Chapter 655: The Prelude to Battle
"Still only at the Fifth Layer of the Mysterious Martial Realm."
The others saw Lin Feng's cultivation level and all revealed disdainful expressions. Only seven days had passed. No matter how rich the world's primal energy was, it was only equivalent to a few dozen days of cultivation. Moreover, reaching the Fifth or Sixth Layer of the Mysterious Martial Realm wasn't so easy. Primal energy hadn't gathered yet, but the realm came first. Without the support of a realm, Lin Feng's cultivation would forever be stuck at the Fifth Layer of the Mysterious Martial Realm, at most reaching the peak of the Fifth Layer.
"The First Domain is wasted on you." Yu Mo's voice was indifferent. Seven days—he didn't believe that Lin Feng, who had been at the Fifth Layer of the Mysterious Martial Realm before, could have become much stronger now. If he had been in the First Domain, he would definitely have played a greater role.
Yu Mo had entered the Seventh Domain. However, he had stayed inside for less than four days before coming out. The domain couldn't remain stable. Inside, he could even feel his cultivation breaking through to the Heavenly Martial Realm, making him feel invincible. He truly experienced the formidable power of the Heavenly Martial Realm. His realm of the Eighth Layer of the Mysterious Martial Realm had also become much more stable, allowing him to step into the peak of the Eighth Layer of the Mysterious Martial Realm.
He believed that with these four days of insight, his future cultivation would also be much smoother. That domain seemed to point the way for his cultivation, the direction of the Heavenly Martial Realm.
Lin Feng heard Yu Mo's sarcastic words and glanced at him, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. He didn't argue with Yu Mo. Arguing would be meaningless. Everything would be decided on the battle platform.
"Although this Snow Domain Grand Competition is scheduled to be held today, if you all wish to consolidate your cultivation here in my Divine Palace, the competition can be postponed for a day or two."
The Palace Master of the Northern Divine Palace spoke slowly to the crowd, drawing everyone's attention. However, no one responded. Postponing the Snow Domain Grand Competition was not what everyone wanted.
"Palace Master, since it's already been decided, let's proceed as planned."
Imperial Mausoleum said calmly, clearly unwilling to postpone the Snow Domain Grand Competition.
"Yes, today is the final battle of the Snow Domain Grand Competition. Everyone knows this. Postponing wouldn't be good. Let's do it today." Yu Mo also spoke. In the previous rounds of the Snow Domain Grand Competition, he hadn't fared well. In the first round, when he entered the Fallen Demon Domain, Lin Feng had actually injured him, and he hadn't obtained a true treasure.
In the second round, entering the Flood Dragon Grotto, he had wanted to prove himself and obtain the top-ranked Jade Key. But in the Flood Dragon Grotto, he had encountered Blood Fiend and hadn't gained any advantage. He had also clashed with Jun Moxi, who was passing by, and was sent flying by a casual palm strike. In the end, he only obtained the seventh Jade Key.
This made Yu Mo very unhappy. Now, he wanted to use the final battle of the Snow Domain Grand Competition to prove his own strength and his reputation as a genius.
"That's fine." The Palace Master of the Northern Divine Palace had only spoken casually. Seeing that everyone seemed unwilling, he let it go.
"All of you, accompany these guests to the exit of the Divine Palace."
The Palace Master of the Northern Divine Palace said to the young people of the Divine Palace. They all nodded. The Palace Master was sending them to see these people off, clearly to build closer relationships. If they could win them over, even better.
"Qingchan, haven't you always wanted to see outside the Divine Palace? This time, I'll allow you to watch this Snow Domain Grand Competition."
The Palace Master of the Northern Divine Palace's gaze then fell on Qingchan. He spoke, making Qingchan's eyes freeze for a moment. Then, her clear gaze inadvertently glanced at Lin Feng before she nodded gently. She naturally understood what the Palace Master meant—to have them interact with these geniuses and allow her to step out of the Divine Palace. It wasn't because she wanted to see outside the Divine Palace, but clearly because of Lin Feng, to have her win him over.
"Alright, you are all the most outstanding geniuses and talents of the Snow Domain. Don't take the outcome of this competition too seriously. Just use it to better grasp yourselves and take another step forward in your martial path."
The Palace Master of the Northern Divine Palace said cheerfully: "Alright, everyone, go ahead."
"Farewell."
"Palace Master, we take our leave."
The crowd all bid farewell to the Palace Master. After all, this Divine Palace had allowed them to enter the domains and advance their cultivation. For that alone, they held the Divine Palace in high regard, not to mention the Palace Master's own cultivation and the strength of the Divine Palace's forces.
A group of figures departed grandly, heading in the opposite direction from which they had come.
At this moment, Lin Feng was flying through the air. A figure quietly came to his side. It was the woman who had spoken with him earlier.
Qingchan's gaze fell on Lin Feng, and she smiled bitterly: "I didn't expect you to have deceived me. Your talent is actually so formidable. You obtained the first Jade Key and entered the First Domain to cultivate. That First Domain only opens once a year. Even in my Northern Divine Palace, historically, only the most outstanding geniuses could enter it to cultivate. This time, you actually obtained this extremely rare opportunity."
"You never asked me, so how can you say I deceived you?" Lin Feng spread his hands as he flew, feeling quite surprised. This First Domain only opened once a year and was historically only open to the most outstanding genius disciples of the Divine Palace. Yet this time, the sixteen domains, including the First Domain, were opened to the participants of the Snow Domain Grand Competition, allowing them to enter and cultivate. He wondered why.
Could it be that this group of outsiders participating in the Snow Domain Grand Competition was more important than the geniuses cultivated by the Northern Divine Palace itself? That didn't seem realistic. No matter how powerful their talent or how genius they were, they were still forces of the Snow Domain, not the Divine Palace's own strength. Their status in the Divine Palace couldn't compare to the Divine Palace's geniuses.
"That's true." Qingchan nodded. "Lin Feng, do you know why I came?"
"Because of coincidence. I chatted with you for a bit, and the Palace Master thought we hit it off, so he had you come to win me over, hoping to pull me into the Divine Palace's forces." Before Lin Feng could answer, Qingchan spoke to herself. Lin Feng nodded slightly: "I guessed as much."
Qingchan smiled faintly. Then, her gaze turned to the ethereal mist ahead, and she said in a very low voice: "Then, will you agree?"
"No." Lin Feng shook his head.
Qingchan pouted, turning her gaze back to Lin Feng, and smiled bitterly: "You answered quite bluntly, leaving no room at all. At least you could have saved me some face."
"If I had met you a few years ago, with no attachments in my heart, given your beauty and thoughtfulness, I should have liked you. I might have even been impulsive." Lin Feng chuckled lightly.
"So you mean that now that you've met me, you don't like me at all?"
Qingchan retorted playfully, making Lin Feng's smile freeze. He smiled bitterly and pouted, then fell into silence.
"Joining the Divine Palace isn't a bad thing for you. With your talent, coupled with the Divine Palace's training, your martial path might progress even faster." Her gaze ethereal, Qingchan didn't look at Lin Feng but spoke softly.
"If the heart is unwilling, it will only become a constraint." Lin Feng shook his head gently. This Divine Palace clearly had a strict hierarchy and was an extremely disciplined and powerful force. If he joined, he might take shortcuts on his martial path, but he could lose his freedom, having to follow all the Divine Palace's orders. That wasn't what Lin Feng wanted. He didn't like being restrained.
Qingchan seemed to understand but didn't fully grasp it. She didn't persuade Lin Feng further. Instead, she smiled faintly again: "Whether you agree or not, and whether you like me or not, I still have to accompany you out of this Divine Palace."
"Mm." Lin Feng nodded. This was what the Palace Master of the Northern Divine Palace had instructed Qingchan to do, so she naturally had to comply.
The group of figures soon stepped out of the Divine Palace and returned to that familiar world. However, the suddenly thin world's primal energy made them feel a bit unaccustomed.
The fifteen powerful figures, along with a few people from the Divine Palace, grandly headed toward the main battle platform of the Snow Domain Grand Competition.
At this moment, at the main battle platform of the Snow Domain Grand Competition, the crowd was vast and tumultuous, even more so than seven days ago. The surrounding area was packed with countless people, all gathered for this Snow Domain Grand Competition.
"They're here." At this moment, the crowd's gazes simultaneously turned to the distance, watching the approaching figures. Their hearts stirred once again.
Finally, it had arrived. The ultimate showdown of the fifteen powerful figures. This time, who would laugh proudly at the peak?
PS: I worked overtime too late today, so tired. Only one chapter. I'll make up for these two chapters by Thursday at the latest!