Chapter 2173: Advancement
"I'll grant your wish, let him advance." When the two demon young masters heard Lei Dongtian's words, a cold sneer flickered in their eyes as they stared at Lin Feng.
"Very well, once he advances, we'll take his life then." Lei Dongtian's voice was icy. The battle continued; those ranked ahead of Lin Feng could continuously choose to challenge those behind them. Victory meant leaving this space. When it was finally Lei Dongtian's turn, his gaze locked unwaveringly onto Lin Feng. A beam of light illuminated Lin Feng, and in an instant, both Lei Dongtian and his figure appeared on the battle platform.
"I originally planned to eliminate you, but since I've changed my mind, I'll follow through. I'll just trample you first. Now I can tell you, the stage of the Nine Heavens Gathering is not your stage—it's your burial ground." Lei Dongtian's voice was cold, dark lightning flashing around him. His cultivation had reached the Honored Martial Realm, and he had comprehended multiple profound meanings. If not for Langxie's control over realm force, he wouldn't have lost so badly earlier.
Lin Feng said nothing. Probably because he had fled during their last encounter, Lei Dongtian had gained this baseless confidence.
Lei Dongtian moved. Each step he took pressed a heavy weight onto Lin Feng. Suddenly, Lei Dongtian burst forward, terrifying lightning seemingly about to explode directly on Lin Feng. However, Lin Feng's body turned into a willow catkin, drifting lightly aside as the lightning grazed past him. Lei Dongtian didn't stop; his oppressive force made Lin Feng's steps feel heavy.
"Kill!" Lei Dongtian clenched his hand, and instantly, Lin Feng seemed enveloped by lightning. He didn't have Langxie's realm force to dissolve it with realm light, but he bore the lightning on his back. A roar erupted, like a demon beast's howl. Lin Feng stepped forward, and a demonic bull figure appeared in the void, like a demon bull king. Its immense weight made his defense extremely strong, the lightning unable to break through. At the same time, Lin Feng's dark fist shot out like a black cannonball, causing Lei Dongtian's expression to tighten. The thunder pearl in his hand instantly blasted out, seeming to shatter the void itself.
Lin Feng's aura shifted again. He became like a great roc, suddenly swooping down from the air, a roc's shadow enveloping him. With wings spread, he landed instantly before Lei Dongtian.
"Roar!" The cry of a demon elephant shook the void, its terrifying force crushing toward Lei Dongtian.
"Beast-imitating power, imitating myriad demons."
The crowd's expressions tightened. Lin Feng was actually imitating various demon beasts for complex and terrifying shifting attacks. What a fearsome guy. Such comprehension was terrifying. Everyone here started from zero; Lin Feng's abilities were what he had realized during this time.
"Boom!" The terrifying force struck Lei Dongtian's body, making it hard to bear. His knees bent as he stared at Lin Feng's descending power, his face slightly pale.
"Get lost!" Lei Dongtian erupted with endless lightning, shooting into the void toward Lin Feng. But Lin Feng transformed into a hawk, granting him terrifying agility. He slid behind Lei Dongtian and struck toward his throat with a palm. Fearsome sword intent surged, making Lei Dongtian's body stiffen as he was slowly lifted by the neck.
Twisting his neck, Lei Dongtian turned his gaze with difficulty, staring at Lin Feng, his dark eyes filled with killing intent.
"Who are you trampling?" Lin Feng said calmly, then let his sword intent run wild, tearing Lei Dongtian's body apart bit by bit, making his face turn deathly pale.
Releasing his hand, Lin Feng slashed with his sword, and Lei Dongtian's figure turned into a beam of light. But this time, he didn't return to his original spot—he went to Lin Feng's position, while everyone ahead of him, including Lin Feng, moved forward one place.
Lin Feng and Lei Dongtian's halos were now adjacent. Lei Dongtian lost, so he was behind Lin Feng. Lin Feng's victory didn't directly advance him; that would be unfair to those who arrived earlier. His victory only pulled Lei Dongtian down.
Behind Lin Feng, Lei Dongtian's face twitched, dark and livid. He said coldly, "I didn't expect you to get decent techniques and divine abilities in this space. But outside, with my true strength, you won't be so lucky."
"Outside?" Lin Feng was stunned, looking at Lei Dongtian with a mocking expression, as if realizing something. Lei Dongtian's expression froze as he stared at Lin Feng. "You..."
"It seems you remember you've already lost two battles. If it comes to my turn, I'll defeat you once more." Lin Feng smiled coldly. "You, Lei Dongtian, won't even have the qualification to advance."
Lei Dongtian's face turned pale. Wang Shi heard this and sneered contemptuously. If Lei Dongtian didn't even qualify for the Nine Heavens Gathering, the expressions of the Heavenly Demon Thunder Clan would be very interesting. Their number one had been eliminated in the first round, while they had been dreaming of the top hundred.
"You don't dare face me?" Lei Dongtian's voice was icy.
"What a pitiful man." Lin Feng glanced at Lei Dongtian with disdain, then ignored him, calmly watching the battle on the central halo-covered platform.
"What conditions do you want?" Lei Dongtian continued. No one responded.
"Imperial weapons, techniques—anything. My Heavenly Demon Thunder Clan can still afford what you want." Lei Dongtian didn't want to be eliminated so humiliatingly. He hadn't even unleashed his true power. Lin Feng's victory here was just luck.
"The Heavenly Demon Thunder Clan, Lei Dongtian, still has the nerve to bargain with me? Ridiculous." Lin Feng said calmly, making Lei Dongtian's face grow even paler. Clearly, Lin Feng was referring to the Heavenly Demon Thunder Clan's betrayal.
"What do you want me to do?" Lei Dongtian asked.
"Is this you begging me?" Lin Feng turned to look at Lei Dongtian. "If you're begging me, at least show some sincerity. Kneel on the ground, and I might let you off."
"Kneel?" Lei Dongtian raged. "Lin Feng, you're too arrogant."
Lin Feng curled his lips into a cold smile, closed his eyes, and didn't look at him again. Lei Dongtian's mouth twitched, wanting to say something but unable to. The battle continued, and Lin Feng's turn grew closer. Outside, over a hundred people had already left. Those temporarily in the top hundred were considered seed-level experts by the outside world, with a chance to break into the Nine Heavens Gathering's top hundred.
Finally, only two remained, including Lin Feng. Lei Dongtian's face was deathly pale as he stared at Lin Feng with closed eyes. He couldn't give up on the Nine Heavens Gathering, absolutely not. He needed the qualification to freely enter and leave the inner city of Divine Thunder City. He knew what the inner city meant. He needed to grow strong, and he bore the glory of the Heavenly Demon Thunder Clan.
As he struggled internally, only one person remained ahead of Lin Feng. Lin Feng remained as calm and indifferent as ever.
"Thud." Lei Dongtian's body trembled as he knelt before Lin Feng. "Is this enough?"
The surrounding crowd was shocked. Lei Dongtian had actually knelt for the Nine Heavens Gathering.
Outside, everyone clearly saw this. Lei Dongtian was kneeling to Lin Feng. The people in Divine Thunder City saw it too, as did the Heavenly Demon Thunder Clan. Their expressions were very interesting.
"Dongtian must be doing this for the upcoming Nine Heavens Gathering. He lost twice before; Lin Feng is probably coercing him." A strong member of the Heavenly Demon Thunder Clan said coldly.
"Once he leaves that space, Dongtian will definitely kill Lin Feng and wash away the shame."
"Definitely."
At that moment, Lin Feng opened his eyes, looking at the kneeling Lei Dongtian, and said calmly, "I originally planned to let you stay and advance."
With that, Lin Feng's gaze shifted to another person. The duel began, and he didn't challenge Lei Dongtian.
But Lei Dongtian remained kneeling, as if to remember this humiliation. Lin Feng had let him advance. How pathetic.
Lin Feng challenged someone further back, winning without much effort. A halo enveloped him, and in an instant, his figure vanished. The next moment, Lin Feng felt his consciousness return to his true self, as if suddenly entering another world.
Opening his eyes, Lin Feng looked at the crowd that had already come out and let out a long breath. He was out, meaning he had advanced. The Prophet's ability was terrifying—he could extract their consciousness. If killed inside, they would truly die, becoming mindless forms.
As if sensing something, Lin Feng looked up. The Prophet in the void seemed to give him a faint smile and a slight nod. Lin Feng smiled too. It seemed this was indeed the Prophet who had appeared before; he still remembered him.
"I thought you would find another way to the Fate Temple, but you've grown faster than I expected, just in time for this Nine Heavens Gathering. What I said to you before still stands. Of course, the prerequisite is that you enter the top hundred to qualify for the Fate Temple. Work hard."
A voice drifted into Lin Feng's ears, making Lin Feng nod slightly. Of course, he would work hard. The top hundred was by no means his goal. Although his current mark was only around 130th place, that was temporary. Many ranked far ahead of him, like Lei Dongtian, had been pulled down by him!