Chapter 45: Destination Fengning

In the sky reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun, Lin Fei gripped the ancient sword in his left hand, the blade bursting with a heart-pounding sword qi, its white light as dazzling as the stars.

Starting from the Mortal Dust Realm, his cultivation broke through the Muddy Pill Realm and the Transcendent Realm, all the way to the peak of the Boundless Realm. The sword qi soared straight into the clouds like a butterfly breaking out of its cocoon.

During his days on the spirit boat, Lin Fei had not wasted his time. He accumulated strength in silence, absorbing all the spiritual energy within a radius of a thousand miles and gathering it into his left hand.

With a gentle wave, Yu Lin was sent flying backwards like a kite with a broken string, completely powerless to resist, simply because that spiritual energy was too vast and too pure.

This was no secret technique, but rather a method that anyone could attempt, yet the result for most who tried was their bodies exploding from the overload.

Yet Lin Fei felt no fear. He would stop at nothing, all to unleash that single strike at the peak of the Boundless Realm.

His target had never been Mu Qi, but Feng Ning.

......

Feng Qian rushed forward like a tempest, his sword intent manifesting physically as it burst forth from his body, incomparably fierce.

In all his previous battles, Feng Ning had always been utterly calm, but at this moment he felt an unprecedented panic. He frantically tried to recall his natal ancient sword to counter the impending fatal blow.

"You wish to reclaim the dignity of West Ridge Mountain?"

Lin Fei's voice was calm and steady, his gaze as sharp and profound as a sword. "Then, I shall grant it to you."

The young man's sword was like a shooting star streaking across the edge of the sky. With a single slash, the Hundred-Battle Arena trembled, as if everything between heaven and earth froze in that instant.

Dust filled the air, blurring everything within the range of vision.

"What on earth just happened? I seemed to sense the pressure of three Boundless Realm experts," a disciple said in startled confusion.

"Did I see that right? Feng Ning and Feng Qian both rushed in, and yet Lin Fei still dared to take the initiative and strike?" Another disciple's voice carried utter disbelief.

"What is the outcome? Who won?" The discussions among the crowd boiled over like a pot of water, their gazes locked tightly on the center of the arena, trying to pierce through the thick layer of dust.

紧张与忧虑的神色也浮现在几位长老的脸上，因为他们看到崔连云的身影也冲入了那片混乱之中。(Wait, must avoid any untranslated text. Re-translating the skipped portion properly:) The faces of several elders also revealed tension and anxiety, as they saw Cui Lianyun's figure plunge into that chaos as well.

Gu Chuanqiong of North Wandering Mountain appeared in the sky above like a descending deity. With a wave of his large sleeve, a gale arose, sweeping away the dust across the arena and rolling it away into the distance like a tidal wave.

The true appearance of the arena was finally revealed to everyone.

Mu Qi's figure came into view first. He lay limply on a rock at the edge of the arena; the collision of that sword qi had sent him flying first, though fortunately he had not sustained fatal injuries.

Feng Qian knelt on one knee beside another rock, violently coughing up a mouthful of blood, his face pale and his posture teetering.

As for Feng Ning, his condition was far more tragic. Lying on the ground, his entire body was stained red with blood and he had fallen unconscious, with only his crimson longsword still tightly guarding his chest.

"Where is Lin Fei? How is he?" Anxious inquiries rose and fell among the crowd.

The crowd's gazes locked firmly on the center of the arena as the last wisps of dust dissipated, revealing two figures with growing clarity.

Cui Lianyun stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his posture upright and his expression expressionless, making it difficult for anyone to guess his thoughts.

As for Lin Fei, though he appeared somewhat disheveled, he still stood opposite Cui Lianyun, his arms stained with blood and his face as pale as paper.

However, the three disciples of West Ridge Mountain were now lying on the ground without exception.

Lin Fei's posture remained straight, his expression as calm as water, as if the fierce battle just now had not stirred the slightest ripple in his heart.

This sight caused the eyes of everyone present to change; some were filled with fear, some with wonder, anger and shock intertwined, while others felt a deep sense of reverence for Lin Fei.

Many could tell that the methods Lin Fei had used were not entirely upright.

Yet who were Feng Ning and Feng Qian?

They were the cream of the crop among the second-generation disciples of West Ridge Mountain, possessing extraordinary strength.

And Lin Fei was merely a young disciple in the Mortal Dust Realm; to be able to fight them to this extent was already unbelievable.

Even more shocking was that some had noticed the final technique Lin Fei had employed.

He had gathered powerful spiritual energy far exceeding his own realm and then released it completely at the critical moment.

In theory, every disciple in the Mortal Dust Realm could attempt this method.

Yet no one dared to try it lightly, because it was virtually equivalent to courting death.

Not only did Lin Fei not die, but he had succeeded. This was precisely what made him most awe-inspiring and worthy of respect.

......

"Shameless scoundrel! To dare set a trap under the guise of a sparring match, attempting to murder a fellow sect member!"

Amidst the dead silence, Guan Shao's roar was like thunder, deafening to the ears.

He pointed furiously at Lin Fei, his voice filled with anger and accusation, "You have openly violated the sect rules! Someone, take him down!"

"Which sect rule have I violated?" Lin Fei's voice was calm, like the tranquility at the eye of a storm.

Guan Shao sneered, his tone carrying obvious resentment, "You used underhanded tactics to ambush a senior martial brother. If Feng Ning hadn't stepped in to save Mu Qi in time, with your cultivation, how could you possibly have harmed him!"

Lin Fei responded unhurriedly, "During the sparring match, those two rushed into the arena uninvited. That is the true violation of the sect rules."

Guan Shao scoffed dismissively, "That was because he saw you intended to kill Mu Qi!"

Lin Fei retorted, "Then, what is his condition right now?"

"You... you are arguing for the sake of arguing, utterly unreasonable!" Guan Shao trembled with rage, momentarily left speechless.

Cui Lianyun remained silent throughout.

He had rushed into the arena in time to save Feng Ning, yet the latter had still suffered devastating injuries.

To be ignored by his opponent twice in succession—such humiliation was something he had not experienced in many years. He knitted his brows tightly, then slowly raised his head, his gaze like lightning as he stared straight at Lin Fei.

Lin Fei felt that gaze. He turned his head and met Cui Lianyun's eyes with an open and unflinching look.

The atmosphere in the arena suddenly grew heavy, as if even the air had frozen.

The surrounding disciples sensed the tension and fell silent, halting their discussions as stillness enveloped the surroundings.

A gentle breeze stirred as Fazhao's figure appeared before Lin Fei. He stood as straight as an unyielding pine tree.

Cui Lianyun's voice broke the silence, "What are your thoughts?"

Fazhao blinked, a gentle smile carrying across his face, yet his tone remained firm, "During a sparring match, outsiders must not interfere. I will not pursue their liability any further."

The crowd was astonished. Fazhao's words were clearly favoring Lin Fei, and they left West Ridge Mountain no room for maneuver.

Dissatisfaction flickered across the faces of the West Ridge Mountain disciples, but in this setting, no one dared to speak out in rebuttal.

For all these years, Fazhao had practically served as the representative of East Humming Mountain, and to a certain extent, his words represented the will of the sect master.

"It seems you hold this boy in high regard." Cui Lianyun was silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "Indeed, his strength cannot be underestimated."

Fazhao did not continue the idle chatter, turning his gaze instead to the injured disciples, "Their injuries are severe; attending to their healing takes precedence."

"A disgraceful spectacle, bringing this upon themselves," Cui Lianyun said indifferently before turning to leave, refusing to spare another glance.

Immediately afterward, Feng Ning's body suddenly lifted into the air without the aid of any wind, as if pulled by an invisible force, and flew away into the distance.

Feng Qian and Mu Qi were likewise carefully carried out of the arena by the disciples of West Ridge Mountain.

Lin Fei looked up at the unconscious figure in the sky, a complex emotion flashing through his eyes—seemingly a trace of regret, or perhaps deep contemplation.