Zhang Shan descended calmly from the air and said,"Young man, you're quite arrogant. Do you really think defeating a few fourth-realm weaklings makes you invincible?"
"They're weaklings, then what does that make you?"Lie Feng's tone was icy—he remembered all too well that this was the man who had killed Master Changqing.
Zhang Shan ignored his words and deliberately shifted the subject."They were weaklings. And your master—he was a weakling too."
Lie Feng's gaze did not waver, still locked firmly on him. To provoke a reaction, Zhang Shan continued to insult Changqing."The cultivation world has always honored strength above all. Many have the right to practice, but most are mediocrities, doomed to be trampled their entire lives. Your master was one of them.
"He lived so many years, yet his cultivation was only mid-Fifth Realm. Do you know how pathetic he looked when he fought me? He couldn't even block my attacks head-on. Every strike that landed made him squeal like a pig being slaughtered—"
That was when Lie Feng moved.
Seeing his provocation had worked, Zhang Shan's lips curved into a satisfied grin.
Lie Feng lunged forward in a sudden arrow-step, closing the gap instantly. At the same time, countless vine-spikes erupted from beneath Zhang Shan's feet.It was a trap—he had secretly set a formation the moment he arrived, waiting for Lie Feng to take the bait.
But Lie Feng didn't halt. His limbs, sharp as blades, hacked through the vines one after another, each strike bringing him closer.Then, some of the severed vines exploded—their surfaces had been lined with explosive talismans. The blast forced Lie Feng onto the defensive, the shockwave halting his advance and hurling him backward—straight into another trap.
Like a tidal wave, more vines surged from behind, engulfing him in an instant.Zhang Shan, confident, charged at full speed with a spear of vines forming in his grasp.
The writhing vines spread apart, revealing Lie Feng ensnared—his limbs bound by dozens of tendrils. The spear thrust pierced his chest, drawing a pained grimace.
Zhang Shan's mouth twisted in triumph—until a voice shouted from afar,"Behind you!"
Before he could even turn his head, hands seized his skull. A sickening crack rang out as his neck twisted unnaturally.The Lie Feng he had skewered crumbled into chunks of earth, scattering across the ground.
Zhang Shan's smile froze. His body collapsed, lifeless.
Lie Feng had used the momentary cover of the vines and explosions to slip away with earth-escape, leaving behind a decoy of packed soil. Zhang Shan, fooled, was slain with ease.
Lie Feng sneered at the corpse."You called others weaklings—but you weren't so impressive yourself."
Seeing his disciple fall, Yuan Hong roared in fury,"You little beast!"
He was about to strike personally, but his other three disciples rushed ahead, sparing him the trouble.
The eldest, Zhang Shun—massive of frame, late-Fifth Realm—bellowed,"Give me back my brother's life!"
His fist came crashing down, but Lie Feng shifted just enough to evade and countered with an elbow strike to the face.The impact told him all he needed—this was a body cultivator of the Metal Root, his defense extremely high. The blow left only a brief daze, forcing Zhang Shun back a few steps.
Lie Feng's instincts screamed—this giant must be dealt with quickly, or trouble would follow.But as he pressed forward, vines lashed out, binding his arm mid-strike.
Glancing aside, Lie Feng spotted Zhang Bo, Yuan Hong's fourth disciple, mid-Fifth Realm, channeling Wood arts from a distance.
With a slash he severed the vines, only for more to whip toward him. Not wasting time, he lunged straight at Zhang Bo.His speed was blinding—Zhang Bo had no time to defend. Death was only steps away—
Until Zhang Shun intercepted him, arms crossed in defense. Blow after blow rained down, but Zhang Shun only guarded, waiting for support.
And it came. From above, icy lances rained down, sealing off Lie Feng's retreat.The caster was Zhang Jie, Yuan Hong's second disciple, also mid-Fifth Realm, who had been circling overhead for his chance.
Lie Feng had no wish to clash head-on. He darted away—only for his movement to be perfectly predicted.A heavy kick from Zhang Shun drove toward his waist. Though simple, it carried brutal force. Even as a body cultivator himself, if struck he would suffer.
Lie Feng met Zhang Shun's kick with his own foot, and his whole body was sent flying like a ball struck with great force. Yet in midair he immediately adjusted himself, landing steadily on the ground, thus breaking free from the siege of the three and pulling a safe distance away from them.
From the sidelines, Zheng Jian frowned. He stepped forward, resolve forming—only for Ji Wushi to grab his sleeve."What are you doing?"
"I'm going to help him!"
"He doesn't need your help."
"You didn't see how pressured he was? Those three fight in perfect rhythm. If someone disrupted even one, the fight would turn immediately."
"I understand—but I believe Lie Feng's true strength is greater still. His face does not read short-lived. We need not worry."
"You put too much faith in your divinations."
Ji Wushi only smiled."Don't forget why we came here in the first place."
Zheng Jian thought it over, then reluctantly stood down.
Elsewhere, Li Qiuyun's young maid whispered,"What a pity…"
Elder Xu You asked,"What do you mean, Xiaocui?"
She answered softly,"For Young Master Lie Feng. He is loyal, courageous, unbowed by power. Yet now he may die exhausted against those three. Such a future wasted—isn't that pitiful?"
Xu You said nothing. He silently agreed.
Li Qiuyun gave a faint smile and said, "With just those three? Even without using my Heavenly Thunder Power, I would still have the confidence to win—let alone him."
The three brothers did not chase immediately. Instead, Zhang Shun's body shimmered with green light, waves of water flowing across his skin without soaking his robes. His wounds closed rapidly before the crowd's eyes—soon he stood whole again.
Revitalized, they charged once more. But the ground convulsed beneath them, walls of earth rising to divide them.
Zhang Shun's face darkened. He's seen through our tactics. He'll strike down Zhang Jie and Zhang Bo first, to dismantle us one by one.He moved to regroup—but Lie Feng burst from a wall and unleashed a storm of strikes.
Caught off guard, Zhang Shun took blow after blow.Though both body cultivators, Lie Feng's fists were heavier than any Fifth-Realm opponent Zhang Shun had ever faced. Within moments, his defense began to crumble.
Still, he held fast. If he could endure until his junior brothers arrived, the tide would turn again.But then an uppercut cracked against his chin, staggering him backward.
In that instant, Lie Feng seized his wrist, twisted it behind him, and clamped a hand on his neck. Zhang Shun froze, immobilized.
Zhang Jie and Zhang Bo arrived, shouting,"Senior brother, hold on—we're here!"
Ice lances and vines lashed out together—but this time Lie Feng didn't dodge. He took the hits head-on. The attacks tore his robes, left shallow cuts, but did little more.
Drawing a deep breath, Lie Feng's aura flared. The air seared with sudden heat. With a thunderous shout, flames roared outward, engulfing himself and Zhang Shun within a whirling inferno.
Only then did Zhang Shun realize—I was always the true target.But by then, it was far too late.
Within the vortex, the heat flayed his flesh, dragging screams from his throat.His brothers tried desperately to break through, but their spells could not penetrate even the outer layers of fire. Helpless, they watched as Zhang Shun burned alive.
And just as he was about to perish, a figure darted through the flames—slamming a palm into Lie Feng's back.