The clouds surged.
A black and gold ship sailed through layers of mist, cutting through the winds and clouds with unstoppable momentum.
Standing on the ship's deck, gazing at the endless clouds beyond the invisible protective barrier, Chen Feng was overwhelmed with emotions. He could hardly believe that one day, he would find himself thousands of meters up in the sky, soaring through the clouds and riding across the heavens.
However, this time, it was aboard the Sky-Patrolling Colossal Ship.
"One day, I'll be able to fly on my own," Chen Feng thought as he recalled the sect envoy in the blue robe. He silently made up his mind.
He then thought about climbing the cloud ladder earlier and couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.
This time, 280 disciples had passed the preliminary screening, but 50 of them were eliminated during the cloud ladder trial. Reflecting on their dejected faces and despondent departures, he felt a complex mix of emotions.
"Chen Feng, I don't care what tricks you used to raise your cultivation to the seventh stage of Body Refining, or what kind of dumb luck got you aboard the Sky-Patrolling Colossal Ship," an icy voice came from behind. Turning around, Chen Feng saw a face filled with cold disdain and disgust, staring at him. "In short, get as far away from me as possible. Just seeing you makes me sick."
"Scram!" Chen Feng glanced at Yang Xuening and replied coldly.
"You…" Yang Xuening almost choked on her rage. She was furious and humiliated. "You're just a piece of trash. You were, you are, and you always will be. Compared to Yunqi, or even me…"
"Shut up!" Chen Feng interrupted coldly, raising his hand and slapping her.
With a loud smack, Yang Xuening's face was whipped to the side so hard her pale neck stretched unnaturally, as if about to snap. Staggering, she nearly fell.
She swayed as she tried to steady herself, feeling a blazing pain on one side of her face that quickly swelled.
"Chen Feng, how dare you hit me! You…" Yang Xuening's face twisted with rage, but when she met Chen Feng's cold, piercing eyes—like looking into the eyes of death—she involuntarily trembled and fell silent. Covering her swollen face, she quickly turned and fled.
"Well, well, brother, that's some ruthless flower-crushing," a teasing voice came from the side.
Chen Feng turned to see a chubby young man in lavish golden attire with narrowed eyes walking over, a look of admiration on his face.
Chen Feng merely nodded in acknowledgment, saying nothing.
"My name is Jin Hongdang, from the Huntian Dao Academy in Hongtian City. May I ask, brother, what's your name and which Dao Academy you're from?" the chubby young man asked again.
"Chen Feng, from the Huntian Dao Academy in Great Xia," Chen Feng replied calmly.
"Brother Chen, care to explain why you just crushed that flower so mercilessly?" Jin Hongdang leaned closer, winking his small, beady eyes with a curious expression.
Just as Chen Feng was about to reply, an unimaginably cold aura fell upon him.
Looking up, Chen Feng saw a pair of icy, hollow eyes staring down at him with an air of superiority, carrying a hint of cruel killing intent.
"Ye Yunqi!"
Chen Feng's gaze sharpened, his eyes like sword tips piercing through everything.
Next to Ye Yunqi stood Yang Xuening, her face full of resentment, but Chen Feng ignored her entirely.
"I spared your pathetic life that day, yet you don't know gratitude," Ye Yunqi said, his empty, cold eyes fixed on Chen Feng. His voice was indifferent. "Kneel down and knock your head on the ground three times. Cut off the hand you used to hit Xuening, and I'll let you live."
"What the hell?!" Jin Hongdang couldn't help but exclaim before Chen Feng could respond.
This was the Sky-Patrolling Colossal Ship, carrying disciples from various Huntian Dao Academies, including elites and geniuses. Being forced to kneel, kowtow, and sever an arm—news like this would spread quickly, and the humiliation would be irreparable.
Such a demand… was nothing short of vicious!
"I used this hand," Chen Feng said with a faint smile, raising his right hand. His sharp eyes locked onto Ye Yunqi. "You can try to cut it off."
"Kill him, Yunqi!" Yang Xuening screamed shrilly, her voice filled with venom, as she clutched the veil covering her swollen face.
"You won't take the chance I've given you. Fine, I'll draw my blade and sever both your arms," Ye Yunqi said coldly as he placed his hand on the hilt of his blade. As the blade emerged an inch from its sheath, a crisp, resonant hum echoed in all directions. A sliver of sharp, icy light sliced through the air, making it hard for anyone to look directly at it.
Chen Feng's gaze focused, a flicker of battle intent rising involuntarily from deep within him. His right hand moved to the hilt of his sword.
In an instant, a chilling killing aura spread in all directions.
Ye Yunqi's hollow eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of surprise flashing within them. He was taken aback by Chen Feng's readiness to confront him but quickly dismissed it as the arrogance of someone ignorant of their own limits. After all, Ye Yunqi was renowned for defeating the academy's top student with a single slash. His strength was considered unmatched in the Body Refining Realm.
A small, mocking smile tugged at Ye Yunqi's lips. For the first time, his usually expressionless face showed a hint of disdain. He took a step forward, the sound like a drumbeat, unleashing a terrifying aura that swept through everything around him.
Chen Feng drew his sword an inch from its sheath, releasing an incredible sharpness that clashed with Ye Yunqi's crushing aura, holding it at bay.
Around them, many disciples were drawn to the commotion, their gazes gathering on the scene.
The Sky-Patrolling Colossal Ship wasn't only carrying disciples from Great Xia's Dao Academy but also from other Huntian Dao Academies. One by one, they watched with expressions of curiosity and amusement.
"This slash… will take your arm!" Ye Yunqi said, his voice cold and calm. He took another step forward, his long blade fully unsheathed, releasing a dazzling brilliance. The air seemed to ripple like waves under his blade, splitting apart as the blade's hum pierced the ears.
The slash was unstoppable, cutting through everything in its path.
Chen Feng's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes sharpened to the extreme. With an explosive burst of energy, his sword left its sheath, unleashing nine consecutive sword shadows as swift as a gale.
Blade and sword collided!
A deafening explosion reverberated, causing everyone's expressions to change. The sound was so intense it felt like it pierced their eardrums. Weaker disciples even felt sharp pain in their foreheads, their faces contorted in discomfort.
The sword shadows and blade light shattered in the clash.
Chen Feng staggered slightly but did not retreat. His sword trembled violently, and half of his energy had been dispersed.
Ye Yunqi also staggered and didn't retreat. However, the arrogance in his expression vanished, replaced by shock.
"You've surprised me," Ye Yunqi said, his sharp eyes scanning Chen Feng as if trying to see through him. "In just one month, you've gone from the third stage of Body Refining to the ninth stage and perfected the Wind Shadow Sword Technique. You must be hiding some grand secret. Hand it over, and I'll spare your life."
"What the hell?!" Jin Hongdang exclaimed again, staring at Chen Feng in shock.
The surrounding disciples also looked at Chen Feng, their expressions changing as their eyes flickered with curiosity and speculation.
"Ye Yunqi, Chen Feng's talent is extraordinary, and he has a unique constitution that allows him to refine and absorb medicinal pills rapidly. His progress in a single month is not surprising," a sharp voice interjected. Li Xinyue stepped forward.
Chen Feng gave her a slight nod, his expression calm, as if acknowledging her statement.
The crowd's restless thoughts seemed to settle somewhat.
"In that case, I won't let you live," Ye Yunqi said coldly. He moved again, his speed increasing as he took three steps forward. His long blade created nine shadows, each one heavier and more oppressive than the last, slicing through the air.
Chen Feng took a deep breath, gathering his strength once more.
"Stop!" A thunderous voice roared like rolling thunder. Two powerful gusts of wind shot through the air, striking Ye Yunqi's blade and Chen Feng's sword. The force was so immense that their weapons nearly flew from their hands.
"No fighting aboard the Sky-Patrolling Colossal Ship. Violators will be expelled."
Ye Yunqi and Chen Feng glared at each other, their eyes filled with undisguised killing intent.
Both sheathed their weapons.
Ye Yunqi turned and left.
Yang Xuening cast a venomous glare at Chen Feng before begrudgingly following Ye Yunqi.
"They didn't even get to fight it out…" the onlookers murmured in disappointment as they dispersed.
"Brother Chen, you're incredible. A ninth-stage Body Refining cultivator going toe-to-toe with someone at the peak of the same realm without losing. That's no small feat," Jin Hongdang said, giving Chen Feng a thumbs up.
Chen Feng raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Brother Chen, don't be fooled by my small eyes. They're quite perceptive. I can see through people at the same level as me," Jin Hongdang said, pointing to his beady eyes with a grin. "Come, Brother Chen, let me tell you about all the remarkable talents aboard this Sky-Patrolling Colossal Ship."
[--------------------------------------------]
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