Something's Wrong, Let's Snatch Another One!

Lin Feng stopped behind a giant stalagmite, poking his head out to look ahead.

Ahead was an open cavern.

In the center of the cavern, a youth in a white training uniform was locked in battle with an E-Class Exotic Beast, the "Phantom Demon Fox," wielding a silver longsword.

The youth looked no more than seventeen or eighteen, with handsome features and an ethereal bearing, but his cultivation realm was indeed Martial Disciple Perfection.

Yet his fighting style opened Lin Feng's eyes wide.

He didn't rely on brute force to clash head-on with the beast like ordinary Martial Disciples.

Every step he took, every sword strike he made, was exquisitely precise.

The Phantom Demon Fox was famed for its speed and illusion techniques, leaving afterimages streaking across the cavern, making it hard to tell truth from falsehood.

But the youth always managed to predict the fox's attack path in advance.

His swordsmanship was light and graceful, carrying an indescribable charm.

"A genius?"

The word surfaced in Lin Feng's mind.

To be able, at the Martial Disciple realm, to rely purely on technique and hold off an E-Class peak Exotic Beast for so long—this defied common sense.

This youth's combat talent was absolutely the best Lin Feng had ever seen among anyone.

But.

Lin Feng's gaze fell on the Phantom Demon Fox.

Several sword wounds had already been added to the fox's body. Though none were deep, it bled without stop, and its aura was beginning to grow chaotic.

It looked like it couldn't hold out much longer.

As for that white-clad youth, though sweat had appeared on his forehead, his breathing was steady—clearly he still had strength in reserve.

If the fight continued, at most three minutes, and this fox would be ground down to death.

A fat piece of meat right at his mouth—how could he not take a bite?

Lin Feng licked his lips.

Genius or not, on my turf, you follow my rules.

Snatch it!

Just as the white-clad youth forced the fox back with a sword strike and prepared to deliver the killing blow—

Lin Feng moved.

Lost Trace Step activated at full force. A faint afterimage of his form lingered in place, while his true body appeared like a ghost at the Phantom Demon Fox's side.

Mountain Splitter left its sheath!

No extra moves—just a simple horizontal slash.

Pfft!

The Phantom Demon Fox, still baring its fangs, suddenly froze.

A line of blood emerged at its neck.

The next second, the fox's head shot into the air.

The headless corpse swayed, fell to the ground, twitched twice, and lay still.

[Killed E-Class Exotic Beast: Phantom Demon Fox ×1, gained Martial Path Points ×50]

[Steel of the Blade: 133/500]

The white-clad youth remained frozen in his sword-striking posture, his whole body rigid.

On his handsome face was written shock and disbelief.

He had struggled for over ten minutes, and just as he was about to claim his prey, it was snatched away?

He hadn't even seen how the other had appeared.

Lin Feng didn't care about his expression.

He walked over to the fox's corpse, expertly cut it open to extract the core, stuffed the Magic Core into his pocket, and turned to leave.

The whole motion was smooth and fluid, one continuous flow—clearly a seasoned habit.

"Stop!"

The white-clad youth finally snapped out of it, shouting in shock and fury.

His voice was clear, but carried a barely concealed rage.

Lin Feng stopped, glanced back at him, his face under the cloak unreadable.

"Something?"

"You..." The white-clad youth was so choked by his matter-of-fact attitude he could barely speak. "Why did you steal my Exotic Beast?"

"Yours?" Lin Feng tilted his head. "Does it have your name carved on it?"

"I fought it for half a day—I clearly found it first!" The boy's cheeks flushed red with anger.

"You found it, but you didn't kill it." Lin Feng spread his hands. "I killed it, so it's mine. That's the rule in the Rift—whoever has the bigger fist gets the goods. Kid, such a simple truth—didn't your family teach you that?"

"You're twisting words!"

The white-clad boy was left speechless, his handsome face turning crimson.

From childhood to now, he had always been a favored son of heaven, doted on by his family's elders and revered by his peers. He had never suffered such humiliation.

He gripped the longsword in his hand, releasing the full aura of a perfected Martial Disciple without restraint.

"Give me back the Magic Core! Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude!"

Lin Feng watched his fuming expression and found it somewhat amusing.

A mere Martial Disciple, daring to shout threats of rudeness in front of him?

Still, a sliver of doubt lingered in Lin Feng's mind.

This boy was indeed strange in every way.

A Martial Disciple, single-handedly taking on an E-class peak Exotic Beast—that alone was abnormal.

Moreover, when he had snatched the kill just now, he hadn't sensed any threat from the shadows.

Normally, a genius scion like this out on a training expedition would have a guardian following close behind.

Yet when he swept his spiritual sense just now, within a hundred meters, besides this boy, there was no trace of anyone else.

Had he misjudged?

Or was the guardian hiding so deeply that even his perception couldn't detect them?

Lin Feng decided to test further.

Ignoring the white-clad boy's threat, he shifted his gaze to another corner of the cavern.

There, a lone E-class Exotic Beast, the "Rock Armor Lizard," was crouched on the ground, gnawing on glowing crystals.

Lin Feng's figure flickered as he charged straight over.

Mountain Splitter left its sheath once more.

The Rock Armor Lizard didn't even have a chance to react before it was decapitated with a single slash.

[Killed E-class Exotic Beast: Rock Armor Lizard ×1, gained Martial Path Points ×50]

[Steel of the Blade: 134/500]

Lin Feng dug out the Magic Core and, right in front of the white-clad boy, slowly tucked it into his pocket.

Then he turned back and shot the boy a provocative glance.

The meaning was clear: I snatched another one—what are you going to do about it?

The white-clad boy was thoroughly enraged.

"You... you go too far!"

With a furious roar, he charged at Lin Feng, sword in hand.

The sword tip trembled, conjuring three sword blossoms aimed at Lin Feng's upper, middle, and lower paths.

The sword technique was exquisite, clearly the work of a master.

But before absolute strength and speed, even the finest skill seemed pale and powerless.

Lin Feng didn't even draw his blade.

He simply extended two fingers.

In the boy's horrified gaze, he precisely clamped down on the incoming sword tip.