The faces of the experts from Jiaomu Peak were long with displeasure, and Le Ming in particular was grinding his teeth. His gaze was fixed on the black-robed youth who had charged through the fourth trial and into the fifth, making his teeth itch with rage.
Qin Feng broke through the third and fourth trials one after another. The others reaped the benefits, sweeping through the cleared trials like the wind and following him right to the entrance of the fifth trial: the Golden Bull Palace.
The Golden Bull Palace was located after Nieāan Palace, and its Guardian was a colossal King of Fierce Beasts.
The Purple-eyed Bull Demon King!
This was an Ancient Relic Species possessing a trace of the bloodline of the Ancient Divine Beast, the Five-Colored Divine Ox. Its horns were crimson-gold, its eyes were purple, and it was covered in purple scales that looked as if they were cast from Purple Crystal.
It lay before the palace of the fifth trial, the Golden Bull Palace, blocking the path forward. Its massive body radiated an oppressive aura, an aura at least as strong as, if not stronger than, a peak-level Innate expertās.
As Qin Feng ascended the steps from the bottom of the slope, the Bull Demon King instantly shot to its feet. Its majestic body shuddered, and the very ground began to tremble.
Qin Feng had a strange feeling. āItās as if this Ancient Relic Species possesses Spiritual Wisdom!ā
More youths began to appear on the steps behind Qin Feng. They couldnāt help but gasp in shock as they stared at the behemoth.
"The Purple-eyed Bull Demon King! Itās a high-level Fierce Beast with the bloodline of the ancient Five-Colored Divine Ox. To think the Guardian of the fifth trial is a monster like this!"
"This Purple-eyed Bull Demon King has immense potential. Look at its magnificent scales and horns and the lively purple light in its eyes. Its bloodline is clearly pure. Given enough time, it could even undergo atavistic transformation and become a Barbaric Beast!" This youth, who was clearly from a well-learned family, rattled off the creatureās characteristics with ease.
"Look at this Bull Demon Kingās diet! Look whatās in that trough at its feet! A Thousand-Year-Old Dragon Pattern Lingzhi, a Centennial Polygonum multiflorum... damn it, thereās even a five-hundred-year-old Innate Vermilion Fruit!"
"Holy shit, whose bull is this?! Talk about extravagant!"
RUMBLE!
The Purple-eyed Bull Demonās four hooves stomped, and a purple light erupted from its horns, sharp and brilliant as the Purple Lightning Divine Sword!
BAM!
The instant the crowd appeared, it galloped forward, its charge as devastating as a landslide. The terrifying demon bull moved like a bolt of purple lightning, cleaving through the air toward Qin Feng like a violet divine sword!
"So fast! For something with such a hulking body, how can it move so quickly!"
"This Purple-eyed Bull Demon is so cunning! It even knows how to launch a sneak attack!"
"Crap, itās charging right for us!"
"We canāt dodge!"
Cries of alarm rose from behind. Qin Feng, bearing the brunt of the assault, felt a chill crawl up his spine. An immense pressure weighed on his heart, filling his mind with the suffocating presence of death.
Qin Feng had the distinct feeling that he was about to be run through.
āThis Alien Species is incredibly powerful!ā Qin Feng was inwardly alarmed.
There was no escape!
In truth, Qin Feng had no intention of dodging. His eyes were calm, completely devoid of panic. With a deep breath, his eyes flared as bright as stars. His long, fair hand gripped the hilt of his Ancient Sword. SHING! A cold light flashed as the blade left its sheath.
He swung the Ancient Sword, its faint shadow streaking across the sky. An unstoppable burst of sword light erupted, blasting toward the Purple-eyed Bull Demon King!
The sword strike exploded forthāGiant Waves soaring to the heavens!
"Itās no use! Thatās the Purple-eyed Bull Demon King! Its Scale Armor is incredibly tough. Unless an expert at the Martial Arts Ninth Layer Heaven takes action, none of us can break its defense!" The youths behind him looked on in despair.
The defensive power of the Purple-eyed Bull Demon Kingās purple scales was immense; it couldnāt possibly be broken by a mere sliver of Sword Qi!
An Alien Species like the Purple-eyed Bull Demon King was simply too strong!
However, a scene unfolded that left them completely dumbfounded. The formless edge of the blade surged like a tide and crashed into the purple light!
BAM! It actually managed to stop the Purple-eyed Bull Demon Kingās charge on the very first impact!
But that wasnāt all. The formless sword edge moved like a tide. A second wave of Sword Qi surged forth, breaking through a crack in the purple scales. A third wave arrived in the blink of an eye, tearing through the Scale Armor with irresistible force and blasting into the Purple-eyed Bull Demon Kingās flesh and blood.
ROAR! A bloodcurdling scream tore through the air. Violet blood sprayed everywhere as shattered pieces of purple scales exploded outward like shrapnel. The massive bullās body crashed to its knees!
THUD!
An immense recoil force surged back. Qin Fengās shoulder jolted, and the webbing of the hand that held the Ancient Sword went numb. But Qin Feng himself was completely unharmed.
The Purple-eyed Bull Demon King, however, was a tragic sight. It was covered in wounds, the gash on its forehead was bone-deep, and its entire body had been scoured by the terrifying Sword Qi. The enormous bull knelt on the ground, panting heavily, its eyes filled with utter terror.
In a single exchange, this Ancient Relic Species that carried the bloodline of an Ancient Divine Beast had been beaten half to death.
The scene was breathtaking. The figures rushing up the steps from the slope below stared with their mouths agape.
āSuch terrifying Swordsmanship!ā
The gazes of the young experts trembled. In their eyes, the figure of the black-robed youth seemed exceptionally sharp and imposing.
Qin Feng glanced at the wretched Purple-eyed Bull Demon King and stepped closer. Overcome with fear, the beast actually began to shed huge, bean-sized tears.
It was as if this refined-looking youth before it was an Asura Killing God incarnate.
Qin Feng glanced at the ancient Alien Species and snorted coldly. With a flicker of movement, he charged into the Golden Bull Palace. A moment later, he was already heading toward the Sixth Palace, Aries Palace.
"Excellent! The Guardian of the fifth trial is crippled too! Weāre really lucking out!" With Qin Feng gone, the young experts behind him began to laugh.
"Hurry and follow him! If we stick with him, we can clear all the trials!"
"My thoughts exactly!"
"Letās go, letās go! We canāt fall behind and miss this chance!"
Laughing, the youths chased after Qin Feng like a pack of cheetahs. The sight of over a hundred people bounding up the steps of the Celestial Ladder was a true spectacle.
After the group had departed, a figure hurriedly descended from the sky. He took a few steps forward and hugged the Purple-eyed Bull Demon King, which was still trembling in fear. A moment later, he let out a wretched scream.
"Damn it all! My bull!"
Several more figures landed. Li Zhong couldnāt help but chuckle at the sight of the wailing Le Ming. "Junior Brother Le," he laughed, "youāre in deep trouble now. This Purple-eyed Bull Demon King is Senior Brother Han Shiqiās precious mount, right? Now itās crippled, both mentally and physically. Iād love to see how youāre going to explain this to Senior Brother Han!"
Though he joked, Li Zhong was actually more shocked than anything. After all, with the Purple-eyed Bull Demon Kingās power, not even an ordinary expert of the Martial Arts Eighth Layer Heaven could handle it.
Even those who could injure it usually had to exploit its weaknesses. They wouldnāt be like Qin Feng, who had just used his all-penetrating Sword Qi to forcibly shatter the Bull Demon Kingās strongest defense.
Only someone completely confident that their Cultivation could overwhelm the Purple-eyed Bull Demon King would choose such a violent, ferocious method.
āIt looks like the Twenty-seven Peaks really misjudged this time,ā Li Zhong mused, his eyes gleaming. āI never thought a dark horse would emerge like thisāa hidden dragon soaring to the heavens. What a boon for my Niu Jinfeng Peak! Our peakās talent has dwindled, and we desperately need a genius like him to restore our glory and broadcast our might!ā
āThen again, Qin Feng has thoroughly offended those from Jiaomu Peak. But so what? He has been chosen by my Niu Jinfeng Peak, which makes him our disciple. And while Niu Jinfeng Peak may be weakened, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Weāre not a faction that just anyone can trample on!ā A stern look flashed across Li Zhongās otherwise honest face.
...
Before the Sixth Palace, Aries Palace, a black-robed figure appeared on the steps leading up the slope, drawing the astonished gazes of Yu Yao, Yu Hong, Zou Yuxian, and the other young women...