"Ma Dong, this is a matter between the Holy Fire Sect and him. Now that you're a member of Flying Leopard, you shouldn't get involved. It would be an abuse of your position." Lei Long's expression changed as he saw Ma Dong was truly on the verge of exploding. He quickly stepped in front of him, his tone urgent.

"Step aside," Ma Dong barked, his face a cold, indifferent mask. He actually reached out and shoved Lei Long away.

The color drained from Lei Long's face. He felt an enormous force push him back, one he was powerless to resist. His body tumbled backward uncontrollably.

"Instructor Lei, be careful!" Seeing this, Chen Fei's eyes flashed. He became a blur, appearing behind Lei Long in an instant to catch him. At this sight, a strange light flickered in the murky eyes of the black-clothed old man, Ma Dong, and his expression shifted with surprise.

He really hadn't expected Chen Fei to possess such strength at his young age. Is he a First-Class Ancient Warrior? Or maybe even at the Peak of First-Class Ancient Warrior? So, the old news was true after all.

"Ma Dong, I advise you to think this through!" Lei Long said urgently, having just regained his balance. "Chen Fei is only in his twenties, yet he already has strength comparable to a First-Class Ancient Warrior. You know what they say: never underestimate a young man just because he's down on his luck. Besides, you left the Holy Fire Sect years ago. Do you really have to be so ruthless?"

"Heh heh."

However, the old man in black only sneered. His indifferent voice suddenly took on a murderous edge. "I admit, the boy's talent is unexpected. To possess the strength of a First-Class Ancient Warrior at such a young age… he's a talent, a true prodigy!

"But," he paused, baring his teeth in a menacing grin, "the more talented he is, the more I can't let him go, right? The feud is already set. Do you really expect me to let the tiger return to the mountain? To let him grow for twenty years and come back to trouble me, Ma Dong?

"Lei Long, are you the fool, or am I?" His every word was a dagger to the heart, dripping with a despair-inducing killing intent.

"You…" Lei Long finally saw the murderous glint in the man's eyes. It seemed the situation was truly beyond saving.

"Instructor Lei, don't worry. It's fine," Chen Fei, who had been standing in front of him, suddenly said with a smile. He looked at the old man, the corner of his lip curling. "Hey, old man. Do you really think being Half-Step Innate is so impressive? Or is a piece of trash like you, who only managed to stumble into the Half-Step Innate Realm in your seventies or eighties, something to be proud of?"

"You… what did you say?" Ma Dong's face flushed with rage. He couldn't believe Chen Fei would be so brazen, that he would dare to insult him!

It's over, Lei Long's heart sank, realizing there was no turning back now. After all, I served alongside him as one of the five deputy instructors at the Headquarters of Flying Leopard for years. I know his personality all too well—arrogant, ruthless, unable to tolerate the slightest mockery or humiliation, let alone a direct insult. But now, this young Chen Fei actually dared to speak to him like that… It's over. It's really over.

"You didn't hear me? Fine, I'll say it again. You're trash. In your seventies or eighties and that's the highest your cultivation will ever get…" Chen Fei continued with open disdain. To be fair, I'm just telling the truth! Barely reaching Half-Step Innate at his age is something to brag about?

"You little beast! You're courting death!" Ma Dong trembled with fury. A terrifying cold light flared in his murky, ancient eyes. He raised a hand and slapped at Chen Fei from across the room. A faint ripple of flame appeared in the air, its heat frighteningly intense.

"You're the one courting death!" Chen Fei's expression turned cold, a trace of contempt flashing in his dark eyes as he saw the old man attack.

He then waved his own hand, sending a palm strike back across the distance with equal ferocity. Instantly, the air filled with a hazy, milky-white brilliance, which condensed into an immense force. Its presence was majestic and powerful, surging forward like the Yellow River bursting its banks.

SMACK!

A crisp slap echoed through the room. The black-clothed old man, Ma Dong, was sent staggering, falling face-first into the dusty carpet.

Seeing this, Instructor Lei Long was utterly dumbfounded.

No, that's impossible. What did I just see? Did I just see Ma Dong get slapped by Chen Fei? How is that possible?!

Ma Dong himself, having experienced it firsthand, felt a burning pain on his left cheek, where a bright red handprint was now emblazoned. He was almost completely stupefied, his gaze fixed on Chen Fei in horrified disbelief.

Clearly, he couldn't fathom how Chen Fei had managed it.

I'm a Half-Step Innate! A mighty Half-Step Innate Powerhouse getting slapped in the face—how can I accept this? How is this even imaginable?

"You dare launch a sneak attack on me?" he snarled, quickly "composing" himself and glaring at the placid Chen Fei with a ferocious expression.

That's right. The kid must have used a sneak attack. Plus, my own strike was casual; I held back and didn't use my full strength. That imbalance is what allowed him to humiliate me and land that slap. After all, the boy has the strength of a First-Class Ancient Warrior. He isn't some commoner. How could I have been so careless?

Though he tried to console himself with this reasoning, he also realized a sobering fact: Chen Fei's strength was likely far greater than he had anticipated. He was probably at the Peak of First-Class Ancient Warrior, only a step behind him.

As this thought took hold, a tremor of panic, so potent it felt absurd, began to bubble up inside him.

A Peak of First-Class Ancient Warrior… in his twenties? How is that possible? Is this a joke?

"Heh, so I launched a sneak attack, did I? Very well…" Just then, Chen Fei's cold laugh reached his ears. Then, he moved again. With the exact same motion as before, he sent another slap flying through the air, aimed squarely at Ma Dong's face.

"Don't get too arrogant, you little beast! That was just a momentary mistake. Do you really think I'm afraid of you?" Seeing this, Ma Dong could no longer restrain himself.

He was one of the five deputy instructors at the Headquarters of Flying Leopard! His rank was at least half a step above a vice-provincial official. He was used to commanding respect and wielding immense authority. But now, he was being humiliated by a mere youth.

Look at him! Does he really think he can slap me again? How could I possibly tolerate this? Instantaneously, his fury erupted like a thunderstorm.

"Your mouth is truly filthy." Seeing the old man point a finger at him while cursing "little beast," Chen Fei saw red. A cold glint flashed in his dark eyes, and the force behind his hand instantly doubled.

"Seeking death!" Ma Dong's face sank, the wrinkles on his bark-like skin trembling with rage. His body shuddered, and an intense, scorching flame erupted from within him. At the same time, a set of Qimen Weapons appeared in his hands—the Holy Fire Token!

CLANG!

A piercing metallic ring vibrated through the air. Wielding the Holy Fire Token, Ma Dong slashed toward Chen Fei, his murky eyes filled with murderous intent as waves of searing heat rolled off him.

"Hiss… How terrifying!" Lei Long couldn't help but suck in a cold breath, his eyes wide with horror. He had never imagined Ma Dong's strength was this frightening. Such supernatural power was simply unnerving.

Even at his own peak, Lei Long would have been no match for Ma Dong as he was now. It's over. This time, it's really over.

His shock was not without reason. Ma Dong's Cultivation Realm had already reached the Eleventh Layer of the Divine Skill of the Holy Fire Token. He was only half a step away from the Twelve Great Perfections, a level of power that could not be overlooked anywhere in the world of Ancient Martial Arts.

How could he not be horrified?

"Don't you find such flashy, useless techniques a bit pointless?" Just then, a gale suddenly whipped up from out of nowhere.

Along with Chen Fei's incredibly calm and disdainful voice, the searing air and intense flames were instantly crushed, as helpless as ants trying to topple a great tree.

Every last flicker of fire from the Divine Skill of the Holy Fire Token was extinguished, causing the temperature to plummet. Only the whirlwind that had sprung from the ground remained, enveloping the fierce slap as it descended like Mount Tai Overhead, slamming toward Ma Dong!

"No… no, this can't be…"

The old man went pale with fright, his lips white and trembling, utterly refusing to believe what he was seeing.

Me? Ma Dong? A great Half-Step Innate Powerhouse, being suppressed by a mere youth? And not only that, but he's about to… The fierce gale crashed into his cheek.

SMACK!

Another crisp slap echoed out. The black-clothed old man, Ma Dong, was completely dazed.

A piercing pain shot through his jaw as a row of teeth was knocked loose, filling his mouth with blood. His left cheek, already marked, swelled up high, turning a dark, bruised color.

He collapsed to the ground, limp with shock and terror, unable to describe the profound upheaval in his soul or the absurd fear that was now taking root.

He was Ma Dong, a genuine, bona fide Half-Step Innate Powerhouse! Yet now, in Chen Fei's hands, he was utterly helpless. He had been slapped twice in a row, the second blow knocking him senseless. What did this mean?

It means his strength completely crushes mine! But… could he be… No, impossible. Innate?!

"This… this… this…" It wasn't just him. Lei Long was also completely petrified. He could feel his heart pounding wildly, his lips trembling, his palms slick with sweat.

What the hell, that's twice now! You can't possibly call that a sneak attack, can you? In the blink of an eye, without even moving from his spot, this young man casually slapped Ma Dong—a genuine Half-Step Innate Powerhouse—twice. And the second slap was even more brutal than the first! What kind of terrifying strength is this? This has to be a joke…

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