Chapter 420: On the Bamboo Raft
"Ah…"
That person had barely stepped into the dark binding for a moment when a miserable scream rang out. Amidst the rolling black mist, the figure who had entered appeared once again, but this time, he plummeted directly toward the waters of the Xiang River.
A dragon's roar echoed, and a flood dragon that had been lying flat on the water's surface shot into the sky, swallowing the man's entire body in one gulp, devouring him into its belly.
"What's going on!" The crowd's hearts trembled violently. Dead? That man hadn't even qualified to enter the binding circle. Eroded by the black mist, he was then swallowed and killed on the spot. How terrifying.
"Those who haven't received an invitation letter shouldn't bother trying. I haven't missed a single talented young genius. As for others who try to enter the venomous mist spat out by this flood dragon, they're only seeking their own death."
An ethereal and indifferent voice rang out again, making the crowd understand. So the young man who had just been devoured hadn't received an invitation at all. He had tried to sneak in but ended up losing his life.
"Furthermore, those outstanding talents of the Snow Moon Kingdom who have received invitation letters, state your names and step into the dark binding within the time it takes for one incense stick to burn."
"Venomous mist, so the black fog forming the circle is poison gas." The crowd's hearts trembled slightly. He had said that he hadn't missed a single person with real strength—so confident.
At that moment, two figures stepped through the air. Both were very young—a man and a woman. The man was handsome, the woman beautiful, drawing silent admiration from the crowd. The only flaw was the arrogance in their bearing.
The young man scanned the crowd and spoke indifferently: "Hurry up. Don't waste my time."
"Oh?"
Waste his time?
This guy was indeed as arrogant as his demeanor suggested, as if he were the protagonist and everyone else was just a supporting role, wasting his time.
"Yandang Mountain, the Ling siblings," the voice sounded again as the young man stated his name.
Yandang Mountain, the Ling siblings?
Many in the crowd had never heard of this name and looked puzzled. These two had received invitations, clearly belonging to the category of geniuses, yet they were unknown.
Some of the older generation, however, narrowed their eyes. Yandang Mountain—they should be the descendants of that person.
"After today, you'll all remember this name well. Remember, I am Ling Tian," the young man said arrogantly, seeing the confusion and unfamiliarity in many faces.
Then, the crowd watched as Ling Tian stepped directly into the rolling black mist. Suddenly, in the void beneath the full moon, a beam of light burst forth—fast, unbelievably fast, too quick for the crowd's eyes to follow.
"Chi chi…" A soft sound rang out. Amidst the churning black mist, a beam of light appeared, like a corridor. Ling Tian and his companion stepped forward, following the light straight into the circle with incredible speed.
"Such a fast sword. He does have some trump cards. No wonder he dares to be so arrogant!"
The crowd thought to themselves. This man, named Ling Tian, was the first to step into the dark binding.
The moment Ling Tian entered, another figure appeared in the air. Without pausing, he stepped directly toward the rolling black mist, a name escaping his lips.
"Former Imperial Guard Commander of the Imperial City, She Qiong!"
As She Qiong stepped forward, a flood dragon phantom materialized, letting out a trembling roar as it charged into the black mist, swallowing clouds and spitting fog. She Qiong's foot stepped forward, riding the flood dragon's body into the dark binding.
"A flood dragon—his martial soul is a flood dragon!" The crowd's eyes narrowed. The former Imperial Guard Commander of the Imperial City was incredibly strong. How would he compare to Ling Tian?
Just as She Qiong entered the black mist, three figures simultaneously rose into the air in the void, heading toward the churning fog.
They glanced at each other, then all stepped forward.
"Dugu Clan, Dugu Ye!" A cold voice rang out. Another genius appeared, directly releasing his terrifying aura of the Mysterious Martial Realm, Third Layer, as he stepped into the black mist.
"Haoyue Sect, Jiang Shan." On another person's body, a mountain phantom materialized, making him as majestic as a mountain. His body, carrying the mountain's shadow, stepped into the black mist, suppressing it wherever he passed.
"Luoxia Sect, Luo Yuntian!" Rolling rays of sunset light burst forth, drowning out the black mist's glow. A figure accompanied by the rolling light stepped into the mist.
The three each displayed their own techniques, crossing into the black mist with ease. All were young—talented youths, gifted descendants.
The crowd below was dazzled. The Snow Moon Kingdom was teeming with geniuses, many of whom they had never even heard of.
After that, more and more people used their divine abilities to step into the dark binding, standing within the circle. There were members of the Imperial City, disciples of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, geniuses from noble families, and some whose names had never been heard before.
Before long, there were already twenty-nine people within the dark binding formed by the black mist. Twenty-nine people—all outstanding talents of the Snow Moon Kingdom's generation. Apart from the Eight Young Masters, they were the most gifted group. Some might even be more talented than the Eight Young Masters themselves.
Truly a day for a gathering of geniuses. There were too many prodigies here. Compared to them, the crowd felt inferior, knowing they still needed to train hard and improve their cultivation.
"Only twenty-nine people?" The time was nearly up for one incense stick. The crowd thought to themselves.
"No, someone's still missing. Lin Feng hasn't appeared yet."
Many people simultaneously thought of one name: Lin Feng.
That young genius who had single-handedly annihilated twelve Mysterious Martial Realm experts and five Profound Demons of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect—how could he not have received an invitation? And he still hadn't shown up.
Not only had the crowd noticed, but those who wanted to kill Lin Feng had also realized this. Lin Feng had yet to arrive.
From the direction of the Snow Moon Holy Academy, Dapeng Gongzi, Chu Zhanpeng, looked at the crowd from the Heavenly One Academy and said coldly: "Didn't the Heavenly One Academy say they would send someone to participate in this grand gathering? Where are they?"
The leader of the Heavenly One Academy was Vice Dean Long Ding. Long Ding glanced indifferently at Chu Zhanpeng and said nothing. In truth, he didn't know where Lin Feng was right now. He wouldn't restrict Lin Feng or interfere in any of his affairs. Of course, Long Ding believed Lin Feng would come.
"The Heavenly One Academy—has it fallen so low that it doesn't have a single genius, or is someone too afraid to attend this grand gathering of talents?"
Chu Zhanpeng's words were thick with sarcasm, verbally attacking and humiliating.
"The Heavenly One Academy is nothing but a bunch of cowards and wastes. How could they have any geniuses? They can't even be called an academy. Compared to our Holy Academy, it's an utter disgrace."
The crowd from the Snow Moon Holy Academy chimed in one after another, taking the opportunity to humiliate the Heavenly One Academy.
"The esteemed Snow Moon Holy Academy gathers geniuses from various sects, aiming to forge the strongest force in the Snow Moon Kingdom. Yet now, two years have passed. The Snow Moon Holy Academy is a mixed bag. Aside from the two arrogant ones who were once among the Eight Young Masters, not a single decent genius has emerged. All that's left are a bunch of rabble-rousers. How pathetic."
A rolling voice came from afar, mingling with the flowing waters of the Xiang River, carrying a hint of cold indifference.
"Duan Tianlang, you've failed to teach your son and have turned a group of originally talented people into a flock of chickens and dogs. Aren't you ashamed!"
Hearing this voice, the pupils of the crowd here all constricted. The people in the distance had already started discussing animatedly. These two sentences cursed the Snow Moon Holy Academy for having no one, for producing only chickens and dogs; cursed Duan Tianlang for being incompetent, failing to teach his son or his disciples; and also insulted Dapeng Gongzi and Luoxue Gongzi among the Eight Young Masters, calling them nothing but arrogant fools.
The voice wasn't loud, but it was incredibly arrogant.
In the distance, two bamboo rafts sailed upstream, cutting through the waters of the Xiang River. On the two bamboo rafts stood three figures.
The person paddling the raft was very young, appearing to be only about sixteen, with a clean and handsome face.
On the raft sat two figures—a man and a woman. The man was handsome, with clear, pure eyes, yet as deep as the waters of the Xiang River.
The woman wore a light veil over her face. The full moon shone upon her, making her appear as ethereal and beautiful as a fairy maiden, like a figure from a painting who shouldn't exist in the mortal world.
"Such a beautiful scene!"
The crowd silently praised. The imagery was so beautiful, nothing like the blood-soaked gathering of geniuses. These three seemed like talented scholars and beauties enjoying a cruise on the Xiang River.
"Lin Feng!"
Many eyes fell on the young man sitting on the bamboo raft. Their pupils constricted. That man was Lin Feng.
PS: As usual, asking for flowers first thing in the morning!