“Yes, it really is Wei Kang from Tianyan. I saw his corpse with my own eyes,” the black-armoured man nodded.
“How is this possible? Wei Kang was a peak Postnatal Ninth Layer ancient martial artist. Does that mean someone beside Li Feng is capable of killing a peak Ninth Layer expert?” Shock flashed across Li Zhengxiang’s eyes. In his view, the only people who could kill a peak Postnatal Ninth Layer expert were Innate realm powerhouses. Yet within the Li family, anyone at the Innate realm was an elder-level figure. How could such a person possibly be protecting Li Feng?
Moreover, none of the Li family’s current Innate experts had left Yanjing. They could not possibly be helping Li Feng. Did that mean another Innate expert was secretly following him? Otherwise, how could Wei Kang have been killed?
But why would an Innate expert follow Li Feng around? Was it because they valued his status?
After a moment’s thought, Li Zhengxiang shook his head. An Innate expert could become a guest elder in the Li family directly; there was no need for them to curry favour with Li Feng.
“It wasn’t someone beside Li Feng,” the black-armoured man shook his head.
“What do you mean?” Li Zhengxiang stared at him, puzzled.
“Fourth Master, Li Feng killed Wei Kang himself,” the black-armoured man said.
“Oh, I see… Wait, what? You’re saying Li Feng killed Wei Kang?” Li Zhengxiang looked at his subordinate in disbelief. “Are you confused? How could Li Feng possibly have killed Wei Kang? Does he even have that kind of strength?”
“Fourth Master, it truly was Li Feng. This is the surveillance footage from the Binhe Road crossroads. It clearly shows him killing Wei Kang.” The black-armoured man handed over a disc.
Li Zhengxiang’s expression changed at once. He hurriedly turned on the computer, inserted the disc, and watched.
The footage plainly recorded the entire process of Li Feng slaying Wei Kang. Li Zhengxiang watched it several times before finally closing the computer.
“How can this Li Feng be so strong?” Li Zhengxiang was deeply shaken. He had assumed an Innate expert beside Li Feng had done it, but he had never imagined Li Feng himself was the killer. Li Feng was only in his twenties. Had he already reached the Innate realm? Otherwise, how could he have slain Wei Kang?
A twenty-something Innate realm cultivator. Li Zhengxiang had never heard of such a thing. If it were not for this recording, he would never have believed it, no matter what the black-armoured man said. But with the evidence right in front of him, he had no choice but to accept it.
“How many people know about this?” Li Zhengxiang asked gravely.
“Fourth Master, I obtained the footage immediately. Apart from those who were at the scene tonight, no one else will know,” the black-armoured man replied.
“This matter must be kept absolutely secret. No one is to speak of it, understood?” Li Zhengxiang ordered.
“Rest assured, Fourth Master. I will not breathe no word of it.” The man nodded. He understood the gravity of the situation. The fewer people who knew, the better. Besides, even if he did tell someone, very few would believe a story like this unless they had seen it with their own eyes.
“Pass a message to Li Feng for me. Tell him I wish to meet him,” Li Zhengxiang said in a low voice.
“Yes, sir.” The black-armoured man did not ask why. He turned and left the study.
“A twenty-something Innate realm expert…” A sharp glint flashed in Li Zhengxiang’s eyes.
The reason he had opposed Li Feng and Li Chuanwei was that, although Li Chuanwei was the family head, he believed Li Feng would never become the heir. In the future, the position would certainly fall to Li Wu. Once Li Wu became heir and then family head, anyone close to Li Chuanwei and Li Feng would inevitably be suppressed. That was something Li Zhengxiang absolutely did not want, which was why he had drawn close to Li Xiangyang and Li Wu. He refused to let his own branch become a mere collateral line.
Over the past period, news about Li Feng had kept arriving. He knew Li Feng was no longer the useless waste he once was before, yet Li Zhengxiang had still believed Li Feng could never rival Li Wu. So when the council of elders ordered him to suppress Li Feng, he had carried it out without hesitation.
But now that Li Feng had revealed the strength of an Innate realm expert, Li Zhengxiang’s thinking had begun to shift.
He had seen Innate experts before. The Li family had several. But a twenty-something Innate expert? That was unheard of. Li Zhengxiang understood that, given room to grow, Li Feng’s future would be limitless.
For someone like this, there were only two choices: kill him before he rose, or support him before he rose and reap rich rewards later.
If Li Feng were an ordinary person, Li Zhengxiang would unhesitatingly choose the first option. But Li Feng was no ordinary person. He was Li Chuanwei’s son, the eldest young master of the Li family. Even if he had only Li Chuanwei and Mu Chunfeng behind him, his future would still be boundless.
Li Zhengxiang refused to believe Li Chuanwei was unaware of his son’s situation. The only explanation was that Li Chuanwei had deliberately kept Li Feng hidden, planning to catch Li Wu completely off guard during the heir selection contest.
In that case, could Li Wu still be considered Li Feng’s rival?
Obviously not.
Although he did not know Li Wu’s exact strength, he was certain Li Wu was definitely not Innate realm. How could someone like that possibly compete with Li Feng?
True, the heir selection contest was not decided purely by martial strength, but was Li Feng lacking in other areas? Fengyuan Group, the Black Hawk team. These were forces Li Feng had built entirely by himself. If he were incapable, how could his subordinates be so fiercely loyal?
If Li Feng became the family heir, with Li Chuanwei and Mu Chunfeng supporting him from above, the consequences of opposing him were obvious without needing to think.
Li Zhengxiang had supported Li Xiangyang and Li Wu only because he did not want his branch to become collateral. Now that Li Feng might become the heir, his previous plans had to change.
He secretly rejoiced that he had come to Tianhai City this time. Otherwise he would never have learned of Li Feng’s true strength, and what awaited him would have been utter ruin. Fortunately, it was not too late to mend the fold after the sheep was lost.
Imperial Hotel, eighteenth floor.
“What did you say? Blood Shadow and the others failed?” Situ Qiang stared at Situ Lei in disbelief, his eyes filled with shock.
“Yes. Almost the entire Blood Shadow force has been wiped out,” Situ Lei nodded. He was hardly calmer than Situ Qiang. When he first received the news, he had thought Li Feng was certainly dead, yet not only had Li Feng survived, Blood Shadow’s people had been practically annihilated.
“It seems this Li Feng is even more formidable than I imagined.” A bright gleam flashed in Situ Qiang’s eyes. He now admired his father’s and grandfather’s insight more than ever, especially his grandfather, who had recognised Li Feng’s extraordinariness without ever meeting him.
Thinking of how he had delayed meeting Li Feng because he doubted the young man’s ability, Situ Qiang felt a trace of shame.
“I will go and see Li Feng tomorrow.” He felt he could delay no longer. He might look down on Li Feng personally, but he absolutely could not sabotage his grandfather’s plans. Moreover, Li Feng had now proven the strength he was supposed to have.
Situ Lei nodded, quietly breathing a sigh of relief. He had genuinely worried that Situ Qiang would remain stubborn, forcing him to report the situation to Situ Kuang.
“Uncle Lei, I want to track down Blood Shadow’s whereabouts,” Situ Qiang said gravely told Situ Lei.
“Track down Blood Shadow? Young Master, do you intend to…” Situ Lei started, then immediately understood.
“Exactly. I’m going to present Li Feng with a grand gift.” A sharp light flashed in Situ Qiang’s eyes.
“Rest assured, Young Master. I will uncover Blood Shadow’s location within a day,” Situ Lei said solemnly. Blood Shadow belonged to the Hongmen. The Hongmen had their own customs, but with the Situ family’s power, finding them would not be difficult.
“Also, Uncle Lei, prepare these items for me.” Situ Qiang listed several names.
Situ Lei’s eyes gleamed at the list.
At the same time, in a suite not far from Situ Qiang’s, Cai Die’s face was livid as she stared at the scarred middle-aged man before her.
“You’re saying Wei Kang is dead?”
“Yes. Wei Kang is dead,” the scarred man nodded.
“How is that possible? Wei Kang was a peak Postnatal Ninth Layer expert. How could Li Feng have killed him?” Cai Die’s expression was ashen. She clearly remembered that just over a month ago she had fought Li Feng to a standstill in the hospital. How, in such a short time, had he become capable of slaying a peak Ninth Layer expert?
Did that mean that in a few more days Li Feng would be able to kill Innate realm experts? If so, could anyone from Blood Sand still kill him?
“I saw it with my own eyes. That Li Feng is terrifying,” the scarred man said, fear flickering in his eyes.
Cai Die’s gaze shifted. She gave a cold laugh. “Good. Very good. Wei Kang’s death is perfect.”
The scarred man stared at her in confusion. Wei Kang had come to Tianhai City as part of their scheme. Without the promise from Hongmen’s Blood Shadow, Wei Kang would never have come personally. Now that he was dead, although Tianyan still had people in the city, how were they supposed to use them to kill Li Feng?
Li Feng was so powerful he could even kill Wei Kang. Could people like them still kill him? Rely on Cai Die? If Cai Die could have killed Li Feng, he would already be dead. Even Shura had not been Li Feng’s match, let alone her.
“With Wei Kang dead, Tianyan is now leaderless in Tianhai City. This is our opportunity. It’s time for the person we control to step forward. Once we seize control of Tianyan’s forces here, we will still have a chance to kill Li Feng.” A sharp light flashed in Cai Die’s eyes. She had thought of a better partner: Blood Shadow. Blood Shadow belonged to Hongmen’s Chen Junyi. He might be able to hide from others in Tianhai City, but he could not hide from Blood Sand. After existing for so many years, Blood Sand relied on an intelligence network that reached everywhere.
Moreover, when it came to dealing with Li Feng, she still had one final trump card up her sleeve.
