Chapter 742: The Sharp Sword of Anger
Jumping up, Lin Feng leaped down from the snowy mountain peak. Tang Youyou was waiting for him at the foot of the mountain and had never left.
At this moment, the crowd on the snowy mountain was all rushing downward, all preparing to undergo the Heavenly Lake's assessment. It was said that this time, the Heavenly Lake would select seven people to enter a secret realm full of opportunities together with Tianchi Xue.
Of course, the specifics of this secret realm were still unknown to the crowd.
Before Lin Feng had even descended the mountain, he saw a vast sea of people, yet they were orderly, without any sense of chaos. Around the pavilion where the Heavenly Lake people were located, there was still an enormous empty space. No one occupied that area, and even with the countless streams of people, they did not disturb the Heavenly Lake people in the pavilion. This was the empire's respect for the Heavenly Lake.
"So many strong ones." Tang Youyou swept her gaze over the vast sea of people and exclaimed. The gap between a mid-grade empire and a low-grade empire was immense. In a low-grade empire, there were very few young people at the high-level Mysterious Martial Realm, and even fewer at the Heavenly Martial Realm.
But in a mid-grade empire, there were countless young people at the high-level Mysterious Martial Realm, and Heavenly Martial Realm experts could probably be seen often. Especially for a terrifying force like the Heavenly Lake, the old men in those pavilions should all be at the Heavenly Martial Realm, perfectly natural, sitting quietly as if merged with heaven and earth.
At this moment, an old man in the pavilion glanced at the sunlight in the sky, then slowly stood up and walked to the center of that empty snowy ground. Looking at the vast crowd, he placed his right hand on his chest and said solemnly, "Our Heavenly Lake Empire has so many talented youths with such enthusiasm. As a member of the empire, I feel gratified and proud."
The crowd fell silent instantly at the old man's action. They all placed their hands on their chests, their gazes becoming solemn in an instant. They, too, were proud to be members of the empire.
"First, let me introduce the details of this operation to you all. The secret realm we speak of is a treasure land full of opportunities. However, as martial cultivators, everyone should understand that opportunities always coexist with crises. The greater the opportunity, the stronger the crisis. This time will be no exception. Once you enter the secret realm, it may be a life-and-death situation."
The old man's words made the crowd fall silent. Indeed, opportunities always coexist with crises. The greater the opportunity, the more intense the danger you might encounter.
"Moreover, the forces entering this secret realm are far more than just our Heavenly Lake Empire. Throughout the vast Qian Domain, there are a total of nine mid-grade empires and forty-two terrifying forces equivalent to mid-grade empires. So many empires and forces will all send experts into the secret realm. You can imagine just how massive the number of strong ones will be."
This was a terrifying number. No force would give up this opportunity; they all wanted to enter the secret realm. Therefore, this opportunity was filled with danger, as everyone understood.
"Every young genius is a treasure of the empire. To avoid unnecessary losses, the Heavenly Lake has decided to send only eight people into the secret realm. Whatever opportunities these eight people obtain, or whatever dangers they encounter, will depend on their respective fates."
Eight people. With such an opportunity before them, the Heavenly Lake was only sending eight people into the secret realm.
"Therefore, I suggest that young geniuses at the Seventh Layer of the Mysterious Martial Realm and below give up this opportunity. Those entering the secret realm will all be very strong. It is too dangerous for you to go in. For you, who have a bright future ahead and will step into the Heavenly Martial Realm, this is not worth it." The old man's words caused a stir, and those at the Seventh Layer of the Mysterious Martial Realm and below showed bitter smiles on their faces.
They also knew in their hearts that under such circumstances, the geniuses entering the secret realm would be beyond imagination. They would probably be killed the moment they entered, and obtaining opportunities would be nothing but a pipe dream.
"Of course, the Heavenly Lake never forces those with courage. If someone truly wants to give it a try, the Heavenly Lake will give you a chance to be assessed. Now, all those who have signed up and want to enter the secret realm, come to this open space first."
The old man stepped back, revealing the huge empty space beneath his feet. In an instant, figures flashed, all stepping into that vast open space. Most were at the Eighth and Ninth Layers of the Mysterious Martial Realm, with a few at the Seventh Layer. As for those below the Seventh Layer, there was no one. After hearing the old man's words, everyone weighed their own options. Entering the secret realm below the Seventh Layer of the Mysterious Martial Realm would be suicide.
Lin Feng was also among the crowd stepping into the open space. Sweeping his gaze over the surrounding crowd, his eyes paused slightly.
A small number at the Seventh Layer of the Mysterious Martial Realm, plus those at the Eighth and Ninth Layers, numbered nearly a thousand people. This number was too terrifying. A mid-grade empire was indeed a mid-grade empire.
"I will definitely enter the secret realm with Tianchi Xue and marry her as my wife." Huangfu Long's eyes were filled with determination, making Lin Feng smile wryly. This guy was so determined to marry Tianchi Xue.
Of course, Lin Feng's own fists clenched slightly. The secret realm, he had to enter. The emperor's palace was full of endless opportunities. Even if the danger was great, it could not shake his resolve in the slightest. He urgently needed strength, to become powerful. Those people who stood high above the Snow Moon Kingdom, looking down on all living beings, casually killing his friends and family, and the forces behind them, had to be eliminated.
Lin Feng was still far from that. At the very least, he needed to step into the Venerable Martial Realm to have any hope.
Since the Divine Palace had Venerable Martial Realm experts, then the Jade Heaven Royal Clan and the East Sea Dragon Palace would also have them.
"Raise your heads and look at the Heavenly Lake hanging in the void," the old man said. Everyone immediately looked up at the Heavenly Lake.
"For the first round of assessment, when I give the signal to start, everyone will head to the Heavenly Lake. The first hundred to arrive will advance to the next round," the old man said, causing a sharp glint to flash in the crowd's eyes. This was undoubtedly a quick elimination method. To avoid eliminating those with great strength but poor movement techniques, this round would take the top hundred.
"Get ready," the old man said. Instantly, everyone released their terrifying true essence power, ready to leap into the air at any moment.
"Go!" As the old man's words fell, in an instant, over a thousand figures shot up into the sky at the same time, madly rushing toward the Heavenly Lake.
"Boom!" A terrifying aura raged wildly. In this extremely short time, while leaping into the air, the crowd also released attacks to hinder others. The void became very congested.
"A Thousand Shadows Like a Dream." Tang Youyou let out a soft cry, her body turning into many afterimages, all rushing toward the Heavenly Lake together. Her figure was everywhere.
Huangfu Long stomped heavily on the void, releasing a terrifying snow intent from his body, and shouted, "None of you try to compete with me!"
As his words fell, the space around him was frozen solid, instantly covered in ice and snow. The others shouted in anger, breaking the ice and snow to continue ascending, but they found themselves already left behind, their faces turning extremely ugly.
As for Lin Feng, he was like a sharp sword, his whole body exuding a cold aura. Terrifying whistling sounds came from around him. There were no weaklings among the assessors, so he did not dare to be careless.
"Get lost!" A few people saw Lin Feng's body moving as fast as a sharp sword and casually struck a palm at him, sending a snowy palm force crashing toward Lin Feng.
"Kill!" Lin Feng roared, and a rolling murderous aura shot into the sky. In that instant, the surrounding crowd felt a bone-chilling coldness from their very souls. Their bodies seemed to freeze stiff. This murderous aura was too cold, too terrifying.
"All of you, get lost!" Lin Feng roared again. He had not tried to hinder others, yet some had provoked him. In his anger, thousands of sword energies bloomed in the void, endless and infinite. The entire sky was filled with sword shadows.
These sharp swords howled toward the surrounding people, and instantly, the crowd's faces turned extremely ugly. This was Sword Dao Will, so terrifying. This bastard...
Because resisting the sword attacks inevitably slowed their ascent, they saw countless people leaping up from all directions, surpassing them. Their faces stiffened and turned ugly. It seemed they would all be eliminated because of the sword energy released by Lin Feng's anger!