Chapter 876: Heading to Black Wind Ridge
The sun gradually set, casting a slightly desolate hue over the land at dusk, with occasional gusts of wind blowing through.
The air was thick with the scent of strong wine. By now, Han Man and the others had all collapsed to the ground, drunk. Their bodies were flushed red, feeling a fiery heat all over, and they kept mumbling incoherently—they had probably lost all consciousness by this point. The Blazing Essence Wine was extremely potent, like a surge of flames; drinking it the way they did, how could they not get drunk?
At this moment, Lin Feng lay on the ground, gazing at the setting sun in the sky, a faint smile on his lips. If every day could be as intoxicating as this, wouldn't it be a wonderful thing? Yet, living in this world of martial arts, one often had no choice. Meng Qing was still at Black Wind Ridge, the Divine Palace would likely send people to kill him soon, and forces like the East Sea Dragon Palace and the Jade Heaven Royal Clan from the Qian Domain were all searching for him. He, Lin Feng, held the future fate of the Tian Xuan Peak lineage in his hands.
All of this—none of it could be avoided. He could only face it bravely, constantly pursuing the path of the strong, making his power greater and greater, until he soared above the heavens and laughed at the sky. In the world of martial arts, one could only press forward; if you didn't advance, you fell back. He believed that with all the great fortune he possessed, one day he would stand proud with his sword.
The setting sun slowly descended, and a full moon hung in the void. The brilliant stars shone so brightly, and the Big Dipper remained as eye-catching as ever. In that endless, vast starry sky, what mysteries lay hidden? Why was it that in his past life and this one, standing on different lands, when he looked up, he saw the same full moon and the same starry sky?
Were those dazzling stars also ruled by someone?
A gentle breeze blew, and the fragrance of the wine from the branch academy still lingered in the air. Beside him, Han Man had already started snoring. Ba Dao and Po Jun slept in a vigilant posture, a habit born from a lack of security, maintaining a sense of alertness even in sleep. Duan Feng still slept like a child, peaceful and serene. Jing Yun had a sweet smile on her lips, as if she were having a beautiful dream.
Yi Xue and Jing Yun leaned against each other, having fallen asleep in a nearby pavilion. Lin Feng's father and mother had already left, leaving the space to the young people.
Xinye had come to sit beside Lin Feng at some point, quietly staying by his side, gazing at the same sky as him, not speaking to disturb his thoughts.
The scene under the moonlight was peaceful and tranquil. The full moon hanging in the sky seemed to carry a sense of reunion, painting a beautiful picture throughout the entire night.
Lin Feng kept his eyes open, quietly enjoying this peace and stillness. No one knew how long passed, but at some moment deep in the night, his eyes slowly closed, leaving only the sound of even breathing.
All of this was like a painting.
...
The morning dew dampened everyone's clothes. Lin Feng opened his eyes and felt a chill.
Xinye seemed a bit cold, leaning tightly against him. Lin Feng gently helped Duan Xinye up, then carried her in his arms. Glancing at the others who were still asleep, he left the area.
After Lin Feng left, everyone else opened their eyes one by one. They had all woken up long ago but didn't want to disturb that brief moment of peace.
After taking Xinye back to rest, Lin Feng returned to the courtyard. By then, Yue Menghe and Lin Hai had also come looking for him. They hadn't had a chance to ask about Lin Feng's affairs, but as parents, they were very curious about what he had experienced outside—and about Hua Hu's Meng Qing, where she was now.
Lin Feng sat down on a stone chair. Naturally, he didn't hide anything and slowly recounted many of his experiences outside. The people around him gathered close, listening to the world Lin Feng had traveled through.
Beyond the Snow Domain, there turned out to be endless continents. The Qian Domain was just one small part of the vast continent, yet it already contained countless powerful forces. One such force was the overlord of a mid-grade empire, with Heavenly Martial Realm experts as common as ox hair, and even Venerable Martial Realm experts in considerable numbers. Such terrifying power left everyone around him utterly amazed.
Apart from Lin Hai, who had stepped into the Heavenly Martial Realm, most of them were still in the Mysterious Martial Realm. But in those other forces, Heavenly Martial Realm cultivators were ordinary people, nothing special. How terrifying was that? It made them feel their own insignificance. Their talents seemed decent in the Snow Moon Kingdom, but when viewed against the entire continent, they were nothing at all.
When they learned that Lin Feng had ventured into secret realms, even entering the legendary Martial Emperor's Point and witnessing the statues of emperors and sovereigns, hearing that those emperors contained will-based divine abilities, their hearts pounded with excitement. The outside world was dangerous, but it was also full of opportunities and thrills—so splendid, so alluring.
Emperors, sovereigns—what kind of existence would they be? With a single stomp, they could probably shatter mountains, right?
However, Lin Feng only mentioned that he had some encounters in the great hall, not that he had obtained the entire Jade Emperor Palace. It wasn't that he didn't trust them, but if they accidentally spread the news, it could lead to disastrous consequences—for them as well.
Later, Lin Feng also spoke of his return to Heavenly Lake and becoming the young master of the Tian Xuan Peak lineage. Yue Menghe and Lin Hai already knew this, so they weren't too surprised. But the others were extremely shocked, their hearts pounding. Lin Feng had become the young master of such a terrifying force, the future leader of the Tian Xuan Peak lineage, personally taught by a Venerable, able to directly command Heavenly Martial Realm experts. How could they not be shocked? Han Man and the others all had sharp glints in their eyes. They, too, began to harbor thoughts of venturing out into the continent. Staying in this tiny Snow Moon Kingdom, or even the entire Snow Domain, they were ultimately frogs at the bottom of a well. If they couldn't see how vast the outside world was, they would never have that kind of desire or courage.
"I obtained some Essence Crystals in the secret realm. On the path of cultivation, comprehension is extremely important. Back when I was in the Mysterious Martial Realm, I often challenged those above my level. At the peak of the Mysterious Martial Realm, I could already defeat Heavenly Martial Realm experts. Apart from some special techniques, the main thing I relied on was the power of will—for example, Sword Dao Will. On your journey forward, you must comprehend will; otherwise, you won't even be a match for opponents of the same level. These Essence Crystals can help you comprehend the power of will."
Lin Feng said slowly, then waved his hand. Suddenly, many dazzling crystals appeared on the ground, containing terrifying willpower.
"You should be able to sense which type of will you are more suited to cultivate and comprehend. Follow your perception and choose freely." Lin Feng said casually. For those closest to him, he naturally wouldn't be stingy. Besides, now that he had the Jade Emperor Palace, once he could eliminate the people inside, all the endless treasures within would be his. These Essence Crystals were as common as ordinary stones there, counting for nothing.
The others didn't stand on ceremony with Lin Feng either. Each followed their own perception, picking the crystals with familiar auras. Following their instincts, they would surely get the crystals they needed, suited for comprehending that type of will.
Soon, everyone had chosen quite a few Essence Crystals and put them away, though many still remained on the ground.
"These Essence Crystals are of great use even to Heavenly Martial Realm experts, helping them comprehend the power of will. They are precious treasures. Don't show them off casually outside, or you might attract trouble. Also, besides the ones for cultivation, take a few more. That way, if you ever see a treasure you need in the future, you can trade these Essence Crystals for it."
Hearing Lin Feng's words, everyone nodded and collected a few more Essence Crystals. These were extremely valuable even to Heavenly Martial Realm experts, rare and hard to come by. Since they had obtained them, they naturally couldn't speak of it, or they might be hunted down by Heavenly Martial Realm cultivators.
Lin Feng had his parents put away the remaining Essence Crystals. Old Man Huo and Old Man Chi also needed these, and the current imperial palace needed stable operations, which required some resources.
"After Old Man Huo and Old Man Chi return, I'll give them some pill formulas. Once their strength improves, they can refine better pills for the people in the palace to use, enhancing their power." Lin Feng thought to himself. Then, he looked at the distant sky, stood up, and with a single step, he soared into the air, turning into a blur that moved with incredible speed.
Everyone's eyes froze, but then Lin Feng's voice drifted over: "I'm going to Black Wind Ridge!"
Instantly, everyone knew what Lin Feng was going to do. They all silently prayed in their hearts.
PS: Please give flowers!