"Chu Feng, congratulations."
The Guardian said to Chu Feng with a smile.
"Thank you, Guardian."
Chu Feng quickly stepped forward and bowed to the Guardian.
Before Chu Feng's cultivation had recovered, if not for the Guardian's intervention, he might truly have suffered at Xia Ran's hands.
Whoosh—
But just then, the Guardian produced a Test Stone and tossed it at Chu Feng's feet.
"Guardian, what is this?"
Chu Feng looked at the Guardian in confusion.
"Since you were able to break Dugu Lingtian's record, it's not strange for you to possess Divine-level talent."
"This old man's Test Stone is absolutely flawless."
"Test again. If you succeed, I will give you an explanation."
The Guardian said.
"Thank you, Guardian, for standing up for this disciple."
Chu Feng did not hesitate and immediately stepped onto the stone.
Before long, a stunning phenomenon erupted from within the Test Stone.
This time, everyone present was able to witness it.
"It really is Divine-level talent! That phenomenon — isn't it just too beautiful?"
Even though they had already suspected that Chu Feng could trigger Divine-level talent, seeing it with their own eyes still left everyone in awe.
"Forging a Test Stone to slander a fellow disciple."
"Xia Ran, how do you explain this?"
The Guardian turned his gaze to Xia Ran.
"My Lord, I… I don't know. I don't know what happened."
Xia Ran hurried to defend himself.
"Still trying to lie."
The Guardian flicked his sleeve, and a command token appeared in his hand, inscribed with a single character: Punishment.
The Punishment character on the token radiated light, and a barrier gate materialized.
The barrier gate was transparent, allowing everyone to see what lay within.
It was a blood-red valley filled with horrifying monsters, their wailing and howling filling the air like an image of hell.
"Heaven Peak Hell?"
Upon seeing the barrier gate, many people's faces drained of color, and they scrambled backward.
"Guardian, I know my mistake! I know my mistake!"
Xia Ran dropped to his knees and begged the Guardian for mercy.
He had been frightened beyond wits.
"Disciple Xia Ran used despicable means to slander a fellow disciple."
"If this had happened elsewhere, I would not interfere. But it happened at the Snow Domain Heaven Peak, and I absolutely cannot turn a blind eye."
"Today, you are sentenced to one hour of tempering in Heaven Peak Hell."
With those words, the barrier gate released a powerful suction and pulled Xia Ran straight inside.
Seeing this, everyone's faces turned pale with fright, and they swallowed nervously.
They had all heard of Heaven Peak Hell. Once, a disciple had been sent in by the Guardian.
After only two hours, when he came out, he had gone completely insane.
Another person had gone in for three hours and emerged nearly crippled.
Though Xia Ran was only sentenced to one hour, after that hour, his fate was certain to be miserable as well.
The Guardian rarely took such action.
His behavior today was difficult for people not to connect with Chu Feng.
And so, not only did the news of Chu Feng breaking Dugu Lingtian's record spread like wildfire —
Another rumor began to circulate as well: that the Guardian watching over the Snow Domain Heaven Peak, Lord Zhao Yushu… held Chu Feng in extremely high regard.
Some even whispered that the Guardian wished to take Chu Feng as his personal disciple.
Of course, those were all just rumors. After disciplining Xia Ran, the Guardian drove Chu Feng and the others out of the Snow Domain Heaven Peak entirely.
After that, Chu Feng was never seen there again.
As for Chu Feng, he had long since returned to his residence to rest.
The matter of breaking Dugu Lingtian's record was sensational.
Once word spread, all four academies were discussing it.
But in terms of impact, the ones most affected were the people of the Southern Sparrow Academy.
Night had long since fallen…
Inside the Southern Sparrow Academy, in a grand palace, five elders had gathered.
They were all elders of the Southern Sparrow Academy, and none held a low position.
In addition to these five elders, there was one junior — Xia Ran.
Xia Ran's skin had turned purple, as though he had been poisoned.
His entire body was covered in horrifying wounds, as though he had been gnawed upon by wild beasts. He had even lost an arm.
His appearance was truly wretched.
He had already fallen unconscious and lay on the ground.
Four of the elders were treating his injuries.
"How useless. It's merely Heaven Peak Hell. Back in my day, I went in for three hours and was perfectly fine. How could he end up like this after just one hour?"
The only elder not treating Xia Ran — a white-haired old man — said with displeasure.
"Lord Tuoba, your talent is extraordinary. Even back then, you surpassed all others."
"Xia Ran naturally cannot compare to you."
The other elders, while treating Xia Ran's injuries, did not forget to flatter Elder Tuoba.