At that moment, the expressions of everyone present changed drastically. Even Ming Daochuan, an expert in the Later Stage of Innate Realm who had successfully defeated Luo Zun, felt beads of cold sweat on his forehead. He stared warily at the black-robed figure shrouded in a faint, dark aura. There are two reasons for my fear. First, his strength is so profound that even I can't see through it. Second, his identity... he's actually from the Black Demon Palace!? This is, without a doubt, terrifying. The Black Demon Palace is one of the legendary Three Supreme Martial Arts Halls of the Martial Forest! The implications are self-evident.

Even for someone like Ming Daochuan, who was nearly at the Innate Late Stage Peak, the shock and astonishment were impossible to hide.

"You... You're actually colluding with someone from the Black Demon Palace!?" he roared, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the collapsed Luo Zun. He never imagined that, just as victory was at hand, such an unexpected complication would arise. That old bastard actually has ties to the Black Demon Palace? Damn it, how is this possible...

"Heh heh... it seems you're afraid... PFFT!" Although severely injured, Luo Zun managed a grim smile upon hearing the panic and dread in Ming Daochuan's voice. It couldn't be helped. This was the Black Demon Palace, one of the Three Supreme Martial Arts Halls. Not even Ming Daochuan would dare to disrespect it.

But in the next instant, his triumphant sneer froze. Even the ancient face beneath Hundred Ghosts' black hood first showed surprise, then turned cold and grim.

Amidst the collapsed ruins, Luo Zun lay as still as a dead fish. A foot was now planted firmly on his face, and the bones beneath his skin audibly cracked several times. The owner of that foot was none other than Chen Fei.

"A loser should act like a loser. Otherwise, I don't mind making you suffer more. I may not have much strength left, but I still have more than enough to kill you," Chen Fei said icily, grinding his foot into the man's face. Luo Zun's features contorted in extreme agony, his eyes burning with pure rage and humiliation.

"Boy, are you ignoring my words... or are you provoking me? I said, he cannot die."

Before Luo Zun could even respond, a figure had suddenly appeared behind Chen Fei. It was the mysterious, black-robed man who called himself Hundred Ghosts, from the Black Demon Palace.

He reached out and slowly placed a hand on Chen Fei's shoulder. Wisps of black qi flowed from his fingertips, crawling onto Chen Fei's shoulder and sending an instantaneous chill through his body. "Stop," Hundred Ghosts said, his voice cold and his eyes menacing.

"Stop!" Ming Daochuan, Yama, and the others cried out in alarm, their expressions changing drastically. They hadn't anticipated this, nor had they been able to react in time.

Even Ming Daochuan, who was approaching the Innate Late Stage Grand Perfection, felt a profound threat from this man. And he claimed to be from the Black Demon Palace, a Sacred Martial Ground... what did that mean? It meant this black-robed man likely possessed power comparable to the Innate Late Stage Grand Perfection, or perhaps... even greater! How could they not be terrified? That brat Chen Fei was far too impulsive this time.

"Take your hand off me."

Just then, a sharp rebuke echoed in everyone's ears. The trembling members of the Tiger Leopard Hall, the Innate Experts like Yama and Ruan Jing, and even Ming Daochuan himself stared at the young man in utter astonishment. Some revealed blatant sneers, while others looked panicked.

They couldn't believe it. How dare a young punk like Chen Fei speak to a major figure from the Black Demon Palace, from a Sacred Martial Ground, with such a tone? Is he out of his mind? Is he looking to die? What absolute recklessness and ignorance!

"Cough... you little bastard, are you trying to die? Cough, cough... Do you have any idea who Hundred Ghosts Elder is? He's an Elder of the Black Demon Palace—ARGH! PFFT..." Even Luo Zun, pinned under Chen Fei's foot, managed a savage, mocking sneer as he spoke.

What is Hundred Ghosts Elder's status? Even in a colossal power like the Black Demon Palace, he is a formidable figure, holding the position of a Sect Elder. Yet this little bastard dares to use such a tone, such an attitude. Is he suicidal? This time, no matter how much he struggles, he'll die without a burial plot!

However, the response he received was another stomp.

Chen Fei expressionlessly lifted his foot from Luo Zun's face. Then, as Luo Zun's eyes widened in horror, he brought it crashing down again. With a deafening RUMBLE, the old man's head and half of his bloodied body were driven deep into the rubble, buried by the debris. Everyone who witnessed it felt their pupils shrink again in shock.

He... he actually dared!?

"Didn't you hear me? I said, take your hand off. This is the last time I'm going to say it." As if he'd done nothing at all, Chen Fei withdrew his foot, an icy glint in his eyes. He then turned, his dark, translucent eyes meeting the gaze of the great figure from the Black Demon Palace, and repeated his astounding words with a cold, quiet indifference.

GULP.

Yama and the others were truly petrified by Chen Fei's audacity. They swallowed hard, their faces frantic. What gives him the right? How can he be so brazen as to speak to this man with such an attitude? Does he not know what the words 'Black Demon Palace' represent? And even if he doesn't, the man's terrifying power is on full display. Even Ming Daochuan, whose cultivation is at the Innate Late Stage Peak, is extremely wary, yet this kid... Their minds were a complete mess, and they were at a loss for words.

"You..."

Hundred Ghosts, the major figure from the Black Demon Palace, was now staring intently at Chen Fei, his expression unreadable. A cold, demonic glint swirled in his ancient eyes. At the same time, within a radius of several meters around him, gleaming black demonic lights began to appear like dark snowflakes, seemingly capable of freezing the very air.

However, just as everyone assumed Chen Fei's death was certain, Hundred Ghosts Elder suddenly shook his head and retracted his aura. "Kid, are you really not afraid of me?" he asked calmly. As he spoke, he actually removed his hand from Chen Fei's shoulder.

Everyone's eyes narrowed, their mouths falling slightly agape. They were utterly baffled. Why... why didn't that esteemed lord attack?

"Afraid of you? Why should I be afraid of you? Just because you're a demonic cultivator at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer?"

Chen Fei's calm yet icy words rang out again, stunning most of the onlookers. Qi Refining Seventh Layer? What is a Qi Refining Seventh Layer?

Only a select few, like Ming Daochuan and Ruan Jing, reacted differently. Upon hearing Chen Fei's words, they shuddered. Their pupils constricted, and they stared at the black-robed figure in absolute horror, a trembling, terrified question escaping their lips uncontrollably.

"Qi... Qi Refining Seventh Layer!?"

Others might not know what that meant, but Ming Daochuan and his peers knew perfectly well. It was a rank within the cultivation system of Qi Practitioners.

Qi Refining Fourth Layer is equivalent to the Innate Early Stage of an Ancient Martial Artist!

Qi Refining Fifth Layer is equivalent to the Innate Middle Stage of an Ancient Martial Artist!

Qi Refining Sixth Layer is equivalent to the Later Stage of Innate Realm of an Ancient Martial Artist!

And Qi Refining Seventh Layer... is equivalent to a legendary Innate Grandmaster among Ancient Martial Artists!

What did that even mean? In the current circle of Ancient Martial Artists, even within the most powerful factions or ancient sects and families, Innate Level experts were the absolute elite. Those in the Innate Middle Stage or Later Stage of Innate Realm were undoubtedly figures of the Mount Tai Beidou Level, capable of establishing their own dominion anywhere on Earth.

But an Innate Grandmaster... was a level that completely transcended even that! How could they not be shocked? How could they not be astounded? In fact, an overlord of that level had not appeared in the Martial Forest for a very, very long time. Yet today, a Qi Practitioner of the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, an equivalent power, had appeared right before their eyes. This was simply...

"You can actually see through my Cultivation Level," Hundred Ghosts said, his voice hoarse as he stared intently at Chen Fei. Even I didn't expect that a kid like this could see through my concealment technique and discern my true cultivation.

"Your aura-concealing technique is useless in front of me." Facing Hundred Ghosts' shaken gaze, Chen Fei merely gave him a detached glance, his expression still indifferent. "Sir, you are not from this secular world, are you? Black Demon Palace... I don't know why you want to protect him, but our grudge against him is not a small one. If you think you can make us stand down and let him go with just a few words, I'm afraid you're being a bit delusional."

"Is the face of my Black Demon Palace not enough?" Hundred Ghosts retorted grimly.

He stressed the words "Black Demon Palace." His intention was simple. The Black Demon Palace was one of the Three Supreme Martial Arts Halls, possessing immense authority. Furthermore, his Black Demon Palace came from *that* place. He was certain the other party understood the implications and would have to give him face.

"Black Demon Palace?"

Hearing this 'warning,' Chen Fei merely smirked. "The face of the Black Demon Palace is indeed great," he said lightly. "However, are you sure it's the Black Demon Palace behind you that wants to protect him, and not just you personally? Fine. You can take him now. But I will report this truthfully when I return."

With that, he turned to leave without the slightest hesitation. Seeing this, the expression on Hundred Ghosts' face shifted slightly. He unexpectedly reached out to stop him. "Wait..."

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