Under normal circumstances, Lie Feng would absolutely not have been able to approach them without being noticed in such a manner.However, at this moment everyone's attention had shifted to Zhang Bo. After all, they were of the same sect, and after living and training together for so long, they naturally had feelings for one another. Otherwise, these master and disciples would not have abandoned their pursuit of Lie Feng to rush over together and check Zhang Bo's injuries.
It was precisely because of their concern that they revealed a flaw. Even Yuan Hong, a master of the Sixth Realm, failed to react in time and could only watch as Zhang Bo, right beneath his own eyes, was taken away by Lie Feng.
Zhang Bo's neck was fiercely gripped by Lie Feng, making it hard for him to breathe.
He tried to pry apart the hand that clamped down on his throat, but Lie Feng's grip strength was astonishing.
No matter how much force he exerted, he could not break free from the restraint.He was continuously pressed down to the ground and dragged along, his back constantly rubbing against the earth, stirring up clouds of dust that spread and dispersed in midair.
Zhang Bo opened his mouth wide, using all his strength to suck in each and every breath of air. He knew that if things continued like this, he would not last long.
Thus, he summoned a thorn-vine spear and prepared to stab it at Lie Feng's abdomen.
He knew that Lie Feng was a body cultivator, whose fleshly body was extremely tough. An ordinary spear at most could pierce only his skin. Therefore, Zhang Bo intended to pour all the spiritual power in his body into the spear in his hand.
But just then, he realized the area clamped by that hand at his throat was growing hot. When he came to his senses, his whole body was already engulfed in blazing flames.
The burning pain of the fire caused him to let out a horrifying scream, making him lose all capacity for thought.
By instinct, he released the spear in his hand, thrashing his body and legs wildly, while his hands slapped frantically all over himself, hoping to extinguish the fire. But all his struggles were destined to be in vain.
Earlier, Zhang Shun, when forced into a similar desperate situation by Lie Feng, had still managed to resist for a while, all thanks to being a body cultivator with extraordinary defensive strength.
But for a cultivator like Zhang Bo, whose physical body was not strong, very quickly he could no longer endure.
His hands drooped down limply, and he never moved again.
Yuan Hong and the others, after seeing Zhang Bo being seized, had been chasing Lie Feng from behind the whole time, hoping to rescue him.
Although they had already been prepared for the worst outcome, when they personally witnessed Zhang Bo being burned alive before their eyes, they still found it unbearable.
Their expressions instantly lost control, and the flames of fury within their hearts were ignited at once.
Seeing he was about to be overtaken, Lie Feng suddenly flung the charred corpse of Zhang Bo at Yuan Hong with great force.
Yuan Hong once again fell for the trick, instinctively reaching out both hands to catch the body. But this was only natural—how could he possibly turn a blind eye to the corpse of his beloved disciple?
Yet very soon, he regretted this decision he had just made.
For Lie Feng had directly engaged Zhang Shun head-on.Perhaps Zhang Shun, consumed by rage, had completely forgotten one very important fact—that in single combat, he was absolutely not Lie Feng's match.
Zhang Shun's attack was easily blocked by Lie Feng. Immediately afterward, Lie Feng blasted his chest with the power of the Five Elements, sending him flying until he crashed into a distant wall.His body was embedded into the wall, blood pouring from his mouth, his head hanging limp, clearly unable to rejoin the battle.
Equally blinded by fury was Zhang Jie.This time, instead of launching a sneak attack, he chose a frontal assault. But clearly, this was the wrong choice. Because Lie Feng had no intention of dodging his blows at all.
Zhang Jie was easily knocked down by a backhand punch from Lie Feng, then his abdomen was ruthlessly kicked.Like Zhang Shun, he was sent flying. The only difference was that Zhang Jie was comparatively lucky; his injuries were not as severe. Still, he clutched his stomach in agony, collapsed on the ground, his body twitching from time to time.
At this moment, Yuan Hong could no longer afford to care about anything else. He immediately cast aside the corpse in his hands. If he did not take action now, the remaining two disciples would likely also perish.
Somewhat unexpectedly, Lie Feng did not pursue and finish off Zhang Shun and Zhang Jie, but instead turned around and confronted Yuan Hong directly.
Although slightly puzzled by Lie Feng's choice, Yuan Hong did not feel the slightest panic. He swung a palm strike toward Lie Feng's chest.
Yet Lie Feng made no move to defend or evade, but instead used his body to take the blow head-on. At the same time, Yuan Hong's own chest was struck by Lie Feng's palm.
This strike contained a faint trace of Five Elemental Power. Both of them simultaneously spat out blood, both blasted away.Yet the moment Lie Feng landed, though gravely injured, he still launched another charge, rushing toward Yuan Hong who was clutching his chest.
Clearly, Lie Feng had thrown his life away, choosing this kind of fighting method—injury for injury, life for life.Although the strike carried the power of the Five Elements, his severe injuries limited its potency.
Yuan Hong was hurt, but not mortally so. Still, this finally enraged him completely.
Veins bulged across Yuan Hong's forehead as he glared furiously at Lie Feng speeding toward him, roaring as he struck with full force.
"You beast, did you really think I feared you?!"
This blow carried the entirety of Yuan Hong's power, unstoppable in its might. In his current state, no matter how desperately Lie Feng urged his Five Elemental Power, he could not withstand it.
The two palms clashed only for an instant before Lie Feng was sent flying and crashed to the ground, unable to rise again.
In this contest, Yuan Hong was the victor, but even he fell into a qi-exhausted state, bending over and panting heavily.This was precisely why cultivators rarely used full-strength attacks—draining all one's spiritual power left the body briefly depleted.
Though with a short rest one could recover, in battle such a moment was fatal.But Yuan Hong did not worry about this, for he was certain that Lie Feng was no longer a threat.
Although Lie Feng desperately tried to rise again, he no longer even had the strength to lift an arm.
The clash had only worsened his injuries, and now he could only gaze up at the sky in unwillingness.Just as everyone believed the outcome had been decided, Lie Feng's body began emitting a faint light.
Yuan Hong was stunned at first, then immediately understood. He wanted to rush over to finish Lie Feng, but in his qi-exhausted state, he could not make a rapid sprint.Thus, he could only watch helplessly as the grievously wounded Lie Feng vanished before his eyes.
To think that after sacrificing dozens of subordinates and two disciples, in the end, the enemy still escaped.The pain of his own injuries further fueled Yuan Hong's wrath.
Unable to contain himself, he roared, "Damn it! That beast actually has a teleportation artifact!"
His eyes burned with rage as he glared toward Qin Fen in the distance.Qin Fen felt his heart sink under that gaze, a terrible premonition arising within him.
Yuan Hong strode forward at first slowly, then faster and faster, until in the blink of an eye he stood before Qin Fen, seizing his throat without a word.
He snarled, "Speak! Where was he teleported to?!"
Qin Fen knew that if he did not speak, he would surely be strangled alive.
He gasped out with difficulty, "This subordinate does not know, I beg the lord to spare me!"
"You are fellow disciples—yet you claim not to know?"
"Although we are of the same sect, as the lord has seen, our relations are terrible. We usually never had any contact.
I was despised within the sect, so in anger I came to join the Grand Competition. As for that teleportation artifact, it was my master… no, it was Chang Qingzi who gave it to him.
Before entering the secret realm, I saw them conversing in secret, so it must have been then that Chang Qingzi handed the treasure to him."
At this time, Zhang Shun and Zhang Jie, both badly wounded, staggered over to Yuan Hong, their appearances pitiful.
They asked, "Master, now that he has escaped, what should we do?"
Yuan Hong glanced at his two remaining disciples and sighed. Then he struck Qin Fen with a heavy slap that knocked him to the ground.
With a cold voice, he threatened, "You had better be telling the truth. Otherwise, you know the consequences."
Qin Fen clutched his swollen face and quickly panted, "Yes, this subordinate has not uttered a single false word."
Yuan Hong gave him a look of disgust before turning and leaving with his two disciples to heal their wounds.
Only after they disappeared from sight did Qin Fen finally breathe a sigh of relief.Unconsciously, his hand touched the teleportation jade slip hidden in his bosom.
His heart was filled with unease and also with regret.For he knew that if anyone discovered he had this object, he would surely die.
What he hated most was being implicated by Chang Qingzi. When he had been surrounded by hundreds of enemies, he had been utterly panicked and had completely forgotten about the teleportation jade slip.
In order to save himself, he had ended up signing the humiliating slave contract.
He thought to himself, This teleportation jade slip must not be discovered. Perhaps in the future, I can use it to free myself from this bondage of servitude.