The enraged demon ape, the savage Shadowblade Panther, and the surging Beast Tide around them all froze in place, as though struck by an immobilization spell.
Even their roars and snarls caught in their throats.
An indescribable, aloof pressure that towered above all else enveloped the land.
Lin Chen froze. He stared blankly at the ripples in space before him, which had yet to settle completely, then sensed the immobilized Shadowblade Panther behind him. In an instant, he understood.
He slowly turned his head.
At some point, a figure in blue robes had silently appeared atop an ancient tree not far behind him.
He stood with his hands behind his back, surveying the chaos below with an utterly calm expression. It was Lin Feng.
"D-Daddy?"
Lin Chen's voice came out a little dry, and his small face fell at once.
The relief of surviving disaster vanished, replaced in an instant by the thought, I'm done for. He caught me.
Lin Feng's gaze fell on him. Instead of the harsh rebuke he had expected, there was an indescribable mixture in his eyes—concern, pride, and helplessness.
"Had enough fun?" Lin Feng's voice drifted over, level and calm.
Lin Chen lowered his head and twisted his fingers together. "I... I only came out to train..."
"Mm. You trained quite well."
Lin Feng nodded.
"You even dared provoke a demon ape in the Heavenly Emperor Realm and set off a Beast Tide. The scale of this 'training' puts even my younger days to shame."
Unable to tell whether his father was praising or mocking him, Lin Chen lowered his head still further.
Lin Feng said no more.
His gaze swept over the immobilized Beast Tide below, lingering on the Three-Eyed Demon Ape.
He did not slaughter them. With a mere thought, the pressure enveloping