Li Feng’s eyes flashed with realization, his suspicions confirmed. At least for now, there was no immediate threat to their lives. If he could withstand Du Wen’s pressure once, he could do so again. Though Ge Feng and Ge Ying couldn’t resist it, they only needed to retreat a safe distance to mitigate its effects.
At the same time, Li Feng didn’t believe Du Wen, this old man, would kill them. If Du Wen wanted them dead, he likely would have done so upon seeing them, rather than wasting time with words. Li Feng sensed Du Wen had a purpose for keeping him alive.
Yet, alongside this realization, a trace of shock flickered in his eyes. Du Wen was an Innate Realm expert. How had he been trapped here? Who had the power to confine someone of his caliber?
“I asked you, how did you figure it out?” Du Wen’s voice rang out again.
“It was simple. If you could move, a single strike would’ve killed me. But just now, though you wanted to kill me, you didn’t act directly. That’s the first clue,” Li Feng said, looking at Du Wen calmly. “If you were unharmed, even in these Hundred Thousand Mountains, you’d likely encounter martial artists on trials. Yet you said you haven’t seen a living person in a long time. That alone reveals your situation. For an Innate Realm expert, ‘a long time’ wouldn’t be just ten days or half a month—perhaps even a single seclusion could pass that time. That’s the second clue. When you used your pressure to try to kill me, and I resisted, your aura weakened noticeably. You might hide it from others, but not from me. I suspect each time you use your pressure, your life force diminishes, inching you closer to death. That’s the third clue. With these three points, I guessed you were trapped, and it seems I was right.”
“You’re sharp. In decades, you’re the first to see through my condition,” Du Wen said gravely, staring at Li Feng.
“If I’m not mistaken, you’re an Innate Realm expert. This isn’t some forbidden zone in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. What could trap you here?” Li Feng asked seriously.
Du Wen looked at him, smiled, and lifted his robe.
“This…?” Li Feng and the others stared in shock. Ge Ying turned away, terrified.
Li Feng struggled to describe the sight. From the waist down, Du Wen’s body was gone. He sat on the platform with only his upper half, the flesh at his waist even rotting.
“How is this possible?” Li Feng stared in disbelief. Who could have injured Du Wen so gravely? No wonder he couldn’t move. Using his pressure weakened him further, and with only half a body, how long could an Innate Realm expert last?
“Gaga…” Du Wen let out a chilling, eerie laugh, its sound haunting in the cave.
“Senior Du, who did this to you? You’re an Innate Realm expert,” Li Feng asked, stunned.
“Who else but my dear brother? If not for him, I wouldn’t be in this state,” Du Wen said through gritted teeth.
“Your brother?” Li Feng’s expression shifted. What kind of grudge could lead to such brutal fratricide?
“Yes, him,” Du Wen laughed grimly. His gaze fixed on Li Feng. “Li Feng, I need you to do something for me—avenge me. Kill my brother, Du Wu.”
“Senior Du, you’re joking,” Li Feng refused without hesitation. If Du Wen, an Innate Realm expert, was reduced to this by his brother, Du Wu was likely also an Innate Realm expert. For someone of Li Feng’s strength to kill such a figure was a pipe dream.
“Who said I’m joking?” Du Wen’s gaze turned cold. “You must agree today, or I’ll kill you here, even if it costs me everything. With my strength, I have a good chance of succeeding.”
“How can you be so unreasonable? This is forcing us into an impossible task,” Ge Ying interjected.
“Forcing you? I enjoy forcing others,” Du Wen sneered sinisterly. “I know my time is short. Your arrival is my chance for revenge. If you don’t help me fulfill my wish, I won’t rest in peace.”
“I’m not worried you’ll agree falsely and forget my grudge once you leave,” Du Wen continued, his icy gaze on the trio. “Before that, I’ll make you swear a Martial Oath. If you want to achieve anything in the Martial Path, you’ll have to avenge me.”
The trio’s faces darkened. To ordinary people, a Martial Oath might seem trivial, but for martial artists, it was grave. Breaking it could spawn inner demons, severely hindering future cultivation.
Li Feng hadn’t expected Du Wen to be so ruthless in pursuit of vengeance. He didn’t doubt Du Wen’s words or his threat to kill them. Initially, he thought Du Wen’s immobility gave him leverage to speak boldly. But now, he realized Du Wen’s condition only hastened his death if he moved. Yet, if Du Wen was determined to kill them, he could, even if it meant dying sooner.
After all, to Du Wen, they were likely the last people he’d see—his final hope for revenge. If they refused, in his despair, he might well kill them.
Li Feng found himself in a dilemma. How could they, with their strength, face an Innate Realm expert?
“Have you decided? If you agree, I won’t let you go unrewarded,” Du Wen said, his gaze on Li Feng, recognizing him as the group’s leader.
“Senior Du, you overestimate us. We’re only at the second or third layer of the Acquired Realm. How can we face an Innate Realm expert? Even if we wanted to avenge you, we lack the strength,” Li Feng said helplessly.
“Who said you’d face an Innate Realm expert? My brother isn’t one,” Du Wen snapped, glaring at him.
“How’s that possible? If he’s not an Innate Realm expert, how could he…” Li Feng said skeptically.
“Decades ago, my brother and I ventured into the Hundred Thousand Mountains,” Du Wen began, recounting his tale.
Years ago, the brothers explored the mountains and found a martial technique in a cave. This technique sparked their deadly conflict.
While fighting a ferocious beast to claim it, Du Wen lost a leg. As he killed the beast, Du Wu ambushed him, severing his other leg.
To survive, Du Wen fought back, gravely injuring Du Wu. By chance, he consumed a rare fruit, breaking through to the Innate Realm, which kept him alive.
“In this sunless cave, I’ve survived for decades. When I found this place, I discovered a young Winged Tiger. With my beast-taming skills and Innate Realm cultivation, I tamed it. It brought me food occasionally, allowing me to survive,” Du Wen said, pausing to glance at Li Feng’s group. “Your presence here means you killed the Winged Tiger.”
The trio looked embarrassed, unaware the tiger belonged to Du Wen or that it sustained him.
“Senior Du, decades have passed. Your brother might have reached the Innate Realm by now,” Li Feng said.
“Impossible. I destroyed his dantian and damaged his meridians. He could never reach the Innate Realm,” Du Wen said firmly. “At most, he’s slightly stronger than you. Killing him isn’t impossible.”
“Even so, Senior Du, after decades, in this vast world, how could I find him?” Li Feng pressed.
“Finding him is easy,” Du Wen said, looking at Li Feng. “If you agree to avenge me and kill Du Wu, I’ll tell you how. And if you succeed, I’ll reward you.”
He opened his hand, revealing a jade-green dragon-shaped pendant.
