104: Chapter 104 Zhou Tianhao Suffers Family Discipline! The Old Town Riot: Here I Come!
Walking out of the small building, the sunlight was a bit piercing.
Lin Feng squinted his eyes, standing in the alleyway, lost in thought.
Three paths—which one should he choose?
He didn't know.
After thinking for a long time, his mind was still a mess.
"Forget it, I won't think about it anymore."
He shook his head.
"I'll go grind some mobs to level up first."
"I'll talk about it once I reach Level 50."
He spread his Wind Wings and soared into the sky.
Target—the Old City District.
There, there were endless Void Beasts.
It was a great place for leveling up.
Xiao Jin lay on his shoulder, chirping excitedly.
"Let's go, time to grind!"
Lin Feng turned into a streak of light and disappeared into the horizon.
...
Deep within the Zhou Family Manor, in a secret room.
The lighting was dim, and the air was thick with the smell of blood.
Zhou Tianhao lay prone on a cold iron bed, his back a bloody mess.
Those were the marks left by the Family punishment—thirty lashes, each with barbs that tore his flesh open.
[Zhou Tianhao, Level 43, Flame Control]
[Status: Severely Injured, health points 32%]
He gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead as sweat mixed with blood and dripped down.
An old man stood nearby, wearing a gray long robe, expressionless.
That was the Zhou Family's Discipline Elder, Level 75, specialized in executing Family punishments.
"The thirty lashes are complete."
The old man put away the whip and spoke coldly.
"Zhou Tianhao, as of today, you are stripped of your core Family member privileges, all resource quotas are revoked, and you are grounded for three months."
"If there is a next time, you will be expelled from the Family."
Having said that, he turned and left.
The iron door shut with a 'bang'.
Only Zhou Tianhao remained in the secret room.
He lay on the bed, gasping for air.
Those eyes were filled with venomous resentment.
"Lin Feng... Lin Feng..."
He ground his teeth as he uttered the name, as if reciting a curse.
"It's all because of you... It's all your fault!"
He suddenly lifted his head, aggravating the wounds on his back, causing him to hiss in pain.
But he didn't care about the pain.
There was only one thought in his mind—
Revenge.
Revenge against Lin Feng.
He would make him wish he were dead!
"Someone, come here!"
He roared.
Outside the door, a confidant pushed the door open and entered.
"Young Master."
Zhou Tianhao stared at him, his gaze frenzied.
"Have you contacted the side at Capital Academy?"
The confidant nodded.
"We've made contact. Li Mingze said he can make a move at any time."
A hideous smile curled on Zhou Tianhao's lips.
"Good... good..."
"Tell Li Mingze to act."
"Ruin that Chen Lin for me!"
"I want Lin Feng to be in agony! I want him to taste the feeling of losing the person most important to him!"
The confidant hesitated for a moment.
"Young Master, Chen Lin is a student the academy is focusing on cultivating. If something happens..."
"What are you afraid of?!" Zhou Tianhao interrupted him. "If something happens, my Zhou Family will cover it!"
"Besides, doesn't that pretty boy Li Mingze want to get his hands on Chen Lin anyway?"
"Grant him his wish!"
The confidant nodded.
"Yes, I will go pass the word now."
He turned and left.
Only the sound of Zhou Tianhao's heavy breathing remained in the secret room.
He lay on the bed, staring at the dim light.
Lin Feng's face surfaced in his mind.
"Lin Feng... just you wait..."
"You made me lose everything, so I'll make you lose everything too..."
...
At the same time.
In another luxury villa in Donghai City.
Shen Yutang sat in his study, holding a document in his hand.
On the document was Lin Feng's detailed information.
From the day of his Awakening, to clearing the Ancient Trial Tower, to the Desert Golden Sea, the Old City District, the Secret Realm, and yesterday's confrontation at the Zhou Family's gate...
Case by case, item by item, it was all laid out clearly.
After Shen Yutang finished reading, his face turned somewhat pale.
"Level 43, fought with the Level 79 Zhou Tiannan and lasted for a minute without dying..."
He murmured, his hands trembling.
"Is this guy even fucking human?"
Beside him, the butler Old Wu stood respectfully.
"Young Master, this Lin Feng is indeed a Prodigy."
"News came from the Zhou Family that Zhou Tianhao was subjected to Family punishment and stripped of all privileges."
Shen Yutang's eyes lit up.
"Zhou Tianhao is finished?"
"Not exactly finished, but he won't be able to make a comeback for a short while."
Shen Yutang fell into contemplation.
He remembered how, in the Secret Realm, he had wanted to kill Lin Feng to steal his treasures, only to be beaten so badly he had to use a teleportation talisman to escape.
He could not forget that humiliation.
But Lin Feng's strength also terrified him.
Now, seeing that Lin Feng even dared to block the Zhou Family's gates, he felt even more apprehensive.
"Young Master, should we... keep a low profile?" Old Wu asked tentatively.
Shen Yutang was silent for a few seconds.
Then, he suddenly laughed.
There was a hint of sinister intent in his smile.
"Low profile? Why should we keep a low profile?"
Old Wu was stunned.
"Young Master, aren't you afraid of Lin Feng's revenge?"
Shen Yutang shook his head.
"The one Lin Feng has offended now is the Zhou Family, not me."
"The Zhou Family is powerful; he won't be stupid enough to offend two families at the same time."
"And..." He paused, a calculating glint in his eyes, "we can use this to our advantage."
"How do we use it?"
"The Zhou Family hates Lin Feng to the bone now and definitely wants him dead."
"We just need to... give them a little push from behind."
"For example, provide the Zhou Family with some information on Lin Feng's movements."
"Or, manufacture some conflicts between Lin Feng and the Zhou Family."
"Let them tear each other apart like dogs."
"When they're both injured, we'll step in to clean up the mess."
After hearing this, Old Wu's eyes also lit up.
"The Young Master is brilliant!"
Shen Yutang smiled triumphantly.
"Lin Feng, oh Lin Feng, you think you're so good at fighting?"
"In this world, fighting isn't the only thing that matters."
"Sometimes, the brain is more important than the fist."
He leaned back in his chair and began to fantasize.
Fantasizing about Lin Feng and the Zhou Family both being crippled, and him stepping in to reap the benefits.
Fantasizing about Chen Ruoxi looking at him with new eyes.
Fantasizing about becoming the number one person among the younger generation in Donghai City.
"Hehe... hehehe..."
His laughter echoed in the study.
...
At the same time.
Lin Feng had already flown to the edge of the Old City District.
He landed in front of that familiar sentry post.
It was still the same wire mesh fence and the same warning signs.
[High-Risk Restricted Area • No Entry]
[Unauthorized Entry at Your Own Risk]
[Explorer Association • Donghai Branch Announcement]
But this time, the atmosphere was clearly different.
There were more people at the sentry post.
There were at least a dozen soldiers, fully armed and looking tense.
In the distance, faint sounds of explosions and roars could be heard.
Lin Feng retracted his Wind Wings and walked toward the sentry post.
A soldier stopped him.
"Halt! What are you doing?"
Lin Feng pulled out his S-Rank Explorer badge.
"I want to go in."
The soldier took the badge and glanced at it.
Then, he froze.
"S... S-Rank?!"
He looked up, staring at Lin Feng in disbelief.
This face was too young.
He looked only sixteen or seventeen years old.
"You... you're an S-Rank Explorer?"
Lin Feng nodded.
"Yes."
The soldier swallowed hard and returned the badge to Lin Feng.
"Wait a moment, I'll go ask for instructions."
He turned and ran into the sentry post.
After a short while, a middle-aged officer walked out.
He had a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, with major's insignia on his shoulders.
He walked up to Lin Feng and gave a salute.
"Major Zhou Guodong, in charge of the Old City District security."
"Comrade, please show your identification."
Lin Feng handed the badge over again.
Zhou Guodong took it and looked at it carefully.
He then took out a scanner and swiped it.
[Identity Verification Passed]
[Name: Lin Feng]
[Rank: S-Rank Explorer]
[ID Number: DH-S-0092]
[Status: Valid]
After reading it, surprise flashed in Zhou Guodong's eyes.
"Lin Feng... you're the one who blocked the Zhou Family's gates?"
Lin Feng raised an eyebrow.
"You know about that too?"
Zhou Guodong gave a bitter smile.
"It's spread all over Donghai City, how could I not know?"
He returned the badge to Lin Feng, his attitude clearly much more respectful.
"Mr. Lin, you've come at the right time."
"Something has happened in the Old City District."
Lin Feng's heart stirred.
"What happened?"
Zhou Guodong pointed into the distance.
"Early this morning, three more void fissures suddenly appeared deep within the Old City District."
"Since then, the Void Beasts have started rioting."
"Wave after wave of them are surging out."
"Our people can't hold them back anymore, and we've already called for reinforcements."
"But the reinforcements will take at least two hours to arrive."
He looked at Lin Feng with anticipation in his eyes.
"You are an S-Rank Explorer, your strength must be great. Could you... help us out?"
After hearing this, Lin Feng's eyes lit up.
void fissures?
Void Beast riot?
Isn't this just free experience points?
He was just worrying about where to find a place to grind levels!
"How many Void Beasts are there?"
He asked.
Zhou Guodong shook his head.
"I don't know, there are too many to count."
"The lowest are Level 30, and the high ones are over Level 40."
"There are also several suspected Lord-class ones."
Lin Feng smiled.
"Alright, I'll go in and take a look."
Zhou Guodong was stunned.
"You... alone?"
"Yes."
"But it's very dangerous inside..."
Lin Feng waved his hand.
"It's fine, I like dangerous places."
He spread his Wind Wings, preparing to take off.
Zhou Guodong hurriedly called out to him.
"Mr. Lin!"
Lin Feng looked back.
"Is there something else?"
Zhou Guodong hesitated for a moment but still spoke.
"Please... be careful."
"Those Void Beasts, there are just too many of them."
Lin Feng nodded.
"Got it."
He soared into the sky, turning into a streak of light as he flew toward the depths of the Old City District.
Behind him, Zhou Guodong watched his silhouette and murmured.
"S-Rank Explorers... truly are all madmen..."
...
Lin Feng flew over the Old City District.
Below was a landscape of dilapidated ruins.
Collapsed buildings, broken bridges, and abandoned vehicles.
Overgrown with weeds, with rubble everywhere.
But unlike his last visit.
This time, there were many... living things.
Those living things darted through the ruins, ran on the streets, and circled in the sky.
They were of all shapes and sizes, bizarre and grotesque.
Some looked like wolves but were covered in bone spikes.
Some looked like birds but had claws on their wings.
Some looked like snakes but had three eyes on their heads.
[Void Wolf (Elite) x N]
[Level: 35-40]
[health points: 120,000 - 180,000]
[attack power: 4,200 - 4,800]
[Skills: Bite, Bone Spike Spray]
[Void Winged Serpent (Elite) x N]
[Level: 38-42]
[health points: 150,000 - 220,000]
[attack power: 4,500 - 5,000]
[Skills: Venom Spray, Wing Strike]
There were at least a thousand of them!
And they were still continuously surging out from the depths!
Lin Feng's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
How was this dangerous?
This was heaven!
He gripped the dragon slaying sword and dove down!
"Xiao Jin, let's get to work!"
Xiao Jin poked its head out from his shoulder and chirped excitedly.
Man and insect pounced toward the beast tide!
Behind them, the sounds of explosions and roars drew closer and closer.