Chapter 1186: I Told You It Would Be Quick

As the Grand Elder's voice fell, Murong Huang lifted his sword with a cold smile and pointed straight at Ling Feng. "Have you prepared how you'll beg for mercy on your knees?"

Ling Feng stood with his arms at his sides. He did not draw his sword. He merely crooked a finger toward Murong Huang and said calmly, "You plan to make me kneel by talking? Then you'll have to call me father a few more times. I'm a soft-hearted man when it comes to people who call me that!"

"You!"

Murong Huang's face stiffened, and he roared, "You're courting death, boy!"

Hum!

A deep hum rolled through the air. The void trembled as waves of force burst from Murong Huang's body, spreading outward in a violent gale.

"I'll finish you with a single move!"

He showed no restraint. The moment the duel began, he unleashed his killing technique.

"Tyrant Steel Slash!"

In an instant, Murong Huang's figure vanished from the platform. With a speed invisible to the naked eye, he struck directly toward Ling Feng.

Sword qi filled the air like a storm. Yet Ling Feng did not flinch. He showed no sign of even raising a finger.

"Has he been frozen in fear by Murong Huang's aura?"

"So much for his big talk earlier. He's nothing but a flashy weakling."

"If you have power, you can brag all you want. But if you don't and still try to act tough, that just makes you an idiot!"

Mocking voices rose from the crowd. Only a few sharp-eyed people noticed that, at the instant Murong Huang charged, a faint violet light flashed within Ling Feng's eyes.

The Heavenly Dao Divine Inscription began to condense.

Through the Eye of the Emperor, every weakness in Murong Huang's movements was laid bare.

The next moment, Ling Feng raised his hand slightly. A crisp sound split the air. A clear slap echoed. Murong Huang's body flew backward through the air!

Bam!

He crashed to the ground below the platform. His sword spun from his grasp and landed several paces away.

"

Pfft!

"

A mouthful of blood burst from his lips, along with every tooth he had left.

"I told you it would be quick, I just didn't expect it to be this quick!"

Ling Feng shook his head, blew the dust from his palm, and smiled faintly. "If you lack strength, don't pretend you have it. You're far too weak!"

"Ling Feng, you—"

Murong Huang struggled to his feet, pointing a trembling finger at Ling Feng. His fury overwhelmed him, and he fainted.

The audience felt their minds go blank.

A king-tier cultivator had been defeated by someone from the Spiritual Element Realm in a single strike!

And not just any king-tier cultivator, Murong Huang was a famed genius!

"This... this can't be real."

"I-Insta-kill?"

"No, he didn't even use a move. He only slapped him once..."

"T-That's terrifying. Is that man even human?"

"By the heavens!"

Yang Huanzhi let out a startled cry, then turned to Xiang'er. "Sister Xiang'er, if you fought Murong Huang, how many moves would it take to beat him?"

"If he fell into my illusion, one move would be enough. If not, ten might still be too few."

Xiang'er swallowed hard. Ling Feng's strength was at least ten times greater than she had imagined!

The same shock spread through the audience seats. Even Murong Zining's body trembled slightly.

Murong Huang can't withstand even a single strike from Ling Feng?

Only now did she realize how foolish it had been to think Murong Huang could teach Ling Feng a lesson.

Ling Feng's power could not be measured by his realm!

"What an excellent match," Elder Tian Yi said with a grin. "Though it ended rather quickly."

Murong Zining's cheeks burned with shame. Murong Huang had lost, but it was the face of Tianhuang City that had truly fallen!

"Murong Zining, where is your grace now? Where is your composure? Has the goddess finally revealed her true self?"

Ling Feng gave her no room to retreat. His eyes fixed coldly on her. "Don't say I didn't give you a chance. If you're not convinced, come down and fight me yourself. If you win, the terms still stand!"

"

Hehe

..."

Murong Zining forced a thin smile. Everyone could see how unnatural it looked on her proud face.

"Zining had not wished to cross blades with Mr. Ling on the platform," she said softly. "But since Mr. Ling insists, I have no choice but to accept. I ask only that Mr. Ling show mercy!"

She drew a deep breath. Her figure flickered and landed gracefully upon the platform.

"You really are something," Ling Feng said. "Even now, your words sound so fake. You might as well rename yourself Murong Fake!"

He lifted a brow and smiled faintly. "Tell me, Miss Murong. I've shamed your Tianhuang City before everyone's eyes. You must be dying to tear me apart."

"

Hehe,

a mere Murong Huang cannot represent Tianhuang City's honor!"

Murong Zining clenched her fists. From her sleeve drifted a ribbon of nine-colored silk.

Ling Feng's eyes narrowed. The Nine-Color Silk was a true Treasure of Heaven and Earth.

"A fine treasure indeed. Worthy of Tianhuang City's little princess!"

Ling Feng instantly understood that the silk carried powerful defensive energy. With such protection, he would not be able to strike her directly as he had done to Murong Huang.

What a scheming viper, however...

Ling Feng curled the corner of his mouth into a smile. He was planning to play a slightly more exciting game with this woman.

"Mr. Ling, are you ready? Zining will make her move!"

Before her words fully faded, Murong Zining attacked. Her body moved with graceful precision, the nine-colored silk swirling around her. A surge of elemental force pressed down toward Ling Feng like a collapsing sky.

She truly deserved the title of half-step Human Emperor!

Ling Feng's figure flashed as he used the Boundless Sword Steps to retreat several paces. The Heavenly Dao Divine Inscriptions gathered within his eyes. He shouted, "Reality Reversal!"

At once, a field of distorted energy formed and spread toward Murong Zining. She gave a soft snort and caused the nine-colored silk to wrap around her body, forming a radiant sphere. The barrier blocked the force of Reality Reversal entirely.

"She can even do that!"

Ling Feng's eyelid twitched. He regarded the woman with a bit more respect. Putting aside her moral character, this woman could certainly be considered talented.

Still, she was his enemy, and he had no intention of holding back.

"Dream!"

Around Ling Feng, lines of glowing inscriptions appeared like phantom dragons coiling in the air. In the next moment, they shot toward the colorful sphere surrounding Murong Zining.

"That..."

On the viewing platform, Elder Tian Yi's eyes widened. "That is the power of Illusion Heart Queen! This boy has already mastered her teachings?"

Yang Huanzhi and Xiang'er both cried out in astonishment. "That technique, Dream, is a high-tier illusion technique. Anyone who falls into it will be controlled without realizing it, even enslaved by the caster!"

Even the Illusion Heart Queen herself seldom dared to use this technique against opponents above her rank. If it backfired, the consequences were unimaginable.

Yet Ling Feng, only at the eighth level of the Spiritual Element Realm, dared to cross an entire great realm to cast it on a half-step Human Emperor...

His courage was beyond belief!