Qi Shanhe collapsed to the ground. That one slash from Nan Yidao had already shattered all of his combat strength. Just as Nan Yidao had said, the Nectar Feast inside Qi Shanhe’s body had not yet fully matured, and the power Qi Shanhe could draw from it was limited. Otherwise, Nan Yidao would never have been Qi Shanhe’s match!

But Qi Shanhe could no longer afford to wait. Back then, in order to seize the Qi Family’s Ancestral Mine, the people of the Storm Sect sent numerous experts to slaughter the entire Qi Family, leaving not even chickens and dogs alive! Qi Shanhe only survived because he had gone out with his father at the time.

Later, in order to protect Qi Shanhe, his father lured the pursuers away alone, and in the end not even his bones remained! The young Qi Shanhe swore then and there that he would completely eradicate the Storm Sect.

For the sake of this oath, Qi Shanhe went so far as to hide his name and identity, seeking out all the major powers. But this world is cruel. Burdened with a blood-deep vendetta, Qi Shanhe discovered that he did not possess heaven-defying talent. No matter how hard he worked, in this lifetime, reaching the Early Stage of the Azure Sky Realm in Cultivation would already be his limit!

And with Cultivation at the Early Stage of the Azure Sky Realm, how could he possibly fulfill his oath? So Qi Shanhe decided to risk everything and set his sights on the Desolate Land—the Nectar Feast Tomb within the Ancient Ruins.

It was said that was the place where Nectar Feast had been struck by Heavenly Punishment, and no one could come out from there. Everyone who entered would be subjected to Heavenly Punishment.

Yet Qi Shanhe still stepped in without hesitation, and he was gone for twenty full years! When he emerged, he was already an expert of the Azure Sky Realm and had reclaimed his original name.

Because within the Nectar Feast Tomb, he had encountered a weakened Nectar Feast larva. The Nectar Feast larva needed to survive, and Qi Shanhe needed power, so they signed a symbiotic contract. The Nectar Feast attached itself to Qi Shanhe’s body, relying on Qi Shanhe to provide it with life force, while in turn it provided Qi Shanhe with power.

Just like that, over a hundred years passed. The Nectar Feast larva slowly grew, and the power Qi Shanhe obtained from it grew ever greater. By now, his Cultivation had already reached the Pinnacle of the Azure Sky Realm.

But Qi Shanhe knew that his lifespan was almost at its end! Although he had continued to cultivate diligently during this period, his talent was lacking; his own strength had not undergone an earth-shaking transformation. Meanwhile, as the Nectar Feast grew, the life force he could provide it became less and less!

If the Nectar Feast fully matured, it would suck him dry, then gain its freedom, while he would become nothing but its nourishment.

Precisely because of this, Qi Shanhe chose to go on the offensive at this moment—because he did not have much time left.

Yet unexpectedly, he had actually lost to Nan Yidao! If he couldn’t even kill Nan Yidao, how could he possibly exact revenge on the Storm Sect? At that thought, boundless despair rose in Qi Shanhe’s heart.

"Hand over the Nectar Feast!" Nan Yidao dragged his long sword as he walked up to Qi Shanhe and said, "If you don’t want to die, then hand over the Nectar Feast. I can spare your life!"

Feeling the intense pain wracking his body and the weakness of the Nectar Feast within him, Qi Shanhe spat hatefully in Nan Yidao’s direction. "Ptui. You want me to hand over the Nectar Feast? You think that’s possible? I’ll tell you the truth: right now the Nectar Feast and I are one in symbiosis. It’s impossible for you to obtain it. If you’ve got the guts, then kill me!"

Nan Yidao frowned slightly. From Qi Shanhe’s eyes he could feel that towering blaze. He knew that even if he spared Qi Shanhe, Qi Shanhe would never submit.

"In that case, I can only kill you." Nan Yidao said blandly, "Though the Nectar Feast is extremely valuable, you are even more dangerous."

As he spoke, Nan Yidao’s right hand shook. The blood-colored giant blade drew an arc through the air as it chopped down toward Qi Shanhe’s head.

"What a pity." Ximen Tian said with a trace of regret, "It seems this Qi Shanhe is a tough bone to crack."

The Storm Sect Master said coldly, "Hmph. Even if he’s a tough bone, I’ll still pound two taels of marrow out of him! Even if I kill him, I can extract the Nectar Feast from his body. Although that might damage the Nectar Feast’s foundation, I can’t be bothered with that anymore!"

Feeling the Sword Qi on the blood-colored giant blade, Qi Shanhe couldn’t help but close his eyes.

At this moment, his mind instead became crystal clear. Before his eyes appeared his father’s stern face, his mother’s gentle words, and his childhood companions’ laughter and bickering...

"I’m sorry. It’s my incompetence that I cannot avenge you." Qi Shanhe’s heart held a trace of unwillingness and a trace of guilt as he waited for death to descend.

But the expected pain never came. He opened his eyes in confusion, only to see a tall man standing before him, the man’s left hand actually pinching Nan Yidao’s blood-colored long sword between his fingers.

"Who is this? Why did he save me?" Qi Shanhe stared blankly at the tall figure, endless questions flashing through his mind.

Nan Yidao was even more horrified, because he had never sensed this man’s aura at all. The man seemed to have appeared out of thin air right in front of him. And his own blood-colored giant blade, with such tremendous power, had actually been caught in the man’s left hand—and he couldn’t pull it free. How was that possible?

"Who are you, to dare interfere with our Martial Arts Conference?" Nan Yidao glared at the man before him and barked in a deep voice.

This man who had suddenly appeared was none other than Ling Feng!

Ling Feng smiled faintly and said, "Of course I know this is the Martial Arts Conference. But the other party has already lost his ability to fight and has conceded. Why must you hound him so relentlessly?"

"What does that have to do with you?" Nan Yidao growled in a low voice. "This is a matter between our Storm Sect and Qi Shanhe. Your strength is indeed not bad, but do you intend to make an enemy of our Storm Sect? I advise you to think it over carefully!"

"Brother, I’m very grateful that you stepped in," Qi Shanhe sighed and said, "but the people of the Storm Sect are utterly ruthless. You should go. You are no match for the Storm Sect!"

Ling Feng shook his head and said, "I know the Storm Sect is formidable, but this is the Martial Arts Conference. Striking a killing blow at someone who has already lost the ability to fight—is that not a violation of the spirit of the Martial Way?"

Ling Feng’s sudden appearance shocked the surrounding spectators, but they quickly grew excited. Though they didn’t know how Ling Feng had suddenly entered, it looked like another good show was about to begin.

"Who is this man? How did he suddenly get in there?" The Storm Sect Master frowned as he looked at Ling Feng. "Where is the one in charge of the Defensive Barrier? How could they let someone in at will?"

Ximen Tian furrowed his brows slightly. "Sect Master of the Storm Sect, don’t be so quick to anger. I don’t think this person was let in; he entered the Practice Field on his own. This person’s strength... is frighteningly high."

A trace of surprise appeared in the Storm Sect Master’s eyes. "How is that possible? Even Nan Yidao couldn’t enter and exit the Barrier that easily!"

"Hasn’t Sect Master of the Storm Sect noticed that Nan Yidao still hasn’t struck that man?" Ximen Tian said calmly. "I suspect that Nan Yidao may not be able to make a move at all."