Core Region

The core region of the Myriad Phenomena Battlefield was utterly different from the outskirts.

The sky here was no longer an oppressive dusky yellow or crimson, but a deep dark violet, as though strewn with shattered stars.

There was no scorched earth or red rock on the ground. In their place was a hard black crystalline surface that glimmered faintly.

The air no longer contained spiritual energy or Sha Qi of a single attribute, but countless chaotic, violent, yet incomparably pure streams of energy. They collided, annihilated one another, and were reborn, forming a bizarre sea of energy fraught with danger.

An ordinary martial artist here would find it extremely difficult even to maintain the stability of their own true qi, let alone cultivate. At every moment, they had to resist the erosion and assimilation of the surrounding energies.

Yet to Lin Feng, who had comprehended Wind-Thunder True Intent and cultivated the Wind-Thunder Foundation Building Method to minor mastery, this place was like an unclaimed treasure land!

A thin layer of violet-black Wind and Thunder True Qi naturally circulated around him, like the most precise filter, stripping the "wind" and "thunder" elements from the violent, chaotic energy streams outside, absorbing and converting them into his own strength, while gently repelling all other types of energy.

Not only did he feel no discomfort, he was like a fish in water. The recovery speed of his true qi far surpassed that of the outside world.

"Good place!" A flicker of delight flashed through Lin Feng's eyes.

If he could cultivate here for a time, his Wind-Thunder Foundation Building Method would certainly rise to another level.

But now was not the time for quiet cultivation.

His Spiritual Power was intensely focused, scanning the surroundings like radar.

The energy interference in the core region was extraordinarily severe. Even with his Spiritual Power reaching 45 points, his range of perception had been compressed to less than fifty meters.

Suddenly, intense energy fluctuations erupted ahead, accompanied by furious beast roars and the sharp sound of Sword Qi tearing through the air!

Someone was fighting a powerful demonic beast!

Lin Feng's heart stirred. He concealed his presence and silently approached like a shadow blending into the surroundings.

Crossing a low hill formed of energy crystals, the sight before him made his pupils contract slightly.

In a relatively flat clearing of black crystal, a familiar, peerlessly sharp sword light was locked in fierce combat with a colossal beast!

That figure was none other than Zhao Feng!

And his opponent was a demonic beast over ten meters long, shaped like a gigantic lion but covered entirely in dark-golden scales, with a single horn on its forehead and pale golden flames burning across its body—a third-tier lower-grade Golden Flame Suanni!

The strength of this third-tier demonic beast was already comparable to that of an early-stage human Martial Master!

Every pounce it made carried terrifying force capable of tearing mountains apart. The golden flames burning around its body could melt metal and stone, scorching even the ground into a glassy state!

The spiritual shock contained within its roars was enough to scatter the souls of ordinary martial artists!

Zhao Feng pushed his sword intent to the limit. Man and sword became one as he transformed into a dazzling sword light that swept unhindered across the battlefield, constantly circling and attacking the Golden Flame Suanni.

His swordsmanship was sharp, simple, and efficient. Every strike targeted the beast's weaknesses and the gaps between the exhaustion of its old strength and the emergence of its new strength, displaying astonishing combat talent and attainment in the sword path.

However, the absolute gap in strength could not be bridged by technique alone.

The Golden Flame Suanni's defenses were exceptionally formidable. Its dark-golden scales made it difficult for Zhao Feng's Sword Qi to inflict fatal wounds, while the pale golden flames prevented Zhao Feng from approaching easily. There were already several scorched marks on his robes, and a thread of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. Clearly, he had suffered in their earlier exchanges and fallen into a disadvantageous position. He could only barely hold on with exquisite movement techniques and swordsmanship; defeat was merely a matter of time.

Lin Feng concealed himself behind the low hill, calmly observing the battle.

Between him and Zhao Feng, there was both competition and a trace of mutual respect.

If Zhao Feng were eliminated here, the Provincial Finals would lose some of its interest for him.

More importantly, the points from a third-tier demonic beast would certainly be considerable! And wherever it stood guard, there was bound to be a great treasure!

Just as the Golden Flame Suanni let out a wild roar, reared up its enormous body, and slammed its two massive flame-wreathed claws toward Zhao Feng, who had only just landed—about to crush him into pulp—

"Screech—!"

A violet-black bolt of lightning, like a spear of judgment tearing open the heavens, struck fiercely from the side and rear at a speed beyond the eye's ability to follow, smashing with unerring precision into the Golden Flame Suanni's relatively vulnerable waist and ribs!

"Boom!"

The power of wind and thunder erupted instantly!

It possessed both the explosive ferocity of lightning and the corrosive force of Wind Fiend!

The Golden Flame Suanni's seemingly indestructible dark-golden scales were blasted open by that strike, leaving behind a bloody hole the size of a washbasin!

Charred flesh mixed with shattered scales sprayed in every direction, while pale golden blood gushed forth like magma!

"Awooo—!!!"

The Golden Flame Suanni unleashed its most agonized and furious roar since the battle began, and the massive claw descending upon Zhao Feng stalled for a moment because of it!

Having escaped death by a hair's breadth, astonishment flashed through Zhao Feng's eyes before turning sharp. Without the slightest hesitation, he seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Following his sword, he transformed into an incomparably concentrated streak of sword light and, like a drill, violently bored into the Golden Flame Suanni's body through the wound Lin Feng had created!

"Pfft—!"

The sword light burst out through the Golden Flame Suanni's other side!

The Golden Flame Suanni's enormous body suddenly stiffened. The fury and savagery in its eyes were instantly replaced by endless pain and confusion. The golden flames around its body rapidly died out like a candle guttering in the wind, and it crashed to the ground like a toppled mountain and fallen jade pillar, throwing up clouds of dust.

Lin Feng's figure appeared not far away. He slowly withdrew his fist as the violet-black lightning around him gradually faded.

Zhao Feng landed with his sword in hand, his face pale and his breath disordered. He glanced at the slain Golden Flame Suanni, then looked at Lin Feng, his gaze complicated.

He knew full well that without Lin Feng's sudden, earthshaking strike, he would likely have faced grave danger today.

"Thank you." Zhao Feng's voice remained cold, but it carried a trace of sincerity.

He was proud, but he was not someone who failed to appreciate kindness.

"Each taking what we need, that's all." Lin Feng's tone was calm, but his gaze fell on the area behind where the Golden Flame Suanni had originally stood guard—there lay an inconspicuous cave, now emanating pure, gentle pulses of energy.

The two exchanged a glance and, in tacit understanding, headed toward the cave.

Just as they were about to step inside, a mild voice carrying unquestionable authority swept through the entire core area like a gentle breeze:

"You two, this Star Origin Spiritual Milk—shouldn't everyone who finds it get a share?"

Lin Feng and Zhao Feng both halted, then whirled around.

Not far away, a white-clad youth had appeared soundlessly at some unknown moment. He possessed an ethereal air and handsome features, starlight seeming to flow around him. He was none other than Beichen Affiliated Middle School's "Star Leader," second on the points leaderboard—Qin Wushuang!

A faint smile rested on his face, as though everything lay within his grasp. His interested gaze drifted between Lin Feng and Zhao Feng before lingering more heavily on Lin Feng.

"I've long wanted to witness for myself just what is so mysterious about the 'power of wind and thunder' that could even make Snake Consort suffer a setback."