Jiang Xiaofan and the others immediately rushed to Ling Feng's side, their expressions grim as they stared at Yan Jinghong. Their faces were filled with tension.
During their time in the Battlefield of the Gods and Demons, Jiang Xiaofan had witnessed Yan Jinghong's overwhelming strength firsthand. This young man, who was even younger than himself, possessed power that completely eclipsed his own!
Tuoba Yan also drifted down gracefully beside Ling Feng. Facing Yan Jinghong, perhaps only by combining their strength and activating the Tiance Mirror could they stand a chance.
Ling Feng raised his hand, signaling everyone to stay calm. He simply looked at Yan Jinghong with a serene expression. Yan Jinghong's arrival didn't surprise him much.
Still, now that he had arrived, the timing was just right!
Ling Feng raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Hmph, you already knew I would come!"
Yan Jinghong stood with his hands behind his back, blocking the entrance to the general's mansion. All the guests were frozen in place, unsure whether to enter or leave.
Ling Feng's expression was calm and composed. Times had changed, he no longer needed to back down when facing the "Empire Legend".
"Hand over the treasure you obtained from the Battlefield of the Gods and Demons, and I’ll let you live long enough to compete in the Royal Sword Team’s final challenge match!"
Yan Jinghong's voice was icy, as arrogant as ever, like a king looking down on everything from above.
Ling Feng played dumb. "I only got some manuals. Isn't it true that opportunities in the Battlefield of the Gods and Demons belong to those who are fated to find them? Did it have your name written on it, Yan Jinghong?"
As soon as those words were spoken, the surrounding guests nodded in agreement.
So, Yan Jinghong had come for this reason—how petty of him.
The Battlefield of the Gods and Demons was a place for the elite of the sects to seek opportunities, not some treasure trove belonging to the Yan family. Now that Ling Feng had obtained something, why should he hand it over to Yan Jinghong?
In an instant, Ling Feng had seized the moral high ground. No matter how you looked at it, from the perspective of martial arts world rules, Yan Jinghong had no standing.
"Hmph, so you won't hand it over?"
Yan Jinghong completely ignored the murmurs of the crowd, his cold gaze fixed on Ling Feng. "I'll turn your celebration into a funeral!"
Without any logical reason, Yan Jinghong had an overwhelming premonition that the treasure emitting a golden vortex in the scripture depository of the ancient Huangji Sect had been taken by Ling Feng.
Although he wasn't sure what exactly the treasure was, he was certain that its value far surpassed that of any king-tier art!
Perhaps it was even a legendary sacred-tier art!
Yan Jinghong, who had always been favored by the heavens and blessed with heaven-defying luck, had never missed out on any treasure. Now, Ling Feng had snatched something valuable right under his nose. How could he accept this?
"Who's letting out such a foul stench? It's unbearable!"
Ling Feng waved his hand in front of his nose, exaggerating his disgust. "Yan Jinghong, you overestimate yourself too much! You can't kill me!"
"Hmph, we'll see about that!"
Yan Jinghong's Ice Emperor's Domain instantly expanded. This time, even an illusion of the Frost King appeared behind him.
With so many experts present, Yan Jinghong didn't want to risk any complications. He immediately summoned his soul manifestation, intending to kill Ling Feng in one strike.
"This is my territory. Don't even think of causing trouble here!"
Ling Feng roared, instantly activating the third Primordial Lock and the Four Transformations of Eight Desolations. His muscles bulged, and his height increased to nearly two meters.
The sword in Ling Feng's hand rang out, flames blazing fiercely. Ice and fire clashed, dividing the world into two halves of extreme cold and scorching heat.
"Scorching Sky Blaze!"
The collision of ice and fire canceled each other out. Ling Feng was sent flying, his entire right arm frozen solid.
In terms of raw power, Ling Feng was still at a disadvantage.
However, the one who was truly shocked was Yan Jinghong.
"How is this possible?"
Yan Jinghong raised his hand, his palm slightly scorched.
Although it seemed like he had the upper hand in that exchange, Ling Feng's strength had far exceeded his expectations.
There was a time when Ling Feng was nothing more than an ant that Yan Jinghong could crush with a flick of his finger. But now, Ling Feng had not only withstood his attack but had also managed to burn his hand!
Ling Feng's rate of improvement was starting to make even Yan Jinghong feel a hint of fear.
Ling Feng slapped his right arm, shattering the ice. He exhaled a cold breath and landed back on the ground.
After undergoing the tempering of thunder and fire, his physical strength had indeed improved significantly. The cold qi that had invaded his body had only frozen his arm temporarily, causing no real damage.
"This kid, Ling Feng, actually blocked Yan Jinghong's killing move!"
"He exchanged blows with Yan Jinghong and came out unscathed!"
"My heavens, is he really only at the Pulse Formation Realm?"
Some also noticed that Yan Jinghong was at the Spiritual Element Realm, while Ling Feng was only at the Pulse Formation Realm.
Yan Jinghong had always been the kind of monstrous genius who could challenge those above his level as easily as eating or drinking. But today, he had been the one challenged!
With just one move, everyone could see that Ling Feng's strength had reached a level comparable to the "Empire Legend".
And he was merely at the Pulse Formation Realm!
If Ling Feng were to reach the Spiritual Element Realm, the one at a disadvantage today might very well be the "Empire Legend" himself!
Gu Tengfeng was utterly shocked. The next moment, his eyes filled with wild excitement.
Perhaps this time, they could truly end the so-called Royal Sword Team's "Unbeatable Legend"!
"Kid, it seems your friend is even stronger than you imagined!"
Gu Xichao patted his son's shoulder and smiled faintly. "In less than ten years, this kid will become a pivotal figure capable of influencing the empire's fate."
Gu Tengfeng's eyelids twitched, stunned into silence. His father had never praised a young person before.
Ling Feng was the first!
Seeing the admiration and praise in the eyes of the surrounding guests, Yan Jinghong trembled with rage.
He finally understood why Ling Feng had been so calm and even somewhat smug upon his arrival.
Ling Feng had planned this all along—to step on his head and elevate his own reputation!
And that was exactly what had happened.
Although Ling Feng had been slightly at a disadvantage in their exchange, it had only increased the crowd's admiration for him.
Yan Jinghong had been thoroughly outsmarted by Ling Feng!
"You will die today!"
Yan Jinghong's anger burned fiercely. How could someone as proud as him tolerate being used as a stepping stone?
With a roar like a wild beast, Yan Jinghong pushed his soul manifestation to its limit. The Ice Emperor's Domain expanded, and bone-chilling cold qi filled the area, as if trying to drag Ling Feng into an endless icy hell...