20: You think you can kill me?

Over the next few days, Lin Feng sorted and stored the successful Talismans Qin Yang had drawn.

However, he had a different plan for the discarded trash.

These scraps, which were worthless in Qin Yang's eyes, were collected and categorized by Lin Feng.

He carefully smoothed out the crumpled Talisman paper, collected the scraped-off spiritual ink into a small dish, and neatly folded the high-quality scraps.

Then, he would take these back to the stone room, where they became precious resources for his nightly practice.

Through practice, his success rate in drawing Fire Bullet Talismans began to slowly increase, and his understanding of spiritual power control deepened day by day.

He even began to attempt drawing the more complex Sharp Metal Talisman.

A few days later, feeling fully prepared and having accumulated a few decent finished products, he walked to the cold stone window of Shang Gong Hall.

"Disciple Lin Feng, Fourth Level of Qi Refining, applying for the outer sect promotion assessment," he said, trying his best to keep his voice steady.

The Deacon Disciple behind the window lifted his eyelids and glanced at him. "Hmm, fourth layer. Wait."

Just then, a familiar, cold voice rang out from the side.

"Oh? Isn't this that Lin Feng? I heard you were transferred to the Spirit Pill Pavilion? To think you've climbed to the Fourth Level of Qi Refining in just four short months? I underestimated you."

Lin Feng's back stiffened slightly; he didn't need to look back to know who it was.

He slowly turned around. Chen Qing was leaning against a pillar nearby with his arms crossed.

Hanging from Chen Qing's waist was a token representing the person in charge of this assessment.

'It's actually him...' Lin Feng's heart sank. This was definitely no coincidence.

But there was no ripple of emotion on his face as he simply bowed calmly. "Senior Brother Chen."

Chen Qing sized him up. Lin Feng's rapid increase in cultivation had clearly exceeded his expectations.

"Hmph, you think you can turn things around just because you got lucky with a Breakthrough? I'll make sure to give you a hard time during this assessment."

At that moment, two other Disciples who were also there for the assessment arrived.

One was a tall, sturdy, dark-skinned male Disciple named Zhang Tie, who looked quite simple and honest.

The other was a delicate-looking female Disciple named Liu Xiaoying. She kept her head down, not daring to look at anyone, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes.

Zhang Tie stepped forward and cupped his hands. "Senior Brother Chen. Thank you for taking the trouble to lead the team this time."

Liu Xiaoying also followed suit, bowing and speaking in a soft voice, "Senior Brother Chen."

Chen Qing only gave a hmph through his nose in response to Zhang Tie.

To Liu Xiaoying, he curled his lip. "Junior Sister Liu is as... well-behaved as ever." His tone was flat, but it made Liu Xiaoying's shoulders tense for a moment.

"Now that everyone is here, let's go." Chen Qing didn't waste any more words and turned to lead the way. His pace wasn't fast, but he had no intention of waiting for those behind him.

Zhang Tie immediately quickened his pace to follow, maintaining a respectful distance behind. "Senior Brother Chen, I heard the 'Bone-Eroding Yin Wind' in Bone-Eroding Cave is quite formidable. You're experienced, so you'll have to give us some pointers..."

Without looking back, Chen Qing said indifferently, "If you're afraid, don't come. Do you think promoting to the Inner Sect is that easy?"

Zhang Tie was momentarily silenced, but his smile remained unchanged as he repeatedly agreed, "Yes, yes, Senior Brother is right."

Liu Xiaoying followed silently behind Zhang Tie, her eyes always cast down submissively.

But Lin Feng noticed that her gaze wasn't lost in confusion; instead, she was quickly scanning the trees on both sides of the path, the shapes of the rocks, and even the marks on the ground.

Was she memorizing the route? This was an instinct found only in those who had long been in a weak position and needed to constantly find an escape route for themselves.

'None of them are simple characters...' Lin Feng brought up the rear in silence, taking in every subtle movement of the three people ahead.

At the entrance of Bone-Eroding Cave, a cold, damp wind emerged, carrying a faint smell of mold.

Chen Qing stopped, turned around, and swept his gaze over the three of them, finally landing on Lin Feng.

"There are many forks in the cave, and the two Formation Cores shown on the map are in different directions.

Zhang Tie, Liu Xiaoying, you two take the left fork, clear out the Yao Beasts, and check the first Formation Core.

Lin Feng, you come with me to the right. We will eventually meet back at the entrance. Any questions?"

Zhang Tie patted his chest. "No problem, Senior Brother Chen. Guaranteed to complete the mission."

Liu Xiaoying also replied softly, "Yes, Senior Brother." She quickly glanced at Lin Feng before lowering her head again.

The two said no more, turning to disappear into the darkness of the left fork.

Only after they had vanished did Chen Qing turn back to face Lin Feng.

"Let's go, Junior Brother Lin," he said flatly, taking the lead into the shadows of the right passage.

Lin Feng followed silently, his fingertips gripping the Talismans tightly within his sleeve.

The right passage was deep and damp, the sound of dripping water clearly audible, with an occasional bat flying by.

Reaching a relatively open cavern, Chen Qing turned around, blocking the way back.

"We've arrived. I don't know what Yuner was thinking, actually falling for you. Lin Feng, should I destroy your Dantian first, or break your limbs?"

The Spiritual Pressure of the Qi Refining Fifth Layer Peak bore down like a mountain.

Lin Feng looked up, his gaze icy. "Whatever you want to do, Senior Brother, there's no need for nonsense."

"You're looking for death!" Chen Qing growled, his body lunging forward as his fingers clawed like hooks toward Lin Feng's throat.

At the very moment he moved, Lin Feng moved as well.

Willow Catkin Following Wind Step.

His body, like a willow leaf blown by a strong wind, glided lightly behind a stalactite to his side.

"Paltry tricks!" Chen Qing sneered, changing his claw into a palm strike. A fierce palm wind slammed into the boulder, sending stone fragments flying.

In that split-second gap, Lin Feng's figure flashed out from behind the rock, executing the Flowing Shadow Sword Art's Shadow Breaker move.

The ironwood sword lunged forward, golden light flowing at its tip. The power of a Sharp Metal Talisman had already been infused into the blade, its point aimed directly at the opening under Chen Qing's ribs.

"Small tricks!" Chen Qing was both startled and enraged. Relying on his superior cultivation, he threw a punch wrapped in thick spiritual power, smashing hard against the sword's blade.

Bang!

The webbing between Lin Feng's thumb and index finger split, dripping with blood, and he was sent flying backward by the shock.

Chen Qing was also stung by the sharp energy concentrated at the sword tip, making his knuckles ache and his blood boil. He was about to roar and pounce again when he saw Lin Feng, still flying backward, suddenly raise his hand.

A handful of grayish-black, pungent-smelling dried Demon Bat dung powder was thrown directly at his face.

It turned out that when the dust was flying earlier, Lin Feng had snatched up some dried Demon Bat dung from the ground and used spiritual power to turn it into powder, preparing it for an emergency.

This stuff had no killing power, but it was extremely filthy and foul-smelling, capable of instantly blinding one's vision.

Chen Qing never expected Lin Feng to use such a dirty tactic. Caught off guard, he was covered from head to toe.

His eyes stung and watered, and a wave of nausea and annoyance hit him, causing his movements to instantly falter.

"I'll f*ck your..." He cursed in a rage, frantically circulating his spiritual power to disperse the filth.

In that instant, while his vision was blurred, his defenses wide open, and his mind in turmoil, a cold light flashed in Lin Feng's eyes.

A Fire Bullet Talisman was instantly activated.

A fist-sized, solid, and blazing fireball was accurately funneled into Chen Qing's wide-open mouth as he cursed.

Chen Qing's pupils suddenly contracted at the last moment. To his death, he couldn't understand how he could... Boom!!!

The violent sound of the explosion shook the cavern.

The shockwave sent Lin Feng flying again, crashing into the rock wall and coughing up a mouthful of blood.

A brief, deathly silence filled the cave, leaving only the crackling sound of flames consuming the remains.

Lin Feng struggled to his feet and looked coldly at Chen Qing. Under the Fire Bullet, soon not even ashes would remain of him.

He picked up Chen Qing's Storage Pouch from the ground and probed it with his Divine Sense:

Dozens of Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

Several bottles of Medicinal Pills.

A small piece of purple wood and several unknown Spiritual Plants.