“Li Feng, you really are bold beyond belief, daring to appear here alone.” Zhao Xiu stepped out from behind a large tree, a cold smirk on his face as he looked at Li Feng.
He had received word of Li Feng’s presence by the seaside three hours ago, yet he had not acted immediately. Only after confirming that the Innate Realm expert at Li Feng’s side was still at Tianya Pavilion, guarding Hu Yuanyuan, did he finally emerge.
Had that Innate expert not been present, he would have killed Li Feng back at the Imperial Hotel. Today he had expected killing Li Feng would require some effort and the item in his possession. He had never imagined the old man would be with Hu Yuanyuan instead. Zhao Xiu now felt that he might not even need the treasure to end Li Feng tonight.
“Zhao Xiu, you have finally come.” Li Feng let out a breath of relief. Someone from the four great families had appeared at last, and it was Zhao Xiu himself. Even if he were the only one, tonight’s plan had not been in vain.
“You knew I was coming?” Zhao Xiu’s expression faltered, a trace of confusion in his eyes as he stared at Li Feng.
“Of course. I have been waiting here all this time precisely for people from your four great families. Zhao Xiu, are you the only one who came? Where are the others?” Li Feng fixed Zhao Xiu with an icy stare.
“Waiting for me?” An ominous feeling rose in Zhao Xiu’s heart. Did Li Feng have some scheme?
Yet he immediately gave a cold laugh. The Innate expert was not at Li Feng’s side, and the Black Eagle squad was under surveillance by his men. Could one lone Li Feng really turn the heavens upside down?
“Li Feng, one man is more than enough to kill you today.” Murderous intent flashed in Zhao Xiu’s eyes.
“Just you? If you are alone, the only one dying today will be you.” Li Feng sneered with disdain.
“Hmph, all talk.” Zhao Xiu’s gaze turned frigid. Crimson palm force condensed on his hand before he struck out.
Buzz!
As the palm force left his hand, the air churned as though boiling water. Terrifying energy howled towards Li Feng.
Worthy of a peak ninth-layer Acquired Realm expert, Zhao Xiu’s full power shook the true qi throughout his body. The detached palm force carried enormous might.
Swish!
Li Feng’s figure flickered, easily evading the strike.
Boom!
The crimson palm force smashed into the beach dozens of metres away, producing a thunderous explosion. A huge crater instantly appeared in the sand.
“Zhao Xiu, is that all you have? You have made no progress at all these past days.” Li Feng looked at Zhao Xiu with a cold laugh. Did this man truly still think he was the same Li Feng from the Imperial Hotel?
“You actually dodged it?” Disbelief flashed in Zhao Xiu’s eyes. He had never imagined Li Feng could evade his palm so effortlessly. Even though that strike had not been at full power, given Li Feng’s strength, how could he dodge it so easily?
“Surprised?” A cold smile flickered in Li Feng’s eyes.
“Very surprised. But your luck will not last forever.” Zhao Xiu snorted coldly. He believed Li Feng had only dodged because of good fortune.
“Luck?” Disdain curled at the corner of Li Feng’s mouth.
“Li Feng, I will send you on your way right now.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, powerful aura burst from Zhao Xiu. Crimson light shimmered around him, as though he were encased in blood-coloured crystal.
Li Feng’s pupils contracted, a hint of gravity entering his gaze. Zhao Xiu’s presence was noticeably stronger than it had been at the Imperial Hotel. It seemed he was not the only one who had improved recently.
Shrouded in the crimson glow, Zhao Xiu stared sharply at Li Feng and declared in a low voice, “Li Feng, back at the Imperial Hotel, if that old monster had not been at your side, I would have killed you long ago. Today he is not here. You will die without a doubt.”
Boom!
Li Feng offered no reply. An aura no weaker than Zhao Xiu’s erupted from his body, sharp and overwhelming, like a mountain peak piercing the clouds.
“I will die without a doubt?” Li Feng laughed coldly, murderous intent gleaming in his eyes. “I rather want to see who dies today, you or me. Zhao Xiu, since you came, do not dream of leaving. Leave your life here.”
“You want my life?” Zhao Xiu’s face darkened like storm clouds. With a roar, his aura surged even higher.
Boom!
He stamped forward, leaving a deep crater in the sand. His entire figure turned into a streak of light as he threw a fierce punch.
Boom!
Crimson light condensed on his fist. The surrounding air instantly froze. The blood-coloured fist force carried piercing sonic booms as it smashed towards Li Feng.
Li Feng gazed calmly at the incoming punch. Only when the fist force was about to strike did he suddenly unleash a punch of his own.
In that instant, Li Feng’s presence underwent a heaven-shaking transformation. He became like a peerless blade, fierce and domineering. His punch carried unstoppable momentum, like a tiger descending the mountain.
Boom!
The two fist forces collided, producing a heaven-shaking explosion. Energy blasted in all directions. Li Feng felt an immense force and was forced back two steps.
On the other side, Zhao Xiu was also pushed back one step. He looked up at Li Feng in disbelief.
At the Imperial Hotel, although Li Feng’s aura had rivalled his, in actual combat Zhao Xiu could have defeated him with a single move. Yet now Li Feng was evenly matched. How could he accept this?
In just a few days, Li Feng’s strength had risen so dramatically. Did that mean in a few more days Li Feng would reach the Innate Realm?
Originally Zhao Xiu would never have entertained such a fanciful thought, but now it was different. Li Feng’s progress was too rapid, too inconceivable, too unacceptable.
Especially that last punch. Its power had been terrifying.
At this moment, thick murderous intent welled up in Zhao Xiu’s heart. The greater Li Feng’s talent and strength, the more desperately he wanted him dead. Especially recalling Li Feng’s vow to destroy the Zhao family. Zhao Xiu resolved that no matter what, he could not let Li Feng live past tonight. Otherwise, not only would he never be able to kill Li Feng in future, the Zhao family itself might be annihilated by him.
That was something Zhao Xiu would never allow.
“Zhao Xiu, I told you. Today you will certainly die.” Li Feng looked at Zhao Xiu, a cold smile on his lips, his voice laced with bone-chilling hatred.
“Li Feng, I must admit you have improved quickly. Yet today, you will die without fail.” Ferocity flashed in Zhao Xiu’s eyes as the true qi within his body surged madly.
“Die!”
With a cold snort, he struck out with a palm. A crimson handprint appeared, carrying boundless energy as it thundered towards Li Feng with overwhelming momentum.
This was the strongest martial technique Zhao Xiu had mastered, his signature killing move. He believed that even an Innate Realm expert might not be able to withstand it, let alone Li Feng.
Li Feng gave a cold laugh. Facing the whistling palm print, he simply raised his hand and struck out with a palm of his own.
“Overturning Mountains and Seas!”
The same Overturning Mountains and Seas technique. Wave after wave of palm prints poured from his hand, layer upon layer, unstoppable.
Boom!
Handprint met palm prints in a heaven-shaking collision. Energy blasted outward.
Step, step, step!
Li Feng was forced back several steps. His expression grew grave as he looked at Zhao Xiu. With his peak seventh-layer Qi Refining cultivation, equivalent to peak ninth-layer Acquired Realm combat strength, he had thought he could fight Zhao Xiu on equal terms. Yet after that exchange, he realised a clear gap still remained.
It was not a gap in realm, but in foundation. His strength had risen too quickly, and his cultivation was not yet fully consolidated.
Nevertheless…
Li Feng raised his head, his gaze locking onto Zhao Xiu with icy killing intent. Although the gap existed, it did not mean he had no chance of victory. He could still kill Zhao Xiu.
Compared to Li Feng’s shock, far greater horror flashed in Zhao Xiu’s eyes. He had never imagined that his strongest move would only force Li Feng back a few steps, leaving him completely unharmed.
How was this possible?
At this moment, Zhao Xiu finally understood why Li Feng had appeared here alone. With strength like this, killing him was indeed no easy task.
“Take my fist!”
Li Feng roared and threw a punch.
Boom!
A massive fist force formed before him, like a ferocious tiger charging down the mountain, accompanied by deafening roars as it smashed towards Zhao Xiu.
“Hmph, overestimating yourself.”
Zhao Xiu sneered coldly, stamped the ground, and swung both palms forward.
Crackle!
The two forces collided violently. Powerful shockwaves blasted outward, carving deep craters into the beach.
Boom!
After a brief stalemate, the fist and palm forces exploded. Fierce energy shot in all directions. Zhao Xiu grunted and retreated one step.
Li Feng’s face flushed red. He forcibly suppressed the churning blood in his body, stamped the ground, and leapt into the air. At the same time, a large sabre appeared in his hand. He slashed fiercely towards Zhao Xiu.
Swish!
A long blade light cleaved through the air.
Zhao Xiu’s expression changed. True qi surged madly within him as a crimson protective aura formed around his body.
Crackle!
The blade light struck the crimson aura, producing explosive sounds. The protective aura shattered completely. Zhao Xiu spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying.
Bang!
He crashed heavily onto the ground, spat another mouthful of blood, and looked up at Li Feng in horror. He had clearly held the upper hand moments ago. How had Li Feng suddenly defeated him?
Tap, tap, tap!
Li Feng walked slowly towards Zhao Xiu, murderous intent gleaming coldly in his eyes.
“Zhao Xiu, you never thought this day would come, did you? I told you. Today you will certainly die. After you are dead, I will make sure the Zhao family is reduced to ashes.” Li Feng looked down at Zhao Xiu coldly, sabre in hand.
“Haha…”
Zhao Xiu stared at Li Feng, a cold laugh in his eyes. “Li Feng, do you think defeating me means you have won? I told you. Today you will die without fail.”
