As he reflected on everything he had discovered after arriving at this ethereal Immortal Peak, Chu Feng felt more and more that the place was unfathomably deep, far simpler on the surface than it truly was. There was definitely a secret hidden here, an unknown history, but what it was, with his current cultivation level, he simply couldn't touch upon it.
"Hum"
Just then, a light suddenly appeared at the center of the great hall, and a barrier gate materialized, floating in mid-air at the hall's center.
"Whoosh" Seeing this, Chu Feng immediately soared into the air, approaching to observe it carefully.
Through this barrier gate, Chu Feng could see another vast palace—one that was magnificent and resplendent, filled with all manner of rare treasures.
Inside the palace, a multitude of martial runes drifted about, and many extraordinary treasures were displayed. One particular treasure caught Chu Feng's eye, making his vision light up, because it was precisely the rare item he had been searching for so diligently but had never found: the Martial Rune Lotus.
In that moment, Chu Feng was truly ecstatic. The other side of the barrier gate was the true Nurturing Hall, containing the things he wanted.
However, just as Chu Feng was about to step through, he halted, his gaze growing serious. Through the barrier gate, he could see that a group of people had already entered from the other side of the hall—Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, and the six from the Immortal Execution Archipelago.
Chu Feng did not rush in immediately. He discovered that from his position at the other end of the hall's entrance, he could clearly see their every move, but they seemed unable to see him.
Thus, Chu Feng realized this barrier entrance was hidden. Rather than revealing himself immediately to clash with them head-on in a scramble, it would be better to observe quietly first and probe their capabilities.
"The Nurturing Hall is truly just as the rumors said. With so many martial runes, even if we split them equally, exchanging them for forbidden martial arts would be child's play!" At this moment, Winter Snow smiled as brightly as a flower, looking absolutely beautiful.
There were simply too many martial runes inside this Nurturing Hall—several thousand, at least. Even split among the ten of them, each would receive several hundred. Several hundred martial runes were far beyond the record set by Murong Xun.
Just the thought of breaking Murong Xun's record was incredibly exciting. After all, he was universally acknowledged as the current number one genius of the Eastern Sea.
Aside from the martial runes, there were many rare treasures they had never seen before. Some, upon a single glance, were clearly cultivation marvels. One had to admit, this place was truly a great treasure trove.
"Split them equally? Miss Winter Snow, I think you're dreaming, aren't you?" Just as Winter Snow, believing their hardship was over, was fantasizing about a bright future, Zhan Feng let out a malicious laugh, his eyes filled with hostility.
"Zhan Feng, you're not thinking of burning the bridge after crossing, are you?" Xia Yu asked coldly, having caught the intent behind his words.
"Burning the bridge? Miss Xia Yu, please don't misunderstand. Would I, Zhan Feng, do such a thing?"
"However, as you said before, the world of cultivators values profit above all else, and the strong are revered. Benevolence and morality cannot allow one to stand above others."
"With so much benefit right here in this Nurturing Hall, do you really think we need to share it with you?" As he spoke, Zhan Feng also glanced towards Ya Fei and Murong Wan.
Although Ya Fei and Murong Wan didn't respond to Zhan Feng's words, they smiled faintly, joined his side, and blocked the path the four of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter were taking towards the palace.
The other three from the Immortal Execution Archipelago did the same. At this moment, the six members of the Immortal Execution Archipelago stood in a line, blocking the way. Their intention was already crystal clear: they did not plan to give Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter even a shred of what was inside this Nurturing Hall.
"Despicable! You from the Immortal Execution Archipelago pretend to be righteous warriors who eradicate demons and defend justice, yet you're actually doing such filthy, shameless things! You invited the four of us here, only to then exclude us and enjoy the treasures here alone! If word of this gets out, aren't you afraid the world will laugh and spit on your despicable actions?" Autumn Bamboo was furious, loudly condemning them.
"Haha, Miss Autumn Bamboo, are you truly naive, or just pretending?"
"Only the ten of us know about today's events. Do you really think anyone will believe you if you tell them? In my opinion, if people don't just call it slanderous lies, that would be enough." Zhan Feng laughed uproariously, utterly shameless.
"Damn it! So you planned this all along from the very beginning. You never intended to let us share the martial runes in this Nurturing Hall! How could we have trusted you so much, even helping you break through the barriers earlier?" Winter Snow was so angry she was gnashing her teeth, berating him fiercely.
"Zhan Feng, you'd better not go too far! Don't forget this is still my Ethereal Immortal Peak's territory, and this Nurturing Hall is also a part of it!"
"My Ethereal Immortal Peak kindly invited you here to let you obtain our treasures, yet you now want to hog them all? Aren't you afraid that after you leave, my master, the Ethereal Immortal, will punish you?" Xia Yu was the cleverest, immediately bringing up the Ethereal Immortal to intimidate Zhan Feng and the others.
"Xia Yu, who are you trying to scare? Everyone knows you've merely occupied this Immortal Execution Archipelago but haven't truly grasped control of it. If you really controlled it, would you even need to come here and fight with us? Wouldn't you just go straight and take the martial arts?"
"Also, don't try to scare us with the Ethereal Immortal. My Immortal Execution Archipelago isn't afraid of your Ethereal Immortal Peak at all. If the Ethereal Immortal dares to touch even a hair on our heads, I guarantee that within a month, your Ethereal Immortal Peak will be razed to the ground, with no survivors." Murong Wan also spoke, her eyes filled with disdain.
"Enough, why bother wasting words with them? Since they won't leave on their own, let's give them a hand." Ya Fei smiled charmingly, but her eyes were full of malice. She didn't waste any words, but she was the most direct.
"You want to drive us out? That depends on whether you have the strength!" Autumn Bamboo was also angry. As a Fifth Rank Martial Lord, she wasn't afraid of Zhan Feng and his group.
"Haha, Miss Autumn Bamboo, forget about Miss Ya Fei and Miss Murong combining forces with me—just I alone could defeat you. Looking at your delicate skin and tender flesh, I don't want to hurt you. Why don't you just crush your immortal talismans yourselves and leave?" Zhan Feng sneered coldly, completely disregarding Autumn Bamboo.
"Then let's see!" Xia Yu shouted, ready to fight. Although she knew her strength couldn't match Zhan Feng and the others, and would have to rely on Autumn Bamboo if it came to blows, facing so many martial runes and treasures, she wasn't about to give up just like that.
Thus, Autumn Bamboo, Xia Yu, and Winter Snow all attacked together, launching an offensive against Zhan Feng's group, trying to seek victory in peril.
But alas, good intentions didn't match reality. The gap in their strength was too vast. Autumn Bamboo, no matter how strong, was no match for the combined might of Ya Fei, Zhan Feng, and Murong Wan. And the other three from the Immortal Execution Archipelago were no weaker than Winter Snow and Xia Yu.
Therefore, in the blink of an eye, the outcome of the battle was decided. Autumn Bamboo, Xia Yu, and Winter Snow were all defeated.