Chapter 28: The Spirit King (Second Update—Please Add to Your Collection!)

“Old monster, I won't let this go!” Outside the cave, Ye Feng resentfully handed a heap of immortal fruits to the Dragon Jiao Demon King, who stored them in his domain. “If not for the sheer number of immortal fruits needing your domain, I’d never have let you off. I’ve never seen a so-called master behave like this... How could you...” Clearly, Ye Feng was furious over the Dragon Jiao Demon King’s previous actions.

Listening to Ye Feng’s ceaseless complaints, the Dragon Jiao Demon King, feeling somewhat guilty, did not argue, especially now that he possessed immortal fruits to enhance his strength.

Glancing back at the barren cave, Ye Feng stroked the monkey perched on his shoulder and said, “Let’s go, time to go home!”

“Go... Where do you think you’re going?” From afar, a sinister voice drifted over. A middle-aged scholar-like man stepped out from behind a large tree.

A bone-chilling cold emanated from him, and as soon as he appeared, he locked onto Ye Feng’s aura completely.

Seeing the man before him, Ye Feng’s heart tightened. “No good comes from those who seek you out.”

To have managed to find this place proved everything. Ye Feng didn’t believe that this middle-aged man would risk such dangers merely for amusement, even as a Spirit King—he had no right to roam the Luoyan Mountains with impunity.

“Why have you come, sir?” Ye Feng asked, though he already knew the answer.

“The Zhou family.” The middle-aged man seemed intrigued by Ye Feng—a mere junior at the acquired stage who had wiped out the Zhou family.

He shook his head, a little regretful, and said, “If the Holy Envoy weren’t about to arrive, I’d consider recruiting you. But now, I must act quickly, eradicate your Ye family, and fully cooperate with the Holy Envoy—that’s the priority.”

It was obvious that the man regarded the Ye family as insignificant, a mere matter to be dealt with in passing.

“Murder demands retribution. That’s an irreconcilable conflict. But I’m curious, what benefit did the Zhou family offer you to earn your protection?” Ye Feng had anticipated intervention from the Zhou family’s backers, but not this swiftly, nor from a Spirit King.

“Heh! Simple: half of the Zhou family’s entire fortune, plus twenty beautiful maidens. But... If your Ye family can match this offer, I might spare you—”

Before he could finish, Ye Feng shouted and struck first. A massive golden palm condensed out of the void, descending with force. Faced with the scholar’s demands, Ye Feng would rather his clan perish in battle.

“Childish...” The middle-aged man’s body darted like a bat, arms spread, retreating several yards, then slammed down with Dragon-Capturing Hand, leaving a huge palm imprint on the ground.

“Tsk tsk... Truly a genius! Such cultivation at your age—what a pity to kill you.” He shook his head, mockingly.

But Ye Feng was no fool! As the palm struck, Dragon Jiao Swim immediately activated, and before the scholar realized, Ye Feng’s figure had already darted dozens of yards away.

“Does it help?” Above, the scholar swooped down like a roc.

“I never imagined a Spirit King would be so powerful!” Ye Feng’s face changed drastically; only now did he truly sense the gulf between them.

At this moment, the mere pressure radiating from the middle-aged man made Ye Feng’s breathing labored; fighting him was impossible, with not a shred of luck to hope for.

Boom...

Overwhelming pressure surged like a tide. Ye Feng grunted, his body rooted to the spot, unmoving.

Crack...

The pressure intensified. Ye Feng’s eyes reddened as his feet slowly sank into the ground, bones creaking, sweat soaking his clothes in an instant.

“Boy, if you kneel and beg now, I might grant you a swift death.” The voice echoed from above.

Clearly, the man was toying with him. Torturing a genius was all the more satisfying!

“Get down here—!” Suddenly, Ye Feng, who had been utterly suppressed, leapt high. Twin golden beams shot from his eyes.

What nonsense pressure? Second Brother Ye could withstand even a demon king’s aura—let alone that of a mere Spirit King.

Whizz...

The golden light flashed like lightning, reaching the scholar in the blink of an eye.

Boom... Crack...

Yet, anyone who reached the Spirit King realm was never easy prey. Even with Ye Feng’s surprise attack, the scholar instantly deployed a spiritual shield before himself.

“Die—”

It didn’t end there. Ye Feng never believed his “Purple-Gold Eyes” alone would suffice. As they fired, he roared, unleashing his spiritual power. Infused with energy, his Dragon-Capturing Hand transformed into a giant palm, sweeping down upon the man above.

Screech... Screech...

On the other side, the monkey flew into a rage, clawing at the void in wild arcs.

In an instant, spiritual power raged in the sky. Ye Feng’s Dragon-Capturing Hand and the monkey’s rainbow light engulfed the scholar.

Boom...

A powerful shockwave erupted, scattering trees and stones in all directions.

“You court death!” Amid the swirling smoke, the scholar’s battered figure shot out. Two deep, bone-revealing wounds gaped on his chest.

Blood trickled from his lips. Clearly, even with a Spirit King’s cultivation, he could not escape unscathed from Ye Feng and the monkey’s joint assault.

“Go!” After unleashing his Dragon-Capturing Hand, Ye Feng mounted Dragon Jiao Swim, grabbing the monkey as they bolted toward the cave. He knew full well he and the monkey could never kill this man.

Their attack had merely been a delaying tactic.

“Die!” Moments later, the scholar roared in fury, his form flickering as he pursued them like lightning.

Still airborne, the scholar extended his left hand and yanked fiercely toward the fleeing Ye Feng. Instantly, like a whale swallowing its prey, Ye Feng felt an irresistible force dragging him backward.

“Die...” As Ye Feng and the monkey were pulled back, the scholar’s spiritual power reached its peak.

The next instant, his fist, brimming with power, surged forth like a dragon breaking the sea.

Dragon-Capturing Hand...

Sensing mortal danger behind him, Ye Feng’s hair stood on end. His spiritual energy surged, and he channeled it all into a gigantic fist, meeting the oncoming blow head-on.

Boom boom boom...

Spiritual power erupted again, but compared to the Spirit King’s strength, Ye Feng was far outmatched.

Before the shockwave could crash over him, Ye Feng was already hurled aside by the fierce clash.

As the saying goes, overwhelming force crushes all skill. The gap between them was simply too vast; no matter how advanced Ye Feng’s techniques, he could not withstand a casual strike from a Spirit King.