Rising genius

The inner disciples standing on the life-and-death stage were cold and indifferent, especially those ranked in the top twenty. They all considered themselves sect geniuses, unruly and proud. However, at this moment, Lin Feng stood on the highest platform of life and death, uttering arrogant words, claiming to challenge any of them single-handedly. Yet many of them were wary of Lin Feng's strength, especially those ranked close to Leibo. Lin Feng was indeed strong enough to kill Leibo, posing a threat to them as well.

What made them even more wary was that Lin Feng had never released his martial soul. If his martial soul was a sword, once released, his strength would surely skyrocket, becoming even more terrifying.

Therefore, for a moment, no one responded to Lin Feng's words. The space became silent, with only occasional sword qi whistling on the life-and-death stage where Lin Feng stood, the lingering charm of the sword still present.

"Wen Renyan, you called me a waste, an ant, said you could easily kill me, and even asked me to kneel down and beg you. Now, I give you the opportunity to kill me. What are you still doing there?" Lin Feng's gaze fell on Wen Renyan, his calm voice stirring waves in everyone's hearts.

Lin Feng was fearless, relentless in his speech. He immediately challenged the strongest inner disciple, ranked first, Wen Renyan.

Wen Renyan, at the pinnacle of the Spirit Martial Realm Triple, although equivalent to Leibo's realm, no one would think that Leibo could compare to Wen Renyan. Leibo did not even have the qualifications to challenge Wen Renyan; they were as different as heaven and earth.

Equivalent realms did not necessarily mean equivalent strengths. Just like Lin Feng, he was only at the second level of the Spirit Martial Realm, but no one at the second level dared to challenge him. Even Leibo, at the third level of the Spirit Martial Realm, died at his hands. In the same realm, combat power could differ greatly.

Wen Renyan was like Lin Feng, a Triple Spirit Martial Realm practitioner. Before him, they were no match, even the core disciples at the Quadruple Spirit Martial Realm had many who feared him.

"Underestimating oneself. Do you think that by killing Leibo, you can compete with me? Leibo doesn't even have the qualification to carry my shoes. In my eyes, he is no different from you, a waste, an ant." Wen Renyan looked disdainfully at Lin Feng, who, relying on his talent, dared to provoke him, seeking death. Talent was talent, strength was strength. Lin Feng, in his eyes, was still a waste.

"Are you saying all this to show how excellent and powerful you are?" Lin Feng sarcastically remarked. "You need not be so. If you are as powerful as you claim, and I am an ant, a waste in your eyes, just step forward and annihilate me with absolute strength. Your strength will naturally be deeply rooted in people's hearts, and your majesty will be remembered. That is practical, not like what you are doing now, just spouting nonsense from below."

"Speaking big words, anyone can do that. Before being killed by me, Leibo also called me a waste, boasting about how powerful he was. And what happened?" Lin Feng's words were provocative, but they were indeed the truth. Speaking big words was easy, wasn't it?

If Wen Renyan stepped onto the life-and-death stage and suppressed Lin Feng with absolute strength, it would undoubtedly elevate his image.

However, Wen Renyan did not do so; he was proud and arrogant. In his eyes, Lin Feng was an ant. Since Lin Feng was an ant, why bother taking action? All he needed was a word, and he could condemn Lin Feng to death, thus making himself more majestic.

Glancing at the people around him, Wen Renyan's voice was arrogant. "Who will go and kill him? There will be great rewards."

Upon hearing Wen Renyan's words, many people's eyes flashed with light. They were clear about who Wen Renyan's master was. The "great rewards" mentioned by Wen Renyan undoubtedly referred to pills, the one thing Wen Renyan was not lacking. And some pills were fatally attractive to them.

"I'll go kill him." A figure stepped forward. He was also very young, about seventeen or eighteen years old, with sharp eyes like knives, exuding a domineering aura.

"Mad Blade, Tong Shou."

"It's him, this time Lin Feng is in danger."

The crowd immediately recognized him. Apart from Wen Renyan, Mad Blade Tong Shou was undoubtedly the most famous figure among the inner disciples after entering the core. Although Tong Shou's strength was only ranked sixth on the stone wall, four people were between him and Wen Renyan. But no one would doubt that Tong Shou could surpass those five.

Because Tong Shou's martial soul was a knife, a domineering knife. If he only had a knife martial soul, Tong Shou would not be so dazzling. However, Tong Shou was the only inner disciple who had comprehended momentum, the momentum of a knife, directly opposed to Lin Feng's sword momentum.

Although Tong Shou's comprehension of the knife's momentum was not as strong as Lin Feng's comprehension of the sword's momentum, there was still a gap. But Tong Shou's strength at the Triple Spirit Martial Realm was enough to make up for this weakness.

Tong Shou was the perfect counter to Lin Feng.

"Good, you go. Don't kill him immediately. Leave him some room to kneel before me, and let him understand before he dies that he can't even defeat you, let alone the gap between him and me." Wen Renyan spoke indifferently.

"Don't worry, I understand." Tong Shou nodded slightly, leaped forward, and came to the highest life-and-death platform, facing Lin Feng.

Reaching behind him, Tong Shou took off the long knife wrapped in cloth on his back and slowly unwrapped it. "I haven't used this knife for a long time. You should feel honored to die by its hand."

"Are you suggesting a fight to the death?" Lin Feng asked calmly.

"Do you think I have time to play with you?" Tong Shou glanced at Lin Feng, his aura as sharp as a knife.

Finally, the cloth was unwrapped, revealing the ancient scabbard. Tong Shou gently caressed the scabbard, as if treating his lover tenderly.

"A knife is powerful and domineering, unparalleled among weapons. A knife martial soul is also the most powerful martial soul." "I've only heard that a sword is the king among weapons. It's the first time I've heard that a knife is the most powerful." Lin Feng questioned.

"What do you know? A sword is light and lacks any aura. How can it compare to a knife? Today, I will show you what a knife is, what it means to be the king of weapons." A domineering dragon roar rang out, and the long knife was unsheathed, exuding a domineering aura, like a ferocious beast, ready to devour everything.

"Knife momentum." Lin Feng's gaze slightly condensed. No wonder this guy was so arrogant and domineering; he had also comprehended momentum. However, this knife momentum seemed somewhat weak.

A surge of sword momentum surged out, space seemingly echoing the clash of weapons. On the life-and-death stage, the overwhelming and sharp sword qi clashed with the dominating and fierce wind, leaving faint traces on the incredibly hard surface.

"The knife momentum and the sword momentum are terrifying."

Many people near the life-and-death stage stepped back, feeling oppressed. It was as if the sword and knife momentum could descend upon them at any moment, tearing them into pieces.

"However, Tong Shou's knife momentum seems to be even more dominant. After all, he is a Triple Spirit Martial Realm expert, higher in cultivation than Lin Feng. It seems that this time, Lin Feng has encountered his nemesis."

"Do you still think that a sword can compare to a knife?" Tong Shou looked at Lin Feng, proud.

"Ignorant," Lin Feng retorted sarcastically. "Then fine, I'll let you understand who's ignorant."

With that, Tong Shou's knife momentum became even more intense, filled with dominating aura, as if it would engulf the sword qi.

"War Soul, Amaterasu," Lin Feng murmured lightly, and suddenly, the world changed.

Everything turned gray, and everything around became incredibly clear. Even every strand of knife qi and sword qi was clearly captured by Lin Feng.

Lin Feng's pupils gradually became cold and ruthless, as if they could see through everything, incredibly profound.

"A knife is the king of weapons, unrivaled in its dominance. But in front of a sword, it can only submit." Tong Shou took a step forward, and the world changed again. Terrifying knife momentum overlooked the heavens and earth.

Tong Shou's figure instantly appeared in front of Lin Feng, an extremely domineering knife strike descending from the sky, its power like a towering mountain pressing down on Lin Feng.

"Chop!" Tong Shou roared explosively, as if to split heaven and earth.

However, Lin Feng's eyes remained calm and unflinching. His heartless gaze ignored the overwhelmingly dominating aura.

The invisible sword light moved forward, aiming for the weakest point in Tong Shou's knife momentum, incredibly fast.

"Boom!"

Nangong Ling's mind trembled as he stood up from his position. Tong Shou's strike descended, unstoppable like lightning. The sword momentum was continuously destroyed, and it only took an instant to land on Lin Feng. But this guy didn't evade; instead, he counterattacked with his sword.

Although his sword was agile, its momentum was not as powerful as Tong Shou's. It would undoubtedly take longer to break Tong Shou's knife momentum. How could this strike possibly land? It was as if the terrifying sword would strike before the person, and he would be cut in half by the knife.

In this extremely brief moment, many thoughts flashed through Nangong Ling's mind. Could this rising young genius be killed by this strike?

Lin Feng was too impulsive; he should have avoided its edge.

Tong Shou also sneered. Originally, he didn't want to kill Lin Feng so easily, but Lin Feng sought death by himself, even wanting to attack first. Didn't he know that his knife momentum had overwhelmed Lin Feng's sword momentum, and the speed of his knife would definitely be faster than that of Lin Feng's sword?

Ignorant!

Tong Shou seemed to see Lin Feng being cut in half by this knife.

The crowd also stared intently at this scene. Their breathing stopped at this moment, and their eyes were fixed only on that knife and sword.

Finally, the light of the knife disappeared, and the sword qi dissipated. Everything came to a halt.

Tong Shou's knife stopped just a foot above Lin Feng's head, while Lin Feng's sword stopped a foot to the side of Tong Shou's body.

At this moment, their bodies stopped moving, strangely still.

A breeze passed by, bringing a chill. Someone coughed, breaking the terrifying silence.

"Who... who won between them?" someone asked, unsure of who had won or lost. The knife light and sword energy had been too fast for their eyes to follow.

Tong Shou's lips moved slightly, sending a shiver down everyone's spine. Had this rising young genius been slain by Tong Shou?

"How did you do it?" A voice came from Tong Shou, filled with disbelief.

At this moment, Lin Feng's body also moved, slowly speaking. "Knife momentum and sword momentum are just that—momentum. They can assist in battle, enhance attacks, but they are just that. My sword isn't about competing in momentum with you; it's for killing."

Lin Feng stood up straight, abruptly, and Tong Shou's waist was flooded with endless blood, causing everyone's gaze to freeze there.

"I understand now." Tong Shou's voice fell, and his eyes slowly closed. His body also slowly fell backward.

With a loud bang, the crowd's heads buzzed.

Tong Shou had lost. Another genius had been slain by Lin Feng!

"So terrifying."

Watching that figure, the crowd felt incredibly dreamlike. Lin Feng's rise was unstoppable, defeating gods and demons alike. No one could stop his footsteps. The stronger the opponent, the stronger he became!

"Phew..." Nangong Ling exhaled deeply, feeling indescribable emotions.

In the Cloud Sea Sect, another genius had fallen, all just to witness this guy's rise.

The price was too high.

Although there was some regret, Nangong Ling felt relieved. From Lin Feng, he saw the domineering aura of an overlord, the figure of a peerless powerhouse.

Such dominance, such arrogance—who could contend with him?

He began to believe Lin Feng's words. Only given time, not just ten or a hundred, would be enough to compare him to Lin Feng.