"Who do you think you are? You're nothing but a useless piece of trash who can't cultivate!"
Perhaps frightened by Ling Feng's transformation and driven into a rage by his own humiliation, Xiao Ke waved at the two lackeys beside him and barked.
"Get him!"
At once, Xiao Ke's two lackeys, Xiao Ming and Xiao Yang, exchanged a glance, mocking smiles curling their lips. Then, with their arms folded across their chests, they swaggered toward Ling Feng.
Neither of them took Ling Feng seriously. Without taking any precautions, they planned to close in, knock him down, and trample him underfoot.
"Trash, be a good boy and let us beat you up. I might consider going easy on you."
"Hahaha..."
After those few moments of jeering and taunting, Xiao Ming and Xiao Yang were already only a meter away from Ling Feng. Just then, Ling Feng suddenly clenched his fists, faint Dou Qi swirling around them.
In the next instant, Ling Feng charged straight at them, swinging both fists in hooks aimed at the bellies of Xiao Ke's lackeys.
Xiao Ming and Xiao Yang had never expected Ling Feng to strike so suddenly-or so fast.
Caught completely off guard, both took heavy blows to the abdomen. The power of ninth stage Dou Qi erupted, sending them flying backward, their bodies bent like curled shrimp.
Only when they struck a tree beside the road did they stop and drop to the ground.
Xiao Ming and Xiao Yang were merely Xiao Clan members with third stage Dou Qi. Struck in their vulnerable bellies, each was felled by a single punch from Ling Feng. They curled up on the ground, wailing, unable to fight back.
"How is that possible?!"
Xiao Ke noticed the change in Ling Feng, but he could not believe it. "When did this piece of trash become so powerful?!"
To knock down Xiao Ming and Xiao Yang with one punch each required strength of at least third stage Dou Qi. Yet Ling Feng was universally known as a good-for-nothing. His sudden display of power left Xiao Ke somewhat stunned.
But Ling Feng gave Xiao Ke no chance to recover. He raised his palms slightly, faint Dou Qi swirling around them, then stamped a foot against the ground and hurled himself straight at Xiao Ke.
Ling Feng had never practiced any Dou Techniques. He knew only the most basic fighting skills.
Put simply, he just flailed away!
Xiao Ke, however, had clearly received proper training. As Ling Feng attacked, he reacted swiftly.
He turned sideways and dodged, evading the attack for the moment.
Ling Feng pressed his attack. Forced onto the defensive, Xiao Ke could only fend him off for a time. After exchanging several moves, he dodged away and put some distance between them.
There was nothing dazzling about a fight at this level. Every exchange was the simplest of clashes.
"Ling Feng, don't think a little strength gives you the right to challenge me!"
Being suppressed by Ling Feng stoked Xiao Ke's anger. Burning with humiliation, he clenched his fists and mobilized the Dou Qi within his body.
Once he had gathered his power, Xiao Ke swiftly closed in on Ling Feng. Dou Qi gathered faintly over his right palm, and he swung it in a vicious chop toward Ling Feng's chest.
"Mountain Splitting Palm!"
No sooner had Xiao Ke's low shout sounded than a sharp gust struck Ling Feng's forehead. Frowning, Ling Feng hurriedly dodged.
Without any Dou Techniques, he was at a disadvantage. He dared not clash head-on with Xiao Ke and could only evade the sharp edge of his attacks.
Xiao Ke also recognized Ling Feng's weakness and continued closing in with his Dou Techniques. As he approached, he curled both hands slightly, the sharp nails on his ten fingers gleaming coldly.
The next moment, Xiao Ke's right claw swept upward along a treacherous arc, heading straight for Ling Feng's throat.
"Rending Claw Strike!"
Like Mountain Splitting Palm, Rending Claw Strike was a Yellow Tier Mid-Grade Dou Technique. A hit to a vital spot would inevitably cause serious injury.
"Whoosh!"
The claw strike came abruptly. Unable to dodge in time, Ling Feng could only lean backward. Xiao Ke's claw missed its mark but left scratches across Ling Feng's neck. Blood seeped through the broken skin.
Pain flared through Ling Feng. He pushed off the ground, putting distance between himself and Xiao Ke. When he touched the throbbing scratches on his neck, his fingers came away stained with blood.
At the sight, a smug smile curved Xiao Ke's lips. He snorted coldly. "A lowborn wretch like you dares lay hands on me? You really don't know when to stop courting death!"
Ling Feng frowned, his expression grim as possible countermeasures flashed through his mind. Xiao Ke began jeering again. "Without Dou Techniques, you can't possibly beat me. Ling Feng, this time I'll torment you properly and teach you that I'm not someone you can afford to provoke!"
With that, Xiao Ke attacked again.
At that very moment, Ling Feng seemed to reach a decision. Gritting his teeth, he circulated the Dou Qi within his body through his limbs, faint Dou Qi swirling around his hands and feet.
"Mountain Splitting Palm!"
The attack began, its palm wind arriving first. With a steady, resolute gaze, Ling Feng watched the palm chop diagonally toward him. In the next instant, he clenched his left fist and raised it to block, letting Xiao Ke's palm strike land.
"Crack!"
A muffled crack of breaking bone sounded as Xiao Ke's attack landed. Ling Feng's left hand was injured. Yet he endured the pain, turned his hand to seize Xiao Ke's arm, and readied his right fist, Dou Qi rapidly gathering over it.
The next instant, Ling Feng gave Xiao Ke a chilling smile. At the sight, Xiao Ke trembled to his very soul. Sensing danger, a chill rose within him, and he hurriedly struggled to escape.
But Xiao Ke had only sixth-stage Dou Qi, while Ling Feng possessed ninth stage Dou Qi. Ling Feng's strength crushed his own.
Unable to break free, Xiao Ke finally realized that Ling Feng was stronger than he was, and terror spread across his face. At the same time, Ling Feng smashed a ferocious punch into his abdomen, leaving him no chance to dodge.
"Bam!"
Xiao Ke doubled over at once, howling in pain. But he was stronger than Xiao Ming and Xiao Yang and could take more punishment. Ling Feng's single punch did not leave him unable to fight back.
But when one punch failed, Ling Feng gave him two, then three!
In the end, Xiao Ke was beaten down as well, curling up and wailing without cease.
Xiao Ke had never imagined that Ling Feng's strength would surpass his own. Still less had he expected Ling Feng to be so ruthless and decisive, trading injury for injury to defeat him.
"I may not have any Dou Techniques, but my strength can crush you! In the end, you're simply not as tough as I am!"
Holding his injured arm, Ling Feng approached Xiao Ke. Looking down at him curled up in agony, Ling Feng revealed a cold, stern smile.
Ling Feng's words seemed to stab Xiao Ke in the heart. Enduring his pain, he glared venomously at Ling Feng. "Y-you lowborn wretch! Even if you're stronger than me, I'm a direct descendant of the Xiao Clan! You dared injure me, so you're dead! My Xiao Clan won't let you get away with this!"
At those words, Ling Feng frowned, but his brow soon relaxed. His face was as cold as frost. "You won't have a chance to go back."
"What are you planning to do?!"
Seemingly realizing Ling Feng's intent, Xiao Ke grew frightened. "You can't kill me! If you do, my Xiao Clan will never let you off!"
Ling Feng looked at the terrified Xiao Ke, his face utterly indifferent and the killing intent in his eyes unconcealed. "I'll kill you all, then find a pit to bury you in. No one will know I killed you, and the Xiao Clan won't be able to do a thing."
"Y-you... don't come any closer... ah!"
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