Slaying the Prodigy

The moment the system's prompt tone sounded, Lin Feng moved.

His figure was like an arrow released from its string, heading straight for the nearest sword-wielding Prodigy.

His speed was extremely fast, stirring up a fierce wind.

However, even the strongest warrior can't fight off multiple attackers.

These four inner disciples of the Mysterious Cloud Sect were no ordinary fighters; they had trained together for a long time and possessed excellent rapport.

Seeing Lin Feng charging at them, their eyes met, and they instantly formed a battle formation.

The swordsman flicked his wrist, and a flurry of sword flowers blocked Lin Feng's frontal assault.

The burly man on the left, his fists like hammers, sent whistling gusts of wind straight towards Lin Feng's ribs.

The man on the right employed a tricky palm technique, aiming for Lin Feng's neck.

The last one, agile in movement, circled around to Lin Feng's rear, a short blade flashing with cold light, stabbing directly at Lin Feng's back.

Their attacks came like a tide from all directions, almost completely sealing off any space for Lin Feng to evade.

Lin Feng struggled to cope, pushing his movement technique to its limit, dodging and weaving within the confined space.

Most of his attention was still focused on protecting his sister behind him, afraid that even the slightest ripple of energy would harm her. This made him hesitant, and he couldn't unleash even seventy percent of his strength.

"Swoosh!"

A sharp palm wind grazed his shoulder, tearing his clothes and leaving a burning red mark on his skin.

Although not seriously injured, the True Essence contained within the attack shook his Blood Essence, causing him to stagger. He had to take half a step back, tightly shielding his sister behind him.

"Is this all you've got? You dare to offend Senior Brother Wang Teng?" the sword-wielding Prodigy sneered, his sword tip trembling playfully.

"A bumpkin is just a bumpkin, ignorant of the world!" the burly man on the left chimed in, his face filled with contempt and disdain. "Think you're so great just because you got a job at the Northern Garrison Command? You frogs in a well, how could you know the might of our Mysterious Cloud Sect!"

"Brother..."

From behind, Lin Wan clutched Lin Feng's clothes tightly, her voice trembling with uncontrollable sobs and fear.

She was just a mortal who couldn't cultivate. When had she ever witnessed such a scene of flashing blades and sword light? The imminent danger and the pressure her brother was under turned her small face pale, and her whole body trembled.

This fearful cry struck Lin Feng's heart like the sharpest thorn.

Wang Teng's arrogant face, the venomous curses, his sister's near-death experience buried in the ruins just moments ago, and the unbridled mockery of these people before him...

All the anger, humiliation, worry, and hatred erupted at this moment, intertwining into a sky-burning inferno!

The sense of crisis and humiliation reached its peak, and his mind instantly sank into the profound system interface.

"Upgrade the Heavenly Gang Blood Burning Saber, directly to perfection!" he roared in his heart.

[Consuming 1000 Slaughter Points, the Heavenly Gang Blood Burning Saber has been upgraded to perfection! Host's realm has been upgraded to Late Seventh-Rank!]

The cold system prompt echoed in his mind like a great bell.

The next moment, a scorching, violent, and unprecedented power seemed to be born from nothingness, instantly coursing through Lin Feng's limbs and bones!

Within his dantian, the True Essence, which had been sluggish and nearly depleted, surged like a bursting dam, roaring through his meridians!

The bottleneck of the Mid Seventh-Rank realm that had troubled him for so long shattered like paper under the impact of this irresistible force!

Simultaneously, countless profound insights of the Heavenly Gang Blood Burning Saber flooded his mind, like a divine enlightenment.

The method of channeling energy, the techniques for condensing saber energy, various intricate changes, and even fragments of memories from countless days and nights of practicing saber strokes were deeply imprinted in his soul.

It was as if he had been immersed in this Earth-grade martial art for decades, reaching a state of perfection!

"Boom!"

Lin Feng's aura suddenly surged, and a fiery, domineering, and sharp aura uncontrollably burst from his body.

An invisible wave of energy formed around him, pushing away the dust and debris on the ground!

"What?!"

The four Prodigies' expressions changed drastically. They were forced to take half a step back by the sudden surge of power, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

They could clearly feel that the Lin Feng before them seemed to have undergone a complete transformation, a world apart from the person who had been struggling to defend himself just moments ago!

"A breakthrough mid-battle? Hmph, just a dying struggle!" the burly man forced himself to calm down, suppressing his shock, and shouted menacingly, "Even if you've luckily broken through to Late Seventh-Rank, so what? An unstable foundation is just a castle in the air! The four of us working together can kill you with ease!"

He tried to stabilize their morale with words, as if trying to convince himself.

"Form the Four Symbols Battle Array! Finish this quickly and cripple him!" another person shouted sternly, a trace of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

They also understood that they had to capture Lin Feng while his breakthrough was fresh and his realm unstable, using lightning-fast tactics, otherwise the consequences would be unpredictable!

The four dared not hold back any longer. They furiously channeled their True Essence, launching attacks even more fierce than before.

Fist shadows, palm winds, sword light, and saber energy intertwined into a net of death, whistling through the air as they enveloped Lin Feng, attempting to devour him and Lin Wan behind him.

However, at this moment, Lin Feng suddenly raised his head.

His eyes shot out a sharp light, like cold lightning tearing through the night sky. The previous distress and anxiety had vanished, replaced by an absolute coldness and a confidence that controlled everything.

"You're seeking death!"

He uttered two cold words, discarding his weapon entirely, and instead formed his fingers into a blade!

A crimson torrent of energy instantly erupted from his converged fingertips, solidifying into a tangible form. The searing heat caused the surrounding air to warp slightly, exuding a fierce aura that threatened to incinerate everything in its path.

This was the perfected Earth-grade martial art—the Heavenly Gang Blood Burning Saber!

Using one's own Blood Essence and True Essence as a catalyst, it burns blood to forge energy, capable of shattering anything!

The saber energy materialized, like a blood-red moon hanging in the sky!

Its speed surpassed the limits of human perception!

The first to bear its brunt was the Prodigy wielding a sword.

He saw only a flash of crimson light before his eyes, with no time to even attempt a block or dodge.

"Ching!"

With a soft sound, the finely forged steel sword in his hand, like ice meeting a scorching sun, snapped in two!

Immediately after, the crimson saber energy swept through his chest unimpeded.

"Pfft—!"

A blinding spray of blood erupted from his chest, his protective True Essence torn apart like paper.

He let out a piercing scream, his entire body sent flying backward as if struck by a massive log, crashing heavily against the broken wall, his fate unknown.

"Impossible!"

The pupils of the other three constricted, their faces contorted in shock and disbelief.

Their renowned combined attack formation, so utterly defenseless against this strange crimson saber energy?

Their offensive momentum instantly collapsed.

Lin Feng moved like a phantom, striking with the speed of thunder.

Having landed the first blow, he didn't hesitate, his crimson energy crisscrossing the air.

The second saber strike was aimed directly at the burly man.

The man roared, channeling all his True Essence into his fists, crossing them defensively before his chest.

However, as the crimson light flashed, his fist energy shattered, and a charred, curling fissure appeared on his chest, exposing bone.

The scorching energy even made him smell his own flesh burning, and he collapsed to his knees, screaming.

Almost simultaneously, the third and fourth crimson saber strikes, as if possessing sentience, appeared together, precisely targeting the other two Prodigies attempting a flanking maneuver.

"Crack!"

"Ah!"

The sound of breaking bones and piercing screams rang out together.

The arms of the two, holding short blades, were severed cleanly from their shoulders. The stumps were blackened, with surprisingly little blood, sealed by the high-temperature energy.

Clutching their severed limbs, they writhed on the ground in agony, their wails echoing.

In the blink of an eye, the four once arrogant and overbearing Prodigies of the Mysterious Cloud Sect were all severely wounded and incapacitated, their combat effectiveness gone, leaving only pained groans and eyes filled with terror.

"You... you dare to injure us?!"

The burly man, enduring the searing pain in his chest as if it were being roasted alive, clutched his wound and glared up at Lin Feng. His face was devoid of its former contempt, replaced by a mixture of terror and deep-seated malice.

"We are disciples of the Mysterious Cloud Sect! If you kill us, the Mysterious Cloud Sect will never let you go!

They will hunt you to the ends of the earth and tear you to pieces! Your sister, everyone connected to you, will be buried with you!"

Lin Feng strode forward, his steps steady, his eyes as cold as an eternal abyss, his surging killing intent undiminished.

"Mysterious Cloud Sect? Just lackeys of that Wang Teng. If I kill them, I kill them."

He raised his hand, and at his fingertips, the terrifying crimson saber energy re-condensed, flickering ominously and exuding an aura of death.

His sister's trembling, terrified form huddled behind him, Wang Teng's arrogant and vicious mocking laughter before the assembly hall, and the death threats from these scoundrels backed by their sect's power...

All of it needed to be washed away with the most thorough and brutal bloodshed!

Only death could quell the towering rage in his heart!

The crimson saber energy was aimed at the head of the nearest burly man, about to cleave down!

At this critical moment, as he was about to end the lives of the four—

"Stop!"

A cold shout, like thunder from a clear sky, exploded out of nowhere!

The voice carried an immensely powerful and authoritative aura, far surpassing anyone present.

Immediately after, a sharp and peerless energy approached rapidly, like lightning, instantly enveloping the entire ruined courtyard!

This energy was like an invisible shackle, carrying an undeniable will, forcefully halting Lin Feng's descending hand, which was poised to deliver the fatal saber strike!