“Looks like we’re not as lucky as we thought,” Li Feng said helplessly to Ge Feng and Ge Ying outside Black Wind Forest. They had emerged from the cave and walked straight through the forest without finding the Golden Cicada Fruit. They did, however, encounter two ferocious beasts, one at the sixth layer of the Acquired Realm. The trio fought for half a day but was no match, barely escaping after a long chase.
“The beasts in Black Wind Forest are too strong,” Ge Feng said, shaking his head. “Even if we found the Golden Cicada Fruit, we might not defeat its guardian beast.”
Li Feng nodded. Without coming to Black Wind Forest, he wouldn’t have realized its dangers. As Ge Feng said, the beasts were formidable, and even if they located the fruit, securing it was another matter.
“Besides, we’re not the only ones after it,” Ge Feng added, pointing to fresh battle marks nearby, less than three days old. Clearly, others were also hunting for the fruit.
“Then next time,” Li Feng said, a glint in his eyes. “With the Mysterious Origin Fruit and Foundation Pills in hand, I can boost my strength again. After settling things in Tianhai City, I’ll return to the Hundred Thousand Mountains for the Golden Cicada Fruit.”
“Mm,” Ge Feng and Ge Ying nodded, their eyes resolute. Their weakness was the root of their failure. If they were stronger, they wouldn’t fear the forest’s beasts.
“Let’s go. It’s getting dark. We should find a place to spend the night,” Li Feng said.
Half an hour later, they found a cave to rest in.
“Li Feng, when are you heading to Kunyang Town?” Ge Feng asked after they ate a hearty meal of Winged Tiger meat.
“Tomorrow,” Li Feng replied. “Meeting you two in the Hundred Thousand Mountains has been an honor. Since we can’t get the Golden Cicada Fruit, it’s time for me to leave.”
“We’ll go to Kunyang Town with you,” Ge Feng said quickly. “We’ll kill Du Wu together. We’re in this too, so you shouldn’t bear it alone.”
“I’ll call you when it’s time to deal with Du Wu, but not now. I’m not seeking him out yet. Decades have passed—Du Wen, even crippled, reached the Innate Realm. Who’s to say Du Wu hasn’t? Going now would be suicide,” Li Feng said calmly.
“But your oath…” Ge Feng said, worried.
“The oath?” Li Feng smiled. “I swore a Martial Oath, but I never specified when I’d kill Du Wu. I’ll do it when I reach the Innate Realm.”
Ge Feng stared, stunned, before saying, “Li Feng, you’re cunning.”
“Not cunning. Smart,” Li Feng replied, glancing at the siblings. “And you? What’s your plan?”
“Our trial isn’t over. We need to stay in the Hundred Thousand Mountains a bit longer,” Ge Ying said. “Where are you going after this? Once we leave, we’ll find you.”
“I’ll return to Tianhai City and likely stay there for a while. You can find me there,” Li Feng said.
“Deal,” Ge Ying said, delighted.
They chatted a bit longer before settling into cultivation. For martial artists, cultivation was like rowing against the current—stagnation meant regression, even for a day.
As the siblings cultivated, Li Feng took out the Mysterious Origin Fruit.
Though he’d told them he wouldn’t go to Kunyang Town yet, that was a lie to protect them. With their strength, following him there would be deadly, and he didn’t want them at risk.
He had already decided to head to Kunyang Town after leaving the mountains to investigate Du Wu and the Du Clan. If Du Wu was as strong as feared, he’d wait. But if Du Wu was as Du Wen claimed, he’d act without hesitation.
Li Feng took the Martial Oath seriously. Killing Du Wu sooner would benefit him. Besides, Du Wen said the Du Clan was founded by the brothers in Kunyang Town. The group that ambushed him there was likely tied to them. This grudge demanded retribution.
Unsure of the Du Clan’s or Du Wu’s strength, Li Feng needed to boost his power. He’d hoped to find the Golden Cicada Fruit for that, but with it out of reach, the Mysterious Origin Fruit would have to do.
The fruit melted in his mouth, releasing a surge of energy. Li Feng immediately circulated the Nine Heavens Heart Sutra.
As he entered cultivation, a flood of spiritual energy rushed toward him from all directions, startling him. He’d never experienced this before.
He quickly realized the cause: the dragon-shaped jade pendant. As he cultivated, it glowed green, drawing spiritual energy to him at several times the usual density.
Moreover, his absorption rate was far faster than normal.
Shocked, Li Feng wondered what this pendant was to have such a miraculous effect.
But he had no time to ponder. Focusing, he guided the energy from the fruit and the spiritual influx through his meridians. Under their influence, he felt his meridians being refined, growing tougher.
Boom!
After an unknown time, a muffled sound echoed in his body. The spiritual energy and fruit’s power merged into a torrent, flooding his dantian.
“This is it,” Li Feng thought, elated. He was about to break through.
“Break!” he commanded.
A series of crisp pops rang from his body, and nearby spiritual energy surged toward him again.
“Phew!” Li Feng opened his eyes, exhaling deeply.
Fourth Layer of Qi Refining!
He could feel the immense energy within. He hadn’t expected the Mysterious Origin Fruit and the pendant to push him to a breakthrough so quickly.
“Li Feng, you broke through again?” Ge Feng and Ge Ying’s shocked voices rang out. They’d stopped cultivating when they sensed the spiritual fluctuations, stunned to see Li Feng as the source. His breakthrough left them speechless.
They’d known him for two days, and he’d broken through twice. They wondered if he was even human.
“Yes, I broke through,” Li Feng nodded.
“How is that possible…?” Ge Feng struggled to accept it. After over a decade of cultivation, he’d reached the third layer of the Acquired Realm, considered a genius in his family. Compared to Li Feng, he felt like a failure.
“How long have you been cultivating?” Ge Ying asked, curious. If he could break through twice in two days, why was his realm so low?
“How long?” Li Feng thought. “About a month and a half, almost two months…”
“What?” The siblings collapsed, staring at him in horror.
They’d assumed he’d cultivated since childhood. His strength was surprising but acceptable—geniuses abounded in this world. But learning he’d only cultivated for less than two months was a devastating blow.
That he’d achieved this in such a short time, compared to their years of effort, was crushing. Ge Feng, who prided himself as a genius for reaching the third layer in over a decade, felt like an ant next to an elephant.
“Li Feng, you’re not human,” Ge Feng said after a long pause, awestruck.
Amid his shock, he felt no jealousy, only a newfound determination. If Li Feng could achieve this in less than two months, why couldn’t he?
“Li Feng, one day I’ll surpass you,” Ge Feng said earnestly.
Li Feng smiled, pleased. This was the Ge Feng worth befriending.
“Me too,” Ge Ying said, her eyes resolute.
The next day, Li Feng bid farewell to the siblings. Turning toward Kunyang Town, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
“Kunyang Town, Du Clan, Li Feng is coming.”
