That sensation—it wasn't his imagination.
Someone was watching him.
He turned off the lights in his apartment and quietly moved to the window. Peering through a small gap in the curtain, he scanned the dark street below.
At first, he saw nothing.
Then, movement.
A figure stood beneath a flickering streetlamp. Tall and dressed in a long black coat, the person's face was obscured by the shadows. But even from a distance, Li Feng could feel it—a powerful presence, radiating the same kind of pressure Jiang Chen had used on him.
This was no ordinary person.
They're here for me.
Taking a deep breath, Li Feng made a decision.
Run.
He couldn't afford a direct confrontation—not yet. His breakthrough had strengthened him, but compared to someone truly experienced, he was still a beginner.
He grabbed his jade pendant and slipped out through the fire escape, descending as quietly as possible. The moment his feet hit the ground, he took off into the alleyway.
But before he could get far—
Boom!
A powerful force crashed down behind him, sending dust and debris flying. Li Feng spun around, his heart pounding.
The figure was standing there.
Now, he could see the person clearly—a man in his late twenties, dressed in a black martial robe embroidered with silver runes. His sharp eyes gleamed with amusement, as if Li Feng's attempt to escape had been nothing more than a joke.
"So, you're the one who triggered that strange fluctuation last night," the man said. His voice was smooth, but there was an unmistakable arrogance to it.
"Who are you?" Li Feng demanded, trying to mask his fear.
The man smirked. "You're not qualified to know my name yet. But you may call me… Hunter."
Li Feng's hands clenched into fists. He's not introducing himself properly. That means he doesn't see me as a real opponent.
Hunter took a step forward, and the air around him vibrated with power. "Tell me, who gave you that inheritance?"
Li Feng stayed silent.
"Ah… I see. You don't even know." Hunter sighed, shaking his head. "Typical. Another lucky fool stumbling upon an ancient legacy they don't deserve."
Li Feng's mind raced. If this man knew about his inheritance, did that mean others were searching for it too?
Hunter suddenly vanished.
No—he moved!
In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of Li Feng. A fist shot toward his chest, faster than anything he had ever seen.
Instinct kicked in.
Li Feng twisted his body at the last second, avoiding a direct hit—but the shockwave from the punch sent him flying into a dumpster.
Damn… even holding back, he's this strong?
Hunter chuckled. "Not bad. Your instincts are decent. But instincts alone won't save you."
Li Feng gritted his teeth and stood up. His body ached, but deep inside, something was stirring.
A strange energy.
A memory from the Eternal Star Legacy surfaced in his mind—the First Movement of the Celestial Flowing Steps.
Hunter rushed forward again.
This time, Li Feng moved.
His body shifted, as if carried by an unseen force. His movements became fluid, precise, almost effortless. Hunter's strike barely grazed him, missing his vital spots.
The man's smirk faded. "Oh? So you do have something interesting after all."
Li Feng didn't respond. His heart was racing, his mind sharper than ever.
I might not be able to win… but I can survive.
And for now, that was enough.