Chapter Thirty-Seven: Fierce Confrontation

Liu Feng gazed coldly at the three men and said, “Take me to them, or I’ll break both your legs.”

At these words, the faces of the three grew grim.

Without hesitation, Liu Feng strode to one of them and stomped down hard on his left leg.

A sharp crack echoed through the air, and the man let out a piercing scream.

Liu Feng’s expression remained indifferent. “Are you going to lead the way or not?” he asked, raising his foot toward the other two.

“Wait! We’ll take you!” the two cried out in desperation.

...

In a small grove, two youths were speaking in hushed tones.

“Do you think they’ll really be able to capture that brat who hurt us?” The speaker was Zhao Xing.

“We’ve spent a fortune this time, hired over a dozen men. No matter how skilled he is, he can’t possibly defeat so many,” Zhang Lie replied with a faint smile, as if everything was unfolding according to his plans.

Just then, several figures emerged from the edge of the woods—Zhao Guang and his group. They drew near Zhao Xing and Zhang Lie, returning some items to them.

Zhao Xing, puzzled by their actions, asked, “What’s going on? I hired you to capture that infuriating brat. Why have you come back empty-handed?”

The slight youth, Zhao Guang, replied, “We just met him, but none of us were a match for him. So, we’re returning what you gave us.”

Disbelief clouded Zhao Xing’s face. “That’s impossible! There were so many of you, and you still couldn’t take him down?”

“That’s the truth. We’re not taking this job. Farewell,” Zhao Guang said, then turned and left.

The others glanced at Zhao Xing and Zhang Lie, saying nothing more before heading out of the grove as well.

“Damn it! How did that brat become so strong?” Zhao Xing cursed, frustration twisting his features. He punched the ground hard, leaving a deep pit where his fist landed.

Zhang Lie’s eyes flickered with a sinister glint. “It seems we’ll have to think of another way.”

“What do you suggest?”

“We’ll go back and bring one of our senior brothers from the sect. That’ll be enough to deal with him.”

“When we capture that brat, I’ll cripple his cultivation and turn him into a useless wretch. Only then will my anger be appeased.”

Malicious smiles spread across both their faces as they stood to leave.

“Where do you think you’re going?” A booming voice rang from outside the grove.

“Who’s there? Show yourself—don’t play tricks!” Zhao Xing called out, eyes scanning the surroundings.

Zhang Lie, too, looked warily around.

Suddenly, a figure flashed toward them, appearing before their eyes in the blink of an eye.

The newcomer stood tall and straight, his features refined, with eyes bright as cold stars, holding an uncanny power within their depths.

At the sight of him, Zhao Xing stumbled back five or six steps, his expression uneasy. Zhang Lie’s face was equally unsettled.

“Has it been so long that you don’t recognize an old acquaintance?” Liu Feng remarked with a calm smile.

“What do you want?” Zhao Xing asked, now collected and composed.

“You picked a fight with me for no reason last time, and I held back. I didn’t expect you would come at me even harder,” Liu Feng replied coldly, a flash of chill glinting in his eyes as he fixed them with a steely gaze.

“So what? I just can’t stand bumpkins like you.” Zhao Xing’s arrogance returned.

“Enough talk. Let’s join forces and finish him,” Zhang Lie said darkly.

He attacked first, unleashing the sect’s secret art, Blazing Flame Palm.

Instantly, the air around them grew scorching hot, and his palms glowed with a dazzling red light. Waves of heat surged toward Liu Feng.

Liu Feng gathered his true energy, focusing it in his right palm. A blade of light, nearly solid, appeared, slicing through the air with explosive force as he struck at the incoming heat.

A tremendous boom resounded as blade and heat collided, sending shockwaves that splintered the surrounding trees.

Zhang Lie’s hands danced like twin torches, the nearby trees crackling and popping under the searing pressure of his inner power. Even the ground at his feet split open with fissures from the heat.

Liu Feng’s blade light was swift and violent, slicing through ground and trees alike, leaving deep scars wherever it passed.

Their attacks clashed again and again, the thunderous impacts shaking the grove.

In no time, trees and earth alike began to shatter under the relentless force.

“I can’t drag this out any longer,” Liu Feng thought. He extended his left palm, unleashing another blade of light.

His offensive grew fiercer and faster, forcing Zhang Lie steadily backward.

Zhang Lie, furious, shouted, “Zhao Xing, what are you waiting for? Do something!”

“I was watching his moves. Now’s the time,” Zhao Xing replied, darting forward and striking at Liu Feng’s chest with his palm.

A wave of heat, like surging magma, crashed toward Liu Feng.

Liu Feng conjured several thin blades of light in his palm, firing them like arrows toward Zhao Xing’s hands.

A rapid string of explosions rang out, driving Zhao Xing back.

As Liu Feng prepared to pursue, Zhang Lie’s burning palms slammed toward him, radiating terrifying heat.

Without hesitation, Liu Feng brought his palms together, forming a blade of light two meters long, which he slashed at Zhang Lie with overwhelming force.

The impact sent Zhang Lie flying, blood trickling from his mouth.

Zhao Xing charged like a tiger descending the mountain, the ground cracking beneath his feet from the force of his power.

Liu Feng focused, unleashing blade after blade to shatter the true energy surging from Zhao Xing’s hands.

“Burning the Void!”

With a shout, Zhang Lie’s whole body seemed aflame, his palms blazing brilliantly as whirlpools of heat twisted the air. He hurled himself at Liu Feng with wild force.

Liu Feng pushed his true energy to the limit, sending a rain of razor-sharp blades toward them both.

But before the blades could reach, the searing heat consumed them, causing them to explode mid-air.

Seizing the moment, Zhao Xing and Zhang Lie simultaneously unleashed Burning the Void, striking at Liu Feng with both palms.

A thunderous crash resounded, forceful as a raging storm, and in an instant, it was upon Liu Feng.