BOOM!

A terrifying and violent power spread throughout the underwater cave, causing the surrounding air to ripple. The rock on both sides was sliced clean through, smooth as a mirror, as if by a massive blade. The surfaces of the break were scorched, emanating a distinct, charred scent.

The enormous, murky body of the Snake Viper lay in a pool of blood. Its pockmarked and bloodstained flesh was turned inside out, and large portions were charred black, the source of the burnt smell.

Meanwhile, the figure who had burst out of the cave halted abruptly in the darkness, lifting his head to gaze back toward the underwater cavern. His sinister face, wrinkled like dry tree bark, was a mask of shock and utter disbelief.

This kid, he...

While the figure hidden in the darkness was so shocked his mouth went dry, Chen Fei had collapsed to the ground with a PLOP inside the cave. He gasped for breath, his face pale and covered in a profuse sweat. Clearly, his devastating attack, which had nearly brought the entire cavern down, had been a massive drain on him, leaving him almost completely spent. However, seeing the destruction he had wrought, Chen Fei couldn't help but grin, murmuring excitedly to himself, "Finally took care of that troublesome beast..."

As he spoke, he unconsciously glanced at the colossal corpse lying in the pool of blood.

DRIP... DRIP...

Filthy, black blood still dripped from the gigantic body as if it were free-flowing water. As the direct target of the True Red Flame Lamp, it had suffered the most severe and unimaginable impact. The once uneven, pockmarked surface of its body and its hard scales were now more than half destroyed. Several terrifying, bone-deep wounds, looking as if they had been seared, spread across its body, the flesh peeled back to cover nearly its entire frame. The mere sight was enough to make one's skin crawl.

Is it dead? Chen Fei murmured, then turned his attention away. Nearby, thirteen slightly unstable strands of Sword Qi of Sanyang True Fire firmly protected the shimmering Jinchan Moon Fruit. If he hadn't reacted instantly to shield the spiritual medicine during the lamp's explosion, he would be facing a tragedy. The Jinchan Moon Fruit could never have withstood such a powerful impact.

"Finally got it. With this, Master's injury should be fine... Who's there!?"

BOOM!

Just as Chen Fei walked toward the Jinchan Moon Fruit and reached out to take it, his expression changed drastically as he let out a furious shout. In that next instant, a crisp sound echoed from a dark corner, followed by a not-insignificant burst of True Qi. A shadowy figure shot out, wielding a short spear-like Qimen Weapon, and viciously thrust it at Chen Fei!

PSHHHT!

The spear-like weapon brutally pierced Chen Fei's left shoulder. The immense force slammed him backward, pinning him against the rock wall and leaving him temporarily immobilized.

"Damn it, who is it!?"

This sudden turn of events made Chen Fei's face darken. The rage boiling in his heart, mixed with an uncontrollable flicker of panic, twisted his expression into an ugly mask. Someone ambushed me? Damn it, when did this guy start following me?

WHOOSH!

As Chen Fei's shout of questioning left his lips, a faint sneer came from the dark corner. A stooped figure emerged from the shadows, moving with startling speed. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of the glowing Jinchan Moon Fruit. Bending down, he snatched the spiritual medicine into his hand.

Only then did the figure hidden in the darkness reveal his face. He wore a pitch-black robe, and his snake-like features gave off a cold, eerie feeling. He held the Jinchan Moon Fruit up to his narrow eyes, scrutinizing it with excitement. A smug expression of success—the look of the oriole that preys on the mantis that stalks the cicada—spread across his wrinkled face. After glancing at Chen Fei, he tucked the spiritual medicine into his robes, murmuring, "Such a fine treasure! Truly exquisite..."

His original mission was to secretly watch that old fool Ming Daochuan, searching for an opportunity to strike. Instead, his surveillance led him here. His curiosity piqued, he had followed, only to discover this wondrous treasure and the formidable underwater monster at the bottom of Emerald Lake. But this was an old fox, and with age comes cunning. He had patiently hidden in the darkness from start to finish. Only at the very end, once the dust had settled, the monster had drawn its last breath, and the kid had been completely drained by his own technique, did he finally emerge.

This is perfection! The perfect mantis stalks the cicada, with the oriole behind!

"Heh heh." The old man let out a self-satisfied, cold snicker at the thought. He swept his chilling gaze over Chen Fei, sizing him up with amusement. "I never expected that old fogey Ming Daochuan to have a disciple like you. Truly surprising. What a pity… your luck ran out. Hahaha!" His laugh was filled with mockery, as if he saw Chen Fei as nothing more than a greenhorn.

"Old man, who the hell are you!?" Chen Fei's face twitched uncontrollably at his words, his expression grim. He felt an overwhelming sense of frustration. Since he had started his journey, he had never suffered such a setback, ambushed from the shadows while someone else reaped his rewards.

Moreover, the item the man had stolen was no ordinary thing; it was one of the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures he had found to save his master, Ming Daochuan. But now… Chen Fei stared daggers at the old man's face, his eyes brimming with a murderous intent so thick it was almost tangible.

"Put the fruit down, and I'll pretend this never happened," Chen Fei said icily. "Otherwise, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth and twist your head from your shoulders to feed the sharks. I advise you to believe me."

Clearly, whether for his own sake or for his master's, he could not tolerate someone simply walking away with the Jinchan Moon Fruit he had fought so hard to obtain. If that happened, he didn't know what his rage would turn him into. The humiliation was simply too much to accept.

"Hunt me to the ends of the earth? Heh heh." Hearing this, the old man just sneered, his eyes glinting sinisterly. "If you were at your peak, I might have been a little wary of your threat. But now… heh, do you really think my old eyes are failing me? In your current state, you're less than an empty shell. And you want to threaten me?"

As he spoke, his entire aura shifted. His eyes, like those of a venomous snake, fixed on Chen Fei as his voice dripped with killing intent. "Kid, it seems you're forcing me to send you to your grave alongside that beast!" If not for the profound impression Chen Fei's earlier display had left on him, making him cautious of some hidden trump card, he would have already struck to eliminate any future trouble. Even so, the murderous intent lingered, sparked by Chen Fei's threat. After all, letting such a dangerous young man go free was like letting a tiger return to the mountains; he might come looking for revenge later, which would be a nuisance.

"If you have the guts, then try me," Chen Fei responded coldly, his eyelids twitching violently as he felt the killing intent.

Damn it… He understood now. The other party had seen right through him, realizing he was an empty shell—no, that he didn't even qualify as that. So, even though the old man's strength wasn't that great, having barely reached the Innate Middle Stage, he was in a position to talk tough. Chen Fei's current condition was just that bad.

Hearing Chen Fei's retort, the old man's cold eyes darkened, and his lips twitched. He couldn't be certain if Chen Fei was just putting on a brave face, trying to deceive him. But his cautious nature won out; he no longer wanted to wade into these muddy waters. He had the spiritual medicine. What more could he ask for?

"In any case, I must thank you for such a generous gift. Without you, I wouldn't have had the confidence to deal with that beast." At this thought, the old man gave a mocking smile and turned to leave. As he walked, he taunted, "Hunt me to the ends of the earth? You're welcome to try. I'll be waiting. Hahaha!"

With a burst of arrogant laughter, the old man's form blurred into a black shadow and vanished.

"DAMN IT!"

BANG!

Watching him disappear, Chen Fei was instantly consumed by rage. He slammed his right fist into the rock beneath him, and the massive boulder shattered into a pile of rubble and dust.

He never thought he would see such a day. He had toiled and suffered to obtain the spiritual medicine, only for someone else to swoop in and steal it.

This was too infuriating!

And most importantly… What am I going to do about Master's injuries? Shit…

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