Chapter Seven: Unceasing Mutations

Qin Feiyang was supposed to be incapable of cultivation, wasn’t he? Wasn’t he a complete good-for-nothing? Yet how was one to explain the scene unfolding before their eyes now? Had Qin Feiyang been playing the fool all along, hiding his true strength?

The sudden turn of events utterly shattered Lin Feng’s previous understanding. The same shock was reflected on Lin Shi’s face. His features and eyes brimmed with disbelief.

At this moment, Qin Feiyang was no longer the insignificant, humble figure they once dismissed. He seemed to stand tall and unyielding, like a war god returned, his not-so-strong frame now imposing beyond measure.

Qin Feiyang’s gaze was as sharp as lightning as he turned toward Lin Feng.

Lin Shi, alarmed, shouted, “Lin Feng, run! You must let the family head know about Qin Feiyang!” He sprang up, leaping onto Qin Feiyang’s back, clamping tightly onto his legs, and biting down on Qin Feiyang’s shoulder, refusing to let go, determined to stop him from pursuing Lin Feng.

Yet Lin Feng did not flee. Seeing Qin Feiyang restrained by Lin Shi, a cold grin spread across his face. With a metallic clang, he drew a dagger from his waist. The blade was razor-sharp, able to sever a hair at a breath!

“You bastard, die!” he roared, gripping the dagger and charging at Qin Feiyang, murderous intent radiating from his entire being.

Qin Feiyang stood steady as a mountain, his expression unchanging. Though Lin Shi’s vicious bite had torn flesh and drawn blood, his teeth sinking to the bone, Qin Feiyang didn’t even furrow his brow.

Strangely, though, he made no move to fight back against Lin Feng’s attack, only watching him intently.

The weakened Frost Wolf King, too, was puzzled. Was this human simply waiting for death?

But in the next instant, its pupils contracted sharply!

As Lin Feng rushed before Qin Feiyang, without hesitation he raised the dagger and stabbed hard at Qin Feiyang’s chest, the blade glinting coldly.

But in that split second, Qin Feiyang spun around, and with a sickening sound, the dagger plunged deep into Lin Shi’s back!

A scream tore from Lin Shi as he slid powerless from Qin Feiyang’s back, collapsing to the ground.

Lin Feng was stunned.

Qin Feiyang seized the moment, driving a fierce punch into Lin Feng’s chest!

Bones cracked. Organs shattered. His entire chest caved in.

With a desperate scream, Lin Feng was sent hurtling like a meteor into a tree as thick as a washbasin. His spine snapped audibly, and he crashed to the ground with a thud.

He couldn’t rise again, sprawled helplessly, wailing in agony.

Both Lin Shi and Lin Feng’s life forces faded rapidly.

Qin Feiyang glanced at the two, a faint smile at his lips. “You strutted before me for five years—I thought you two were formidable. Turns out you’re nothing much after all.”

Lin Shi’s eyes brimmed with venom as he spat blood, gasping, “Qin Feiyang, the family head won’t let you go. Ma Hongmei won’t let you go either. Your death is near!”

“Ma Hongmei? I will personally sever her head…” Qin Feiyang stooped, yanked the dagger from Lin Shi’s back, and blood spurted like a fountain.

“As for the Lin family head, perhaps if I’m in a good mood, I’ll spare his life for Yi Yi’s sake.”

Lin Shi’s face twisted with pain as he cursed, “Qin Feiyang, you will die a miserable death…” But before he could finish, his head lolled, and life left him.

In his dying moment, he hated Lin Feng most of all!

How could anyone be so foolish? He’d bought Lin Feng precious time to escape, yet Lin Feng insisted on courting death. If only Lin Feng had listened and fled, they wouldn’t both have perished. Had Lin Feng reached Iron Ox Town, Qin Feiyang’s days would have been numbered.

It’s said: a godlike foe is nothing to fear, but a pigheaded ally is fatal!

Lin Shi died with his eyes wide, unable to find peace.

Qin Feiyang cast him a cool glance, then turned to Lin Feng.

“Qin Feiyang… Please, don’t kill me… I’ll serve you as your slave…” Lin Feng pleaded, his voice trembling.

But Qin Feiyang was unmoved. He plunged the dagger into Lin Feng’s heart; blood spattered everywhere.

“To serve as my slave? You’re not even worthy,” Qin Feiyang murmured, pulling the dagger free and searching both their bodies.

He found ten Body Refinement Pills and five gold coins.

“Profiting from the dead isn’t such a bad way to live,” he mused, pleased with the haul.

Ten Body Refinement Pills were enough to raise him to a seven-star martial practitioner. Five gold coins could buy ten more pills. With the Wolf King and over fifty white wolves in the valley, he suddenly felt that reclaiming his rank as a nine-star martial master wouldn’t be so hard after all.

But it still wasn’t enough.

In the imperial capital of the Great Qin Empire, even martial sect masters were considered third-rate. Martial masters were hardly worth mentioning.

“I need to become even stronger!” Qin Feiyang muttered, striding toward the Wolf King.

He needed to be extremely cautious with this cunning and fierce creature.

Seeing Qin Feiyang approach, the Wolf King’s despair deepened. This human was unflappable, clear-headed, and ruthless. Though his strength was on par with the two humans lying dead, in terms of danger, he was far more terrifying.

Step by step, Qin Feiyang closed in, and the Wolf King’s heart sank deeper into darkness. It was afraid, it panicked, it didn’t want to die.

Driven by the will to live, it rose stubbornly, glaring at Qin Feiyang with savage eyes.

Qin Feiyang halted five meters away, wary.

But as he met the Wolf King’s gaze, his vigilance shifted to surprise. He murmured, “This creature’s nature is a bit like mine—it never gives up, no matter the odds.”

Pity stirred within him.

After a moment’s silence, Qin Feiyang smiled. “White-eyed wolf, I won’t kill you. Go on, get out of here!”

The Wolf King hesitated, suspicion in its eyes.

“I really won’t kill you. Why not be friends instead?” Qin Feiyang joked.

He wouldn’t dare truly befriend a wolf. His uncle often warned him: “To run with wolves or bargain with tigers is to dig your own grave.” The term “white-eyed wolf” was not without reason.

But before he could finish, the Wolf King growled low, its eyes blazing with savagery.

“Damn!” Qin Feiyang’s heart tightened.

Before he could react, the Wolf King suddenly leapt three meters into the air, jaws wide, fangs gleaming.

“They say all wolves are ungrateful, and it’s true!” Qin Feiyang cursed, tightening his grip on the dagger, ready to strike back.

But a pungent, fetid scent overwhelmed him.

“What—?” Qin Feiyang was startled. This wasn’t the wolf’s scent—it was the stench of a snake!

He looked up sharply.

There, a venomous serpent lunged at him from above.

It was as thick as an arm and as long as a pole, its whole body emerald green, blending perfectly with the leaves. Without close inspection, it would be impossible to spot. Atop its head grew a fleshy crown like a crane’s.

“A Crane-Crested Serpent!” Qin Feiyang gasped, his scalp prickling.

The Crane-Crested Serpent, like the Wolf King, was a ferocious beast. But compared to the Wolf King, it was even more terrifying, for it carried a deadly venom. Once injected, even a martial artist of the same level would die within thirty breaths!

Qin Feiyang had never expected such a monster to be lurking in the trees above.

Only now did he realize—the Wolf King’s growl had been a warning, not a threat.

He had misunderstood; the Wolf King was trying to save him!

All this happened in a flash. As the Crane-Crested Serpent dove, the Wolf King sprang up, biting down on the serpent’s head, the two beasts tumbling behind Qin Feiyang.

The Wolf King, fierce as ever, clamped its jaws, fighting with desperate strength. The serpent coiled tightly around its neck, intent on strangling it.

The two beasts fought savagely, but the Wolf King was clearly at a disadvantage.

Qin Feiyang’s eyes flashed as he observed the struggle.

Suddenly, he lunged, driving his dagger with all his might into the serpent’s vulnerable spot—the seventh inch.

The blade sank deep and blood spurted.

The Crane-Crested Serpent shrieked in agony.

Without pause, Qin Feiyang grabbed the Wolf King’s tail and yanked it free, dragging the beast away.

When striking a snake, aim for its seventh inch—the weakness shared by common and ferocious snakes alike. Once pierced, death was certain.

The serpent thrashed in the grass for a moment before growing still, its slit pupils widening, then fading to a dull gray.

Qin Feiyang exhaled in relief, shuddered, and released the Wolf King’s tail, retreating five meters, eyes wary. Though it had saved him, he dared not lower his guard around wolves.

Yet the Wolf King lay motionless, frothing at the mouth.

“Damn—it must have been poisoned when it bit the serpent’s head. If I don’t help, it’ll die for sure…”

Qin Feiyang’s gaze flickered. He strode to the serpent’s body and quickly sliced off the fleshy crown atop its head.

The serpent’s venom was deadly, but the antidote was carried in the crown itself.

As he cut away the crown—

Whoosh!

Three icy arrows shot toward him like fanged serpents, catching him off guard!

Simultaneously, three more arrows flew at the Wolf King!

“Damn it, there are more enemies!”

Hearing the sharp whistle of arrows, Qin Feiyang knew instantly what was happening and his face darkened.

He had no choice.

He sprinted to the Wolf King, tossing the fleshy crown before its mouth.

The Wolf King cast him a cold glance, then flicked out its tongue and swallowed the crown.

Immediately, the frothing ceased, and color returned to its pale eyes.

But at that very moment, six arrows rained down upon them!