Li Feng also had a headache. Originally, he'd planned to apprentice into Nine Layers Mountain and join a sect to seek temporary protection.

But now that idea was probably no longer workable, because after this battle in Underground Palace City, the grudge between Li Feng and the Zeng Family had grown even deeper.

Previously, Li Feng had killed two of the Zeng Family's younger Golden Core generation, but their deaths still couldn't truly hurt the Zeng Family's foundations. After all, the Zeng Family was huge, with countless descendants. Even if two of their most promising juniors died, it didn't count as cutting off their bloodline.

Zeng Batian leaving the Zeng Family and becoming a retainer of the Li Family had indeed slapped the Zeng Family in the face and caused them some loss, but it was still within the range they could accept. After all, Zeng Batian was still alive; as long as they didn't target Li Feng, if the Zeng Family faced trouble, Zeng Batian could still be used.

But Zeng Jingtian's death truly hurt the Zeng Family's muscles and bones. Zeng Jingtian was not only the think tank of the Zeng Family, he had also awakened the Confucian Heart; with the Confucian Heart, entering the Confucian Sect was almost a matter of course. That was what mattered most to the Zeng Family.

One could say Zeng Jingtian was far more important than Zeng Batian. With his death, among the Zeng Family's current backbone, only the Family Head and the second son, Zeng Xingtian, were left.

The Zeng Family's Eight Tigers lost half of their number in an instant.

If they still let Li Feng roam free, the Zeng Family really would become a laughingstock, so no matter their motives, this time the Zeng Family would never let Li Feng live.

"I'd planned to join either Nine Layers Mountain or Wanfa Sect and look for a backing, at least force the Zeng Family to show more scruples and buy some time. But in Underground Palace City, I killed Zeng Jingtian. The Zeng Family will definitely not let this go."

"And we'd already left the Duel Arena, yet we were still ambushed on the way. I doubt this is something only the Zeng Family can pull off. I think there's someone else in the shadows who wants to make a move on me. It's just that I still don't know who it is, or which family."

Open spears are easy to dodge; hidden arrows are hard to guard against.

At least the Zeng Family was out in the open. Even if they still had some Golden Cores hidden, Li Feng wasn't afraid. Even if Zeng Xingtian, who had once blocked the Li Family gate, came again, Li Feng was confident he could fight him.

The other party was only at Golden Core Middle Stage Perfection. Once Li Feng activated his Vermilion Bird Bloodline and relied on his Undying Body, he might not lose. Besides, this time Li Feng had brought back three Golden Core War Gods from the Duel Arena, all veterans of a hundred battles. True, they were utterly crushed by Jiang Chen, a Golden Core Late Stage, but that was because the gap was too large. If the three were sent against some Golden Core Early Stage, or at least Middle Stage opponents, they'd be more than enough.

Adding in Tian Wenxin and the two Elders of the Fang Family, plus Li Batian who'd taken the Li surname, the number of Golden Cores on Li Feng's side was nearing double digits.

With this strength, standing firm in the Sixth Ring was more than enough. Coupled with the deterrence of Li Feng slaughtering eight Golden Cores from eight families in Underground Palace City, probably no one would dare provoke him lightly.

But the truly troublesome ones were those hiding in the dark who could command a Golden Core Late Stage to make a move to kill him.

The other side might be a family at an even higher level. Right now, Li Feng's foundation was still too shallow; just opposing the Zeng Family alone was already his limit. If another even stronger force jumped out, Li Feng wasn't arrogant enough to smash an egg against a rock.

After speaking, he lifted his eyes and glanced at the Sword Immortal of Wine. His biggest weakness was that he had no foundation, and no time to build one. If given enough time, with the ability he'd shown in the outside world—establishing Dragon King Hall and becoming King of Mercenaries—it would be no difficult matter for him to form a Dragon Guard in the Kunlun World as well.

After all, he had already found the seeds. Those war slaves he'd bought in Underground Palace City were the best troop source. And since Li Feng could control the eruption of the Burning Technique, he could help these people stabilize their realms, or even break through, with no great trouble.

"Don't even think about using me. I don't want to get involved in these things. You may be my disciple's disciple, but you still can't go around outside waving my banner. Saving you was because my disciple begged me; it doesn't mean I acknowledge you as my grand‑disciple."

The Sword Immortal of Wine might look like a man in his forties, a middle‑aged uncle, but in truth he was nearly two hundred—an old handsome man. After all, in cultivation, the lifespan was far longer than a normal person's, and before one's oil ran dry and lamp went out, one's appearance hardly changed much, unless they deliberately made it so.

Li Feng had wanted to clutch a thick thigh, but the Sword Immortal of Wine clearly didn't want to be clutched, so he spoke bluntly.

Lin Luoyin, off to the side, said as well, "Don't even think about using my master. My master's used to living like a free cloud and wild crane, and the last thing he wants is to get dragged into this kind of family feud."

"You may call me 'Master,' but I don't acknowledge this relationship. So you'd best keep your mouth shut about it outside. Otherwise, even if others don't come looking for trouble with you, I won't let you off."

Hearing Lin Luoyin speak like this, Li Feng knew he couldn't count on this Sword Immortal of Wine.

"Fine. Since the two of you have spoken to this extent, I, Li Feng, can't be so tactless. But I still must thank Senior for saving my life."

Li Feng felt a bit regretful, but the feeling quickly passed. Relying on others was worse than relying on himself; it seemed that was his only option.

In his mind flashed the signal mark the Vermilion Bird had left in his sea of consciousness. Since he could no longer stay in Ancestor Dragon City, he could only run.

Seeing Li Feng speak like this, Lin Luoyin frowned slightly. This guy really could change faces fast. Just now he'd been climbing the pole, and in the next second he'd put on a calm, neither‑humble‑nor‑overbearing attitude.

"Then what are you planning to do next?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Lin Luoyin still asked a follow‑up question.

"We'll block the troops when they come and use earth to dam the water. I plan to go to Nine Layers Mountain first and give it a try." Li Feng did not mention the Vermilion Bird Temple.

After a few more casual words, Li Feng rose to take his leave.

Lin Luoyin didn't try to stop him and had a maid escort Li Feng out.

"Disciple, that brat is no easy character. To stir up so many waves in less than a month… calling him a shit‑stirring stick wouldn't be an exaggeration."

"Especially since he's actually awakened the Vermilion Bird Bloodline—that's a bloodline unique to the First Rank Sikong Family."

"After today's battle in Underground Palace City, Li Feng will probably become famous in Ancestor Dragon City very soon. He's going to catch the eyes of those big figures."

"Some will try to rope him in, and some will try to kill him. Right now he's standing in the eye of the storm; the slightest misstep and he'll be doomed beyond redemption."

Li Zimo, the Sword Immortal of Wine, had lived for two hundred years and had long seen through the open and hidden struggles between families.

So although he admired Li Feng's talent, when the other tried to cling to his thigh, Li Zimo refused decisively.

It wasn't that he feared anyone; he simply didn't want to get sucked into those clan struggles.

Lin Luoyin also sighed softly. "I didn't expect him to progress so fast, or to be this good at causing trouble."

"Master, is there really no way to help him? After all, he and I both came from the outside world, and we were at least master and disciple for a while."

Though Lin Luoyin didn't acknowledge Li Feng, they had spent some time together. And being away from home, she couldn't quite bring herself to watch Li Feng live or die on his own.

Li Zimo shook his head slightly. "It's not that I don't want to help, it's that I truly can't. Unless I step out and declare him my personal disciple."

"Or let him marry into the Sikong Family. That might also be a way to survive."

Li Zimo had no desire to get involved in those aristocratic disputes. To him, Li Feng was just someone he'd met in passing, not important. He saved him only because Lin Luoyin had asked.

But a favor for a favor: the other had helped Lin Luoyin take first place, and he'd saved the other's life. That balanced the scales.

Anything further would be something he was unwilling to do.

"Marry into the Sikong Family?"

Lin Luoyin thought of how Li Feng had once married into a family in the outside world, and immediately nodded. "He actually seems quite experienced with that."