Mortal: I have a Spirit Gathering Cauldron

The battlefield is the best whetstone, but also the most potent poison.

It gradually grinds, kneads, and reshapes all the monks' initial fear, excitement, and panic, turning them into the same thing: numbness.

Lin Feng had lost count of how many battles he had fought on the battlefield. The passage of time became meaningless on this wasteland shrouded in the smoke of war; each day was a repetition of the previous one: leaving camp, lying in ambush, hunting, collecting corpses, returning to camp, and cultivating.

It goes on and on, like a millstone that never stops turning.

During his first month on the battlefield, he would feel excited when he killed cultivators of the same level and fearful when he was almost killed.

Now, all of these things are gone. After killing someone, he doesn't even blink an eye; he simply puts away his storage bag and leaves, as if it were the most ordinary job he could do.

numbness.

But numbness also has its advantages. At least, when you act, you're more decisive and efficient, without any hesitation.

Lin Feng reaped considerable rewards on the battlefield thanks to his "concealed strike followed by escape" technique. The combination of the Hidden Spirit Veil, the Condensing Void Realm, and the Wind-Breaking Spear made him virtually invincible in hunting enemies below the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

This tactic is simple and direct, but very effective.

However, things have changed recently.

The demonic path had clearly also noticed this elusive hunter. They began to adjust their strategy, no longer acting alone but in small groups of two or three, and their vigilance increased significantly. Sometimes, Lin Feng would spend an entire day lying in wait without finding an opportunity to strike.

He almost fell into an ambush a few days ago.

That day, he discovered two lone demonic cultivators nearby, a man and a woman, both with low cultivation levels, at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. As usual, he made his move.

The Bewitching Bell struck first, the Condensing Mirror froze one person, and the Wind-Breaking Spear killed him.

Everything went smoothly at first. The two were distracted by the Soul-Bewitching Bell and were about to succeed when a protective light shield appeared around them, blocking the fatal blow of the Wind-Breaking Spear.

At the same time, a sharp blade of light slashed towards Lin Feng from the side.

Peak of late Foundation Establishment stage.

Lin Feng didn't have time to think. He activated the Crimson Gold Shield and the Golden Light Shield at the same time, and the two layers of defense combined to withstand the blow.

The blade struck the crimson-gold shield, sparks flying from its surface, and Lin Feng was forced back several feet.

In that instant, he saw the attacker's face clearly: a burly man in black robes with a face full of scars, at the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage, wielding a ghost-headed broadsword, grinning as he pounced on him.

The male cultivator whose mind had been disturbed by the bewitching bell had now regained his senses and, together with the black-robed giant, formed a pincer movement.

trap.

Lin Feng made a decisive move, without lingering in the fight. He activated the Wind-Escape Shuttle at full power, its silver light blazing brightly, and he transformed into a streak of light, speeding towards the main camp.

The burly man in black robes chased for dozens of miles, but eventually gave up.

The speed of the Wind-Drifting Shuttle is unmatched by ordinary flying magic artifacts. In addition, Lin Feng is currently in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, with abundant spiritual power and strong endurance. Without a flying magic artifact of the same level, Foundation Establishment cultivators simply cannot catch up with him.

"That was close." After returning to the camp, Lin Feng touched the knife mark on the crimson gold shield and felt a lingering fear for a long time.

If it weren't for the double protection of the Crimson Gold Shield and the Golden Light Barrier, that strike would have at least severely injured him. And to think he could escape after being severely wounded? Difficult.

Since then, Lin Feng's success rate in hunting has greatly decreased.

The harvest was getting smaller and smaller. Sometimes, after staking out for several days, you wouldn't catch a single unlucky lone survivor.

But overall, over the past year or so, he has accumulated enough merits.

Lin Feng had no shortage of spirit stones or magical artifacts. He exchanged most of his battle merits for True Essence Pills, which were suitable for mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators to enhance their cultivation.

The True Essence Pill is of a higher quality than the Qi Harmony Pill, with purer medicinal power, and has a significant effect on improving the cultivation level of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

He roughly calculated that the True Essence Pills in his storage bag, plus the high-quality Qi Harmony Pills he had previously stored, were enough for him to cultivate to the late Foundation Establishment stage.

"That's enough." Lin Feng sorted and put away the pills, feeling much more at ease.

It's worth mentioning that since the deal was made, Han Li and he have become a little closer.

The two would occasionally meet at the camp to exchange intelligence on the battlefield.

But Lin Feng hasn't seen Han Li in recent days.

I asked around and found out that he had gone on a mission.

Lin Feng's heart stirred.

At this point in time, it should be time to go to the Yue Kingdom Royal Palace instance.

"Now that he's not using the Reversal of the Five Elements Formation, I hope he doesn't die, otherwise I'll have to spend a lot of time and effort preparing pills for the next thousand years."

"Let him be. Han Li has the protagonist's halo; he won't die. Even if he does, that's fate, and it has nothing to do with me." Lin Feng shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

On this day, as usual, after returning from the battlefield, Lin Feng first went to the trading area to exchange the useless junk among his spoils for various talismans, pills, and materials.

The trading area was located in the southeast corner of the camp, in a conspicuous wooden hut. Monks from various factions set up stalls here to exchange supplies.

Keep the useful items captured on the battlefield and exchange the unused ones for spirit stones or other things you need.

Lin Feng disposed of several unused magical artifacts and some low-grade pills, exchanging them for a few talismans and some common materials. Although they were all ordinary items, the demand was high on the battlefield, so it was good to stock up on what he could.

After the transaction was completed, he was about to turn and leave when someone suddenly blocked his way.

"Junior Brother Lin, please wait."

The sound was clear and cold, like spring water striking stone, crisp yet carrying a hint of chill.

Lin Feng raised his head.

A woman stood before him, her skin as white as snow, her black hair flowing like a waterfall, and a blue palace dress that accentuated her exquisite figure.

Her features were exquisite, her eyebrows like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn water, her nose high and straight, and her lips slightly pursed.

What is most striking about her is her temperament: aloof and indifferent, like a lotus flower blooming on a snow-capped mountain peak, beautiful to behold but not to be touched.

Nie Ying.

The most beautiful woman in Huangfeng Valley, a disciple of Lei Wanhe, and in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

Even though the surrounding cultivators were already numb from the oppressive atmosphere of the battlefield, they couldn't help but look over when they saw such a beautiful woman.

Some people's eyes were filled with amazement, some with envy, and others only glanced at it briefly before looking away.

Lin Feng felt a slight chill run down his spine.

He certainly knew Nie Ying, but the two had never crossed paths. Her sudden stop and calling him "Junior Brother Lin" clearly indicated that she wasn't there to reminisce.

"Senior Sister Nie," Lin Feng greeted politely, cupping his hands in a fist salute, "What brings you here?"

Nie Ying nodded slightly in return. Her expression was indifferent, and her voice remained cold.

"The Core Formation Elder has summoned you; please follow me."

Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat. A Core Formation Elder summoned him? What was it about?

Without asking any further questions, he replied "Yes" and followed Nie Ying toward the center of the camp.