"Chu Feng, congratulations."
The Protector said to Chu Feng with a smile.
"Thank you, Protector."
Chu Feng quickly stepped forward and bowed to the Protector.
Earlier, before Chu Feng's cultivation had recovered, if not for the Protector's intervention, he might have truly suffered at Xia Ran's hands.
Swish— But just then, the Protector took out a Test Stone and tossed it at Chu Feng's feet.
"Protector, what is this for?"
Chu Feng looked at the Protector with some confusion.
"Since you were able to break Lord Dugu Lingtian's record, it would not be strange for you to possess divine-level talent."
"This old man's Test Stone is absolutely without issue."
"Test it again. If you succeed, this old man will give you an explanation."
The Protector said.
"Thank you, Protector, for standing up for this disciple."
Chu Feng did not hesitate and immediately stepped onto it.
Before long, astonishing phenomena surged forth from within the Test Stone.
This time, everyone present was able to witness it.
"It really is divine-level talent. These phenomena — they're far too beautiful, aren't they?"
Although people had already speculated that Chu Feng could trigger divine-level talent, seeing it with their own eyes, they still marveled at the sight.
"Forging a Test Stone to slander a fellow disciple."
"Xia Ran, how do you explain this?"
The Protector turned his gaze toward Xia Ran.
"My lord, I… I don't know, I don't know what happened."
Xia Ran hurried to defend himself.
"Still dare to quibble?"
The Protector swept his sleeve, and a 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 those inside to see what lay beyond.
It was a blood-red valley, filled with terrifying monsters. Wails of agony echoed ceaselessly — like an abyss of hell.
"Heavenly Peak Hell?"
Upon seeing the barrier gate, many people's faces filled with terror, and they scrambled backward.
"Protector, this disciple knows his wrongs, this disciple knows his wrongs!"
Xia Ran immediately dropped to his knees and begged the Protector for mercy.
He had been scared witless, quite literally.
"Disciple Xia Ran, by means most underhanded, slandered a fellow disciple."
"If this had happened elsewhere, this old man would not interfere. But since it happened at the Snow Domain Heavenly Peak, this old man absolutely cannot stand by and do nothing."
"Today, your punishment is to enter the Heavenly Peak Hell for a period of training — one hour."
With that, the barrier gate released a suction force that pulled Xia Ran directly inside.
Seeing this scene, the onlookers' faces went pale with fright, and they swallowed nervously.
They had long heard of what the Heavenly Peak Hell was. There had once been a disciple who was sent in by the Protector.
After merely two hours of training, the disciple came out insane.
Another had entered for three hours and emerged nearly crippled.
Though Xia Ran's sentence was only one hour, after that hour, his fate was bound to be equally wretched.
The Protector rarely acted this way.
What he had done today — people could not help but link it to Chu Feng.
Thus, not only did the news of Chu Feng breaking Lord Dugu Lingtian's record spread like wildfire, but so did another rumor: that the Protector guarding the Snow Domain Heavenly Peak, Master Zhao Yushu… also thought extremely highly of Chu Feng.
There were even rumors that this Protector wished to take Chu Feng as his personal disciple.
Of course, those were merely rumors. After punishing Xia Ran, the Protector expelled Chu Feng and the others from the Snow Domain Heavenly Peak entirely.
He was never seen again after that.
As for Chu Feng, he had long since returned to his own residence to rest.
Breaking Lord Dugu Lingtian's record was a sensation.
Once the news spread, all four courtyards were abuzz with discussion.
But if one were to speak of the greatest impact, it was the Southern Sparrow Courtyard that felt it most.
By now night had already fallen…
Within the Southern Sparrow Courtyard, inside a magnificent palace, a gathering of elders had assembled.
They were all elders of the Southern Sparrow Courtyard, and none of them held a low rank.
Among them, besides the elders, was one junior — Xia Ran.
At this moment, Xia Ran's skin was an unhealthy purple, as though he had been poisoned.
His entire body bore horrifying wounds, as if he had been gnawed upon by savage beasts. He was even missing an arm.
The sight was truly wretched.
He had already fallen unconscious and lay sprawled on the floor.
Four of the elders were currently treating his injuries.
"Truly useless. It was merely the Heavenly Peak Hell. Back in my day, I went in for three hours and came out perfectly fine. How could he turn out like this after just one hour?"
The only elder not treating Xia Ran's injuries — a man with yellow hair — spoke with clear displeasure.
"Lord Tuoba, your talent is extraordinary. Even back then, you surpassed all others."
"Xia Ran naturally cannot compare to you."
Those elders, though busy treating Xia Ran's wounds, still did not forget to flatter Elder Tuoba.