Chapter 300: Chapter Seven: The Newly Promoted Elder, Luo Feng

Luo Feng piloted the Grand Void Mingtong Ship, not daring to slacken for an instant, pouring all his strength into controlling the vessel.

Although Yulan City possessed countless flying-boat treasures, Luo Feng chose the “Grand Void Mingtong Ship” because its secret patterns followed a path similar to that of the “Eye of Birth and Death.”

The vessel’s crafting materials were drawn from several low-grade Hollow Source lifeforms of the Void Lineage, making it perfectly attuned to the void.

“With the ship’s ‘Ming Tong,’ one can discern the structure of this heaven and earth’s void far more clearly.” Luo Feng maneuvered the vessel, weaving nimbly through the void—its traces invisible to ordinary methods.

The creator of this vessel was an entity who had reached the half-Hollow Source level in both Life and Destruction paths—far surpassing Luo Feng’s current realm. Luo Feng could barely unleash five to six tenths of the vessel’s full potential.

“Huh—”

Luo Feng probed his surroundings while pushing himself to the limit to hasten his journey.

“We’ve fully exited the Elder Hunting Zone.” Luo Feng still dared not relax, fearing the Hollow Source Wild Hoof Leader might still be tracking him; he flew for much longer until he was well beyond the conventional hunting grounds before finally easing up.

“The Grand Void Mingtong Ship suppresses all aura fluctuations—even better than my own methods of concealing life energy,” Luo Feng smiled.

“The Hollow Source Wild Hoof Leader is too powerful—I couldn’t possibly fight him. If he saw through my fake-death technique, this avatar would perish utterly, and my Indestructible Heart and Palm Realm would be lost there.” Luo Feng thought grimly.

Losing these two treasures would be a devastating blow.

Luo Feng had been overconfident.

The perfected Indestructible Blood Sea Body was a formidable secret art even among Elders, and with two secret treasures, Luo Feng believed he could escape any ordinary Divine Emperor Perfect Realm low-grade Hollow Source lifeform—so he dared to enter the Elder Hunting Zone. Who knew he’d encounter the “Hollow Source Wild Hoof Leader”?

“The Hollow Source Wild Hoof Leader isn’t even the strongest among low-grade Hollow Source lifeforms,” Luo Feng thought. “The Nine Rivers Sacred Realm holds even stronger ones—called ‘Transcendent-Level’! If I met a Transcendent-Level, I wouldn’t even have a chance to resist—I’d be gone in a single glance.”

Materials from Transcendent-Level low-grade Hollow Source lifeforms are usually transported from the Dark Sacred Realm.

After all, Transcendent-Level lifeforms are common in the Dark Sacred Realm—strange, powerful, even rare and unique varieties of low-grade Hollow Source lifeforms are kept there, fighting against the strongest cultivators selected from countless worlds.

The Nine Rivers Sacred Realm…

Divine Emperor Perfect Realm low-grade Hollow Source lifeforms are already rare; Transcendent-Level ones are legend.

“I thought I was cautious enough, but I still grew careless,” Luo Feng mused. “When I return to Yulan City, I’ll make full use of these spoils to elevate my strength across the board.”

Luo Feng then activated Di Qing.

Di Qing emerged, sighed in relief upon seeing Luo Feng, then laughed: “Luo Feng, I was terrified you’d been killed by that Hollow Source Wild Hoof Leader.”

“There’s no fighting the Hollow Source Wild Hoof Leader,” Luo Feng shook his head. “I could only flee—barely escaped using a secret escape technique. But I still suffered heavy losses.”

His body retained barely two-tenths of its energy reserves.

All other energy reserves were consumed during the battle and escape.

“Just escaping is already something to be proud of,” Di Qing said. “According to records, only the three Hall Masters can face a Divine Emperor Perfect Realm Hollow Source Wild Hoof Leader head-on. All other Elders must flee—and most still can’t escape.”

Luo Feng nodded.

Even with the Indestructible Heart bolstering his Indestructible Blood Sea Body, and even with his vast energy reserves, he’d been reduced to barely two-tenths after just a few exchanges.

“You’re right—just escaping is already impressive,” Luo Feng smiled.

“Where are we now?” Di Qing gazed out at the vast expanse.

“We’ve left the normal hunting zone. We’ll reach Yulan City soon,” Luo Feng said.

Di Qing’s expression darkened: “Luo Feng, when we left Yulan City, we were followed! You dealt with the tracker then—now, returning, the Wicked Market may have laid an ambush.”

Luo Feng nodded.

The Heaven Crane Elder wanted to establish authority by targeting him, and the tracker he sent was killed by Luo Feng—the Heaven Crane Elder’s murderous intent must have grown even fiercer.

“The closer we get to Yulan City, the more likely an ambush,” Luo Feng agreed. “The Heaven Crane Elder wants to make an example of you—he can only strike outside the city.”

Inside the city, attacks are usually secret techniques—leaving no trace.

Open combat? Only outside. Unless he’s prepared to go to war with the entire Elder Hall.

The Elder Hall’s three Hall Masters and over three hundred Elders control the entire city’s array system! Together, even a ‘Transcendent-Level low-grade Hollow Source lifeform’ would perish.

The city’s rules are the foundation of the massive profits the Hall Masters and Elders constantly reap—they would never break them.

“Luo Feng, what’s your plan?” Di Qing looked at him.

“Then let’s fight openly!” Luo Feng grinned. “He wants to make an example of me—I’ll use him as a stepping stone!”

Acquiring resources isn’t limited to hunting.

Once one’s strength reaches sufficient levels—like the Elders—their hunting frequency drops sharply; their primary way of gaining resources is through steady income within the city.

“Once my strength is sufficient, even if I can’t feast on Yulan City’s vast resources, I can at least sip the broth.”

In my early growth, I naturally had to find ways to acquire resources.

“My current strength is weaker than peak condition,” Luo Feng frowned slightly.

His Indestructible Blood Sea Body grows stronger with more energy reserves—but not infinitely; its peak is reached at five hundred times the energy capacity of a perfect Divine Body.

Even with more reserves, the explosive power no longer increases.

At one hundred times perfect Divine Body energy, he can unleash about fifty percent of his power. At two hundred times, nearly eighty percent.

At three hundred times, roughly ninety percent.

The gains diminish the higher he climbs.

At five hundred times, he unleashes one hundred percent.

“Right now, I can unleash eighty percent,” Luo Feng thought. “That should be enough to face the Heaven Crane Elder. If not, I can still summon another avatar from within Yulan City.”

When he cultivates on the Origin Continent, each time he comes to the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm, he brings enough energy reserves.

Over time, the rate at which Luo Feng’s various avatars absorb energy has increased, nearing the speed of absorption from a small universe.

…

Not far from Yulan City’s East Gate, a massive Wicked Shadow Array had long been set up, patiently waiting for Luo Feng to walk into the trap.

“Luo Feng and Di Qing went hunting—they should be returning soon,” said the three avatars of Wu Ya Divine Emperor, scattered apart and using the array diagram to activate the Wicked Shadow Array, covering a vast surrounding area.

!

“Originally, Heaven Crane Elder dispatched four raiding squads to set up Wicked Shadow Arrays at all four city gates,” Wu Ya Divine Emperor shook his head. “But when they heard one of my avatars was crushed, and learned… Luo Feng might be backed by an Elder, none of them wanted to blockade the gates.”

The members of the raiding squads were almost all non-Origin World cultivators, each possessing only one true body.

They joined the Wicked Market for resources, not to die.

They realized this conflict involved two Elders! None of the four squads dared risk it. Heaven Crane Elder couldn’t force them—no one, not even the Hall Masters’ direct orders, would obey a suicide mission.

In the end, Heaven Crane Elder could only hire four Origin World cultivators to deploy avatars for the array.

Wu Ya Divine Emperor was one of them!

Origin World cultivators only sent avatars to set up arrays—if the compensation was high enough, they were willing.

“Huh.”

The Wicked Shadow Array was large and close to the gate, completely sealing off the vast area beyond the East Gate! Anyone entering the East Gate must pass through this array.

For other cultivators, the Wicked Shadow Array would not interfere.

The array had only been active for these few days—so short a time, and given Yulan City’s hunting frequency, Wu Ya Divine Emperor hadn’t encountered a single hunting team since setting it up.

“Hmm?” Wu Ya Divine Emperor suddenly stared into the distance.

A ship had entered the Wicked Shadow Array’s range—the array instantly detected two familiar life signatures.

“Wu Ya? Again?” Luo Feng stepped out of the Grand Void Mingtong Ship.

Wu Ya gazed at Luo Feng from afar: “Luo Feng, have your protecting Elder show himself.”

“Protecting Elder?” Luo Feng was startled—he instantly realized the Wicked Market assumed neither he nor Di Qing could become Elders so quickly, and believed he had hired a powerful Elder.

Luo Feng smiled: “No Elder protects me. I was the one who crushed you with a single claw.”

Wu Ya froze.

“I won’t kill you. Go tell Heaven Crane to come himself,” Luo Feng said. “If he doesn’t come, I’m entering the city.”

Wu Ya had set up this array to block him—Luo Feng instantly judged: this Origin World cultivator had prepared to die, carrying no valuable treasures.

Luo Feng had no interest in wasting effort on Wu Ya.

“You want Heaven Crane Elder to come?” Wu Ya looked at Luo Feng, then nodded. “Fine. Heaven Crane Elder will arrive soon.”

…

Near the East Gate, in a secluded cave dwelling.

Heaven Crane Elder resided here—he believed that if the protecting Elder cared for face, he would return through the East Gate.

“Hmm?”

Heaven Crane Elder had been sitting calmly, carving leisurely, when he suddenly received Wu Ya’s voice transmission.

“Luo Feng is the Elder? And he wants me to come?” Heaven Crane Elder chuckled bitterly, feeling disappointed. “I thought it was some powerful Elder—turns out it’s just a newly promoted one.”

A newly promoted Elder, with weak accumulation—Heaven Crane Elder’s long-awaited battle fervor instantly faded.

“He crushed Wu Ya with a single claw—must have a powerful secret treasure?”

“How presumptuous! Just became an Elder, got a powerful treasure, and thinks he can challenge me?” Heaven Crane Elder rose. “Fine—I’ll use fifty percent of my strength to obliterate him.”

Heaven Crane Elder stepped forward, exiting the cave dwelling; with another step, his figure blurred—and he stood at the gate, gazing across at the black-haired man within the Wicked Shadow Array.

The black-haired man gazed back.

“A newly promoted Elder,” Heaven Crane Elder shook his head lightly.

(End of Chapter)