Chapter 16: Hmph, now let's see who this little shrimp is?!

  Huang Fu, with anger on his face, stepped forward. With his step, the intense pressure felt in the air took the crowd’s breath away. The atmosphere was tenser than ever before. Now everyone understood that Huang Fu would not underestimate Lin Feng.

  In the arena, discussions among the people began. Despite the unexpected incident that had just occurred, the majority was convinced that Huang Fu would win this fight:

  "Huang Fu is definitely going to win. Lin Feng is just a mere stray cultivator. He can never overcome the power of the Exalted Huang Clan!"

  However, a few people in the minority were impressed by Lin Feng’s calm and self-assured demeanor:

  "You will regret underestimating Lin Feng’s ability! Have you forgotten the magnificence of his Wind Slash?!"

  Someone immediately retorted:

  "He was just lucky!"

  As the argument escalated, Huang Fu smirked sarcastically at Lin Feng, as if all that had happened were part of his plan. "I admit I've underestimated you. But this time, things won't go your way!" he shouted and suddenly launched his attack.

  With Huang Fu’s move, silence once again reigned in the arena, and all eyes turned to the center of the fight. Huang Fu launched his attack by simultaneously controlling four Flame Sparks. The Sparks surrounded Lin Feng from all sides, approaching him. The heat of the flames could be felt even by the crowd, as the air in the arena was enveloped by a scorching aura.

  Lin Feng, coolly, used the Wind Slash Technique. He swiftly moved his hands, forming four separate Wind Slashes and sending them towards the Flame Sparks. Each Wind Slash was aimed at extinguishing the flames.

  However…

  BOOM!

  When the Flame Sparks and the Wind Slash converged, a terrible explosion took place. The smoke and the wave of flames that filled the area completely blocked the view around Lin Feng and Huang Fu. The force of the explosion forced the crowd to take several steps back.

  "They are too powerful!" someone shouted from within the crowd. The onlookers held their breath at the sight. Everyone was curious about Lin Feng’s fate after this explosion.

  Amidst the smoke, Lin Feng’s brows were furrowed. He thought to himself:

  ("I can’t extinguish the Flame Spark with the explosion... Although these sparks seem as though they could be extinguished very simply, they actually carry a very powerful explosive energy!")

  At that very moment, someone from within the crowd shouted excitedly:

  "Look!"

  From amidst the explosion’s smoke, a Flame Spark broke free. The fifth Flame Spark was advancing directly toward Lin Feng. The energy of this spark had not diminished even as it passed through the smoke; on the contrary, it seemed to have intensified even further.

  The Flame Spark halted just a few steps away from Lin Feng. Lin Feng realized that he had very little time to defend himself. Inside, he thought with anger:

  ("Fuck! He isn’t as talentless as I thought! I guess I assumed that if he could easily defeat stray cultivators, he would do the same with cultivators from clans!")

  Someone from the crowd shouted excitedly:

  "Lin Feng is finished! Huang Fu will win!"

  Another voice rose with mocking laughter:

  "Hahaha! I told you so. How can a mere stray cultivator defeat someone of the Exalted Huang Clan?! If this happens, I'll bray like a donkey all day!"

  However, the crowd regarded his overconfident attitude with scorn. Making such a presumptuous comment about an event with an already determined outcome was regarded as opportunism rather than bravery.

  At that moment, Lin Feng suddenly opened his eyes with sharp determination and shouted loudly:

  "Nice try, but you cannot defeat me with that move!"

  With great agility, he activated the Wind Steps Technique. His body glided back swiftly, as if it were a gust of wind. At the same time, his hands moved gracefully yet decisively, forming a Wind Slash. He executed this powerful move with impeccable timing to completely neutralize the fifth Flame Spark.

  BOOM!

  The fifth Flame Spark exploded as well, but Lin Feng managed to evade the blast at the last moment. The smoke and dust covering the area concealed his agility, leaving the crowd once again in astonishment.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  "He even managed to escape that!" one onlooker shouted in amazement.

  "Or... or is he going to achieve the impossible and defeat Huang Fu?!"

  For the first time, over half the crowd started to believe that Lin Feng could actually win. The astonishment on their faces mingled with the tension that filled the arena. Now, no one was certain of the outcome of this battle; even Huang Fu was not sure!

  Without wasting a moment, Lin Feng suddenly leaped into the sky. With determination burning in his eyes, he shouted, his voice filling the entire area:

  "Now it's my turn to attack!"

  The crowd watched Lin Feng, holding their breath. As he glided through the air, his figure resembled that of a wind god reigning over the skies. The aura around him had changed; as if even the air around him was bowing to his command. Meanwhile, the anger on Huang Fu’s face had been replaced by shock. Inside, he thought with anger:

  ("Fuck, my attack was perfect. How did he manage to evade it?!")

  The crowd, like Huang Fu, was in shock. The people seemed mesmerized:

  "His aura changed suddenly! Lin Feng now appears as a true ruler."

  "Or is Huang Fu truly about to be defeated?!"

  "Or is a true genius, transcending this remote region, being born?!"

  Lin Feng raised his hand toward the heavens and fine, sharp lines of Wind Slash materialized around him. These lines rendered the ordinarily invisible wind visible, and amplified Lin Feng’s power even more. This scene made the crowd’s hair stand on end.

  "Is this truly the attack of a stray cultivator?!"

  "Huang Fu’s in deep trouble!"

  Huang Huo’s mask of serenity had finally dropped. For the first time, a hint of unease appeared in his eyes. Even he, not being of the Huang Clan, could understand the magnitude of Lin Feng’s power in this move, and that was incredible.

  Huang Fu, sensing that he was the target, experienced the greatest pressure. The feigned mocking expression on his face had long vanished; it had been replaced by the fear of death. He glared at Lin Feng with hatred while seeking any means to survive. He quickly generated two more Flame Sparks, but the thoughts in his head were swirling wildly:

  ("Should I attack or defend?! If I make the wrong move, I’ll really die!")

  Suddenly, a voice echoed through the air as Lin Feng shouted:

  "Wind Slash Rain!"

  With a sovereign-like gesture, he raised his hand and then brought it down as if to seal Huang Fu’s fate. Suddenly, dozens of Wind Slashes cascaded down from the heavens like rain. They were so dense that for a moment the crowd believed that an actual rain was pouring down.

  Huang Fu, in horror, tried to hold onto the ground firmly, gritting his teeth as he shouted:

  "I WILL NOT LOSE TO A BASTARD LIKE YOU!!"

  He quickly sent out two Flame Sparks for defense and then used the Flame Shield Technique to create a dense wall of fire around him. However, even the shield trembled in the presence of Lin Feng’s aura.

  BOOM!

  The Flame Sparks burst, unleashing a dense wave of energy. One of the spectators shouted excitedly:

  "Huang Fu is in trouble!"

  Lin Feng’s Wind Slash Rain was relentlessly trying to pierce through Huang Fu’s Flame Shield. Amid the explosion waves, cracks on the shield slowly began to widen. For a moment, the crowd watched in disbelief:

  "This is impossible! Is Huang Fu losing?!"

  "The Wind Slash Rain doesn't stop! Lin Feng... what kind of Beast is he?!"

  Under the continuous assault, Huang Fu felt that both his physical and mental limits were being tested. His eyes were filled with anger, yet his body could no longer endure these assaults. As he clenched his teeth, blood began to seep from the corners of his lips. His knees trembled; he seemed as if he might collapse to the ground at any moment.

  Huang Huo narrowed his eyes as he watched the scene carefully. However, for the first time, instead of his cold expression, a clear unease appeared on his face. His hands subtly began to move, preparing to make a move. But just as he was about to launch his attack, Lin Feng suddenly turned his head and looked at him. The calm, threatening smile on Lin Feng’s face froze Huang Huo’s blood. He swiftly retracted the energy in his hand; his move, unnoticed by the crowd, was entirely nullified by Lin Feng with a single look.

  Every corner of the arena was shaken by Lin Feng’s sovereign aura. This intense pressure, which took the breath away from the crowd, also imposed a tangible weight upon Huang Fu. The despondency and tension on Huang Fu’s face clearly indicated that victory was slipping from his grasp. Some in the crowd realized that he was on the brink of defeat:

  "This kid is as authoritative as a king!"

  "I can’t believe I’m witnessing the birth of such a genius from our remote region!"

  Everyone’s gaze was fixed on Lin Feng. Every move of his further thickened the atmosphere in the arena. This signified something far beyond an ordinary victory.

  Lin Feng descended from the sky, gliding down towards Huang Fu, who was barely standing. In the silence that enveloped everyone in the arena, Lin Feng’s cold, commanding voice resounded once again:

  "Are you surrendering?!"

  As these words echoed through the arena, the hatred and anger on Huang Fu’s face had been entirely supplanted by hopelessness. The entire crowd awaited his response. This fight now seemed to be sealed with Lin Feng’s victory.

  After Lin Feng’s commanding words, Huang Fu took a deep breath, yet the weight within him only grew heavier. The oppressive atmosphere in the arena seemed to be bearing down on him. His eyes shone with anger and shame, as he clenched his teeth and closed his eyes. Inside, he screamed with anger:

  ("I’d rather die here than be defeated by a street thug!")

  As he, with this thought, prepared to launch one final attack, suddenly a harsh voice filled the arena:

  "ENOUGH!"

  Huang Huo’s echoing voice seemed to freeze the arena. Everyone suddenly turned to him. His voice was a command directed at Huang Fu. As he advanced towards him with stern glares, in a cold and authoritative tone, he added:

  "As long as there is life, there is hope."

  These words struck Huang Fu like a blast of icy water. The sharp meaning behind the words echoed in his mind: You can have your revenge as long as you live. But if you die, everything is over!

  Huang Fu paused for a moment and looked at Lin Feng with eyes filled with a mix of shame and anger. His hands trembled, and his breath became labored. For several seconds, they locked eyes. Finally, words, albeit reluctantly, escaped from his mouth:

  "Yes..."

  The entire arena was shrouded in silence. The crowd began to whisper to one another in disbelief at what they had just heard:

  "What did you say?! Has someone from the Huang lineage surrendered?!"

  "To a stray cultivator?! This is impossible!"

  "This is unprecedented!!"

  Lin Feng immediately ceased his attack. As he slowly waved his hand, the intense wind that had enveloped the arena suddenly ceased, and the dust and debris stirred in the air after the attack quietly dispersed. The resulting scene made everyone’s hair stand on end.

  Huang Fu was about to fall to the ground, covered in blood. His entire body was riddled with cuts and wounds; the marks of the flame explosions still glistened on his skin. Crouching on his knees and struggling to breathe, despair and hatred could be read in his eyes.