The sun climbed higher, casting long shadows across the dusty streets of Qingfeng Town. Lin Feng walked with a newfound purpose, his Black Panther Cloak swaying gently with each step. The encounter with Hu Lei had been a test, a declaration. He was no longer the wretch to be scorned; he was a force to be reckoned with. The fear and awe in the eyes of Ma Dai and Zhang Er, the stunned disbelief of Hu Lei, were all proof.
As he entered the main street, the usual bustling sounds of the market seemed to quiet. Whispers followed him, like a rising tide. People pointed, their faces a mix of shock, fear, and intense curiosity.
"Is that... Lin Feng?" "The wretch who couldn't cultivate? But... I heard Ma Dai got slapped around by him!" "And Hu Lei, the young master of the Hu Family, fled like a dog with its tail between its legs!"
Lin Feng ignored the murmurs. His spiritual sense, though rudimentary, could pick up the fear and respect in their gazes. He walked directly to his dilapidated shack, the same place he had always called home, but now it felt different. It was no longer a symbol of his poverty, but a temporary sanctuary for a rising predator.
Inside, he activated the System Panel. His eyes scanned his updated stats.
[Host: Lin Feng] [Level: 3 (EXP: 90/300)] [Cultivation: Qi Condensation Realm (Intermediate Stage)] [Spiritual Power: 97.5/200] [Attributes:]
Strength: 5
Agility: 6
Physique: 5
Spirit: 7 (increased by 0.1 due to Cultivation Talent)
Cultivation Talent: 0.1 (new) [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:]
Venom (0.6)
Dirt Wolf Demon Fur (1)
Demonic Aura (0.4)
Spiritual Power (0.5)
Sword Intent (0.3)
Cultivation Talent (0.1) [Synthesized Items:]
Heavy Stone (Basic) (1)
Black Panther Cloak (Low-Grade Spiritual Artifact) (1)
Bone Blade (Basic) (1)
Weakening Poison (Basic) (1)
Composite Leather Armor (Low-Grade Spiritual Artifact) (1) [System Points: 0]
The Cultivation Talent (0.1) was a game-changer. It wasn't a direct power boost, but a fundamental improvement to his potential. He needed to understand how to best utilize it. Perhaps by upgrading his Devouring Art? That would cost 2 System Points, and he currently had none. He needed more System Points, which meant completing more quests or finding rare resources.
He also had Sword Intent (0.3). Could he synthesize a sword, or perhaps a sword skill? The possibilities were endless, limited only by his imagination and the materials he could extract.
Lin Feng settled down, beginning to circulate the spiritual energy according to the Devouring Art. He needed to consolidate his current cultivation. The air in his shack, though thin in spiritual energy, was slowly being absorbed and refined. It was inefficient, but better than nothing. He needed a better cultivation environment.
Meanwhile, in the grand hall of the Hu Family Mansion, the atmosphere was tense. Hu Lei, still pale, stood before his father, Hu Tian, recounting his humiliating defeat. Elder Hu was also present, his expression grim.
"He... he just grabbed my wrist, Father! And then I felt my spiritual power being drained! And that cloak... it deflected my 'First Gale'!" Hu Lei stammered, his voice laced with lingering fear and disbelief.
Hu Tian's face was a mask of cold fury. His eldest son, the pride of the Hu Family, humiliated by a mere wretch? This was an insult to the entire family's prestige. But what Hu Lei described was unsettling. Draining spiritual power with a touch? Deflecting a Qi Condensation Realm Intermediate Stage attack? This was far beyond what a newly ascended cultivator should be capable of.
"Elder Hu, what do you make of this?" Hu Tian asked, his voice low and dangerous.
Elder Hu stroked his beard, his brow furrowed in thought. "Patriarch, what Young Master Hu Lei described... it sounds like some kind of forbidden art, or perhaps a unique spiritual artifact. The ability to drain spiritual power with a touch is unheard of in Qingfeng Town. And that cloak... it must be at least a Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifact, or even higher, to withstand Young Master's strike."
"A Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifact?" Hu Tian's eyes narrowed. "And the ability to drain spiritual power? This Lin Feng... he is no longer a simple wretch. He is a threat."
"Indeed," Elder Hu agreed. "If he can truly cultivate, and possesses such methods, he could become a major power in the future. If we cannot control him, he must be eliminated before he grows too strong."
Hu Tian stood up, pacing slowly. "Eliminate him? So easily said. If he truly has such methods, a direct confrontation might be risky. We don't know the full extent of his capabilities, or what other secrets he might hide. What if he has a powerful backer?"
"Perhaps we should observe him first, Patriarch," Elder Hu suggested. "Send some discreet scouts. See what he does, how he cultivates. We need more information."
Hu Tian stopped pacing. His gaze hardened. "No. Waiting is not an option. A snake in the grass grows larger if left unchecked. But a direct confrontation might expose our family to unknown dangers. We need a plan that is both decisive and discreet."
He turned to Hu Lei. "Hu Lei, you have been humiliated. This is a stain on our family's honor. You will personally lead this operation. But not with brute force. We will use a more... subtle approach."
Hu Lei's eyes lit up. "What is your command, Father?"
"Qingfeng Town's Annual Martial Arts Tournament is approaching," Hu Tian stated, a sinister glint in his eyes. "It is a tradition for the younger generation to display their talents. Lin Feng, if he truly possesses cultivation, will surely want to prove himself. That will be his stage. And our opportunity."
Elder Hu understood immediately. "A public challenge. If he loses, his newfound prestige will crumble. If he wins, he will reveal more of his abilities."
"Precisely," Hu Tian nodded. "Hu Lei, you are strong. But you must prepare. This time, do not underestimate him. Use all your skills. And if necessary... ensure he is crippled, or worse, during the tournament. Make it look like an accident. No one will question a few 'accidents' in a martial arts tournament."
Hu Lei grinned, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "Understood, Father. I will make sure that wretch Lin Feng regrets ever daring to challenge the Hu Family." The humiliation he suffered fueled his desire for revenge.
Back in his shack, Lin Feng finished his basic cultivation. He felt his spiritual power slightly increase, but it was far from enough. He needed more. He needed to level up faster.
He pulled out the Lông Thổ Lang Yêu (Dirt Wolf Demon Fur) and Khí Tức Yêu Ma (Demonic Aura) he had extracted.
"Synthesize... Dirt Wolf Demon Fur and Demonic Aura!" Lin Feng commanded.
[Synthesizing... Success!] [Consumed: Dirt Wolf Demon Fur (1), Demonic Aura (0.4).] [Received: Dirt Wolf Amulet (Low-Grade Spiritual Artifact) - An amulet that slightly enhances physical strength (2%) and provides a faint camouflage effect in natural environments (Basic).]
A small, rough amulet made of fur and bone appeared in his hand. It wasn't much, but it was another spiritual artifact, another tool. He put it on.
Lin Feng knew he couldn't stay hidden forever. His return had already caused a stir. The Hu Family, especially, would not let this go. He needed to be proactive. He needed to grow stronger, faster.
He looked at his System Points: 0. He needed to find a way to get more. Perhaps there were other ways to gain them besides quests? Or perhaps he needed to find stronger prey.
A thought sparked in his mind. The Annual Martial Arts Tournament of Qingfeng Town was coming up. It was a grand event where young cultivators from the three major families – Hu, Li, and Wang – showcased their talents. It was also a place where opportunities arose, where rare resources might be offered as prizes, or where one could gain valuable combat experience.
Lin Feng's eyes hardened. A public stage. A chance to gather more information, to test his new powers, and perhaps, to gain more System Points or valuable materials from defeated opponents. And if Hu Lei decided to make a move...
"Let them come," Lin Feng murmured, a predatory glint in his eyes. "The more they come, the more I can extract. My System Evolves with Every Steal."
He knew the tournament would be dangerous, but it was also the fastest path to power. He would not hide. He would embrace the challenge, and turn every obstacle into a stepping stone for his own ascension.