Chapter 189: Adjustment
Zhang Yue rose from the tree stump and took a deep breath to center himself. A jet-black pill, the size of a child's palm, materialized in his hand. He crushed it and threw it forward!
WHOOSH!
Black smoke billowed out, rapidly spreading through the air.
The black smoke quickly enveloped the area for hundreds of feet around them, completely obscuring Lin Feng's vision.
"Pathetic tricks! Disperse!"
Lin Feng roared. With a wave of his hands, he stirred up a gale that formed a protective barrier around him. The smoke couldn't even get within three feet of his body before being blown away.
"Heh heh! Let's see how long you can keep that up."
Zhang Yue sneered and charged forward again.
Lin Feng scoffed. "Pathetic tricks. Now, die!"
He raised his fist and threw a vicious punch straight at Zhang Yue's face.
Lin Feng put his full power into the punch. His eyes were ice-cold, like those of a wild beast. He was filled with the absolute conviction that he would slay Zhang Yue right here and now.
If this punch landed, Zhang Yue would surely be wounded!
WHOOSH!
As the punch tore through the air, a crazed light glinted in Zhang Yue's eyes. He neither dodged nor retreated, meeting the attack with a fist of his own.
BOOM!
Their fists crashed together. The two inhumanly immense forces collided, and a sickening, jarring crunch echoed from the point of impact.
CRACK!
The bones in Lin Feng's fist shattered, and blood sprayed from the wound. Zhang Yue was sent flying backward.
Zhang Yue crashed heavily to the ground and spat out a mouthful of dark blood. Yet, he just grinned. "Exhilarating!"
"You're courting death!"
Lin Feng sneered. 'A life-and-death battle against a powerful opponent is the fastest way for me to grow stronger. Only by walking the line between life and death can I truly recover my power!'
WHOOSH!
Lin Feng exploded forward with terrifying speed, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.
He aimed a kick straight at Zhang Yue's heart!
Zhang Yue's pupils shrank. He threw himself backward, narrowly dodging the attack.
BOOM!
Lin Feng's foot slammed into the ground, which immediately cratered. He shot high into the air, positioning himself directly above Zhang Yue before bringing his knee down in a vicious strike!
Zhang Yue crossed his arms in front of his chest to block the blow head-on.
For a moment, Lin Feng looked like a descending Demon God. His knee crashed against Zhang Yue's arms.
THUD!
A tremor shot through Zhang Yue's arms, and searing pain coursed through his body. Still, he gritted his teeth and endured, locking his arms around Lin Feng and refusing to budge no matter how he struggled.
"Get down!"
Lin Feng barked, driving his knee down harder, intending to crush Zhang Yue completely.
"Heh heh... I think you're the one with a death wish!"
Zhang Yue gave a cold smile as a thick, purple mist suddenly erupted from his body, carrying with it a cloyingly sweet scent.
'Not good!'
Lin Feng's expression changed. While ordinary poisons could no longer harm his body, he knew to be wary of toxins concocted by Cultivators from reclusive sects. He immediately tried to pull away.
But he was a step too slow. The thick purple mist clung to his clothes, and a wave of paralysis washed over him.
'This poison is potent!'
Lin Feng's brow furrowed as he cursed inwardly. The poison was incredibly aggressive; even his powerful physique was struggling to withstand it.
Lin Feng clenched one fist, placing his other hand behind his back as he assumed a combat stance, ready for whatever Zhang Yue might try next.
"You're poisoned now. Surrender and accept your death."
Zhang Yue said with a savage grin. He had the upper hand now. He was certain he could kill Lin Feng today—it was a golden opportunity.
"Hmph!"
Lin Feng snorted. He circulated his Inner Strength along a peculiar pathway, forcing out most of the poison before it could seep too deep.
Lin Feng exhaled a cloud of turbid air laced with black wisps, and his condition improved significantly.
"What? You're alright?"
Zhang Yue was stunned. This aggressive toxin was one of his ultimate trump cards, powerful enough to destroy an ordinary Martial Artist. Even he wouldn't dare touch it carelessly.
Yet Lin Feng had expelled the poison with nothing more than a snort and a single breath. Zhang Yue was utterly astonished.
Lin Feng couldn't be bothered to explain. He simply stared at Zhang Yue with cold indifference, not saying a word.
Zhang Yue stared back, his gaze fixed on Lin Feng. He knew his opponent was strong; killing him wouldn't be easy.
'But he's deeply poisoned now,' he thought. 'I'm absolutely confident I can kill him.'
"Since you don't know what's good for you, don't blame me for getting nasty!"
Zhang Yue snorted, his figure blurring as he shot forward. He unleashed a continuous barrage of punches at Lin Feng.
A sharp light flashed in Lin Feng's eyes as he raised his arms, blocking every single one of Zhang Yue's attacks.
BANG!
A series of dull thuds echoed as Lin Feng and Zhang Yue were both forced back several meters.
'Huh? You're still holding on?' Zhang Yue's eyes narrowed. In his peripheral vision, he noticed the purple mist on Lin Feng's body was slowly fading.
"Hmph, the poison has already spread through your system. Let's see how long you can hold out now!" Zhang Yue sneered.
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. "I was going to grant you a clean death," he said coldly, "but since you don't appreciate the gesture, I'll just have to send you on your way!"
The moment the words left his lips, he accelerated, charging at Zhang Yue. This time, he employed a Fist Technique. Its moves were simple, yet they held an air of profound mystery and unpredictability.
It was a Fist Technique he had learned once out of boredom: the Ghost Shadow Nine Punches.
Nine punches in total, each one lethal.
The nine punches were characterized by their ghostly, ethereal quality, making them impossible to predict. This was because the very intent behind the technique was utterly sinister.
Even if it wasn't the most powerful technique, it was nearly impossible to defend against in a narrow alley like this. Furthermore, the Ghost Shadow Nine Punches had another unique characteristic.
The first eight punches of the Ghost Shadow Nine Punches were relatively weak, but the final punch was far more powerful.
This was because the Ghost Shadow Nine Punches required a process of building up power. Under the right conditions, the final punch's might was unparalleled—so much so that even a Martial Artist at the Innate realm wouldn't dare to face it directly!
"Haha, you fool! Did you really think I'd just stand here and wait for you to use your Fist Technique?"
With a loud laugh, the veins on Zhang Yue's right arm bulged, turning a stark, visible green. He threw a punch, unleashing a Fist Force as vast and destructive as a landslide or a tsunami.
BOOM!
Lin Feng met the blow head-on with his left fist, refusing to give an inch. But the outcome of the collision made his heart plummet.
'Something's wrong!' Lin Feng thought, a sense of dread washing over him.
The power contained in Zhang Yue's punch far surpassed the Mid Stage of Innate, reaching the Peak of Late Stage Innate. Lin Feng's current strength was only at the Peak of Mid-Stage Innate; he was completely unable to withstand a punch of this magnitude.
BAM!
Lin Feng was sent flying by the blow, stumbling back a full five meters before he could steady himself. But Zhang Yue didn't stop. With a stomp of his foot, he shot forward like an arrow!