Chapter 1830: Today's Eight Wastelands
The strong cultivator of the Lightning Punishment Immortal Palace stared at Lin Feng. In the past, it seemed these were the ones who had forcefully charged through the connection point between the Great World and the Small World. He vaguely remembered being threatened by Skyless Sword Emperor back then, leading those who had walked the Void Path, only for misfortune to await them. However, in the ten thousand years that followed, it was still his Lightning Punishment Immortal Palace that controlled the passage to the Small World, and he remained in charge. He never expected that after so many years, Lin Feng would appear again.
"You still dare to walk this path." The strong cultivator of the Lightning Punishment Immortal Palace spoke with a cold sneer. Lin Feng's cultivation seemed to have made little progress, but the people around him were not bad, all at the Low-rank Emperor realm. Their lineup appeared quite formidable, causing a hint of wariness to flash in his eyes.
"Open the passage and take us into the Small World." Lin Feng spoke calmly, causing the strong cultivator of the Lightning Punishment Immortal Palace to pause slightly. He looked at Lin Feng with a hint of mockery in his eyes. This fellow, what an arrogant tone.
Lin Feng couldn't be bothered to waste words with him. He directly crushed a mark, and light flickered as a phantom figure appeared. Seeing this phantom, the strong cultivator of the Lightning Punishment Immortal Palace stiffened and bowed, saying, "Fortress Lord."
"From now on, the Great World and Small World will no longer be restricted. Open the passage and apologize to Lin Feng for past matters. If Lin Feng forgives you, then roll back to the Lightning Punishment Immortal Palace. If he does not forgive you, then you need not return." The Palace Lord of the Lightning Punishment Immortal Palace spoke coldly. His Lightning Punishment Immortal Palace was responsible for guarding the passage. In the past, even the Qi Tian Fortress and the Sikong Heavenly Fortress had to deal with them. Thus, in a certain sense, the Lightning Punishment Immortal Palace had offended Lin Feng. But now, with the order of the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortress Region being rebuilt, Lin Feng's attitude could very well determine their fate.
Now, whether it was their Lightning Punishment Immortal Palace, the Great Zhou Immortal Palace, or the Sikong Heavenly Fortress, they all flattered the Heavenly Terrace greatly. After all, when it came to grievances, none of them were lacking. But Lin Feng clearly did not want to completely throw the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortress Region into chaos. He had only eradicated the Qi Tian Fortress and the Medicine King Immortal Palace, with whom he had the deepest enmity. As for the Wen Tian Fortress, they were deep in schemes and had been the first to choose sides, but unfortunately, they chose wrong. However, Lin Feng had shown leniency to some people of the Wen Tian Fortress, not being as ruthless as he had been with the Qi Tian Fortress and the Medicine King Immortal Palace.
Upon hearing the Palace Lord's words, the strong cultivator of the Lightning Punishment Immortal Palace's face stiffened, as if his mind had short-circuited for a moment. Then he shifted his gaze to Lin Feng, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Did you not hear my words? Apologize and beg for forgiveness from the heroes of the Heavenly Terrace. The Qi Tian Fortress and the Medicine King Immortal Palace have been destroyed. Do you also seek death?" The Palace Lord of the Lightning Punishment Immortal Palace said coldly, deliberately reminding him, clearly trying to save his life. Hearing this, the strong cultivator's heart twitched. Lin Feng and his group had destroyed the Qi Tian Fortress and the Medicine King Immortal Palace? What in the world had happened?
"Hmph." The Palace Lord snorted coldly, and his figure dissipated, causing the strong cultivator's heart to tremble violently. Without time to think further, he bowed slightly to Lin Feng and the others, saying, "I have offended you greatly in the past. I hope you will forgive me."
Lin Feng's eyes fixed on this man, a cold glint in his pupils. "After I pass through, keep this teleportation passage permanently open. If it needs guarding, you will guard it forever."
Lin Feng did not intend to kill this man. Although he was not a good person, he was, after all, the guardian of this passage. If someone else were in his place, they would have done the same thing. In a sense, he was acting under the orders of the Lightning Punishment Immortal Palace. But from now on, this passage would no longer restrict the connection between the two worlds.
"Yes." The strong cultivator of the Lightning Punishment Immortal Palace nodded slightly, then walked over and opened the passage. Lin Feng and the others stepped out one by one, arriving at the Sun Ancient Castle. They followed the castle outward, walking through its long corridor, breathing in the air of this world.
"Eight Wastelands." Lin Feng closed his eyes slightly. Finally, he had returned to this familiar world. This parting had been like the passing of ages. Lin Feng felt as if an endless span of time had gone by.
"Lin Feng, we're back." Jun Moxi stepped forward, a sharp glint flickering in his eyes. When they had left in the past, they had not brought Xiao Die with them. Many years had passed, and he did not even know how she was doing now.
Hou Qinglin and Tian Chi also stepped forward, but it was as if they could not take that step. They had returned to this familiar world, but unfortunately, they had not met their two masters or their fellow disciples. There had been no news of them, and they did not know how they were faring now.
They had established the Heavenly Terrace in the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortress Region for several purposes. First, to control that region and bring peace to the Small World, allowing its people to develop freely without any constraints. Second, they wanted to expand the Heavenly Terrace so that if their masters and fellow disciples ever heard of it, they could find their way here and reconnect.
"Let's go." Lin Feng murmured softly, then stepped forward, returning to the land of the Eight Wastelands. This was where they had risen and fought back. Their path of martial arts had, in a sense, begun from this region.
The vast Eight Wastelands, over a decade later, had changed like the passing of ages. Now, the Eight Wastelands were firmly controlled by two major forces. One was the Wen Family of the Central Wasteland. Many years ago, the Wen Family of the Central Wasteland, the Sikong Family, the Qi Family of the Eastern Wasteland, and the Undying Heavenly Palace had all been top forces of the Eight Wastelands. After the previous wave of Martial Emperors leaving and the terrifying turmoil brought by news from the Great World, the Qi Family had declined, and the Sikong Family had lost its former glory. But the Wen Family had not only not declined but had grown even stronger. In the vast Central Wasteland, the Illusory World Heavenly Palace no longer existed, only the Sikong Family remained. The Sword Pavilion survived under the Wen Family's authority, though it was rumored that an old monster who never left the Sword Pavilion might be the Skyless Sword Emperor himself, so the Sword Pavilion had never faced disaster.
Besides the Wen Family of the Central Wasteland, the other royal force was the Medicine King Immortal Palace. This Medicine King Immortal Palace had taken over the former Sky Dome Immortal Palace's territory and ruled the Southern Wasteland as king. It was now the only force in the Eight Wastelands and Nine Abyss that could contend with the Wen Family of the Central Wasteland. As for many once-glorious forces, they had declined or even been destroyed, erased from the Eight Wastelands and Nine Abyss.
For example, in the remote Northern Wasteland, the Heavenly Terrace had long been erased. It had enjoyed brief glory, but now it no longer existed, reduced to history. Occasionally, elders would mention it when discussing ancient events, but the younger generation, who had grown up, gradually forgot this once-powerful force.
Besides this, many other forces had become history, no longer existing.
However, where forces fell, new ones and strong cultivators would inevitably rise. Some even sought to revive the forces that had been destroyed in the past.
For instance, in the Southern Wasteland, a fairy-like figure had appeared who wanted to revive the Sky Dome Immortal Palace. Unfortunately, though she was a Martial Emperor, she was still suppressed by the Medicine King Immortal Palace. People called her Snow Emperor, or Snow Fairy Maiden. Those who had seen her said she was extremely beautiful. It was rumored that this Snow Fairy Maiden was one of the Four Great Beauties of the Eight Wastelands and a disciple of the Sky Dome Immortal Palace: Xue Biyao.
There were many versions of the tales about Xue Biyao and the Sky Dome Immortal Palace. Some said she had been betrayed and used by her master, Dan Huang, and had left the Sky Dome Immortal Palace to join the Heavenly Terrace. There were even rumors that Xue Biyao had fallen in love with Lin Feng, but since Lin Feng already had another fairy-like wife, Meng Qing, he had not chosen Xue Biyao. Thus, Xue Biyao had stayed in the Small World and had not gone to the Great World with the others.
Of course, these were just rumors. But in the Southern Wasteland, there was also a force called the Perching Phoenix Mountain. It had been disbanded in the past, but later, a pair of outstanding beauties revived it. These two were also extremely beautiful women, and they were sisters. The elder sister, Feng Xuan, had also been one of the Four Great Beauties of the Eight Wastelands. But the younger sister, Feng Ling'er, was now no less beautiful than Feng Xuan. Moreover, she had stepped into the Martial Emperor realm before her elder sister, Feng Xuan.
Some said they had traveled to the Great World and then returned, while others said they had never left the Small World. The truth could not be verified, perhaps only known by those Martial Emperors and monstrous geniuses who had left.
Now, among the Four Great Beauties of the Eight Wastelands, the three mentioned above all had their names. The last one had also stirred some waves. She came from the Wen Family. In the past, she had even walked outside disguised as a man. Now, she had donned women's clothing and become one of the Four Great Beauties. Her name was Wen Aoxue. The Wen Family had Aoxue, standing alone and aloof from the world.
The Northern Wasteland was not without its interesting stories. For example, a young man had recently risen. He was no more than twenty years old but possessed considerable strength and extraordinary talent. This young man actually claimed he wanted to rebuild the gradually forgotten Heavenly Terrace, drawing the attention of many. A mere youth was running around, trying to establish the Heavenly Terrace.
Lin Feng knew nothing of all this. At this moment, he stood alone outside the Sword Pavilion, in front of the giant sword. A trace of memories stirred within him. The Sword Pavilion—if not for it, he would not be where he was today. Skyless Sword Emperor had also given him much help.
"Whoosh!" A series of figures flashed out. When they clearly saw the person standing before them, their expressions all stiffened sharply, as if sharp sword beams had flashed through their eyes. Young Master, he had returned!
"If I ever become Emperor, the Sword Pavilion will be king in the Central Wasteland!" Lin Feng's words from the past still echoed in their ears. Now that Lin Feng had returned, his cultivation seemed to still be stuck at the Venerable Martial Realm. How could he fulfill his bold words from the past?