Chapter 69 Audacious Beyond Compare

On Laofeng Peak of the Xiling Mountains, the biting cold wind howled relentlessly. Lin Fei sat cross-legged, deeply immersed in his cultivation, as though completely isolated from the mortal world.

Not far away, Lu Bo was muttering to himself, a hint of mockery in his voice: "How come even that little girl hasn't come these past few days? Heh, could it be that they've really abandoned you? If so, you're truly pathetic, with only a big brute like me left to keep you company. Ahahaha."

Lin Fei opened his eyes, offering no response. He simply gazed quietly down the peak, as if waiting for something.

A soft sound of footsteps broke the stillness.

A middle-aged man dressed in azure robes walked slowly forward, his gaze falling upon Lin Fei with a corner of his mouth curved into a smile.

Lu Bo immediately straightened up, the playful grin on his face vanishing in an instant, replaced by an expression of utmost seriousness.

Ning Baitao, the Master of Qingyi Peak, waved his hand gently. Knowing when to retreat, Lu Bo trotted away obediently, hiding behind a boulder on the side of the peak, leaving only a pair of curious eyes exposed.

"Long time no see."

Ning Baitao stood with his hands behind his back, sizing up the imprisoned Lin Fei. The smile at the corner of his mouth carried a trace of condescension: "Aren't you curious as to why all your friends have suddenly vanished?"

Lin Fei replied calmly: "Did you find a new sword, then?"

Hearing this, Ning Baitao's expression darkened instantly. After a moment of silence, he sneered and slowly raised a single finger: "Ten years ago, in the twenty-sixth year of Tianqi, you slaughtered forty-eight members of the Lin family, leaving no survivors. What you didn't expect was that this entire ordeal was witnessed by a child your own age from a neighboring household. Once your crimes were exposed, you fled far away."

"Yet, that is merely the first."

Ning Baitao raised a second finger, his voice deep and forceful: "In the twenty-ninth year of Tianyuan, three years after the incident, you infiltrated the Pushan Hall in Mobei, disguising yourself as a destitute youth. On the very night of New Year's Day, you beat the Master of Pushan Hall to death with a whip, and burned eight disciples of the sect alive, reducing the entire Pushan Hall to ashes!"

Hiding behind the stone wall, Lu Bo's mouth hung wide open, his face masking an overwhelming shock.

"Pushan Hall was an officially recognized Taoist sect of the Great Tang, and its master, Fulin, was a deeply respected senior of the Western Sea with an immensely lofty reputation!" Ning Baitao's voice carried anger and disdain.

With a sweeping wave of his large sleeve, he shouted furiously: "Lin Fei, you are truly audacious! Do you honestly have a death wish?!"

His voice reverberated like thunder, shattering the surrounding clouds and mists, unleashing a formidable imposing aura.

Yet, Lin Fei remained seated cross-legged, without even lifting an eyelid, and asked calmly, "And then?"

"And then?"

Ning Baitao felt a tinge of disappointment at not seeing any panic or desperation in his target's demeanor, but he quickly replaced it with a smiling facade. "There is no 'and then.' Did you really think slaughtering a few mortals compares to murdering a deeply revered cultivator? Right now, within the Sword Sect, not a single person dares to speak up for you openly, and not a single soul is permitted within a hundred miles of Laofeng Peak."

"As for you, half a month from now, once the roster of disciples bound for the Great Tang Academy is finalized, I will personally shatter your ancient sword on the Sword-Casting Platform, cripple your cultivation, and send you to the Great Tang to face justice."

Ning Baitao leaned forward, smiling amiably as he said, "Well? How does that sound? Thrilling?"

Lin Fei broke into a wide grin: "I'll be waiting for you."

"Still putting up a stubborn front with death at your doorstep. You certainly have guts."

Ning Baitao's gaze was ice-cold, though his smile remained playful: "However, I must thank you. The quota for you to participate in this tournament has now been secured by my Qingyi Peak, which can be considered your contribution. Lin Fei, you've finally done something worthwhile."

Lin Fei said nothing.

"Enjoy your final days."

Ning Baitao laughed heartily and turned to leave, but suddenly halted halfway, turning his head to ask: "Did you hear that?"

Lu Bo shook his head frantically, his voice trembling: "No..."

Bang!

An invisible force struck Lu Bo's body abruptly, slamming him heavily against the cliff face, and a mouthful of blood spewed from his lips.

"I detest disciples who lie."

Ning Baitao's voice came coldly as his figure walked away down the peak, carrying a thread of threat in his tone: "If I ever catch you acting so chummy with that fellow inside again, I'll break both your dog legs."

The footsteps gradually faded into the distance. Silence reclaimed the peaks, and a heavy, oppressive atmosphere lingered in the air.

Fresh blood flowed slowly across the ground. Lu Bo lay prone on the earth, his fists clenched tightly, his expression veiled in shadow so that it could not be discerned.

On Laofeng Peak, spiritual energy was sparse, and the climate was piercingly cold.

Jarred by that single palm strike, Lu Bo's Qi and blood churned violently. It was only after a long while that he managed to support himself and stand up.

Lin Fei's gaze swept lightly over him.

Lu Bo's complexion was as pale as paper, looking so gloomy as though water might drip from it. He bit his lips tightly, seemingly enduring the pain with all his might.

Sensing Lin Fei's gaze, Lu Bo rolled his eyes and forced a defiant front, saying, "What are you staring at? You think I'm going to cry? I'm not boasting, but this little injury back in the day... hiss..."

Before he could finish, movement aggravated his wounds, causing him to bare his teeth and twist his face in agony.

Lin Fei asked indifferently, "Aren't you afraid of getting beaten again for talking to me?"

"Afraid my ass!" Lu Bo roared, but immediately shrunk his neck back, glancing around cautiously before lowering his voice. "I can't beat that old bastard right now, but just you wait. Once I become powerful in the future, I'll cleave him in two with a single sword!"

Lin Fei smiled faintly and said nothing more.

"Hey, let me ask you something." Lu Bo's voice was much lower than usual, and his gaze turned exceptionally serious, as though probing into something profound: "That business with the Pushan Hall of the Western Sea—did you really do it?"

Lin Fei looked at him, noticing that Lu Bo also seemed to hail from the Western Sea, and slowly nodded.

"Mn."

A complex array of emotions laced Lu Bo's voice, as if he wanted to say something more, but ultimately kept it to himself.

Lin Fei paid it no mind. He slowly stood up, casting his gaze toward the mist-shrouded base of the peak, knowing in his heart that this matter had finally been dug up by someone after all.

He let out a gentle breath, as though reaching a definitive decision within his mind.

Moments later, the mountain winds swept across, scattering the clouds and mist.

The meager remnants of spiritual energy between the peaks began to gather slowly toward Lin Fei's body, forming a tiny spot of light. A faint radiance gradually enveloped his entire form, his long hair fluttering in the wind like an immortal descended to the mortal realm.

Witnessing this scene, Lu Bo's eyes widened in sheer disbelief.

Within the Sword Sect, opinions regarding Lin Fei's punishment had initially been divided, but they had now taken a decisively one-sided turn.

Nanmi Peak and Beiyou Peak had chosen silence; Dongming Peak had never expressed any stance whatsoever; and the Xiling Mountains naturally seized control of the initiative.

Furthermore, this time the incident was no longer a minor affair that could be settled with a few routine disciplinary measures.

Taoist Fulin of Pushan Hall, though not possessing peak-tier cultivation, was revered as a living savior who relieved suffering and cured the sick among the common folk in the northern territories for decades.

The very name "Fulin" was a prestigious title bestowed personally by the Great Tang Taoist Sects.

In the span of just a few short years, Lin Fei had committed two infuriating atrocities in succession, arousing public outrage.

Numerous disciples across the thirteen peaks now regarded him as an archenemy, and rumors even circulated branding him as a spy dispatched by the demon realms.

As the wave of public opinion reached its absolute peak, Lin Fei had become the enemy of nearly every disciple.