreme danger; one small misstep could have cost him his life.

If Yellow Fang hadn't been fatigued and momentarily relaxed his guard, sneaking behind him would have been nearly impossible! Mages primarily cultivate mental energy; their sensory perception is several times stronger than that of Fighters, and they are extremely sensitive to elemental fluctuations. Chen Feng only managed to approach undetected through sheer, immense luck!

Or perhaps, Yellow Fang was simply incredibly unlucky.

Chen Feng halted, drawing a deep, ragged breath. His right hand, clutching the thorn weapon, trembled uncontrollably.

This was the result of sheer tension and exhaustion. That final desperate strike, coupled with the preceding flight, had nearly drained him of all his spirit and strength.

Killing one enemy had guaranteed the fury of the remaining four, simultaneously sharpening their caution. Facing four Mages who were several levels above him put a pressure on him that bordered on madness.

“1200 meters remaining!” Chen Feng managed to ease the stress by constantly calculating the distance between himself and his pursuers. Though he couldn't fathom how they tracked him so stealthily, since he had to face them, retreat was not an option.

He scanned his surroundings. The sky was overcast, threatening a sudden downpour. About three to four hundred meters ahead lay a small ravine, beyond which lay another stretch of woods.

The ravine wasn't vast, but it was deep, dropping perhaps fifty to sixty meters to the floor. Its upper edges were lined with large, round boulders, the earth beneath them loosened by constant runoff, appearing ready to tumble at the slightest provocation.

Chen Feng assessed the terrain and a plan formed in his mind. He walked to the edge of the ravine and began setting his preparations.

…………

Bill emerged from the woods, his keen nose catching a scent. “He just passed through here; he should be heading toward the ravine!”

The other three followed closely behind him. The middle-aged man frowned. “This ravine looks strange. Perhaps we shouldn't descend.”

Bill nodded. “Those boulders around the edge look precarious. If we get caught in a slide down in the gully, we won’t be able to dodge in time! Everyone, tread carefully!”

They all paused. Although they were determined to capture Chen Feng—Bill, especially, harbored intense hatred—they were Level Four Formal Mages, not simpletons, and possessed an acute sense of danger.

All four grasped their staves and slowly approached the edge of the ravine, peering down. The bottom was covered in low, sparse weeds, offering no concealment.

At a glance, it was completely empty; not a single figure could be seen.

“He might have already fled into the woods ahead,” Bill mused after a moment of silence.

The remaining three concurred.

“We’ll skirt the ravine and head toward the woods!” Bill announced to the others and took the lead.

The rest followed close behind, spaced no more than five meters apart.

The perimeter of the ravine was littered with boulders, each taller than a man, round and seemingly ready to roll. Bill cautiously bypassed three or four stones, advancing toward the woods, when his foot landed on something soft. Crack! A sharp sound echoed.

A wooden pole, nearly ten feet long, snapped clean in half under his weight.

“Why is there a wooden pole here?” Bill wondered, confused, just as a thunderous rumble erupted beside him. The ground vibrated violently as the massive boulders along the ravine’s slope began to slide downward!

Bill leaped aside, breaking out in a cold sweat. Had the middle-aged man not noticed the danger of the stones and instead walked down into the ravine, he would now be crushed into pulp!

“Everyone watch out!” Bill shouted, then looked behind him. He caught a fleeting glimpse of a figure darting away, vanishing instantly into the cracks between the surrounding rocks!

Pfft... A spurt of blood shot out like a fountain, spattering vividly and horrifyingly onto the nearby stones.

It was the bald Mage hitting the ground!

He had been at the rear. In the very instant everyone registered the sound of the sliding rocks and breathed a sigh of relief, he had been pierced clean through the throat by a thorn, dying instantly!

The Mage with the somewhat sallow complexion behind Bill let out a howl, his eyes burning crimson. He raised his staff, and a flash of earthen-yellow light preceded a massive Earth Elemental magic sphere, which whistled toward the crevice where the shadowy figure had fled!

“Stop!” the middle-aged man roared, shaking his wrist slightly. A magic sphere of equal size materialized from his staff, colliding mid-air with the sallow Mage’s attack, exploding with a boom that sent dust flying.

“What are you doing! He killed Baldy!” the sallow Mage screamed, behaving like a madman!

ps: Hehe, I see some readers in the comments section hoping Chen Feng gains the KOF skills quickly. Rest assured, he will gain them soon and become stronger... Regarding the combos—the 12-hit combo, the 28-hit combo, the ultimate moves, and even infinite combos will all be featured in this book, so follow the protagonist’s steps and enjoy the ride... Of course, four chapters have been updated today, surely that warrants some acknowledgment... Hehe...