"Father, the one who attacked me that day wasn't this boy," Feng Linwan couldn't help but speak up as she saw Luo Qing approaching.
"My daughter, now that we are here, the matter is settled. If you go back on your word now, where would I put my face?" Feng Mohan replied with a hint of guilt. However, no matter what, his words had already been spoken. Even if the person who harmed his daughter was not Luo Qing, it was too late to turn back.
"Boy, have you prepared my daughter's Fire Silk Whip?" As Luo Qing stepped forward, Feng Mohan spoke again, his tone betraying a slight sense of guilt.
At this question, Luo Qing trembled, his face turning awkward as he awkwardly retrieved a dark red whip from behind him.
When the whip was revealed, the expressions of everyone present changed to one of confusion. Though the whip did indeed radiate the faint aura of a first-level Foundation Establishment spiritual weapon, its appearance was far from what everyone had expected the Fire Silk Whip to look like.
"Feng City Lord, this is your daughter's Fire Silk Whip," Luo Qing said with great discomfort, though he had no other choice but to present it.
Had Feng Linwan not spoken up earlier, Feng Mohan would certainly have flown into a rage at the sight of this whip, perhaps even striking Luo Qing without mercy. But now, with his guilty conscience, he could not bring himself to act. Despite the dissatisfaction in his heart, he smiled and accepted the whip without further words, though he couldn't help but feel conflicted.
"This Fire Silk Whip looks passable," Feng Mohan said with a trace of hesitation in his eyes as he looked at the whip. While he could sense the Fire Source Crystal covering the whip, he couldn't fathom its purpose.
"Dad, this whip is so ugly!" Feng Linwan blurted out, unable to hold back. While the whip before her could be considered a spiritual weapon, it was far inferior in looks to the Fire Silk Whip she had once owned. The most glaring flaw was the hideous scale-like markings on it.
At her words, Feng Mohan immediately felt embarrassed. It was clear that his daughter was displeased with the whip. If he accepted it now, it would appear that he was doing so out of guilt. But if he rejected it, he would have no excuse to chastise Luo Qing.
"My dear daughter, though this Fire Silk Whip may not be aesthetically pleasing, just look at the scales on its surface. They are so meticulously arranged. Surely the smith who forged this weapon invested a great deal of effort into it. Have I not taught you to respect the work and dedication of others?" Feng Mohan said, putting on the guise of a strict father as he lectured his daughter.
"But it's just too ugly!" Feng Linwan couldn't help but retort. She understood her father's intentions, but the appearance of this spiritual weapon was so far from what she had hoped for. "Moreover, those scales only make the whip uglier—what other purpose could they possibly serve?"
Caught off guard by his own daughter's blunt criticism, Feng Mohan fell silent. He glanced at Luo Qing with a troubled expression, thinking to himself, Boy, it's not that I want to strike you, but the item you've presented just doesn't meet expectations.
"Feng City Lord, the scales on the Fire Silk Whip are not just for appearance; they have a purpose," Luo Qing hastily interjected as he sensed Feng Mohan's growing dissatisfaction.
"Oh? Is that so? Then show me how it works," Feng Mohan said, quickly tossing the responsibility back onto Luo Qing.
Luo Qing was immediately caught in a dilemma. His previous words had been a mere temporary solution. He had no idea what purpose the scales on the whip served.
"Father, I think this boy is trying to fool us," Feng Linwan said, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "I think you should just strike him down with one palm."
Hearing this, many of the disciples from the Formation Peak, who had been watching from the sidelines, began to murmur among themselves with malicious glee. After all, Luo Qing had always walked with arrogance on the Formation Peak, as though looking down on others. Many were eager to see him suffer.
"This brat always acts so high and mighty. He deserves to be taught a lesson," one disciple sneered.
"Serves him right! He's always been so arrogant," another disciple added.
As Luo Qing listened to the comments, a complex mixture of emotions stirred within him. His gaze hardened as he focused on the Fire Silk Whip in his hand. Channeling his spiritual energy, he swung the whip with force.
In that instant, the scales on the whip unfurled like petals blooming in the air, each one opening with remarkable speed, creating a breathtaking sight, as though a cluster of vibrant flowers had blossomed mid-air.
Yet, what shocked Feng Mohan even more than the beauty of the sight was the overwhelming power that followed. Despite Luo Qing's current cultivation level, which was just shy of reaching the peak of Qi Refining, he was able to unleash nearly the full potential of the Fire Silk Whip. It seemed almost impossible for someone of his level to channel such power.
As the whip descended toward a massive stone, a brilliant red glow erupted from the scales, and the whip's power surged once again. The once-solid rock shattered under the force of the strike, breaking apart into countless fragments.
A deafening silence followed the strike.
Even Luo Qing, still holding the whip, was momentarily stunned, unable to comprehend the magnitude of the power he had just unleashed. To his surprise, the Fire Silk Whip crafted by Lin Tian had exceeded all his expectations in terms of its destructive force. The onlookers, who had been eagerly watching for his failure, were now rendered speechless.
Feng Linwan, standing beside her father, couldn't take her eyes off the scene. Her gaze was filled with admiration as she watched the whip's display of power.