Chapter 264

"You have lost."

Li Fei held the blade with both hands, hovering it above Meng Tao's head.

Meng Tao looked incredulous, and only when Li Fei withdrew the blade did he react:

"An illusion?"

He did not believe that Li Fei could be unharmed under that move just now; the only explanation he could think of was that what he had hit just now was only a phantom.

Li Fei nodded.

From the very beginning, he had used his strengthened Jin Gang Force to forcefully endure all the damage and charge forward, giving Meng Tao the impression that he was very 'reckless', making the other party think he intended to fight forcefully.

Then, just before closing in, he relied on 'Danger Perception' to anticipate that Meng Tao would unleash a powerful move, so he immediately activated his newly stimulated core-level extraordinary ability—Shadow.

In that instant just now, Li Fei performed a 'Human-Shadow Separation': controlling the shadow clone to continue charging forward, while his true body remained in place.

The shadow clone contained his intent power, blood, and force; Meng Tao did not have a core-level extraordinary ability related to perception, so it was difficult to distinguish between true and false.

But for an extra 'person' to suddenly appear, it was impossible for Meng Tao not to notice, so while activating 'Shadow', Li Fei also activated the Jin Gang Seal: Treasure Vase, allowing his true body to conceal all its aura.

Simultaneously controlling a core-level extraordinary ability and a top-tier martial art like the Jin Gang Seal is immensely difficult; Li Fei was only able to do this after training under Shi Caiming and having his 【Illusion Leaf】 reach the God-Change stage, further strengthening his intent power.

The shadow clone continued forward, the true body remained in place concealing its aura, and combined with the illusion Li Fei had deliberately created for him, this caused Meng Tao to misjudge in that instant and decisively release his Dao Force.

And the martial arts masters and grandmasters present naturally understood all of this, and many felt it was somewhat funny.

Laughing at Nalan Zhi's scheme coming to nothing.

In fact, even Li Fei himself did not expect that a 'basic attack' of his could trick someone into using an 'ultimate move'.

He had thought Meng Tao was just unleashing a normal move and was prepared to exchange a dozen more rounds with the other party; as a result, the other party went for a big one and then briefly fell into a 'weak period'. Naturally, he would not miss this opportunity, and thus won with a single move.

"So that's how it is..."

Meng Tao gave a self-deprecating smile and cupped his hands to Li Fei, "You won."

Then he turned around and walked back with a lonely expression.

If he did not have a sect mission on his shoulders and was not thinking about defeating Li Fei as quickly as possible, he would not have been defeated so quickly.

However, Li Fei being able to display an ability like the shadow clone, and also being able to completely hide his true body so that he could not detect it.

Based on this point alone, he knew that even if the fight continued, he would likely not be Li Fei's opponent.

The core-level extraordinary ability stimulated by the same implant varies from person to person, because a core-level extraordinary ability is the power stimulated after the implant and the human body are deeply fused, and it is related to factors such as a person's physique, cultivation, force, intent power, and so on.

Therefore, although Nalan Zhi knew in advance that Li Fei had incorporated 【Shadow Feet】, he could not predict what core-level extraordinary ability Li Fei would stimulate.

"Truly wonderful!"

The martial arts master Chi Xu, whom he had met before, had no intention of giving Hongyi University any face, clapping his hands forcefully and praising loudly.

Li Fei's win seemed coincidental, but in reality, the clash in that instant contained many things:

Psychological misdirection, control of technique, choice of timing, application of tactics, and so on.

Even in the eyes of a martial arts master, it would be considered wonderful, especially when considering it was a young person like Li Fei.

"Good, truly wonderful!"

At the main table, the Crown Prince began to clap.

With him taking the lead in clapping, the others also clapped one after another.

Only Nalan Zhi's face was gloomy.

The Crown Prince smiled and stood up, walking out from behind the main table, with two eunuchs following behind him, one of whom held a bottle of elixir with both hands, while the other held a wooden box with both hands.

"Worthy of being a peerless genius; these are all yours."

The Crown Prince walked to Li Fei, took the elixir and the wooden box from the two eunuchs, and handed them to Li Fei personally.

"Many thanks, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Fei took the two items and bowed to the Crown Prince.

"Not bad, for this Master Wuji Exchange Tournament, I am optimistic about you taking the crown!"

The Crown Prince was not bound by formalities, patted Li Fei's arm cordially, and said with a smile.

These words made everyone present have strange expressions.

If it were just an internal competition among the thirteen universities, with the strength Li Fei showed today, he would indeed have a good chance of taking the crown.

But this exchange tournament involves the three Daoist sects.

Although the tournament restricts the age of all university students and sect disciples to no more than 25 years old, even among disciples under 25, the three Daoist sects are still full of talented people!

In the first tournament, the top three were all Daoist disciples, and among the top eight, only two were university students:

One was Wang Fengqing from Wu'an University.

One was a genius student from Moyun University, whose age this year has already exceeded 25, so he cannot participate anymore.

And this year, not only are the three Daoist sects participating, but the Pudu Temple is also participating; this is a millennium-old great sect!

Having obtained the opportunity to appear in public before the world for the first time, the Pudu Temple will certainly send its 'strongest lineup'.

Under these circumstances, the Crown Prince actually said in public that he was optimistic about Li Fei taking the crown?

No matter how much of a 'First in History' he is, he is after all only 18 years old.

"Many thanks, Your Highness."

Li Fei bowed again with a calm expression.

The Crown Prince is actually already over thirty years old, but he is well-maintained and looks young.

The more he looked at the young man before him, the more pleasing he found him.

He had seen too many geniuses who were sharp and arrogant; although he could tolerate the various temperaments of these geniuses, it was rare to see a genius like Li Fei who was humble, low-key, and upright, and the more he looked, the more pleased he felt:

"How about this, I will set another stake for you; if you can take the crown in this tournament, I will take out one of the 'Eight Jin Gang Sections' from the Royal Library and give it to you!"

He could see that Li Fei was practicing Jin Gang Force; since it is Jin Gang Force, the 'Eight Jin Gang Sections' is the most suitable martial art for Li Fei!

Back then, the Pudu Temple handed over four of the 'Eight Jin Gang Sections', and these four are all within the Imperial Palace.

Later, when the twelve universities were established, the Imperial Family gave these four sections to four of the universities respectively.

The Crown Prince knew that Wu'an University had the 'Red Sound Fire Jin Gang Method', and what he wanted to give Li Fei was one of the other three sections.

"Many thanks, Your Highness!"

Li Fei bowed again, and this time there was finally some joy on his face.

He was genuinely happy; this 'business trip' was truly worth it!

"Your Highness."

Just at this moment, True Monarch Qingxu at the main table suddenly spoke:

"Is this stake of Your Highness also effective for others?"

For a top-tier inheritance like the 'Eight Jin Gang Sections', even the Daluo Sect would definitely not complain about having too much.

The Crown Prince turned to look at True Monarch Qingxu and smiled:

"Naturally, it is effective."

These words made a trace of a smile appear on True Monarch Qingxu's face as well:

"Then I will thank Your Highness for your generosity on behalf of the Daluo Sect disciples participating in this tournament."

The implication was that the champion of this tournament certainly belongs to the Daluo Sect!

"Amitabha."

The Luo Han Huikong, who had been quiet all along, suddenly spoke, "Your Highness, what if it is our Buddhist disciples who take the crown?"

The Pudu Temple has the complete 'Eight Jin Gang Sections' inheritance, so naturally, it does not need this stake given by the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince looked at Luo Han Huikong and smiled:

"If a Buddhist disciple takes the crown, they may enter my Royal Library and choose any secret manual."

"Amitabha, this poor monk thanks Your Highness for your generosity on behalf of the Buddhist disciples."

Luo Han Huikong also said so.

The tournament has not even started, and the Buddhist and Daoist families have already begun to clash.

And they have no regard for anyone else!

In the time that followed, the banquet finally returned to normal, and nothing else happened.

True Person Qingxia continued the toast that had been interrupted earlier.

After all the university representatives had toasted True Monarch Qingxu and the Crown Prince one after another, the banquet also neared its end.

Late at night, Li Fei returned to the villa where he was staying with the prizes he had won, and went back to his room.

He opened the wooden box and took out a heavy leather garment with white cloud patterns and golden thread edges.

This is the Cloud Dream Golden Thread Robe, specially provided by the Imperial Family!

Li Fei already had a Level 5 protective garment made from the scales of a Magic Horn Tiger Beast, but that garment was for the 'Azure-Faced Ghost' to wear, and it would not be appropriate for his true self to wear it as well.

Now with this Cloud Dream Golden Thread Robe, the equipment used by his true self is even better than that of the 'Azure-Faced Ghost'.

"If it gets damaged and needs repair, I might have to contact the Crown Prince; this person's style is really fond of putting in effort where it's not noticed."

Li Fei thought while changing out of the Level 5 protective garment he was wearing.

Even Level 6 protective gear will suffer damage, but as long as it is not a large-scale breakage, it can all be repaired.

He had previously worn that scale armor to fight Gu Yuefeng, and after one battle, the scale armor had damage in many places, and it is currently being repaired at the Zhang family.

The craftsmen of the Zhang family had deliberately left behind a portion of the raw materials when making this Level 5 protective garment, specifically for the purpose of repairing the protective garment in the future.

But for this Cloud Dream Golden Thread Robe that Li Fei has obtained, he does not have the raw materials in his hands; only the Imperial Family has them. And among the Imperial Family, the only person he knows is this Crown Prince, so if he wants to repair this protective garment in the future, he will have to take the initiative to contact the other party.

In this way, both sides naturally have the opportunity to establish a private friendship.

Compared to other big shots, this Crown Prince's method of winning people over seems quite detailed and does not make people feel repulsed.

After changing his clothes, Li Fei began to cultivate in his room.

In the following days, everyone began to discuss the specific matters of this Master Wuji Exchange Tournament:

How the tournament system is arranged, how many people everyone can send to participate, how to adjudicate victory or defeat, how to ensure the safety of the participants, the rewards corresponding to each ranking, and so on.

As the organizers of this tournament, the Shangqing Sect and Tianqu University naturally possessed the most say and could strive for more benefits for themselves.

One of the most intuitive advantages, and also a default hidden rule: as the organizers, they can have the most participants.

Regarding these matters, Li Fei left everything to Ke Yan to handle, and he stayed in his room every day to cultivate, basically not going out.

On the third night of staying at the Daluo Sect, Li Fei was performing 'Return to One' cultivation in his room as usual.

Now the progress of 【Shadow Feet】 'Return to One' has been completed by nearly one-fifth; after returning, Li Fei only needs to go into seclusion for five or six days, and he should be able to completely finish this 'Return to One'.

After completing today's 'Return to One', and waiting for his injuries to recover and the 'channel' occupied by the Innate One Qi to stabilize, Li Fei began to cultivate 【Illusion Leaf】.

Out of caution, he first set up an aura-concealing array in the room, then took the medicine and began to visualize...

In a trance, Li Fei arrived in a mist.

"Hmm?"

He was stunned for a moment.

What he was visualizing with his visualization method was clearly a towering tree that could reach the firmament; how did the scene change all of a sudden?

"The box is empty!"

"The box is empty!"

Suddenly, a man's voice came from deep within the mist.

"Who is it?"

Li Fei asked loudly.

"The box is empty!"

The voice coming from deep within the mist just kept repeating this sentence.

Li Fei frowned, quickly calmed down, and began to visualize the 'Red Sound Fire Jin Gang Image'.

The next second, a towering Dharma image of a Jin Gang with angry eyes appeared in the mist.

This Dharma image stood between heaven and earth, its height unknown, tens of thousands of meters!

Roar—

A golden dragon, also ten thousand meters long, appeared, circling around the Dharma image, and the huge Sanskrit chanting completely covered the voice coming from the mist.

The mist continuously dissipated under the shroud of the Buddha light...

On the bed, Li Fei opened his eyes, immediately grasped the Ghost-Slaying Blade placed to the side, and revealed a defensive posture.

He waited quietly in the room for a while, nothing happened, and there was nothing unusual about his body.

"Dream-entry technique?"

Li Fei frowned.

He had cultivated the techniques of the Nightmare Sect, and his 【Illusion Leaf】 had already reached the God-Change stage; by recalling slightly, he could determine that what he had been hit with just now was a 'dream-entry technique'.

This type of technique is the Nightmare Sect's specialty.

"Could it be that someone from the Nightmare Sect has discovered me?"

Li Fei thought to himself.

But he quickly denied this speculation.

If it were really someone from the Nightmare Sect who had already discovered him and knew that their supreme treasure was on him, then the most important thing to do would be to lay out plans in the dark and wait for the opportunity, rather than alerting the enemy in advance like this.

"It's not the Nightmare Sect that discovered me, then who would use a dream-entry technique on me? Why choose me?"

Li Fei fell into deep thought.

But the known information was too little, and he could only speculate that perhaps it was because he had the Dream Order on him, or perhaps it was because he was just cultivating the Nightmare Sect's visualization method, which triggered something.

"The box is empty, what does that mean?"

Li Fei recalled the voice that kept repeating from the mist, still confused.

"Ask Zhao Yi after going back."

In the end, Li Fei decided not to waste time on random speculation.

The Nightmare Sect is good at dream-entry techniques and also good at dream interpretation; he would go back and ask Zhao Yi, and perhaps he would gain something.

On the fifth day, all matters of the Second Master Wuji Exchange Tournament were finally finalized, and Li Fei and the others could finally return.

"The prize for first place in this tournament is a Level 5 protective garment plus a customizable Level 5 exotic weapon!"

On the way back, Ke Yan said to Li Fei:

"The first place in the last tournament only had a Level 5 protective garment; this time there is an additional customizable Level 5 exotic weapon. The Imperial Court is truly generous! Plus the stake promised by the Crown Prince, whoever can take the crown will have made a huge profit!"

PS: Sorry, there was socializing again tonight, so I can only update once today; I will try my best to make up for it tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)