185: grey-robed monk

Lin Feng rose from his hiding spot and strode directly toward the golden infant fruit tree in the center of the valley.

He did not deliberately reveal his cultivation, keeping his aura at the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage level, but the calmness and composure honed in mountains of corpses and seas of blood felt completely out of place in the frenzied fighting around him.

His appearance immediately drew the attention of those involved in the melee.

A burly man, covered in blood after just felling an opponent, caught sight of Lin Feng daring to head straight for the core and sneered, shouting, "Where did this greenhorn come from! A Foundation Establishment Mid-stage Cultivator daring to pluck the fruit directly? Get lost!" With that, a fierce blade aura whistled as it slashed toward Lin Feng's back.

Lin Feng did not stop his pace, nor did he even turn his head; he simply pointed a finger backward casually.

"Puff!"

A Geng-metal Sword Essence struck first despite being launched later, easily shattering the blade aura. In the burly man's terrified gaze, the remaining force left a bloodstain deep enough to see bone on his chest, sending him flying backward with a heavy impact.

This scene chilled the hearts of several nearby Cultivators who had been eager to make a move, causing their attacks to falter.

A flash of shock and suspicion crossed the eyes of "Vulture" Old Mo, but the temptation of the golden infant fruit clearly outweighed everything else. He rasped, "The kid has some tricks! But you're still too green to snatch food from the tiger's mouth!" However, he did not act personally, hoping others would test the waters first.

The younger of the fierce brothers nocked an arrow with a sinister expression, aiming at Lin Feng. "You death-seeking thing, do you really think you're someone? Big Brother, send him on his way!" The older brother sneered, pressing forward with a shield in an attempt to block him.

Facing attacks from all directions, Lin Feng formed a mysterious Spell seal with his hands in front of his chest. In an instant, an intense cold spread out from him as the center.

"Mirror Flower Water Moon."

Above the valley, which had been bathed in scorching sunlight, fine snowflakes suddenly began to drift down without warning. The temperature plummeted, and cold winds howled, making everyone currently fighting shiver uncontrollably.

"What's going on? Why is it snowing?"

"This snow is strange!"

The Cultivators in the melee were filled with suspicion and uncertainty, stopping their attacks one after another.

Just then, five figures identical to Lin Feng appeared simultaneously in different positions on the battlefield, each radiating a real aura, and rushed toward the golden infant fruit in unison.

"It's an illusion! Watch out!"

"Which one is real?"

Vulture Old Mo's pupils contracted sharply, and he shouted sternly, "Don't be deceived! Guard the fruit tree!"

But before his voice faded, those phantoms had already met different opponents.

The younger of the fierce brothers instinctively shot an arrow at the nearest phantom, but the arrow passed straight through, and the phantom dissipated like a bubble.

Almost simultaneously, another phantom closed in on a female Cultivator near the fruit tree, forcing her to deploy a mystic ice shield to protect herself.

The real Lin Feng had already slipped past the battlefield during the brief window while everyone was scrambling to distinguish the real from the fake. The snowflakes dancing in the sky perfectly masked his aura and movement trajectory, and the hasty attacks launched by the others all struck empty air.

By the time the most alert female Cultivator, who was also closest to the fruit tree, realized something was wrong and shrieked a warning, it was already too late.

Lin Feng had appeared beside the golden infant fruit tree at some unknown moment. With a light brush of his finger, the fruit, shimmering with golden light, fell safely into a jade box. It was not until the soft sound of the jade box closing echoed that everyone woke up from their stupor as if from a dream.

"The fruit has been plucked!"

"It's that young man in green!"

Old Mo was shocked and furious; he hadn't seen clearly when Lin Feng had broken through the encirclement at all. The fierce brothers were even more dumbfounded, as they had clearly been staring at the direction of the fruit tree the entire time.

"Chase him!" The female Cultivator was the first to react, and an ice shuttle tore through the air.

However, Lin Feng did not linger after succeeding. His figure flickered a few times amidst the falling snow; the pursuing Spells and arrows either struck empty air or were blocked by suddenly appearing ice walls.

Although the phantoms created by Mirror Flower Water Moon had begun to dissipate, the wind and snow grew heavier, severely interfering with everyone's vision and perception.

By the time the wind and snow subsided and the people in the valley could see their surroundings, Lin Feng's figure had long since disappeared on the horizon of the vast grassland. Only a group of Cultivators looking at each other in dismay remained, along with the snowflakes slowly falling and gradually melting in the air.

Vulture Old Mo's face was livid; he still couldn't understand how that Cultivator in green had succeeded right under everyone's noses. The fierce brothers were stomping their feet in frustration.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng turned into a green rainbow, leaving the bloody center of the valley far behind and flying eastward.

"Within the Foundation Establishment Stage, what can they do to me?" While speeding along, the corners of Lin Feng's mouth curled up slightly. In the battle in the valley just now, he had merely used Mirror Flower Water Moon to snatch the golden infant fruit as easily as taking something from a bag. The siege by those Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators seemed pale and powerless before his exquisite movement technique and formidable strength. This undoubtedly confirmed that his current combat power stood at the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage, and the path to Core Formation seemed within reach.

However, this relaxed and pleasant mood suddenly froze. A terrifying pressure, incomparably tyrannical, descended from the sky, instantly sealing off the space for several dozen zhang around him.

Lin Feng's heart shook violently; this Spiritual Pressure far exceeded the Foundation Establishment Stage—it was a Core Formation Cultivator. And it was definitely not as simple as someone who had just entered the Core Formation Stage; the condensed and heavy feeling suggested it was likely approaching Mid-stage Core Formation. Although he was confident that he was hard to find a match for within the Foundation Establishment Stage, the gap remained huge compared to a real Core Formation Cultivator, especially one this powerful.

He forcibly steadied his figure and looked up abruptly. He saw a middle-aged Gray-Robed Cultivator standing with his hands behind his back in the Void Realm ahead.

This person had a plain and simple appearance, with stars faintly swirling when he opened and closed his eyes. The aura around his body was as deep as the sea; he was actually at the Early Core Formation Stage Peak, only one step away from the Middle Stage.

He did not reveal any Killing Intent, but the naturally radiating Spiritual Pressure still made Lin Feng feel as if he were carrying a mountain.

"Eh? A mere Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, yet your movement technique has some tricks to it, actually able to withstand my Spiritual Pressure." The Gray-Robed Cultivator spoke indifferently. "Kid, you just came from that direction? Perfect. I have just arrived here and lack someone to test my hands on. Let me see how much weight the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of this Canglan Continent have."

In his mind, it would be considered decent for an ordinary Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator of the Canglan Continent to withstand a casual strike from him. He brought his fingers together like a pen and lightly slashed through the air; the movement was casual, as if brushing away dust.

"Hum."

A crystal-clear, pale blue thread of water appeared out of thin air and shot toward Lin Feng silently. This thread of water looked soft, but the condensed Qi within it and the latent cutting force made the hair on Lin Feng's body stand on end.

At this critical moment, Lin Feng dared not hold anything back. He operated the Nine Profound Sword Heart Art with all his might, condensing the sharpest Geng-metal Sword Essence within his body into his right hand, transforming it into a dazzling golden rainbow, and struck out with all his strength. This could be said to be the most penetrating strike he could currently unleash.

"Boom!"

The golden and blue lights collided in the air. Amidst a loud noise, Lin Feng felt an irresistible, massive force shatter his Geng-metal Sword Essence. A sweetness rose in his throat, his body flew backward uncontrollably, a wisp of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and the blood and Qi within his body churned incessantly.

"An Early Core Formation Stage Peak Cultivator, a casual strike actually has such power!" He felt a sense of awe in his heart, gaining a more intuitive understanding of the power of the Core Formation Stage.

However, the Gray-Robed Cultivator opposite him frowned deeply.