As expected, a noob.

Boom!

A terrifying aura spread across the heavens and earth.

With arms crossed, a domineering figure led his entourage through the void, his eyes brimming with unrivaled arrogance. The winds and clouds shifted in response, and countless cultivators trembled in fear!

Gazing upon such an extraordinary phenomenon, the eyes of the onlookers quivered uncontrollably. Merely enveloped by this oppressive might, everyone froze in terror, cold sweat pouring down their backs.

Even Cheng Yuxun felt his throat tighten, his body nearly paralyzed with dread!

"Gulp…"

"It's over… This is truly the end."

When he saw the leader of the Black Dragon Divine Guards appear, he knew fate had already been decided. Though Yi Feng's strength had exceeded expectations, facing such a monstrous existence, even he would likely find no chance of survival.

They were all outsiders—their cultivation was incomparable to the permanent residents of the Fallen God Lands!

Forget fighting back; even escape was a distant dream…

As hope seemed to slip away once more, Cheng Yuxun and the others wore expressions of utter despair and self-reproach.

Silence and terror gripped the scene. The mining grounds at the foot of the mountain were deathly still!

In the sky above, Yi Feng studied the group of black-armored guards with a critical eye. They certainly looked impressive, their equipment gleaming with a polished luster, as if each one was a formidable warrior.

Especially their leader.

Clad in gold-trimmed black armor, his feet resting on auspicious cloud-patterned boots, his goatee and the deep lines on his face spoke of vast experience. His icy eyes radiated overwhelming dominance.

At this moment, he stood with arms crossed, looking down with a scrutinizing gaze.

After a few moments of silent confrontation, the goateed captain's eyes flickered with slight surprise, but his smug smile never faded. Glancing at the mutilated corpses on the ground, his lips curled into a mocking grin.

"Hmm?"

"It seems there’s an unexpected surprise. For an outsider, you possess some skill."

"Not bad. Very not bad."

"Though you’re still an ant, you’ve earned the right to join my Black Dragon Divine Guards. Out of rare mercy, I’ll grant you this chance to live. The choice should be obvious, no?"

His domineering words sent shockwaves through the crowd!

The cultivators were stunned—both by the unexpected offer and by the captain’s terrifying confidence.

Even if someone strong enough to slay ten Black Dragon Divine Guards stood before him, in his eyes, they were still nothing more than an insignificant insect, incapable of causing even a ripple!

The gap between them was so vast it was despair-inducing!

Faced with such reality, anyone with sense would know what choice to make. Challenging an immovable force was pure folly!

The captain’s words had completely crushed any remaining defiance.

Even the last flicker of hope was extinguished. Under the heel of such power, there would never be an escape, never another opportunity…

Cheng Yuxun and Lin Ruochen exchanged a glance, their eyes heavy with resignation.

They could already foresee it—their last hope would soon become another enforcer for their oppressors. The dragon-slayer would inevitably become the dragon. Such was the cruel reality dictated by the insurmountable gap in strength!

Yet, faced with such a domineering proclamation, Yi Feng remained expressionless.

He had seen far too many so-called "tough guys" in his time.

These kinds of boastful figures were nothing new—most turned out to be all bark and no bite. Past failures had taught him that high hopes only led to greater disappointment.

The best approach was to face every enemy with cautious skepticism.

Watching the man’s theatrics with detached calm, Yi Feng felt not even a ripple of emotion.

His grip tightened on his greatsword, his mind focused solely on battle.

Seeing Yi Feng’s composure, the goateed braggart’s eyes flashed with intrigue, but he continued his performance.

"Oh?"

"Do you truly intend to test yourself against me?"

"I advise you to abandon such thoughts—unless you wish to die!"

Snickers rose from the Black Dragon Divine Guards, their laughter dripping with condescension, as if watching a pitiful insect struggle in vain.

"Hahaha…"

Their mocking laughter, filled with arrogant superiority, made the cultivators clench their teeth in humiliation, too afraid to even lift their heads.

Every last one of them had been broken by the cruel truth.

But just as the laughter reached its peak—

Yi Feng suddenly lunged forward, his greatsword flashing without hesitation!

"Whoosh!"

In the blink of an eye, a sword beam sliced through the air!

A crisp snap echoed as the goateed captain was cleanly bisected at the waist, his smug grin freezing in disbelief!

The surrounding Black Dragon Divine Guards stood dumbfounded, unable to process what had just happened!

Too fast—

That sword strike was impossibly swift and ruthless!

Before anyone could react, the captain’s severed halves plummeted to the mining grounds below, his lifeless eyes wide with shock and terror!

Thud! Thud!

Two nearly simultaneous impacts sent the Black Dragon Divine Guards into a frenzy!

"This—!"

"This can’t be!"

"H-How is this possible?!"

"Captain… couldn’t even block a single strike?!"

"How can an ant be this strong?!"

Their smug grins vanished. Every guard stood frozen mid-air, faces paling rapidly, their panic surpassing even the terror of the cultivators when they first arrived!

The commotion snapped the dazed cultivators back to reality.

Lifting their heads, they saw the captain’s corpse lying on the ground… still steaming.

They stood petrified, their minds reeling in disbelief, yet too stunned to make a sound!

One strike.

Just one strike had slain the captain of the Black Dragon Divine Guards?!

How was this possible?!

Even witnessing it firsthand, their shock eclipsed even that of the guards, their pupils trembling violently at this impossible reversal!

The entire scene was thrown into chaos, their worldviews shattered!

Even the usually composed Cheng Yuxun rubbed his eyes repeatedly, staring at the distant corpse in a daze.

"Holy shit…"

"I-Is this real?"

Beside him, Lin Ruochen gasped for breath, her eyes blazing with exhilaration!

"He’s too strong…"

"This… this senior is far beyond our comprehension!"

"We’re saved! We’re actually saved!!!"

As her joyous voice rang out, the cultivators seemed to awaken from their stupor, slowly accepting the miracle before them. Cheers and cries of relief erupted like thunder!

"Praise the heavens!"

"He got what he deserved!"

"Senior’s might is boundless! Slaying these tyrants has saved us all!"

"Brother Liu! Can you see this from the afterlife? Senior has avenged you! Wuwuwu…"

"Senior is invincible!!!"

The humiliation of countless days was washed away in an instant. The crowd erupted in ecstatic celebration—some wept with joy, others embraced and laughed, while a few collapsed to their knees in sheer relief!

The mining grounds became a chorus of jubilation, every soul expressing their overwhelming emotions.

Cheng Yuxun and Lin Ruochen also gazed upward with reverence, their faces alight with admiration.

But when Cheng Yuxun caught sight of Yi Feng’s expression, a chill ran down his spine. A cold gust of wind seemed to pass through him.

Thank goodness…

Thank goodness he had turned a blind eye to Tao Qianhai’s misdeeds. Had he foolishly tried to hold this senior accountable that day, he would’ve brought disaster upon himself!

Wiping his sweat in relief, Cheng Yuxun bowed deeply toward the sky.

"We owe our lives to Senior’s righteous intervention!"

As he led the chant, the cultivators all bowed in unison.

However.

Gazing at the figures prostrating below, Yi Feng's eyes remained as calm as still water.

He landed gracefully, feeling nothing but solitude like snow.

A quiet sigh escaped him, brimming with resignation.

"Ah, yet another noob, as expected."