Promoted to Seventh Rank

The system's prompt, appearing out of nowhere, completely ignited Lin Feng's killing intent and allowed him to assess the enemy before him more clearly.

Early Seventh Rank, perfect for testing his recently improved strength and the new palm technique he had acquired!

Facing Hu Biao's mockery and the bandits' laughter, Lin Feng finally spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly cut through all the noise, carrying a bone-chilling coldness.

"What stray dog is barking here? Do you think your meager tricks are worthy of making a Qianhu of the Northern Garrison Command kneel?"

As he spoke, he slowly reached into his robes and pulled out the Blood Fiend Palm manual he had obtained from the Imperial Inspector.

Under everyone's astonished gazes, he casually flipped through the pages, his mind already sinking into his consciousness.

'System, consume Slaughter Points to upgrade Blood Fiend Palm!'

Hu Biao was stunned by Lin Feng's retort, then erupted in fury, "You little bastard, you're asking for death! I'll chop you up right now..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Lin Feng actually reading a book in front of the battle line, which enraged him to the point of sputtering, feeling deeply insulted.

Meanwhile, the soldiers of the Northern Garrison Command, seeing their Qianhu pull out a manual amidst a surrounded by powerful enemies, were confused but, recalling Lin Feng's terrifying breakthrough during the previous battle, felt a surge of anticipation once more!

What new technique would Lord Qianhu display?

Lin Feng ignored Hu Biao's roar and the various gazes around him, his entire focus concentrated on the system interface in his mind.

[Confirm consumption of Slaughter Points to learn and upgrade Blood Fiend Palm?]

"Upgrade Blood Fiend Palm!"

Lin Feng willed it, and his accumulated 350 Slaughter Points instantly vanished.

A hot and violent surge of energy exploded in his dantian, then transformed into countless insights on palm technique energy channeling and Blood Essence circulation, flooding his consciousness.

The profound secrets of Blood Fiend Palm were deeply imprinted as if he had cultivated for decades.

From never having entered the path to entry, minor completion, major completion... finally reaching perfection!

However, the changes didn't stop there.

After the perfected Blood Fiend Palm energy surged to its peak within his body, it underwent a qualitative transformation.

A trace of extreme coldness was born from the heat, and the two vastly different energies intertwined and merged, ultimately evolving into a deeper and more powerful force.

In his mind, the name of the manual also twisted and reformed, transforming into four more oppressive characters—Profound Nether Blood Fiend Palm!

Simultaneously, the Eighth Rank perfect internal energy within him was swept up and tempered by this new force. The bottleneck was easily pierced like thin paper, his aura suddenly climbing and stabilizing at the Early Seventh Rank!

Though this all sounds long, it happened in mere instants.

Outside, Hu Biao saw Lin Feng not only ignoring him but also lowering his head to "read," and he let out a furious, mocking laugh. "Damn it, still playing tricks when death is at your doorstep! Die for me!"

He roared, stomping his foot down, cracking the ground. His body shot forward like a tiger released from its cage, the Nine-Ringed Ghost-Head Saber at his waist drawing out with a piercing sonic boom. The blade's wind was sharp, aimed directly at Lin Feng's face!

This saber strike condensed all his Early Sixth Rank power, determined to cleave this detestable brat and his horse in two!

However, just as the blade was about to hit, Lin Feng finally moved.

He slowly raised his head, his eyes seeming to churn with a sea of blood, while a wisp of profound Nether coldness flashed and disappeared.

Hu Biao, who had been locked onto him, felt a sudden jolt in his heart!

Something's wrong!

How did this brat's aura become so strange and powerful in such a short instant?

He was clearly at Eighth Rank perfection just moments ago, and now he felt a sense of unease?

But the saber was already out, and there was no turning back.

In this split second, Lin Feng moved.

He didn't dodge. He simply raised his right hand, which instantly turned a deep crimson, as if soaked in blood, with a faint, almost imperceptible wisp of black coldness coiling around it.

The surrounding air seemed to thicken, growing cold and viscous.

Instead of retreating, he advanced, shifting his body by a hair's breadth to evade the saber strike aimed at his head.

The palm, entwined with crimson and black, moved silently and tracelessly towards Hu Biao's chest.

"You're courting death!" Hu Biao was shocked, but still confident in his own cultivation. He channeled his internal energy into his left palm and struck out hastily, intending to meet the attack head-on.

The palms met.

There was no earth-shattering explosion as expected, only a dull sound, like that of worn leather tearing.

The sneer on Hu Biao's face froze instantly, replaced by extreme terror and pain.

He felt his palm strike sink like a stone into the sea. A searing, lava-like force instantly tore through his defenses and burrowed into his meridians.

Immediately after, an icy, bone-chilling power followed, piercing straight to his internal organs!

"Pfft—!"

Hu Biao vomited blood, his entire body flying backward like a broken kite, smashing heavily against the rocks before rolling to the ground.

He struggled to get up, but felt half his body burning as if scorched by fire, while the other half felt like it had fallen into an ice cellar. His meridians throbbed with pain, his internal energy scattered, and he had suffered extremely severe internal injuries.

He looked up at Lin Feng, who slowly retracted his palm, his expression as cold as ever, his eyes filled with unbelievable fear.

"What... what martial art is this?! Your realm... Seventh Rank?! No, this palm force..."

Lin Feng didn't answer, merely walking towards him. The sound of his footsteps was clear in the silent valley, like a countdown to death.

The shadow of death descended, and all of Hu Biao's arrogant bluster vanished. A strong survival instinct made him shout hoarsely, "Don't! Don't kill me! Lord Qianhu! Lord Lin! Spare me! Spare my life!"

He struggled to kneel on the ground, ignoring his injuries, and kowtowed repeatedly.

"I'm useful! I can be useful to you! I know Black Wind Stronghold's defenses, its secret passages, I know the strengths and weaknesses of the Great Chieftain and the Second Chieftain!"

I... I can be your mole in Black Wind Fort! I beg you to spare my dog life!"

The pleas for mercy echoed in Falling Eagle Ravine. The bandits who had been laughing moments before were now dumbfounded, staring wide-eyed at the Sixth Rank leader they considered incredibly powerful, now kneeling and begging for mercy like a mangy dog.

The soldiers of the Northern Garrison Command, however, were invigorated. Their gazes towards Lin Feng were filled with fanaticism and awe.

The Lord Qianhu had actually severely injured a Sixth Rank martial artist in one move! What terrifying strength was this!

Lin Feng's steps didn't falter, his eyes still cold.

Seeing a glimmer of hope for survival, Hu Biao quickly upped his offer, speaking rapidly, "Sir! Black Wind Stronghold is not as simple as it appears on the surface! It involves... Ah!"

Before he could finish, something unexpected happened!

Hu Biao, who had been kneeling and begging for mercy, seemingly without the strength to resist, suddenly had a glint of malice and cunning flash in his eyes.

He used the motion of kowtowing to conceal his actions, his right hand silently reaching towards his boot.

The next moment, a dark light shot out like a venomous snake, aiming straight for Lin Feng's throat!

At the same time, he rolled backward, attempting to create distance.

"Lord Lin, watch out for the hidden weapon!" a soldier from the Northern Garrison Command exclaimed.

The dark light was a poisoned dart, and it was astonishingly fast!

However, facing this sudden sneak attack, Lin Feng's face showed no surprise. Instead, a hint of mockery appeared.

"I was guarding against this move long ago."

As if he had predicted the opponent's actions, the moment the dark light reached him, his head merely tilted slightly.

The dart grazed his neck and flew past, embedding itself in a tree trunk behind him with a dull thud.

Simultaneously, Lin Feng's figure closed in like a phantom. Under Hu Biao's horrified gaze.

That palm, entwined with Blood Essence and Profound Nether energy, struck his chest again. This time, it was with full force!

"No—!"

Hu Biao only managed to let out a short, desperate cry.

"Bang!"

A muffled explosion sounded.

Hu Biao's body shuddered violently. His chest visibly caved in, his clothes on his back ripped open, revealing a clear, crimson palm print. The edges of the print were even covered with a thin layer of black frost.

The light in his eyes instantly dimmed. With endless regret and fear, he died, his body slumping to the ground.

[Killed Black Wind Stronghold leader 'Mountain Crusher Saber' Hu Biao, gained 350 Slaughter Points!]

The cold system notification chimed in on time.

Lin Feng slowly retracted his palm, not even glancing at Hu Biao's corpse. His gaze turned towards the remaining bandits, who were already stunned into immobility.

At this moment, these fierce bandits no longer had any trace of ferocity on their faces, only boundless fear. They looked at Lin Feng as if he were a demon god from the depths of hell.

Lin Feng's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, echoing through the valley:

"The main culprit has been executed."

He paused, his cold gaze sweeping across the terrified faces of every bandit.

"Those who surrender will not be killed."