It’s almost nothing to look at, is it? The Third Miss sent us looking for this kid? Not a single distinguishing feature!” remarked a mercenary with a hooked nose. “More than nothing special, just looking at his face you can tell he’s trouble. And with dyed red hair? Definitely a delinquent,” chimed in a mercenary with a wide mouth. “I don’t care why the Third Miss is looking for this guy, I just take an instant dislike to him. If I don’t teach him a lesson, I won’t be able to calm down!” grumbled a burly man in a deep voice. “Good, with Big Tiger’s word, that’s settled. Honestly, the Third Miss is an angel, and this is the first time I’ve ever heard her so earnestly search for someone. If we don’t put this kid in his place, I think all our brothers here will feel uneasy,” said the hooked-nosed mercenary. The mercenaries babbled on, almost all railing against Chen Feng. Judy was captivating, and every man in the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group adored her. Now that she was suddenly concerned about a youth her own age, it would have been strange if her devoted followers hadn't gone looking to cause trouble for the boy. “Exactly, exactly... Big Tiger, you absolutely have to step up this time! Um... how about a contest of your specialty? A test of strength? Your strength is the greatest in the entire mercenary group. Go up later, pretend to shake his hand, and squeeze this little guy until he cries for his mommy, how about that?” the wide-mouthed mercenary suggested a plan. “Fine! I’ll teach that punk a lesson, let him understand that the Third Miss isn’t so easily approached!” The burly man clenched his fist, the knuckles letting out a dull crack. “Good...” Over a hundred mercenaries in the hall roared in unison. “He’s here...” Someone with sharp eyes shouted. Everyone looked where he pointed. Sure enough, a red-haired youth was slowly descending the stairs. ………… “Kid, my nickname is Ba Hu, but everyone calls me Big Tiger. Let’s get acquainted!” Ba Hu said, extending his right hand. There was no change in Chen Feng’s expression. He looked at Ba Hu calmly, completely ignoring him, and turned to walk towards the exit. He had clearly heard their conversation while coming downstairs. Judy had thrown herself in the way to save him just moments ago, and he didn't want to make things too difficult for her subordinates. “The kid’s scared...” the hooked-nosed mercenary shrieked, “I thought the hero the Third Miss had us frantically searching for was some great champion. Turns out he’s a coward. A spineless worm...” “Hahahaha...” Laughter erupted from the crowd. “Look at his frail appearance, you can tell he’s malnourished. Big Tiger, the moment you stood near him, I saw his calves trembling, haha. Definitely useless trash!” “He doesn’t even dare speak in front of you. A complete chicken-livered coward...” The voices mingled in a continuous clamor within the hall. Hearing this, Ba Hu became even more convinced that Chen Feng was intimidated by him. With excitement, he took a step back, positioning himself in front of Chen Feng again. “What’s wrong, kid? Don't you know the rules? Should I teach you?” Saying that, he thrust out his large hand and grabbed Chen Feng by the shoulder, simultaneously exerting force to lift him up. All the mercenaries knew Ba Hu’s strength. Without using Dou Qi, he could easily hoist a two-thousand-pound boulder over his head; he was the strongest man in the entire Blood Wolf Mercenary Group. Now that the kid was caught, they were waiting for a good show. No matter what, they expected him to be thrown so hard he wouldn't know north from south... “Big Tiger, throw him out!” shouted the hooked-nosed mercenary. “Throw him out! Throw him out!” the others chanted in unison. “Hmph...” Ba Hu’s hands, gripping Chen Feng’s shoulders, showed prominent knuckles, turning pale. He poured all his strength into the effort, yet the youth before him stood as if rooted to the spot, completely unmoving. “Is that enough?” Chen Feng’s voice carried no fluctuation, a faint tone emerging, as if he utterly dismissed Ba Hu. Slowly, he extended his right hand, rotated Ba Hu’s grip on his shoulder, then lifted and flung him! The mercenaries only saw a figure whistle through the air, landing outside the hall with a heavy thud. “What the...” Everyone was dumbfounded. Ba Hu, the strongest man in the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group, had been thrown out by someone else? And the distance from where he was grabbed to outside the hall was a full thirty meters! Ba Hu was powerfully built, weighing over three hundred pounds. To throw three hundred pounds thirty meters—how immense must this youth’s strength be... The hooked-nosed and wide-mouthed mercenaries were frozen in disbelief. The entire hall instantly fell silent. “Damn it! Who threw things around carelessly... Huh? It’s a person!” A loud roar came from outside the door, followed by the entrance of a richly dressed young man—it was the Young City Lord, Brent. Brent rushed over when he saw Chen Feng, his face filled with infatuation. “So cool...” Chen Feng, having thrown Ba Hu out the main door, dusted off his hands as if performing a trivial act, and started walking out. “Uh, Big Brother...” When Chen Feng approached, Brent stammered, at a loss for words. Chen Feng glanced at him, recognizing him as someone he had seen upon entering the city gates, and continued walking without a second glance. “Cool!” Brent secretly praised again, following behind, “Can I recognize you as my Big Brother? Can you teach me how to be this cool?” “...” Chen Feng was utterly speechless. He hadn't expected such a person existed in the world. He shook his head and paid the other no more mind. The tall City Guard Captain following Brent turned his head away, adopting an air of not knowing the Young City Lord. Shadow then walked up and recounted the situation according to Judy’s account. Chen Feng pondered for a moment, then suddenly turned to Brent, “You are the Young City Lord of Kuta Town?” Brent nodded quickly. “I need you to do me a favor!” Chen Feng said calmly. Brent’s face lit up with excitement upon hearing the request for help: “Big Brother, just say the word, anything is possible, as long as it’s within my capabilities! But Big Brother, you absolutely must teach me how to look cool...” Chen Feng stated, “I need you to help me find the business establishment and residence of a certain family here.” Brent replied, “That’s easy. The City Lord’s Mansion keeps detailed records of every business entering the city. Which family did you say it was?” “The Lef family from Dragon Mountain Town, Finlay Empire!” Chen Feng spat out those words with hatred. Although he had killed Bruut and Stuart earlier, he knew that the Lef family wouldn't have sent only those two to purchase magic crystals. That was why he hoped to rely on the Young City Lord Brent’s influence to help in the search. “Understood, Big Brother, please come to the City Lord’s Mansion to rest and wait. I’ll send people to search immediately!” Brent said without hesitation. Chen Feng nodded and walked out of the mercenary group’s temporary dwelling, following Brent toward the City Lord’s Mansion. The City Lord’s Mansion was not in the exact center of the town but rather slightly toward the southern outskirts. It covered a vast area, with countless buildings layered upon one another, giving visitors a sense of deep, secluded courtyards. Chen Feng had visited the Forbidden City in Beijing during his past life and had been awestruck by its magnificence. However, this place was by no means inferior; the variety of architectural styles, combined with rockeries, streams, pavilions, and small structures, made the City Lord’s Mansion incredibly poetic and picturesque. At the very center of the mansion was a high earth mound, atop which stood a tall pavilion. Driven into the ground at the pavilion’s center was a long sword, with only its hilt exposed. “Oh, this is the Ming Yu Pavilion. It has existed since Kuta Town was founded. Legend says the pavilion was built specifically to guard this sword!” Brent quickly explained. “A precious sword? This sword has been here for a long time?” Chen Feng inquired. “Yes, didn’t you know the history of Kuta Town?” Brent asked, confused. “Anyone who comes to Kuta Town should know it!” “What history?” Chen Feng shook his head. He had only just arrived; how could he know the local history? Seeing Chen Feng’s ignorance, Brent puffed up slightly and explained, “Kuta Town is also known as Falling Sword Town. It was originally desolate wilderness. More than three thousand years ago, a precious sword suddenly fell from the sky and landed on this earth mound, which is this one right here.” He pointed to the sword in the pavilion. “This sword is strange; no matter who tries, no one can pull it out of the stone. Even a group of Dou Zun experts came, and they couldn't draw it. If only pulling the sword was impossible, that would be one thing, but for some unknown reason, this stone is also bizarre—even a seventh-level magic spell cannot scratch it. It was precisely this attraction that drew large numbers of people here to try their luck, and as more people gathered, it became Kuta Town! However, after thousands of years, people have gradually forgotten about the sword; few people nowadays even know it exists.” “A precious sword? Even Dou Zun experts can’t pull it out?” Chen Feng was finally astonished, his eyes gleaming. How could he pass up an opportunity to investigate such a strange phenomenon? With that thought, he stopped talking, made a turn, and walked up the earth mound toward the Ming Yu Pavilion. “What’s wrong, Big Brother? You aren't thinking of going up to look, are you? That sword is cursed. Anyone who touches it either dies or goes mad. Don't go up there!” Brent shouted anxiously. Chen Feng paid him no heed and walked straight up the slope. “Big Brother, even if you’re cool, being cool doesn’t mean you’re immune to curses. I’m not lying to you...” Brent pleaded, but Chen Feng ignored his frantic cries, stepping onto the mound and heading straight for the pavilion. “A restriction?” Chen Feng stopped upon reaching the top of the mound, unable to take another step. Unexpectedly, the area around the pavilion was blanketed in prohibitions. No wonder Brent had stopped trying to stop him; there was a reason. “This was set up by two Archmage experts joining forces. Those who are not of the same level cannot enter,” Brent said slowly at this point. “Why set up the restriction?” Chen Feng asked. “To prevent more people from being cursed, of course! Since the sword is so peculiar, many people will surely try to draw it. The result is that every year hundreds of experts at the level of Dou Shi or above either die or go insane, causing massive losses to the Empire’s talent pool. To reduce this situation, the former leaders moved the City Lord’s Mansion here and found two Archmages to seal the area, the purpose being to guard it and prevent more people from approaching.” Brent explained. Chen Feng nodded, his gaze fixed on the sword not far away. This sword was unlike any other he had seen in this world. Swordsmen here usually wielded greatswords or longswords. Although only the hilt was visible, the sword gave off a feeling of lightness and fluidity, entirely different from the brute force impression of a greatsword. Moreover, for some unknown reason, Chen Feng felt a specific connection between this precious sword and something within his body, causing his blood to accelerate and a hint of color to return to his slightly pale face. Even though the restriction was transparent, energy fluctuations couldn't be entirely blocked. If there were no energy fluctuations affecting him, why would he have this illusion? “Bizarre,” Chen Feng sighed inwardly, suddenly struck by an urge to grasp that sword. He closed his eyes slightly, the swirling force of his Dantian churning, and slowly clenched his right fist. In an instant, his aura surged, as if he had become an entirely different person. Seeing his demeanor, Brent hurriedly warned, “This restriction is very solid. Big Brother, you aren't thinking of smashing it, are you? That’s absolutely impossible. Don't waste your effort; unless your cultivation reaches the level of Dou Zun or Archmage, getting inside is impossible!” “Hmph!” Chen Feng snorted, paying no heed to Brent’s words. The muscles in his arm tensed, instantly appearing twice their size, and a vast, unparalleled power gathered in his fist. With a grunt, he smashed his fist into the restriction! A bang of air explosion erupted, and a violent impact whipped up dozens of small vortices in the surroundings, sending wave after wave sweeping outward. However, the restriction merely trembled slightly and showed no change whatsoever. Brent was clearly stunned by the sheer power of Chen Feng’s direct punch. He was momentarily dumbstruck: “Th-that’s incredibly powerful! A Dou Shi’s attack power isn't much more than that!” “It didn’t break?” Chen Feng was surprised. That punch had utilized his full strength. To think it couldn't break it meant the restriction was truly incredibly robust. Chen Feng was not discouraged in the least. He reached into his robe and, as if by magic, produced a dark, heavy sword—the one transformed from the Dark Gold Iron. Taking a deep breath, Chen Feng focused his mind, his eyes fixed on the restriction before him. The swirling energy of his Dantian extended along his arm to the tip of the sword. “Open!” Chen Feng roared, and the heavy sword, infused with thunderous momentum and containing crushing power, cleaved straight toward the restriction. Crack… crack… After a slight sound, the restriction, personally laid down by two Archmages, was split open with a fissure from the middle so easily! Actually, it wasn't entirely incomprehensible; Chen Feng had once used a shovel to... well, to buy a house and marry a wife... Who told him to have a peasant background with no foundational support! Here, I sincerely ask everyone to subscribe more and vote with monthly passes. Old Ya really wants to make it into the top six of the New Book Monthly Pass Chart. Honestly, achieving that would earn a 3,000 yuan reward, haha. But Old Ya will definitely work hard. Starting today until the end of the month, Old Ya will be releasing bursts of chapters irregularly—6,000 words guaranteed, 9,000 words for a burst. During the last ten days of the month, even if I have to work myself to death, I will burst out chapters. Please help me fulfill this wish. Thank you!!!

Chapter 125: Drawing Out the Precious Sword

Feng kept the heavy sword transformed from the Dark Gold Iron as armor beneath his clothes and slipped through the fissure. The moment he entered the Ming Yu Pavilion, he felt an intense pressure wash over him, making every step difficult. “Such powerful pressure. It’s no worse than the Tenfold Gravity Domain!” he muttered, walking toward the sword’s hilt. The closer he got to the center, the greater the pressure became, and the more suffocating the feeling grew. It appeared this pressure emanated from the sword itself. Because the surrounding area was sealed by the restriction, the pressure had nowhere to dissipate, filling the entire Ming Yu Pavilion. “It’s the first time I’ve seen a sword that can emit such a massive aura,” Chen Feng thought strangely, slowly advancing toward the sword. Although the pressure radiating from the sword was immense, for someone who had trained in the Tenfold Gravity Domain, it was only moderate. After two more steps, one meter away from the sword, Chen Feng was about to move forward when his mind suddenly swam, and waves of overwhelmingly powerful will instantly crashed into his consciousness. “Bad, a mental attack!” Chen Feng instantly understood. No wonder Brent had said that anyone attempting to draw the sword either died or went mad; this sword possessed a mental attack! Forcing his own original consciousness to remain completely undisturbed, Chen Feng quietly observed the invading willpower. It was a powerful and tyrannical will, filled with the intent to slaughter. Even though it was still far from the sword, the less than one ten-thousandth of the residual pressure was almost enough to break Chen Feng’s guarded mind. “No wonder it can drive even a Dou Zun mad. Less than one ten-thousandth of the willpower attack almost caused my spiritual power to collapse, considering my spiritual power is immensely strong from crossing two lives! I wonder how intense the willpower attack would be if I actually gripped the hilt,” Chen Feng thought secretly. Just as he was about to retreat, a thought struck him: “Tyrannical, murderous will... wouldn't that be the best material for creating Frenzy Blood?” Chen Feng grew excited. Anyone familiar with the history of the King of Fighters knows the terror of Frenzy Blood. The madness and power exhibited by Iori Yagami and Leona when they went berserk likely hold an irreplaceable place in everyone’s heart. Chen Feng knew how high his own cultivation was; currently, he was only a Rank Seven Dou Shi, capable of fighting those below the level of a Dou Shi. This was precisely why he hadn't sought revenge yet. But with Frenzy Blood, things would be different. If the frenzy blood burned within him, he would absolutely possess the ability to fight opponents beyond his level! Taking a deep breath, Chen Feng sat cross-legged on the ground, quietly controlling a drop of blood to slowly merge with the intense, violent willpower in his mind. Who knew that upon contact, an immediate rejection occurred? The blood contained a unique will, completely refusing this external force! People often say that the soul resides within the blood, and that is precisely the meaning. Ancient Taoists often spat blood from a bitten tongue when encountering evil entities. Doing so could ward off evil primarily because a person's blood, fixed since birth, nourishes the muscles and spirit, integrating them together! The Flame Dragon bloodline within Chen Feng had previously fused with the will of the Flame Dragon. Although it had been modified by Chen Feng’s body, that supremely powerful will pressure still remained. This pressure was peaceful, righteous, majestic, and grand. Even the sword's tyrannical will couldn't immediately overcome it! But when these two wills clashed, Chen Feng suffered greatly. His body felt like a battlefield, and that single drop of blood seemed to have gone mad, darting everywhere inside him, threatening to explode. Chen Feng endured the resulting pain, slowly extracting and stripping away the attacking willpower, attempting to fuse it into the blood. Extracting his own willpower was simple, but stripping away the incoming willpower was far more complex. Sweat streamed down Chen Feng’s forehead, quickly soaking his robes. The pressure from the rampant will gave him a splitting headache, making it unbearable. If viewed from the outside, Chen Feng would be seen trembling violently, as if undergoing some mental struggle, his facial muscles twitching, and his hands shaking incessantly. The two pressures grew stronger, fighting for dominance within his blood vessels. With a pop, blood flowed from both his nose and mouth simultaneously; his body was reaching its limit. “No, if this continues, before I can successfully fuse the Frenzy Blood, I’ll be torn to pieces by this tyrannical will. I should wait until my cultivation advances further before trying again!” Chen Feng entertained the thought of giving up and was about to retreat from the range of this willpower when his expression suddenly changed, and he inwardly groaned. For some unknown reason, this incomparably strong, frantic, and tyrannical willpower suddenly surged forward like waves, its momentum hundreds of times fiercer than before! “Ah...” Chen Feng’s mind felt as if pierced by ten thousand needles, his vision went black, and he lost consciousness. In a daze, he only felt a warm, exceptionally comfortable sensation throughout his body. This willpower was no longer harming him; instead, it was slowly merging into his blood. The fused blood was surging with powerful energy. Slowly, his consciousness returned. Chen Feng focused his spiritual sense inward and couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. The sudden immense influx of power from the sword had directly crushed the Flame Dragon’s will within that drop of blood! Relying on the willpower of the Flame Dragon, the blood had absorbed one hundred percent of this tyrannical willpower. However, it was strange that such immense willpower, fused into a single small drop of blood, did not feel bloated at all. But this was not surprising. As the most powerful bloodline of the Dragon race, if the Flame Dragon bloodline couldn't accommodate a certain amount of tyrannical will, it would be abnormal! Chen Feng let out a long breath and slowly opened his eyes, looking at the precious sword before him. The sword remained a meter away, completely unchanged, yet the experience of fainting and waking felt like a journey from death to life and back again.

Standing up, he walked toward the treasured sword. At that moment, the drop of blood within his body frantically absorbed the surging willpower that continuously assaulted him. Although the tyrannical willpower was potent, it was merely an emanation from the sword. The speed of the assault could not keep up with the absorption rate, so Chen Feng noticed nothing unusual as he approached the blade.

Calming the slight chaos in his heart, Chen Feng narrowed his eyes, gripping the exposed hilt of the sword tightly with both hands, and roared as he attempted to draw it out.

The instant the power of the Qi Vortex flowed down his arm and into the sword, a deafening "buzz" rang out in Chen Feng’s mind. His vision shifted abruptly; he seemed to witness endless streams of blood, a battlefield of carnage, where his eyes saw nothing but killing—shattered limbs, mangled flesh, broken bones—and a terrifying killing intent washed over him like a tidal wave, as if the entire cosmos had been saturated with this murderous aura!

“Damn it, it’s the killing intent contained within the sword! The external menace was merely leaking out from here,” Chen Feng thought grimly. Clinging to the last thread of clear consciousness in his mind, he struggled to pull his hand away from the hilt.

“Hoo…” As soon as he released the grip, all the visions vanished, and the roaring in his head immediately dissipated.

What a powerful aura of slaughter! No wonder such killing intent could radiate from the body of the sword!

“When I first placed my hand on the hilt, nothing happened, but as soon as I infused it with the Qi Vortex power, this mad killing intent surged forth. Could it be that the killing intent is transmitted through the Qi Vortex power?” Chen Feng pondered for a moment before grasping the crucial point. He decided to try again.

He sat down cross-legged, recovering the mental energy slightly damaged from the previous attempt. Then, he rose and placed his hand on the hilt. Indeed, as long as he withheld the Qi Vortex power, the intense willpower would not launch its assault.

Forcing down his wildly pounding heart, he engaged his waist, and his entire musculature immediately swelled like rising mounds of earth. A force, potent and peerless, exploded from his muscles!

Since emerging from the Tenfold Gravity Domain, Chen Feng had barely utilized the full strength of his musculature. In that domain, he could run back and forth carrying a 4820 jin shovel—more than ten thousand jin!

How terrifying must one hundred thousand jin of muscle power be? To put it visually, Chen Feng could lift a truck single-handedly using only his muscle strength!

Now, Chen Feng gripped the hilt with both hands, exerting his whole body. Concentrating the force on a single point doubled the upward pulling power by more than twofold.

With a sharp “crack,” the stone beneath him began to fissure under the immense power, instantly crumbling into fine dust. Chen Feng’s feet simultaneously sank, burying themselves more than two feet deep.

“Hah!” Chen Feng roared, his muscles rippling like waves, channeling all his strength into his arms. With this surge of effort, a sound like steel grinding—a continuous “squeak”—issued from beneath his feet, and the treasured sword began to rise at a visible rate!

“Bang!” A sinister, dark-red light continually erupted from the sides of the sword. Chen Feng stood before it like a demon god enveloped in crimson radiance.

Under the illumination of this dark-red light, the two restrictive seals set up by the Magisters in the vicinity melted away instantly, like snow encountering fierce flames!

“Boom!” The entire longsword tore free from the ground. The Ming Yu Pavilion, as if completing some destined task, collapsed with a tremendous sound. However, the shattered stones and dirt from the collapse scattered upon contact with the red light, and not a single piece struck Chen Feng.

The massive boulders on the ground also began to crack slowly, turning into countless particles of dust.

Chen Feng stood with his eyes closed, embracing the sword, without the slightest tremor. A wild will of slaughter began to furiously impact his body. Chen Feng controlled the process, integrating it with the blood within him. As the willpower of slaughter continuously merged, the sinister dark-red glow gradually faded.

But as the red light dimmed, the blood inside him seemed to reach a saturation point, unable to absorb any more surging willpower. Sensing this change, Chen Feng opened his eyes and looked at the sword in his hands, a flicker of delight rising in his gaze.

Author’s Note: People have bad luck these days; even drinking cold water gets them stuck in their throat. I had to take today off to rest due to a cold, only to run into a power outage that lasted from two in the afternoon until 20:45—I’m dying! I planned to unleash a massive update today, aiming for ten thousand characters, but I’ve only managed seven thousand so far. Sigh. I apologize everyone; Old Ya will continue tomorrow, and I will slowly make up for the chapters I owe... Since I owe chapters, I dare not ask for monthly votes! My apologies!

Chapter 126: Disciple of the King of Fighters

If this drop of blood, fused with the crazed will of slaughter, could ignite… it might rival the Frenzied Blood. While it could only be utilized once, unlike the true Frenzied Blood which could be used indefinitely, this sword contained an immense volume of the will of slaughter. Used correctly, he could fabricate Frenzied Blood at any time! “With this, I won’t have to fear even a Dou Shi level opponent!” Chen Feng mused internally, holding the sword and examining it closely.

The martial techniques in this world were vastly different from the schools of martial arts in his previous life. Here, one could hardly find any dazzling moves, let alone the ethereal actions like “White Crane Spreads Wings” or “Wild Horse Parts Mane.” Without these, swordsmanship naturally lacked lightness and grace, favoring instead a sense of weight and solidity. Swordsmen here typically employed broad, sweeping strokes, cleaving downwards directly. Duels emphasized a clash of strength and a contest of power; consequently, most swordsmen favored heavy, thick blades.

However, the sword in Chen Feng’s hand had an extremely thin edge and exceptional resilience; it felt light in his grasp, weighing less than two jin. It constantly emitted a strange dark-red glow, which, upon contact with Dou Qi or magic, would rapidly expand as if nourished, launching a mental attack in the direction from which the energy originated.

Regardless of who obtained this sword first, they absolutely could not channel Dou Qi or magic into it, or they would suffer an immediate backlash! This was, unexpectedly, a sword that could not transmit the power of Dou Qi!

In a world dominated by Dou Qi, possessing a sword incapable of conducting it was truly shocking news.

Yet, Chen Feng felt no discomfort. Whether this sword could transmit Dou Qi was irrelevant to him. Possessing the techniques of the King of Fighters, he rarely used weapons. The sword’s greatest value in his eyes was the crazed will of slaughter it contained! Not only could it generate Frenzied Blood, but it could also launch mental attacks against opponents!

Even if the opponent were as strong as a Dou Zun, the moment they unleashed their Dou Qi, the sword could transmit the terrifying will of slaughter backward along that energy stream, causing the enemy’s mind to collapse. It explained why the Magisters and Dou Zuns who came here attempting to draw the blade either went mad or died—they must have suffered the effects of this incomparably powerful mental attack.

Pulling his gaze from the sword, Chen Feng surveyed his surroundings, and even his frost-cold face could not help but change color.

The entire Ming Yu Pavilion was reduced to rubble, with wisps of smoke curling into the air, and the earth mound was visibly lower by a full tier—a scene of utter devastation. But what truly startled him was that, without him noticing, eight elders of varying heights had appeared around him!

So many people had approached him, standing within three meters, and he remained oblivious. If they intended him harm, wouldn't it be as simple as turning over their hands? Cold sweat trickled slowly down his spine.

Surveying the group, five of the eight wore pitch-black magic robes, radiating a dense aura of magic, making it impossible to gauge their true cultivation levels. The remaining three were robust and well-built, exuding a powerful natural energy, suggesting they were at least Five-Star Dou Shis!

These eight stood in a circle. Chen Feng felt the surrounding air solidify, and waves of powerful pressure washed over him, stirring a deep-seated sense of dread from the bottom of his soul.

This must be an illusion caused by the vast disparity in power, much like how anyone facing a towering mountain or an endless ocean feels a sense of insignificance. If one person’s strength far exceeds another’s, even if the stronger party takes no action or releases no oppressive aura, the weaker will naturally feel a deep-seated helplessness just by standing near them.

He was already weakened in spirit before a fight had even begun—this was a first. He took a deep breath, surging the Qi Vortex power within his Dantian, and his state of mind gradually calmed. His eyes slowly filled with coldness and arrogant defiance.

In King of Fighters ’97, when Iori Yagami faced the supreme Orochi, his fierce pride was—Chen Feng’s dark Qi Vortex began to spin faster, a faint halo emerging around his body, and the pressure on him eased.

Although the killing intent emanating from the elder was thick, it was significantly weaker than the will of slaughter from the sword. If he could withstand the latter, this current burst of killing aura could certainly be blocked outside his body.

“Hmm?” The elder was clearly surprised that Chen Feng, with such a low apparent cultivation, could ward off his killing intent. He was about to press harder when he heard the tall, thin elder, who had spoken earlier, say sternly, “Aike, do not be discourteous!”

As soon as the words fell, the oppressive killing intent Chen Feng felt instantly vanished! The aura arrived swiftly and disappeared just as fast, as if conjured from thin air. To control killing intent with such exquisite precision indicated an unimaginably deep cultivation!

The tall, thin elder stepped forward, examining Chen Feng with a slight shift in expression, then sighed again. “No need to ask. I have already guessed this young man’s master.”

“Who is it?” Aike asked.

Chen Feng was momentarily stunned. He had no master, yet this elder claimed to have guessed who it was. Curiosity compelled him; he wanted to hear the name.

The tall, thin elder stated, “When this youth drew the sword just now, his physical body alone unleashed hundreds of thousands of jin of force. Furthermore, while he appears to be only a Three-Star cultivator, he actually possesses the strength of a Seven-Star Dou Shi. To possess such a powerful ability to conceal aura and such physical strength—besides that one senior, I truly cannot think of anyone else capable of training such an outstanding youth!”

“Him?” Everyone suddenly seemed to realize something, their eyes widening, faces etched with disbelief. “Big Brother, are you suggesting…”

“He can see my true cultivation level?” Chen Feng was equally shocked by the elder’s words.

Back in the Gravity Domain, Yan Long had once told him that the shovel’s concealment effect was formidable—unless one’s cultivation exceeded Five-Star Dou Zun, they wouldn’t see through it. Could this elder… have reached the level of a Five-Star Magister (equivalent to a Five-Star Dou Zun)…?

Chen Feng was shocked and utterly confused. A Five-Star Magister was definitely among the most powerful beings on the entire continent! How could he possibly encounter one so casually here?

The tall, thin elder nodded and sighed deeply. “Alas, I never expected that senior would finally find a successor.”

Upon hearing the tall, thin elder confirm this, the expressions of the other seven instantly softened toward Chen Feng. The disciple of that senior—what an honor that was!

The tall, thin elder looked at Chen Feng and asked in a mild tone, “Young friend, what… what is your name?”

Chen Feng recovered from his shock and casually offered a false name: “Yagami Iori.”

“Yagami Iori? Yagami Iori!” The elder chewed the name over several times, a wry smile forming on his face. “Did your master give you this name?”

Seeing Chen Feng’s blank, noncommittal expression, the elder seemed to confirm his assumption. “Only someone like him could come up with such a peculiar name!”

Chen Feng realized the elder had misinterpreted the situation. He said nothing further. These men possessed a level of cultivation he had never encountered before. Since they mistakenly believed him to be the disciple of someone they deeply respected and feared, there was no need to correct them; he would let the misunderstanding stand.

With that thought, he discarded any hesitation and casually placed the treasured sword into his waterskin pouch.

Since they misunderstood his origins and showed no desire to seize the magnificent sword despite its nature, he had no reason to conceal the existence of the waterskin.

“A spatial accessory…” The elders exclaimed in unison, their eyes showing naked envy.

Since arriving in this foreign realm, Chen Feng had met many people of noble status—the Prince of the Fenlai Empire, the City Lord of Gnamu Town—yet none of them possessed spatial accessories, testifying to their rarity.

It was natural for these elders to be astonished and moved upon seeing Chen Feng possess one, but while their gazes held envy, there was no trace of greed, suggesting these men were not petty individuals driven by fleeting desire.

“Is there anything else?” Chen Feng asked faintly, feeling no need to linger after storing the sword.

“Is there anything else?” Hearing this, all eight elders showed extremely peculiar expressions. A fellow whose cultivation hadn't even reached Dou Shi level, surrounded by them, yet showing no fear, instead asking such a casual question—was this fellow perhaps unafraid?

It was akin to an ordinary person standing before the head of state, not only showing no fear but calmly asking, “What business do you have with me?” Such a stark contrast was hard to ignore without astonishment.

“If there is nothing else, I will be going now.” With that, his expression unchanged, Chen Feng flickered his steps and walked out of the circle formed by the elders, leaving the group standing rooted to the spot, staring blankly.

After a long silence, the tall, thin elder finally let out a sigh. “Indeed, a disciple of the King of Fighters; even his bearing is utterly unique…”

Author’s Note: Recovering from a serious illness, I have no energy. This 3,000-character chapter took five full hours to write! Frustrating.

The updates over the last three days have been unsatisfactory, and Old Ya knows it. This is mainly because I was sick and dared not stay up late. Now that my body is almost better, I will rest one more day, and starting the day after, I will unleash a burst update to clear all the owed chapters within three days. I hope everyone can be understanding!