On the icy plains, a colossal competition platform had appeared.
It was forged from cyan stone, its surface area enormous — like a small landmass unto itself.
Upon its surface, intricate runic patterns sprawled across the vast expanse, resembling a grand formation laid over the wide platform.
However, this competition platform was also enveloped by a barrier, one that prevented anyone from stepping directly inside.
To enter, one could only pass through a stone gate.
Surrounding the competition platform, over a hundred stone gates stood erected.
Each stone gate bore an identical design.
They towered a hundred meters tall, their frames rectangular, their pillars unremarkable — but atop each gate sat a crystal radiating shifting streams of seven-colored light.
As for the center of each gate, there was a barrier passageway. Clearly, passing through that barrier would lead one to the competition platform, but stepping through would undoubtedly be no simple task.
"Ahem…"
Just as everyone was fixated on the Storm Dragon Battle Platform, a light cough suddenly rang out.
It was the current strongest expert of the Holy Light Star River — Saint Light Xuanye.
Saint Light Xuanye swept his gaze across the crowd, then began to speak.
"My friends, I trust you have all heard of this Storm Dragon Battle Platform."
"But I believe your understanding of it does not run deep enough."
"All I can say is that this Storm Dragon Battle Platform is exceedingly dangerous. Those who enter may not come out alive."
"However, within it lies opportunity. I can tell you with certainty that the Storm Dragon Battle Platform harbors certain secrets related to the Storm Berserker Clan."
"Those secrets are, in truth, martial techniques of the Storm Berserker Clan — techniques so precious that even during the Storm Berserker Clan's own era, they were considered rare treasures."
"In that bygone age, only the most talented and powerful juniors of the Storm Berserker Clan could obtain these techniques."
"As for just how formidable the Storm Berserker Clan was, I need not elaborate for my Holy Light Clan. You may judge for yourselves how invaluable the martial techniques of such a family would be."
"The Storm Berserker Clan was indeed excessively brutal, yet their resolve in pursuing power is something worthy of our admiration."
"This is why I chose this location for the Holy Light Star River's inaugural Strongest Junior Championship."
"I hope that the juniors of our Holy Light Star River will cultivate hearts that fear no hardship and press ever forward on the path of martial cultivation."
"The rules for this Strongest Junior Championship are simple."
"Step onto the Storm Dragon Battle Platform, and then compete based on the order in which you enter."
"The final victor shall be crowned the strongest of this Strongest Junior Championship."
"But I must remind all of you once more — the dangers of this Storm Dragon Battle Platform may far exceed anything you have encountered in your previous cultivation grounds."
"So if you fear death, or lack confidence in your own strength, then do not enter."
"But if you are a brave soul, then by all means, step inside and give it a try."
"In my eyes, daring to enter this Storm Dragon Battle Platform is not merely a competition among your peers — it is also a challenge to the Storm Berserker Clan."
"Know this… the Storm Dragon Battle Platform was something that even many juniors of the Storm Berserker Clan themselves could not pass through safely."
"If you can, would that not be an honor in its own right?"
Having finished speaking, Saint Light Xuanye's gaze once again began to sweep over the juniors present.
But wherever his eyes landed, many of them lowered their heads.
Quite a few had been frightened. Already somewhat anxious, they now learned from Saint Light Xuanye's own words that the Storm Dragon Battle Platform was something even many of the Storm Berserker Clan's juniors had failed to overcome — and they became even less willing to step inside.
Saint Light Xuanye seemed to have anticipated this. Seeing so many juniors lower their heads, his expression remained unchanged. After surveying the crowd, his gaze finally settled upon Chu Feng, as well as Long Xiaoxiao, Yu Lie, and a number of other juniors.
More precisely, his gaze came to rest on Chu Feng.
But he only looked for a single moment before withdrawing his gaze.
He said nothing more, giving the juniors from each faction time to think.
And the juniors did indeed begin to deliberate.
Quite a few of them were even consulting with the senior members of their respective factions.
The danger of this place was now abundantly clear.
But the martial techniques of the Storm Berserker Clan were simply too tempting.
This was indeed a rather difficult decision to make.
Even Yu Lie, Yu Hong, Yu Yin, and Bao Yue among the other juniors gathered to discuss the Storm Dragon Battle Platform.
But while everyone was debating, Chu Feng's gaze drifted toward a corner of the crowd.
Chu Feng had sensed someone's eyes fixed upon him.
At first he paid it no mind, but after a while he felt that the gaze was somehow different, so he looked over.
Following the sensation of that gaze, Chu Feng spotted a young man dressed in black.
The young man's features were utterly ordinary — the sort that would go entirely unnoticed in a crowd.
Yet the moment Chu Feng laid eyes on him, he realized that this black-clad youth was anything but simple.
First, both his eyes and his expression radiated an extreme self-confidence.
Second, even Chu Feng could not see through his cultivation — he had no idea what realm the young man had reached.
What surprised Chu Feng most of all was that when the young man noticed Chu Feng looking his way, he simply broke into a wide grin, revealing a smile that carried a hint of something sinister.