Mainland Martial Arts

The main hall fell silent again, with only the wind chimes under the eaves swaying gently in the breeze, making a crisp yet slightly lonely sound.

On the northwest border of the Xuanying Empire, the vast, uninhabited desert lay like a cursed wasteland. The scorching sun hung high, scorching the earth mercilessly. Every grain of sand was scorched, seemingly ready to burst into flames at any moment. Like an uncontrolled beast, the howling wind swept through, sweeping up a cloud of yellow sand and shrouding the entire world in a hazy, yellow chaos.

Amidst a sea of ​​sand seemingly forgotten by time, a lone figure trudged along. He wore a tattered cloak, countless scratches and holes left by the wind and sand, making it appear tattered and dilapidated. His hat was pulled down so low on his head that it almost obscured his entire face, revealing only a resolute chin and chapped lips. On his back, he slung a long sword, its scabbard mottled by the dual erosion of time and wind and sand, as if telling of a past filled with untold vicissitudes.

Lin Feng trudged across the sand, each step requiring immense effort. The sand beneath his feet kept sinking, as if the desert were trying to swallow him. His breathing was rapid and heavy, the dry air stinging his throat and nose like countless tiny needles. Aside from the whistling wind and the thumping of his own footsteps, there was no other sound. This deathly silence involuntarily stirred a deep sense of fear and despair.

Suddenly, without warning, the sand behind him shifted slightly, and a massive lizard emerged from beneath the sand like a ghost. The lizard was more than two men tall, covered in rough, hard scales that gleamed coldly in the sunlight. Its eyes, like bells, shone with a bloodthirsty glint. Upon catching sight of Lin Feng in front of it, it roared excitedly, a sharp, piercing roar that cut through the gloomy, oppressive air. Then, rapidly swinging its sturdy limbs, it charged toward Lin Feng, its maw wide open, baring its razor-sharp fangs, ready to devour the tiny human in front of it.

Lin Feng's footsteps suddenly stopped, his body tensing like a vigilant cheetah. As if sensing the deadly danger behind him, he suddenly took a step forward, his movements swift and agile. Then, he turned abruptly. At the same time, his right hand reached behind him like lightning, grasped the hilt of the knife, and pulled with all his might. However, to his shock, he pulled out only the bare handle, the blade nowhere to be seen.

But Lin Feng's face showed no trace of surprise. His eyes revealed a calm and composed expression, as if he had anticipated all this. Without hesitation, he raised the hilt of his knife and swung it down at the giant lizard. His movements were smooth and natural, without the slightest hesitation, as if he were truly holding an incredibly sharp blade.

The moment the knife swung down, an invisible force erupted from the hilt, like a flash of lightning across the dim sky. The lizard's body stiffened suddenly, then slowly split in two. The cut was smooth and flat, as if it had been split by the sharpest knife in the world. The two halves of the lizard fell to the ground with a thud, sending up a cloud of dust. Blood gushed out rapidly, staining the surrounding sand a dark red.

Lin Feng stood quietly, watching the scene before him, his face expressionless. His eyes revealed the weariness of a lifetime, but more so, a tenacity and indomitable spirit. He slowly removed his cape and hat, revealing a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar. Yes, it was Lin Feng, who had been "dead" for six years.

Lin Feng walked over to the bisected lizard and crouched down. He raised the hilt of his knife and seemingly casually slashed it through the air. Strangely, the invisible blade precisely severed a piece of lizard flesh, leaving no trace of blood, as if an invisible blade were truly manipulating it with ease. He brought the severed flesh to his lips and devoured it with hearty mouthfuls. In this desolate desert, food was his lifeblood, and he had long since grown accustomed to this way of eating.

"This tastes terrible," Lin Feng muttered to himself as he chewed. His voice was hoarse and low, echoing in the vast desert. A wry smile appeared on his face. He had long been accustomed to this kind of living environment.

After finishing his meal, Lin Feng stood up and brushed off the dust. He looked up into the distance, his gaze piercing through the vast expanse of yellow sand, as if he wanted to penetrate this endless sea of ​​sand and see the unknown end. His eyes revealed a sense of confusion, but more of an anticipation for the future.

"Where should I go next?" Lin Feng murmured softly, his voice instantly drowned out by the wind. He put on his cloak and hat again, slung the hilt of his sword back onto his back, and continued on his way through the desert with determined steps.

The scorching sun scorched the vast, uninhabited lands of the northwest. A fierce wind whipped up a cloud of yellow sand, swarming like a roaring beast. In this desolate land, ravaged by nature, a single figure struggled forward.

Lin Feng had been trekking alone through this scorching sea of ​​sand for over ten days. His lips were chapped and cracked, streaked with blood, and every breath stung with pain. The dry air seemed to drain the moisture from his lungs, and every step required immense effort. His hair was disheveled, swirling wildly in the wind, coated in dust and grime, making him look disheveled. His tattered cloak, eroded by the wind and sand, was increasingly ripped, its edges rustling in the wind, a testament to the hardships of this journey.

Finally, a different scene appeared before his eyes—Moyan Village. At the village entrance, a villager hunched over, intently planting a sapling. He looked up and stumbled upon Lin Feng. Initially dismissing him as a passing traveler, he lowered his head and returned to his work. However, as Lin Feng approached, the villager suddenly froze. He slowly raised his head, his eyes widening. His expression shifted from initial calm to shock, then to deep fear.

"Isn't this... the person who came here six years ago?" The villager's lips trembled slightly, and his voice was as soft as a mosquito's whisper, revealing a suspicion that he himself could not believe.

The memory of six years ago flooded back into the villagers' minds. Back then, Lin Feng, Xu Tian, ​​Chen Xin'er, and Chen Yu had arrived at the village. Lin Feng and Xu Tian had mentioned that they were General Li Hua's subordinates on the front lines, originally planning to head to Taixu Valley, but had stopped by to visit their former master. Just as they were about to embark on their journey to Taixu Valley, they heard of a divine abode in the uninhabited northwest region. Fueled by a desire to explore the unknown and a yearning for opportunity, the four resolutely set foot in that mysterious and dangerous region.