A Hundred Billion Bounty: Pressure on Luo Feng!

City 003.

Beside Li Wei's corpse, Venina stood in silence, tears glistening in her eyes.

"Whoever it was that killed my son, I will never let them go!!!"

"Spread the news of A'Wei's death across the globe. Let every warrior know." Venina ground her teeth. "I, Venina Polenas, will take every cent I've earned over the years and offer a bounty of 100 billion Huaxia Dollars. Anyone who knows who killed my son—if they provide solid proof—that 100 billion is theirs!"

The astronomical bounty of 100 billion spread through every platform. Not just warriors, but even ordinary citizens knew of it.

If Zhou Ze hadn't known the plot, he too would have been shaken, a flicker of greed stirring in his heart. After all, 100 billion was enough to buy a dose of Dragon Blood, and with a little more, a bottle of Water of Life! Not only could it rocket someone straight to War God, it could even regenerate lost limbs!

"That kid Luo Feng... facing this kind of pressure for the first time in his life..." On the rooftop, Zhou Ze gazed at the starry sky, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

This pressure was far greater than the mere threat of life and death. Because if he were discovered, not only would he have no escape—his family wouldn't survive either.

In City 023, on the eighth floor of a twelve-story residential building, Luo Feng sat cross-legged on a worn-out mat, gently wiping a throwing knife. The staggering "heavenly bounty" he'd received on his communicator flashed through his mind.

"I can't believe they're spending this much to hunt me down. Even I feel like turning myself in." Luo Feng set one knife on the ground and picked up another to continue wiping. "100 billion... but Li Wei's parents aren't fools. They won't just hand over money for vague tips. They'll want solid proof."

Luo Feng wasn't worried about anyone having evidence of him killing Li Wei and the others—unless he was unlucky enough to have been caught on camera while striking.

His only real concern was his Fire Hammer Squad teammates!

"The bounty detailed the techniques and strength of the other three besides Li Wei, and even said the killer was likely a War God-level warrior or a spiritualist."

Luo Feng's face darkened. "If the captain and the other three see this, it's hard not to connect it to me!"

Spiritual Nian Masters were far too rare. And he had stayed behind in City 003 specifically to hunt the Tiger Fang Squad. Among the four dead was their captain, Pan Ya!

At this moment, Luo Feng was crushed under immense pressure. Especially after the calls with Captain Gao Feng and teammate Wei Qing.

"People... they're the hardest to see through. Hearts are separated by walls."

"And in the face of a fortune, brothers turn on each other, couples become enemies, fathers and sons cut ties. I've seen too many stories online. Let alone a bounty of 100 billion!"

Luo Feng curled up in a corner, his heart growing cold. Ever since he started doubting his captain, Gao Feng, and Wei Qing, his mindset had shifted.

"Do they see me as a brother, or as a ticket to cash? This is a hundred billion! Or maybe... they just don't have enough evidence yet." Luo Feng's eyes turned icy.

He was paranoid. He realized that under the crushing weight of the 100 billion bounty, even his own mindset was warping.

"Self-discipline, self-awareness..."

Luo Feng recalled the mental training methods his teacher had taught him and began to calm himself. But as he did, he felt an urge to call his teacher. Yet when he tried to reach Zhou Ze, no matter how many times he dialed, the call wouldn't go through. His paranoia flared again.

"Why can't I get through?" Luo Feng's pupils contracted, fear creeping into his heart. If anyone knew him best, it was his teacher. His teacher knew everything—his grudge with the Tiger Fang Squad, that he was a spiritual念师, all of it.

"Is my teacher reporting me right now?" Luo Feng breathed heavily. "He's not answering... to keep me calm..."

His thoughts spiraled, pressure maxing out. But soon, he steadied himself. Years of trust made him fully believe in Zhou Ze. To him, his teacher's place in his heart was no less than family.

"Strength! If I had the power of a high-level War God, or even beyond War God, all of this would solve itself!!"

"Since I can't suppress the fear, I'll accept it. The best way to resolve this is to raise my own strength!"

Under crushing pressure, Luo Feng drew the Blood Shadow Battle Blade from his back. Inside the desolate residential building of City 023's wilderness zone, he began practicing the Ninefold Thunderblade alone.

Gradually, his heart calmed. The immense pressure forced him into a state of utter stillness, his mind undergoing an unprecedented refinement.

He forgot everything, focusing solely on the blade. Even when his communicator buzzed with an incoming call, he didn't notice. He just kept training, swinging the blade over and over.

"Pfft, pfft..."

After countless strikes, the Blood Shadow Battle Blade emitted a strange ripple, like a flash of lightning.

"Hm? The fourth layer of the Ninefold Thunderblade! I actually mastered it this fast!" Luo Feng was stunned.

After breaking through to the third layer during the rat tide, he had been integrating blade techniques, footwork, and guidance arts. Only a few days ago had he reached the level of mastery, then started on the fourth layer. And now, he'd already mastered it!

This was too fast! Was this really the hardest ultimate blade technique in the world? It felt easier than when he'd first learned basic blade forms!

In truth, Luo Feng didn't know that practicing the Ninefold Thunderblade now was indeed far easier than basic forms. Unlike in the original timeline, where he had to fumble alone, he now had Zhou Ze's guidance.

From the very basics, Zhou Ze had steered him toward the Ninefold Thunderblade. And when Luo Feng began practicing it, Zhou Ze had activated his cheat—pointing out his flaws in real time and greatly enhancing his learning and comprehension whenever he followed the guidance.

So even though he was walking the path of integrating blade, footwork, and guidance arts, his speed far exceeded the original timeline where he only trained the blade.

"I should call my teacher and tell him the good news..." Luo Feng was thrilled. Just as the thought crossed his mind, his communicator rang. He raised his wrist and saw it was his teacher calling. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he answered.

"Teacher, I've mastered the fourth layer of the Ninefold Thunderblade!" Luo Feng blurted out excitedly.

"Mm..." Zhou Ze paused. "Looks like pressure really brings out the best in people..."

"Seems like the pressure you faced in City 003 was even greater than I imagined. But that's a good thing—otherwise, you wouldn't have broken through so quickly."

Luo Feng froze, then spoke softly. "Teacher, I..."

"There's nothing to say." Zhou Ze cut him off. "Strength is the foundation. Turn pressure into motivation. Everything has its pros and cons. Once your power rises, a lot of things become simple."

"Mm!" Luo Feng nodded firmly, feeling greatly relieved inside.

"Keep training. Don't let every little thing trip you up." Zhou Ze smiled faintly. "No matter how immense the pressure, you have to calm your heart, slow down, and focus on the present..."

"I really am a fool, actually doubting my teacher!" Luo Feng wished he could slap himself, feeling ashamed of his earlier thoughts.

"Xu Xin!" After ending the call, Luo Feng noticed his beloved had also called. "Damn it, I was so absorbed in practicing the blade that I didn't notice!"

While Luo Feng chatted happily with his beloved, Zhou Ze, who had just finished talking with Luo Feng, lay idly on a chair on the rooftop, gazing at the stars.

"Some things you have to face alone. Relying on others all the time won't help you grow up..." Zhou Ze sighed.

"But Luo Feng's blade practice speed is way too fast. He's already at the fourth layer of the Ninefold Thunderblade, much faster than before. At this rate, I really can't teach him anymore. Sigh..."

Zhou Ze felt both happy and proud of Luo Feng's progress, but the problem was that he couldn't afford the seventh layer of the Ninefold Thunderblade right now. That cost tens of billions of Huaxia Dollars. Damn expensive.