Judy’s expression shifted from gloom to sheer delight, her bright eyes seeming a touch moist, unsure if it was from sentiment or excitement.

In truth, Chen Feng gifting the Battle Core to Judy wasn't motivated by lust for her beauty, nor was it an act of defending her honor. If he were to speak his true thoughts, perhaps even Judy wouldn't believe them—it was because of one small sentence Judy had uttered earlier!

Even without her reminder, that broken spear couldn't have harmed him, but that single simple statement had vastly increased Chen Feng's goodwill toward her, which was why he bestowed the Grade Five Battle Core upon her without hesitation.

"Why?" Jimmy’s face looked as if it had been slapped hard upon hearing those words; he roared, "If you think the money is too little, I can add more!"

Chen Feng handed the Battle Core to Judy, then turned to face Jimmy, spitting out a single word coldly: "Scram!"

Jimmy froze, his fists clenched tightly where he stood, his fingernails digging deep into his flesh. As the son of the local lord, everyone here afforded him a modicum of respect; being openly rejected and told to "scram" was an insult of monumental proportions he’d never encountered before.

"Do you know who I am?" Jimmy's voice was equally icy.

His subordinate standing behind him understood the murderous intent brewing in Jimmy’s heart the moment he spoke like that!

In their eyes, Jimmy was an unquestionably difficult character—cruel, vengeful, and utterly set in his ways once a decision was made. Once, the son of a major merchant had been friendly with him, but merely offended him over a trivial matter; the next day, the merchant's son vanished without a trace. Those in the know whispered that he had been minced into a bloody pulp and dumped into the river!

He would kill even his own friends; his cruelty was evident!

Now that this man in black had insulted him so profoundly, it seemed his death was fast approaching! the onlookers thought.

"Scram!"

Chen Feng seemed unwilling to listen to another word, waving his hand dismissively as he turned toward the staircase.

In Chen Feng’s eyes, these were mere trifles. Who cared if he was a lord’s son, or even a prince or noble? If they truly dared to lay a hand on him, he would kill them without mercy all the same!

"Wait!" A hulking brute stepped forward, blocking Chen Feng’s path.

This man was one of Jimmy’s subordinates, the one who had stood beside Ma En just moments ago. After Ma En was knocked unconscious, this man had placed him on a stool by the hall entrance.

He towered a full head over Chen Feng, and now stood before him like an iron tower, blocking the path to the stairs completely!

Chen Feng looked indifferently at the stout man, an aura of killing intent erupting from his body. The words that left his mouth were devoid of any emotion: "Get out of the way!"

The brute trembled under the icy killing aura, but after glancing at Jimmy nearby, a stubborn resolve surged through him, forcing him to remain rooted to the spot.

Chen Feng sighed internally. A flicker of pale blue flame ignited in the palm of his right hand, even as he called out, "One!"

"One?" The brute paused, then understood—the other man wanted him to move aside. If he counted to three, the welcoming reception would surely be a frenzied attack!

"You... you must... apologize to Young Master!" The brute strained to keep his composure, but his quivering voice betrayed his inner turmoil.

"Two..." Chen Feng continued to call out, simultaneously unleashing an even more powerful wave of killing intent toward the man.

"Agh..."

Unable to bear the pressure, the brute suddenly roared, steeling his courage. Dou Qi permeated his massive fist as he hammered directly toward Chen Feng’s cloaked face!

"Three!" Having finished the third count, Chen Feng watched the oncoming fist, holding nothing back. He flicked his right hand, moving with lightning speed, striking directly toward the man's fist!

A head-on collision!

With a sharp crack, the brute’s entire arm shattered, but before he could retract it, a searing flame rushed along the broken limb into his body!

"Agh..." The brute screamed as his entire body became a burning sphere of pale blue fire, transforming into a pile of ashes in less than three seconds!

"This..."

Everyone looked as if they had been struck dumb, scarcely able to believe their eyes!

What just happened? How was the brute instantly enveloped in flame and burned to ash the moment their fists met?

Fire Attribute Dou Qi? Everyone shook their heads—absolutely not! No matter how powerful Fire Attribute Dou Qi was, it couldn't incinerate a Grade Five Dou Shi into black ash in three seconds!

Then what was it? Why was the power so immense? Staring at the flickering, strange flames before them, an unknown terror began to rise in everyone's hearts!

No matter the time or place, the unknown was always the most terrifying thing!

Chen Feng continued his measured steps forward, his gait unchanged from before he killed. It gave the impression that killing this man was no different than crushing an ant.

"Gulp... gulp..." Jimmy swallowed hard, his face the color of ash. He considered himself ruthless, having taken the lives of perhaps eighty or a hundred people; he thought his mental fortitude was strong enough. But watching Chen Feng’s utterly indifferent attitude toward life, he could barely suppress the churning in his chest, fighting the urge to vomit!

Breaking an arm with one punch and then incinerating the remains with flame—such brutal methods marked him as a veritable God of Slaughter!

By this time, Chen Feng had reached the stairs and suddenly turned to face Jimmy and the others, asking, "Is anyone else going to stop me?" His tone was arrogant and cold, which only made the tense atmosphere feel more terrifying!

"Agh..."

Jimmy and the crowd behind him scrambled back several paces, their eyes filled with panic.

A single question caused every Dou Shi present to retreat in unison—a level of deterrence that could make any man proud.

Seeing no further obstruction, Chen Feng slowly descended the stairs.

Truthfully, Chen Feng hadn't intended to be so absolute. Though the brute had blocked him, he hadn't shown murderous intent. However, since they were in a place of trade—Jimmy’s territory—if he didn't establish overwhelming deterrence now, he would likely face endless harassment later. Despite his utter confidence in his own strength, avoiding unnecessary trouble was always preferable!

Besides, although he hadn't seen the supposed "Trade Enforcement Squad" yet, since they were composed entirely of Dou Shis, their strength couldn't be underestimated. If he wasted too much time here, the Enforcement Squad might arrive and tie him up, potentially allowing Dou Shi-level experts from the town to show up!

Chen Feng held genuine reverence for Dou Shi-level experts. His cultivation as a Grade Seven Dou Shi, coupled with his Fist Emperor techniques, made him virtually unmatched below the Dou Shi level, but facing an actual Dou Shi, he would likely be utterly crushed!

Since arriving in this other world, Chen Feng hadn't truly clashed with a Dou Shi-level expert, but he remembered with painful clarity the moment Kigu Caine shattered his arm! Kigu's jump from the platform, the swift slap, and the way his arm broke—all of it was lightning fast, the force perfectly calculated! Even with his current enhanced cultivation, he suspected he still couldn't replicate that speed or precision!

If he couldn't replicate it, it meant that facing a Dou Shi now would only result in him having to flee; he was absolutely no match for them!