Night settled over Blackstone City like a quiet warning.
The noise of the streets faded behind Lin Feng as he moved toward the northern gate. Lanterns flickered along the walls, casting long shadows that stretched like silent watchers.
Beyond the gate—
Darkness.
And somewhere within it—
Targets.
Leaving the City
The guards barely glanced at him as he stepped out.
Unlike before, when he first entered the city as an unknown—
Now they recognized him.
Not by name.
But by presence.
Strength carried its own identity.
The Path Ahead
The road north quickly turned rough.
Smooth stone became broken earth.
Order became chaos.
Jagged hills rose in the distance, their silhouettes cutting into the night sky like shattered blades.
Lin Feng slowed slightly.
Not from fear—
But from awareness.
"…This place feels different."
Instincts Awake
The deeper he went—
The quieter it became.
No travelers.
No merchants.
No random cultivators.
Just wind.
And silence.
The kind of silence that meant something was watching.
The Broken Hills
By the time the moon reached its peak—
He arrived.
The Broken Hills.
A land of uneven terrain, cracked stone, and scattered ruins from long-forgotten battles.
Perfect for hiding.
Perfect for ambushes.
Perfect for people who didn't want to be found.
First Signs
Lin Feng crouched slightly, examining the ground.
Footprints.
Recent.
More than one.
Heavy.
Light.
Different sizes.
"…Group activity."
He stood up slowly.
"They're here."
Moving In
He didn't rush.
Didn't charge blindly.
Instead—
He moved quietly through the terrain, his steps light despite his strength.
Every sense alert.
Every movement controlled.
A Flicker of Light
Then—
He saw it.
A faint glow in the distance.
Firelight.
Small.
Hidden between rocks.
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed.
"…Found you."
Observation First
He climbed a nearby ridge silently.
From above—
The scene became clear.
Five people.
Sitting around a small fire.
Relaxed.
Talking.
Laughing.
But their auras—
Not weak.
At least two of them were at Core Condensation.
The others—
Close behind.
Not an Easy Fight
Lin Feng leaned against the rock slightly.
"…So not just a clean sweep."
A group fight.
Different from the arena.
No rules.
No one-on-one.
No fairness.
The Plan Forms
He exhaled slowly.
Take out the weakest first…
Reduce numbers…
Then handle the strong ones.
Simple.
Effective.
The First Move
Lin Feng moved.
Silently.
Carefully.
Closing the distance.
One of the weaker cultivators stood up, stretching.
Perfect.
Silent Strike
Before the man could react—
Lin Feng appeared behind him.
A quick strike to the neck.
Precise.
Controlled.
The man collapsed instantly.
No sound.
One Down
Lin Feng lowered the body gently.
"…Four left."
But—
"Who's there?!"
Too late.
One of the others had noticed something.
The group stood up immediately.
Alert.
Weapons drawn.
No More Stealth
Lin Feng stepped out from the shadows.
"Well…"
"So much for that."
The Group Reacts
Their eyes locked onto him instantly.
"Who are you?"
Lin Feng cracked his neck slightly.
"Just someone passing through."
One of them scoffed.
"Then pass somewhere else."
Intent Revealed
Lin Feng smiled faintly.
"Can't."
"You're in my way."
The Fight Begins
No more words.
They attacked together.
Chaos
Two rushed from the front.
One circled to the side.
Another stayed back—
Preparing something.
Lin Feng moved instantly.
First Exchange
He dodged the first strike.
Blocked the second.
Countered with a punch—
BOOM!
One of them flew backward.
But the others didn't hesitate.
Pressure Builds
This wasn't like the arena.
No rhythm.
No pattern.
Just chaos.
Attacks came from all directions.
Lin Feng's movements sharpened.
Faster.
More precise.
Taking Damage
A blade grazed his shoulder.
Another strike hit his side.
Not fatal.
But real.
"…Yeah," he muttered.
"This is better."
Adapting Quickly
He adjusted.
Changed his movement.
Stopped reacting—
Started controlling.
Second Target Down
He stepped in.
Closed distance.
One clean punch.
Another opponent dropped.
Three Left
The remaining three stepped back slightly.
Now cautious.
Now serious.
"…Who are you?" one of them asked again.
Lin Feng exhaled.
"…You'll remember the name later."
The Real Fight Begins
The two Core Condensation cultivators stepped forward.
Their auras flared.
Stronger.
Heavier.
This—
Was the real challenge.
Cliffhanger
Lin Feng rolled his shoulders slowly.
A faint grin appeared.
"Alright."
"Now we're getting somewhere."
The night grew heavier.
The air tightened.
And the battle—
Was far from over.