"What a scoundrel — utterly shameless."
"Chu Feng, don't bother with him. He knows full well your cultivation isn't as high as his and your combat strength can't compare, yet he still comes here to pick a fight. Isn't he obviously trying to make an example of you?"
"He just wants to use you to establish his dominance — to show everyone that no matter how formidable Chu Feng is, there are still areas where he falls short."
"So if he wants a contest, then match him in barrier techniques. See if he dares to accept," Si Ma Ying transmitted to Chu Feng, having already seen through Lin Yezhou's intentions.
And if even Si Ma Ying, a girl, could see through it, how could Chu Feng not? Just as she had said, Lin Yezhou had come here for no other reason than to assert his dominance.
He understood very clearly that compared to Su Mei, Chu Feng was his greatest threat. But his barrier techniques truly were inferior to Chu Feng's, so he could only try to deal with Chu Feng in the field of martial cultivation — and so he had come here, challenging Chu Feng with brute force.
As for the three people standing behind Lin Yezhou, Chu Feng could guess that this was very likely not Lin Yezhou's own idea. It was more probably his family's doing.
But regardless, Chu Feng would not fear Lin Yezhou. He smiled faintly and said to Lin Yezhou:
"Senior Brother Lin, you say that martial cultivation and the strength of one's Spirit World techniques are closely connected."
"Then you are a ninth-stage Martial King, and I am a sixth-stage Martial King. By that logic, even if we are both Imperial-robed Spirit World Masters, my barrier techniques would certainly be inferior to yours, correct?"
"Then why don't we simply compete in Spirit World techniques?"
"Young Brother Chu Feng, I think you've misunderstood me. No matter how strong one's Spirit World techniques may be, they are still Spirit World techniques. When facing an enemy in battle, the best method is naturally to compare martial strength."
"If your martial strength is lacking, then no matter how powerful a barrier technique you command, what good will it do? When you meet a martial cultivation expert, you'll still be utterly defeated."
"So, Young Brother Chu Feng, trust me — you can't go wrong. Martial cultivation is the foundation upon which a Spirit World Master stands. No matter how devoted you are to barrier techniques, you must still work hard at your martial cultivation."
"And today, I will only compete with you in martial strength. If you don't dare, then forget it." Lin Yezhou had clearly come prepared — he would only match Chu Feng in martial power and absolutely refuse to compete in barrier techniques.
"Heh…" Chu Feng was not surprised by Lin Yezhou's rebuttal. He simply smiled again and said: "I understand what Senior Brother Lin means. You're saying that no matter how powerful one's Spirit World techniques, they can never surpass a martial cultivator, and no matter how strong a Spirit World Master may be, they cannot defeat a martial expert. Is that right?"
"That's not quite what I mean. After all, there have indeed been great Spirit World Masters who could use their barrier techniques to defeat martial cultivators of the same level. But those were all great Spirit World Masters — seniors with a profoundly deep understanding of barrier techniques."
"At least at our level of Spirit World Mastery, no one's barrier techniques can match the combat power of a martial cultivator," Lin Yezhou explained. After all, they were in the Alliance of Spirit World Masters — he wouldn't dare disparage Spirit World Masters openly.
"No, I don't agree with Senior Brother Lin's view," Chu Feng countered.
"You're saying that your barrier techniques are stronger than your martial combat power?" Lin Yezhou let out a cold laugh dripping with mockery, tacitly mocking Chu Feng's arrogance.
"As embarrassing as it is to admit, this is indeed a fact. My barrier techniques are stronger than my martial combat power. Even if I used my barrier techniques against Senior Brother Lin's martial methods, I might not necessarily lose."
"If Senior Brother Lin doesn't believe me, then you can use your martial methods, and I'll use my barrier techniques. You use martial arts, and I'll use formations. Let us have a proper spar — no holding back, no going easy, a real fight with everything we've got. Let the outcome speak for itself. How about that?" Chu Feng said with a smile, a confident grin hanging on his face.
"You don't seriously think I'd be afraid of you?" Lin Yezhou said coldly. Although he knew Chu Feng's barrier techniques were formidable, he truly did not believe that he — a dignified ninth-stage Martial King, possessing a third-rank heaven-defying combat power capable of fighting an ordinary third-stage half-emperor — could lose to Chu Feng.
"Then let's give it a try." Chu Feng was equally composed. With elegant steps, he treading upon the void and rose into the sky, ready to exchange blows with Lin Yezhou.