Chapter 817: What is the Jade Emperor Heart
The crowd looked puzzled, all deep in thought, when Lin Feng smiled again and continued, "There's one more thing I forgot to mention. After the Jade Heaven Royal Clan stepped into the Jade Emperor Palace, the world outside began to collapse. The Jade Heaven Royal Clan tried to seal the only entrance shut, leaving everyone else to die outside. It was only because our Heavenly Pool people fought desperately that the entrance couldn't close completely. But in the end, countless outstanding juniors from the various forces still perished in the world-destroying storm."
Lin Feng's voice was calm, but in an instant, he pushed the Jade Heaven Royal Clan into the abyss. Countless eyes immediately focused on the members of the Jade Heaven Royal Clan. Someone among them shouted coldly, "It seems that for so many years, everyone has been deceived by the Jade Heaven Royal Clan. They used the forces of the Qian Domain to help them find the Emperor's tomb, but in the end, they wanted to enter alone and let everyone else die outside. Jade Heaven Royal Clan, what ruthless methods."
Many gazes fell upon the Jade Heaven Royal Clan's members, instantly pressing down on them with immense pressure. They stared at Lin Feng, their expressions ugly.
"The leader of our Jade Heaven Royal Clan who entered the secret realm, Imperial Phoenix, was killed. How could we possibly have obtained any treasures?" The leading strongman of the Jade Heaven Royal Clan swept his cold gaze across the crowd, then fixed it on Lin Feng. "Everyone, let me emphasize again: it was only after this man refined the Jade Emperor Heart that everyone came out. Think about it—the Jade Emperor Heart is an incredibly powerful object. It might contain a great secret. Otherwise, how could such a huge change have occurred? At the very least, you should make him produce the refined Jade Emperor Heart."
The crowd wavered. Between the Jade Heaven Royal Clan and Lin Feng, who had actually obtained the treasure?
"Let me say a word," a voice came from the East Sea Dragon Palace crowd. "At the final moment, our East Sea Dragon Palace people were also inside the Jade Emperor Palace. Setting aside whether the Jade Heaven Royal Clan deceived us—we can settle that later—Lin Feng indeed refined the Jade Emperor Heart. Then everyone felt the world shift and appeared here. Kong Jiuye of the Nine Heavens Sword Sect and Gu Qianqiu of the Carefree Sect can both testify to this. I boldly speculate that Lin Feng must have obtained a great treasure."
The speaker was Duan Wuya. His eyes were cold and sinister as he stared at Lin Feng and his group, continuing, "Moreover, besides Lin Feng refining the Jade Emperor Heart, everyone else from Heavenly Pool also obtained powerful treasures. In fact, even the Carefree Sect's miraculous footwork seems to have fallen into their hands. I saw that woman use it."
"Those treasures were all obtained from the mansion of a Supreme Venerable, extremely powerful. I'm afraid that even you Heavenly Martial cultivators don't possess such formidable treasures."
Duan Wuya's few words instantly plunged Lin Feng and his group into a completely disadvantageous position. The crowd stared at Lin Feng and the others, greed in their eyes. Besides the Jade Emperor Heart, there were other great treasures.
"Heh heh, I agree with my disciple's words. Let them hand over the Jade Emperor Heart and the other treasures first," the Purple Gold Dragon King said with a faint smile. The Heavenly Pool people had gained the greatest benefits—did they think they could just walk away unscathed?
Everyone was now pondering. It seemed that this expedition into the secret realm had been the most fruitful one ever. The Jade Emperor's tomb had appeared, the secret realm had collapsed, and someone had obtained the treasures of a Supreme Venerable. Unfortunately, the Venerables of their sects didn't know this news; otherwise, they would all be rushing over. A Supreme Venerable's treasure, in the hands of a Venerable, could unleash terrifying power.
"You killed our Jade Heaven Royal Clan people and seized our clan's Jade Emperor Crown. Now, return it!" The Jade Heaven Royal Clan spoke first, directly descending before the Heavenly Pool crowd.
"You covet our Carefree Sect's Carefree Step Art. How audacious!" The Carefree Sect also spoke, flickering over.
"I heard you killed our East Sea Dragon Palace people. Hmph!"
Finding their excuses, the various sects gathered before the Heavenly Pool crowd, gradually surrounding them. The others naturally wouldn't back down either, flickering over one by one and encircling them, all wanting a share of the spoils. A Supreme Venerable's treasures and the Jade Emperor Heart—who wouldn't want them? And Lin Feng—what had he obtained through the Jade Emperor Heart?
The expressions of the Seven Snow Eagles of Heavenly Pool instantly darkened. Fortune and misfortune were intertwined—this saying was indeed true. Their Heavenly Pool people had obtained great treasures, but now they were being pressured by so many powerful forces, unable to retreat.
"Everyone, are you trying to provoke a war between sects by doing this?" a Snow Eagle said coldly, his voice freezing to the point of ice. "Don't forget that the Heavenly Pool Empire has never been bullied by others."
"There's no need to be so serious. It's just that Heavenly Pool has obtained so many treasures, and everyone feels it's a bit unfair. At the very least, you should take out a few items to share. And as for the Jade Emperor Heart that Lin Feng refined, let everyone have a look at it too," the strongman of the Jade Heaven Royal Clan said with a faint smile.
There was a delicate balance among these major forces. They wouldn't form mortal enmities or provoke large-scale slaughter. The consequences of war between major sects were too severe—even these Heavenly Martial cultivators couldn't bear them.
But this time, for the Supreme Venerable's treasures and the Jade Emperor Heart, even if it meant offending the Heavenly Pool Empire, they were determined to make a move.
"That's right. We have no intention of being enemies with the Heavenly Pool Empire. It's just that the Heavenly Pool Empire has obtained too many treasures. We're also curious about the Jade Emperor Heart," the Purple Gold Dragon King added. This time, none of them would back down.
"How shameless!" Huangfu Long cursed angrily. "Doing such things and still claiming you don't want to be our enemies—you have no sense of shame!"
"Shut up!" the Purple Gold Dragon King roared, staring at Huangfu Long. "Do you have the right to speak here?"
"Huff..." Huangfu Long breathed heavily, glaring at the Purple Gold Dragon King, filled with rage.
"Hurry up. Everyone is waiting," the Purple Gold Dragon King urged. Everyone was closing in on the Heavenly Pool crowd. If Lin Feng and the others didn't hand over the Jade Emperor Heart and the other treasures, they would likely take action themselves.
"And if we don't hand them over?" Lin Feng swept his gaze across the crowd and asked calmly.
"If you don't hand them over, we'll have to take them ourselves. Of course, some accidents might happen during the process. We hope the Heavenly Pool Empire won't blame us," the Purple Gold Dragon King said with a faint smile, his tone carrying a sinister air.
"In other words, you want our lives, right?" Lin Feng asked with a smile, seemingly unconcerned.
"I never said that," the Purple Gold Dragon King denied, but the cold smile in his eyes undoubtedly confirmed Lin Feng's words.
"Fine. You want the Jade Emperor Heart? I'll hand it over." Lin Feng's words made the crowd's eyes narrow in confusion. Lin Feng was willing to hand it over voluntarily?
"That would be best," the Purple Gold Dragon King said with a faint smile.
"All of you, retreat. Retreat a thousand meters away and leave us an escape route with no one blocking it. I'll place the Jade Emperor Heart on the ground here," Lin Feng stated his conditions. The crowd exchanged glances, then nodded. It seemed Lin Feng was afraid of being silenced and killed, which was why he said this. Of course, with so many of them here, a mere thousand meters—they didn't believe Lin Feng and his group could escape.
The crowd all retreated, reaching a thousand meters away. In the original spot, only Lin Feng and the other Heavenly Pool people remained, along with an escape route with no one guarding it.
"You go first. Get as far away as possible," Lin Feng said to the Heavenly Pool people. Their eyes fixed on Lin Feng.
"No. How can we leave you here alone?" Tang Youyou spoke first.
"Don't worry. As long as you leave, I have a way to get out. Trust me," Lin Feng said solemnly. Tang Youyou looked into Lin Feng's eyes, then nodded in compromise. Since Lin Feng said so, it should be true.
"Since that's the case, fine. We'll retreat first. Be careful," a Snow Eagle said, transforming into a demonic beast and lifting everyone onto its back, then heading toward the escape route. The others stared at the Snow Eagle, their eyes flickering with killing intent, but none of them made a move. This place was who knew how far from the Heavenly Pool Empire. After settling the matter of the Jade Emperor Heart, they would go after them.
Lin Feng watched them leave, then smiled. He swept his gaze across the distant crowd, and in his hand, a heart appeared—the Jade Emperor Heart.
"Take it!"
Lin Feng hurled the Jade Emperor Heart fiercely, sending it flying toward the East Sea Dragon Palace crowd. At the same time, his body shot backward rapidly, retreating who knew how many meters in an instant.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
A series of terrifying auras erupted at that moment. Everyone surged toward the East Sea Dragon Palace's direction. The Jade Emperor Heart—grab it first!
Lin Feng's body turned into an arrow, instantly retreating several miles. Watching the crowd madly scrambling for the Jade Emperor Heart, all converging together, a meaningful smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"Boom!" A majestic aura burst forth in the world. A terrifying sound rang out, and many people were sent flying, spitting blood. In that distant space, a vast palace appeared, radiating an imperial aura—majestic, magnificent. The Jade Emperor Palace!