ISWI Chapter 212-213

Chapter 212: Is Li Feng inside?

The Divine Will Cave Heaven is vast. When the disciples of the Divine Will Sect enter, they are teleported to the edges of the domain. The phoenix blood is located on the main peak at the center of the Cave Heaven. The disciples must traverse through various perilous areas to reach the main peak and compete for the phoenix blood.

With the entrance of the Divine Will Sect's direct disciples, the previously tranquil Cave Heaven began to stir.

Ten days later, the first group of direct disciples arrived at the foot of the main peak. The disciples looked up at the tall man at the forefront with admiration in their eyes.

"Senior Brother Qiao Ciguang is truly formidable."

With the Yang Spiritual Root, his fire spells seemed to possess the power of the great sun. But what was truly terrifying was his physical strength. Even demonic beasts in the later stages of the Foundation Establishment phase were torn apart by him; he was like a humanoid beast. To say his physical strength was close to that of a Golden Core was no exaggeration. To the disciples who encountered Qiao Ciguang and followed him, it seemed almost certain that he would secure the phoenix blood this time.

As Qiao Ciguang gazed up at the hall atop the peak, his eyes filled with eagerness. Suddenly, as if sensing something, he slightly turned his head. Soon, a group emerged from the base of a mountain tens of kilometers away.

The disciples began discussing.

"Senior Brother Shi has also reached the main peak so quickly?"

"That's normal; Brother Shi has a Stone Spiritual Root, rumored to contain a trace of the mystical tortoise's bloodline, giving him astonishing defensive capabilities, virtually impervious to all spells."

"He also has a powerful technique called Blood Explosion which greatly enhances his combat power once activated. In the previous direct disciple competition, although Brother Shi lost to Brother Qiao, it was only by one move! It looks like the two of them are set for another great battle!"

The disciples buzzed with excitement.

Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli locked eyes from a distance, both brimming with combativeness. However, both restrained themselves from acting immediately. They decided to wait until they saw the phoenix blood. After all, there was also Li Feng, a dark horse. Both were somewhat worried that Li Feng might steal an advantage.

As for An Yuyi? Although she too was at the latter stages of the Foundation Establishment phase, no one really took her seriously. To them, An Yuyi's background was noteworthy. As for her strength? It was insignificant.

Normally, they would give her some face. But in the face of phoenix blood, a spirit material crucial for forming a Golden Core, there would be no concessions.

The two exchanged glances and began ascending towards the peak, followed by the other direct disciples. While most understood they had little chance, watching the excitement unfold was not without its merits.

The main peak was extraordinarily high, tens of thousands of meters, but this was trivial for cultivators. In just an hour, Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli, along with the other direct disciples of the Divine Will Sect, reached the summit.

Atop the peak stood a grand hall, adorned with countless carvings of ancient fierce beasts, lifelike and intimidating. The massive doors of the hall were wide open, yet the interior remained obscured.

No one was puzzled by this; the hall contained a spatial formation. Only by entering could one see inside.

"This sudden opening of the Cave Heaven, I wonder if the phoenix blood has properly condensed!" Qiao Ciguang muttered, furrowing his brow slightly before striding decisively towards the grand hall.

Shi Wanli did not rush. He adjusted his spiritual energy and silently watched as Qiao Ciguang entered first. To him, Qiao Ciguang was his greatest adversary in this venture. Their previous match in the direct disciple competition was merely a fluke, not a true measure of his capabilities compared to Qiao Ciguang.

This time, not only did he intend to obtain the phoenix blood, but he also aimed to defeat Qiao Ciguang to make it clear to everyone in the sect that he, Shi Wanli, was the strongest prodigy of this generation of the Divine Will Sect.

Just as Shi Wanli was about to step into the hall, a thunderous noise erupted.

Shi Wanli's eyes widened. He saw Qiao Ciguang, who had just stepped into the hall and vanished, suddenly fly backward in a flash. Shi Wanli quickly stepped aside. Qiao Ciguang's burly body created a huge crater where he landed.

This scene shocked not only Shi Wanli but also all the disciples who were watching. Was there already someone in the hall? And they managed to blast Brother Qiao out with a single strike?

This was utterly inconceivable. Among the direct disciples, Qiao Ciguang was acknowledged as the strongest. During the last competition among the direct disciples, he dominated his peers. The only one who hadn't faced Qiao Ciguang directly was Li Feng.

But Li Feng was previously a loose cultivator, and she hadn't even won first place at the Divine Will Assembly; she was rumored to have entered through the back door. How could she possess such strength?

…

"Is Li Feng inside?" Shi Wanli asked.

Qiao Ciguang got up, his expression grim as he shook his head, "I assumed there was no one inside and was careless. I didn't see anything, but it's most likely Li Feng!"

After all, there are just over a hundred direct disciples, and everyone is familiar with each other's strengths. Li Feng is an outsider, and her actual power is not well-known.

Qiao Ciguang's words only intensified the shock among the disciples. They hadn't even seen what their opponent looked like. The adversary must be incredibly powerful.

Shi Wanli's lips curled into a confident smile, "In that case, I'll handle it!"

Qiao Ciguang had lost face. If Shi Wanli could calmly enter and subdue Li Feng, it would certainly erase the humiliation of his previous narrow defeat.

Shi Wanli quietly stimulated his Stone Spiritual Root, his skin emitting a greyish-black luster, as if made of stone. He was extremely confident in his defensive abilities. Ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn't harm him in the slightest. Thus, even if Li Feng had the upper hand, it was impossible for him to injure Shi Wanli.

With confidence, Shi Wanli strode into the grand hall. His figure disappeared from sight. Qiao Ciguang, with a troubled expression, also prepared to follow. But before Qiao Ciguang could take a step, another thunderous roar sounded.

Shi Wanli reappeared, smashing into the ground and creating a crater tens of meters wide. Within the crater, Shi Wanli lay at the center, his expression dazed and utterly ghastly...

He too had been blasted out. Most importantly, he hadn't seen anything either. He had been blown away instantly. His much-prided Stone Spiritual Root had not blocked any of the attack.

This was outrageous. The astonished looks from the other disciples made Shi Wanli, who had intended to demonstrate his prowess, rather embarrassed.

"Li Feng is something else!" he exclaimed.

"Let's all enter together!" Qiao Ciguang suggested.

Shi Wanli nodded immediately without hesitation. Though the two were rivals, they were even more reluctant to let Li Feng obtain the phoenix blood. Would it not show that all the sect's direct disciples were incompetent if an outsider managed to secure the phoenix blood? That a mere loose cultivator had outdone them?

Thus, without any hesitation, the two joined forces. Qiao Ciguang's body emitted flames of utmost yang and rigidity, his blood essence surging towards the sky. His already imposing stature swelled even more, resembling a giant.

With all his might, Shi Wanli activated his Stone Spiritual Root, and the mystical tortoise bloodline within him also awakened. His body became like an indestructible crystal, covered with divine patterns resembling a tortoise shell, making him appear as unyielding as a small mountain. Exchanging a glance, they stepped into the grand hall together.

The onlooking direct disciples watched in awe. They had initially thought that the competition for the phoenix blood would again be a contest between Senior Brother Qiao and Shi, with others merely playing supporting roles.

Unexpectedly, right from the start, Brothers Qiao and Shi were forced to join forces. Li Feng, who had entered through a slot from the Divine Will Assembly, seemed to truly possess some formidable skills.

However, formidable or not, it seemed irrelevant. Both Brother Qiao and Brother Shi had strength nearing that of a Golden Core cultivator. With the two of them united, even a true Golden Core cultivator would have to take them seriously. No matter how strong Li Feng was, he couldn't possibly be a match for them!

This was what everyone was thinking when, suddenly, they were startled. Because a figure serenely ascended to the main peak. That unremarkable appearance that sparked no interest—who else could it be but Li Feng? But if Li Feng was here, then who was inside? The crowd was utterly confused. Could it be An Yuyi? Had the intensive training from the Great Elder resulted in a sudden surge in her power?

However, before they could further ponder the possibilities, another thunderous explosion emanated from the entrance of the grand hall...

Chapter 213: Ye Chen is My Destiny!

Li Feihuang reached the summit and was unfazed by the odd looks directed at her by the crowd. Among the direct disciples, there were always cliques, and there was a subtle ostracism towards those like her who entered through the Divine Will Assembly, not to mention that she had deliberately changed her appearance. All of this was quite normal.

For Li Feihuang, she was merely passing through the Divine Will Sect; her future was destined to be that of an empress, exalted above all. Why should she care about the gazes of others? Thus, with her chin lifted, she was indifferent as she prepared to fly into the grand hall, ready to suppress all enemies and seize the phoenix blood.

However, before Li Feihuang could land, her eyebrows twitched slightly. Because right in front of the hall, two figures were violently ejected. Accompanied by the incredulous exclamations of the other direct disciples, they heavily crashed to the ground.

The noise was even louder than before, creating a crater tens of meters deep. At the bottom of the crater, the two men's faces were flushed red, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Just as they had entered the grand hall, Shi Wanli had taken the lead, solid as a rock, and Qiao Ciguang's body surged with a fierce bloody light, aggressively charging forward.

Yet, it was still just a flash of light—a palm or perhaps a finger strike, unclear in its form but unmatched in power. Despite their best efforts, they had no chance to resist and were directly blasted out.

Shi Wanli, who was at the forefront, was severely injured, even spitting out a mouthful of blood. The spectacle left all the direct disciples again astonished. Even Shi Wanli, with his Stone Spiritual Root and mystical tortoise bloodline, was injured? Who exactly was inside, hidden so deeply?

Now, Shi Wanli and Qiao Ciguang also noticed Li Feng outside. It wasn't Li Feng inside? Then who could it possibly be? Could it be An Yuyi? Or another direct disciple?

They couldn't figure it out, but after being jointly blasted out, a deep fear took root in their hearts. No longer daring to attempt another entry, they sat down cross-legged to wait. Eventually, whoever was inside would have to come out. Then, they would know who it was.

…

Li Feihuang, having reached the summit, was indifferent to the astonished gazes from the crowd. Elder Zhang had warned her that her greatest adversaries in the Cave Heaven would be Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli. She had initially paid some attention to them, but this was their performance?

Li Feng no longer bothered to watch them. After all, even among geniuses, there were disparities. She possessed an Earth Spiritual Root and the Fire Phoenix Spiritual Body, which allowed her to easily overpower these so-called geniuses of the Divine Will Sect.

Though she didn't know who was inside the hall, Li Feihuang didn't care. No matter who it was, they surely couldn't stop her. Her defeat at the Divine Will Assembly had been merely to avoid revealing her true identity. However, for the contest over the phoenix blood, she was determined to win at all costs—even if it meant revealing her Fire Phoenix Spiritual Body.

Li Feng floated gracefully towards the hall's entrance. The watching disciples were not hopeful. Meanwhile, Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli, who were recuperating, couldn't help but show a schadenfreude grin.

They had not withstood the force within; what chance did Li Feng, a mid-entry true disciple, have? They expected at least severe injuries for him.

Li Feng's figure soon vanished before the hall's doors.

The two smugly waited, expecting to hear the sounds of a struggle. But after a breath, there was no reaction from within the hall. Ten breaths later, the doors of the hall remained calm.

...

Could it be that Li Feng had actually withstood the mysterious direct disciple's ambush and secured a foothold inside the hall?

The surrounding direct disciples' eyes widened in shock. A hall that neither Qiao Ciguang nor Shi Wanli could enter, and Li Feng had entered alone? That implied...

Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli, realizing what everyone must be thinking, grew even more somber. It was unprecedented for prodigies among the direct disciples to be so humiliated.

Both men abruptly stood and charged towards the hall. They could not allow Li Feng to obtain the phoenix blood. Since the two inside were likely engaged in a fierce battle, they wouldn't be prepared for their entry. They wanted to see for themselves which direct disciple inside was capable of launching such powerful attacks.

In the next moment, the two rushed into the hall. The outside disciples raised their eyebrows, some eager to see for themselves who this formidable direct disciple was.

But before they could move, another thunderous explosion sounded. Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli, who had just charged into the hall, were once again blasted out.

"Why can Li Feng enter while they were thrown out?" they wondered, their spirits crushed.

Originally full of pride and standing out as prodigies, they never expected to be so humiliated, so close to the treasure, yet unable to even step into the hall.

Inside the hall, after ejecting two would-be intruders again, Ye Chen greeted Li Feihuang with a gentle smile as she stood before him in shock, "Fellow Daoist Li, we meet again!"

Li Feihuang was incredulous, "How are you here?"

Only Divine Will Sect's direct disciples were supposed to be eligible to enter the Cave Heaven. How had Ye Chen managed to get in?

Ye Chen's smile grew at her question. Keeping others out was simply to avoid trouble. After all, this was Divine Will Sect territory, and being an outsider here could lead to complications if discovered. Although he was confident in handling them, it was best kept quiet.

But Li Feihuang was different. The phoenix blood was meant for her, and she was unlikely to betray him, so there was no harm in her knowing.

"I had a chance encounter in the Boundless Demon Sect that allowed me early access to the Divine Will Cave Heaven!" he explained. "I don't need to use the entrance and can teleport directly inside."

Li Feihuang's eyes lit up. She had been grateful for the early opening of the Cave Heaven, which saved her time and seemed to confirm her blessed fate, only to discover that it was all Ye Chen's doing.

This pleased Li Feihuang even more. Ye Chen had repeatedly come to her aid, and this advance opening of the Cave Heaven would allow her to obtain the phoenix blood sooner, advancing to the Golden Core stage and solidifying her claim to the throne when the time came. He truly was her destined Golden Dragon King!

At that moment, Li Feihuang looked into Ye Chen's eyes, which sparkled with admiration. She even felt the impulse to confer upon him the title of "King of Equal Status."

However, she restrained herself. Imperial promises should not be made lightly. If she granted him such a high title now, what would be left for the future? So, she seriously said to Ye Chen, "Fellow Daoist Ye, I am aware of everything you've done for me. When I ascend the throne, I will certainly not treat you unfairly!"

Ye Chen squinted his eyes. Did Li Feihuang think he would simply hand over the phoenix blood to her? That wouldn't do. He was indeed planning to give it, but if she anticipated it, what if it didn't have the intended impact when the time came? Perhaps he should consider beating her up a bit first? But would that affect their future relationship and his plans to gift her?

These thoughts raced through Ye Chen's mind as he pondered. At that moment, another figure entered the hall.

Ye Chen was about to react, but upon recognizing the newcomer, he raised an eyebrow.

An Yuyi had also arrived!

A smile spread across Ye Chen's face.