"Since you're all stronger than the Fierce Beasts in the test, there's nothing more to say, and no need to waste time. Come at me together!"
The four of them reacted differently to those words.
Shen Fei! You've only just reached Mortal Entry Stage Seven! What gives you the right to act so arrogant?! What gives you the right?! All of us together? You're so damn arrogant I don't even know what to say! Fine, watch how I teach you a lesson. Watch how I show you the gap between us... Li Changkong's gaze turned icy. He had already decided to pin Shen Fei to the ground and pummel him!
Heh, it's been a long time since I heard anything that arrogant. Shen Fei, you're the most arrogant person I've ever met! But I like arrogant people, because I'll grind away every last one of your rough edges! As long as you're in the Forbidden Zone, I'll make you feel the terror of being under my thumb. I'll show you the price of arrogance... Han Tianlong thought. He was already preparing to target Shen Fei!
So this is Shen Fei, the one working with Director Yun? He hasn't got a brain at all. Saying something like that in a new environment? Heh, do you think this is still that ivory tower back at headquarters? Who here hasn't fought for their life in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains? Forget me-even Li Changkong and Han Tianlong could crush you easily! You're only at Mortal Entry Stage Seven. Where did you get the nerve to talk like that? Do you think anyone will play along with you?... Yun Meng was already angry. Shen Fei's words had crossed her bottom line.
That's outright provocation... Shen Fei, aren't you asking to die by saying that? I already warned you. Oh, what am I supposed to do now! I can't save you. I can barely protect myself. You'll have to rely on yourself. Let this lesson teach you to remember next time. You really need to change that temperament, or you'll suffer badly someday... Lin Qiye thought.
"Shen Fei! I'll give you one chance to take back what you just said! Otherwise, I'll take it as a deliberate provocation! When that happens, even Director Yun won't be able to stand up for you!" Li Changkong said coldly.
"Say that again! Do you really think Mortal Entry Stage Seven makes you hot shit here? Do you believe I'll beat you so badly you can't get up?!" Han Tianlong threatened, narrowing his eyes.
Yun Meng was angry too. This was contempt! Her cool voice rang out.
"Think before you speak!"
Lin Qiye said nothing. He really had neither the standing nor the ability to speak up for Shen Fei. Besides, Shen Fei really had been too arrogant this time. Neither reason nor strength was on their side, so Lin Qiye chose silence.
Yet Shen Fei's expression remained indifferent, unchanged by their anger.
An angry ant is still an ant. Could an ant bite me to death just because it's angry?
Shen Fei asked in return, "Do you weigh every word when you're talking to someone weaker than you?"
Suddenly.
The three of them flared with anger again.
Lin Qiye looked helplessly at Shen Fei, unable to say another word.
Li Changkong swore furiously, "Fine, fine, very good. Shen Fei, you've got guts. Come on, let's fight one-on-one! We're going to the training grounds right now. I'll show you what pain is!"
"You've got guts, Shen Fei. Come on, we're going to the training grounds right now. Let's see if your strength can match that mouth!" Han Tianlong sneered.
"You're on your own!" Yun Meng said coldly.
Shen Fei followed them toward the training grounds built specifically for combat.
For a moment, Lin Qiye didn't know what to say. He felt he ought to call an ambulance.
"Shen Fei, you're asking to die..." Lin Qiye hurried after them helplessly.
Soon, the group arrived at an enormous training ground.
It was huge, far bigger than the underground training grounds at the Transcendent Administration Bureau headquarters.
The flooring was different from that outside too. It resisted fire and blades, and it was incredibly hard.
It could be said that this place had been built specifically for fighting.
The moment they arrived.
Li Changkong stepped forward impatiently.
"Shen Fei, come on!"
Shen Fei glanced at him without speaking.
Seeing Shen Fei ignore him so blatantly, Li Changkong roared.
In an instant, his body vanished from where he stood. When he appeared again, he was already behind Shen Fei! His speed was terrifying!
Before Lin Qiye could even react, Li Changkong was already behind Shen Fei. His eyes couldn't keep up at all.
Li Changkong bent his arm, preparing to drive his elbow into Shen Fei's back. He intended to incapacitate Shen Fei in one blow, then thoroughly humiliate him! He would show Shen Fei just how utterly ridiculous his earlier words had been!
Yun Meng and Han Tianlong weren't surprised. After all, Li Changkong had a speed-type Esper Ability, making him extremely fast. He was also at Mortal Entry Stage Seven, level nine, just short of Mortal Entry Stage Eight. He was more than capable of handling Shen Fei.
Li Changkong's elbow slammed into Shen Fei. His expression immediately changed, because he hadn't actually struck Shen Fei at all. His elbow felt as though it had hit empty air! The next second, Shen Fei's body vanished like a phantom.
An afterimage?!
Suddenly, the afterimage solidified again. A palm shot straight out and struck Li Changkong hard in the chest, sending him flying!
Li Changkong hit the ground heavily and kipped back to his feet. His body trembled slightly, his breathing quickened, and he looked incredulous.
"So fast!"
This was the Body Flicker Technique. When Shen Fei moved rapidly between points A and B, two Shen Feis would appear. Either could be a phantom or his actual body.
Shisui's Body Flicker Technique probably worked something like this.
(Probably. Even the author doesn't know how it works.)
Han Tianlong and Yun Meng were astonished. Shen Fei was actually this fast? Faster even than Li Changkong, who had a speed Esper Ability?! Unbelievable.
Badass... Lin Qiye silently gave him a thumbs-up.
Li Changkong grinned viciously and laughed. "Hahahaha, very good. I'll admit you're fast, but that's all you've got!"
Let me show you what real speed is! I can do that move too!
Li Changkong strode forward, his body vanishing again. Suddenly, afterimages of him appeared all around Shen Fei. Soon, there were roughly seven or eight Li Changkongs.
"This is one of Li Changkong's trump cards, Phantom Body," Han Tianlong said coldly. "They look like afterimages, but every one of them is actually his real body. If Shen Fei can't pin down Li Changkong's true body, he'll definitely lose!"
Yun Meng nodded. That was indeed how it worked. This move was incredibly fast. They all looked like phantoms, yet they were also his real body.
It was somewhat similar to Shen Fei's Body Flicker Technique. Both involved moving rapidly between multiple points, creating afterimages through high speed. These afterimages seemed false, yet could become real in an instant. It was an extremely troublesome technique! It seemed Li Changkong was taking this seriously!
Hearing Han Tianlong's words, Lin Qiye grew anxious for Shen Fei again.
Shen Fei was slightly surprised. Wasn't this just the Body Flicker Technique he had used a moment ago?
Except Shen Fei had slowed down the Body Flicker Technique earlier. If he used it at full speed, it would look like teleportation to the human eye. He would vanish outright, as though moving through space, without even leaving an afterimage!
The next second, Li Changkong closed in around Shen Fei.
Eight Li Changkongs surrounded Shen Fei, preparing to attack him!
"Heh!" Shen Fei sneered. With speed like that, he actually had the nerve to show off in front of an expert.
Ever since Shen Fei's Sharingan had upgraded to the Mangekyō, his perceptiveness had improved considerably again.
Ordinary people might not be able to distinguish the phantoms from the real body, but Shen Fei's Mangekyō could do so easily!
Shen Fei flickered, and the next second, he grabbed one of the afterimages!
All the afterimages vanished instantly! With the real body caught and unable to move, the afterimages naturally disappeared too.
Shen Fei gripped Li Changkong by the throat and lifted him up. "Is this all you've got at full strength? I can't say I'm surprised."
To Shen Fei, Li Changkong had always been weak. Naturally, even when someone weak unleashed all his strength, he couldn't exceed Shen Fei's expectations.
Li Changkong kept resisting, but Shen Fei's hand clamped around his throat like a steel vise. He couldn't break free at all and could only struggle in midair.
Only then did Yun Meng and Han Tianlong react.
Li Changkong had just been caught?!
As though this were some kind of game?!
Their eyes were filled with shock.
Li Changkong had lost, just like that?!
Even the two of them weren't certain they could defeat Li Changkong! After all, he was already incredibly fast!
Yet Shen Fei had beaten him so easily?
And Shen Fei was only at Mortal Entry Stage Seven, level three!
"It looks like we underestimated Shen Fei!" Yun Meng said gravely.
Han Tianlong snorted. "Looks like all three of us will have to work together this time. Otherwise, we'll lose all face, and the other squads will definitely laugh at us!"
Yun Meng tacitly agreed.
Lin Qiye was stunned.
Holy shit, Shen Fei, you... This can't be real... You handled someone at Mortal Entry Stage Seven so easily... Lin Qiye didn't know what to say.
Blue light radiated from Yun Meng's body. The next second, a ball of water slammed into Shen Fei.
The powerful impact knocked Shen Fei several meters away, and Li Changkong seized the opportunity to escape his grip and land to the side.
Unfortunately, Yun Meng's move hadn't injured Shen Fei at all.
After all, the Mangekyō's enhancement was far too powerful: ninjutsu ×10, physique ×10!
Shen Fei patted his Battle Armor and guessed, "Water Elemental Ability?"
By then, Yun Meng and Han Tianlong had come to Li Changkong's side.
Li Changkong immediately flushed with shame, but stubbornly insisted, "The ground was too slippery. I was off my game. Otherwise, I would've pinned Shen Fei down and pummeled him!"
"Enough. Stop making excuses," Yun Meng said coolly.
Han Tianlong pulled Li Changkong up and said, "We really did underestimate Shen Fei. You can't judge his strength by his stage."
Someone at Mortal Entry Stage Seven, level three had defeated Li Changkong, a speed Esper Ability user at Mortal Entry Stage Seven, level nine, in one move! This wasn't about levels anymore. Shen Fei's actual combat strength far exceeded Li Changkong's!
"Shen Fei, you really are formidable. Your strength is far beyond what we imagined," Yun Meng said coolly. "But since you said you'd fight all three of us, we'll oblige!"
Han Tianlong laughed. "Exactly. You said it yourself! Don't start crying and calling us cheaters when you lose!"
The next second, earthen-yellow light flashed over Han Tianlong's body. "Rise!"
Beneath Shen Fei's feet, something shifted underground, and earthen spikes jutted from the ground.
Shen Fei sprang up, dodging the earthen spikes rising from the ground.
Han Tianlong's Esper Ability was the Earth Elemental Ability! Yun Meng's was the Water Elemental Ability! Li Changkong's was the Speed Esper Ability!
Suddenly, a water dragon burst from Yun Meng's mouth, knocking Shen Fei away again.
Han Tianlong raised both hands, and a cage emerged from the ground, ready to imprison Shen Fei as he landed.
Shen Fei fell and was immediately trapped inside the earthen cage rising from the ground.
A black afterimage darted forward. An opening instantly appeared in the earthen cage, and Li Changkong charged straight through it, driving both fists hard into Shen Fei's body.
Bang-
Another sudden change occurred.
The body of the Shen Fei Li Changkong had struck actually turned into branches that coiled around him.
Goosebumps rose across Li Changkong's skin. Pain shot through his neck, and he lost all ability to fight, dropping straight to his knees on the floor.
Behind him, Shen Fei's face was expressionless.
He hadn't struck to kill.
Looking at the earthen cage before him, Shen Fei snorted.
Relying on physical strength alone, he punched the earthen cage.
In an instant, the earthen cage shattered.
Shen Fei walked out.
Only now did Yun Meng and Han Tianlong realize how terrifying Shen Fei was.
Once again, Shen Fei had taken Li Changkong down instantly at close range!
His body is too strong. Even the earthen cage can't hold him?... Han Tianlong's expression turned grave. This was far too troublesome!
Why is this guy so strong? Why wasn't the information headquarters gave us more detailed? Unless we go all out, it'll be hard to end this now... Yun Meng felt they were really in trouble.
From the side, Lin Qiye watched Shen Fei easily fight three opponents at once and even beat Li Changkong until he could no longer fight. His expression grew complicated too.
Shen Fei... Yesterday I could still trade blows with you. Now I can't even catch sight of your back?... Lin Qiye felt bitter.
"Tsk... I was going to play around with you using Taijutsu. But since you're using Esper Abilities, I'll use Fire Release and Wood Release. Don't blame me for bullying you!"
Shen Fei formed hand seals. "Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
In an instant, a sea of fire surged from Shen Fei's mouth like an ocean, sweeping in every direction. Fire filled his entire field of vision. The scorching flames sent the temperature soaring, rolling waves of heat toward Yun Meng and Han Tianlong.
The surging sea of fire made Yun Meng pale in alarm.
So this is a Bloodline Holder? So many tricks!
Unwilling to back down, Yun Meng believed that her strength at Mortal Entry Stage Eight, level one would definitely let her block Shen Fei's Great Fire Annihilation! Besides, she had the Water Elemental Ability, and water naturally countered fire! No matter how she looked at it, she could easily withstand Shen Fei's Great Fire Annihilation!
Dazzling ice-blue light flashed over her body. "Water Dragon Surge!"
A massive wave burst from her mouth, transforming into an enormous water dragon that rushed head-on toward the sea of fire.
Hiss-
The moment the sea of fire collided with the water dragon, vapor instantly enveloped the training grounds.
Yun Meng's face twisted. She had unleashed her full strength, turning all her Spiritual Power into the water dragon, and only barely managed to withstand Shen Fei's Great Fire Annihilation!
But the price was that nearly all the Spiritual Power in her body had been consumed.
Yun Meng gasped for breath.
How could this happen? Why can his flames last so long... My water dragon can barely hold them off? Doesn't water counter fire? Why can't I gain the upper hand?... Yun Meng couldn't understand.
Taking advantage of the vapor shrouding the training grounds, Han Tianlong attacked again, striding forward and charging into the vapor!
Yun Meng had already consumed so much Spiritual Power, so Shen Fei must naturally have consumed a great deal too! Because mass was conserved! That was why Han Tianlong seized the opportunity to charge in.
Yun Meng watched Han Tianlong expectantly too.
Lin Qiye also watched the figure in the vapor nervously.
The next second, someone emerged!
Was it Han Tianlong?! Had he succeeded?!
Tense, Yun Meng stared fixedly at the emerging figure.
But!
The one who emerged was Shen Fei.
Han Tianlong was being dragged along the ground by Shen Fei.
His face was covered in bruises from Shen Fei's blows.
Shen Fei casually tossed the unconscious Han Tianlong aside and looked at Yun Meng.
"Any other tricks? Go ahead and use them!"
Seeing that Shen Fei seemingly still hadn't used his full strength, Yun Meng fell into complete despair.
"Just how strong are you?!" She trembled all over, showing fear of Shen Fei for the first time.
This was fear of Shen Fei's unknown power!
Lin Qiye had long since been stupefied.
Shen Fei... Do I still have a chance to catch up with you? Do I still have a chance? Will I ever have another chance to fight you?... Lin Qiye began to lose confidence in himself.
Shen Fei looked at Yun Meng and answered flatly, "How strong? The three of you combined aren't even half my match."
Hearing that answer, Yun Meng felt her breath catch, and she fainted.
And with that.
All three members of the Yun Meng Squad had been defeated by Shen Fei.
Lin Qiye swallowed and hurried over to support Yun Meng.
"Shen Fei... what should we do now?"
Shen Fei glanced at him and said flatly, "Wait for them to wake up, get a map, and then I'm heading into the Ten Thousand Great Mountains."
The Ten Thousand Great Mountains were vast. Without a map, he would get lost.
Shen Fei left and wandered around the lookout station alone.
Meanwhile, Lin Qiye carried Yun Meng into the lounge and laid her down.
Then he went out again and brought Han Tianlong and Li Changkong inside, settling them both in the lounge.
Quite some time passed.
Only then did Yun Meng and the other two finally wake up.
Their expressions were complicated.
For a moment, they felt utterly ashamed.
The three of them, a battle-hardened squad, had actually... joined forces against Shen Fei and still lost!
That was fucking ridiculous!
If word of this got out, none of the overseers in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains would believe it!
No wonder. No wonder he's so arrogant... he really does have the strength to back it up. But I really don't understand. How could someone at mortal entry stage seven level three defeat me, at mortal entry stage seven level nine, in an instant? I'm only a little short of mortal entry stage eight! Why on earth is that? Is it just because he's a Bloodline Holder...? Li Changkong squeezed his eyes shut, his mind full of questions. At last, he no longer regarded Shen Fei as a newcomer, but as a truly powerful fighter!
What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck... Han Tianlong was questioning himself.
Shen Fei, is this only the tip of the iceberg of your strength...? Just what do the three of us amount to in your eyes? Are we really not even half your match...? This really hurts. What a blow. Before meeting you, I never thought anyone could be this powerful. You're the first... A little yearning for Shen Fei arose in Yun Meng's heart. She wanted to know how strong he was.
Yun Meng looked at Lin Qiye beside her and asked, "Where's Shen Fei? Where did he go?"
Lin Qiye answered, "Shen Fei? He's wandering around the lookout station..."
"Oh..."
At that moment.
At the Transcendent Administration Bureau headquarters.
In the director's office.
Yun Yongfeng and a girl with a full head of white hair were staring intently at a screen.
On the screen was footage of Shen Fei fighting the three members of the Yun Meng Squad.
After a long while, the battle ended.
Shen Fei won an overwhelming victory.
At the end, one more remark rang out.
"How strong am I? The three of you together aren't even half my match."
Yun Yongfeng looked at the white-haired girl beside him and asked, "Well? He's strong, isn't he? Even the whole Yun Meng Squad together couldn't beat him. And remember, Yun Meng is at mortal entry stage eight. What do you think? Does he meet your expectations for a teammate?"
The white-haired girl said flatly, "His strength is certainly decent, but he's still far too weak compared to me."
"The bloodline within me has already evolved nine times. I'm only one step away from becoming Transcendent. It's no exaggeration to say that the Yun Meng Squad wouldn't last a single exchange against me."
"The teammates I want must also be at mortal entry stage nine level nine, only one step away from becoming Transcendent. I won't accept anyone else."
Yun Yongfeng frowned and said, "Very few people currently meet your requirements. Besides, they might not be willing to enter the Qinling Secret Realm with you."
This white-haired girl was an overseer who cultivated in the Qinling Mountains, and she was also a Bloodline Holder. Having awakened the power within her bloodline, she was exceptionally strong!
The white-haired girl was unconcerned. "Then I'll wait, or go in by myself."
Yun Yongfeng hurriedly stopped her. "Don't be rash. We still don't know what's in there. It's too dangerous for you to go in. Give me a little more time to find two people for you, and then the three of you can enter the Qinling Secret Realm together! Until then, you absolutely must not go in! Understand?"
"All right. I'll listen to you."
With that, the white-haired girl turned into drifting snow and vanished from the director's office.
Yun Yongfeng rubbed his head. "Fuck, what a headache. Why did a secret realm suddenly appear in the perfectly normal Qinling Mountains...?"
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