C5 Showing off

Half a month had passed, and Lin Feng had successfully navigated from the western outskirts of North Nether Mountain to its northern edge. His journey was marked by numerous victories over fierce beasts, including several encounters with first-rank Demonic Beasts. Thanks to his mastery of the Ghost Shadow Mystery technique, he managed to elude them with a series of intricate maneuvers through the forest.

Ordinarily, a Body Refining cultivator wouldn't stand a chance of shaking off a first-rank Demonic Beast using the Ghost Shadow Mystery. However, Lin Feng had made a breakthrough by incorporating the breathing method of the Ghost Claw into the technique. This innovation boosted his speed several-fold and left a trail of afterimages in his wake, rendering his movements enigmatic and elusive.

In the midst of his latest triumph over a horned leopard, Lin Feng was busy skinning his catch and starting a fire. The rigorous training over the past weeks had solidified his cultivation, and although he was only at the seventh level of Body Refining, he felt a newfound confidence. He believed that in a rematch with Wang Meng, victory might still elude him, but defeat was no longer a certainty.

As he savored his meal, a distant rumbling of footsteps broke the silence. It sounded like a massive Demonic Beast in full charge. Swiftly extinguishing the fire with a kick, Lin Feng leapt into the trees to conceal himself.

Moments later, a disheveled group of five, clad in the outer sect uniforms of the Profound Purity Sect, came rushing by in a panic. Hot on their heels was a first-rank Earth Lizard, relentlessly pursuing them. One of the group occasionally fired arrows backward, attempting to slow the beast's advance.

"There was smoke up ahead just moments ago; where did everyone go?" the leader questioned, peering in Lin Feng's direction.

"Perhaps they sensed us coming and left already," another speculated.

"Too bad," lamented a third. "I was hoping we'd find a savior. At this rate, that Earth Lizard is going to catch us."

Lin Feng watched from his hidden perch, eyes narrowed. Fortune seemed to be on their side. Despite its size, the Earth Lizard's short limbs made for sluggish movement. If not for that, the group's slow pace would have already sealed their fate as its next meal.

As the five sect members scurried beneath him, Lin Feng recognized one of them. It was the same person who had tried to intervene when Wang Meng was doling out a beating.

Despite being chastised by Wang Meng, Lin Feng remained silent. However, out of consideration for their shared sect, he resolved to rescue his fellow disciples. This encounter with the Rank One Demonic Beast also presented an opportunity for Lin Feng to test the fist intent he had been rewarded with by the system. Ordinary beasts stood no chance against it; a single punch from Lin Feng would pierce right through them.

As the Earth Lizard scuttled beneath him, Lin Feng employed the Ghost Shadow Mystery technique, instantly positioning himself atop the creature's back. Caught off guard, the Earth Lizard had no time to react before Lin Feng's punch, charged with fist intent, thundered down upon it. The impact sent the beast rearing back, its tail thrashing as it howled in agony.

The five runners from the Profound Purity Sect halted at the sound, only to witness a young man standing triumphantly on the Earth Lizard. Lin Feng continued to pummel the beast, his fists raining down on its scaly back, shattering the scales and sending fragments flying in all directions. The onlookers were left in stunned silence, marveling at the sheer force required to break through the creature's armored hide. It was well known that despite its sluggishness, the Earth Lizard boasted one of the strongest defenses among Rank One Demonic Beasts.

Lin Feng, observing the torn flesh on the Earth Lizard's back, felt a twinge of dissatisfaction. His fist intent, capable of penetrating the hide of fierce beasts, had only managed to fracture the defense of a Rank One Demonic Beast. This realization meant that if he were to confront a cultivator from the Spirit Gathering Realm, he could only manage to breach their protective spiritual energy.

Lost in thought, Lin Feng was caught off guard when the Earth Lizard, finally coming to its senses, flipped over, flinging him from its back. Quick to react, Lin Feng utilized the Ghost Shadow Mystery to leap onto a tree, vanishing from sight once more. The Earth Lizard, now back on its feet, looked around bewildered, unable to find the youth who had just been atop it. Its fury was palpable.

After the Earth Lizard rampaged through the forest, toppling more than a dozen trees, it refocused its attention on the disciples. The five from the Profound Purity Sect dared not linger and hastily resumed their escape. Lin Feng, intent on diverting the beast's wrath, made a deliberate noise. Sure enough, the Earth Lizard did not give chase but remained on high alert. Clearly, the intelligence of a Demonic Beast was superior to that of an ordinary fierce beast.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have understood the art of cultivation.

At that moment, the Earth Lizard recognized that anyone capable of shattering its scales must possess considerable strength.

A single misstep, and it could find itself slain by this adversary.

It was only after the five disciples from the Profound Purity Sect had made their escape that Lin Feng emerged.

He noticed that Lin Feng lacked the Spiritual Energy shield that only those at or beyond the Spirit Gathering Stage possessed.

The Earth Lizard immediately realized that this man was merely at the Body Refining Cultivation Level, at best fully mastered in Body Refining.

Having lived for many years, it was aware of the numerous mystical martial techniques within the human realm.

It surmised that the man before it must have used such techniques to penetrate its defensive scales.

But what of it?

The Earth Lizard held no regard for ordinary Spirit Gathering Realm cultivators, much less those in the Body Refining Realm.

With a roar brimming with anticipation, the Earth Lizard charged at Lin Feng.

Lin Feng stood still, his hands shaped like claws.

As the Earth Lizard closed to within ten meters of Lin Feng.

A slimy tongue shot out from its mouth, aiming to ensnare him.

Lin Feng stepped aside, evading the attack with phantom-like agility.

The giant lizard, failing to hit its target, lashed out with its massive tongue once more.

Lin Feng was done holding back.

Vaulting into the air, he avoided the sweeping tongue below him.

His ghostly claws descended swiftly.

Blood sprayed as several gashes opened up on the lizard's tongue.

Lin Feng's Netherworld Ghost Claw, while visually accurate, lacked the potency to manifest its true might.

Only by advancing to the Spirit Gathering Realm and channeling Spiritual Energy into his hands could he wield the claws with their full, fearsome potential.

The Earth Lizard, recoiling in pain, quickly withdrew its tongue.

Its eyes, glaring at Lin Feng, seemed to blaze with fury.

The creature's front half surged upward, furiously pounding the ground with its forelimbs, roaring in a display of its discontent.

Meanwhile, the five distant disciples of the Profound Purity Sect could still hear the commotion.

"Do you feel like the man we just saw resembles someone?"

The speaker was a disciple from the Profound Purity Sect who had urged Lin Feng to bow before Wang Meng.

"Ridiculous, if he doesn't look human, what else could he be? The offspring of an Earth Lizard?"

"You! If it weren't for you provoking it, we wouldn't have had to flee all day."

"It's your fault for being incompetent. We had a plan: distract it while you snatched the Spirit Grass. But no, you had to lose it, and now we've got nothing after a whole day's effort."

"Enough bickering. Let's get out of here and find a village to rest for a few days. The Inner Sect promotion trials are drawing near."

With that, they departed amidst their noisy quarrels.

In truth, Lin Feng had the capability to escape using his Ghost Shadow Mystery technique.

Yet, he wanted to test himself.

He aimed to slay a Rank One Demonic Beast using his own power.

Anyone else hearing this would surely label him insane.

But for Lin Feng, it wasn't out of the question.

Following his transformation, his physical strength had far exceeded that of a typical Body Refining cultivator.

Combined with two synergistic Body Refining techniques.

And the fist intent that only a cultivator at the Spiritual Pedestal Tier could perceive.

He possessed the necessary prowess to take down a Rank One Demonic Beast.

The Earth Lizard hopped around a few times before its feet suddenly left the ground, assuming a posture of gathering energy.

Then, its forelimbs shone with a pale yellow glow.

Boom!

The sound was thunderous.

The ground fissured.

A vast chasm snaked towards Lin Feng, forcing him to leap aside.

Boom!

Another thunderous noise.

Another chasm appeared.

Lin Feng hopped from side to side, and as the final fissure emerged,

the earth beneath him began to crumble.

The Earth Lizard, watching Lin Feng suspended in the air, was thrilled beyond measure.

Its massive tongue lashed out once more.