# Chapter 2174: The Onlookers
Shortly after Lin Feng emerged, Lei Dongtian's figure also appeared. Lei Dongtian's expression was extremely cold, with none of the joy of advancement, only a pervasive killing intent.
"Lin Feng, you will regret this." Lei Dongtian's voice rumbled, his murderous gaze shooting toward Lin Feng. Standing outside, he could clearly see everything that had happened inside the world. He understood that the moment he knelt before Lin Feng had been witnessed by everyone, including his own clan. This humiliation, he would repay Lin Feng tenfold, a hundredfold. Kill, only torture and slaughter would suffice.
"It seems you still haven't come to your senses. If you get another chance, keep kneeling." Lin Feng said indifferently, glancing at the number floating above Lei Dongtian's head — one hundred and thirty-six. As for himself, he was number one hundred and thirty-five.
"Sword Blind, Ruoxie, Tantai, Tian Chi, and Jing Shou are also here." Lin Feng looked into the world within and soon found many familiar figures. However, Tantai, Jing Shou, and Tian Chi were still undergoing their trials in the Mysterious City. They would likely take a long time to reach the next spatial layer. If this continued, whether they could advance would probably depend on luck.
"Tantai's power is special. He's from the Medicine Clan, a late bloomer. Starting from scratch puts him at a disadvantage. Jing Shou specializes in assassination techniques; his frontal combat ability is weaker, and he also has to comprehend things anew. Although he's better off than Tantai, I don't know when he'll reach that halo space. Third Senior Brother is also hanging by a thread." Lin Feng's gaze congealed. Besides them, he also saw Wu, and someone he hadn't expected — Qing Feng.
Qing Feng had come too, and she was not far behind Second Senior Brother Hou Qinglin. After leaving with the Ten Absolute Old Immortal, a powerful ancient saint, she had also come to participate in this Nine Heavens Gathering. Moreover, she seemed even more beautiful. This beauty was one of temperament, making her feel noble, ethereal, as if unapproachable.
Besides these familiar faces, some who had previously achieved top rankings on the Emperor's List Questioning Day in the Holy City Central Continent also appeared at the Nine Heavens Gathering. The Battle Monk, Shi Yunfeng, and Gui Li were nowhere to be seen, showing how difficult it was to qualify for this Nine Heavens Gathering.
"I wonder how many people the Fate Temple will let advance in this round." Lin Feng thought to himself. Figures returned to their true bodies one by one, while others fell. Lin Feng sighed inwardly — these monstrous talents from various continents were falling one after another.
The crowd waited patiently, watching every battle within. Finally, when someone saw the halo at rank five hundred appear, the Prophet waved his hand. Light shifted, space twisted, and the entire illusory world seemed to disappear. Everyone gradually woke up. Those who hadn't managed to come out felt their hearts sink, knowing they might have been eliminated. And when they saw many people with numerical halos above their heads, they became even more certain.
"The number advancing is five hundred. More than half have been eliminated. Those who advance have at least superior talent and will compared to the others."
The Prophet looked at everyone and spoke calmly: "Those who did not obtain a rank, step down from the stone pillars."
Those people all showed expressions of disappointment. They had expended so much effort for this stage, yet elimination meant leaving so easily. But they could only sigh, stepping down from the stone pillars one by one. As they stepped down, the pillars disappeared with them. The platform no longer seemed as vast as before. The remaining five hundred could easily see each other.
"Lin Feng, it's up to you now." Tantai stepped down from the pillar and called out to Lin Feng.
Lin Feng nodded slightly at him, then glanced at Tian Chi and Jing Shou beside Tantai. Neither had advanced to the next round. Only he, Hou Qinglin, and Ruoxie remained. Of course, Langxie, Jun Moxi, Qing Feng, and Wu had also stayed. Langxie and Jun Moxi were King Bodies, while Qing Feng and Wu's talents were certainly not inferior to King Bodies. The Three-Legged Golden Crow was a divine bird, occupying a status among demon beasts similar to that of a King Body.
Of course, in the next stage, they would likely face even more severe trials. Second Senior Brother Hou Qinglin, Ruoxie, and Wu probably didn't have the strength to contend with the top figures. If they encountered them, it would be very ugly. As for Qing Feng, the Ten Absolute Old Immortal, a powerful ancient saint, had personally taken her away to guide her cultivation. It was hard to predict Qing Feng's true strength now.
"That person should be Hua Qingfeng." Lin Feng's gaze fell on the number one ranked person — the First Lord of Divine Sky.
"The person in the second seat is him." Lin Feng stared at the Array Spirit Body of the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion, his gaze congealing slightly. That old monster seemed to have sensed something. The Array Spirit Body of the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion glanced toward Lin Feng, then frowned slightly. After a moment, he revealed a cold smile: "Little fellow, so it's you. It seems that flesh body is yours, and my precious cauldron must be on you as well."
Lin Feng's pupils contracted slightly. He had actually been recognized by this guy. What sharp eyes. He was currently using his true appearance, which was different from when he was at the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion.
"Back then, you refined your soul into a cauldron. I thought you only had one flesh body left. I was careless." The man continued, the coldness in his eyes growing stronger.
"A cauldron?" Jing heard the other's words and showed a hint of surprise. She had once encountered an interesting cauldron. Of course, she didn't think much of it — just a fleeting thought. Her gaze fell more on Qing Feng. The two shared the same noble temperament, with a touch of cold beauty.
"Fifth is Chu Chunqiu." Lin Feng's gaze swept over the crowd one by one. The upcoming Nine Heavens Gathering would certainly not be dull.
"And where is this space?" Lin Feng looked around the platform. This platform seemed isolated and independent, yet in the distance, many people were watching from afar. These weren't people from Divine Sky City. Each of them had deep, unfathomable pupils — all formidable figures.
Among the buildings Lin Feng observed, in a great hall, a young man dressed in a pure white long robe sat there. Those around him looked at him with a hint of reverence. They knew this person's identity. But interestingly, beside the young man sat a small child only a few years old. The child's eyes were bright and spirited. So young, yet he was already at the Invincible Sovereign Lord realm.
Behind these two, a group of people sat quietly, all dressed in pure white long robes. If Lin Feng saw one of them, he would surely recognize him — the young expert of the Snow Clan who had fought him on Emperor's List Questioning Day, Xue Shenfeng. But in front of the young man and the child, the pride in his eyes had long vanished.
At this moment, Xue Shenfeng's gaze pierced through the void, landing on Lin Feng. Then he glanced at the child in front. He didn't speak, but he knew the relationship between these two.
"Lin Feng, you and Zhetian belong to two different worlds. Your son is destined to become a dazzling presence in the Snow Clan, while you will never have the chance to get close to your own son." Xue Shenfeng thought to himself. Zhetian's talent had already moved the entire Snow Clan. It must be because Lin Feng's talent was originally quite good, and Meng Qing was a King Body, that such a little monster had been created.
"If Linglong hadn't met Lin Feng back then, but instead followed him as the Snow Clan arranged, could her offspring surpass Zhetian?" Xue Shenfeng glanced at the young man opposite Zhetian, thinking to himself.
"Zhetian, there will be some very outstanding figures in this battle. Watch the battles you see here carefully. Such an opportunity only comes once every hundred years." At this moment, the young man opposite Little Zhetian spoke. His gaze still rested on the distant platform, his voice calm.
"Uncle, I heard that this Nine Heavens Gathering has gathered geniuses from across the Nine Heavens Continent. If you were at the same cultivation level as them, could you seize first place in the Nine Heavens?" Little Zhetian asked.
"I'm not sure. Hypotheticals don't exist in this world." The man's voice remained calm.
"Mother said that my father is a genius of the Nine Heavens Continent." Little Zhetian continued.
"Your mother deeply loves your father, so she would naturally say that. Zhetian, for you, you should forget your father. He will be a stumbling block on your path to strength, hindering your martial arts journey. Your heart should be like mine — pursuing only martial arts." The young man turned his gaze to Zhetian.
"Mm." Zhetian nodded slightly. His young face seemed to understand the other's admonition, but in his heart, he thought: "Not honoring one's parents is not the way of humanity, so how can one speak of martial arts? My martial arts must reach the pinnacle, but I will also love and protect my parents."
Of course, Zhetian wouldn't say this aloud. His mother had taught him since childhood that no matter what the Snow Clan people said to him, he had to understand it for himself, not blindly obey — he must have his own thoughts.
At the peak of another great hall, a young man stood with his hands behind his back, his temperament transcendent. At this moment, his gaze pierced through the void, looking toward the platform of the Nine Heavens Gathering, more precisely, toward Lin Feng. Those deep eyes revealed a simple, bright smile: "Brother Lin Feng actually came to the stage of the Nine Heavens Gathering so quickly. Unlike me, he walked this path entirely on his own. He must have experienced countless hardships."
"I hope Brother Lin Feng can achieve good results. At least, he should make it into the top hundred, so we can meet often." The young man thought to himself. The group behind him looked at him, not daring to approach, showing expressions of reverence. Meanwhile, a beautiful woman stared at the young man. Seeing that simple, bright smile, her heart couldn't help but tremble slightly. He actually had such a side too.