Chapter Forty-One: Lotus of Fire at Every Step

Wang Yun was hysterical, his eyes bloodshot, his appearance deranged as if possessed by madness. He roared, “You wretched fiend!”

The Heart Demon Gu was a treasured artifact of the Mara Society, and more than that, it was the key to his future dominion over both Chu Prefecture and Binhai. Yet Lin Feng, right before his eyes, had crushed the mother insect of the Heart Demon Gu, shattering his clandestine plan to rule the two cities.

Not only had their invasion of Binhai collapsed, but even their already-secured hold over Chu Prefecture might now unravel! If that happened, the Mara Society’s efforts to secretly control both cities would become nearly impossible.

This Lin Feng was courting death!

Wang Yun formed seals with his hands, stepping forward deliberately, the black ghostly fire in his grasp crackling with explosive heat, baking the entire room.

Everyone present was drenched in sweat, their awe for Wang Yun’s power deepening—none dared to disobey.

“Very well, Lin Feng, is it? I underestimated you. I hadn’t expected you to not only boast, but to be even better than most at seeking your own destruction.”

“Fine, fine! It’s been a long time since I burned someone alive. I wonder if my skills have grown rusty. Today, I’ll use you as practice!”

Though furious to the point of madness, Wang Yun retained his reason.

Now that the mother insect was gone, he had to display overwhelming power to silence the city’s upper echelons, ensuring they would never rebel. As the saying goes, kill the chicken to frighten the monkey.

Lin Feng was the chicken that needed slaughtering!

Wang Yun closed in step by step, stopping in front of Lin Feng. The ghostly fire in his hand condensed atop his palm, forming a blade of spectral fire.

“Just now, I offered you a quick death, but you refused! Now, you’ll taste the agony of wanting to die but being unable to!”

With a cruel smile, Wang Yun raised his right hand, the blade of ghost fire hovering above Lin Feng’s right shoulder.

“Hahaha! When it comes to turning men into cripples, I always start with the right arm!”

He brought the blade down, and everyone turned away, unable to bear the brutality as Lin Feng’s right arm seemed doomed to be severed by Wang Yun’s burning hand.

Yet, just as all believed Lin Feng would lose his arm in a ghastly spectacle, Lin Feng spoke with calm indifference:

“A mere spark, far less than netherworld fire, dares to harm me?”

“Playing with fire? Even the Fire Lotus Ancestor couldn’t best me. And you, an uninitiated rogue, dare act up? You’re beyond foolish.”

With that, Lin Feng gently exhaled, like blowing out a candle, and snuffed out the ghost fire on Wang Yun’s hand completely!

“Impossible! My demonic flame… Who are you really…?”

Wang Yun was utterly stunned. In all his years wandering the martial world, no one had ever dispelled his demonic fire with such ease—no one!

Yet today, a useless son-in-law had blown it out with a single breath?

It was unthinkable!

“Oh, and the Fire Lotus Ancestor’s mastery over flames—I know a thing or two about it. For your sake, ant, I’ll use it to send you on your way.”

As he spoke, Lin Feng stepped forward. At his feet, an azure ghostly flame blossomed into a spinning lotus.

With his second step, a crimson Nirvana fire appeared, forming another lotus.

The third step brought forth the illusory Red Lotus Karmic Fire, manifesting as a lotus as well.

The fourth step summoned the blazing Six Ding Divine Fire, rising as yet another lotus.

With each step, a supreme sacred flame took lotus form, encircling Lin Feng—each stride birthed a lotus!

The room instantly became as torrid as Fire Mountain itself. The crowd was so parched with heat that they nearly collapsed, sweat pouring from their bodies like rain.

With four ancient sacred flames blooming before him, Wang Yun was stunned. He had never imagined his opponent could wield such power.

His demonic fire was utterly insignificant before these four sacred flames.

Only now did Wang Yun understand Lin Feng’s words about “ants,” realizing he had been displaying his paltry skills before a true master, courting certain doom!

“Four divine flames… You’re practically the Fire God incarnate…”

As Wang Yun gazed at the dazzling lotuses beneath Lin Feng’s feet, despair filled his heart.

All his scheming had come to nothing—who could have foreseen such a monstrous figure would appear, and one who could command four sacred fires at that!

“In this case, if I kill you, will you accept it?” Lin Feng asked.

“Accept? Never! Even if it means certain death, I’ll fight!”

With that, Wang Yun plunged his right hand into his own chest, tearing out his heart. He ignited it, and a strange red-black flame blazed fiercely from the organ.

This was clearly his last desperate move.

“Die!”

Holding his heart aloft, flames raging, Wang Yun charged straight at Lin Feng, resolved to his fate.

But before absolute strength, all effort was futile.

“Fourfold Flame Execution!”

Lin Feng sighed softly. Behind him, the four fire lotuses each shed a petal, which floated together in the air, merging into a colossal, lifelike dragon of fire. Its maw gaped wide and, in one swift motion, it swallowed Wang Yun whole!

“Aaah—!”

He had no time even to scream. In an instant, Wang Yun was incinerated by the sacred flames, not even a trace of ash remaining.

…

Moments later, Lin Feng flicked his hands, and the four fire lotuses vanished as if nothing had happened at all.

Yet the bewildered, ashen faces of those in the room, and their trembling hands, proclaimed clearly that everything that had just transpired was all too real.

“Gulp—”

Liu Ke swallowed hard in disbelief, his knees buckling, his body shuddering and slick with cold sweat.

Clutching his chest, he looked again at Lin Feng, and in his eyes there was nothing but terror—no trace of contempt remained.

When Lin Feng’s gaze swept over him, Liu Ke immediately dropped to his knees with a thud:

“Immortal! You’re a great immortal, I beg you, have mercy on me! I’m just a nobody, it was all the Mara Society! It was that damned Wang Yun! He forced me—every bad idea was his! Please, I beg you, spare me!”

Like a desperate dog, Liu Ke groveled at Lin Feng’s feet, clutching his ankles and weeping bitterly.

Lin Feng regarded him with utter indifference.

He already knew who in this room deserved death and who merited reprieve.

He walked calmly to the chief seat and sat down unhurriedly.

This time, no one in the hall dared question Lin Feng’s identity or power. Instead, all hung their heads like startled birds, not daring to meet his gaze.

“Liu Ke, I demand a hand and a foot from you. Do you accept?”

Faced with mortal peril, Liu Ke nearly suffered cardiac arrest, blood rising in his throat. But when he heard Lin Feng wanted only a hand and a foot, he agreed instantly, without hesitation.

“I accept! Great Immortal, as long as you spare my wretched life, I’ll do whatever you say!”

With Wang Yun’s fate before him, Liu Ke dared not bargain—survival was all that mattered.

“I want all your assets. Do you accept?”

“I accept! Great Immortal, here’s my Swiss bank Centurion card—most of my wealth is there, and the password is six eights! I also have fixed assets worth a billion in Chu Prefecture. Once I return, I’ll sell them all and deposit the proceeds into this card!”

Liu Ke offered up everything, desperate to live.

Lin Feng nodded slightly. Such a powerless mortal was as insignificant as an ant—not worth further attention.

Outwardly, Liu Ke appeared utterly submissive, but inside he cursed fiercely:

“You killed Wang Yun. No matter how strong you are, the Mara Society will come for you. Your end is near, Lin Feng!”

Of course, Lin Feng saw the resentment in Liu Ke’s eyes, but an ant was of no consequence. With a wave of his hand, a blade-like gust of wind shot out, instantly severing one of Liu Ke’s hands and one foot.

“Aagh—my hand! My leg!”

Liu Ke screamed in agony, his resentment even more naked as he glared at Lin Feng with venomous hatred, cursing him in his heart.