The silence in the arena stretched, heavy with disbelief, before finally shattering into a chaotic roar. Lin Feng, the undisputed champion, stood amidst the clamor, accepting the Azure Cloud Sword and the bag of fifty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones from a bewildered elder. He didn't offer a triumphant smile, merely a calm nod, his dark eyes sweeping over the stunned faces in the crowd. They saw a wretch no more, but a rising enigma, a terrifying anomaly.
On the main platform, Hu Tian had regained his composure, but his face was a mask of icy fury. The humiliation was absolute, public, and undeniable. His son, Hu Lei, was being helped off the stage, his arm bandaged, his spirit utterly broken. Patriarch Li and Patriarch Wang exchanged uneasy glances with Hu Tian. Lin Feng's methods were too unorthodox, too dangerous. He was a wild card, and wild cards needed to be dealt with.
Lin Feng, ignoring the whispers and the hostile gazes from the powerful families, calmly descended from the arena. He didn't linger. His presence alone was enough to sow discord and fear. He walked directly back to his dilapidated shack, the cheers and murmurs of the crowd fading behind him.
Back within the familiar confines of his home, Lin Feng finally allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. He placed the Azure Cloud Sword on his worn table. It hummed faintly, a genuine Mid-Grade Spiritual Weapon, far superior to his Bone Blade. The bag of fifty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones felt heavy in his hand – a fortune he couldn't have dreamed of just days ago.
He opened his System Panel, his eyes gleaming.
[Host: Lin Feng] [Level: 4 (EXP: 0/400)] [Cultivation: Qi Condensation Realm (Late Stage)] [Spiritual Power: 102.7/400] [Attributes:]
Strength: 5.4
Agility: 6.1
Physique: 5.5
Spirit: 7.1
Cultivation Talent: 0.3
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
Body Tempering Essence: 0.1
Earth-Shielding Art Comprehension: 0.3 [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]
He had a wealth of new attributes. He focused on Sword Intent (0.4) and Sword Technique Comprehension (0.2). He had extracted these from cultivators who wielded swords.
"Synthesize... Sword Intent and Sword Technique Comprehension!" Lin Feng commanded.
[Synthesizing... Success!] [Consumed: Sword Intent (0.4), Sword Technique Comprehension (0.2). Received: Basic Sword Mastery (Basic) - Enhances understanding and proficiency with swords.]
A subtle shift occurred within his mind. He picked up the Azure Cloud Sword. Its weight felt natural, its balance perfect. He instinctively performed a few basic slashes, and they felt smoother, more precise than before. This Basic Sword Mastery was a foundational skill, a true upgrade to his combat prowess.
Next, he looked at Hu Family Bloodline (0.01). It was a tiny amount, but intriguing. What could he synthesize with it? He glanced at his Spiritual Power (0.9).
"Synthesize... Hu Family Bloodline and Spiritual Power!"
[Synthesizing... Success!] [Consumed: Hu Family Bloodline (0.01), Spiritual Power (0.1). Received: Hu Family Qi Sensing (Basic) - Allows basic detection of Hu Family's unique spiritual energy signatures.]
A strange, subtle sense expanded within him. He could now faintly distinguish the unique spiritual energy fluctuations of Hu Family members. This might be incredibly useful for future encounters.
Lin Feng spent the rest of the day consolidating his gains, cultivating with the newly acquired Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. His spiritual power quickly climbed, the Devouring Art efficiently absorbing the pure energy.
Meanwhile, in the depths of the Hu Family Mansion, a secret meeting was underway. Hu Tian sat at the head of a large, ornate table, flanked by Elder Hu and several other influential elders of the family. The atmosphere was grim.
"This Lin Feng... he is no longer just a threat," Hu Tian's voice was low, filled with suppressed rage. "He is a direct challenge to the authority and prestige of our Hu Family. He humiliated my son, and now he holds the championship. The whispers in town are already affecting our reputation."
"Patriarch, his methods are too bizarre," an elder spoke, his voice trembling slightly. "Draining spiritual power with a touch... it's like a demonic art. We cannot allow such a monster to grow unchecked in Qingfeng Town."
"Indeed," Elder Hu added, his face solemn. "I have observed him closely. His cultivation base is indeed Qi Condensation Realm Late Stage now, but his combat prowess and those strange abilities are far beyond what that realm should allow. He is hiding something truly terrifying."
Hu Tian slammed his fist on the table. "We cannot afford to wait. We must act. But we cannot do so openly. The Li and Wang families are already suspicious. We need to handle this discreetly, decisively, and ensure no evidence points back to us."
"What is your plan, Patriarch?" another elder asked.
Hu Tian's eyes glinted with a cold, ruthless light. "We will send a team. Not openly, but under the guise of 'night patrols' or 'hunting demon beasts.' They will ambush him outside the town, in the Shadowmist Mountain Range. He spends much time there. We will make it look like a demon beast attack, or a rogue cultivator's doing. And this time, we will send our strongest."
"Who will lead?" Elder Hu inquired.
"Hu Gang," Hu Tian stated, naming a formidable elder of the family, a cultivator at the Peak of Qi Condensation Realm, just a step away from Foundation Establishment. "And a squad of our elite Qi Condensation Realm Late Stage disciples. They will ensure Lin Feng is utterly annihilated, and his secrets buried with him."
A chilling silence filled the hall. Hu Gang was known for his ruthlessness and efficiency. If he moved, Lin Feng stood no chance.
Back in his shack, Lin Feng finished his cultivation. His spiritual power was now 250/400. He was making rapid progress. He looked at the Azure Cloud Sword, then at his Bone Blade. He briefly considered synthesizing the Azure Cloud Sword with something, but decided against it for now. It was a spiritual artifact, and he didn't want to risk damaging it without fully understanding its properties or the System's higher-tier synthesis capabilities.
Suddenly, a faint, almost imperceptible tremor ran through the ground. Lin Feng's newly acquired Hu Family Qi Sensing (Basic) attribute flared. He felt a distinct, powerful spiritual energy signature, accompanied by several weaker ones, moving discreetly out of the Hu Family Mansion, heading towards the outskirts of town, in the direction of the Shadowmist Mountain Range.
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. Hu Gang. And several Qi Condensation Realm Late Stage cultivators. They weren't just going on a patrol. They were coming for him. The tournament had indeed been a declaration of war.
A cold, predatory smile spread across Lin Feng's face. They thought they could ambush him? They thought he was still the same wretch they could trample upon?
"Good," Lin Feng murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "Come. The more powerful you are, the more I can extract. My System Evolves with Every Steal."
He rose, his Black Panther Cloak settling around him. The Azure Cloud Sword hummed softly on the table. Lin Feng didn't take it. He preferred his own Bone Blade, a testament to his unique power. He would meet them. Not by hiding, but by confronting. The Shadowmist Mountain Range would once again be his hunting ground. But this time, the prey would be human.