Chapter 116: The True Meaning of the Explosive Shock?

“Shen Lingfei?”

Luo Tian narrowed his eyes. Of course he knew who this man was: an outstanding elite disciple of the Shen family, already at the ninth turn of the Qi Condensation Realm despite being only seventeen. Within the Divine Sun Sect, his potential was virtually limitless.

For him to appear here and take the initiative to seek Luo Tian out, it was obvious that he had come with hostile intentions.

Yet, for some reason, Luo Tian felt that he had heard this name somewhere besides the sect. There was another place where it had been mentioned.

Where was it?

“Is Senior Brother Luo really that formidable?”

“Of course! Even Senior Brother Shen has come to ask him for guidance. He may look somewhat hostile, but as long as Senior Brother Luo demonstrates his ability, Senior Brother Shen will have no choice but to acknowledge him!”

“Exactly! So what if he comes from one of the four great clans? Even the guidance of those uncles and elders is nowhere near as precise as Senior Brother Luo’s. His words strike straight to the heart of the matter!”

Shen Lingfei was tall and handsome. Above his proud, sharp eyes, his sword-shaped brows slanted upward toward his temples, lending him an imposing and valiant air.

The arrival of such a prominent figure naturally drew everyone’s attention. It was not only the outer disciples of humble birth—even the frustrated members of the other three great clans hoped to establish a good relationship with Shen Lingfei.

For a time, the outer disciples began whispering among themselves. Senior Brother Shen was a future pillar of the Shen family. Although there was a trace of anger in his voice when speaking to Senior Brother Luo, that was only natural. In fact, it proved that Senior Brother Luo’s reputation was rising by the day.

“What? Didn’t you hear Senior Brother Shen speaking to you?”

A disciple standing beside Shen Lingfei saw that Luo Tian did not answer him at all and instead appeared lost in thought. He immediately stepped forward and shouted angrily.

Luo Tian carefully searched his memory and finally recalled that the source of the conflict between Elder Shen Qingkong and Fang Zheng had been this very matter. Shen Qingkong had desperately seized the Transforming Origin True Astral Fire and intended to give it to Shen Lingfei for cultivation. That had finally driven Fang Zheng beyond the limits of his resentment, causing him to strike in hatred.

The reason they had chosen not to report the matter to the sect was naturally because Shen Qingkong had his own calculations. If the sect’s power were involved, the majority of the gains would belong to the Divine Sun Sect. As sect master, Liu Changtian would certainly never allow members of the Shen family to use the Transforming Origin True Astral Fire.

Li Lianfeng and Zhang Henshui had probably held the same thoughts. Those low-level Origin Pill elders already possessed little status and could only choose such a highly risky method of cooperation.

Still, it was fortunate that they had done so. Otherwise, the Transforming Origin True Astral Fire would never have fallen into Luo Tian’s hands.

Seeing Luo Tian seemingly wandering beyond the heavens, Shen Lingfei’s expression immediately darkened.

Not to mention an outer disciple who had recently risen to prominence—how many ordinary inner disciples would dare treat Shen Lingfei’s words as though they were no more than wind in their ears?

Everyone knew how much Elder Shen Qingkong favored Shen Lingfei. In the future, Shen Lingfei was certain to become a great figure of power and influence. If one did not curry favor with him now, would one wait until later to suffer his retaliation?

Shen Lingfei was proud and arrogant, but he was well aware of his own status and reputation. Precisely because of that, he was even less able to tolerate Luo Tian’s complete disregard.

This was an outright insult!

Looking at Shen Lingfei’s arrogant expression, now tinged with fury, Luo Tian suddenly found the situation rather amusing. If this fellow knew that Luo Tian had taken the Fire Origin True Spirit that should have belonged to him—the Transforming Origin True Astral Fire—who knew how enraged he would become?

His eyes would probably turn red enough to drip blood.

At the thought, the corners of Luo Tian’s mouth lifted slightly, revealing a hint of amusement.

He was still smiling?

What was there to laugh about?

Shen Lingfei’s gaze sharpened, slicing across Luo Tian’s face like a blade.

“Luo, I’m speaking to you. Didn’t you hear me?”

“I heard you. I simply didn’t want to answer.”

Luo Tian glanced calmly at Shen Lingfei.

“Do you have anything else?”

After hearing those words, the surrounding disciples instinctively retreated several steps.

They had long heard that Senior Brother Luo did not think highly of the Shen family. Yet even toward Shen Lingfei, who had vaguely become the leading figure among the Shen family’s outer disciples, his attitude remained unchanged.

How was this merely arrogant and presumptuous?

This was arrogance and presumptuousness taken to the extreme!

Even if Shen Lingfei immediately lost his temper and attacked here, it would hardly be considered unusual.

Although the sect’s rules forbade conflict and fighting anywhere outside the combat arena, those rules ultimately served the four great clans. If Shen Lingfei truly ignored them, who would be foolish enough to offend him over such a minor matter?

At most, he would receive a token punishment.

Clearing the battlefield as quickly as possible could do them no harm. If they were accidentally injured, whom could they complain to?

There would be nowhere to seek justice.

Senior Brother Luo was also undoubtedly destined to become a powerful figure within the sect. If he accidentally injured one or two outer disciples who had come merely to watch the excitement, no one would bother to intervene.

After all, Elder Liu Neng had recently treated Senior Brother Luo with extraordinary warmth. Not only had he arranged the lucrative assignment in Ten Thousand Winds City specifically for him, he had even arranged for magical beasts to transport him there and back.

What sort of treatment was that?

Perhaps in a few days, word would spread through the sect that Senior Brother Luo had officially been granted the surname Liu and renamed Liu Tian—or that he had become the future husband of one of the Liu family’s female disciples.

Senior Brother Luo could now be considered half a member of the Liu family. Naturally, he had the confidence to challenge Shen Lingfei.

“Of course I do!”

Shen Lingfei had never suffered such humiliation. In his fury, he instead began to laugh. White vital energy suddenly erupted from his body, and he struck without warning, driving a fist straight toward Luo Tian’s chest.

“That is to teach you how to conduct yourself!”

He had attacked!

The surrounding outer disciples immediately grew excited.

Senior Brother Luo certainly possessed a cultivation speed beyond anyone’s imagination, having reached the ninth turn of the Qi Condensation Realm—the White Qi Stage—in an extremely short time. But Senior Brother Shen was also formidable. His cultivation realm was no lower than Senior Brother Luo’s, and because he had remained at the ninth turn for much longer, he had undoubtedly gained a deeper understanding of his own strength.

Moreover, Senior Brother Luo possessed the Blazing True Intent, but Senior Brother Shen was said to have comprehended a fire-based True Intent as well—and one of extraordinary power at that.

This was bound to be a spectacular clash between two mighty opponents!

Shen Lingfei’s fist shot forward like a meteor, hurtling toward Luo Tian’s chest at astonishing speed. At that moment, the white radiance surrounding it was dazzling.

Luo Tian, by contrast, appeared completely dazed, as though he had no time to react.

Was the battle already about to end?

Losing to Shen Lingfei would not be particularly shameful. After all, Shen Lingfei had been painstakingly cultivated by the Shen family. But for Senior Brother Luo to lose in such a muddled and inexplicable manner was still a pity.

Yet when Li Yang saw Shen Lingfei attack, he remained standing just two steps behind Luo Tian without moving.

Yuan Zhou had initially seemed inclined to retreat, but after his body swayed slightly, he recovered and stood there just as Li Yang did.

Even an expert of the Meridian Flow Realm had been beaten to death by Senior Brother Luo. No matter how much real ability Shen Lingfei possessed, how could he possibly be Luo Tian’s opponent?

This was not a battle between equals at all.

White radiance also began to shine from Luo Tian’s body, especially around his chest. He had not intended to dodge or block Shen Lingfei’s attack from the beginning.

Although Luo Tian knew the names of the nine fire-based True Intents, he had never personally experienced them. Without such experience, it was difficult to draw inferences from one to another.

The opponents Qin Tianyu and others of similar standing had faced were all roughly equal to them in strength. Their battle experience was of very little help to Luo Tian. For that reason, he intended to study Shen Lingfei and see whether there was anything worth learning from him.

After his battle with Jiang Zhenglong, Luo Tian had already lost much interest in opponents of the Qi Condensation Realm. True Intent, however, was different. Once comprehended, it could be put to countless uses in the future.

Idiot. He truly had nothing but a reputation.

Shen Lingfei sneered inwardly. Although his punch had been sudden and unexpected, it was not lacking in force. Once it struck Luo Tian, it would be enough to make this fool remember him for the rest of his life.

Bang!

A muffled impact rang out. A disdainful smile appeared on Shen Lingfei’s face.

What a useless—

Something was wrong!

Shen Lingfei’s expression suddenly changed.

The fire-based vital energy covering his fist had spread outward the moment it touched Luo Tian’s chest. This was one of the ways Shen Lingfei applied the True Intent he had comprehended. Although the area of impact was small, any flesh directly struck by it would inevitably suffer injury.

Yet this technique, which had always worked flawlessly, left Shen Lingfei utterly astonished.

After the fire-based vital energy spread out, it seemed as though flames had encountered a raging flood. In the blink of an eye, it was completely extinguished, and not the slightest trace of its aura remained.

Most infuriating of all, Shen Lingfei had no idea why this had happened.

Luo Tian had taken the blow, but his body merely swayed slightly. Then, with lightning speed, he reached out and seized Shen Lingfei by the wrist.

This was bad!

Realizing that something was wrong, Shen Lingfei immediately tried to pull his arm free. Being restrained by another left him at an extreme disadvantage.

Yet the vital energy he had just sent into his arm vanished soundlessly, just as before. The sensation was exceedingly strange. It seemed similar to having his energy canceled out by Luo Tian’s, yet it was also completely different.

What was happening?

Somewhat frantic, Shen Lingfei continued drawing vital energy from his dantian and circulating it through his meridians toward his arm.

He absolutely could not allow Luo Tian to keep holding him like this. It was far too humiliating!

Luo Tian stared expressionlessly at the flustered Shen Lingfei. Without the slightest hesitation or pause—and without even bothering to exchange another word—he suddenly raised his leg and kicked toward Shen Lingfei’s abdomen.

Having been restrained after a single move, Shen Lingfei could not produce any decent response. He twisted his body with all his might, attempting to evade the kick, but Luo Tian’s leg moved far too quickly. Shen Lingfei had barely shifted aside before Luo Tian’s foot slammed into his stomach.

“Ugh!”

The abdomen was inherently soft and offered little defense. Even though Shen Lingfei had circulated vital energy there in an attempt to strengthen his protection, it was useless.

The moment his vital energy came into contact with the energy in Luo Tian’s leg, the small amount he had managed to gather in such a short time dispersed like clouds parting and mist dissolving. Shen Lingfei was forced to absorb the full force of the kick.

He wanted to cry out, but the prestige of the Shen family, the dignity of a future True Spirit Pill expert, and the pride befitting the next sect master of the Divine Sun Sect forced Shen Lingfei to clamp his mouth shut.

Yet the body’s instincts could never be completely suppressed. Strange sounds still escaped uncontrollably from his throat.

“What happened to Senior Brother Shen?”

“Could Senior Brother Shen be hungry? Why did Senior Brother Luo act as though that punch had been nothing?”

“Senior Brother Luo is incredible! How does he cultivate? Aren’t we all outer disciples of the Divine Sun Sect? Why is the gap between us so enormous? He is already so much stronger than us, yet even Senior Brother Shen is completely helpless against him!”

Seeing Luo Tian gain an overwhelming advantage in the blink of an eye, the surrounding outer disciples could scarcely believe their eyes.

If they had all been blind, perhaps they would not have had to question their entire understanding of life so deeply.

With a single kick, Luo Tian sent Shen Lingfei’s body flying into the air, leaving him unable even to stand. He pulled his right arm slightly backward, drawing Shen Lingfei closer, and then unleashed three more kicks.

Several extremely faint afterimages appeared along the path of his legs, leaving the outer disciples dazzled and mesmerized.

Were those the afterimages created by a Meridian Flow Realm expert moving too quickly for the eye to follow?

At the thought, every outer disciple secretly swallowed.

Was Senior Brother Luo truly an outer disciple of the Qi Condensation Realm?

Seeing Shen Lingfei’s eyes roll upward, his eyeballs nearly bulging from the pain, Luo Tian realized that he could not go too far. Only then did he fling Shen Lingfei to the ground and ask with unmistakable mockery:

“So this is your Thunderous Shock True Intent?”