High Martial Arts: Liver Becomes the Master of the Universe

Chapter 286 Unleashing a Bloodbath, Instantly Killing Neil, the Prodigy of the Holy Light Clan! Qin Feng's Terrifying Strength! The Stone Buddha Shows Goodwill!

Two hundred thousand blood jade crystals.

This number was like an invisible hammer, formed from pure mass, which struck heavily into the hearts of every living being beneath the Blood God Tower's light curtain.

The air seemed to be sucked away at that moment, and time and space seemed to freeze because of this incomprehensible achievement.

Shock is not enough to describe their feelings; it was a complex mix of awe, fear, and even despair, as if mortals were looking up at a god tearing the sky apart, and could have no other thoughts but to bow their heads.

On the stone Buddha's unchanging stone face, even the fine cracks seemed to deepen slightly due to the intense fluctuations in his emotions.

He refined over a thousand Blood Jade Crystals only by relying on his supreme will to step into the forbidden realm of gods and the innate resilience of the Holy Spirit Stone Clan. He knew the dangers and pain involved better than anyone else.

It was not merely the absorption of spiritual energy, but a direct confrontation with the will of an evil god, a bloody struggle at the level of the soul.

One thousand is his limit, enough to make him stand out from his peers and at the top of the Hidden Dragon List.

However, two hundred thousand.

This number completely overturned his understanding of spiritual practice, talent, and limits.

One thousand versus two hundred thousand—this is not just a difference in quantity, but a chasm in dimensions.

He couldn't even imagine what kind of earth-shattering mental impact he would have to endure to refine two hundred thousand blood jade crystals, or what kind of will beyond that of gods and demons he would have needed to maintain his self-control amidst endless temptation and madness.

The forty-odd beings who had accepted missions against the will of the universe felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave, chilled to the bone.

Only one thought was in their minds: the mission had failed.

A complete and utter failure, with no doubt about it.

This is no longer a match that can be turned around by strategy, trump cards, or luck.

This is a group of mortals who attempt to challenge a giant god who has already shown the demeanor of a god-king.

All their struggles will be in vain.

"How to do?"

"Escape...we must escape!"

"Can we escape? Do we even have the right to run away from him?"

Despair spread among them like a plague.

They knew very well that after Qin Feng left the Crimson Forbidden Land, he would rampage all the way to Thunder Universe City.

With the terrifying strength he's displaying right now, reaching the top of the Blood God Tower, who can stop him? Who dares to stop him?
Anyone who tries to stop him will become a dead soul under his gun.

No, the danger is not in the future, but right before our eyes!
Right now!

Right here in this isolated Asura field, shrouded in the light curtain of the Blood God Tower!

An indescribable, terrifying pressure spread out silently.

It was not simply a matter of physical oppression, but rather a higher-dimensional field of spiritual energy.

The spiritual power manifested as a deep, dark, black-gold color that seemed capable of devouring all light. The killing intent contained within was no longer sharp as a knife, but as heavy as an abyss, like the essence of death that had settled after twenty million years of lonely slaughter.

Under the shroud of this black and gold spiritual power, every living being felt as if their soul was being gripped by an invisible hand, and even the most basic thought processes became extremely sluggish.

Fear is no longer an emotion, but a substantial, bone-chilling coldness.

They knew that this was Qin Feng's killing intent.

The moment of judgment has arrived.

In the dead silence, Neil of the Holy Light Clan was the first to break the silence.

He knew very well that any hesitation would be fatal when facing an existence of this caliber.

He had to secure a sliver of hope for himself before Qin Feng actually made his move.

He forcefully suppressed his fear, channeling all his strength to resist the mental pressure, and made his voice sound as steady and sincere as possible.

"Qin Feng!"

His voice was loud and clear, resounding throughout the entire venue: "I, Neil of the Holy Light Clan, hereby voluntarily relinquish the mission issued by the will of the universe!"

There is no deep-seated hatred between us; we are simply on different sides, fighting for resources for our respective groups.

This is the natural order of the universe; victory and defeat are predetermined.

Today, you have proven your strength, and I, Neil, am completely convinced. Spare me this time; I, Neil, will forever remember this kindness, and will serve you without hesitation in the future! How about this favor?”

Neil's words were clear, logical, and well-organized.

He defined their conflict as a "battle for resources" rather than a "life-or-death feud," attempting to downplay the bloodshed; he voluntarily abandoned the mission, demonstrating his "sincerity"; finally, he offered a favor from a prodigy on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, a very significant bargaining chip.

His words immediately triggered a chain reaction.

"I, Black Jade of the Crystal Clan, am also willing to abandon the mission!"

The Crystal Clan's prodigy, Hei Yu, followed closely behind, his voice clear and his attitude resolute.

"I, Tak of the Golden Armor Clan, also give up!"

The massive, golden-armored behemoth, Tucker, spoke in a deep, booming voice, withdrawing from all his fighting stances.

"I am the Shui Mo of the Shui tribe..."

"I……"

Immediately, voices of agreement rose and fell.

The forty-odd beings who had accepted the hostile mission, including Ye Luo, the son of the Stone Emperor who had remained silent until now, all spoke up, expressing their wishes that were almost entirely in line with Neil's.

They suppressed all hostility, lowered their stance, and spoke earnestly, attempting to exchange their lives for surrender and promises.

For a time, a strange "peaceful" scene appeared on this land that had just undergone a bloody purge.

All eyes were on the tall, imposing man holding a long spear, awaiting his final judgment.

Qin Feng kept his eyes slightly closed, as if he were oblivious to everything around him.

The black-gold spiritual energy field remained unwavering, still enveloping the entire area like an iron curtain.

Under the gazes of all who were expectant, apprehensive, or fearful, he slowly and clearly uttered a single word.

"Do not."

This word, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, was as cold and hard as ancient ice.

It left no room for negotiation, no hesitation whatsoever, like a final judgment from the depths of hell, instantly shattering the last glimmer of hope that had just ignited in Neil and the others' hearts.

why?
Neil couldn't understand it, and neither could any of the creatures that begged for mercy.

They have already abandoned their mission, sacrificed their dignity, and made promises of kindness, so why are they still facing a dead end in return?
As if sensing their doubts, Qin Feng slowly opened his eyes.

What kind of eyes are those?
Profound and weathered, it seems to contain twenty million years of loneliness and time.

Deep within his eyes, there was no anger, no pity, only an extreme coldness and rationality, like the universe itself, indifferently watching the birth and death of all things.

An intense killing intent, so strong it seemed to materialize, burst forth from those eyes.

"Om-"

The void trembled slightly, and a jet-black spear, seemingly capable of devouring light—the Star Devourer—quietly appeared in his palm.

Immediately afterwards, streaks of blue-gold light appeared out of thin air, quickly covering his entire body and combining to form a set of sleek, powerful, and beautiful power armor.

Their armed stance says it all.

"Non-my family, its heart must be different."

Qin Feng's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every living being, as if it resonated directly in their souls.

"You give up now because you are afraid of death."

But this fear cannot change your stance, nor can it erase your hostility towards me or the human race.

If I let you go today, when you return to your respective tribes, you will report my performance in the Blood God Tower today word for word.

"What does a human prodigy who refines 200,000 Blood Jade Crystals and ascends to the top of the Blood God Tower mean to your race? You know better than I do."

His words were like the sharpest knife, cutting through all the hypocrisy and pointing straight to the core reality.

"What will your tribe do then? Will they let it go just because you owe me a 'favor'? No."

They will only feel an unprecedented threat, and will spare no effort, use all their power, even break the rules, to send out domain lords or even stronger beings to strangle me before I can grow up.

Your so-called "human relationships" are worthless in the face of the interests of the community.

"In the vast universe, the greatest respect for an enemy with whom you have a mortal feud is to make him disappear from this world completely and cleanly."

This is to eliminate all future possibilities; it's about taking responsibility for yourself.

Qin Feng's gaze swept over Neil, Black Jade, Tucker, and every face contorted with fear.

"Ask yourselves honestly, if you were standing in my position today, and you discovered a human prodigy with the potential to overturn the entire universe, would you let him go just because he begged for mercy?"

“You won’t. You’ll only be more resolute and ruthless than me.”

"So, put away your ridiculous logic. From the moment the will of the universe issued this mission, only one of us can leave alive."

The moment he finished speaking, he moved.

"kill!"

A loud shout, unlike a human voice, seemed more like a volcano that had been accumulating murderous energy for twenty million years, erupting at this moment!

The entire space within the Blood God Tower's light curtain trembled violently because of this roar.

Neil and the others reacted with lightning speed. The moment Qin Feng uttered that "no," they already knew the negotiations had broken down and their lives hung in the balance.

When Qin Feng's killing intent erupted completely, their long-accumulated power was also unleashed in an instant.

No one chose to confront Qin Feng head-on; that would be suicide.

Their choice is chaos, is to flee!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

In an instant, dozens of dazzling rays of light shot into the sky.

Those were precious treasures, which they offered up without hesitation.

These treasures were precisely divided into two parts: a small part, containing the strongest attack power, was like a series of meteors, fearlessly crashing towards Qin Feng, attempting to delay his movements by even a fraction of a second.

The other large part consisted of a vast treasure with intense psionic fluctuations, which they hurled with all their might at the terrifying being outside the light barrier—the King Corpse!
Their overt schemes were ruthless yet effective.

Using the secret treasure to attack Qin Feng is a delaying tactic, while attacking the King Corpse is to detonate the only and biggest variable in this area!

Once the King Corpse's rage is fully ignited, it will inevitably unleash an even more terrifying indiscriminate attack, plunging the entire space into a devastating storm. This will undoubtedly provide the best cover for their escape.

Having done all this, Neil, Black Jade, Tucker, and more than forty other beings did not linger at all. Their bodies transformed into streams of light of various colors, and at their fastest speed ever, burning their life essence, they rushed madly toward the only path to survival—the teleportation vortex—suspended high in the sky!

"Roar--!!!"

The distant corpse of the king was indeed enraged.

Although the treasures that were thrown at it could not cause any real damage, this provocative act caused this terrifying body, which was left with only the instinct for destruction, to go completely berserk.

An aura of death far exceeding that of the previous ones swept out. With a single punch, large swathes of space shattered, and the violent aftershocks of spiritual energy spread in all directions, indeed causing some interference to Qin Feng's pursuit.

However, this aftershock was insignificant to Qin Feng at this moment.

The treasures that were thrown at him seemed to crash into an invisible wall of sighs, constructed of black and gold spiritual energy, as soon as they touched a radius of three feet in front of him. They were crushed and annihilated by the terrifying spiritual energy field without even causing a ripple, turning into the purest spiritual energy particles and dissipating in the air.

Qin Feng's figure was not hindered in any way. He transformed into a streak of light that was difficult to capture with the naked eye, and traveled through the chaotic spiritual energy turbulence. His speed broke through his previous limit in an instant, easily reaching a hundred times the speed of light!
As he moved at high speed, space took on a strange distortion, as if the entire world was being pulled backward by him.

His goal was crystal clear from the very beginning—Neil of the Holy Light Clan!
To catch the thief, first catch the king; to kill the chicken, scare the monkey!
Neil was the first to beg for mercy, and he was also the fastest and most threatening of these fugitives.

If we can kill him with lightning speed, it will definitely have a huge psychological impact on the other fugitives.

Neil felt an extreme sense of crisis coming from behind him, a crisis that froze his very soul. He glanced back and saw a black-gold dot of light rapidly enlarging in his field of vision. The speed was so fast that even his proud Holy Light Escape Technique seemed to be standing still!

"How could it be so fast!"

Neil was horrified.

Without hesitation, his divine sense surged wildly, and he unleashed one treasured high-level black hole artifact after another, scattering them backward like a shower of flowers.

An ancient bell, emitting a distant, resonant sound, transforms into a tangible sound wave barrier, layer upon layer, attempting to impede space.

An ancient ruler, shimmering with spatial runes, could slice open tiny spatial rifts with a single swing, creating deadly traps.

A beautifully designed flying shuttle accelerated instantly, releasing countless light spears that covered the entire airspace behind it.

Any one of these treasures would be enough to overwhelm an ordinary extreme black hole-level expert, but in front of Qin Feng, they were as fragile as paper.

"clang!"

With just a light touch of the tip of the Star-Devouring Spear, the sonic barrier formed by the ancient bell shattered inch by inch, like a mirror.

"laugh!"

With a sweep of the gun, all the spatial rifts were smoothed out by an even more powerful force, as if they had never existed.

"boom!"

Qin Feng didn't even bother to pay attention to the countless light spears. The surface of his blue-gold power armor flashed with light, forming a layer of spiritual energy shield. All the light spears that hit it melted away like ice and snow, without causing any damage.

Destroy everything!

This is an absolute, unreasonable, overwhelming force!

Neil's heart sank to the bottom.

He knew that conventional methods were no longer effective.

"Fight!"

A glint of madness flashed in his eyes as he summoned two more items.

One item is an ultimate black hole-level secret treasure shuttle made entirely of unknown crystal, with mysterious light flowing across its body.

Neil spat a mouthful of blood onto it, and the shuttle shone brightly, instantly enveloping his body. Its speed increased dramatically again, transforming into a streak of light that almost disappeared as it sped forward.

The other item was a palm-sized, badly damaged metal fragment.

The fragment seemed insignificant, but the moment Neil frantically poured most of his remaining mental energy into it, a terrifying power far exceeding that of a black hole, and even surpassing the forbidden realm of gods, suddenly erupted!

That was the aura of a Marquis-level expert!

Fragments of the Secret Treasure for Conferring Marquis Titles!

This is Neil's trump card, his real life-saving trump card!

"boom--"

The fragment was activated, and a terrifying beam of light containing the true meaning of "bestowing a title of nobility" tore through space, crossed distances, and slammed into Qin Feng, who was pursuing them.

This attack finally had an effect.

Faced with the overwhelming power of a marquis who could threaten his very foundation, even Qin Feng had no choice but to stop.

His eyes narrowed, and all the black-gold spiritual power and internal strength in his body converged on the Star Devouring Spear without reservation, and he thrust it forward fiercely.

The moment the gun tip collided with the beam of light, time seemed to stand still for a split second.

There was no earth-shattering roar, only an extreme, all-consuming silence.

Qin Feng's figure was completely engulfed by the terrifying pillar of light. The space where he was located, along with half of his body, was directly reduced to nothingness under that immortal power.

Reinvented!

With just one strike, he severely injured Qin Feng, who had refined 200,000 Blood Jade Crystals!
However, Neil's face showed no joy, but rather a deathly pale expression.

Activating this fragment of the Marquis-level treasure almost drained all of his mental energy.

He could sense that he had only managed to hold off Qin Feng for a mere moment!

Breathe!
This breath was bought with his strongest trump card.

Other fleeing creatures also keenly seized this fleeting opportunity.

One by one, they burned their life essence and unleashed their most powerful escape techniques. Taking advantage of the moment Qin Feng was blocked, they frantically rushed towards the teleportation vortex, their figures instantly disappearing into the distance.

Neil dared not slacken in the slightest. He piloted the Extreme Shuttle, using his last bit of strength to rush towards the Gate of Hope that was so close at hand.

However, he ultimately underestimated Qin Feng.

The next instant, in the space that had been reduced to nothingness by the power of being granted the title of Marquis, Qin Feng's figure materialized once more.

Supported by a massive amount of life essence, his annihilated half of his body rapidly regenerated and recovered at a speed visible to the naked eye, returning to its original state in just a fraction of a second.

His eyes were even colder than before.

"Whoosh-"

He started again, and this time, his speed was no longer one hundred times the speed of light, but driven by anger and killing intent, it suddenly surged to one hundred and fifty times the speed of light!
This was a limit that even he himself had not anticipated!
Space had lost its meaning before him.

It was as if he had teleported directly from one coordinate point to another.

Neil's pupils suddenly contracted. He could already see the dazzling starlight in the teleportation vortex, and half of his body had even disappeared into the door that represented "life"!

If he had just one more tenth of a second, he could have escaped completely!

But the opportunity is gone.

A large hand covered in blue-gold power armor appeared out of thin air, seemingly piercing through the barriers of space, and firmly grasped the other half of his body that was about to sink into the vortex.

An irresistible force came, and Neil was forcibly pulled out of the teleportation vortex amidst extreme terror and resentment!

"Do not--!"

He let out a desperate roar.

He was greeted by Qin Feng's emotionless face and a jet-black spear carrying endless killing intent.

At the tip of the spear, black and gold spiritual energy was highly condensed, transforming into a tiny singularity that seemed capable of devouring everything.

"Pfft!"

The spear struck Neil's body without any resistance.

"what--"

A short, piercing scream echoed through the sky.

Neil's proud body of holy light, composed of countless light particles, underwent a violent chain reaction the moment the spear tip touched it. Starting from a single point, it rapidly collapsed and disintegrated, eventually exploding into countless points of light and returning to nothingness.

At the same time, Qin Feng's unparalleled black-gold spiritual power, like a black lightning bolt, instantly shattered Neil's fragile mental defenses and completely crushed his soul core.

Nier, a prodigy on the Hidden Dragon Ranking and a member of the Holy Light Clan, has fallen!

After killing Neil, Qin Feng stood silently before the teleportation vortex, holding the Star Devouring Spear.

He glanced into the distance and discovered that the other beings who had accepted the mission from the will of the universe had successfully escaped into the teleportation vortex and disappeared without a trace while he was chasing Neil.

Qin Feng was not surprised.

Those who have stood out from countless geniuses and survived to this day are all extraordinary individuals.

They have a constant stream of trump cards; their means of survival are always more numerous and stronger than their means of attack.

Even Qin Feng himself was no exception to this.

"Roar--"

In the distance, the roar of the king corpse still echoed, venting its rage.

Around the Blood God Tower, the survivors who had not participated in the chase had already taken advantage of the chaos to transform into streaks of light and disappear into the teleportation vortex, not daring to linger here.

Qin Feng took one last look at the towering corpse of the king, then abandoned all further thoughts. He sheathed his spear, turned, and transformed into a streak of light, plunging without hesitation into the teleportation vortex, leaving behind this blood-red forbidden land that had brought him unparalleled opportunity but was also filled with endless danger.

……

Beyond the gates of the Crimson Forbidden Land, the vacuum of space remained as profound and cold as ever.

Qin Feng's figure emerged from the distorted light and shadow, the endless slaughter and raging sea of ​​blood he had experienced in the forbidden area seemed like a grand dream spanning millions of years.

He only felt a brief dizziness, a natural sensation brought about by spatial teleportation, but for his current physique and mind, it was nothing more than a gentle breeze, and he regained his clarity in an instant.

He looked around, and the star field appeared unusually empty and desolate.

Those creatures that left the forbidden area early on naturally did not linger here and had already headed to their respective destinations.

Not long ago, those geniuses from various races who had been hunted down by him were like frightened birds. The moment they escaped the teleportation portal, they used their most powerful secret techniques and disappeared into the vast universe at top speed, fearing that he would follow closely behind and wipe them out completely.

Here, only he remained, along with the blood-red portal that still exuded an ominous and ancient aura.

Qin Feng's mind stirred slightly, and he began to plan his next trip.

The rewards of his trip to the Crimson Forbidden Land far exceeded his initial expectations; in fact, it could be said that it was a transformation that would change the course of his future martial arts path.

Now that his strength has increased dramatically, he feels more at ease and confident.

"Let's go to Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom first to say goodbye to Senior Feng Zhiyu."

He thought to himself.

Feng Zhiyu had shown him kindness, and it was only right and proper for him to say goodbye.

After that, there were no more worries. He could use the teleportation privileges he had accumulated over the years in missions and battles to directly cross distant star sectors and head to the end of this "Path to the End" mission—Thunder Universe City.

Once we reach that point, this long and perilous mission of cosmic will will be considered complete.

However, just as Qin Feng was about to set off, a clear and powerful spatial fluctuation suddenly rippled out in the void in front of him without warning.

That space was like a calm lake surface tossed with a stone; at the center of the ripples, a burly and heavy figure slowly emerged.

The visitor was none other than the stone Buddha.

His body, sculpted from rock, resembled an ancient, unchanging mountain, silently suspended in the universe. An invisible aura spread out, causing the surrounding light to appear slightly distorted.

Qin Feng's eyes sharpened instantly. Almost instinctively, he tightened his grip on the Star Devouring Spear, and a flash of dark golden light appeared on the spear.

He completely concealed his aura, but adjusted his body to the most suitable posture for battle. His black-gold spiritual power surged within his sea of ​​consciousness, ready to unleash a thunderous strike at any moment.

He must remain at the highest level of vigilance.

Because from beginning to end, the stone Buddha was an existence that he could not see through at all.

As a prodigy dispatched by the Stone Clan, bearing the prestigious title of second on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, Stone Buddha should have been one of his most formidable enemies.

Within the forbidden area, facing the natural antagonism between the human race and the stone race, and facing him, a being whom all races would kill, the Stone Buddha had countless opportunities to attack him.

Qin Feng knew perfectly well that if Stone Buddha had chosen to join forces with Neil, Ye Luo, and others before entering the Blood God Tower, or even if he had acted alone, he would never have been able to accumulate capital so smoothly, let alone undergo such a tremendous transformation in the Blood God Tower.

It can be said that Stone Buddha's "inaction" objectively created the best environment for his growth.

This strange "laissez-faire" attitude puzzled and alarmed Qin Feng even more than the most direct hostility.

He couldn't understand the stone Buddha's motives, nor could he judge whether there was a deeper, more deadly scheme hidden behind this "goodwill".

Seemingly sensing Qin Feng's almost tangible vigilance and fighting spirit, the stone Buddha's rock-formed face revealed an expression that resembled a "smile." The texture of the rock subtly changed, softening his otherwise stern appearance.

"Do not be nervous."

The stone Buddha's voice was deep and steady, like the echo of mountains, "If I were hostile to you, you wouldn't have been able to reach the Blood God Tower in the core of the forbidden area."

As he spoke, he gently waved his enormous hand; the movement appeared slow, but in reality, it was faster than the speed of light.

A streak of light flew from his hand and shot straight toward Qin Feng.

Qin Feng's pupils contracted, but when he scanned the area with his spiritual power, he found no killing intent in the stream of light, only a cold corpse.

He did not dodge, letting the corpse hover in front of him.

It was a lion statue made entirely of a mixture of strange metals and rocks, the very same Lion God Statue that had previously joined forces with the Stone Buddha to seal off the entire Blood God Tower during the clearing battle.

At this moment, he had completely lost the breath of life. A fatal wound that pierced through his core was clearly visible on his body, indicating that he had been killed by a single blow.

"The Stone Clan Lion God Statue is also one of the most promising prodigies in the Stone Clan."

The stone Buddha explained calmly, as if it were a trivial matter, “His physical body is made of a special material, a combination of ‘Star Core Divine Gold’ and ‘Supreme Divine Stone,’ which is of great benefit to your Heavenly Evolution Weapon. It can be used as the main material for its devouring and evolution. Consider it a small gift to you.”

Qin Feng's brows furrowed even deeper.

Doubt, a deep doubt, rose in his mind.

Stone Buddha's actions are no longer a simple case of "laissez-faire," but rather an open betrayal.

Although he knew that the Stone Buddha's true identity was that of a naturally born Holy Spirit Stone Clan member, and not of the same origin as the regular Stone Clan beings, he was still, in name, a member of the Stone Clan, representing the face and interests of the Stone Clan.

But now, he has personally killed the Stone Clan prodigy who was traveling with him, and presented the corpse as a gift to himself, the Stone Clan's "public enemy".

The implications behind this made Qin Feng realize that things were far more complicated than he had imagined.

"Qin Feng, could we talk somewhere else?"

The stone Buddha's tone carried an unmistakable sincerity: "I reiterate, I have no hostility towards you. You should have already seen this from your experience in the forbidden area. From beginning to end, I have never interfered with anything you did."

Qin Feng fell silent.

He quickly weighed the pros and cons.

The Stone Buddha's strength is unfathomable. Even though I have now stepped into the realm of divine forbidden lands, I am not necessarily confident of victory.

If the other party really wants to make a move, there is no fundamental difference between this situation and being in the forbidden area.

His initiative to show goodwill, even at the cost of killing his own kind to demonstrate his sincerity, suggests that his intentions are certainly not trivial.

This may contain enormous risks, but it may also contain secrets and opportunities that are inaccessible to others.

"it is good."

After a brief moment of thought, Qin Feng responded in a deep voice.

He chose to trust his own judgment and believed that his current abilities were sufficient to handle most unexpected situations.

"Where to go?"

The stone Buddha asked.

"How about the capital of the Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom?"

Qin Feng gave a specific location.

"Naturally."

The stone Buddha smiled slightly, offering no objection.

"Do you need to change your appearance?"

Qin Feng glanced at the stone Buddha's statue-like appearance and gave a reminder.

This statue is truly eye-catching. It is made entirely of rock, full of solemnity and holiness, yet it also carries a hint of something other than our kind.

If they were to swagger into the capital of the Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom in this way, it would likely cause a huge uproar and attract countless eyes.

Upon hearing this, the smile on the stone Buddha's face vanished, replaced by a long sigh, a sigh that carried an indescribable sense of sorrow and helplessness.

"I am limited by my circumstances and cannot change them."

He shook his head, his voice low.

"I see."

Qin Feng nodded slightly and asked no further questions.

He sensed a hint of "being unable to control one's own destiny" in those words.

It seems that behind this second-ranked candidate on the Hidden Dragon List lies a secret far beyond what ordinary people can imagine.

The two reached a consensus and said no more. They transformed into two streaks of light, tore through the void, and sped toward the direction of the Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom.

……

The capital of the ancient Tianxuan Kingdom.

When the two imposing figures descended, they immediately alerted the imperial guards.

But when they saw one of the faces clearly, all their tension and hostility instantly turned into awe and respect.

Qin Feng's appearance had already spread throughout the upper echelons of the Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom, thanks to his feat of destroying the "Hidden Smoke Tower" with a flick of his finger outside the forbidden area.

This unparalleled genius of the human race had helped the Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom and was a distinguished guest personally befriended by Prince Yuexuan.

Soon, members of the royal family came out to greet them. After learning of Qin Feng's purpose, the thirteenth prince personally led the two into the depths of the palace, arranged an extremely elegant and secluded residence, and ordered people to serve the finest delicacies and spirit wine. Then, he very tactfully took his leave, leaving Qin Feng and the stone Buddha in complete privacy.

Before leaving, Qin Feng made a point of inquiring about Feng Zhiyu's recent situation.

The thirteenth prince informed him that Feng Zhiyu had suffered some minor injuries in the Crimson Forbidden Land, but was otherwise unharmed. He was currently in seclusion in a secret chamber arranged by the royal family to heal his wounds and recover his strength, and had even made some progress.

Upon learning that his old friend was safe and sound, Qin Feng was relieved.

In the courtyard of the mansion, there are stone tables and benches, and the water flows gently.

Qin Feng poured himself a full glass of wine, the liquid of which was amber in color and exuded a refreshing fragrance.

He picked up his glass, but didn't drink it; he simply watched the shimmering wine in the glass.

The stone Buddha sat down opposite him, its enormous body making the stone bench seem rather small.

He remained silent, seemingly organizing his thoughts or perhaps reminiscing about something; his face, shaped like rock, held an inscrutable expression.

The atmosphere became somewhat quiet for a moment.

Qin Feng wasn't in a hurry; he had plenty of patience.

He knew that what the Stone Buddha was about to reveal was bound to be a shocking secret, and he needed time to prepare his emotions.

He savored the peaceful atmosphere of the place as he waited quietly.

Time passes minute by minute.

The light and shadow in the courtyard shifted subtly with the movement of celestial bodies.

Finally, after a full quarter of an hour, the stone Buddha slowly raised its head, breaking the silence.

His gaze fell on Qin Feng, and in those eyes made of rock, a complex emotion was revealed, including envy, longing, and a deep-seated sorrow.

"Qin Feng,"

He spoke slowly, his voice deeper than before, "This universe is vast and boundless. Do you want to... truly see it for yourself?"

This question is somewhat abrupt and also rather broad.

Qin Feng looked up at him.

"That's natural."

Qin Feng answered frankly, his voice calm and firm, "This universe is vast, with countless magnificent wonders and innumerable civilizations and races."

I have the desire to witness the splendor of this world and the magnificence of the universe, and also the expectation to compete with the geniuses of all races, to meet worthy opponents and encounter talented individuals.

If one cannot traverse the vast universe and witness the ultimate, wouldn't this life's journey of cultivation have been in vain?

His words were filled with pride and enthusiasm.

"envious……"

After listening, the stone Buddha softly uttered two words.

These two words are filled with a heartfelt envy, as heavy as his own weight.

"I...can't do it."

Qin Feng remained silent, simply gazing at the stone Buddha, awaiting further instructions.

He knew that the real conversation was about to begin.

The stone Buddha shifted its gaze from Qin Feng to the distant horizon, its eyes becoming distant and weathered.

"if……"

He paused, his voice trembling slightly, "If only I had been born a human."

As soon as he finished speaking, two lines of liquid slowly seeped from the corners of his hardened eyes.

Those were not tears, but some kind of crystalline stalactite that slid down his rocky cheeks, condensing in the air into two translucent beads before falling to the ground with a crisp "ding".

Stone Tears.

"I am a Holy Spirit Stone Clan born of nature, and I have no blood relation with the Stone Clan in the universe today."

The stone Buddha's voice carried a sorrow that had been suppressed for countless years: "The Holy Spirit Clan, born in chaos and raised in nature, is the darling of the universe."

However, even among the Holy Spirits, the cruelest law of the jungle applies.

The weak Holy Spirit is the best 'sustenance' for the powerful fellow tribe.

To escape the fate of being devoured by other powerful holy spirits, I chose to join the Stone Clan for protection.

Qin Feng listened quietly.

The secrets of the Holy Spirit Clan are so shrouded in mystery that even the human empire's archives contain only a few words about them.

"But I never expected that after escaping the tiger's mouth, I would fall into the wolf's den."

The Stone Buddha's tone was full of self-mockery and bitterness, "The Stone Clan is not a benevolent place. They possess an extremely vicious secret technique against us, the outsiders from the Holy Spirit Stone Clan, called 'Rebirth'."

They will nurture us with the best resources, allowing us to grow. When our bodies and souls reach their most perfect peak, they will use this technique to seize our souls, completely erasing our existence and replacing us as a part of themselves.

"My current identity—a disciple of the Stone Clan's Tantric Elder, ranked second on the Hidden Dragon List—seems to be infinitely glorious and enjoy all the respect I deserve. But all of this is nothing but a mirage."

"I am merely a carefully nurtured shell, a sacrifice waiting to be devoured."

My master, that great elder of Tantric Buddhism, never valued my will or talent, but only this perfectly formed, naturally endowed body.

All my efforts and achievements have only served to pave the way for others.

"I have no control over my own body, no control over my own fate!"

In the end, his voice was filled with endless grief, indignation, and resentment.

The surrounding space seemed to resonate with his intense emotions, and the air became oppressive and heavy.

After a long while, the stone Buddha took a deep breath, seemingly forcibly suppressing his surging emotions.

"These are just my thoughts, I hope you'll forgive my poor writing."

He composed himself, looked at Qin Feng again, and his eyes became extremely serious and solemn.

"Brother Qin, you are an unparalleled genius, one in a million, possessing invincible talent, and your future achievements are limitless. Today, I would like to ask you for a favor."

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng raised his hand, interrupting the stone Buddha's next words.

His gaze was sharp as he stared directly at the stone Buddha, and he said incisively, "Your master, that elder of the Stone Clan's secret sect, must be a King-level expert, right? You can't expect me to kill a King-level expert for you, can you? Even if I could do it in the future, that would be countless years from now, and it's not something that can quench your immediate thirst."

Qin Feng is not someone who gets carried away by emotions.

"No."

Seeing Qin Feng's directness, Stone Buddha laughed instead.

“Of course I won’t let you do such unrealistic things. Although I am imprisoned, I am not someone who will sit idly by and wait for death. I have many plans and methods.”

He paused, his tone becoming serious and clear.

"The person I want you to hunt down is my master, the chief disciple of the Grand Elder of the Tantric sect, named Shi Lan."

"This person is the only link in all my plans that I cannot personally handle."

“My master’s ‘rebirth’ secret technique cannot be used casually.”

He needs to use all his Holy Spirit Stone Clan disciples to set up a special array on them to suppress me in all aspects. This is the most important part of his secret technique.

"If I can kill all his disciples and break this formation, I will gain a moment to breathe and have the right to negotiate with him."

"Shi Lan is the strongest of all his disciples and the core of this formation."

"How strong is he?"

Qin Feng asked.

"Domain Lord Realm, Half-Step Divine Forbidden Realm."

The stone Buddha provides a clear positioning.

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng immediately began to assess the situation.

The Domain Lord realm is no longer an insurmountable barrier for him.

However, since the other party was able to become the first disciple of that powerful king, he must possess many trump cards and secret techniques, which are far beyond what an ordinary half-step divine barrier can compare to.

But you can give it a try.

It mainly depends on the asking price.

"remuneration."

Qin Feng didn't waste any words and went straight to the most crucial question.

He can help, but there has to be a price that's compelling enough to entice him.

The stone Buddha seemed to have anticipated his question, and after a moment of contemplation, uttered four words.

"Universal wonders."

Qin Feng's pupils contracted slightly.

"Is it the object itself, or the message it conveys?"

He pressed further. The value of these two things is worlds apart.

"It's a message."

The Stone Buddha said frankly, "However, as far as I know, only I currently know the location of this cosmic artifact. Moreover, that place is quite secluded and won't attract countless powerful individuals like the 'Twin Rivers.' Once you go, you'll have it all to yourself; it all depends on your own ability to obtain it."

This condition is full of sincerity.

A relatively safe and highly obtainable clue to a cosmic artifact is valuable enough to drive any powerful individual mad.

"make a deal."

Qin Feng agreed almost without hesitation.

"it is good!"

A hint of joy flashed in the stone Buddha's eyes.

He immediately took out a jade slip that shimmered with starlight and handed it to Qin Feng.

"This is a star map, which marks the exact location of that place. It is located within the 1800th War Zone."

The stone Buddha said in a deep voice, "According to the ancient information I obtained, that cosmic wonder is called 'Dou'. As for its specific effects, I am not very clear about them."

Qin Feng took the jade slip, scanned it with his spiritual power, and memorized the vast star map in his mind.

"no problem."

He nodded, then said, "Tell me the details about Shi Lan and the 'Island of Death' so we can make some preparations."

(End of this chapter)