C18 Distorting Right and Wrong
The Absolute Soul Cliff!
Lin Feng's battle had reached a fever pitch, his body a canvas of wounds, with his chest bearing several particularly ghastly gashes. He was oblivious to the events transpiring outside, just as the demonic beasts he faced bore their own array of injuries.
Puff!
A mouthful of blood escaped Lin Feng's lips as he glared at the demonic beasts with a fierce determination. It was a good thing their intellect was limited; otherwise, he might have met his end here today.
Roar!
Another roar echoed as three demonic beasts charged at Lin Feng in unison.
"Sky Slicing Sword Technique!" Lin Feng braced himself for a decisive strike.
Crack.
The leading beast's head was severed cleanly, yet the sight only fueled the bloodlust in the others. One beast's razor-sharp claws found Lin Feng's chest.
A sweet taste filled Lin Feng's throat, and he coughed up more blood. But the beast that had wounded him now lay dead, its chest pierced by Lin Feng's blade.
The remaining beast hesitated upon witnessing the fate of its kin. Above, the candlelight flickered precariously, heightening Lin Feng's urgency. He feared that the mission might fail should the light extinguish.
Little did he know that survival until the candle's demise was the true test of passage.
"I'll give it my all!" With gritted teeth, Lin Feng surged to his feet, his black sword crashing down towards the demonic beast's head.
Sensing the imminent danger, the beast turned to flee, but Lin Feng was relentless.
With a single-handed seal and a mouthful of blood anointed on his sword, the once silent blade began to buzz with energy.
"Heavenly Net Sword Net!"
A vast net, spanning over ten meters, descended from the heavens, ensnaring the beast with no chance of escape, slicing it into segments.
Gudong.
Lin Feng, now utterly spent, collapsed, his body kneeling on one knee. Yet, with his sword, he propped himself up, refusing to fall completely.
...
Afterward!
A burst of golden light filled the sky above the Sunfire Order. Two golden lotuses descended gracefully, coming to rest upon the Platform of Life and Death.
The bustling stage fell silent in a heartbeat. Disciples stood tall and proud, and even Ye Fu offered a slight bow, saying, "Sect Master, Elder Nangong!"
The rest of the disciples knelt on one knee, eagerly greeting the two esteemed leaders of the Sunfire Order.
"Greetings, Sect Master, Elder Ouyang," Kong Yu said, showing due respect without betraying any sign of fear.
The Sect Master of the Sunfire Order nodded slowly, exuding an aura of regal authority that sent shivers down the spines of all those present. This was the mark of a true powerhouse.
Kong Yu stole a furtive glance at the Sect Master. At just fifty years old, he had ascended to the position of Sect Master, a testament to his exceptional talent.
It's widely understood that at fifty, one is still in the early stages of cultivation, while many are only starting to make progress. For instance, Ye Fu was already past seventy.
"What brings you to the Sunfire Order?" the Sect Master inquired coolly.
Kong Yu recounted the situation in full to the Sect Master, embellishing the story with his own fabrications, resulting in a slew of unfounded charges.
After considering the matter, the Sect Master reflected on the fact that Kong Yu's father, Kong Yunfei, was now the Sect Master of the Kongling Sect, with greater strength than his own. Offending him without good reason would be unwise, especially since Lin Feng was merely an Outer Sect disciple.
Still, he turned to Ye Fu and asked, "Elder Ye, how do you propose we handle this?"
"Reporting to the Sect Master, harboring someone who betrays their master and lineage is a blight upon the Sunfire Order. My intention is to expel him from the sect. Besides, this is a family affair; it wouldn't be right for us to intervene," Ye Fu stated with conviction.
Elder Nangong concurred with a nod, adding, "I agree with Elder Ye's decision. The more accomplished such a person becomes, the greater the threat they pose."
Every disciple in the audience understood that these gestures were merely a way for the Sunfire Order to save face. Ultimately, in this world, power is what commands respect. If Lin Feng were to be replaced by a core disciple like Ouyang, even Kong Yunfei's intervention would be futile.
Dong, dong, dong...
At that moment, the sound of a bell echoed from within the tower. With each toll, the once pitch-black tower gained a new hue.
Dong...
Another bell resonated, and all eyes were drawn to the tower.
The Broken Soul Cliff was a coveted destination for all the martial enthusiasts of the Sunfire Order. The ringing of the bell signified the disciple's talent: one toll for the least, seven for the strongest. Yet, in several hundred years, no disciple of the Sunfire Order had ever elicited the seventh toll.
In just a few seconds, the bell had tolled four times. Such talent was undoubtedly on par with that of a core disciple.
Dong...
As the fifth toll sounded, everyone held their breath. The once dark tower now radiated with dazzling, multicolored light. Even the exceptionally talented Master of the Sunfire Order clenched his fists tightly, sensing that this might not be the limit.
Sure enough, another bell tolled, sending the entire Sunfire Order into a frenzy. With admiration came envy, and with envy, jealousy.
"Could there be more?" some whispered among themselves. Since the inception of the Sunfire Valley, no one had ever heard the seventh toll.
Seconds ticked by, but the seventh toll remained silent. The Sunfire Order Master couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment. However, that feeling was fleeting, for witnessing such a prodigy was a once-in-a-century event.
Dong...
Just when everyone assumed it was over, the tower's seventh golden light burst forth. In that moment, even the stoic heart of the Sunfire Order Master trembled involuntarily.
A miracle – this was a miracle that the Sunfire Order hadn't seen in a millennium!
Simultaneously, two silhouettes slowly materialized within the tower. Upon appearing, they exchanged glances, their eyes brimming with surprise.
Crack, crack, crack...
The massive stone door swung open, revealing Lin Feng as he stepped out, drenched in blood, resembling an Asura emerging from the depths of hell.
The three demonic beasts were exceptionally savage. An average ninth-level Qi Sea Realm disciple who could withstand their onslaught for the time it takes to burn a lantern would be deemed an elite, worthy of the sect's focused cultivation.
Even Jiang Daochuan had merely inflicted a minor, negligible injury on one of the beasts. Yet, that was enough for him to claim the seat of honor. Lin Feng, on the other hand, had slain one outright. Such a feat, if told, would likely be met with disbelief.
It took a moment for the two figures to process what had happened. With a flick of his wrist, one of them healed Lin Feng's wounds at a visibly rapid pace, and the spiritual Qi that had been depleted in his body was instantly replenished.
"Thank you, Elder!" Lin Feng quickly expressed his gratitude with a bow.
"Excellent! The Sunfire Order has a promising future!" exclaimed the white-haired elder, nodding vigorously with excitement.
These two were the revered guardian elders of the Sunfire Order, holding positions of immense authority. Even the Master of the Sunfire Order would act with utmost deference in their presence, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
The elder in white was known as White Crane Weng, while his counterpart in black was called Black Wood Eagle. Except in dire circumstances, they would not intervene, making their existence virtually unknown outside the Order's high-ranking members.
"Young man, your talent is undeniable, but you must never become complacent," Black Wood Eagle warned solemnly.
The Stagikha Dynasty was home to innumerable sects, and the competition among them was fierce. Some sects with ulterior motives would not hesitate to undermine others to prevent their rise.
The world is full of prodigies, yet few ever reach the pinnacle. This is because many are cut down before their time.
"I will heed your advice, Elder," Lin Feng responded, bowing with his fists clasped.
"Be on your way!" With a wave of his hand, the white-robed elder sent Lin Feng vanishing in an instant. When he came to his senses, he found himself atop the rear mountain.
Lin Feng couldn't help but admire White Crane Weng's ability to send items through the air. In the Stagikha Dynasty, such a feat would require more hands than one possessed, highlighting the formidable foundation of the Sunfire Order.
After exiting the Iron Tower, Lin Feng intended to visit his residence first, as Shi Po's injuries were not immediately pressing.
Upon entering his room, however, he was met with the sight of two academy disciples standing there. Lin Feng's brow furrowed, and he fixed them with a cold stare. "What business do you have barging into my room uninvited?"
The response was a burst of laughter as one turned to face Lin Feng with a look of indifference. "Kid, you're coming with me!"
This individual was Tao Mo Lin, a member of the Outer Sect's Disciplinary Team, ranked within the top ten of the Outer Ranking. Known for his arrogance and bullying, he hadn't previously crossed Lin Feng's lines, but now he had overstepped.
"Why should I?" Lin Feng challenged.
Even a disciplinary member needed a valid reason to take him away.
"Why? Because you're worthless. Are you going to come quietly, or do I need to 'invite' you?" Tao Mo Lin's notion of an invitation was nothing more than dragging Lin Feng out.
"I don't have time for this. Leave," Lin Feng dismissed with a wave of his hand. He had no interest in engaging with such a buffoon, especially when he had already bested Chen Hong, who ranked sixth. Tao Mo Lin was hardly worth his attention.
"Fine," Tao Mo Lin retorted, "a lowly Outer Sect disciple dares to be so insolent. Just so you know, Elder Ye is the one looking for you!"
"Oh?"
This revelation gave Lin Feng pause. Why would an elder seek him out without cause? Regardless, he couldn't defy an elder's request. But before anything else, Lin Feng was determined to deliver the medicine to Shi Po.
With a calm "Wait for me," Lin Feng's figure blurred and vanished from the room, leaving Tao Mo Lin without time to even react.
"You?"
By the time he had gathered his wits, Lin Feng was nowhere to be seen. Fuming, he clenched his fists and stared icily at the spot where Lin Feng had vanished. "Fine, keep up your bravado on death's doorstep. Soon you'll understand the true meaning of despair!"
