The Second Palace was extremely quiet. After casually taking the All Stars Token for the second trial from the Divine Altar, Qin Feng headed straight for the Heavenly Zither Palace, where the Third Palace was located.
The Heavenly Zither Palace, home to the Third Palace, was situated on a river delta. The place was like a paradise, with fragrant winter plums blossoming outside the palace.
Beneath the snow-white plum blossoms, elegant zither music drifted through the air. Youths sat quietly under the crystalline, jade-like plum trees, their expressions serene as if they were fast asleep, completely immersed in the music.
Qin Fengās arrival didnāt wake anyone.
āThe sound of the Chaotic God!ā Listening to the zither music coming from the Heavenly Zither Palace, Qin Feng instantly identified the bewitching power it contained.
If oneās will was not firm, they would have their mind thrown into chaos by this bewitching power and fall into a deep sleep, just like the people under the plum trees.
It had nothing to do with oneās Cultivation; it was an attack that targeted the mind directly! Extremely potent!
Qin Feng even saw a few geniuses at the Martial Arts Seventh Layer Heaven, who had already entered the Innate stage, drowsing under the plum trees.
The closer he got, the stronger the bewitching power became. As Qin Feng walked past, he saw some youths sitting cross-legged, their faces twisted as they struggled bitterly.
āThis bewitching sound is truly remarkable, but to me, itās nothing more than a gentle breeze.ā Qin Feng thought with a light chuckle as he slowly walked into the Heavenly Zither Palace. Qin Feng was a Demon Ancestor, his will as hard as steel. He was a master of manipulative Secret Techniques, so a mere bewitching sound was truly nothing to him!
When he was about ten steps from the Heavenly Zither Palaceās Divine Altar, Qin Feng saw a familiar face.
It was a youth with a resolute expression, wearing worn-out pants, his hair tied back with a single strip of cloth. It was none other than Li Zhuang, the one who had still been willing to approach Qin Feng even after learning he had offended Liu Qinghe.
At this moment, Li Zhuang was not in a good state. His face was twisted and contorted, seemingly lost to the bewitching zither music, unable to free himself.
Li Zhuang was barely holding on! He was only about ten steps away from the Divine Altar!
āOh, well. This boy and I go way back, so I might as well lend him a hand.ā Qin Fengās sharp gaze fell upon the Ancient Zither on the Heavenly Zither Palaceās Divine Altar, which was playing by itself despite the lack of wind. SHIIING! A piercing glint of cold light flashed past.
The Ancient Zither erupted with a layer of invisible light, but as the sword light passed through, the music came to an abrupt halt!
The twang of snapping strings ripped through the air like a silver vase shattering. A piercing sound rose, and dozens of youths who had been lost in the music were suddenly jolted awake.
At the same time, high in the sky, the expressions of the several figures who had been watching the trial on the ground changed drastically.
"Holy crap, thatās Senior Sister Jiās Chaotic God Ancient Zither!"
"What kind of monstrous mental state does this kid have? Not only did he withstand the Chaotic God Ancient Zitherās music, but he also sliced the zither in half with one strike?"
"Who is this little guy? Whatās going on? How is there someone like this among the disciples lagging behind? Even a typical expert at the Condensing Vein Realm canāt stand the sound of the Chaotic God Ancient Zither, yet not only did he withstand it, he destroyed it with a single sword strike!"
However, one personās face was pale, and he was furious. "Itās over, itās over! The treasure I borrowed from that tigress was crippled by this little bastard with one strike! How am I supposed to explain this to her when I get back?!"
But Li Zhong just laughed heartily. "Excellent, excellent! Based on this mental fortitude alone, I, Niu Jinfeng, have decided I want him!"
When he said this, the expressions on the other faces became a true sight to behold. Le Ming, in particular, was so angry his fingers trembled. The one who had borrowed the Chaotic God Ancient Zither from that tigress, Senior Sister Ji, was none other than him!
Looking at Li Zhongās expression, Le Ming snorted coldly. "Senior Brother Li, donāt get too smug. His mental state may be strong, but I doubt heāll be able to pass the next few trials!"
A smile appeared on Li Zhongās honest face. "Thatās not necessarily true."
Le Ming sneered. "Then weāll just have to wait and see!"
Li Zhong chuckled. "Youād better watch while lying down. Senior Sister Jiās beloved Ancient Zither is crippled. You should probably start preparing some healing medicine for yourself!"
Le Ming: "..."
...
Li Zhuangās eyes flew open, and he stared in astonishment at the person before him. "Qin Feng, itās you!"
āDidnāt Qin Feng get stuck at the first trial? How did he get to the third one so quickly?ā
Li Zhuangās gaze shifted and quickly fell upon the Ancient Zither in front of the Heavenly Zither Palace, which had been split in two. His eyes narrowed.
"Did you awaken our senses?"
Just then, more youths began to awaken one after another. They came in from outside and gathered before the Heavenly Zither Palace, staring in astonishment at the broken Ancient Zither and looking at the black-robed youth with expressions of shock and uncertainty.
"Letās go." Qin Fengās words undoubtedly confirmed Li Zhuangās suspicion, and everyone present was momentarily stunned into disbelief.
With a flash, after receiving the third Gold Star, Qin Feng left the Third Palace and shot toward the Fourth Palace, Nieāan Palace.
Several figures followed close behind, but they soon lost all trace of Qin Feng.
āHeās so fast! When did Qin Feng get this strong?ā Li Zhuang, who had followed him out, was utterly shaken as he gazed at the continuous snowy mountain range in the distance.
Nieāan Palace was located at the foot of a continuous snowy mountain range, and surrounding the palace were countless Snow Wolves, each the size of a calf, lying in wait.
The Snow Wolves were the Guardians of the fourth trial. The hungry, calf-sized beasts squatted on the rocks, their eyes glowing green.
A single glance revealed thousands upon thousands of them, leaving no discernible path.
On several hidden mountain peaks not far from the snowy mountain, dozens of young men and women had gathered. They stared toward Nieāan Palace in the distance with grim expressions, discussing amongst themselves.
"There are too many Snow Wolves around Nieāan Palace. The Snow Wolves in this Snowfield are exceptionally vicious. A single one can fight a Martial Artist at the Martial Arts Fourth Layer, and their Wolf King can even easily kill an expert at the Martial Arts Sixth Layer Heaven!"
"With so many Snow Wolves gathered here, not even an Innate Martial Artist at the Martial Arts Seventh Layer Heaven would dare to force their way through!"
"Weāve tried charging through together several times over the past few days, but we could never make it. Some people even got clawed by the Snow Wolves!"
"I really donāt know how the people before us got through."
"They probably didnāt force their way through. The Snow Wolves must have a weakness. They must have exploited it, or maybe they know some special Beast Taming technique!"
Just then, someone suddenly cried out. "Everyone, look! Someone else is coming to attempt the trial down by the slope!"
"Oh no, the wolf pack has been alerted!"
Everyone looked up and saw the figure of a black-robed youth appear on the slope not far away. The youth had a calm expression, his shoulder-length black hair hung loosely behind him, and his young face had a delicate handsomeness to it that was quite pleasing to the eye.
AWOOOO! The distant wolf pack erupted into a frenzy. The moment they saw a living creature appear, the famished Snow Wolves immediately charged forward.
The sound of wolf howls rose and fell one after another at the foot of the snowy mountain!
RUMBLE... The wolf pack charged, a stampede of ten thousand beasts shaking the very earth. The endless river of white fur looked like a torrent, and the sight made the faces of the young men and women hiding in the distance turn deathly pale.
"This kid is finished!"
"A pack of beasts dares to block my path? Today, if a god stands in my way, Iāll kill a god; if a demon stands in my way, Iāll kill a demon!" Right where he stood, the instant the wolf pack surged forward, a piercing cold light flashed in Qin Fengās eyes. He shot out like a cannonball, drawing his Ancient Sword with one hand.
The figure in black robes was like a reef standing firm against a raging torrent!
"Tidal Extinction Sword!"
A cold glint from the sword, and severed limbs flew. A torrent of blood erupted like a waterfall as a bloody path was carved open!
Tidal Extinction SwordāFirst Wave, Second Wave, Third Wave! Wherever the sword light passed, countless Snow Wolf corpses exploded into a gory mist.
AROOO! The sight of blood only stimulated the Snow Wolvesā ferocity. The calf-sized beasts charged forward, heedless of death, baring their claws and fangs. Their eyes were filled with a tangible viciousness and hunger!
"Good. Today, Iāll unleash a massacre!" Qin Fengās eyes gleamed as his killing intent flared. His longsword was dyed in blood, his black hair whipped through the air, and his dark eyes shone. Like an Asura Demon God, he transformed into a terrifying wheel of sword light and plunged into the wolf pack.
The Tidal Extinction Sword erupted with terrifying power!
The cold glint of his sword lit up the nineteen provinces!
The sight of his Asura-like ferocity made the scalps of the youths watching from afar go numb.
A roaring path of blood and carnage was laid bare before Nieāan Palace. Beneath the black-robed youthās blade, the calf-sized Snow Wolves were no longer the overlords of the Snowfield, but rather chickens and ducks with their necks outstretched for the slaughter.
Snow Wolves, Wolf Kingsāit didnāt matter. The moment they met his sword light, they were all turned to fragments!
By the end, the pack of Snow Wolves had their spirits broken. Wailing mournfully, they began to fall back in terror.
However, the Asura-like figure was not yet satisfied. He charged into the Snow Wolf pack and out again three times, his black robes turning blood-red. His brow was etched with a sharp killing intent worthy of an Asura. Only after slaughtering eighty to ninety percent of the thousands of Snow Wolves did he casually stroll into Nieāan Palace.
That terrifying scene made the faces of the youths turn deathly pale, as if they had been plunged into a cavern of ice.
So vicious! So ferocious!
High above, the corners of the observersā mouths twitched. The fourth trial had been crippled, too!