The battlefield no longer resembled a controlled suppression zone. It had become unstable. Fragments of broken Qi structures drifted through the air like invisible debris, colliding, dissolving, and reforming in incomplete patterns. The grand formation that once locked the entire courtyard had lost coherence in this section, its authority fractured by repeated interference.
At the center of it all, Li Feng stood. Still—but no longer calm.
The system flickered rapidly in his vision.
[Dao Fragment Count: 7/10]
[Warning: Structural overload increasing]
He ignored it. Not out of arrogance, but because something deeper was happening.
The world felt thinner. Not visually—conceptually.
Every technique launched toward him now carried visible flaws—cracks in structure, inconsistencies in flow, points where intent didn't align with execution.
Before, he could sense wind.
Now, he could sense failure.
The remaining hunters tightened formation again, smaller and less reliant on perfect synchronization. Each movement was calculated to avoid prolonged contact.
They had adapted.
"Maintain distance!"
"Do not allow prolonged contact!"
"Disrupt his rhythm!"
Their voices cut sharply through the unstable air.
Li Feng moved.
Not rushed. Not aggressive.
Inevitable.
The nearest hunter launched a condensed strike, drawing his Qi inward before releasing it in a narrow piercing line. A refined technique—clean, efficient, structured.
Li Feng stepped slightly to the side.
The attack grazed past him.
And he reached out—not at the attack, but at the origin.
Contact.
[Consumption Initiated]
The hunter reacted instantly, trying to withdraw.
Too late.
Something tore.
Not everything.
But enough.
The hunter's stance collapsed as a fragment of his cultivation was forcibly removed.
[Partial Dao Fragment Acquired]
Li Feng's eyes sharpened.
"…So I don't need the whole thing."
That realization changed everything.
He moved again.
Faster—not in body, but in decision.
Another hunter attacked.
Li Feng intercepted.
Palm met Qi.
[Consumption Initiated]
The structure destabilized instantly.
This time, the collapse was faster.
Cleaner.
The hunter dropped.
[Dao Fragment Count: 8/10]
The moment the count updated, something inside Li Feng shifted violently.
His vision split.
Not blurring—layering.
Wind patterns. Structural lines. Empty distortions.
All overlapping.
All conflicting.
He staggered half a step.
The system reacted immediately.
[Warning: Host instability critical threshold approaching]
Li Feng steadied himself.
"…So this is the cost."
The leader watched carefully, still unmoving.
"You're breaking," he said calmly.
Li Feng looked at him.
"Not yet."
The leader raised his hand.
The remaining hunters moved—not to attack, but to stall.
To delay.
Li Feng saw it instantly.
"They're buying time."
The leader didn't deny it.
"Yes."
A pause.
"For something you cannot handle."
Li Feng didn't respond.
He simply moved.
Faster.
Ignoring pressure.
Ignoring instability.
He stepped directly into their range.
A hunter attempted to retreat.
Too slow.
Contact.
[Consumption Initiated]
Another fragment tore free.
Another collapse.
[Dao Fragment Count: 9/10]
The moment it reached nine, everything changed.
The world didn't just feel thin.
It felt incomplete.
The air no longer flowed naturally. It stuttered—paused—restarted.
Li Feng's breathing slowed.
Not by choice.
But because his body was struggling to process what it had taken.
[Warning: Host exceeding safe processing capacity]
His hand trembled slightly.
Not weakness.
Overflow.
The leader stepped forward.
"You've reached your limit."
Li Feng looked at him.
For the first time, his expression shifted.
Focused.
"…Then I'll break it."
He moved.
Directly at the leader.
No hesitation.
No diversion.
The leader met him.
Their hands collided.
[Consumption Initiated]
This time, it didn't proceed normally.
The leader's Qi resisted—not with force, but with cohesion. Every layer was compressed, integrated, leaving no exposed structure to dismantle.
Li Feng pushed harder.
Not physically.
Conceptually.
Searching.
Analyzing.
Breaking.
For a moment—
He found a flaw.
A slight misalignment in flow.
He latched onto it.
[Partial Extraction Initiated]
The leader's expression changed.
"…Impressive."
Then he reacted.
His entire Qi structure compressed inward, sealing the gap.# Chapter 13: Overconsumption
The battlefield no longer resembled a controlled suppression zone. It had become unstable. Fragments of broken Qi structures drifted through the air like invisible debris, colliding, dissolving, and reforming in incomplete patterns. The grand formation that once locked the entire courtyard had lost coherence in this section, its authority fractured by repeated interference.
At the center of it all, Li Feng stood. Still—but no longer calm.
The system flickered rapidly in his vision.
[Dao Fragment Count: 7/10]
[Warning: Structural overload increasing]
He ignored it. Not out of arrogance, but because something deeper was happening.
The world felt thinner. Not visually—conceptually.
Every technique launched toward him now carried visible flaws—cracks in structure, inconsistencies in flow, points where intent didn't align with execution.
Before, he could sense wind.
Now, he could sense failure.
The remaining hunters tightened formation again, smaller and less reliant on perfect synchronization. Each movement was calculated to avoid prolonged contact.
They had adapted.
"Maintain distance!"
"Do not allow prolonged contact!"
"Disrupt his rhythm!"
Their voices cut sharply through the unstable air.
Li Feng moved.
Not rushed. Not aggressive.
Inevitable.
The nearest hunter launched a condensed strike, drawing his Qi inward before releasing it in a narrow piercing line. A refined technique—clean, efficient, structured.
Li Feng stepped slightly to the side.
The attack grazed past him.
And he reached out—not at the attack, but at the origin.
Contact.
[Consumption Initiated]
The hunter reacted instantly, trying to withdraw.
Too late.
Something tore.
Not everything.
But enough.
The hunter's stance collapsed as a fragment of his cultivation was forcibly removed.
[Partial Dao Fragment Acquired]
Li Feng's eyes sharpened.
"…So I don't need the whole thing."
That realization changed everything.
He moved again.
Faster—not in body, but in decision.
Another hunter attacked.
Li Feng intercepted.
Palm met Qi.
[Consumption Initiated]
The structure destabilized instantly.
This time, the collapse was faster.
Cleaner.
The hunter dropped.
[Dao Fragment Count: 8/10]
The moment the count updated, something inside Li Feng shifted violently.
His vision split.
Not blurring—layering.
Wind patterns. Structural lines. Empty distortions.
All overlapping.
All conflicting.
He staggered half a step.
The system reacted immediately.
[Warning: Host instability critical threshold approaching]
Li Feng steadied himself.
"…So this is the cost."
The leader watched carefully, still unmoving.
"You're breaking," he said calmly.
Li Feng looked at him.
"Not yet."
The leader raised his hand.
The remaining hunters moved—not to attack, but to stall.
To delay.
Li Feng saw it instantly.
"They're buying time."
The leader didn't deny it.
"Yes."
A pause.
"For something you cannot handle."
Li Feng didn't respond.
He simply moved.
Faster.
Ignoring pressure.
Ignoring instability.
He stepped directly into their range.
A hunter attempted to retreat.
Too slow.
Contact.
[Consumption Initiated]
Another fragment tore free.
Another collapse.
[Dao Fragment Count: 9/10]
The moment it reached nine, everything changed.
The world didn't just feel thin.
It felt incomplete.
The air no longer flowed naturally. It stuttered—paused—restarted.
Li Feng's breathing slowed.
Not by choice.
But because his body was struggling to process what it had taken.
[Warning: Host exceeding safe processing capacity]
His hand trembled slightly.
Not weakness.
Overflow.
The leader stepped forward.
"You've reached your limit."
Li Feng looked at him.
For the first time, his expression shifted.
Focused.
"…Then I'll break it."
He moved.
Directly at the leader.
No hesitation.
No diversion.
The leader met him.
Their hands collided.
[Consumption Initiated]
This time, it didn't proceed normally.
The leader's Qi resisted—not with force, but with cohesion. Every layer was compressed, integrated, leaving no exposed structure to dismantle.
Li Feng pushed harder.
Not physically.
Conceptually.
Searching.
Analyzing.
Breaking.
For a moment—
He found a flaw.
A slight misalignment in flow.
He latched onto it.
[Partial Extraction Initiated]
The leader's expression changed.
"…Impressive."
Then he reacted.
His entire Qi structure compressed inward, sealing the gap.