The Godslaying Tower: An Isekai LitRPG Adventure: The Godslaying Tower, #2

By Nangong Yuan Jing

Demons from beyond suddenly invaded the realm of the gods, catching them off guard and resulting in heavy losses. 

In the face of this crisis, the gods joined forces to create a divine weapon, the Godslaying Tower, and under the leadership of the God of War, the deities finally repelled the invasion of the demons after a thousand years.

With the aid of the Godslaying Tower, the power of the God of War far surpassed that of the other gods. Fearful of his dominance, the gods banded together to launch a surprise attack. In a fit of rage, the God of War destroyed the Godslaying Tower.

Tens of thousands of years later, a young man named Gu Feng accidentally brought the Godslaying Tower back into the light. But now, it was known as the God-Slaying Tower!

This is the book 2 in the series "The Godslaying Tower".

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zhou Yan
• Release date: Apr 5, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224967209

Book preview

Chapter 84: The Guardian of the Beauty

The Purple Cloud Academy occupies an enormous area, situated outside Imperial City.

In the early morning, the entire Imperial City sprang into action. Streams of carriages and throngs of people all surged towards the eastern gate, where the Purple Cloud Academy was located.

Riding on a horse, Gu Feng tragically found himself following behind Yun Yao’s carriage, effectively becoming her guardian.

Hearing the occasional burst of giggles from the carriage, Gu Feng couldn’t help but curl his lips. In just two short days of acquaintance, Su Siyuan had showered Yun Yao with such attentiveness that she was all smiles, blissfully unaware of her surroundings.

Indeed, it was Su Siyuan who now sat in the carriage, accompanying Yun Yao.

A gentleman’s pursuit of a graceful lady was to be expected. To say Gu Feng wasn’t jealous would be a lie. However, what worried him more was the fear that Yun Yao was being deceived. He always felt that Su Siyuan was up to no good, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly why.

The wheels rolled on, with the sounds of people and horses filling the air. Looking ahead, the dense crowd stretched far into the distance, with no end in sight.

An hour later, the carriage finally stopped. A vast square appeared before everyone’s eyes, with the crowd stopping at the periphery. Directly opposite stood the grand and sprawling Purple Cloud Academy, its majestic architecture embodying the royal grace.

A stone monument, thirty feet tall, stood at the entrance of the academy. At this moment, it was surrounded by many people, with exclamations of surprise and laughter occasionally rising from the crowd. Some individuals turned back dejectedly, while others entered the academy’s gates with heads held high and chests puffed out.

Su Siyuan disembarked from the carriage and, turning around, lifted the curtain to assist a bashful Yun Yao down. The two of them exchanged a few words in low tones and then walked side by side across the square towards the academy.

Completely forgotten was the person following behind, Gu Feng!

Being ignored always feels unpleasant, especially for a young man experiencing the first pangs of love, overlooked by a woman as beautiful as a celestial being. Who could understand the bitterness of such an experience?

With a gloomy face, Gu Feng slowly made his way forward.

Young man, come here.

A sudden low shout interrupted the silence, emanating from inside the carriage.

Senior, are you talking to me? Gu Feng was a little uncertain. The old man in the carriage had a perpetual frown on his face and rarely spoke, not even to Yun Yao.

Why would he suddenly take the initiative to speak to him?

Nonsense! Get in.

Gu Feng boarded the carriage, and the old man remained huddled in the corner, motionless. Suddenly, he opened his eyes, and his dull pupils flashed with a sharp light that sent a shiver down Gu Feng’s spine.

Senior, what are your instructions? Gu Feng felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. He couldn’t sit or stand comfortably and only hoped that the old man would finish speaking quickly so that he could leave.

That boy is up to no good. The voice was old but forceful, clearly expressing the old man’s displeasure.

Ah? Gu Feng didn’t understand who the old man was referring to at first.

The old man said again, That boy, there’s an evil glint in his eyes.

It was then that Gu Feng had a sudden realization. The old man was talking about Su Siyuan. After careful consideration, he finally understood what was wrong with Su Siyuan—his eyes!

Every time he looked at Yun Yao, even though Su Siyuan deliberately tried to hide it, there would always be a brief moment when his gaze made others feel uncomfortable. There was an evil aura in Su Siyuan’s eyes.

Then why don’t you tell Yun Yao? Gu Feng was a little puzzled. Yun Yao treated the old man with great respect and should listen to his words.

Alas! The old man let out a light sigh, looking even more aged. It’s useless. If I told her, she wouldn’t listen.

Then why are you telling me... Gu Feng was even more puzzled.

The old man said indifferently, I want you to protect her. I can’t enter the Purple Cloud Academy, but you can.

You think too highly of me. Gu Feng gave a wry smile. There are countless people here, and only two hundred will be admitted. It’s too difficult.

Gu Feng had been full of confidence earlier, but now, seeing the situation before him, he was no longer so sure. There were probably over a hundred thousand people participating in the examination.

These individuals were prodigies gathered from all over the Red Cloud Kingdom, striving to stand out among them, a daunting challenge!

The old man’s eyes sparkled as he said in a deep voice, If someone who has comprehended Sword Intent is not qualified to enter Purple Cloud Academy, then who is?

Alright! Gu Feng replied nonchalantly. Since you have such confidence in me, I’ll do my best.

I need you to ensure her safety, allowing no mishaps!

Suddenly, the old man radiated an imposing aura, locking onto Gu Feng with his qi, making the air in the carriage seem to be sucked away. Gu Feng’s breathing quickened as he hurriedly mobilized his Yuan energy to counteract it, thinking to himself, This old fellow is formidable, probably not just an ordinary True Realm Martial Artist.

Can you do it? the old man barked, causing Gu Feng’s body to jolt and his Yuan energy to scatter. Just as he started to feel a bit better, the oppressive force came bearing down on him again.

Enraged, Gu Feng retorted, If you want her protected, go do it yourself. I’m not at your beck and call.

The old man’s expression turned coldly furious, his qi locking onto Gu Feng and pressing down hard. Gu Feng felt as if he was being hit by a tidal wave, his internal Yuan energy restrained by the old man once again, rendering him immobile and forcing him to grit his teeth and endure.

Blood rushed to his head, threatening to split it open. With a muffled groan, he spat out a mouthful of blood, which made him feel slightly better. The old man showed no signs of stopping, Gu Feng’s complexion turned red, and his body twisted.

With an angry glare at the old man, Gu Feng made up his mind not to compromise, even at the cost of his life. Having endured much humiliation since childhood, he had developed a disposition that resisted coercion.

Had the old man kindly requested his help, Gu Feng would not have refused. Now, faced with coercion, Gu Feng would rather die than submit.

What would make you agree?

Suddenly, the old man’s imposing aura vanished, and he curled up in the corner once again as if he had never moved.

Gu Feng, relieved, greedily breathed in the air, casting a cold glance at the old man and angrily said, It’s too late now, unless you kneel down and beg me!

The old man’s face turned grim, and a fleeting intent to kill in his eyes made Gu Feng shiver, suppressing the fear in his heart, he coldly locked eyes with the old man.

Fine! the old man said indifferently. If you fail, even if you flee to the ends of the earth, I will kill you.

Saying this, the old man abruptly stood up and knelt straight down before Gu Feng.

What are you doing? Gu Feng was taken aback, having blurted out in anger, he hadn’t expected the old man to actually kneel. He dodged quickly, unable and unwilling to accept such a gesture.

I’m begging you, please protect Yun Yao. The old man moved slightly, addressing Gu Feng.

Please, get up, Gu Feng urged.

Agree to my request, and I will stand.

Alright, alright, I agree! Now, please get up!

A True Realm powerhouse kneeling to a Spirit Realm martial artist was something Gu Feng couldn’t comprehend. Why?

The old man paused for a moment before slowly saying, I’ve never married in my life. I followed her into the Duke’s Mansion, and as the saying goes, entering the duke’s household is as deep as the sea. Not long after Yao Yatou was born, she passed away in melancholy.

At this point, the old man paused, his expression filled with endless sorrow, When she left, she just looked at me, wordlessly. How could I not understand? She was worried about Yao Yatou, afraid to trouble me, unwilling to voice her concerns.

I told her, as long as I live, I would not let Yao Yatou suffer the slightest grievance from anyone. At that moment, she smiled, fell asleep, and never woke up again.

I stayed in the Duke’s Mansion, always protecting Yao Yatou. I watched her grow up bit by bit. Although she is a princess, to me, she is my child. I will protect her with my life, not allowing anyone to harm her. Absolutely no one!

Her nature isn’t bad, just a bit spoiled, unable to distinguish between good and evil in this world. Therefore, I hope you can protect her well. I earnestly beg you.

Can you promise me this?

Gu Feng nodded solemnly. The old man’s deep affection was palpable, how could Gu Feng refuse?

Take this, it will help you. The old man gestured, and a storage pouch appeared before Gu Feng.

Gu Feng said lightly, My agreement isn’t because of these things.

I understand! The old man nodded. This isn’t repayment, it’s to help you protect her better.

Chapter 85: The Youth Yuan Fei

Gu Feng stepped off the horse carriage, no longer seeing Yun Yao’s figure. He shook his head with a wry smile, realizing that being a protector is no easy task!

In just a short while, the queue for the assessment had stretched long. Gu Feng went to the end of the line and waited patiently. Some entered the gate joyfully, while others left the square with gloomy faces. The assessment proceeded in an orderly manner.

By the time the sun was high in the sky, it was finally Gu Feng’s turn.

The person in front of him was a youth named Yuan Fei, sixteen years old, at the fourth level of the Spirit Realm. In the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, he would definitely be considered a key figure for cultivation, but here in this crowd, he was unremarkable.

In front of the stele, there was a table with a gray-clothed old man seated behind it. He was as thin as a rake, seemingly capable of being blown away by a mere breeze. However, his piercing eyes occasionally glanced around, making everyone understand that this elder was not to be underestimated.

Next.

Yuan Fei approached nervously and bowed respectfully to the elder.

The elder looked up at Yuan Fei, his expression softening slightly as he said calmly, Use all your strength to strike the stele. No martial skills are allowed.

The stele was thirty feet high, its black material indiscernible. It seemed to function similarly to the Yuan Force Stele of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, though only one-third as tall.

Yuan Fei took a light step forward, shouted lowly, and punched towards the stele. A milky white light instantly rose, reaching up to ten feet before dissipating.

Yuan Fei shook his head in disappointment, clearly unsatisfied with his punch.

The elder frowned slightly, somewhat disappointed, and glanced at Yuan Fei before suddenly saying, Go in.

Ah? Yuan Fei seemed somewhat incredulous, quickly responding, Thank you, senior. He bowed respectfully and sprinted into the gates of Purple Cloud Academy.

Gu Feng was speechless, noting that it seemed like special leniency was given.

Next, the elder continued calmly.

Gu Feng stepped forward, not needing further instruction from the elder, and stood in front of the stele. Calming his heart, he knew he must succeed and not fail, and gave it his all.

Begin!

Activating his cultivation technique, his Yuan force surged like a roaring river through his meridians. Now! Gu Feng shouted and threw a punch at the stele. The Yuan force hit the stele, disappearing without a trace like a clay bull entering the sea.

Ah!

A light flashed, and the crowd gasped. The milky white light surged upwards, soaring high, and just as it was about to exceed ten feet, it stopped.

Heavens! It’s almost ten feet, that’s the strength of a level eight Spirit Realm martial artist.

How is that possible? He’s only at level six of the Spirit Realm. Did he use a martial skill?

Yes, he must have used a martial skill. He dared to cheat at the entrance of Purple Cloud Academy, he’s finished.

The elder glanced at Gu Feng in surprise. No one dared to cheat during the Purple Cloud Academy assessment, and he could sense that the young man before him had not used a martial skill.

A level six Spirit Realm martial artist whose pure Yuan force attack was comparable to that of a level eight Spirit Realm martial artist was a rare and promising talent. He hoped that he was not sent by those people.

What is your name? Where are you from? The elder coldly glanced at the noisy crowd, which immediately fell silent.

Gu Feng respectfully said, Junior Gu Feng, from Pan Stone Town.

Pan Stone Town? The elder muttered in a low voice, frowning in thought. After a moment, he asked, Is it the Pan Stone Town near Yu Mountain?

Gu Feng nodded, That’s right.

Hm, you may enter. With that, the elder lowered his head and wrote on the paper.

Gu Feng, seventeen years old, level six Spirit Realm, Yuan force comparable to that of a level eight Spirit Realm martial artist, from Pan Stone Town. At the end, there was a large Investigate note.

The crowd looked at Gu Feng’s back with respect. Not everyone who passed the test would be recorded by the elder. Up until now, there were only five names on the white paper in front of the elder.

Gu Feng was one of them.

Purple Cloud! Two golden characters hung above the entrance of the academy, vigorous and powerful, with flowing strokes that seemed ready to leap into the air.

As soon as he stepped through the entrance, he saw a young man and woman walking out dejectedly. Gu Feng couldn’t help but smile bitterly. It was really unreasonable for Purple Cloud Academy to not set the second stage outside the gate. To let people enter the gate and then walk out again was surely a blow to their martial spirit.

Continuing forward, the scene inside the gate was a world of its own. Lush ancient trees lined both sides of the path, and there was only one way to go, so there was no need to worry about getting lost. After passing through several gates and walls, he arrived at an open space.

In the open space, there was also a table, with a gray-clothed elder seated behind it. There were over ten people queuing in front of the table, and five jade pillars were placed on it. At this moment, a young girl in red held a red jade pillar in her hand. A faint red light rose and turned crimson, reflecting on the girl’s face, making her happy expression even more beautiful.

A smile appeared on the thin elder’s face as he nodded and said, Good, you may enter. Next.

Gu Feng came to the end of the line, the person in front of him being Yuan Fei.

Brother Gu, I knew you would definitely be able to get in. Yuan Fei said with a smile.

Hearing this, the gray-clothed elder swept a cold gaze over the crowd and indifferently said, Any more noise, and out you go!

Yuan Fei was immediately frightened and stuck out his tongue at Gu Feng. Gu Feng gave a small smile and nodded to show he understood.

The following tests seemed to be much more difficult. As everyone stepped forward and held the jade pillars, the light they emitted caused the gray-clothed elder to frown even more.

In just a moment, out of the fifteen people who were ahead of Yuan Fei, only two passed, and all the others were sent out.

When it was Yuan Fei’s turn, Gu Feng, who was standing behind him, felt Yuan Fei tremble nervously. Gu Feng placed a hand on Yuan Fei’s shoulder and patted it lightly. When Yuan Fei turned his head, Gu Feng gave him an encouraging look.

Your turn. The gray-clothed elder said impatiently.

Walking towards the table, Yuan Fei slowly reached out his hand to the white jade pillar but found that his Yuan force had no reaction when he activated it. Next, he reached out to the green jade pillar, but it was still the same.

Yuan Fei paused, wiped away the sweat from his palms, and reached out to the blue jade pillar. However, there was still no reaction.

At this moment, the gray-clothed elder’s eyes lit up, and a hint of anticipation appeared on his face. When he looked at Gu Feng, who was standing behind Yuan Fei, he became puzzled. There was no reaction, but the gray-clothed elder seemed to be paying more attention.

Yuan Fei was on the verge of tears and tremblingly reached out to the red jade pillar, but as if it were a pool of stagnant water, there was no reaction even after Yuan force had entered it.

The gray-clothed elder’s gaze intensified and Yuan Fei’s tears started welling up in his eyes.

Continue!

The gray-clothed elder’s gaze turned to the last yellow jade pillar, his voice leaving no room for doubt.

When Yuan Fei’s hand grasped the yellow jade pillar, the pillar suddenly shook and a yellow light shot up into the sky, turning from a pale orange to orange and then to golden yellow.

The golden yellow light illuminated Yuan Fei’s face, and the tears he was holding back finally fell.

The gray-clothed elder stared blankly at the yellow light shooting up into the sky. After a long while, he turned to look at Yuan Fei with a forced smile on his indifferent face. In a soft voice, he said, Are you willing to take me as your master? There was a hint of tremble in his voice.

Ah? The gray-clothed elder’s expression startled Yuan Fei, but he immediately realized this was an opportunity and quickly nodded. Yes, disciple is willing.

Good! The gray-clothed elder stared fixedly at Yuan Fei, satisfied with this newly accepted disciple from head to toe. Stand behind me, and you don’t need to participate in the remaining tests.

Chapter 86: Five Elements Waste Body

Finally, it was Gu Feng’s turn. He stepped forward and looked at the five jade pillars on the table with a dazed expression. Although he did not know what they were, he could vaguely guess that they were related to his talent.

Your turn. After accepting Yuan Fei as his disciple, the gray-clothed elder was in a good mood and even looked at Gu Feng more favorably.

Gu Feng activated his Yuan force, and the white jade pillar emitted a faint light that dissipated in the blink of an eye. Seeing the gray-clothed elder’s indifferent gaze, Gu Feng understood that he was not satisfied with his performance.

Next, he reached out and grasped the green jade pillar. A green light flashed and then dissipated, just like before, except for the different color of the light emitted.

The gray-clothed elder looked up and, with interest, gestured for Gu Feng to continue.

The blue jade pillar emitted a faint blue light, and the corners of the gray-clothed elder’s mouth twitched with a hint of mischief.

Gu Feng’s heart tightened inexplicably. The situation was not good, but now that things had come to this, he could only continue.

The red light flashed and disappeared, and the gray-clothed elder’s smile grew even wider. The disdain in his eyes was so clear that even the people behind Gu Feng could see it.

When the earthy yellow light rose, the gray-clothed elder finally laughed out loud. Hahaha! Complete Five Elements, a rare sight to behold in a hundred years. You’ve really opened my eyes.

Gu Feng’s heart sank when he heard this, while Yuan Fei, who was standing behind the gray-clothed elder, was overjoyed. He exclaimed, Brother Gu is indeed amazing. He has complete Five Elements. I’ve never seen it before.

What do you know! The gray-clothed elder roared, then realized that it was his precious disciple who had spoken, and quickly smiled. My good disciple, you don’t understand. This complete Five Elements can be both good and bad.

If it is a body of five virtues, then it is a natural wonder. Let alone once in a hundred years, you may not even see one in a thousand years.

But if all five elements are so weak, then it is trash. Think about it, ordinary people need to cultivate for a year, while you need several times that amount of time. With such talent, can you have a future in Martial Path?

Yuan Fei was anxious when he heard this. Master, Brother Gu is already at level six of the Spirit Realm. How can his cultivation be slow?

That’s exactly what I can’t figure out. The gray-clothed elder said to Gu Feng indifferently, Have you taken any rare treasures?

Gu Feng said, Junior was fortunate enough to have taken a thousand-year-old longan fruit and a Purple Yuan Fruit.

Oh! The gray-clothed elder nodded. No wonder. I would have said that your talent would have been good enough to reach your current cultivation level. It’s just a pity about those Spirit Fruits.

Uh... Gu Feng was speechless and thought, I came here to take the assessment, not to be ridiculed.

The gray-clothed elder waved his hand and said, You can leave now.

Is that it? He didn’t really care about whether or not he could enter Purple Cloud Academy, but being rejected always made people feel hopeless. Could his talent really be that bad?

Master, isn’t there any other way? Yuan Fei looked at the gray-clothed elder anxiously.

The gray-clothed elder glared at Yuan Fei in dissatisfaction and said, Do you think I have the final say in Purple Cloud Academy? Besides, even if he passes this level, there is still another level after this. Without the strength of the latter stage of the Spirit Realm, it is impossible to pass the last level.

Master, if you take Brother Gu as your disciple, won’t he be able to skip the last level? Yuan Fei pleaded.

Nonsense! The gray-clothed elder shouted angrily. Taking him as my disciple would ruin my reputation. Do you think I accept just anyone?

Gu Feng said indifferently, Forget it, Brother Yuan. I appreciate your kindness, but if fate allows, we will meet again in the future.

With the Godslaying Tower in hand, Gu Feng did not believe that he could not create his own world. Why should he beg for help here? He turned around and was about to leave.

Wait! Seeing that Gu Feng was about to leave, Yuan Fei hurriedly stopped him and said to the gray-clothed elder seriously, Master, if Brother Gu leaves, I will leave too!

You, you, you! The gray-clothed elder stood up abruptly and pointed at Yuan Fei, unable to speak for a moment.

After a long while, the gray-clothed elder sighed and said, Forget it. I will make an exception for the sake of my disciple and let you pass this level.

However, if you are eliminated in the last level, don’t blame me.

The gray-clothed elder looked at Yuan Fei. These words seemed to be addressed to Gu Feng, but they were actually meant for Yuan Fei.

Thank you, Master. Yuan Fei bowed to the gray-clothed elder.

Go, go! The gray-clothed elder waved his hand impatiently.

Gu Feng nodded at Yuan Fei and continued walking towards Purple Cloud Academy. He hadn’t expected to pass the second round in such a manner. Was this a form of nepotism?

He chuckled ruefully to himself. If it weren’t for Yun Yao, he might have left already. But having promised someone, how could he simply let go?

Before long, a spacious plaza appeared in front of Gu Feng. There were about three hundred people scattered across the plaza, sitting in groups of twos and threes. Directly opposite the plaza was a platform with a row of empty chairs placed on it.

So far, only these three hundred people had made it through the selection process, indicating the difficulty of the challenge. Even at this point, it remained uncertain how many would ultimately stay.

Brother Gu, over here.

While Gu Feng was looking around, a voice called out to him. Turning towards the sound, he saw that it was Su Siyuan. At that moment, Su Siyuan was sitting with a man in black, waving cheerfully at Gu Feng.

Regardless of the reason, Su Siyuan had helped him out at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Moreover, Gu Feng was not one to easily refuse others. He promptly walked over to Su Siyuan.

Isn’t Princess Yun here? Gu Feng asked immediately upon noticing Yun Yao’s absence.

A flicker of disdain briefly crossed Su Siyuan’s eyes as he smiled and said, With Princess Yun’s status, she doesn’t need to go through the assessment and naturally doesn’t have to wait here.

Brother Su, who is this?

The man in black, well aware of Su Siyuan’s aloof nature, realized that anyone Su Siyuan addressed as a brother must either come from an impressive background or possess exceptional talent. He was keen on making Gu Feng’s acquaintance.

I was remiss, Su Siyuan replied with a smile. This is a distinguished disciple from Ten Thousand Swords Sect, Gu Feng. Brother Gu, this is Xiao Wenshan, Brother Xiao. You two should get to know each other.

Ten Thousand Swords Sect? Xiao Wenshan’s brows slightly furrowed.

In the Red Cloud Kingdom, Ten Thousand Swords Sect was considered a mid-level sect, its reputation stronger than its actual strength. This was mainly because it was composed entirely of sword cultivators, a rarity across the entirety of Yunzhou, thus making it well-known.

In Xiao Wenshan’s view, Ten Thousand Swords Sect was far from matching the status of the Xiao Family or the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, and Gu Feng’s cultivation level at the sixth level of the Spirit Realm meant that his background and strength were merely decent, but not enough to be considered his equal.

He merely nodded faintly at Gu Feng. If not for Su Siyuan’s sake, he wouldn’t have even bothered to greet him.

Sensing Xiao Wenshan’s indifference, Gu Feng smiled casually as a greeting. He didn’t care much for such attitudes and had no intention of making an effort to connect. Settling down, he quietly awaited the final challenge.

Chapter 87: Epiphany

Waiting always dragged on, and cultivators were no exception.

After five days of waiting, the number of people in the plaza had swelled to over two thousand, half of whom were Spirit Realm late-stage cultivators. Gu Feng’s brow creased even deeper. The splendor of the outside world had taken him by surprise.

He wasn’t afraid, merely reflecting on how ridiculous his former complacency about his cultivation level had been. If it weren’t for Yuan Fei’s intercession, he might not even have been qualified to enter this place.

Of the more than two thousand people gathered here, many surpassed him in cultivation level.

Over the past five days, Su Siyuan had gradually been joined by seven others. Their expressions were all the same: their strength was exceptional. Gu Feng felt like an odd one out in this little clique, with his inferior cultivation level and humble background.

If they knew that Gu Feng had even lost his status as a disciple of Ten Thousand Swords Sect, it was hard to say how they would react.

People with similar interests naturally gravitated towards each other. Gu Feng was excluded from the clique. When Su Siyuan occasionally mentioned him, he was met with derision and instant silence.

It had to be said that in general, these children of aristocratic families had good breeding. Even though they were displeased, they at least maintained a facade of courtesy.

Gu Feng likewise couldn’t be bothered to pay them any mind. He took the opportunity to reflect on all that he had gained over the past month.

Ever since Jian Xiong had left that day, Gu Feng’s month-long journey on foot had given him a deeper understanding of the Eight Wind Riding Variations. The wind was the movement of air, elusive and intangible. It was omnipresent, an unseen companion.

Walking against the wind met with the resistance of the air, naturally requiring greater effort. With the wind at one’s back, people could borrow its force to conserve their strength and move faster.

How could one grasp the true meaning of the wind and assimilate oneself into it?

Gu Feng pondered long and hard.

A gentle breeze blew by. Gu Feng’s long hair fluttered in the wind, brushing against his face like a pair of warm, caressing hands, and slipped through his fingers.

His thoughts seemed to drift away with the breeze. His entire being sank into emptiness. At that moment, he felt himself dancing along with the breeze. His eyes closed, yet it was as if he had sprouted an invisible pair of eyes. Wherever the breeze traveled, it was vividly presented in his mind.

The wind was his eyes. He was the wind.

He became intoxicated by this feeling.

After an unknown amount of time, the wind stopped. Unbeknownst to the others present in the plaza, another gust of wind began to blow from in front of Gu Feng.

Su Siyuan was the first to notice. His gaze would often inadvertently sweep over Gu Feng, who was sitting cross-legged. He had been sitting there for three whole days. Was he truly cultivating, or was he merely putting on a show to avoid the others’ contemptuous gazes?

All of a sudden, a gust of wind centered on Gu Feng swept out in all directions. Su Siyuan’s pupils contracted abruptly. He stared fixedly at Gu Feng, his heart filled with astonishment. What is he doing?

Xiao Wenshan noticed that Su Siyuan’s expression had changed. He followed Su Siyuan’s gaze and was similarly taken aback. These children of aristocratic families had been exposed to more things than ordinary people since they were young, so their horizons were naturally broader.

He had also detected Gu Feng’s strange state. This was an epiphany, a realm that cultivators yearned for. It was a rare occurrence in the life of an ordinary cultivator.

Epiphanies were like a watershed, separating different worlds. Each epiphany represented a qualitative improvement for a cultivator.

Gu Feng had actually encountered such an opportunity?

Xiao Wenshan was shocked. He was a genius of the younger generation in the Xiao Family. Even the most outstanding person in the Xiao Family had only experienced an epiphany once, at the age of twenty.

How old was Gu Feng?

More and more people noticed the strange phenomenon, as the wind was blowing from one specific point in all directions. Everyone present was a Spirit Realm cultivator, and they quickly discovered the source.

They saw a youth in azure robes sitting cross-legged, his hair and beard flowing in the wind. His eyes were tightly shut, as if he were completely unaware of what was happening around him.

Who is he? He’s actually experiencing an epiphany here.

I’ve seen him before. His name is Gu Feng. He sent the Yuan Force Stele tremors to nearly three zhang, but his cultivation level is only at the sixth level of the Spirit Realm.

What a pity. If only his cultivation level were a bit higher, he would have been able to pass this final round.

The originally quiet plaza became clamorous. All eyes were on Gu Feng.

At that moment, Su Siyuan’s handsome face turned ashen. His ruthless gaze fell upon Gu Feng. He was the Third Young Master of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. His status was extremely distinguished, and even ordinary members of the Imperial Clan treated him with respect.

He was accustomed to everyone revolving around him. His illustrious family background, handsome appearance, and exceptional talent made him the envy of all.

However, Gu Feng’s appearance had now stolen his thunder. Yun Yao was about to be his, but Gu Feng’s persistence filled him with disgust. If Yun Yao were to see the current scene, would she switch her affections to Gu Feng instead?

Su Siyuan didn’t know, but he knew that he could not lose to a country bumpkin.

Gu Brothers, are you alright!?

Su Siyuan shouted, his voice filled with Yuan force fluctuations, rolling towards Gu Feng.

Pu!

Gu Feng, who had been immersed in that state, suddenly awoke. His Yuan force surged, and the Qi and blood in his chest churned violently. He felt extremely uncomfortable, and only after spitting out a mouthful of blood did he feel somewhat better.

He coldly swept a glance at Su Siyuan and activated his cultivation technique to stabilize the riotous Yuan force within his body. Although Gu Feng didn’t know that he had been experiencing an epiphany, he could vaguely feel that the state he had been in earlier was extremely rare, and he had greatly benefited from it. If not for Su Siyuan’s interruption, he would have gained even more.

He didn’t know what he had done to offend Su Siyuan to make him act so viciously!

Are you alright? I have some healing pills here. As he spoke, he stood up and walked towards Gu Feng. He flipped his palm and handed over a jade bottle.

Gu Feng opened his eyes, his face expressionless. He said indifferently, Thank you for your kindness, Brother Su. I will remember it forever.

Upon hearing this, a trace of anger flashed across Su Siyuan’s face. He awkwardly retracted his hand and said with a forced smile, It’s good that you’re alright. Why should you and I be so polite with each other?

When Su Siyuan returned to his seat, he immediately realized what a foolish thing he had done. To behave in such a manner in front of so many people, the looks of disdain that were directed at him converged into a torrent that threatened to drown him. Even the gazes of Xiao Wenshan and the others beside him were filled with incomprehension, confusion, and disdain.

It’s all because of him!

Su Siyuan gnashed his teeth and cast a vicious glance at Gu Feng. If not for him, how could he have done such a stupid thing and invited everyone’s scorn?

It was too late to say anything now. It was a done deal that couldn’t be undone.

Suddenly, a group of people walked towards the viewing platform. The crowd’s attention shifted and fell upon the newcomers. Su Siyuan instantly relaxed, as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Those gazes had made him feel like thorns were stabbing into his back, restless and anxious.

Look, it’s the Second Prince.

The Eighth Prince is here too. It seems that this assessment is quite important.

The appearance of this group caused the originally quiet plaza to become clamorous. In particular, the Second Prince and Eighth Prince among them became the talk of the crowd.

As to which prince was more outstanding, the debate was endless!

Chapter 88: A Forceful Retreat

In the Red Cloud Kingdom, the Great Emperor had numerous offspring, with the eldest prince being eliminated early from the center of power due to his mediocre talents, contenting himself with being a peaceful prince.

The Second Prince naturally became the most powerful contender for the throne, with other princes of mediocre talent posing no threat to him. That was until the dramatic rise of the Eighth Prince, which instilled a strong sense of crisis in the Second Prince.

The Emperor of the Red Cloud Kingdom, having lived past seventy, might be considered of venerable age by ordinary standards, but for a True Realm Martial Artist, this was the prime of his life. He was content to watch the competition for the throne between the Second Prince and others, to see who was more worthy of his position.

The Emperor