As Lin Feng finished speaking, the entire training ground suddenly fell silent.
Lin Feng... was challenging Lin Yun?
Even Lin Hai was momentarily stunned, staring at his son in disbelief. The elders, who had been preparing to leave, sat back down, their interest piqued by Lin Feng's boldness.
On the other side, Lin Haoran gave a cold smile. Anger boiled within him—he hadn't expected this so-called "waste" of a son, Lin Feng, to challenge his son Lin Yun.
"Lin Yun, accept his challenge," Lin Haoran said, his gaze fixed on Lin Yun, a meaningful look passing between them.
Lin Yun stared at Lin Feng, a deep sense of humiliation welling up within him. Among the younger generation of the family, his talent was nothing special. But in front of Lin Feng, he could always find a sense of superiority. This had led him to mock Lin Feng every time they met. Yet now, this family's most useless son dared to challenge him. It was an undeniable blow to his pride.
"If you can block my three moves, I won't strike again," Lin Yun declared, stepping forward. He intended to use the harshest means to crush Lin Feng's spirit, showing him just how much of a failure he truly was.
"I'll be content if you can take one punch from me," Lin Feng replied nonchalantly. The calmness in his tone immediately darkened Lin Yun's expression, as if Lin Feng truly believed that Lin Yun couldn't even withstand one punch.
The crowd stood in stunned silence. They couldn't believe their ears—this guy was boasting as though he had some kind of strength. He had to be out of his mind.
"A waste is still a waste, no matter how pretty their words are. You're just spouting nonsense as usual," Lin Yun sneered.
Lin Feng simply smiled. He was accused of boasting? He had only spoken a single sentence.
"I'm going to make my move," Lin Feng said, unwilling to waste time on more words. His body lunged forward, his fist slowly rising before being swung toward Lin Yun.
"One punch?" Lin Yun's eyes flashed with malice. He didn't retreat but instead threw his own punch, determined to show Lin Feng the vast difference between them.
The air trembled as a fierce and domineering wave appeared around Lin Feng's fist. The energy roared as it surged toward Lin Yun, a tidal wave of power pushing forward.
Martial Technique: Nine Waves!
Lin Yun's face changed instantly. The pressure he felt from the wave was immense, but it was too late to back off. The two fists collided. Lin Yun felt wave after wave of brutal force crushing down on him, each more powerful than the last, relentless and unyielding.
"Poof!"
A muffled grunt followed by the sight of Lin Yun being sent flying, his body hurtling backward. The crowd stared, frozen in shock, as the scene before them echoed the earlier battle between Lin Hai and Lin Badao. Lin Yun, without any resistance, was knocked away with a single punch.
Lin Haoran stood up, his gaze fixed on the fallen Lin Yun, his expression a mask of disbelief.
"How is this possible? How is this possible?" Lin Yun muttered, his mind unable to accept the crushing reality.
The crowd, hearing Lin Yun's words, suddenly recalled what Lin Feng had said earlier: "You call me a waste, but what if one day you discover that you are even more pathetic than me? How will you save face then?" Now, reality had proven Lin Feng's unyielding words to be true.
"Is this still the so-called waste of the Lin family?" the crowd thought, glancing at Lin Feng. The boy had sent Lin Yun flying with one punch. He must have at least 6,000 jin of strength.
"You call me a waste, but you couldn't even take one punch from me. What does that make you?" Lin Feng taunted, looking at Lin Yun, whose eyes shot him a venomous glare.
"And you," Lin Feng turned toward Lin Haoran, "as an elder, you constantly call me a waste. Now that your son's been knocked down by me with a single punch, does that mean you're also calling your own son a waste?"
Lin Haoran's face turned ashen as Lin Feng's words struck home.
"It's just the Sixth Stage of the Qi Martial Realm. Is that enough for you to flaunt your power here?" Lin Haoran snarled, his pride wounded by being lectured by a younger generation member.
"Not flaunting," Lin Feng replied without hesitation. "Just returning the favor you and your son gave me."
Without another word, Lin Feng turned and walked away. "Those who insult others will eventually be insulted in return."
"Those who insult others will eventually be insulted in return…" Lin Hai murmured, a glint of admiration flickering in his eyes. His son had truly changed. He never expected Lin Feng to speak such profound words.
…
Back in his room, Lin Feng resumed his training. Defeating Lin Yun, who was at the Fifth Stage of the Qi Martial Realm, was not something to be proud of. Lin Heng, who had once thrown him out of the sect, was much stronger. He was at the Eighth Stage of the Qi Martial Realm, and even Lin Badao's children were more talented than Lin Yun. Especially his daughter, Lin Qian, who was said to have already reached the Ninth Stage of the Qi Martial Realm.
The family's year-end meeting was in three months. At that time, all the young disciples from the sect would return. If Lin Feng didn't raise his cultivation soon, it would be him who faced humiliation next time.
Time passed quickly in cultivation. For martial artists who could absorb the energy of the heavens and earth, not eating for ten days was no problem. The essence of the world's energy was pure and nourishing.
After ten days, Lin Feng finally stepped out of his room, breathing deeply. His cultivation had reached the peak of the Sixth Stage of the Qi Martial Realm, just a breath away from advancing to the Seventh Stage.
He walked to his father Lin Hai's room.
"Xiao Feng, is there something wrong with staying and training at home? Why do you insist on returning to the sect?" Lin Hai was concerned when he heard that his son wanted to go back. The events from before still weighed heavily on his heart.
"Father, some things are unavoidable. If I stay here, and you continue to protect me, how can I grow into a true martial artist?" Lin Feng's eyes were filled with determination. The power in the sect was far beyond that of the Lin family, and there were powerful martial techniques and fierce competition there. Only in the sect could he grow quickly.
Seeing the determination in Lin Feng's eyes, Lin Hai sighed. His son had truly grown up. No, it wasn't about staying home forever under his protection. That was the behavior of a coward. How could such a person ever become a martial arts master? But as a father, it was hard not to feel reluctant.
"Since you insist on going back, I won't stop you. But please be careful," Lin Hai said, finally relenting.
"Don't worry, Father. I will train hard and crush them all beneath my feet." Lin Feng's words were filled with powerful confidence. With his Dark Martial Soul, his cultivation speed was far faster than ordinary people, and his comprehension was also much stronger. Combined with his tenacious will, he believed that he would not be inferior to those so-called geniuses.
Lin Feng didn't take much with him—just a horse, a bag of dry food, and some silver coins.
"Father, I'm leaving," he said as he mounted his horse and looked back at his father, who stood at the gates of Yangzhou City.
"Be careful," Lin Hai nodded, and Lin Feng rode away. The horse, "Thousand Miles Snow," galloped away like a streak of white cloud, vanishing into the distance in no time.
The vast earth stretched endlessly before him. Lin Feng, riding his horse, felt a surge of pride and ambition within his heart.
In his previous life, Lin Feng had loved martial arts, admiring the image of a hero galloping through the world, sword in hand, singing songs on the road. Who would have thought that in this life, he would have the chance himself—a lone rider, free in this world.
A pot of wine, a tune of sorrow, a lifetime of wild abandon!
A hero wielding his sword across the world, his spirit soaring through the blood-drenched skies!
This life, he knew, would never be ordinary. It would be magnificent and resplendent!