"What?" Chu Feng's sudden shout left Zhang Tianyi and Zi Ling a bit stunned.
"Chu Feng, you kid are indeed impressive, to actually see through the mystery of my Sword God Grand Formation. What a pity, it's too late." The ancestor of Sword God Valley laughed smugly.
"Anyone who dares to intrude upon my Sword God Valley shall die!!! And right at that moment, an aged yet powerful voice suddenly boomed from midair, its terrifying force causing the very void to tremble.
At the same time, an incredibly oppressive aura descended from the heavens. This aura was far too potent, as if a force dormant for countless years had finally awakened in that very instant.
Most importantly, this oppressive aura was focused solely on Chu Feng, Zi Ling, and Zhang Tianyi. Under this terrifying pressure, the trio found themselves bound in midair, unable to move even a single step.
"Hum." Finally, a light appeared between the three of them. It was fist-sized at first but grew larger and larger, eventually taking on a humanoid shape. Features and fingers quickly materialized, transforming into the likeness of a person.
It was an elder, standing well over two meters tall, imposing and majestic.
Long hair cascaded over his shoulders, moving without wind, wild and unrestrained, radiating an extraordinary air of dominance.
Above all, he held a long sword. This sword was quite ordinary, both in aura and appearance.
However, this long sword was identical to the one held by the statue standing within Sword God Valley. And that sword immortalized in stone belonged to Murong Feng, the very founder of the Valley.
"You... you are Murong Feng?" Seeing this figure, Zhang Tianyi's expression changed drastically, and he cried out involuntarily.
"Correct, this old man is indeed Murong Feng." The elder looked Zhang Tianyi over and then spoke calmly.
"What? It's actually Murong Feng? The first Lord of Sword God Valley, the Sword God of his generation, Murong Feng?"
"Impossible! He's a figure who died nearly a thousand years ago! How could he possibly still be alive?" Hearing these words, the crowd erupted in shock, their expressions becoming incredibly animated.
"Murong Feng? Our Sword God Valley's ancestor Murong Feng? The ancestor is still alive?" Forget the outsiders, even the people of Sword God Valley were dumbfounded, thoroughly terrified.
"No, that isn't his true body. Murong Feng died nearly a thousand years ago; he cannot be alive. That is a divine consciousness, a strand of divine consciousness." Someone knowledgeable explained.
"Divine consciousness? The lifespan of a divine consciousness is limited, isn't it? What kind of divine consciousness could possibly survive for nearly a thousand years?"
However, others raised doubts. It was true that powerful experts could condense a divine consciousness after death, preserving their wisdom and a measure of their cultivation to remain in the world.
But over time, the cultivation contained within the divine consciousness would weaken, its form would fade, and it would ultimately dissipate completely. The lifespan of a divine consciousness was finite and related to the individual's strength.
Yet, Murong Feng's divine consciousness before them seemed different. His body radiated brilliant light, and his cultivation was immensely powerful. Even if he wasn't as formidable as the legends claimed he once was, for the people present, he was already terrifying beyond measure.
After nearly a thousand years, how could a divine consciousness possibly be preserved so perfectly? After all, even if the Murong Feng of old was incredibly strong, he had only reached the peak of the Heaven Martial Realm. His divine consciousness shouldn't be able to survive for this long.
"A normal divine consciousness indeed cannot live this long. However, if it was sealed by a special formation, it is not impossible."