Chapter 1876: Endless Powerhouses
"Are there any requirements for the Immortal Kingdom Trial?" Lin Feng asked curiously, surprised that such a trial ground existed in the Underworld.
"No requirements. Anyone at the Nether Emperor realm can enter. However, once inside, you step into an independent space, completely isolated from the outside world. There, you cannot use external objects or borrow the divine sense power of others. The entire world is enveloped by a peculiar force. That is why it is called the Immortal Kingdom Trial—a trial ground on the path to becoming a powerhouse."
Ishikawa spoke to Lin Feng, causing Lin Feng's expression to stiffen. He looked at Ishikawa and said, "Senior, can one enter the Immortal Kingdom Trial at any time?"
"Once a year. The Immortal Kingdom Trial ground opens once a year. Once you enter, you must stay inside for a full year. Because of this, it is extremely dangerous. Inside, you cannot even use the divine sense of your senior predecessors. Even if you are killed, no one will know. The Immortal Kingdom Trial ground is filled with slaughter."
Ishikawa explained to Lin Feng, making Lin Feng nod slightly as he began to understand. Entering the Immortal Kingdom Trial ground, everyone was the same. Even if you had a special identity, there was no protection. That made it an extremely chaotic world, yet this chaotic world was called the Immortal Kingdom.
"Is the Immortal Kingdom Trial about to begin?" Lin Feng asked. Ishikawa nodded: "The opening day of the Immortal Kingdom Trial is approaching soon. That's why I gathered the Green Lotus Legion to select those willing to undergo the trial."
"Once a year." A sharp glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes. He looked at Green Lotus Commander and said, "Commander, I wish to participate in this Immortal Kingdom Trial."
Green Lotus Commander's expression froze for a moment as he looked at Lin Feng: "The Immortal Kingdom Trial is fraught with danger. You cannot leave for nearly a year. Many figures inside are extremely terrifying, some even standing at the peak of the Nether Emperor realm. Lin Feng, it would be more prudent to enter after reaching the Mid-rank Nether Emperor realm. Even if you don't want to wait that long, at least stabilize your cultivation first and grow stronger before entering. After all, the opportunity comes every year."
"If a martial artist fears danger, how can they rise above others? Commander, my mind is made up. I will participate in this Immortal Kingdom Trial." Lin Feng said solemnly. He didn't have much time. He needed to improve his strength first, then find a way to the Nine Heavens Continent. Entering the Immortal Kingdom Trial this year would definitely help him grow stronger.
Green Lotus Commander was silent for a moment after hearing Lin Feng's words, then nodded slightly: "Since you have decided, I won't stop you. But you must remember: safety comes first. The Immortal Kingdom Trial ground doesn't only have powerhouses from the Underworld."
"Oh?" Lin Feng's expression tightened at this, a sharp light flashing in his eyes: "Commander, are you saying that the Immortal Kingdom Trial ground has more than just Underworld powerhouses?"
"Yes. Just know this and don't spread it around. Once you enter the Immortal Kingdom Trial ground, you'll probably understand." Green Lotus Commander clearly didn't want to say more about this secret matter, but Lin Feng's heart was far from calm. Powerhouses from other worlds also entered the Immortal Kingdom Trial?
If that were the case, the Immortal Kingdom Trial ground was even more worth exploring. If there really were powerhouses from other realms, there might be a way to reach other worlds.
This was an extremely important piece of information for Lin Feng. After all, contacting the Ten Kings of Hell was still a distant prospect. He could only consider other ways to find a path to the Nine Heavens Continent for now.
"Lin Feng, since you've decided to go to the Immortal Kingdom Trial, spend this time cultivating here. When the time comes, I'll have Ishikawa take you along." Green Lotus Commander said to Lin Feng. Lin Feng nodded: "Alright, thank you, Commander."
In the following days, Lin Feng kept a low profile, moving only between the Green Lotus Hell and the City Lord's Mansion. Whenever he went to the City Lord's Mansion, he only visited the Scripture Pavilion to study ancient scriptures and divine abilities. Although he didn't cultivate those ancient scriptures, they served as excellent references. Reading and pondering them often helped his understanding of the martial path.
At this moment, Lin Feng walked out of the Scripture Pavilion and felt a gaze on him. Turning his eyes, he saw someone at a corner flickering their gaze before continuing forward as if nothing had happened.
Lin Feng remained expressionless, acting as if nothing had occurred. This wasn't the first time he had felt this way. He understood that someone was tracking him. As for who it was, in the City Lord's Mansion of Song Emperor City, it could only be Wang Zhen, who had clashed with him. Moreover, after Wang Zhuo's death, Wang Zhen's father, Wang Xiao, had made no move at all. This was suspicious and abnormal. Perhaps the person watching him was sent by Wang Xiao.
However, as long as he was in the City Lord's Mansion, neither Wang Zhen nor Wang Xiao would dare to make a direct move against him. After all, he had earned his privileges through the challenge outside the Song Emperor City Lord's Mansion and had gained Green Lotus Commander's favor. If something happened to him in the City Lord's Mansion for no reason, the consequences would be severe.
As long as he didn't leave the City Lord's Mansion, those people couldn't do anything to him.
Time passed unnoticed. One day, Lin Feng sat atop a glacier mountain range. Around him, life and death light wheels revolved, and the entire void seemed to be under his control. Life and death alternated, making it elusive.
At that moment, a figure rolled through the void, looking down at Lin Feng below. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: "This kid controls both life and death forces. His talent is extraordinary. No wonder the Commander thinks highly of him."
Lin Feng opened his eyes and smiled at the figure in the void: "Senior Ishikawa, has the day of the Immortal Kingdom Trial arrived?"
"Yes, time to prepare to set out." Ishikawa nodded. Lin Feng stood up, soared into the air, and followed Ishikawa away. Moments later, they arrived at another location in the glacier mountain range, where many powerhouses had already gathered in the void. Each of them possessed extraordinary auras.
The Immortal Kingdom Trial was extremely dangerous. Anyone who dared to enter was a formidable powerhouse. As Green Lotus Commander and Ishikawa had said, the Immortal Kingdom Trial ground was an elite battlefield, filled with absolute elite powerhouses. Ordinary people wouldn't dare to enter, as they could lose their lives at any moment. Ironically, the larger the faction, the more hesitant its members might be to enter, as they could become targets for hunting.
Green Lotus Commander walked through the void, looking at the figures in the sky, and said, "Is everyone ready?"
"Rest assured, Commander. This time, we will be united. If we encounter danger, we will stand together." One person spoke. Green Lotus Commander smiled and nodded: "Remember, don't let greed cloud your judgment. You are all elites of my Green Lotus Legion. I hope to see you all return safely. Even if your strength doesn't improve much, it's fine. As long as you keep the green mountain, you won't lack firewood."
"Understood." Everyone bowed in response. Then Green Lotus Commander looked at Lin Feng and said, "Lin Feng, your strength is relatively weak. You must be extra cautious. Some of the powerhouses entering the Immortal Kingdom Trial ground are extraordinary prodigies. Always stay vigilant."
Lin Feng nodded heavily: "Commander, I understand."
"Then I won't say more. Everyone, I await your triumphant return." Green Lotus Commander said solemnly. Everyone's expressions turned serious. This journey to the Immortal Kingdom Trial could very well be a path to death.
"Let's set out." Ishikawa waved his hand. Everyone stepped out of this hell and soon arrived at Green Lotus Commander's residence, then headed out of the City Lord's Mansion. Lin Feng noticed that not only was the Green Lotus Commander's faction stirring, but various other forces were also mobilized. The Immortal Kingdom Trial had no restrictions—anyone at the Nether Emperor realm could enter. If the Green Lotus Legion had people going, other commanders' legions naturally did too. Soon, waves of powerful legions set off toward the Immortal Kingdom Trial ground.
The entrance to the Immortal Kingdom Trial was at Trial Mountain, the border area of the Underworld's ten main cities. Ishikawa led the group there, crossing Song Emperor City. It took an entire month to reach this place, making Lin Feng truly appreciate the vastness of Song Emperor City. Ishikawa, a Great Emperor, had taken the shortest straight-line route and still spent a full month. This showed how vast and boundless the city was.
Outside the Immortal Kingdom entrance at Trial Mountain, powerhouses surrounded the area. Within a radius of several hundred li, countless powerhouses had gathered. They came from the Underworld's ten main cities—legions from the City Lord's Mansions, legions from various commanders, independent cultivators belonging to no faction, and other major forces of the Underworld. In a single glance, the crowd seemed endless, almost all of them at the Nether Emperor realm, mostly Mid-rank and High-rank Nether Emperors, with very few Low-rank ones.
"What a terrifying number of powerhouses!" Lin Feng looked at the vast, boundless sea of strong individuals, deeply shocked. The Underworld was vast and endless, and the number of powerhouses was equally terrifying. If there were so many elite powerhouses, the total number of Nether Emperors in the entire Underworld was unimaginable.
"After you enter the Immortal Kingdom Trial, there will be even more powerhouses waiting for you. These are people who don't want to come out of the trial ground. Such people are the most terrifying. Their willingness to stay inside shows their strength." Ishikawa said to Lin Feng, making him nod inwardly. Indeed, that was true.