Seeing the dark shadow attacking, Ji Boxiao ignored Lin Feng’s argument and immediately rose to meet the challenge.
However, the dark shadow’s attack speed was too fast. After only a few exchanges of punches and kicks, Ji Boxiao was sent flying by a palm strike.
With a *shrieking* sound!
A black, furry, large claw revealed slender, sharp talons. As it sent Ji Boxiao flying, the sharp talons darted towards his neck.
Like a berserk black bear, the black paw possessed terrifying lethality. If struck, Ji Boxiao would surely die on the spot.
But the Young Master of the Ji family was not to be trifled with either. Sensing the opponent’s power, Ji Boxiao held nothing back. A red light suddenly flashed between his eyebrows.
A small red sword mark appeared on Ji Boxiao’s brow.
Sensing its master was in danger, the small sword shot out from Ji Boxiao’s forehead, directly at the dark shadow.
Threatened by the small sword, the dark shadow abandoned its attempt to finish off Ji Boxiao and quickly dodged.
Seizing the opportunity to catch his breath, a fierce smile bloomed on Ji Boxiao’s lips. He relentlessly controlled the red small sword, launching a storm of attacks at the dark shadow.
“Lin Feng, what’s the deal with this small sword?”
Qingniao watched with great curiosity.
This small sword was extraordinary, controllable by thought alone. Even facing an army of thousands, it could cleave through them with a single strike.
“This Ji Boxiao should possess Nascent Soul stage strength.”
“Upon reaching the Nascent Soul stage, cultivators can nurture a miniature version of themselves within their bodies, known as the Nascent Soul.”
“Once the Nascent Soul is formed, it can cultivate autonomously, just like the main body. This small sword, theoretically speaking, is the cultivator’s flying sword. When the flying sword merges with the Nascent Soul, it can be controlled by thought, shrinking and expanding at will.”
Lin Feng explained. He had initially thought Ji Boxiao’s cultivation was similar to his own, but he hadn’t expected this fellow to be on the same level as Duan Liang.
Of course, even if Ji Boxiao and Duan Liang were both at the Nascent Soul stage, Ji Boxiao would surely be no match for Duan Liang in terms of actual combat power.
Duan Liang was at the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul stage, while Ji Boxiao, at best, had only recently entered the Nascent Soul stage, leaving a significant gap in strength.
Not to mention that the old Taoist Duan Liang always seemed to produce some rare magical artifacts.
“Lin Feng, then according to you, isn’t Ji Boxiao even more powerful than his father, Ji Zhengchun?”
Qingniao was even more astonished. Ji Boxiao looked to be around Lin Feng’s age, perhaps twenty-seven or twenty-eight.
Yet, at such a young age, his strength was already so astonishing. Wasn’t he a heaven-defying prodigy?
“I’ve met Ji Zhengchun. His strength is comparable to that Immortal Crane Taoist, likely at the Half-step Soul Transformation stage.”
“Therefore, Ji Boxiao is definitely not as powerful as Ji Zhengchun.”
Lin Feng had witnessed Immortal Crane Taoist’s power. Back then, if not for Ying Tianqing backing him, he would have had a hard time defeating Immortal Crane Taoist.
And Immortal Crane Taoist was ranked similarly to Ji Zhengchun on the Heavenly Rankings, so the two were surely evenly matched.
“Alright, my perspective is truly too limited. I haven’t even heard of these levels you’re talking about.”
Qingniao gave a wry smile. She had been somewhat resentful when Lin Feng had looked down on her low cultivation.
Now, seeing this, she realized she had been like a frog at the bottom of a well.
“Wicked beast, reveal your true form at once!”
Ji Boxiao roared, controlling the red small sword with his mind. The sword suddenly split into dozens, surrounding the dark shadow.
“Ignorant human.”
The dark shadow let out a disdainful voice, and its body began to grow rapidly.
Soon, a black fox appeared before Ji Boxiao.
This black fox was as large as a bull, standing over a person tall, with three thick tails floating behind it.
With a gentle flick of its tails, three streaks of phantom light, like lightning, struck the red small sword.
With a *clang*.
The small sword buzzed and vibrated under the impact.
Seeing this, Ji Boxiao was about to urge the small sword to launch a fierce attack.
However, the black fox suddenly lunged towards Ji Boxiao, its sharp fox claws raking across his chest.
Blood spurted out. Ji Boxiao cried out in pain, his blue athletic shirt torn, revealing his bronze skin and solid pectoral muscles.
On his chest, several bloody gashes were shocking to behold, bleeding incessantly.
In pain, Ji Boxiao leaned against the stone wall, his face instantly turning as pale as paper.
Just as the black fox prepared to launch its next attack on Ji Boxiao, He Yuning moved.
He Yuning raised her fair hand, and terrifying cold air erupted from her palm. This cold air, like a fire extinguisher, sprayed onto the black fox, instantly freezing it into an ice block.
Seizing the moment, He Yuning flashed to Ji Boxiao’s side and released a faint stream of cold air, freezing the profusely bleeding wound on Ji Boxiao’s chest.
With the freezing, Ji Boxiao’s pain significantly lessened.
“Yuning, thank you.”
Ji Boxiao said gratefully, then struggled to get up from the ground.
At the same time, the frozen black fox burst through the ice with a roar, its crimson eyes fixed maliciously on He Yuning. It lunged, swinging its sharp claws at her.
He Yuning’s expression was indifferent. She subtly rotated her palm, and an ice spike formed, shooting towards the black fox.
The black fox remained calm, opened its mouth, and spat out a mass of black mist. The mist collided with the ice spike, and the spike, as if encountering flame, instantly melted into a puddle of water on the ground.
With the threat of the ice spike gone, a fierce smile appeared on the black fox’s lips. With a few swift movements, it was right beside He Yuning.
At that moment, its sharp talons locked onto He Yuning’s fair neck.
“Sister, be careful!”
He Yuqing cried out in alarm.
Lin Feng and Qingniao also changed their expressions.
Just as Lin Feng was considering whether to intervene, a dazzling blue light suddenly erupted from He Yuning’s body.
“Wicked beast, die!”
He Yuning, like a goddess of ice and snow, her body covered in frost. Behind her, an ice phoenix unfurled its wings with a *whoosh*.
The ice phoenix was entirely condensed from ice. Its appearance caused the entire cave to become bone-chillingly cold.
The ice phoenix spread its wings, and an endless wave of frost surged towards the black fox.
The black fox had no time to react and was instantly encased in ice, becoming an ice block that crashed to the ground with a thud.
Seeing this, He Yuning dispelled the ice phoenix. With a wave of her hand, countless ice arrows condensed behind her, ready to pierce the frozen black fox with a volley of arrows.
“Miss Yuning, show mercy where possible. You’ve already frozen it; there’s no need to kill it outright.”
Lin Feng stepped in front of the frozen black fox.
It wasn’t out of saintly compassion, but this black fox reminded him of the demon king Black Fox King, who was about to be resurrected.
Black foxes were rare creatures, especially this three-tailed black fox. Lin Feng highly suspected it was related to the Black Fox King.
“Get out of the way! I only froze it; it can break free from the ice at any time. Do you think I would leave such a troublesome creature alive?”
He Yuning stared coldly at Lin Feng, the countless ice arrows behind her humming ominously, ready to be unleashed.
“You’re just afraid it will continue to pester you. I’ll take care of it.”
Lin Feng smiled, spread his palm, and the Underworld Demonic Pot appeared out of thin air.
He opened the lid of the demon-sealing jar, and before He Yuning could say anything, he had absorbed the black fox into the pot.
“The Underworld Demonic Pot? You actually have the Underworld Demonic Pot?”
Upon seeing Lin Feng’s artifact, He Yuning frowned slightly, but she still retracted her ice arrows. Her entire demeanor returned to normal, and the frost covering her body vanished.
“It’s not mine; it’s lent to me by an elder brother who is a Taoist.”
Lin Feng explained, immediately putting away the Underworld Demonic Pot.
“Little Fengzi, you’re something else. Your skills might not be much, but you possess a great treasure. Your elder brother truly treats you well.”
He Yuqing walked over with a cheerful grin, nudging Lin Feng with her shoulder. “Hey, Little Fengzi, how about lending the Underworld Demonic Pot to Sister Qingqing for a few days?”