Big Beard was first stunned, then burst into a hearty laughter, tears streaming down:
"That's a very interesting joke, did you learn it from your dead parents?"
Chu Feng's face instantly turned cold, murder in his eyes, "You're dead, you damned dog!"
Big Beard sneered, about to provoke again.
But was astonished to find Chu Feng's Qi blood erupting like a volcanic explosion, turning into a pillar of blood-red smoke that shot up into the sky!
Chu Feng spread his legs apart, twisted his waist, and the long knife flashed out like lightning.
Drawing a bright halo under the moonlight, it screamed towards Big Beard's head!
The speed of the blade was beyond Big Beard's expectation, but soon, a fierce intent surged in his heart.
He didn't dodge at all, lifting the Golden Ring Great Chopping Knife to deliver a cross cut, colliding directly with Chu Feng's blade light, wanting to measure just how heavy Chu Feng was.
A needle against wheat awns!
"Clang——"
A sharp metallic ring erupted, and Big Beard's face drastically changed!
He only felt a strong force transmitted from his hands, a painful numbness spreading along his arms into his waist.
Then his legs weakened, and he staggered three steps back, his hands trembling slightly.
Chu Feng, however, was unaffected, the Tang Sword rebounding and twisting back into a stunning counterattack.
Drawing an arc of light in the opposite direction, he slashed again from Big Beard's lower right!
The latter, pressed by Chu Feng's relentless offense, couldn't even open his mouth, his face full of frustration.
He, a formidable Late Foundation Building Martial Artist, was actually being crushed by this little monster's physique!
This was nothing like the intelligence provided by Jia Ren!
What on earth did this guy eat to grow up?!
!!
It must be the Secret Technique Jia Ren mentioned!
The blade was swift and fierce, leaving him no time to dodge, so he had no choice but to meet it with his own blade again.
"Clang!"
"Clang!"
"Clang!!"
But Chu Feng's knife strokes grew faster and more aggressive!
In a magnificent offense, a series of metallic clashes kept ringing out.
Big Beard was actually being dominated by Chu Feng's assault!
With each strike faster than the last, Big Beard was forced back two steps with every clash, his whole body trembling with a sour numbness.
His hands were almost unable to hold the knife handle.
"Can you still withstand this? Well, can you?!"
Chu Feng's eyes flashed with ferocity as he roared and initiated the Five Qi Blood Activation Technique!
In an instant, nearly half of his Qi blood was consumed.
The 'Qi' attribute on the panel instantly dropped to 10 (20), and was still slowly depleting.
But his strength surged by 8 points!
His body swelled as if pumped with air, muscles bulging, covered with thick blue veins.
At a glance, he looked like a demon.
Chu Feng had chosen this Secret Technique not only for its exceptional effects, the stronger the blood Qi consumption the greater the boost, which was very suitable for a high attribute genius like him.
The most important reason was that its appearance after being cast was almost exactly the same as the last time he used the "Attribute Burst".
Chu Feng roared violently, delivering another tyrannical chop, "You TM block this for me to see!"
Big Beard's eyes were about to split, staring fixedly at the approaching blade, his whole body going numb as if he were plunging into an ice cave.
The scent of death instantly filled his nostrils.
He was going to die!
If this chop came down, he was certain to die!
But at this moment, having forcefully exchanged multiple blows with Chu Feng, he had no strength left for a short duration, and no room to dodge.
In his despair, Jia Ren's furious shout came from beside him: "Don't even think about it!"
...
Jia Ren had been standing on the edge of the woods, watching coldly all along, never making a move.
Even as Big Beard was almost beaten to death, he just watched indifferently, like a venomous snake hidden in the grass.
Chu Feng's performance had also shocked him.
He had never imagined that this little monster had hidden such formidable strength!
'All the intelligence I received before was disguised!
'This little devil has progressed far faster than the reports, faster than my calculations!
'A mere Martial Apprentice, after practicing a Secret Technique, can completely crush the Foundation Establishment.
'This Secret Technique… it's simply divine!
'But Chu Feng knows I am determined to have the Secret Technique; this is also a bait targeting me!'
Greedy desires consumed Jia Ren, his eyes reddening with envy, yet his heart was enveloped by a chill:
'Luckily, Big Beard, with his little cleverness but no great wisdom, tested the depths of this little brat for me!'
At this moment, Chu Feng's overall strength could crush Big Beard.
But if Jia Ren moved forward and the two of them joined forces, they could hold off Chu Feng.
But he still didn't dare to approach, for he dreaded Chu Feng's terrifying Burst Secret Technique!
The scene from that day was still vivid before his eyes, where Chu Feng, far inferior in physique to those at the Foundation Establishment Realm, was being dominated by Soldier Level Demons.
Yet after activating his Burst Secret Technique, he instantly slew one demon and pursued another to its death.
He then swept through the remaining Spirit Rank foes, truly invincible within his Realm for that brief period!
Now, Chu Feng, without even using any Secret Technique, had the strength to oppress someone in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Thus, even if Big Beard was killed right before his eyes!
As long as Chu Feng didn't use his Burst Skills, he wouldn't step forward an inch.
'Soon, very soon... Big Beard, just hang in there, if you die, I'll light incense for you!'
Jia Ren coldly waited, turning a blind eye to Big Beard's angry and desperate gazes.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up: 'Good kid, finally here, what terrifying explosive power!'
He wanted to observe a bit longer, to reconfirm that the technique Chu Feng used was indeed the true Burst Secret Technique.
The last time he secretly watched, his view was obstructed by dense fog, and he couldn't see clearly.
But in the blink of an eye, Big Beard was about to fall to Chu Feng's Tang Sword, making him tense up, unwilling to delay any longer:
'Think you'll kill Big Beard before coming for me? Wishful thinking!'
Like a striking viper, his figure flashed, dashing straight to the center of the battlefield!
...
Facing Big Beard's terrified look, Chu Feng's Tang Sword was about to cleave him in two.
But unexpectedly, with a thunderous yell, Jia Ren entered the fray, stabbing with his sword towards Chu Feng's heart, thus intervening dramatically to save another.
This stab was extremely uncomfortable for Chu Feng; if he insisted on killing Big Beard, the sword would have pierced his heart as well.
Both would have suffered mutual destruction.
Reluctantly, Chu Feng withdrew his sword, and Big Beard was immediately liberated, gasping for breath and cursing at Jia Ren:
"Son of a bitch, if you had been any later, I'd be dead!"
"Don't talk, just hold on, wait until his Secret Technique wears off!"
Jia Ren was able to keep his cool, and with a leap, he came close, employing the Sticky Word Formula with a pull and drag of his long sword.
No matter how tough Chu Feng was, he refused to confront him directly, leaving no room for Chu Feng's strength to be of use.
Big Beard gave Jia Ren a venomous glare, swallowed his anger, and followed Jia Ren's lead using the dragging motion with some difficulty.
His style was forceful, and playing a delaying tactic was not his forte.
But he quickly realized Chu Feng's Tang Sword, although fierce, was beginning to reveal an air of impatience.
As if he wanted to end the battle immediately.
Jia Ren knew what he was thinking, nimbly coping with Chu Feng's rush, and laughed:
"This kid's Secret Technique is mighty; after its activation, you could say he's invincible below the Innate level.
"But I've counted; it only lasts for 30 seconds, after which he'll fall into extreme weakness!"
Big Beard sneered viciously, "You little beast, is your Secret Technique about to end?!
"Just wait, I'm going to make you regret ever being born and then send you to meet your dead parents so you all can reunite underground!"
"Son of a bitch, you deserve to die!" Chu Feng roared in fury, his eyes filling with bloodshot rage, and his Tang Sword waved more fiercely for a moment.
But mere seconds later, he delivered a powerful slash, catching Jia Ren and the rest off guard and driving them back in unison.
Immediately after, Chu Feng turned and ran!
Jia Ren and his companion were overjoyed, guffawing and rushing after Chu Feng, blocking his path: "Trying to run? Too late!"
"Haha, kid, your retribution has arrived!"
Chu Feng ran like a wild wolf, but it was as if he was trapped in a spider web, desperately struggling without an inch of movement.
Shortly after, the sword light trembled, and the Tang Sword was knocked flying by a swing from Big Beard.
Jia Ren's face was suffused with ecstasy as he grabbed Chu Feng by the neck with his left hand, pulling the weak and flimsy body toward him.
At the same time, without a second thought, his long sword flicked aside Big Beard's incoming Golden Ring Great Chopping Knife, scoffing:
"Big Beard, what are you trying to do?"
Big Beard hurried over to snatch the powerless Chu Feng, a cold smile on his face:
"This little guy is just a Martial Apprentice, and his body is almost stronger than mine, all because of that Secret Technique, right?
"You didn't mention this in the information you gave me, that the effect of this Secret Technique was so powerful!
"Finders keepers, you can't hog it all!"
Jia Ren held back the murderous intent rising in his heart:
"The Secret Technique can only be learned by me alone; the more people know, the greater the risk of it being leaked!
"I'll exchange something else for it, just tell me what you want!"
Big Beard scoffed: "What a joke, what could be better than personal strength? I must get a share of the Secret Technique!"
The two of them, fearing they might harm Chu Feng's life, had to put aside their swords and knives and opted for close-quarters brawling for possession.
A series of frantic 'pitter-patter' clashes erupted continuously.
As they were caught in an unending struggle, Chu Feng's chilling voice seemed to float up from hell, entering their ears:
"So deceitful and scheming, must be exhausting to live like this.
"Just wanting to survive is hard enough, why must you force me like this?"
Hearing this, they were about to scoff at his naivete and bravado when suddenly, they were engulfed by an overwhelming aura vast as the ocean and abyssal in its depth.
Their pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints in terror as they turned to the demonic figure beside them.
The last image etched in their minds was a fist the size of a bowl, emitting an iron-grey glow!
Echoing around their ears were Chu Feng's words from the Netherworld: "...let me help you, to escape the bitter sea!"