This is true martial arts!

Chapter 323 The "Old Friends" of the Tenth Peak

"careful.

""

Xu Feng gestured for Yin and the others to step back, and then stepped into the passage first.

Li Wen and Cangya followed closely behind, while Yinzong and Chongtong stood guard at the entrance of the passage.

The passage was narrow, allowing only two people to walk side by side, and the stone steps were slippery and extended downwards.

A faint medicinal fragrance wafted from below.

Some blurry murals can be vaguely seen on the rock walls on both sides.

The murals are in an ancient style and seem to depict some kind of ritual or war scene.

However, it was severely damaged and its full appearance was difficult to discern.

After descending about 300 meters, the view suddenly opened up ahead.

An underground space, roughly the size of half a football field, came into view.

In the center of the space, there was a square altar made of some kind of black stone, which had collapsed a little.

Around the altar, there were some rotten wooden supports and broken pottery jars.

The medicinal fragrance that filled the air emanated from those fragments of pottery jars.

The most striking feature is the area behind the altar, right against the rock wall.

There was a deep, irregularly shaped crevice, barely wide enough for one person to pass through.

The inside of the crack was pitch black, as if it could even swallow up light.

But it continuously emanates a chilling, chaotic, and sinister energy fluctuation that seems to erode the soul!

This energy shares the same origin as the evil fire remaining on Summit's body, but it is purer and more dangerous.

"This crack—it doesn't look like it was formed naturally."

Li Wen squatted down not far from the crack, carefully sensing it.

"There are signs of violent damage on the edges, as if it was blown open from the inside."

It's very deep inside; my senses were disrupted before I could even penetrate ten meters.

Xu Feng approached the altar.

The altar was covered with long-faded runes, with a groove in the center.

There were some dark red, dried and hardened stains remaining in the groove.

It looked like dried blood.

He found several bone fragments that had almost turned to dust at the edge of the altar, as well as a small amount of grayish-white, strange powder that looked as if it had been burned.

"This place... seems to be a place where some kind of evil ritual has been performed."

The silver-maned urn resounded.

Cangya whispered, "That Shiva man may have obtained the power of that evil fire through some ancient ritual here."

I once heard an elder in my clan say that some ancient rituals could communicate with powerful beings from the upper realms to bestow divine power upon the worshipper, enabling them to undergo a transformation.

Xu Feng nodded in agreement.

Summit Johan chose this place to hide not only because of its secluded location.

This underground palace and that strange crack are very likely related to his mutated strength.

He tried to probe the crack with a wisp of his mental energy, and immediately felt a cold, slippery, and malicious force backlash against his mental energy.

It was as if it was trying to drag his consciousness into endless darkness and madness.

He immediately cut off the contact, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

Behind this crack, there probably lies some extremely ominous place.

Did Summit gain something from this, or—did it become a "pawn" or "experiment" for some kind of entity?

Further investigation is not possible at this time.

Xu Feng noted down the coordinates and features of the place, and instructed, "Silver Mane, collect some of the powder and bone fragments from the altar."

Cangya, draw a topographical map of this place, especially marking this crack.

Then we left, resealed the entrance, and marked it as concealed.

"yes!"

Just as they were preparing to evacuate.

Xiaofeng transmitted a signal via communicator.

Xu Feng immediately led Li Wen, Yin Zong, and Cangya away from the underground palace and resealed the entrance.

They erased all traces of their recent activities and then led their men quickly to the location Xiaofeng had reported.

I never expected to have such a fruitful day.

Not only did they win the pledge of allegiance, but they also discovered Summit's secret and even found traces of the ancient ruins that Li Wen had mentioned!

The fifteen-mile distance was covered in the blink of an eye.

"Brother! We have found an entrance that is covered by rubble and ancient vines."

Inside—inside appears to be the entrance to a huge, sealed ancient ruin.

The source of the disturbance is inside, and—there are recent signs of deliberate breach of the seal near the entrance; they're very fresh!

Upon meeting, Xiaofeng couldn't wait to speak.

Xu Feng looked around and saw a towering black cliff that seemed to have been cleaved by a giant axe, steep and rugged.

At the bottom of the cliff, jagged rocks and dense ancient vines intertwine to form a natural shelter.

If it weren't for Chixu's exceptional sensitivity to earth veins and spatial fluctuations, it would be extremely difficult to detect this anomaly.

Pushing aside the thick vines, a deep cave entrance, about three zhang high and two zhang wide, was revealed.

The edge of the cave entrance is not natural rock, but a bluish material that is neither jade nor stone.

It is inscribed with ancient runes that are so complex they are dazzling.

Most of these runes have faded and lost their luster, but a few are still flickering slightly, emitting a faint energy that sustains the seal.

In the lower right corner of the cave entrance, several runes were clearly violently destroyed.

The gap still bore traces of char and a familiar aura—it was none other than Summit Johan's Heaven-Burning Evil Fire!

"It's him! These marks are no more than five days old!" Pear Blossom sniffed and said with certainty.

"It seems that Summit also found this place and tried to break in by force."

But it seems only a small part of the outer perimeter was damaged; the entrance wasn't actually opened.

"Double pupils" is an analysis.

Xu Feng walked closer and carefully examined the runes.

"It looks somewhat similar." Li Wen nodded after looking at it.

"This seal... although damaged, its core is still functioning and is faintly connected to the entire mountain wall and even the earth's veins."

Forcibly breaking through could lead to unpredictable consequences, even causing the entrance to collapse or spatial disorder.

Redbeard lay on the ground, his ears pressed against the earth, and after sensing for a moment, he spoke.

"Can it be opened safely?" Xiaofeng asked anxiously from the side.

Redbeard shook his head: "It's difficult. My understanding of the ancient seal is limited."

The arrangement of these runes and the energy circuits are too complicated, and... it seems that a specific key or energy of the corresponding attribute is required to open them safely.

Violent destruction, like what that Shiva man did, can only create a small opening, and it triggers some kind of countermeasure. Look here—”

It points to several charred, spreading marks next to the damaged rune.

"The seal's counterattack power is extremely domineering."

Xu Feng pondered.

Ancient ruins are indeed not so easy to enter.

Summit failed to get in, possibly due to either insufficient ability or lack of time.

On the other hand, they were probably also wary of the backlash from the seal.

He needs more professional help, or... to find that "key".

Record the details of the situation here.

Additionally, search the surrounding area carefully to see if there is anything else Summit has left behind.

Or—are there other entry points or clues?

Xu Feng gave the instructions.

Everyone immediately sprang into action.

Expand the search area and carefully examine every inch of land and rock around the cliff.

About half an hour later, in a crevice in the rock about 100 meters away from the cave entrance.

The sharp eyes of the double pupils noticed an unusual reflection.

He carefully brushed aside the rubble and pulled out a palm-sized, completely black tile shaped like a crescent moon with fine star patterns engraved on its edges.

The tile felt heavy and cold to the touch, with a complex star map pattern engraved on its front.

"Peak Master!"

He carefully walked over and handed the tile to Xu Feng.

Xu Feng took the tile and probed it with his spiritual power.

The token has a sophisticated internal structure and contains a stable spatial property fluctuation.

Its frequency subtly echoes certain energy nodes sealed at the cave entrance!

"This...this could be..." Redbeard leaned closer, eyes wide, "Architectural fragments from the ruins? And these fragments contain formations?! This, this, this is too extravagant!"

Xu Feng glanced at the sky and carefully put away the tiles: "Today's harvest has far exceeded expectations. Exploring the ruins is no small matter and requires careful planning."

We'll bring Summit's head back first to complete the envoy's mission.

At the same time, you need to collect more information about this relic and the star pattern.

We'll return to explore once we're fully prepared.

Everyone nodded. Although they were full of curiosity about the ruins, they also knew that the matter was of great importance and could not be rushed.

"Clean up all traces of our activity, set up a few misleading security devices, and then, withdraw."

Xu Feng gave the order decisively.

The group acted quickly and restored the scene to its original state.

They also set up some inconspicuous but warning traps.

Then.

Led by Xu Feng, the group quietly left the outskirts of Burial Valley with Summit Johan's head and embarked on their journey back to Little Green Sky Mountain.

When Jin Pengfeng and his group returned to Xiaoqingqiong Mountain, it was already noon the next day.

When Xu Feng, carrying Summit Johan's head, passed through the mountain gate surrounded by Xiao Feng, Li Wen, and others.

The foreign tribes they encountered along the way, whether they were stewards, servants, or other peak personnel, all looked at them with awe.

"A human race's ultimate lord??"

"That's called the Ultimate Warrior!"

"He really killed one! It seems that the Golden Roc Peak Master's strength is genuine. The Purgatory Peak Master's defeat is not surprising."

The newly appointed Golden Roc Peak Master, "Jinmu," had only been away for a few days when he actually hunted down a human ultimate war god and returned with his head!

The news spread rapidly among the peaks, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

Xu Feng seemed oblivious to this, his expression calm, and headed straight towards the core peak.

We arrived at the foot of Tian Shu Peak.

Upon seeing the severed head surrounded by a faint aura of blood and the disciplined, imposing ranks behind Xu Feng, the guards on the mountain grew even more respectful and dared not obstruct him in the slightest. They immediately relayed the message.

Before long, a servant in green robes hurried over, bowing and saying, "Peak Master Jinpeng, the envoy is already waiting at Tingtao Pavilion. Please follow me."

"You all wait here," Xu Feng instructed, then carried the severed head and followed the servants up the mountain.

Tingtao Pavilion is located in a secluded pine forest halfway up Tianshu Peak.

It is an elegant pavilion built on a cliff.

Outside the pavilion, the sea of ​​clouds churned and the pines rustled in the breeze.

The Envoy of the Netherworld was still dressed in a simple blue robe, playing chess alone in the pavilion.

When Xu Feng entered, he merely raised his eyelids slightly, his gaze sweeping over the head Xu Feng was holding before returning to the chessboard.

"Jinmu, pays respects to Envoy Youquan." Xu Feng threw his head on the ground and bowed.

"Um."

Youquan responded, holding a black piece between his fingers, but did not place it.

"Was this trip quite fruitful?"

"Thanks to the great fortune of the envoy, I have successfully completed my mission." Xu Feng said neither humbly nor arrogantly, as he drew Summit's battle sword.

A thick, pungent smell of blood and the lingering, chaotic, and violent aura of the "Burning Heaven" evil fire spread out.

The radiance of the Netherworld Messenger finally moved off the chessboard and landed on that head.

His eyes showed little emotion; he simply nodded slightly, extended a finger, and gently tapped his head from a distance.

A wisp of fine, almost imperceptible gray-black energy escaped from his fingertips and disappeared into the space between his eyebrows.

After a while.

Youquan withdrew her finger, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appearing on her face.

"Indeed a practitioner of the Shiva Region's Burning Heaven Technique, and has mutated, now showing traces of the Heart-Eating Demonic Flame..."

His cultivation as a supreme war god was unquestionable; he died no more than five hours ago.

The sound of the secluded spring remained calm.

"You did well; this fiend's cultivation is not weak."

"It is Jinmu's duty to share the burdens of his superiors," Xu Feng said, bowing his head.

"It's my duty —"

Youquan repeated the sentence with amusement, tapping his fingers lightly on the chessboard.

"Very good. I have always been fair in rewarding and punishing. Now that you have proven your ability and loyalty, you can be considered to have truly secured your position as the Golden Roc Peak Master."

He paused, then continued, "As previously promised, I will reward you further for completing this task."

As he spoke, he waved his sleeve, and two items appeared out of thin air on the table in front of Xu Feng.

A pill that is entirely crimson, the size of a longan, with a natural cloud pattern on its surface.

As soon as the elixir was produced, a unique fragrance that was both refreshing and subtly invigorating filled the pavilion.

The other item was a palm-sized, dark gold token that was neither gold nor jade, but had a warm and smooth texture.

The front of the token is engraved with an ancient character "墟" (xu), while the back features intricate patterns of mountains, rivers, and stars.

"This One-Patterned Star God Pill" was refined by an alchemist from the Upper Realm.

"This medicine is far more potent than Star God Dew, and it will greatly aid in consolidating power, comprehending laws, and breaking through to the Star God Realm. Therefore, I bestow it upon you."

The secluded spring spoke slowly.

"As for this Void Realm Token," it allows one to enter the fourth floor of the Scripture Pavilion once.

Among them are secret techniques and anecdotes about the Star God Realm that I have collected over the years, and I even hid a trace of the "Primordial Dao Pattern" in them.

Therefore, this order is quite valuable; I hope you will make good use of it.

Star God Pill!

Void Realm Decree!

Even with Xu Feng's resolute will, he couldn't help but feel a jolt at this moment.

These two rewards are far more valuable than expected!

The person who used this skill from the secluded spring was indeed generous.

But it also means that... he really "placed high hopes" on himself.

Or rather, the investment is substantial.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Your Excellency! Jinmu will certainly work diligently and tirelessly to live up to Your Excellency's expectations!"

Xu Feng suppressed his excitement, solemnly expressed his gratitude, and carefully put away the two treasures.

"Um."

Youquan nodded slightly, but then suddenly changed the subject.

"However, a stable position as the peak master also means greater responsibility."

The eighteen peaks of Xiaoqingqiong Mountain are not static.

There are monthly evaluations based on performance, contributions, and development within the team.

Rankings are related to resource allocation, and even... the qualification to ascend to the upper realm in the future.

His gaze swept over Xu Feng seemingly casually: "Your Jinpeng Peak is newly established, and its foundation is still shallow."

To truly establish a foothold, and even rise to the top, a single hunting mission is far from enough.

Xu Feng understood; this was a reminder, and also an implication, that he needed to continue to "make contributions" and demonstrate his value.

"Jinmu understands. Does the envoy have any instructions?" Xu Feng asked proactively.

A glint flashed in Youquan's eyes, and he smiled faintly: "It's not really an order, but recently, many peak masters have repeatedly clashed with sporadic human exploration teams in the Burial God Valley area, resulting in the loss of some manpower."

Rumor has it that unusual spatial fluctuations are occurring deep within the Valley of Burial Gods, suspected to be related to the periodic opening of some ancient ruins...

'

He paused, looking at Xu Feng: "You seem quite familiar with that area? Was the hunt for that Shiva traitor also in that vicinity?"

Xu Feng felt a chill run down his spine, but his face remained impassive: "Reporting to Your Excellency, it is indeed on the outskirts of the Burial God Valley."

That area has complex terrain and chaotic energy, making it a good place for hiding and exploration.

As for ancient ruins—I hadn't paid attention to them, but we did discover some clues on this trip, which haven't been verified yet.

Youquan gave him a deep look, seemingly without delving into the matter, and simply said, "If you have the capacity, you might as well pay more attention to that area."

If any discoveries are made or progress is achieved, that would naturally be another great achievement.

"Your subordinate will keep in mind the envoy's advice and will pay close attention," Xu Feng replied respectfully.

"Alright, go ahead and make good use of the reward to improve your strength."

This envoy looks forward to your performance in the next evaluation, Jin Pengfeng.

Youquan waved his hand, refocusing his attention on the chessboard, indicating that Xu Feng could leave.

"Your subordinate takes his leave."

Xu Feng bowed again and slowly withdrew from Tingtao Pavilion.

Only after leaving the area of ​​Tian Shu Peak and returning to the territory of Jin Peng Peak did Xu Feng gently exhale a breath of turbid air.

The meeting with the envoy from Youquan seemed to go smoothly and yielded great results.

But only he himself knows the pressure involved.

The so-called Star God Pill and Void Realm Token are real benefits.

"Brother, the emperor summoned you; what was the outcome?"

Xiaofeng, who had been waiting in the main hall, came up to greet him and asked with concern.

Li Wen and others were also present.

Xu Feng handed the empty jade box containing Summit's head to Silvermane for disposal, and then gestured for everyone to sit down.

"Mission accomplished, the envoy is satisfied."

Xu Feng's words were concise, without going into detail about the specifics of the reward.

"The position of peak master is secure. The envoy has given us further encouragement, urging us to work harder and strive for a good ranking in next month's evaluation."

Upon hearing this, everyone's spirits lifted.

With their positions secure, the peak leaders' futures are naturally brighter.

"You all deserve credit for this successful hunt."

Xu Feng's gaze swept over everyone present.

"Pear Blossom and Double Pupil were instrumental in the reconnaissance, being the first to discover the target's trail."

Silver Mane, Cangya, and Li Wen played an indispensable role in restraining and damaging the target.

Outer perimeter security and auxiliary reconnaissance at Yanshan and Chixu are also indispensable.

He hesitated for a moment, then took out two small jade bottles.

"As agreed beforehand, Pear Blossom and Double Pupil, this is the Star God Dew you deserve."

"7

He handed the jade bottle to Pear Blossom and Double Pupil, whose eyes were filled with excitement.

Each person and each drop represents his supplies for the month.

"Thank you for the gift, Peak Master!" The two bowed and accepted it, carefully putting it away.

"As for the others," Xu Feng took out several more body-tempering medicines and high-grade spiritual fruits, "there are also rewards to help you cultivate."

Silvermane and Azure Fang, you two displayed great bravery this time. This precious medicine will greatly benefit your physical training.

"Rock Form, Red Beard, you each have your strengths, and these resources are well worth using."

"Thank you, Peak Master!" Silver Mane, Cangya, Rock Mountain, and Red Beard were overjoyed and bowed in gratitude.

Shuai Wen simply stood beside Xu Feng, as if the reward had nothing to do with him.

He continues to play the role of a faithful "ugly person".

Xiao Feng watched as Xu Feng methodically distributed rewards and honors, and while admiring him, he also secretly made a note of it.

My elder brother is fair in rewarding and punishing, and as long as you work hard, you will never be treated unfairly.

"Now that the rewards have been distributed, let's get down to business."

Xu Feng's tone turned serious.

"Although the envoy did not say it explicitly, he implied that we should pay more attention to the area of ​​Burial Valley."

Especially the recent movements of the human race in Kunlun Mountain, and the clues to ancient traces.

He looked at Jing Shuai and asked, "Li Wen, could you please explain in more detail the location and characteristics of that shallow entrance again, so that we can all discuss it together?"

Pear Blossom, Double Pupils, and Red Beard, you each have your own expertise in investigation, so please listen carefully.

Let's see if we can find more clues by combining what we've seen today.

"I'm tired, I'm going to rest first. After the discussion, just give me a summary."

"yes!"

Everyone hurriedly agreed.

Xu Feng then went directly into the quiet room behind the main hall.

Close the door and activate the restriction.

Xu Feng took out the Star Scroll and the "One-Pattern Star God Pill" that Renren had obtained, his brows furrowing slightly.

His wariness of Youquan did not diminish despite the generous reward.

Judging from its aura alone, this elixir is powerful and pure, and the laws and principles it contains cannot be faked.

Ren Shi is a top-grade precious elixir.

However, it is quite different from the Star God Pill that Shuaiwen mentioned.

Xu Feng's understanding of alchemy was not deep enough to determine whether any other tricks had been used in its preparation.

Just to be on the safe side... perhaps we could try to get someone to do an appraisal.

He glanced around and realized he wasn't all alone; why not use his backup plan?

The medicine was immediately packed into a small box and given to Xiaobai to swallow.

He then sent it underground, out of Jinpeng Peak, and towards the outside world.

He then slowly got up, assumed a stance, and began to continue his cultivation.

First, there is the cultivation of the secret technique "Golden Wings Soaring Through the Sky".

After nearly a month of cultivation, the secret technique progressed extremely quickly, and he easily reached the mastery level.

At this level, Xu Feng no longer cared about the disguise, but genuinely felt that the secret technique had merit and could make up for the shortcomings of his movement technique.

Over the past half month, his two major spiritual techniques have also made steady progress, approaching the level of grandmaster.

Within half a month, he will be able to steadily enter the Grandmaster level.

At this point, the long-planned mind control could begin to be implemented gradually.

"Then I'll stay in quiet seclusion for the next two weeks and not rush into anything else."

Only when his strength increases can he feel more at ease.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

This day.

Xiao Fengren brought back some information about Qianji in preparation for discussing it with everyone, when he sensed two powerful auras descending outside the main hall.

Xiao Feng's expression changed slightly. He quickly stood up, gave the others a wink, and headed outside to greet them.

"I wonder... what brings the two peak masters here together?"

Upon recognizing the person who had arrived, Xiaofeng's expression changed slightly, and he immediately asked with even greater respect.

The two people who stepped into the main hall were actually the 15th and 16th peak masters!

The one on the left is the newly appointed Lord of Purgatory Peak.

This person was a genius who made a donation just two days ago, but unexpectedly he has now pledged allegiance to the peak master of the tenth peak, "Angry Dragon Peak"!

Although Xiaoqingqiongzi only has eighteen peaks, it has many factions and united forces.

The 10th peak was originally the one that commanded the 15th and 16th porcelain peaks.

The 17th and 18th peaks have recruited people, but haven't had time to choose sides yet.

Now that the other party has approached us, it's likely to intimidate and win us over.

Xiaofeng's mind raced, and he immediately devised a solution.

"Where's Jinmu?" one of the figures who entered the hall shouted gruffly. "Get out here! The Flood Dragon King wants to question him!"

The Dragon King!?

Xiao Feng was startled, realizing it was indeed the case, but he pretended not to know and quickly asked, "Is it the Holy Son of the Lower Realm Jiaolong Clan of the Tenth Peak, the Jiaolin Peak Master?"

"Who the hell are you? Get out of my way! Let Kaneki come out here and answer me!"

Another figure immediately slapped Xiaofeng impatiently, muttering disdainfully.

Xiao Feng was startled and was about to dodge.

But he found that he couldn't dodge the palm strike no matter what he did, so he clutched his head and prepared to take the hit head-on.

However, when the palm strike landed in front of him, it vanished with a whoosh.

He looked up in astonishment and saw a golden figure blocking his way, one hand firmly gripping his arm.

"Peak Master!" Xiaofeng breathed a sigh of relief and quickly clasped his hands in a fist salute.

Xu Feng ignored him, instead grinning at the somewhat astonished, tall figure: "So you're the one who told me to get out here?"

The 16 peak masters were about to explain when Xu Feng said again, "You still want to beat my sworn brother on my main peak?"