Li Feng stood at the mountain's peak, the Starcore's energy still coursing through his veins. His body felt renewed, his injuries mending rapidly under the celestial force.
The Starbeast, now calm, gazed at him before turning and vanishing into the mist. It had accepted him as the new bearer of the Eternal Star's inheritance.
He had succeeded.
But the moment he turned to leave, a sharp killing intent pierced the air.
BOOM!
A streak of black energy tore through the sky, crashing into the stone beside him, shattering the ground.
Li Feng barely had time to react before a familiar, chilling voice echoed through the mist.
"So, you really did survive."
Stepping out from the shadows was Hunter.
His dark robes fluttered in the wind, his piercing eyes locked onto Li Feng with a mixture of annoyance and satisfaction. But something was different—his aura was stronger, darker.
Hunter's lips curled into a smirk. "I knew you had potential. But I didn't think you'd actually claim the Starcore. That makes things… interesting."
Li Feng tensed. He wasn't fully recovered, and his Qi reserves were still low from the trials.
Hunter extended a hand, and a dark chain forged from pure killing intent materialized in his grip.
"I'll make this simple," Hunter said. "Hand over the Starcore, and I'll let you leave with your life."
Li Feng's grip tightened around the glowing crystal in his palm. He knew what kind of person Hunter was. Even if he surrendered the Starcore, Hunter wouldn't let him walk away alive.
Li Feng exhaled. "You already know my answer."
Hunter's smirk widened. "Good. I was hoping you'd say that."
The fight was inevitable.
With a flick of his wrist, Hunter's dark chains lashed forward like vipers. Li Feng barely dodged, flipping backward as the chains carved deep scars into the stone.
Too fast!
Hunter pressed forward, his movements precise and ruthless. Li Feng countered with what little Qi he had left, channeling his newfound Starforged Body technique to strengthen his defenses.
BOOM!
Their clash sent shockwaves through the mountain peak.
Li Feng deflected a chain strike, but Hunter suddenly vanished—a feint!
Before he could react, Hunter appeared behind him.
A cold whisper in his ear—
"You're still too slow."
CRACK!
Hunter's palm struck Li Feng's back, sending him flying off the edge of the mountain.
The wind howled as Li Feng plunged into the abyss below.
Hunter stood at the edge, watching his rival disappear into the mist.
He scoffed. "What a waste."
Turning away, he reached out toward where the Starcore had been…
But his hand grasped nothing.
Hunter's smirk vanished. His eyes widened.
"Impossible…"
Somewhere in the abyss, Li Feng was still alive.
And he still had the Starcore.