"Ahhh, why, why, heavens, why do I always fail!" After a few minutes, the man named Leng Feng, beneath the tree, suddenly roared in frustration, seemingly filled with anguish.
"Senior? What's wrong with him?" Yao Yao, who was live-streaming with her phone, asked Zhou Hong with confusion.
"He probably failed in his attempt to break through to a higher realm."
"Who?" At that moment, Leng Feng heard movement not far away and immediately shouted, his eyes darting towards Zhou Hong and Yao Yao.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" Leng Feng rushed forward, his emotions perhaps a bit unstable due to his failed cultivation.
"Don't be nervous, we're just passing by. We saw you cultivating over there and didn't want to disturb you, so we stopped here for a moment," Zhou Hong said calmly.
"Passing by? You two young folks, what are you doing in these deep mountains and wild forests?" Leng Feng said irritably.
"I see you were cultivating just now, but unfortunately, you failed. If I'm not mistaken, you were trying to break through to the Martial Emperor realm," Zhou Hong chuckled.
"You young man, you actually have some knowledge."
At this moment, Yao Yao quickly interjected, "This senior, he's not a young man. He's a reclusive peerless expert."
"A reclusive peerless expert? Hmph, him?" Leng Feng glanced at Zhou Hong, seeing that Zhou Hong looked less than thirty years old, he found it hard to believe.
"I'm really not lying. Three days ago, he defeated someone called Old Ghost Heishan," Yao Yao added quickly.
"Old Ghost Heishan?" Leng Feng was startled. Although his strength was above Old Ghost Heishan's, defeating him was not something anyone could do, let alone someone as seemingly young as Zhou Hong.
"Young man? What's your name?" Leng Feng asked.
"No comment." Zhou Hong knew Yao Yao was live-streaming, so he naturally wouldn't reveal his name.
"Young man, quite arrogant. Come, let's exchange a palm strike. Let me see if you truly have the strength to defeat Old Ghost Heishan," Leng Feng beckoned Zhou Hong, seemingly wanting to test his abilities.
"Really?"
"Of course. Come, strike me with a palm, and let me see if you can really defeat Old Ghost Heishan."
"Alright." Zhou Hong didn't waste any words and launched a palm strike.
"Whoosh!" Before Leng Feng could react, his body was sent flying over 300 meters away.
"Ah!" Yao Yao was startled, and the countless viewers watching the live stream were also stunned. Those who didn't know Leng Feng were fine, but those who knew him and were watching from the shadows were all dumbfounded seeing Zhou Hong send Leng Feng flying 300 meters with a single palm strike.
"Senior, you didn't kill him, did you?" Yao Yao asked hurriedly.
"Don't worry, he's not weak. He was probably trying to break through to the Martial Emperor realm, and I only used about twenty percent of my strength. He won't die," Zhou Hong said with a faint smile.
"Only twenty percent!" Yao Yao was astonished.
Everyone in the live stream was stunned to hear Zhou Hong say he only used twenty percent of his strength. Especially those who knew Leng Feng were incredulous; he had sent Leng Feng flying with just twenty percent of his power.
"If I'm not mistaken, in about a minute, that guy will probably come running back," Zhou Hong said.
As expected, just a minute later, Leng Feng, who had been sent flying 300 meters away, came running back in a sorry state.
"Plop!" Leng Feng knelt before Zhou Hong, shouting, "Junior has failed to recognize true power. I beg senior for your forgiveness."
"Heh, no need to be so formal. You weren't rude to me just now; you just wanted to verify if I truly defeated Old Ghost Heishan, right?"
"Yes, thank you, senior, for not holding a grudge." Leng Feng kowtowed repeatedly in gratitude. In fact, he could have gotten up and left, but he chose to return and kowtow to Zhou Hong. This was because he knew Zhou Hong was no ordinary person. He had failed to break through to Martial Emperor, but if he could receive guidance from Zhou Hong, he might succeed.
"Senior, you saw that I was attempting to break through to the Martial Emperor realm. Could you offer some guidance?" Leng Feng shamelessly pleaded.
Zhou Hong smiled slightly, as if he had already anticipated Leng Feng's intentions. He had returned and kowtowed precisely because he wanted Zhou Hong to guide him.
"Of course. Come, let's go to that small grove over there. It's not convenient here with Yao Yao live-streaming."
"Ah, live-streaming? Does that mean...?" Leng Feng's expression changed instantly. He seemed to know what live-streaming was.
"Yes!"
Leng Feng looked dejected. If people he knew saw this, it would be incredibly embarrassing. However, on second thought, being defeated by someone as powerful as Zhou Hong was understandable, and no one would dare to mock him.
And so, Zhou Hong and Leng Feng entered the grove ahead.
Yao Yao addressed the live stream, "Dear friends, the senior has gone to the grove to guide the expert from earlier. It would be inconvenient for me to continue live-streaming them. Please understand."
"Thank you, streamer. We understand."
"Thank you for your hard work, streamer. We've seen so many exciting moments."
"Streamer, you can interact with us now too."
Yao Yao smiled upon seeing the barrage of comments and said, "Of course! Feel free to ask anything you want."
A mischievous netizen asked, "Streamer, you've been staying with the reclusive senior day and night for these past two days. You're a man and a woman alone, have you slept together?"
Seeing the mischievous netizen's question, Yao Yao's face turned red, and she said speechlessly, "Please don't make wild guesses. The senior and I are pure. The senior is a reclusive immortal, how could he possibly fancy a plain woman like me? Don't tarnish his reputation."
"Haha, even though the senior is an expert, he's still a man!"
Some mischievous netizens seemed intent on pursuing the matter.
"If you continue asking such silly questions, I'll have to end the stream."
"Okay, okay, we won't ask that anymore. Let's send some gifts!"
Following this, as if commanded, many people started sending gifts.
Thus, about half an hour passed.
Zhou Hong and Leng Feng emerged from the grove ahead.
"Wuwuwu, thank you, senior! Senior is above, please accept another bow from your junior!" Leng Feng continuously kowtowed to Zhou Hong, expressing his deep gratitude.
This scene, of course, was witnessed by countless people in the live stream.
"Yao Yao, go ask what's going on?" one netizen urged.
Yao Yao walked up and asked Zhou Hong, "Senior? Why is he crying so excitedly?"
Zhou Hong smiled faintly and said, "Just now, after my guidance, in just a few minutes, he successfully broke through to the Martial Emperor realm. He is now Martial Emperor first tier."
"Wow!" Yao Yao felt it sounded very powerful, but as an ordinary person, all she could do was exclaim, unable to truly grasp the level.
Meanwhile, in the shadows, many powerful figures watching the live stream were so shocked their hearts nearly leaped out of their chests.
Leng Feng, the famous figure in Huaxia, an imperial-level expert who created the "Wolf Warriors" organization, had actually stepped into the Martial Emperor realm.
Suddenly, many powerful figures watching from the shadows felt a complex mix of emotions: envy, jealousy, and displeasure. This was because several individuals of comparable strength to Leng Feng were also attempting to break through to Martial Emperor but had repeatedly failed. These people were filled with envy, wondering why they hadn't had the opportunity to meet the reclusive expert Zhou Hong. If they too could receive Zhou Hong's guidance, perhaps they too could break through their shackles in mere minutes and formally enter the Martial Emperor realm.
Therefore, those powerful figures in the shadows were incredibly envious. Among them were several deputy directors from the Beijing Criminal Investigation Bureau, as well as the patriarchs of some of the seventh and sixth-rate families.
"Alright, fellow Daoist, I shall take my leave now!" Zhou Hong said, then grabbed Yao Yao and instantly moved towards the grove ahead. He didn't ask Leng Feng who he was or what his identity was, as Zhou Hong had no interest.
"Farewell, senior." Leng Feng bowed deeply, filled with immense reverence for this person.