Chapter 115: The Death of the Chieftain

The sea serpent form Mi Shu assumed was not particularly large compared to a giant squid, yet the steady, imposing aura he radiated while swimming was terrifying. It perfectly matched his characteristic style: he remained still until the moment he struck, and when he did, his impact was earth-shattering.

Facing this sea serpent within the Crescent Moon Array, Lin Feng dared not show the slightest negligence; a guardian of the same rank as Shabak was not a foe to be trifled with. Mi Shu’s white pupils were locked onto a point three zhang in front of him. He reared his body up to a height of one zhang, his lower torso submerged within the array, coldly confronting his opponent.

At their level of cultivation, they could entirely discard the need for vision, using spiritual sense to lock onto their opponent. Even if the enemy did not reveal themselves, they could still strike with precision. However, without seeing the opponent, one could not predict their techniques or movements, which placed one at a disadvantage.

Whoosh! Mi Shu’s scale-covered tail swept horizontally. The iridescent light spread out like an unfurled folding fan, the force of the strike creating a fierce gale and leaving behind afterimages as it slammed toward the predicted position.

Boom! A hurricane imbued with the scent of sparks erupted, swirling toward Mi Shu like a colossal tidal wave. The ten-zhang-long serpentine body was smashed violently against the light barrier of the array, causing the silvery ripples to tremble violently, accompanied by a continuous, muffled thudding.

“You old beast! Today, I shall use you to shatter this array!” As the Prison Fire Wind-Chasing Fan swung repeatedly, Mi Shu was knocked back every time he collided with the barrier. Under the cruel burning of the Heavenly Heart Flame and the intense impacts, Mi Shu endured the agony and let out a furious roar. His maw stretched wide, fangs bared, his body straightened, and he erupted with colorful light, shooting toward Lin Feng at high speed as if intent on swallowing him whole.

“Get lost!” Another gust of wind swept across the ground, sending the serpent’s body reeling backward. Yet, at that very moment, a beam of emerald light shot out from his gaping maw. Clang!

The flying sword broke through space like lightning, reaching Lin Feng without a moment’s hesitation. Pfft! At such close range, there was no way to dodge; the sword pierced through his left arm instantly!

What a venomous move! A slight deviation would have cost Lin Feng his life.

“Good, very impressive!” Lin Feng gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with killing intent.

Mi Shu controlled the flying sword to turn and strike again, while his tail lashed out with extreme speed; his vast experience would not allow him to miss such a golden opportunity.

“Die!” The power of the Flame Heart burned fiercely. Within the firelight, the faint image of a twenty-four-petaled lotus bloomed. Sword qi shone like light, and flames surged like an ocean. A soft sound of Zen chanting seemed to echo in the hall as a Vajra with glaring eyes appeared, blocking the emerald flying sword in a blaze of golden light.

Employing the Heaven-Extending True Method, the Dharma Flower Division Scripture, and the Immortal-Slaying Sword Art simultaneously, while wielding both the Prison Fire Wind-Chasing Fan and the Mo Yan Sword, Lin Feng unleashed his most powerful killing blow. Wrapped in overwhelming firelight, he stood amidst the flames, as immovable as a mountain.

The serpent’s body twisted, diving down with all its might. The massive power of the Flame Heart and the sword qi struck Mi Shu’s iridescent scales, erupting in an incomparable radiance!

“Roar!” Mi Shu’s massive body was forcibly repelled against the array. The entire hall shook as if the earth were moving. Looking at the serpent’s belly, it was charred, the blood flowing from it scorched dry by the flames; a terrifying wound, over a zhang long, stretched across his midsection.

Despite the consecutive lethal attacks, Mi Shu remained standing, his white-rimmed eyes now a burning crimson. Lin Feng, too, seemed to have transformed into a beast of flame, locked in a final confrontation with his enemy.

Outside the array, the muscles on Xi Lingbo’s face twitched, yet he remained a bystander, while Le Zhengqing’s expression was cold, as if burdened by worry.

“You are strong, but if you cannot kill me, then you shall die!” Mi Shu’s maw snapped shut. His eyes shot out two beams of silver light, and the bright red crest on his head cracked open, revealing a pair of silver-white dragon horns!

“The Dragon-Reversal Technique!” A faint smile appeared on Xi Lingbo’s lips. Mi Shu had finally unleashed the secret art he had kept hidden at the bottom of his chest. This was something Xi Lingbo had long desired to see; sending him to kill Lin Feng was meant to probe the depths of this guardian’s true strength.

Mi Shu’s true form was no ordinary sea serpent, but the legendary Sea Dragon-Serpent that could transform into a dragon. Before attaining a true dragon body, one could use secret arts to forcibly elevate their strength, gaining a half-dragon form!

“A dragon?” Le Zhengqing’s eyes brightened. His fingers danced, shooting out several rays of silver light to further reinforce the foundation of the Crescent Moon Array.

“Roar!” Amidst the roar, the serpent scales exploded. A silver dragon body, like a streak of white silk, burst forth from within the scales. Though no dragon claws had sprouted on his belly and the gruesome wounds remained, his aura suddenly doubled in intensity!

Mi Shu shook his head in mid-air, looking quite pleased with himself, unaware that Lin Feng, amidst the roaring flames, had turned ferocious. The memory of being killed in an instant by the four-clawed golden dragon Teng Chong resurfaced. Fury surged from nowhere; the Heavenly Heart White Flame burned violently, and the twenty-four-petaled lotus-shaped flames danced wildly, distorting the air!

“Reptile! Today, you shall pay for your life with your own!” Several afterimages flickered, and four identical figures suddenly appeared within the array, each surrounded by brilliant flames.

“Heh, such illusions are—” Mi Shu’s mocking laugh turned into a high-pitched scream. Before he could spit out his dragon breath, his body writhed like an eel, his tail smashing wildly against the silvery light barrier.

Lin Feng’s four figures merged into his fresh dragon body simultaneously, their combined force amplified fourfold. With a sickening tear, the Mo Yan Sword sliced through the dragon’s torso, spilling dragon blood like ink—he had been gutted!

The two men outside the array were stunned. Neither had expected Mi Shu, who had just completed the Dragon-Reversal Technique, to be killed with a single sword stroke. They stared blankly at the spurting dragon blood, frozen in shock.

The Phantom Clone Technique was immensely powerful; any technique performed under its effect saw its power increase exponentially. In his rage, Lin Feng used the “Slaying the Azure Cloud” technique to shatter Mi Shu’s protective scales, exhausting most of his spiritual energy in the process. Gasping for breath, he retreated several zhang as the flames around him suddenly dimmed.

“You… you were hiding your strength…” Mi Shu’s injuries were too severe. Unable to maintain his dragon form, he reverted to his human shape, lying on the ground, blood flowing from all seven orifices.

“You know that far too late!”

“Ah!” A scream followed as Mi Shu’s head was split in two by a flash of sword light. After a few twitches, red and white fluids pooled on the floor—he was completely dead.

The two men outside watched as a black sword pried open Mi Shu’s dantian to reveal his golden core, standing there like fools.

“If you want to kill me, you must be prepared to be killed yourself. Xi Lingbo, it is your turn.”

The cold words made the Lord of Black Shark Stronghold, a man who had dominated the Li Sea, tremble. His gaze sharpened.

“Very well! All three of my Black Shark guardians have died by your hand. My killing you today will be your destiny! Prepare to die!”

Xi Lingbo’s aura surged. Demon shadows appeared behind him, and with a single step, he moved into the center of the array. A barrage of fist shadows followed, accompanied by boundless killing intent and continuous booming sounds!

“Good fist technique, and such speed!” Lin Feng spat out a mouthful of blood, his face deathly pale. His cloak, stained with blood, turned a strange, eerie peach-red.

“Hmph!” Xi Lingbo threw a punch and immediately withdrew, fierce light erupting in his eyes. His black robes automatically manifested a layer of black scale armor, shielding his body and leaving only his piercing pupils exposed.

His offensive was fierce, yet he did not forget his defense. Xi Lingbo’s combat style was truly comprehensive.

“Should I use the Ice-Stamen Silver Needle? No, there is still another person outside, one whose cultivation rivals Xi Lingbo’s. I cannot be careless; if I use it, it must be a guaranteed hit.” Lin Feng could not be certain if the needle would kill Xi Lingbo, but he quietly held one between his left fingers.

“Whale-Slaying Roar!” Without seeing Xi Lingbo move, a phantom appeared out of thin air in the hall. The shadow solidified rapidly: a giant Whale-Slaying Shark opened its maw, and a gale roared, causing ripples in the air to spread in every direction. The wind struck the array with a sound as piercing as wailing ghosts.

The Vajra manifestation blocking his path dissipated like smoke. Blood instantly stained Lin Feng’s entire body—he was severely wounded!

Xi Lingbo had not even revealed his true form, yet he was already in an invincible position.

“Haa!” Spitting out a mouthful of blood foam, Lin Feng’s eyes burned with a frenzied will to fight. The Flame Heart lotus glowed with golden light, and the ethereal power of flame manifested into reality, wrapping around his body. Twenty-four flames condensed into a true lotus shape, each carrying a terrifying, chilling aura—White Flame!

Lin Feng formed another seal with his hands and roared, “Strike!”

The essence of the Heaven-Extending Technique lay in using fire for both offense and defense, moving with one’s will, and never failing. The fire lotus transformed into a white-gold phantom, and the twenty-four dazzling flames shone like beautiful wings, illuminating the entire hall.

Two zhang was not a long distance; in the eyes of experts, it was negligible. Yet, at such close range, Xi Lingbo could counter-attack! Swift in offense and seamless in defense—this was the hallmark of a veteran master.

The crimson light beneath Xi Lingbo’s mask erupted instantly. His demonic power surged, manifesting a dense shadow behind him. “Break!” The explosive force of his qi compressed toward the center and shot out, transforming into a swirling black wind that tore through the air. A massive hand emerged from the wind, grasping toward the flame lotus!

Boom! Under the violent collision, the flames erupted several times in size. The resulting shockwave struck the ceiling, and the crystal floor of the hall shattered into pieces beneath their feet. Lin Feng was thrown against the array, staggering to regain his balance, while Xi Lingbo retreated three steps, letting out a muffled grunt as he suppressed the blood surging in his chest.

“Let’s see what other tricks you have! Leave the immortal artifact and die!” Xi Lingbo’s face beneath the mask was hideous; two black lights grew increasingly dense on his fists as he accumulated power. “It is your honor to die at the hands of this Stronghold Lord!”

With a roar, he unleashed his fists, which had been charged to the limit. Two spiral-shaped fist forces shot out instantly, causing the surrounding air to distort into ripples and spread outward.

Just at that moment, Le Zhengqing, who was outside the array, suddenly spoke: “Stronghold Lord, let me assist you!”

Before Xi Lingbo could comprehend the anomaly, a silver light struck from behind, moving with unimaginable speed. Swish! The light pierced through Xi Lingbo’s black-scaled helmet, drawing a spray of blood as it exited through his forehead!

“You… you…” Xi Lingbo turned with great difficulty, his dilated pupils fixed on the cold man before him, but his gaze soon faded, his consciousness sinking into chaos from which he would never awaken.

“Who are you?” Lin Feng, who had nearly flickered his Ice-Stamen Silver Needle, stood up from the shattered floor with great difficulty, looking like a reed in the wind, unable to believe what he had just seen.

“The newly appointed guardian of the Black Shark Stronghold, Le Zhengqing of the Xuanji Pavilion. Do you believe me?” The cold-faced Le Zhengqing smiled faintly and waved his hand, dispelling the Crescent Moon Array.