105: The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind

His Storage Pouch gradually accumulated several pieces of good quality “Golden Essence,” which, while not yet High Grade, made completing the task seem promising.

One day, following the flow of the Golden Fiend Qi, he arrived at the edge of a massive canyon. The canyon was deep, with steep cliffs on both sides, like they had been carved by a knife and axe, displaying a dark metallic luster. Below, the Golden Fiend Qi was so dense it had almost materialized into a pale golden mist, churning and surging, from which faint sounds of intense fighting, the explosion of Spells, and a heart-pounding, thunder-like beast roar could be heard!

Lin Feng immediately reined in his entire aura. The Turtle Breath Qi Concealment Art operated at its Peak, and he seemed to transform into a lifeless rock. He cautiously approached, hiding behind a large, pitted reddish-brown Ore, his gaze like lightning as he looked down.

The scene at the bottom of the valley came into view.

Four Cultivators, dressed in unified earthy yellow tight-fitting clothes with mountain patterns embroidered on their sleeves, were forming a simple Four Symbols Battle Formation, besieging a colossal beast!

It was a gigantic beast, as large as a small mountain! Its entire body was covered in palm-sized, incredibly thick, dark golden scales, which shimmered with a metallic cold light, giving off an indestructible feeling. Its head was massive, topped by a single horn as thick as a pillar, its tip gleaming with a sharp, cold light! Its four limbs were like four huge metal columns; each step it took caused the valley floor to tremble, emitting a dull, heavy thud.

“A Golden-Armored Rhino!” Lin Feng’s heart trembled as he recognized this Secret Realm overlord, known for its defense and strength. Judging by its aura and power, it had definitely reached the Foundation Establishment (Late Stage), even approaching the Peak! Its thick scales would likely be impenetrable even to a full-force attack from an ordinary Foundation Establishment (Late Stage) Cultivator.

The four Cultivators besieging it consisted of three at the Foundation Establishment (Middle Stage) and one at the third level of Foundation Establishment. Their attacks on the Golden-Armored Rhino seemed quite ineffective.

Fireball Spells only left a charred mark; Ice Cone Spells couldn’t even leave a white trace before being shattered by the thick layer of Golden Fiend Qi; Flying Sword Magical Artifacts clanged, sparks flying, but couldn’t truly penetrate. On the contrary, every time the Golden-Armored Rhino swung its head to charge, or shot a condensed Golden Fiend light beam from its terrifying single horn, it forced the four into a frantic, perilous dance, barely able to hold on with their Formation, showing clear signs of defeat.

The Crooked Eye Cultivator, who was at the third level of Foundation Establishment, seemed to be the leader. His face was already covered in anxiety and sweat, and his eyes flickered. After a long, fruitless attack, his spiritual power was greatly depleted. If they dragged this on any longer, let alone hunting this beast, it would be a question whether the four of them could retreat safely.

Just then, the corner of the Crooked Eye Cultivator’s eye seemed to catch a tiny ripple of spiritual energy from Lin Feng’s hiding place.

A hint of ruthlessness and calculation flashed in his eyes instantly, as if he had grasped a life-saving straw. He suddenly shouted sharply in Lin Feng’s direction:

“Fellow Daoist over there! You’ve been secretly watching the show for so long, why aren’t you helping? Are you perhaps waiting for us to be mutually exhausted so you can reap the benefits?!”

His voice was very loud, deliberately overriding the sounds of battle. He wasn’t just shouting at Lin Feng, but also seemed to be reminding his companions and the Golden-Armored Rhino—there was someone else here!

This shout, as expected, worked. The other three Cultivators and the Golden-Armored Rhino’s attacks subconsciously paused slightly, and they cautiously looked towards Lin Feng’s hiding place, their Divided Soul.

Lin Feng frowned tightly, cursing inwardly. His original intention was to observe and then quietly retreat, absolutely not getting involved in this mess. With his hiding place exposed, he immediately had the thought of retreating, his body leaning back slightly, preparing to use his movement technique to leave this troublesome place.

However, seeing his silence, the Crooked Eye Cultivator became even more convinced that he was weak and had ulterior motives. A sinister look flashed across his face, and he actually played the victim, his tone becoming extremely unkind: “A rat who hides his head and shows his tail! Since you don’t appreciate courtesy, then I’ll send you on your way first, to avoid being a nuisance!”

Before his words finished, he suddenly raised his hand without warning! From his sleeve, a needle Magical Artifact, as fine as an ox hair, entirely crimson, and imbued with a faint blue glow, silently yet as fast as lightning, tore through the air, carrying a sinister penetrating aura, shooting directly towards the reddish-brown Ore where Lin Feng was hiding! Its target was directly at a vital point!

This sneak attack was vicious and cunning, clearly aiming to force Lin Feng out and attract the Golden-Armored Rhino’s attention, even if it couldn’t kill him!

“You’re courting death!”

Even a clay figure has a three-point temper, let alone Lin Feng, who had experienced life and death and was decisive in killing! Since the other party was so unreasonable and went straight for the kill, there was no morality to speak of!

As the killing intent arose, Lin Feng’s aura suddenly changed! From the previous deathly silence, it instantly became as sharp as a drawn fierce sword!

Whoosh!

The crimson poisonous needle had already reached him!

In the nick of time!

Lin Feng’s figure, like a ghost, suddenly dodged out from behind the Ore! Not only did he not retreat, but he also used the momentum of his dodge to take a sudden step forward towards the direction the needle came from! This step was executed with extreme precision, perfectly timed for the moment when the needle’s force was about to dissipate and its trajectory was most difficult to change!

At the same time, his right hand shot out like lightning! The Azure Edge Sting, still in its sheath, precisely tapped and guided forward! He was actually using a technique from the Overturning Sea Sword Art to deflect force!

Clang!

A very faint but crisp metallic clang! The fierce and incredibly sinister crimson Flying Needle was precisely tapped on its side by the sword sheath, and a flexible yet powerful force guided it away! The Flying Needle seemed to be stuck, its trajectory suddenly deviated, flying past Lin Feng’s clothes, and with a “puff,” it deeply embedded itself into the rock wall behind, its tail trembling violently, showing the immense force it carried!

“What?!” The sinister smile on the Crooked Eye Cultivator’s face instantly froze, turning into an expression of disbelief and shock! His “Bone-Penetrating Poison Needle” was a Sharp Weapon for ambushing people, extremely fast and difficult to defend against. Yet, it was so casually deflected by the opponent with a sword sheath?!

And just in that flash of lightning-fast shock, Lin Feng moved!

The moment he deflected the Flying Needle, he stomped hard with his foot! A shallow pit was created in the iron-hard ground! Although the Treading Wave Step was restricted in this Golden Fiend land, combined with his powerful Physical Body explosive force at the Foundation Establishment (Middle Stage) Peak, his speed was still so fast that only a blurred afterimage remained!

His target was directly the Crooked Eye Cultivator, who had just retrieved his Flying Needle and whose mind was in the most shocked and relaxed state!

“Big Brother, be careful!” “Stop him!”

The other three Cultivators, seeing this, were both shocked and enraged, and they quickly activated their Magical Artifacts to try and rescue him. A Flying Sword, a golden saber, and a string of prayer bead-shaped Magical Artifacts simultaneously attacked Lin Feng!

But they were already struggling to deal with the Golden-Armored Rhino. Now, hastily diverting their attention to rescue, their Formation instantly revealed a huge flaw!

“Roar!”