"Miss Tantai, such a great kindness need not be spoken of. I,
After offering her bow of gratitude, Qiushui Fuyan turned around with
"Wait." But just as the two were about to depart, Tantai Xue suddenly spoke up to stop them. She looked at Chu Feng and said, "Chu Feng, I have a question I'd like to ask you. I hope you'll answer honestly."
"Please go ahead, Miss Tantai," Chu Feng said politely.
"That day on the Ice Snow Plains, someone triggered a celestial phenomenon. The spectacle shook heaven and earth — nearly everyone on the Ice Snow Plains witnessed it."
"And you happened to be there at the time. If I'm not mistaken, the person who caused that celestial phenomenon was you?" Tantai Xue asked.
"Yes, I won't deny it, Miss Tantai — it was indeed me." Chu Feng nodded, making no attempt to deny it.
First of all, if Chu Feng denied it, Tantai Xue would most likely see through the lie. If she grew upset and refused to help him deal with
Moreover, there was no need for Chu Feng to deny it. He could sense that although Tantai Xue was cold as ice and kept everyone at arm's length, she harbored no hostility toward him. Whether he was strong or weak meant little to her — she was likely just curious.
"That's all. You may leave." Sure enough, upon hearing Chu Feng's answer, Tantai Xue nodded with satisfaction. It was clear she had already been certain that Chu Feng was the one who triggered the celestial phenomenon that day — she had only asked to see if he would give her an honest answer.
"Miss Tantai, actually we can leave together through the teleportation formation below. Wherever you'd like to go, I can help," Qiushui Fuyan offered.
"No need. You go ahead." Tantai Xue waved her hand and looked away from Chu Feng and Qiushui Fuyan, her attitude decidedly cold.
Seeing this, Qiushui Fuyan said nothing more. She turned and plunged into the sea, with Chu Feng following close behind as he jumped into the churning waves.
Under Qiushui Fuyan's guidance, they arrived before a colossal underwater boulder. After breaking through the formation upon it, the boulder transformed into an ancient teleportation formation.
This ancient teleportation formation was far too old, so there were few destinations it could reach, and ordinary people wouldn't know how to use it. But Qiushui Fuyan clearly understood its operation.
After a series of adjustments by Qiushui Fuyan, the ancient teleportation formation slowly activated. Chu Feng, Qiushui Fuyan, and the unconscious Piaomiao Xiangu stepped into it together, vanishing as the formation shifted and took them away.
Once the three had departed, the ancient teleportation formation gradually reverted to the shape of a boulder, and the surrounding sea returned to its former tranquility.
On the surface above, Tantai Xue gazed down at the ocean floor. Having apparently confirmed that Chu Feng and Qiushui Fuyan had left safely, she rose into the air and vanished without a trace. No one knew where she had gone.
Several days after Chu Feng and the others departed, the army of the Zhuxian Archipelago had long since entered the Piaomiao Immortal Peak. Not only had they occupied the peak, but they were also constructing buildings beyond it, raising floating palaces — a clear sign that they truly intended to establish this place as their headquarters.
Atop one of the mountain peaks stood a sinister palace. From within came wails and ghostly howls as numerous fierce-looking spectral entities darted to and fro. These were no ordinary creatures — they were demonic beings that had lost their physical forms.
Several demonic beings let out ear-piercing shrieks, and an indescribable aura of malevolence blanketed the entire great hall.
Yet in this terrifying palace,
Though these demonic beings were powerful, they were utterly incapable of resisting Murong Mingtian and could only allow themselves to be swallowed into his stomach.
One by one, as the demonic beings entered his belly, Murong Mingtian's aura began to climb rapidly. He had been using a special Mystic Art to refine these beings, and when the last one was fully refined, his cultivation had successfully broken through — he stepped into the realm of seventh-rank Martial King.
"Congratulations, Ancestor, on your successful breakthrough to seventh-rank Martial King. You are one step closer to the Martial Emperor realm." At that moment,
"Only seventh-rank Martial King — it's still far from the Martial Emperor realm." Murong Mingtian said with slight regret. "Piaomiao Xiangu must have been destroying the demonic beings sealed here for hundreds of years, greatly reducing their numbers. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been out of the question for me to break through directly to eighth-rank Martial King."
"That Piaomiao Xiangu truly deserves death. Not only did she ruin the Ancestor's plans back then — who would have thought she'd still be causing trouble now." Murong Xun said through gritted teeth.
"It's fine. As long as the mountain stands, there will always be wood to burn. By refining the demonic beings sealed here, I've not only raised my cultivation but also extended my lifespan. Another hundred years of training shouldn't be a problem."
"Xun'er, do you see? This is the benefit of the Soul-Devouring Demonic Art. Unfortunately, this art places extremely high demands on the body — not everyone can cultivate it."
"You are the only person in the Murong family besides myself who is capable of cultivating the Soul-Devouring Demonic Art. Make sure you don't let this art go to waste." Murong Mingtian said with a smile.
"Rest assured, Ancestor. I will never disappoint your expectations." Murong Xun vowed earnestly.
"Ancestor, you've succeeded?" Just then, Murong Niekong walked in. Sensing Murong Mingtian's current cultivation, he was equally delighted.
"Mm." Murong Mingtian nodded, then asked, "How is Jiang Qisha? Still inside the Path to Immortality?"
"Reporting to the Ancestor — Jiang Qisha has already come out. He didn't die in there, but judging from his expression, he came away empty-handed as well," Murong Niekong replied.
"Hmph. The people who guard the Piaomiao Immortal Peak are all extraordinary geniuses. Over the ages, so many guardians have ventured into the Path to Immortality that any treasures worth taking have long since been claimed. Why would it be Jiang Qisha's turn? He's lucky he didn't die in there." Murong Mingtian said coldly.
"However, Jiang Qisha won't be easy to deal with. After helping us take the Piaomiao Immortal Peak, he came up completely empty-handed. He's bound to be resentful. What if he turns on us in a rage, thinking we deceived him?" Murong Niekong said worriedly.
"Jiang Qisha is no fool. Precisely because he's smart, after entering the Path to Immortality, he will surely realize that there are real treasures within — he simply didn't have the ability to claim them. Whose fault is that?"
"Besides, he's no longer of any use to us. Even if he doesn't turn against us, I won't let them leave alive." A glint of ruthlessness flashed through Murong Mingtian's eyes.