Night enveloped the Shadowmist Mountain Range, but for Lin Feng, it was no longer a veil of fear. The Black Panther Cloak (Low-Grade Spiritual Artifact) not only provided warmth but also concealed his aura, making him blend seamlessly into the darkness. With Speed Boost (Intermediate), Lin Feng's every step became lighter and swifter, far surpassing the speed of an ordinary mortal. He traversed treacherous mountain paths, feeling the spiritual energy circulating within his dantian, granting him an unprecedented internal power.
He no longer had to worry about low-level demon beasts. The faint demonic aura from his cloak and the confidence emanating from Lin Feng caused them to instinctively steer clear. Some smaller demon beasts even timidly fled upon sensing his presence. This was the feeling of the strong, of a predator.
The journey back to Qingfeng Town, which would normally take an entire morning, was now a mere short distance in the night. As the first rays of dawn broke, illuminating the old tiled roofs and familiar dirt roads, Lin Feng stood before the town gates. The large, weathered wooden gate, and two lazy guards yawning widely.
"Hey, little brat Lin Feng! Where have you been, only just showing your face now? Off to the mountains again to pick some wild weeds?" One of the guards, Ma Dai, with a bulging belly and a face full of disdain, spoke up. He frequently bullied Lin Feng, snatching the meager spiritual herbs the boy managed to gather.
Lin Feng stopped, his sharp gaze sweeping over Ma Dai. Before, he would have bowed his head, trudged past, swallowing his anger. But now, it was different. The spiritual energy in his dantian surged, Flesh Reinforcement (Intermediate) gave him confidence in his defense, and the aura-concealing cloak prevented Ma Dai from noticing his change.
"Where I go is none of your business," Lin Feng replied coldly, his voice steady, without a hint of tremor.
Ma Dai was taken aback. He had never seen Lin Feng dare to speak like that. "Oh, really now! You've got a tough mouth, you useless brat! Or do you think finding a few measly coins means you can act so arrogant?" He stepped forward, his coarse hand reaching out to grab Lin Feng's collar.
Just as Ma Dai's hand was about to make contact, Lin Feng unexpectedly took half a step back, his movement astonishingly swift. Ma Dai missed, his body stumbling.
[Speed Boost (Intermediate) activated. Movement speed increased by 10%.]
"What do you want?" Lin Feng asked, his eyes cold as ice.
Ma Dai flinched. He hadn't expected Lin Feng to be so nimble. The other guard, Zhang Er, also looked on in surprise.
"You... you dared to dodge?" Ma Dai fumed, raising his hand to slap Lin Feng.
Lin Feng didn't dodge. He stood still, his gaze firm. Ma Dai's hand descended upon his cheek.
Slap!
A dry crack echoed. Ma Dai felt a stinging pain in his palm, as if he had just slapped a rock. He recoiled his hand, his face contorted in shock and pain.
[Flesh Reinforcement (Intermediate) activated. Damage reduced by 10%.]
Lin Feng stood there, his cheek slightly red, but showing no sign of pain or fear. He merely looked at Ma Dai with disdain.
"Is that all?" Lin Feng sneered, his tone full of mockery. "Is the strength of a town guard only this much?"
Ma Dai and Zhang Er were utterly dumbfounded. A full-force slap from Ma Dai, a mortal with some strength, had failed to make Lin Feng, the wretch, even flinch. This was impossible!
"You... you're a demon!" Zhang Er stammered, backing away a few steps.
"A demon?" Lin Feng scoffed. "I'm just a mortal like you. Or perhaps... you are too weak, to the point where even a mortal can make you tremble?"
Ma Dai's face flushed crimson with rage. He couldn't accept being humiliated by a brat he had always looked down upon. He drew the dull iron sword from his waist, pointing it directly at Lin Feng. "You little bastard! Who do you think you are? I'll teach you a lesson!"
"Stop!"
A dignified voice rang out. An old man with a silver beard, wearing a gray Daoist robe, slowly emerged from a nearby alley. It was Elder Hu, the elder of the Hu Family, one of the three largest cultivation families in Qingfeng Town, and also the manager of the town gate. Elder Hu was at the Intermediate Stage of the Qi Condensation Realm and was respected in the town.
Elder Hu looked at Lin Feng, a flicker of suspicion in his eyes. "Ma Dai, what's going on?"
"Reporting, Elder! This brat Lin Feng... he dared to be disrespectful to your subordinate! And even defied orders!" Ma Dai hastily accused, but still dared not advance.
Elder Hu looked at Lin Feng, then back at Ma Dai. His gaze lingered on Lin Feng's black cloak. The cloak seemed ordinary, but Elder Hu felt a faint, elusive aura emanating from it.
"Are you Lin Feng?" Elder Hu asked, his tone deeper.
"Indeed," Lin Feng replied, not shying away from the elder's gaze.
Elder Hu frowned. He had heard of Lin Feng as a spiritual root-less wretch. But the aura of the youth before him was completely different. There was no inferiority, no fear, only composure and a hint of... arrogance.
"You just returned from the Shadowmist Mountain Range?" Elder Hu inquired.
"Yes," Lin Feng confirmed.
Elder Hu pondered. A mortal who could survive and return from the Shadowmist Mountain Range, and with this kind of aura? This was unusual. Elder Hu was experienced; he knew that there were heaven-defying fortuitous encounters that could change a person's fate. He could sense a very faint, yet incredibly pure, energy circulating within Lin Feng's body. Spiritual power! A faint spiritual power, but spiritual power nonetheless!
"You... have you cultivated?" Elder Hu asked, his voice betraying unconcealed astonishment.
Ma Dai and Zhang Er gasped upon hearing this. Lin Feng cultivated? That wretch?
Lin Feng didn't answer directly. He merely smiled faintly, a smile full of hidden meaning. "What does Elder think?"
Elder Hu stared at Lin Feng, then at the black cloak. He couldn't see through it. But the spiritual power within Lin Feng's body was real. And his aura was also real. Elder Hu was a seasoned veteran; he knew that heaven-defying opportunities could change a person's destiny.
"Ma Dai, Zhang Er! Stand down! Do not be disrespectful to Lin Feng again!" Elder Hu suddenly commanded, his tone stern.
Ma Dai and Zhang Er were shocked, but dared not disobey. They retreated, looking at Lin Feng with eyes full of fear and suspicion.
Elder Hu turned to Lin Feng, his gaze complex. "Lin Feng, if you have indeed encountered a fortuitous opportunity, then cherish it. This Qingfeng Town is small, but it also has its own rules. I hope you will not cause trouble."
"I only wish to live in peace," Lin Feng replied, his tone still calm. "But if someone wishes to cause trouble, I will not hesitate to retaliate."
Elder Hu nodded, saying nothing more. He knew Lin Feng was no longer the Lin Feng of old. He turned and walked away, but his mind was still filled with contemplation. A spiritual root-less wretch, who became a Qi Condensation Realm cultivator overnight? This matter must be reported to the family.
Lin Feng walked through the town gate, leaving behind the astonished, fearful, and suspicious gazes of Ma Dai and Zhang Er. He returned to his dilapidated home. The house was still the same, but Lin Feng was different. He was no longer the one being trampled upon. He had power.
Sitting in his familiar home, Lin Feng opened the System Panel. He looked at his attributes and skills.
[Host: Lin Feng] [Level: 1 (EXP: 0/200)] [Cultivation: Qi Condensation Realm (Initial Stage)] [Spiritual Power: 10/100] [Attributes:]
Strength: 5
Agility: 6
Physique: 5
Spirit: 7 [Skills:]
Flesh Reinforcement (Intermediate): Reduces 10% physical damage.
Speed Boost (Basic): Increases movement and reaction speed by 10%.
Devouring Art (Basic): Absorbs spiritual energy from all things, converts it into spiritual power. [Extracted Items:]
Black Panther Demon Fur (1)
Demonic Aura (0.5) [Synthesized Items:]
Heavy Stone (Basic) (1)
Black Panther Cloak (Low-Grade Spiritual Artifact) (1) [System Points: 0]
Lin Feng knew this was just the beginning. He needed to cultivate more strongly, to explore more functions of the System. He needed to find more resources, items to "extract" and "synthesize" more powerful things. Qingfeng Town might no longer be an absolutely safe place for him, once news of his change spread.
But Lin Feng was not afraid. He had his own path. The path of a predator, one who would extract everything, to evolve and become a sovereign.