Chapter 37: Opponent
He hadn't encountered a worthy opponent in over twenty years. It made him feel as if he'd grown old.
"Then let's see."
Lin Feng grinned, sinking into a slight crouch. Then, stamping his foot, he shot forward like a pouncing cheetah.
BOOM!
The air itself seemed to shudder violently!
"Nice one!"
Elder Li roared. His figure abruptly vanished, reappearing behind Lin Feng in an instant. With both hands moving in unison, he brought them down in a chopping motion aimed at Lin Feng's neck.
Lin Feng spun around, raising his right hand to block. At the same time, he threw a roundhouse kick with his left leg, striking Elder Li's shoulder and using the momentum to charge forward!
BANG!
The two exchanged a few head-on blows, and both retreated several steps.
"It's been too long since I've had a real opponent. Today, I can finally loosen up! I'm going to make your death excruciating!"
Elder Li let out a long cry and attacked Lin Feng again. His muscles bulged, seeming to contain terrifying explosive power.
BANG!
For a time, the warehouse echoed with constant bangs. The two were trading blows, locked in a stalemate, and appeared to be evenly matched.
CRACK!
Just then, Lin Feng's arm was suddenly locked by a strange force.
A moment later, his body was thrown off balance, making him stagger.
"Time to die, kid!"
Elder Li let out a low growl and kicked fiercely at Lin Feng's head. He knew Lin Feng was far more agile than an ordinary person, so this strike had to land. Otherwise, he'd have no way of dealing with him.
But Lin Feng just gave him a strange smile. The next instant, his body contorted impossibly, and Elder Li's foot grazed right past his clothes.
'What the…'
Elder Li's pupils contracted. 'My attack wasn't perfect, but there's no way he should have been able to dodge it.'
But in the next instant, alarm bells screamed in his mind!
BANG!
Lin Feng seized the opening and threw a punch straight at Elder Li's face. If it landed, it would likely shatter his skull!
Elder Li's gaze sharpened. He leaned back sharply, dodging the punch by a hair's breadth. Then, his body abruptly halted, and he lashed out with a low sweep kick!
Unfazed, Lin Feng blocked the kick with his forearms. He then used the momentum to pull Elder Li closer, raised his right leg high, and whipped it out in a powerful kick.
Elder Li didn't dare block the kick. He leaped back to evade it. After landing, he stared intently at Lin Feng, who was slowly retracting his leg, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"I never thought you'd be hiding so much strength."
He spoke in a deep voice, his face ashen.
"Hiding my strength?"
Lin Feng shrugged. "I don't think it's anything worth boasting about."
"Heh heh."
Elder Li laughed from pure rage. He then flicked his sleeve, and seven or eight Cross Darts shot out from it.
He then took a step, instantly closing the distance to Lin Feng. Bending his right index and middle fingers into a claw, he thrust them straight for Lin Feng's throat!
Lin Feng's eye twitched. He hadn't expected Elder Li to be so fast, precise, and ruthless. It caught him completely off guard!
But just as he moved to dodge, the Cross Darts reached him.
Lin Feng frowned. Gritting his teeth, he had no choice but to twist his body, flicking his hands to parry the Cross Darts with silver needles.
He had to simultaneously defend against Elder Li's surprise attack and block the dense barrage of Cross Darts.
In the blink of an eye, Lin Feng's arms were covered in bloody marks.
"Die!"
Seeing this, Elder Li laughed aloud and unleashed a vicious whip kick. Lin Feng's body blurred as he swayed aside, dodging the powerful strike.
Then, Lin Feng swept his arms around, aiming to grab Elder Li's knee!
Elder Li's eyes narrowed. His hands flipped over, forming into eagle claws as he grabbed for Lin Feng's wrists.
But Lin Feng neutralized it all with nonchalant ease.
'How is this possible!'
Elder Li was stunned. 'I have a wealth of combat experience. That last combination should have been enough to easily take down several Martial Artists.'
'But now, I can't do a thing to this Lin Feng in front of me!'
"I told you, you're not my opponent."
Lin Feng smirked. His body coiled like a spring, and then he launched himself forward.
He shot toward Elder Li like an arrow loosed from a bow. The movement was like that of a predator pouncing on its prey, brimming with explosive power.
Seeing Lin Feng's attack, Elder Li didn't dare hesitate and instantly retreated. But he was still half a beat too slow.
Lin Feng's heavy fist was already upon him. Unable to dodge, he could only hastily raise his arms to guard.
BANG!
Lin Feng's fist landed squarely on Elder Li's arms. Elder Li grunted, his stance breaking as he was sent flying back three or four meters.
"You... you actually hurt me?"
Elder Li's gaze was somber. He never would have thought that Lin Feng could actually injure him.
His body had been tempered for years. An ordinary person could strike him a hundred times without causing any real damage. But now, Lin Feng had nearly taken his life with a single punch.
"Hurting you? Is that supposed to be a big deal?"
Lin Feng smiled disdainfully. "If you don't believe me, try again."
He took a step and rushed towards Elder Li again.
"Since you're so eager to die, I'll be happy to oblige!"
Elder Li snorted. He spread his arms, leaped into the air, and then slammed back down to the ground. His right fist whistled through the air as it shot directly toward Lin Feng's face.
BANG!
Unafraid, Lin Feng met the attack head-on. His arms blocked the fist, but the ferocious force sent him skidding backward as he worked to dissipate the energy.
His body was bent low, his feet gouging two shallow furrows into the floor tiles as he slid. His hands pressed against the ground, crushing the tiles beneath them.
Elder Li's expression turned grave. Lin Feng's performance was beyond his expectations.
'After all, I'm a master at the Innate level!'
'And Lin Feng looks like he's barely in his twenties. How could he possibly fight me on equal footing, let alone gain the upper hand?'
'But one thing is clear: I cannot lose!'
'If word gets out that I lost to some young punk, I'll be utterly disgraced.'
SWISH!
Elder Li's speed suddenly increased, his body leaving a string of afterimages in the air as he closed in on Lin Feng in the blink of an eye.
"Get lost!"
A sneer touched Lin Feng's lips as he clenched his fists and threw a powerful punch at Elder Li.
BANG!
With a deafening crash, a tremendous force slammed into him, and Lin Feng actually felt a sting of pain.
'He really is a tough opponent!'
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. 'Elder Li's raw power is indeed much greater than mine. His combat techniques are solid, his moves sharp and cunning. Any other Ancient Martial Artist would probably be at a disadvantage.'
'But who am I? I'm Lin Feng! The sole heir to the master of the Immortal Doctor Valley, the young master of the Medicine God Lin Clan!'
'Elder Li might be strong, but in the end, he's just a common mortal. His strength is, at best, at the initial stage of an Innate Martial Artist.'
'In my eyes, that level of strength is far from formidable.'