"I am Lin Ran, Steward of the Qilin Prince's Estate."
"I don't know how Lu Yun and the others offended the Gray-Robed Sir, but I humbly ask that you, sir, be magnanimous and let them go."
This old man who called himself Lin Ran smiled kindly at Chu Feng, speaking in a tone that was courteous yet neither servile nor overbearing. He had already identified the person before him as the Gray-Robed Sir who had slaughtered the Shangguan family.
The appearance of this elder made Chu Feng furrow his brows, for he had heard the name Lin Ran before. The man was one of the strongest in the Qilin Prince's Estate—a peak Xuan Martial expert, and one of the most renowned figures in all of Qingzhou.
Chu Feng couldn't understand why someone of such stature would take Gong Luyun in as an adopted grandson and dote on him so deeply, but he knew that if Lin Ran truly intended to protect Gong Luyun, then this time it would be genuinely difficult for him to lay a hand on the man.
Yet when faced with the enemy who had annihilated his clan, Chu Feng's fury had long since overwhelmed his reason. He wasn't about to overthink it. Without sparing Lin Ran so much as a glance, he raised his palm, and a formidable surge of Xuan Force transformed into an invisible tidal wave, crashing toward both Lin Ran and Gong Luyun.
The vast Xuan Force rampaged through the air, its overwhelming pressure causing the surrounding trees to sway violently, as though a mountain peak were hurtling down from the heavens.
"It seems the Gray-Robed Sir is unwilling to give me, Lin Ran, any face."
But in response to Chu Feng's strike, Lin Ran merely shook his head with disappointment. Then, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. With a casual flick of his wide sleeve, a surge of Xuan Force several times more powerful than Chu Feng's swept outward, effortlessly neutralizing his attack.
Having dissolved Chu Feng's strike, Lin Ran did not stop. He lightly tapped a finger forward, and the Xuan Force before him rapidly condensed into thousands of arrows that shot toward Chu Feng in a devastating volley.
This was not a martial art—it was pure mastery over Xuan Force. With a simple gesture, one could bend it to one's will and solidify it into tangible form. This was something only a Heaven Martial realm expert could achieve, yet peak Xuan Martial cultivators who were half a step away could manage it as well.
"Eighth level of Xuan Martial."
At that moment, Chu Feng was startled. While the eighth level of Xuan Martial was not truly the absolute pinnacle of the Xuan Martial realm, with his current cultivation at the first level of Xuan Martial, he simply could not contend with such an opponent.
But there was no longer any path of retreat. With a shift of his will, several gray barriers materialized before him to block Lin Ran's attack.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
Yet Chu Feng's seemingly unbreakable barriers crumbled instantly under Lin Ran's casual assault, shattering as fragile as tofu, utterly incapable of withstanding the blow.
"Chu Feng, run! The gap in strength is far too great—you can't beat him!" Egg Egg's voice echoed in Chu Feng's mind.
But how could Chu Feng, burning with killing intent, possibly retreat? A flash of light burst from beneath his feet as the Void Flight Technique responded to his will, and he dodged Lin Ran's attack at the speed of light.
Immediately after, Chu Feng flicked his fingers toward Lin Ran, and the roar of a fierce tiger tore through the air.
The White Tiger Killing Art—this secret technique had been unleashed by Chu Feng. Though it appeared as nothing more than a wisp of pale white energy, its overwhelming might was enough to shake heaven and earth.
"This kind of power—is that a secret technique?!"
Facing Chu Feng's White Tiger Killing Art, Lin Ran's expression changed dramatically. But it was not fear that gripped him—it was wild delight. A secret technique as rare as this in the world, and this old man was overcome with ecstasy.