"Look! Isn't that the brat from Greenwood South Forest? He actually has the nerve to challenge the depths of the Ancient Immortal Pool."
In an instant, more than half of the figures in the center of the Ancient Immortal Pool had vanished, making the remaining ones much easier to identify. Disciples from the Canxing Observation noticed that Chu Feng had not left and couldn't help but let loose a round of mocking taunts.
Regardless of how their elders felt about Greenwood South Forest, these disciples harbored a deep-seated contempt for it in their hearts—a disdain so ingrained that, combined with the earlier minor conflict with Chu Feng, they naturally wouldn't pass up the chance to mock him.
"It really is a disciple from Greenwood South Forest. That looks like the one who cursed at the Black Serpent Fortress's leader before."
"No one from Greenwood South Forest has dared to challenge this place in years. This disciple seems a bit… different."
The Canxing Observation disciples deliberately shouted loudly, drawing everyone's attention. However, when the crowd realized it was Chu Feng, they didn't join in the mockery like the Canxing disciples. Instead, there was a sense of anticipation.
Ever since the incident at Black Serpent Fortress, people had begun to see Chu Feng in a new light, finding this disciple to be something out of the ordinary. Combined with his earlier confrontation with the Canxing Observation and his current challenge, Chu Feng had only earned people's growing fondness and anticipation—without a trace of contempt or dislike.
Whoosh! Just then, a figure standing atop the lotus warship alongside the speaking elder suddenly leaped up and plunged into the Ancient Immortal Pool.
Swish-swish-swish-swish-swish! After that, six hundred figures aboard the warship leaped up one after another, dropping into the pool.
Their speed was swift, yet not a single drop of water splashed when they entered. It was as if they were one with the waters of the Ancient Immortal Pool itself—gentle and beautiful, leaving onlookers marveling in awe.
At this moment, only one figure remained aboard the warship—the same elder who had been speaking. He had no intention of entering the water. Instead, he looked down at the crowd below and said:
"I know that among your human race and demon race, rumors about the Ancient Immortal Needle have been circulating for a long time. Many of you don't believe them, thinking they're nothing but lies fabricated by us Ancient Elves."
"But now, I can tell you this plainly: it is true. The Ancient Immortal Needle can indeed be triggered to release lightning that fills the entire sky above the Ancient Immortal Pool. And depending on who triggers it, the color of the thunder will be different."
"So it really is true?"
The crowd erupted into an uproar. Although rumors about the Ancient Immortal Needle had been circulating for many years, some believed and some didn't—most had assumed it was false.
But now, the Ancient Elves had once again confirmed it. This made those who already believed even more convinced, while even the skeptics had begun to waver.
In fact, many people in the pool were already burning with excitement—especially those with some confidence in themselves, like Yuan Qing and Qin Guang. Their faces were brimming with eagerness. They didn't care about bringing glory to the human or demon races; as long as they could trigger the Ancient Immortal Needle, they would become famous, and their futures would shine all the brighter.
"I know that all of you—humans and demons alike—are eager to trigger the Ancient Immortal Needle, especially now when you can hardly contain yourselves. I can tell you the method: simply dive to the very deepest part of the Ancient Immortal Pool and endure there for a longer time. That will trigger the Ancient Immortal Needle."
"If both we Ancient Elves and the human race reach the deepest point, then it will come down to who can endure longer. Whoever stays the longest will trigger the Ancient Immortal Needle."
"I've told you the method. Whether or not you can trigger the Ancient Immortal Needle is up to you. But I must warn you: the depths of the Ancient Immortal Pool are not for everyone. More than a few people have died in there."
"In a moment, the force from the pool's depths will flow up to the surface. Feel it out first. Those who can endure for half an hour may descend further. But the deeper you go, the stronger the force becomes. You'd best act within your limits—if something happens to you, the Ancient Elves will not be held responsible." The Ancient Elf spoke.
Glug, glug, glug, glug…
However, not long after he finished speaking, peculiar sounds rose from the waters below where Chu Feng and the others were. Soon, a massive surge of bubbles came rushing up from below.
The bubbles finally burst through the surface, and at that moment, the waters where Chu Feng and the others stood began to boil like a pot of water.
Painful expressions appeared on many faces, and some people hurriedly sprang up and fled the area.
Because at that moment, a terrifying pressure had manifested within those waters—a force no ordinary person could withstand. This was the power of the Ancient Immortal Pool's depths that the Ancient Elf had spoken of.
At that moment, aside from a small minority who chose to focus on their cultivation rather than join the commotion, most people remained in place, their eyes fixed on Chu Feng and the others. They were eager to find out just how many people could endure such pressure for half an hour—and who those people would be.
Time trickled by, each moment stretching out agonizingly long—especially for those within the affected waters, for whom it was nothing short of torment.
Under such conditions, people kept leaving the area one after another. Some quickly swam out, others simply launched themselves into the air, and a few who could no longer hold on but stubbornly refused to give in eventually foamed at the mouth and passed out, only to be rescued by others.
Finally, half an hour had passed. Of the five hundred or more figures who had remained, only twenty-five were left.
Among these twenty-five figures, five were demon beasts. At the very least, five had already transformed into their beast forms. Although these forms were somewhat unsightly, the true body was often a demon beast's strongest state.
As for the remaining twenty, ten of them were disciples of the Canxing Observation. This number once again confirmed for everyone that the Canxing Observation was the dominant power of this region, its position virtually unshakable.
Besides the Canxing Observation disciples, ten people remained—men and women, old and young. The younger ones came from prestigious families, and the older ones were renowned experts. But there was one oddity among them: Chu Feng.
"That disciple from Greenwood South Forest actually held on."
"Incredible. No wonder Headmaster Sikong was so protective of him. This kid is no ordinary person."
The remaining twenty-five figures had become the center of attention, but the one who drew the most eyes was Chu Feng. His identity as a disciple of Greenwood South Forest left everyone stunned.
At this point, far more people were talking about Chu Feng than about Yuan Qing and Qin Guang, which greatly displeased the Canxing Observation disciples. Yuan Qing and Qin Guang in particular had cold glimmers flashing in their eyes.