Chapter 18: One Punch, One Kill

With a single strike, a sword cleaved through the skull of a powerful skeleton tribe expert, a peak-level Sixteen Forbidden realm warrior. The onlookers were stunned.

This human youth was truly arrogant, daring to kill in the sacred ancestral land of the Heavenly Angels. His brutal approach and overwhelming strength made it clear he was not to be trifled with.

The surrounding individuals instinctively distanced themselves from Lin Jiufeng, unwilling to get any closer. The audacity of drawing a sword and killing so effortlessly was terrifying.

At that moment, the Sacred Angel Ancestral Land was filled with people of various races, with strange and awe-inspiring appearances, many of them resembling gods or demons. Despite their otherworldly looks, even they were shocked by Lin Jiufeng's brazen actions.

"Who is this person?" someone immediately asked.

"He's the human genius, Lin Jiufeng, who made a huge splash a month ago!" someone else replied.

"The one who single-handedly defeated the joint forces of the Thirteen Races?" 

"Yes, that's him. He's also being hunted by the Skeleton Tribe, with a bounty of one million pounds of divine source." 

"One person defeating hundreds of thousands of troops? No wonder he's so arrogant, even daring to kill upon arrival."

Upon seeing their own expert slain by Lin Jiufeng, members of the Skeleton Tribe panicked and fled to report the incident to their superiors.

Lin Jiufeng made no move to stop them. He deliberately allowed it, making sure everyone knew that humans were not to be humiliated.

The Painted Scholar and the Sword God Emperor Liu also understood Lin Jiufeng's intentions, so they remained silent, keeping watch to ensure no shameless Immortal-level assassins attempted to kill Lin Jiufeng.

At this moment, Lin Jiufeng stood proudly on the mountaintop, surrounded by a sea of onlookers, none of whom dared to speak. They all kept silent, for Lin Jiufeng's reputation for killing was not to be taken lightly.

"I thought someone with great power was coming, but it turns out it's just the fading human race. Three thousand years ago, you were lucky enough to be counted among the Hundred Races. Now, I will slay you here, ensuring you will never even reach the Battlefield of the Hundred Races!" A booming voice echoed from the distance, and a terrifying aura surged, causing everyone to glance behind in alarm.

A young man appeared not far from the mountaintop. He looked human, but with two horns growing from his head, his presence calm yet radiating with an unexplainable rhythm that seemed to make the very pulse of the world resonate with each step he took.

If not for the horns, he would have been considered an extraordinarily handsome man, surpassing many women in beauty, truly a peerless figure. His body was slender, glowing with a translucent sheen, as if made of crystal, with divine light streaming from him.

"Who is this person?" 

Lin Jiufeng fixed his gaze on the newcomer. The man's cultivation was impressive—seventeen Forbidden Peak. In fact, he had already approached the threshold of the Eighteen Forbidden realm.

"He is the absolute ruler of the Twelfth Branch of the Ancient Royal Family, Ao Qing!" many of the onlookers recognized him, their eyes filled with admiration. Ao Qing was a renowned genius of the Ancient Royal Family, only five hundred years old, but already at the Seventeen Forbidden Peak. Such progress in the Dimension Battlefield was unparalleled.

Ao Qing's arrival was accompanied by the rise of a five-colored divine halo behind him, radiating power and filling the air with a wave-like force, making him appear like a celestial being.

Ao Qing arrived directly at Lin Jiufeng's mountaintop, his aura locking onto Lin Jiufeng as he sneered with killing intent, saying, "Did you kill Ao Han? He was my closest friend. I was supposed to join the Thirteen Races alliance, but I let Ao Han go in my place. Who would have thought he would die because of that? As his best friend, I've come to avenge him!"

Lin Jiufeng stood with his hands behind his back, staring coldly at Ao Qing, who exuded unparalleled power. He replied without hesitation, "Ao Han has gone, and now it's your turn. I'll send you to join him on the road, and you should hurry up—perhaps you'll catch up with him on the Yellow Springs Road."

"How arrogant! You killed one of my people?" A booming roar came from the distance, and a golden skeleton flew into view, wielding a giant bone knife aimed directly at Lin Jiufeng.

"The Golden Skeleton King of the Skeleton Tribe. He's even stronger than the Five-colored Skeleton King and has already reached the Seventeen Forbidden realm, now at its peak."

"The Golden Skeleton King has arrived. It seems the Skeleton Tribe is truly determined to wipe out the humans."

The crowd began murmuring excitedly. The Battlefield of the Hundred Races had just begun, and such an exhilarating spectacle was unfolding before their eyes. How could they not be thrilled?

Both Ao Qing of the Ancient Royal Family and the Golden Skeleton King were renowned geniuses. Their enemy, Lin Jiufeng, was the most talked-about figure in the Dimension Battlefield in recent times. With only his Fourteenth Forbidden cultivation, he had single-handedly defeated the joint forces of the Thirteen Races, an act that had stirred up countless discussions.

At this moment, with these three individuals facing off, countless races and experts turned their attention to the scene.

The Sacred Angels also took notice and quickly reported the situation, but the response was simple: 

"Let them fight!"

The guards, receiving the response, no longer intervened, instead joining the crowd to watch the spectacle.

At this moment, Ao Qing and the Golden Skeleton King surrounded Lin Jiufeng. They were cautious, knowing all too well the rumors about Lin Jiufeng's ability to kill enemies stronger than himself—rumors of him defeating Seventeen Forbidden experts with ease.

Rumors spoke of his ability to fight beyond his level—killing the Seventeen Forbidden with his Fourteenth Forbidden cultivation, manifesting Four Great Wonders, appearing alongside an Immortal shadow, and possessing an invincible body.

Thus, Ao Qing and the Golden Skeleton King, though formidable, chose to team up to take down Lin Jiufeng.

The Painted Scholar and Sword God Emperor Liu were about to intervene, but before they could act, a familiar voice rang out: "This is a battle between the younger generation. We, the elders, should not interfere."

The Painted Scholar frowned and instantly locked his gaze on the speaker.

It was the Purple Qing Ancestor King!

After leaving the Human Race's ancient city in disgrace, he had not expected to encounter the Painted Scholar so soon on the Battlefield of the Hundred Races.

The Purple Qing Ancestor King's gaze was cold as he fixed his eyes on the Painted Scholar, his aura locking onto him. His expression was frigid—if the Painted Scholar dared to act, he would make his move as well. This time, with two Seventeen Forbidden peak geniuses teaming up to hunt down Lin Jiufeng, victory was all but guaranteed.

Two Seventeen Forbidden peak experts, both on the verge of reaching the Eighteen Forbidden realm, facing a mere Fifteenth Forbidden cultivator? There was no chance Lin Jiufeng would survive.

At the same time, a powerful expert from the Skeleton Tribe locked his gaze on Sword God Emperor Liu. If Sword God Emperor Liu made a move, they would spare no effort to attack.

"Lin Jiufeng, we've been locked onto. We can't help you," Sword God Emperor Liu sent a message to Lin Jiufeng.

The Painted Scholar nodded slightly in agreement.

Lin Jiufeng stood proudly on the mountaintop, undeterred by the multitude of eyes upon him. He arrogantly declared, "Killing these two trash will take no more than three moves!"

The crowd gasped.

A Fifteenth Forbidden cultivator, speaking of killing two Seventeen Forbidden peak experts in three moves?

The Golden Skeleton King's fury ignited, and his divine fire flared up. His body radiated golden light, resembling a god descending, as he glared at Lin Jiufeng. The killing intent was almost tangible.

"What do you mean by that?" Ao Qing bellowed, his anger boiling over. His hair flew wildly, and the five-colored divine halo behind him glowed brilliantly, emanating terrifying pressure. Ten beams of light surrounded him, while the rest locked onto Lin Jiufeng.

Lin Jiufeng stood with absolute dominance, his voice as cold as ice: "No other meaning. I'm just going to kill you both."

"Seeking death!" The Golden Skeleton King could no longer restrain himself. With a roar, he attacked.

The giant bone knife in his hand surged with red light, releasing a crimson bone dragon that shot toward Lin Jiufeng, followed by the Golden Skeleton King himself, slashing down with incredible force.

This was the power of a Seventeen Forbidden peak cultivator, with countless Dao energies and mystical lights flashing.

The onlookers gasped, quickly retreating in fear.

The Golden Skeleton King's power was overwhelming, even stronger than other Seventeen Forbidden cultivators. The crowd watched in awe to see how Lin Jiufeng would counter.

Facing this ferocious attack, Lin Jiufeng responded with his Immortal Fist.

Boom!

His aura surged like a tidal wave, sweeping through the nine heavens. Unrestrained, it shattered the skies. The Immortal shadow appeared, towering hundreds of feet tall, as Lin Jiufeng launched a devastating punch. It was like the force of a world-shattering strike, overwhelming everything.

"Clang!"

The Immortal Fist shattered the bone dragon in an instant, a force so overwhelming that it crushed the attack. The Golden Skeleton King's bone knife shattered, the sheer pressure forcing his divine fire to flare in agony as he struggled to hold his ground.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The bone knife shattered into pieces, and the Golden Skeleton King's body exploded in a violent blast, his bones and soul obliterated without a trace.

Lin Jiufeng's face remained cold as he unleashed another powerful punch toward Ao Qing, the true target of his wrath.

This swift and unpredictable change left the audience stunned. They had only just witnessed Lin Jiufeng obliterate the Golden Skeleton King, and before they could fully process the event, he was already charging toward Ao Qing with another thunderous punch.

Boom!

The Immortal Fist exploded with a surge of energy, resonating with the sound of a great Dao. Ao Qing could only attempt to defend, but he was powerless to evade.

Bang!

Lin Jiufeng's punch sent Ao Qing flying through the air, blood spraying from his wounds. His body, honed through years of cultivation, cracked under the immense force. A streak of blood flowed from his brow as he let out a pained scream. In that instant, Ao Qing's body exploded, blood and divine light filling the air.

Lin Jiufeng stood tall, his presence undiminished.

At that moment, the entire crowd was left speechless.

Two Seventeen Forbidden peak geniuses... just like that? With one punch each, they were obliterated?

The Purple Qing Ancestor King, witnessing Ao Qing's death, could not bear the shock. He roared in fury, "I'll kill you!"

But before he could act, a scroll of paintings and writings materialized in the air, completely blocking his path.

"This is a battle between the younger generation. We elders should not interfere," the Painted Scholar echoed his earlier words.

Pfft!

The Purple Qing Ancestor King was so enraged that he spat blood.