Chapter 139: The Heavenly Emperor's Ancient Teaching Ground – Enlightenment Mats

Chapter 139: The Heavenly Emperor's Ancient Teaching Ground – Enlightenment Mats

"Senior Brother Chen is mighty!"

"Senior Brother Chen is invincible!"

The disciples of the Huntian Sect raised their arms and cheered, their voices so thunderous they seemed capable of shaking the palace dome. The scene was nothing short of astonishing.

In stark contrast, the expressions of others were grim, especially those from Tianyuan Sacred Land, who looked utterly dejected.

A single Chen Feng had suppressed them to the point of suffocation, making it nearly impossible for them to lift their heads.

An involuntary shadow loomed over their hearts.

Han Daoling shot Chen Feng a resentful glare before turning and leaving.

Chen Feng's gaze swept across the area, landing on Xiahou Ba, who was peeking from a distance. His eyes lit up, and just as he was about to step forward, Xiahou Ba turned and vanished without hesitation.

"Eh…" Chen Feng blinked in surprise before spotting Ling Zhan nearby. A faint smile curved his lips. "Ling—"

But Ling Zhan, too, turned and disappeared in an instant.

Chen Feng couldn't help but grin with amusement.

How interesting.

This journey was becoming more and more fascinating.

Filled with awe, the crowd dispersed to continue their search for opportunities.

Though the Dao Field palace was vast, with over a thousand sub-halls, it would eventually be thoroughly explored.

Most people soon gathered at the central area of the palace.

There stood an enormous hall, its doors wide open, revealing rows of elevated platforms adorned with mats woven from golden threads. The mats shimmered with radiant light, faint runes flickering in and out of existence as Dao Rhyme coiled around them.

A single glance was enough to send tremors through one's spirit, as if enlightenment was within reach.

"The true Dao Field… the place where the Heavenly Emperor once imparted his teachings…"

"It's said that not every appearance of the Heavenly Emperor's Dao Field grants access to this place. The last time it emerged in the Central Land, it lasted only three days—far too brief for anyone to enter and seize this great opportunity…"

"This is incredible! Just by entering and sitting on an Enlightenment Mat, one can listen to the Heavenly Emperor's teachings. Rumor has it that the mats form their own miniature worlds, where time flows differently from the outside."

"Don’t get ahead of yourself. At most, you’ll hear echoes of the past Dao Chant and sense its lingering Dao Rhyme."

"Even that is extraordinary! After all, in the past, only the most elite Saints were deemed worthy of listening to the Heavenly Emperor’s teachings…"

Gasps of excitement erupted one after another, igniting a feverish anticipation in everyone’s hearts.

In the next moment, figures surged forward, charging toward the true Dao Field.

Yet, as they rushed toward the seemingly open entrance, an invisible force repelled them. Their bodies collided with the barrier, sending ripples through the air before a powerful rebound sent them flying backward.

"What’s going on?"

"Has it not opened yet?"

"No… this must be another trial."

As someone spoke, they struck out with a fist, unleashing their full power against the invisible barrier.

A deafening boom echoed as the barrier trembled, retaliating with even greater force. The attacker was flung back, coughing up blood.

To listen to the remnants of the Heavenly Emperor’s Dao Chant and comprehend its Dao Rhyme was no simple feat. Without sufficient strength, how could one hope to enter?

The Heavenly Emperor had left this pocket realm and Dao Field as an opportunity for the younger generation of Linghuang Domain—but that didn’t mean it would be handed out freely.

These remaining opportunities did not appear out of thin air—they require consumption.

When mediocrities and geniuses receive the same opportunities, the ultimate achievements of geniuses will always surpass those of mediocrities.

Given this, why waste additional resources to nurture mediocrities for no reason?

Is cultivating a hundred or even a thousand mediocrities more rewarding than nurturing a single genius?

Moreover, transforming a mediocrity into a genius—or even a peerless prodigy—would undoubtedly demand even more resources. First, one would have to defy fate and reshape their very essence, akin to turning a pig into a dragon. The cost of such a transformation would be staggering.

One after another, they made their attempts, yet all failed.

Following the guidance, Chen Feng strode forward.

At the sight of Chen Feng, the crowd instinctively retreated. The Sword Pressure radiating from him was overwhelmingly oppressive, suffocating those nearby.

Countless gazes converged upon him.

With a calm expression, Chen Feng extended his fingers like a sword and lightly traced a line forward. A razor-sharp aura flickered at his fingertips.

The invisible barrier that had thwarted dozens of cultivators was instantly split open by a crack.

Without hesitation, Chen Feng stepped through the fissure and entered the true Dao Field.

The onlookers gasped in shock.

"Without even drawing his sword…"

"This is utterly disheartening."

For a moment, the gathered prodigies were deeply demoralized.

However, soon after, others also breached the invisible barrier and stepped into the true Dao Field—figures like Xiahou Ba, Ling Zhan, Nangong Chen, and even Luo Mingfei, who had previously fled using a secret technique after being repelled by Chen Feng.

Similarly, Han Daoling, Yuan Hualong, Xiao Xuanwu, and others also shattered the barrier and entered.

The strength of this barrier was linked to one's cultivation. Only the most exceptional among peers could break through and enter the true Dao Field.

Before long, the peerless prodigies from Tianyuan Sacred Land, who had Self-Severed Two Realms, also breached the barrier one after another.

Within the Dao Field, there were only 99 Enlightenment Mats in total—nine per row, arranged in eleven rows.

This meant only 99 individuals could sit upon the mats and experience the lingering Dao Chant and Dao Rhyme from the Heavenly Emperor's past teachings.

However, each mat was enveloped in radiant light, seemingly sealing them off. Some attempted to sit but found it impossible no matter what they tried.

The Heavenly Emperor's Dao Field appeared once every thousand years, and some of its key details were already widely known.

Before entering, all had been briefed by their sect elders on the necessary procedures.

The true Dao Field was the final opportunity.

The 99 Enlightenment Mats would only activate when the timing was right. At that moment, a fierce competition would ensue—the closer to the front row, the greater the effect of listening to the Dao Chant and sensing the Dao Rhyme.

Greedy eyes locked onto the nine mats in the very first row.

That position—everyone coveted it.

With the best effects, who would willingly miss out?

Yet, some had the self-awareness to recognize who truly stood a chance and instead set their sights on other mats.

After all, once the timing arrived and the Enlightenment Mats opened, whoever claimed one would secure it, rendering it untouchable by others.

Several murderous gazes fixed upon Chen Feng.

It was none other than Luo Mingfei and those six self-severed realm prodigies, their murderous intent laid bare in their eyes, as if they were ready to strike at any moment.

At the same time, a resonant Dao Chant reverberated, sending waves of dense Dao Rhyme rippling outward.

The divine light enveloping the 99 Enlightenment Mats dissipated, revealing them in full.

Without the slightest hesitation—without even uttering a word—everyone erupted into action, charging toward the Enlightenment Mats they had long since targeted.

Unsurprisingly, Chen Feng had set his sights on a mat in the first row.

Others vying for the first-row mats included Xiahou Ba, Nangong Chen, Ling Zhan, and Luo Mingfei, as well as a group of prodigies from Tianyuan Sacred Land. Additionally, the Sect Heirs of various super first-class powers also competed fiercely for these spots.

"Roll!"

Chen Feng barked, unleashing a terrifying surge of Sword Pressure. A streak of sword light slashed across the void, instantly repelling the Juejian Palace Sect Heir who had sought to contest the mat.

However, this gave Luo Mingfei the opportunity to seize the mat. He immediately sat upon it, fixing Chen Feng with a gaze brimming with hatred—as if he wished to skin him alive, crush his bones, and scatter his ashes.

Chen Feng ignored him, scanning the area before locking onto another Enlightenment Mat.

Coincidentally, the Qi Sha Hall Sect Heir was just about to lunge for it.

Han Daoling also aimed for a first-row Enlightenment Mat. Unfortunately, despite possessing a God-Grade Divine Trait and having encountered numerous fortuitous opportunities—even breaking through to the Qi Sea Realm—his current strength still fell short. He was blocked by a self-severed realm prodigy from Tianyuan Sacred Land.

For a moment, Han Daoling grew anxious.

The first-row mats offered the greatest benefits, and as the possessor of the Primordial Spirit Dao Body, sitting on one would undoubtedly amplify his gains.

A streak of sword light shot forth, instantly forcing back and wounding the self-severed realm cultivator from Tianyuan Sacred Land who had been tangling with Han Daoling.

"Hurry up and sit down!"

Chen Feng, who had just repelled the Qi Sha Hall Sect Heir, shouted at the momentarily stunned Han Daoling.

Han Daoling shuddered, his expression twisting with complex emotions, but he wasted no time stepping onto the mat and settling into place.

Yet, his heart churned like stormy seas, unable to calm.

Chen Feng also stepped onto his own Enlightenment Mat, then turned to survey the scene. Xiao Xuanwu, Yuan Hualong, and several other Huntian Sect disciples at the Peak of the Qi Sea Realm were locked in fierce competition for mats in the second and third rows. Without hesitation, he drew his sword and struck.

Several streaks of Sword Energy shot through the air, instantly forcing their opponents back.

"Many thanks, Senior Brother!"

Xiao Xuanwu, Yuan Hualong, and the other Peak Qi Sea Realm disciples exclaimed in delight before swiftly taking their seats on the mats.

Though only six or seven Huntian Sect disciples had entered the core of the Dao Field, each had secured a mat in a favorable position—at least in the third row.

Under normal circumstances, securing mats in the second or third rows would have been far beyond their capabilities.

At best, they might have ended up in the fourth or fifth rows.

The Juejian Palace Sect Heir and the Qi Sha Hall Sect Heir, forced to retreat by Chen Feng and thus denied first-row mats, managed to claim spots in the second row. Once seated, they glared at Chen Feng’s back, their eyes brimming with razor-sharp, tangible killing intent.

If looks could kill, Chen Feng would have been riddled with holes by now.

As esteemed Sect Heirs, they were utterly unwilling to accept that they could only secure seats in the second row of the Enlightenment Mats, failing to claim those in the first row.

Moreover, the Enlightenment Mats in the first row offered the most profound insights.

Chen Feng could clearly sense the murderous gazes fixed upon him from behind, yet he paid them no mind.

They were nothing more than the resentment of defeated dogs.

If they dared to bark in his presence, he would cut them down without hesitation—confident that he could Devour even more divine trait power from them.

Before long, the struggle concluded, with all ninety-nine Enlightenment Mats occupied. Those who failed to secure one were filled with bitter reluctance but had no choice. Yet, they did not leave. Instead, they settled nearby.

While sitting on the Enlightenment Mats granted the greatest benefits, lingering nearby still allowed them to glean some insights and inspiration.

After all, having come this far, leaving now would be a waste of the opportunity.

Glancing outside the Dao arena, Chen Feng’s mood improved at the sight of countless envious eyes staring in, their expressions filled with frustration—as if cursing the heavens for lacking a door and the earth for lacking a handle.

A deep, resonant bell tolled, its sound echoing as if from ancient times.

A faint, ethereal voice gradually rose— The Dao Chant left behind from the Heavenly Emperor's Teachings of old had begun...