"Chen Feng... is that really you?" Warren watched in disbelief as one of the formidable hidden masters from the Lunsite lineage was sent flying by a single punch from Chen Feng. The shock made it impossible for him to trust his own eyes.

Teacher Kailin and Anliya exchanged a glance, both seeing the astonishment reflected in the other's eyes. After more than two years apart, the familiar figure before them was no longer the youth who used to be chased relentlessly throughout the academy, forced to hide in the fifteenth basement level.

"I expected your talent might lead to progress—we could accept a jump to the fifth or sixth level of Dou Zun. But to defeat the academy's hidden master, a super expert who has been famous for over a hundred years, with a single punch? I still find that hard to believe," Teacher Kailin sighed as she asked.

It was no wonder she was shocked. In two years, even advancing from a first-level Fighter to a first-level Battle Master was considered impossible, let alone the ascent to the Dou Zun level!

This youth hadn't just advanced from first-level Dou Zun to the Saint Domain; he had now knocked down a hundred-year Saint Domain expert with one punch, leaving his fate unknown. Such strength marked him as a powerhouse even within the Saint Domain!

Warren and the other two considered themselves geniuses, but standing before Chen Feng, they felt inferior to the dullest mediocrities!

If this rate of advancement were known, the entire continent would likely go mad.

"Take your trash and get out of here!" Chen Feng said calmly, looking down at Lunsite lying on the ground.

Lunsite was in agony, his breathing ragged as he slowly regained his senses. Only now did he realize that the opponent's cultivation was on an entirely different tier. Struggling, he allowed Evan to help him up. "I can't believe you've grown to this extent in just over two years. But don't get too complacent. No matter what, Tianfeng Academy will not swallow this humiliation and will certainly seek retribution!"

"Scram!" Chen Feng dismissed the threat with a wave of his hand.

"Let's go!" Lunsite strained as Evan supported him, slowly moving toward the exit.

"Just like that, you're leaving?" Chen Feng shook his head.

"What else do you want?" Lunsite’s face twisted into a grimace.

"You can't swallow this loss, can you? If I were too merciful, wouldn't that be awfully impolite of me?" Chen Feng smiled, his body flickering once. To outsiders, it looked as if he hadn't moved at all. Lunsite's face immediately changed color. "You... you are ruthless! Evan, how are you?"

Bang!

With a soft sound, Evan, who was beside Lunsite, was sent flying backward.

The source of the disturbance was Chen Feng—how could he let Evan go? Although Chen Feng no longer viewed Evan's current cultivation level as a threat, it was more than enough to deal with Warren and the others. If Chen Feng left, there was no guarantee Evan wouldn't bully them, so it was best to act first.

Evan slowly struggled up from the ground. When he exerted himself, he felt hollow inside, utterly devoid of energy. His face became extraordinarily ugly. "My cultivation... it's all gone..."

"You crippled the cultivation of my two apprentices and injured me! If Heaven spares you today, I will make you regret it for the rest of your life!" Lunsite declared fiercely.

"Get lost!" Chen Feng stated flatly. "I'm letting you leave, but know that I can still deal with you. Also... don't flaunt your power just because you have some cultivation. There are many people you simply cannot afford to offend!"

"Hmph!" Lunsite's face cycled between red and pale. Having lost the fight against Chen Feng, any lingering verbal defiance was futile. He turned to leave. "Enjoy your triumph for a few more days!"

The master and his two apprentices walked out of the hotel. Xiaohu asked, puzzled, "Boss, why did you just let Lunsite go like that?"

Chen Feng shook his head but remained silent. Letting Lunsite go wasn't an act of mercy; it was because... if the Tianfeng Academy's eight hidden experts were fewer, how could the Eight Immortals Array be activated?

Although Chen Feng wasn't a battle fanatic, he knew someone was currently targeting him. Since that person could shatter the Eight Immortals Array with a single punch, Chen Feng wanted to test it himself.

………………………………………………………………………………

Seeing Chen Feng's overwhelming dominance, Warren and the others no longer felt the same bravado as before; a shadow of fear settled unconsciously in their hearts.

It was like meeting a high school classmate again years later, only to find they had become a billionaire—no matter how you looked at it, the encounter would feel awkward.

They had just been vocally preparing to plead Chen Feng's case, but now they realized they had been living in a well, looking at the sky. He had resolved the situation without even using a single finger; why would they be needed?

"I think... we were truly redundant!" Warren spoke first, draining his glass of wine in one gulp.

Chen Feng hadn't expected the preceding events to make them feel this way, and for a moment, he didn't know how to respond, so he remained silent.

The entire table lacked the joy of victory; there was only an atmosphere of awkwardness.

Chen Feng understood that his overwhelming strength had put pressure on them—something he had never anticipated.

If a person succeeds too greatly, they are destined to have few true friends. This is why the wealthy are often lonely. It's not that they are arrogant; it's that friends who are not on the same level will inevitably feel inferior!

A master's loneliness isn't just the absence of rivals; it's often the absence of friends who look at them with reverence rather than fear. If a friend hesitates to speak the truth because they are afraid of you, are they still a friend?

Disparity in strength and status creates an unavoidable barrier.

For the strong, this is obvious, but the weak inevitably feel a sense of oppression!

Chen Feng didn't have many friends, and encountering this situation now, he couldn't help but reflect, a hint of worry flickering in his eyes...

…………………………………………………………………………

They finished their meal as dusk fell. Warren and the others insisted on leaving, and Chen Feng didn't ask them to stay. He rented three rooms in the small town and settled in with Lingfeng and Xiaohu.

Xiaohu, having no deeper concerns, ate until his stomach was round and fell asleep immediately upon entering his room.

Chen Feng, however, remained sleepless for a long time. He stepped out of his room and found Lingfeng also awake.

"Are you going to Tianfeng Academy?" Lingfeng asked.

Chen Feng nodded. "I hadn't planned to, but after running into this, I have to. Furthermore, after the severe injuries you sustained and the fact that they hunted me down—I won't let such matters go easily."

"Going to Tianfeng Academy is fine; it's not about revenge either, but..." Lingfeng hesitated before speaking.

"I know what you mean," Chen Feng interjected. "You're worried about Warren and the others being in a difficult spot?"

Lingfeng nodded.

Warren and the others were members of Tianfeng Academy. If Chen Feng, their friend, clashed with the academy, it indeed placed them in a painful dilemma.

"They are certainly in a difficult position, but I hope... those people at Tianfeng Academy aren't foolish. Otherwise, I won't mind seeing a repeat of what happened half a month ago!" Chen Feng stated firmly, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

………………………………………………………………………………

"Master, are we just going to let this go?" Evan wept uncontrollably in the carriage.

"Let it go? Humph! After crippling both your cultivations and injuring me, how could it end like this?" Lunsite roared. "If I don't make him wish he were dead, I've lived over 300 years in vain!"

"But his strength is immense!" Evan protested.

"Strong? I don't know how this kid cultivated, but his power is undeniably terrifying. However, if we bring that demon here, do you think he stands a chance of winning?" Lunsite smiled slyly.

"The demon?" Evan shuddered, recalling those expressionless eyes. "But Master, do you know where the demon is?"

"I don't know his exact location, but I know he is definitely on the back mountain of Tianfeng Academy!"

"Why?"

"Because of something he said when he left!"

"Master, are you referring to, 'What a bunch of trash. If you want revenge, find Cao Jing!'?" Evan asked.

"Exactly. Even though we don't know who Cao Jing is, we can impersonate Chen Feng. Then... haha!" Lunsite sneered.

Evan's eyes lit up. "This way, the demon will challenge Chen Feng, and we can reap the benefits of the conflict?"

Lunsite smiled without answering, a sinister glint dancing in his eyes.

………………………………………………………………………………

The carriage did not head directly to Tianfeng Academy but turned toward the back mountain instead.

After a day's rest, Lunsite had largely recovered, but the cultivation of Evan and Terry was indeed ruined.

Lunsite, his power restored, soared into the air and flew along the back mountain toward the depths of the forest. After about half an hour, he reached a massive gorge where clear stream water trickled and green trees provided shade.

He stopped before an enormous stone wall, closed his eyes, and tapped the surface a few times. If he didn't know the demon's whereabouts, why had he come here?

Rumble!

The stone wall split open with a wide fissure, like a massive stone door swinging ajar.

"I have news of Cao Jing!" Upon seeing the gate open and a person emerge, Lunsite immediately bowed low.

"Where?"

"In the small town on the outskirts of Longtu Mountain!" Lunsite said, sweat beading on his palms in anxiety.

"Wait here, I need to inform the Young Master!" The person turned and walked back inside.

"Young Master..." The messenger stood before a slender, upright youth, speaking with deep deference. "It is the hidden master from Tianfeng Academy; he has come to report that he has found Cao Jing's whereabouts."

The youth did not reply immediately. Instead, he stared fixedly at a painting opposite him—a scene rendered cleanly: a towering, beautiful mountain piercing the clouds.

"Kill him, dump the body at Tianfeng Academy, and say Chen Feng did it," the youth stated coolly.

"Yes, Young Master!" The messenger turned and retreated.

Once the other person was gone, the youth finally turned, a hint of playful amusement crossing his face. "Cao Jing, Bāshen An, Chen Feng... You are quite talented, and your names are certainly striking! Without seeing your true strength, I truly can't relax. I fear rushing things and killing you prematurely! If you die, and it’s just me remaining, it won't be much fun!"

Saying that, he turned back to the painting on the wall, a look of anticipation on his face.

ps:: Chapter One, requesting monthly tickets!! A major battle is imminent, hehe!! (To be continued, for future developments, please log in to www**com for more chapters, support the author, and support genuine reading!)