Chapter Eighty-Three: The Incident at Celestial Lake

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In the face of Dong Wuwang’s taunts, Liu Feng remained utterly indifferent, as if he hadn’t heard a word. Before him, his three-foot longsword flashed with cold light.

Crack!

A soft sound rang out. Dong Wuwang’s vaunted Invincible Qi Armor was pierced clean through, the sword’s tip burying itself several inches into his flesh.

Dong Wuwang’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked down at his own chest, where fresh blood began to trickle out.

“You actually broke through my Invincible Qi Body…”

Fury surged across Dong Wuwang’s face. He jolted violently, and the sword still lodged in his chest was instantly shaken loose, sending the seven swords before him flying as well. Torrents of fierce qi erupted from him, once again shrouding his form. He quickly circulated his inner energy, striving to heal the wound at his chest.

Yet Liu Feng had no intention of giving him the chance to recover. The longsword stabbed forth once more. Dong Wuwang let out a thunderous shout:

“Heaven’s Essence Unites!”

A blinding white light shot suddenly from the Haotian Mirror in his left palm, freezing the three-foot sword in its tracks. Liu Feng narrowed his eyes, pressed two fingers together, and channeled sword energy to force the blade forward. The sword inched ahead, its tip stabbing twelve more inches.

With a thought, his seven swords flew up, circling slowly above his head, their sword-lights raining down. The beams clashed with the Haotian Mirror’s radiance, steadily pushing it back.

For a moment, the two were locked in a deadlock: Liu Feng, aided by the seven sword-lights, advancing little by little; Dong Wuwang, pouring all his strength into the Haotian Mirror, barely holding back the relentless blade.

Time slipped by, second after second.

Just as the impasse seemed unbreakable, the earth itself suddenly shook and trembled. A thunderous boom echoed from Tianhu Island, like a heaven-splitting bolt. The spiritual energy of the land began to roil, a wave of unease spreading through everyone’s hearts.

Bang! Bang!

Both combatants withdrew at once, directing the remnants of their attacks to the side. A nearby rocky hill was instantly blasted to rubble.

“Your wretched life is spared for now…” Liu Feng shot a cold glance at the purple-robed elder, Li Yan.

He knew full well—with Dong Wuwang and the others present, there was no way he could take Li Yan’s life today.

For now, all grudges set aside, everyone turned their gaze to the center of Tianhu Lake, where the outline of an island was gradually emerging.

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As the spiritual energy grew ever more agitated, the breathing of those present quickened in turn. A wild wind swept in from the lake, scattering the lingering mist and revealing a small island, clear as day, amidst heaven and earth.

Faint thunder rumbled from the island, and a rainbow bridge arched overhead, casting down dazzling rays of light.

In moments, streaks of brilliance flashed across the distant sky, racing toward the scene. A radiant arc descended, and the powerhouses of Ziyang Sect, led by Master Shen Shang, were the first to reveal themselves.

Master Zhenyang’s eyes flashed with murderous intent at the sight of Lin Cheng, who was seated nearby, tending his wounds. Before he could make any move, Master Qingyang and Daoist Tianhui appeared in the crowd.

“Greetings, Uncle Master Qingyang, greetings, Uncle Master Tianhui…”

…

Tianhui’s beautiful eyes narrowed, clearly noticing the injuries of the three young women. Her brows furrowed as she stepped forward, her voice gentle: “What happened? Who hurt you?”

At the sight of their master, the three women, feeling wronged, immediately raised their delicate fingers, all pointing at the purple-robed elder Li Yan behind Dong Wuwang.

“Master, it was him! Relying on his higher cultivation, he tried to kill us…”

“Big Brother Lin Cheng was wounded by him as well…”

“Master, you mustn’t let him go unpunished…”

Seeing their righteous indignation, Tianhui followed their pointing fingers with her gaze.

“In broad daylight, you dare attack my disciples in secret? You have some nerve…” Before her words finished, Tianhui’s figure flashed and appeared by Li Yan’s side, palm striking down.

Li Yan felt only a sudden chill, barely perceiving the jade-like hand descending toward his skull. Terror flooded his eyes; the shadow of death enveloped him.

“Senior Brother, save me…”

A horsetail whisk intercepted the jade palm—Li Yan was spared once again.

“Daoist Tianhui, isn’t this a bit too domineering? You would strike to kill before us all?” The attack deftly neutralized, Master Zhenyang spoke coolly.

“Domineering? Your Ziyang Sect indulges its elders to harm my disciples. Are you not going to give us an explanation?” Tianhui responded sharply.

“Please, Daoist Tianhui, let’s not be hasty. Perhaps this is all a misunderstanding. Why not wait until the matter of the secret realm is settled, and then discuss how to resolve this?”

“If Ziyang Sect is truly at fault, we will not shield Li Yan. We shall hand him over to you, to be dealt with as you see fit, Daoist Tianhui…”

“Would that suffice?”

Master Shen Shang stepped forward, his gaze falling on Master Qingyang.

Master Qingyang slowly surveyed the assembly, weighing his thoughts.

“Very well, for Master Shen Shang’s sake, we shall let this pass for now. But do not go back on your word—once this is over, Li Yan will be handed to our sect for judgment.”

With that, he looked to Tianhui.

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Tianhui, understanding her senior brother’s concerns, said no more. With a flick of her sleeve, she returned to the three young women, speaking softly: “I will see that justice is done for you. For now, his dog life will be spared.”

They all knew that, with the upheaval at Tianhu, the greater situation must take precedence.

Rainbows streaked across the sky—the leaders of every faction arrived, each accompanied by one or two young men or women.

The reason so many powers had gathered was not merely out of curiosity. When the Tianhu Secret Realm opened, it was not just disciples of the Three Sects who could enter; anyone under the age of twenty-five in the Zhao Kingdom was eligible to take part in the trial.

Yet those who dared enter were all cultivators above the Spirit Realm—only the elite of Zhao’s youth could make it here.

“Hahaha… Brother Qingyang, it’s been a while!”

A rainbow light landed, and a white-templed man approached the Qingyang Sect’s group with two young people, a smile on his face.

Master Qingyang nodded to the newcomer. “We did not see you, Brother Zuo Feng, at the last opening of the secret realm. What brings you here this time?”

“Brother Qingyang, you may not know—my clan’s talents have faded in recent years. At last, two passable juniors have emerged, so with the secret realm opening, I naturally brought them to try their luck…” Zuo Feng replied.

Master Qingyang glanced at the young man and woman behind Zuo Feng and nodded. “To reach the Lesser Spirit Realm at nineteen is no small feat…”

Zuo Feng laughed. “You flatter me, Brother Qingyang. Compared to disciples of your sect, they still have a long way to go…”

“Hahaha, what a lively gathering this is…” Another rainbow flashed, and a new group arrived.

At their head was Ximen Wudi, master of Xisha Sect, accompanied by an elderly Daoist and a young man and woman.

Lin Cheng arched an eyebrow—were these not the two he’d met on Chang’an Street the other day? The girl had even eaten two candied haw sticks he’d bought.

The beautiful girl recognized Lin Cheng as well, winking at him with a sly smile.

At that moment, more rainbows swept in from every direction.

The Dongfangs, the Zhangsun clan, the Huangpu family, and countless other powers from across Zhao—some even lone cultivators—took their places around the field.

“You’re all early…” Another flash of light, and the Zhao royal family arrived.

The King of Zhao, clad in golden dragon robes, stood tall and imposing, exuding an aura of sovereign might that commanded respect.

“Greetings, Your Majesty…”

The armored guards at the bridge promptly knelt.

With a wave, Zhao Kuo dismissed the formalities, then led his three companions to greet the leaders of the Three Sects and the various powers.

“Since everyone’s arrived, let us ascend the island,” Master Shen Shang announced.

All eyes turned to Master Qingyang, Master Shen Shang, and Ximen Wudi. Without the sanction of the Three Sects, none dared move.

“To the island…”

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