Chapter 160: The First Clash with the Food Nation

Luo Feng looked at the towering yellow-robed figure before him, inwardly surprised.

"I never expected that my first encounter with a Food Nation Divine King upon arriving on the Origin Continent would be within Yuan's legacy treasure—'Infinite Space.'" Luo Feng knew the public intelligence on every Divine King of the Origin Continent, and he recognized at a glance that this yellow-robed figure was Wu Xiang Laozu, one of the Five Divine Kings of the Food Nation.

Wu Xiang Laozu ranked second in strength among the Five Divine Kings of the Food Nation.

The early three rulers of the Food Nation were Tiankun Ruler, Wu Xiang Laozu, and Dao Mo Zuzong. It was these three who destroyed the Jin Nation, and they were the bitterest enemies of Zuo Shan Ke.

Tiankun Ruler was a Divine King of the Second Layer. Wu Xiang Laozu stood at the extreme limit of the First Layer, stronger even than Xuejie Laozu. Dao Mo Zuzong was also an exceptionally powerful being of the First Layer.

"With my elder brother's help, I became a peripheral member of the Two Realms Palace, accumulated vast merit, and only then earned one chance to enter this treasure. Yet this Luo He—a mere Chaos Realm transcendental—can enter at will." The yellow-robed giant stared at Luo Feng, filled with envy and resentment.

He knew better than anyone how much he had paid to earn this opportunity.

"What tricks do you have?" Wu Xiang Laozu sneered at Luo Feng. "Since you seek death, I'll grant it."

Once a body perishes within Infinite Space, re-entering requires a new quota and another token.

Each entry quota into this treasure is exceedingly precious.

"Hmph." Luo Feng stared at him, harboring equal murderous intent.

His current strength could not touch the three Food Nation rulers, but he had no qualms about destroying this body in Infinite Space and denying him one opportunity.

The two faced each other across the distance, neither retreating.

"He has some confidence?" Wu Xiang Laozu, though domineering, remained cautious. "He hasn't become a Divine King even in the outside world—how high can his newly forged path in Infinite Space possibly be?"

Infinite Space sealed nineteen primordial Dao paths; normal combat relied entirely on forging new paths, aside from spiritual will.

Even an Emperor's newly forged path might not be particularly strong.

This was precisely why Wu Xiang Laozu felt confident—he had forged two Divine King-level secret arts, though he had not yet fully comprehended a Dao branch.

New paths had no clear Dao reference. Usually, one had to master multiple Divine King-level techniques before comprehending a Dao branch.

"Perish."

Wu Xiang Laozu, cautious as he was, moved his intent—and invisible power ignited upon Luo Feng's body.

Chiiii—chiiii—chiiii—

Colorless, transparent flames burned Luo Feng's body and his spiritual consciousness.

"This is the new Dao I forged, 'Sin and Karma Flame,' rooted in the Boundless Primordial Dao," Wu Xiang Laozu declared with confidence. Though he hadn't mastered the full Dao branch, he was certain of the flame's power.

"This fire?" Luo Feng was slightly startled—the Sin and Karma Flame appeared too mysteriously.

He saw no attack launched, yet the colorless flames spontaneously ignited, scorching both his flesh and spiritual consciousness.

His spiritual consciousness was already immensely strong—even without the Lie Yuan Technique, this Sin and Karma Flame could not extinguish it. Under the protection of the Lie Yuan Technique, the burning felt merely soothing.

But his physical body was another matter.

"Chiiii—chiiii—chiiii." Luo Feng's body was uniquely constructed, brimming with boundless vitality, yet constantly eroding parts of its own power.

It resembled the Great Destruction Heart-Refining Method—constantly refining the body, annihilating what could not endure, then birthing new parts in its place.

This was the Divine King-level body refinement art Luo Feng had forged during his path toward the Life-Death Dao: the "Life-Death Body."

Now, scorched by the Sin and Karma Flame, it became another trial for his body: weak parts were willingly destroyed, vitality transformed, and new power reborn.

Within moments, the newly regenerated body's resistance to the Sin and Karma Flame surged dramatically.

"Pure life alone is not resilient enough."

"Only by constantly annihilating the weak and preserving the strong can the body evolve into greater strength." Luo Feng was satisfied with the power of his newly forged "Life-Death Body."

Luo Feng looked at Wu Xiang Laozu: "Wu Xiang Divine King, it's my turn now."

"You—"

Wu Xiang Laozu, seeing Luo Feng withstand the Sin and Karma Flame, was stunned.

At that moment, Luo Feng stood still—and raised his palm.

His palm became a blade!

The blade-light condensed into threads, infused with the resilience of life and the destructive rule of severing in two.

This slash was the Divine King-level sword art: "One Cut, Two Halves!"

Shhh—

The blade-light flashed and vanished, slicing through Wu Xiang Laozu's body like a thread—he had no time to evade.

"Huuu." Wu Xiang Laozu's entire body turned into colorless flame. After taking the cut, he felt the lingering blade-force—resilient, relentless, continuously eroding his form. He exerted all his strength to suppress it; only after one or two breaths did the blade-force fully vanish.

"You're a Chaos Realm cultivator—how could your newly forged path reach Divine King level?" The flame-bodied Wu Xiang Laozu could not believe it. "Why haven't you become a Divine King in your original path?"

"No rush." Luo Feng stared at him. "Wu Xiang Divine King, your body is interesting—but how many of my cuts can you endure?"

"Life Unending, Death Never Ceasing!"

Luo Feng's body suddenly split—instantly forming thirty-six clones.

"Clones?" Wu Xiang Laozu sensed danger. "He can manifest clones through a newly forged path in Infinite Space—he must have hidden clones elsewhere! To cut off his chance here is nearly impossible."

"Cut!"

All thirty-six of Luo Feng's clones raised their arms and slashed with palm-blades.

With Luo Feng's spiritual will strength, he could wield this Divine King-level sword art across over fifty clones simultaneously. But thirty-six clones perfectly formed a sword array.

"One Cut, Two Halves—Life and Death Cycle!"

The thirty-six Luo Fengs slashed in unison—thirty-six thread-like blade-lights instantly enveloped Wu Xiang Laozu's body like a celestial net, relentlessly slaughtering him.

"No, no—!" As the net of blade-light began slaughtering him, Wu Xiang Laozu felt his flame-body rapidly depleting—the blade-force's destructive power was terrifying!

It was not only powerful, but also supremely resilient.

The blade-force returned again and again, wave after wave, like endless reincarnation. "Stop! Stop!" No matter where Wu Xiang Laozu fled, the thirty-six blade-lights surrounded him like an inescapable net, continuing to slaughter him.

"Stop! Let's talk! I'll pay compensation! Spare me!" Wu Xiang Laozu, desperate and abandoning dignity, knew—if this body died, he'd be expelled from Infinite Space. Acquiring another entry quota was impossibly hard!

Luo Feng stared at him.

"Let's talk?"

For ordinary opponents, Luo Feng was merciful—he'd accept compensation and let them go.

But you are one of the Three Rulers of the Food Nation—you are my Master's mortal enemy!

"No—!"

"A million merit rewards."

"Five million merit rewards—I'll give them all to you!"

"Let's just talk!"

"Why do you treat me like this?!"

!.

"Luo He, Luo He—good. I remember you!"

The thirty-six blade-lights surrounded him; after merely ten or so breaths, Wu Xiang Laozu's flame-body finally vanished completely. As it dissolved, Wu Xiang Laozu fixed Luo Feng with a mad, furious gaze.

Luo Feng watched him, utterly calm.

This was only an appetizer.

"We've met, then." Luo Feng whispered softly.

This was his first encounter with a Food Nation ruler.

…

Food Nation, Wu Xiang City.

The magnificent palace, countless guards and servants, strict order.

"Luo He, Luo He!!!" A furious, deep voice echoed from deep within the palace, reverberating throughout the entire palace—disciples, guards, servants all paled at the sound.

Such terrifying aura could only belong to Wu Xiang Laozu.

"Is Laozu enraged?"

"Is it about Luo He?"

All within the palace held their breath—they all sensed Laozu's boundless fury.

Deep within the palace, in a grand hall.

Wu Xiang Laozu's rage burned his eyes crimson.

"He destroyed my chance in the treasure." Wu Xiang Laozu seethed with bitterness—he still had over twenty reward points unclaimed, and with enough time rooted in Infinite Space, he could have accumulated even more to exchange for precious resources.

He had paid a great price to earn this entry.

Now, all of it was gone.

"I was willing to apologize—he wouldn't even give me a chance." Wu Xiang Laozu was furious. "In the real world, the primordial Dao paths of the Origin Continent aren't sealed. His strength there will be even greater. He truly isn't afraid of me."

"But I'm not afraid of you either. Even if you become a dominant force in the future—so what?"

In the real world, Wu Xiang Laozu was even stronger—a limit-level First Layer Divine King, unafraid even of Second Layer Divine Kings.

"I refuse to believe you have no weaknesses—no vulnerable loved ones or disciples." Wu Xiang Laozu's eyes turned icy. "You destroyed my chance—you will pay."

"I need all intelligence on Luo He—every detail about his family, friends, disciples."

Wu Xiang Laozu had never considered tolerating this—he immediately purchased intelligence from the Two Realms Palace.

…

Chu Capital, inside a quiet chamber of Luo Feng's cave, within the Star Tower.

Luo Feng was in deep meditation.

"This time in Infinite Space, though I destroyed Wu Xiang Laozu's body and cut off his opportunity there, his strength cannot be underestimated." Luo Feng thought. The opponent had indeed forged Divine King-level secret arts on his new path—only because he met me, with my divine body, clone technique, and sword array all refined, did the battle turn so one-sided.

"My 'Life-Death Dao' still hasn't fully comprehended a complete Dao branch. If I grow too arrogant, I might end up like Wu Xiang Laozu—kicking a steel plate."

Luo Feng considered: Infinite Space was filled with hidden dragons and tigers—many ancient beings had entered. There might be those who had already forged complete Dao branches.

"I've cultivated for a hundred epochs, accumulating profound depth—I can take another Hunyuan Crystal Spirit Fruit. This time, I'll also consume the vial of Qingxin Spirit Liquid together." Luo Feng made his decision.

Qingxin Spirit Liquid, Luo Feng had asked his Master Di Chu and learned it was far more valuable than a Hunyuan Crystal Spirit Fruit; even elite members of the royal family rarely obtained even a single dose. Di Chu gave it all to Luo Feng.

One bottle of Qingxin Spirit Liquid amounted to only one dose.

"Huh." Luo Feng took out a Hunyuan Crystal Spirit Fruit and began eating it, while beside him sat the golden bottle.

Accumulate steadily under normal conditions; only after building deep reserves should one consume treasures.

Use the treasure to push oneself further!

"The effect of the Hunyuan Crystal Spirit Fruit is still so miraculous." Luo Feng felt his soul being nourished, his thought speed surging dramatically. Then he picked up the golden bottle beside him, uncorked it, and drank it all in one gulp.

——

Thank you to the two new patrons: Gong Sun Shen Du and Diao Jiu Ci Chen.

(End of Chapter)