The roar of the crowd was deafening, a wave of anticipation crashing over the arena. All eyes were fixed on the two figures standing opposite each other on the stage: Hu Lei, the proud scion of the Hu Family, his face contorted with a mixture of hatred and desperate resolve, and Lin Feng, the former wretch, now radiating a quiet, almost unsettling confidence.
"Let the match begin!" the announcer's voice boomed, barely audible over the clamor.
Hu Lei didn't waste a second. Driven by the humiliation he had suffered and his father's stern command, he lunged forward, his movements far more refined and powerful than any of Lin Feng's previous opponents. His long sword, shimmering with a vibrant blue spiritual light, sliced through the air, leaving a trail of sharp wind blades in its wake. This was the Hu Family Sword Art: Blazing Gale Slash, a technique he had mastered to perfection.
Lin Feng stood his ground, his eyes narrowing. He could feel the raw power behind Hu Lei's attack, a true Qi Condensation Realm Intermediate Stage cultivator's strike. He wouldn't just rely on passive defense this time.
As the sword closed in, Lin Feng's hand shot out. He didn't grab. Instead, a faint, almost invisible blade of wind wrapped in fire materialized from his palm, clashing directly with Hu Lei's sword.
CRACKLE! WHOOSH!
Sparks flew as the elemental fusion met the spiritual sword. Hu Lei's eyes widened in shock. An elemental attack! And one he had never seen before! His sword was momentarily deflected, the force sending a jolt up his arm.
[Elemental Fusion: Wind-Fire Blade (Basic) dealt (30) damage!]
Lin Feng didn't let up. He stomped his foot.
[Earth Manipulation (Basic) activated!]
The very ground beneath Hu Lei's feet trembled. Small, sharp stone spikes erupted from the arena floor, forcing Hu Lei to quickly leap back, disrupting his momentum.
"What?!" Hu Lei roared, his face contorting in disbelief. This was impossible! Elemental manipulation? And from a wretch?
Lin Feng closed the distance again, his movements fluid and unpredictable, enhanced by Speed Boost. He wasn't just faster; he was fighting with a newfound grace, a blend of instinct and calculated precision. He aimed for Hu Lei's exposed side, not with a direct attack, but with a subtle touch.
Hu Lei, still reeling from the elemental surprise and the ground spikes, instinctively tried to parry with his sword. But Lin Feng's hand was too fast. It brushed against Hu Lei's arm.
[Detected: Hu Lei (Cultivation: Qi Condensation Realm Intermediate Stage). Can be extracted.] [Extraction suggestion: Spiritual Power (0.6), Sword Intent (0.4), Cultivation Talent (0.2), Hu Family Bloodline (0.01).]
A predatory grin touched Lin Feng's lips. Hu Family Bloodline! That was a rare find! It could potentially enhance his own innate qualities.
"Extract!" Lin Feng commanded mentally.
Hu Lei cried out, not from pain, but from a sudden, alarming weakness. He felt a significant portion of his spiritual power being violently ripped away, along with something deeper, more fundamental. His vision blurred for a second.
[Extraction successful! Received: Spiritual Power (0.6), Sword Intent (0.4), Cultivation Talent (0.2), Hu Family Bloodline (0.01).] [Spiritual Power increased! Current: 102.1/200 -> 102.7/200] [Cultivation Talent attribute increased! Current: 0.1 -> 0.3] [New attribute acquired: Hu Family Bloodline (0.01) - Minor affinity to Hu Family's cultivation methods.]
The crowd gasped. They couldn't see the System Panel, but they saw Hu Lei's sudden collapse, his face pale, his sword arm trembling.
"What sorcery is this?!" Patriarch Li exclaimed, rising from his seat.
Patriarch Wang's eyes were wide with shock. "He's draining his opponent's essence!"
Hu Tian's face was ashen. He had seen this before, but not to this extent. This was a terrifying ability.
Hu Lei, fueled by desperation and humiliation, roared, forcing himself to stand. He unleashed a desperate flurry of sword strikes, a wild, uncoordinated assault. "Die, wretch! Die!"
Lin Feng met the onslaught with calm precision. He weaved through the attacks, his Speed Boost making him seem like a ghost. He used Earth Manipulation to create small barriers, deflecting strikes. He launched Wind-Fire Blades, forcing Hu Lei to defend frantically.
During the exchange, a small cut appeared on Lin Feng's arm from a deflected blade. But almost instantly, he felt a soothing warmth.
[Self-Healing (Basic) activated. Minor injury regenerating.]
The cut closed, leaving only a faint red line. Lin Feng's eyes gleamed. This passive healing was a massive advantage in prolonged combat.
He saw his chance. Hu Lei, weakened and desperate, left an opening. Lin Feng didn't hesitate. He lunged, his Bone Bladeappearing in his hand, infused with a faint spiritual light. He aimed not for a killing blow, but for Hu Lei's dominant sword arm.
SWISH!
The Bone Blade, sharp and swift, sliced across Hu Lei's forearm. Not deep enough to cripple, but enough to draw blood and force him to drop his sword with a cry of pain.
"My arm!" Hu Lei clutched his bleeding forearm, his face a mask of agony and utter defeat. His sword lay clattering on the stage.
Lin Feng stood over him, the Bone Blade at Hu Lei's throat. His eyes, cold and unwavering, stared down at the once-arrogant young master.
"You are too weak," Lin Feng stated, his voice calm, yet resonating with an undeniable power that silenced the entire arena. "And foolish."
Hu Lei looked up, his eyes filled with terror. He had never felt such despair. He was utterly defeated, not just in skill, but in spirit.
"I... I forfeit!" Hu Lei choked out, his voice barely a whisper.
The announcer, trembling, raised his hand. "Lin Feng wins! Lin Feng is the victor of the semi-finals!"
The crowd erupted. Not in cheers, but in a chaotic mixture of shock, awe, and bewildered murmurs. A wretch, a spiritual root-less nobody, had just utterly crushed the pride of the Hu Family, the genius Hu Lei.
On the main platform, Hu Tian's face was contorted with a mixture of disbelief and consuming rage. His son, humiliated again, and this time, publicly. He slammed his fist onto the armrest, splintering the wood. Elder Hu's eyes were wide, a deep fear now etched onto his face. This was no mere fortuitous encounter; this was a monster in the making.
Lin Feng calmly sheathed his Bone Blade. He didn't gloat. He didn't even look at the defeated Hu Lei. His gaze swept over the stunned crowd, then up to the main platform, meeting Hu Tian's furious eyes for a brief, challenging moment.
[Host: Lin Feng] [Level: 3 (EXP: 290/300)] [Cultivation: Qi Condensation Realm (Intermediate Stage)] [Spiritual Power: 102.7/200] [Attributes:]
Strength: 5
Agility: 6.1
Physique: 5
Spirit: 7.1
Cultivation Talent: 0.3 (increased!)
Sword Technique Comprehension: 0.2
Stone Manipulation: 0.1
Earth Affinity: 0.05
Wind Blade Technique: 0.2
Fireball Spell: 0.2
Minor Healing Attribute: 0.05
Healing Aura: 0.03
Hu Family Bloodline: 0.01 (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.
Earth Manipulation (Basic): Allows basic control over earth and stone elements.
Elemental Fusion: Wind-Fire Blade (Basic): A basic offensive spell combining wind and fire elements.
Self-Healing (Basic): Allows passive, slow regeneration of minor injuries. [Extracted Items:]
... (updated list of extracted attributes and skills) [Synthesized Items:]
... (updated list of synthesized items) [System Points: 0]
Lin Feng felt the surge of power, the satisfaction of a decisive victory. He was on the cusp of leveling up again. The Hu Family Bloodline was an unexpected bonus, a potential key to understanding their unique cultivation methods, or perhaps even a path to synthesize something related to bloodline power.
He knew the true storm was yet to come. The Hu Family would not let this humiliation stand. But Lin Feng was ready. He had shown them a glimpse of his power.