The Black Water Six Finger Pool opened only once every five years. During its dormant period, a barrier sealed it off, forbidding anyone from stepping inside.
Though the barrier walls were indestructible, they were transparent in color. Because of this, even when the pool was sealed, its full landscape could still be seen from the outside.
Right now, the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect was engulfed in a great tribulation that blotted out the sky. Days were shrouded in dense, overcast clouds, and nights were pitch black.
Inside the Black Water Six Finger Pool, there was nothing to provide illumination. Aside from the six towering peaks barely visible in the darkness, every other feature was impossible to discern.
But now, those six peaks of the Black Water Six Finger Pool blazed as though they had absorbed the light of the sun. Their radiance shone brilliantly in all directions, illuminating this pitch-black night until it was as bright as broad daylight—even the great tribulation looming in the sky above was washed out by that blinding white light.
In the midst of this utter darkness, calling it a miraculous phenomenon would be none too exaggerated.
Everyone present wore expressions of astonishment. Even those who had no idea what was happening—people who had simply noticed the anomaly from afar—came rushing over.
They all assumed some kind of upheaval had occurred.
No one could understand why the Black Water Six Finger Pool had suddenly produced such an extraordinary phenomenon.
Yet some turned their eyes toward
Though it seemed impossible, the light had indeed only blossomed after Chu Feng had formed his technique seal and finished speaking.
Could it be that this spectacle was truly caused by Chu Feng?
"Chu Feng, did you… did you do this?"
An elder of the North Mystic Academy asked in a tone of disbelief.
Even his words came out stuttering—something that never normally happened to him. He was simply too stunned.
He was not the only one. None of the others wanted to believe that this phenomenon had been triggered by Chu Feng.
It was not that they looked down on him—it was that the matter was far too significant.
While everyone else was merely shocked, Nangong Yuliu's face had gone sheet-white, and cold sweat beaded his forehead from sheer nervousness.
He had come today with the sole purpose of making things difficult for Chu Feng, of humiliating him. He had even had a plaque carved with mocking words ready to go.
But if Chu Feng could truly trigger such a phenomenon, then even if he had not broken Lord Dugu Lingtian's record, the sect would surely take notice of him.
Then how was Nangong Yuliu supposed to make trouble for him?
"I didn't expect it to happen ahead of schedule."
Just as everyone was speculating, a figure descended from the sky.
At the sight of this person, the crowd felt as though they had spotted a beacon of hope in the darkness.
This was none other than Protector Qi—the guardian assigned to watch over the Black Water Six Finger Pool.
"Lord Protector, what is this phenomenon?"
"Why has the Black Water Six Finger Pool changed like this?"
The crowd peppered him with questions.
"The Black Water Six Finger Pool is part of a grand formation laid down by the Founding Ancestor."
"The formation has endured to this day with no one to activate it, thanks entirely to the Founding Ancestor's extraordinary mastery."
"Every thousand years, the grand formation replenishes its own power. When that happens, various anomalies tend to occur—more or less."
Protector Qi explained.
"So this phenomenon has nothing to do with Chu Feng?" Nangong Yuliu cut in eagerly.
"Heh…"
Protector Qi let out a contemptuous chuckle. "This is the handiwork of the Founding Ancestor. Chu Feng is nothing but a disciple—how could he possibly have anything to do with it?"
"I knew it."
"Chu Feng, you really do know how to put on an act."
With that answer in hand, Nangong Yuliu looked thoroughly satisfied, and he turned his mocking gaze toward Chu Feng.
"Chu Feng, have you no shame?"
"I'll say this much—the guy's luck isn't bad. Just when he was putting on his little performance, the Black Water Six Finger Pool happened to produce an anomaly. Talk about dumb luck."
"Well, he had to have dumb luck, or how else could he have broken Lord Dugu Lingtian's record at the Snow Domain Sky Peak?"
Nangong Yuliu's lackeys followed their master's lead and began ridiculing Chu Feng as well.
Even Protector Qi couldn't help but laugh.
When even a figure of the Protector's stature was doing it, some bystanders who had no particular grudge against Chu Feng joined in the mockery.
From an objective standpoint, putting on an act to deceive everyone was indeed an annoying thing to do.
But Chu Feng couldn't have cared less about their ridicule. Instead, he brushed off his robe and peered down through the fabric at his own body.
He could see that the black lines on his skin were still there, emanating a strange, eerie glow and writhing slowly—almost like living creatures—embedded in his flesh.
"Lord Protector, I am aware of the situation you described. However, there was no such disturbance before, and if anything, there seem to be some differences," the Head of the North Mystic Academy spoke up, unable to stand by any longer.
"Whose experience is greater—yours, or mine? If you understood these matters better than I do, then you would be the Protector here, not me."
Protector Qi regarded the Head of the North Mystic Academy with a look of open disdain.
In theory, a Head's standing should have been comparable to that of a Crouching Dragon Elder, and certainly above that of a Protector.
But because the North Mystic Academy was so weak, and its Head's strength correspondingly feeble, Protector Qi looked down on him from the bottom of his heart.
The Head of the North Mystic Academy, for his part, was deeply wary of Protector Qi. Had he not wanted to stand up for Chu Feng, he would never have dared to raise the question.
Once he realized that Protector Qi was displeased, he immediately shrank back.
"Lord Protector, I meant no disrespect toward you," the Head of the North Mystic Academy said quickly.
"Head of the North Mystic Academy, there's no need to misunderstand. I am not targeting you—I am merely stating the facts."
After saying this, Protector Qi turned his gaze toward Chu Feng: