Chapter 20: Perhaps Lost in the Game

Chapter 20: Perhaps Lost in the Game

The sun hung high in the sky, casting its light over the earth.

Outside the Disciples' Hall of the Huntian Dao Academy, a long queue had formed, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers.

"So many people."

"I counted—at least over two hundred at the latter three levels of the Body Forging Realm."

"Ugh... I'm still at the Sixth Level of the Body Forging Realm. If I just had half a month more, I could definitely break through to the Seventh Level."

"Don't even think about it. Today is the last day for the Preliminary Screening registration, and tomorrow we head to the Huntian Sect's Formal Assessment. There's not even an extra day, let alone half a month."

The gathered crowd buzzed with envy.

Even though passing the Preliminary Screening only meant facing further assessments at the Huntian Sect, it was still an opportunity.

Even if they were ultimately eliminated, at least they could say they had been to the Huntian Sect—unlike some who would never set foot there in their entire lives.

Suddenly, the crowd stirred, parting like waves to make way as if welcoming royalty.

"Move aside! Young Master Yunqi is here!"

"Young Master Yunqi, you're the strongest!"

"Young Master Yunqi, I want to bear your children!"

Shouts and exclamations erupted, with many female disciples screaming in adoration.

A young man in dark green robes strode forward, a long blade strapped to his back, his expression arrogant and his gaze dismissive. A young woman in a white dress, a sword at her waist, clung to his arm, her smile radiant.

The female disciples glared at Yang Xuening with burning jealousy, wishing they could take her place.

Ye Yunqi led Yang Xuening straight into the Disciples' Hall, bypassing the queue entirely. They passed the Preliminary Screening in no time.

"Let's go," Ye Yunqi said casually to Yang Xuening.

"Brother Yun, don’t you want to watch?" Yang Xuening asked.

Ye Yunqi scoffed, not bothering to reply, his eyes filled with disdain.

"Of course, there’s nothing worth watching. Compared to Brother Yun, they’re all trash," Yang Xuening instantly understood.

Their unrestrained conversation reached the ears of others, who frowned but could only endure it.

Ye Yunqi had proven his strength by defeating the former top disciple in a single move, cementing his reputation as the undisputed strongest in the Body Forging Realm at the Dao Academy.

Time passed slowly, and the queue gradually thinned.

"Where are Ye Huai and Ye Yao?"

A member of the Ye Family frowned.

"They left the academy half a month ago. No one knows where they went."

"Find them! This is too important to treat lightly."

As evening approached and the sun began to set, the queue outside the Disciples' Hall had vanished, and most of the gathered disciples had dispersed.

Li Xinyue stood at the entrance of the Disciples' Hall, her sharp eyes scanning the distance, her face etched with anxiety.

"Why hasn’t he shown up yet?"

"Could something have happened...?"

The thought sent her heart racing, a creeping unease taking root.

Pacing anxiously, Li Xinyue suddenly froze as a familiar figure appeared in her vision—a figure in tattered robes, covered in dust, sprinting toward her.

"Chen Feng, you’re finally here!"

Her worry melted into relief as she hurried forward to meet him, her long ponytail bouncing with joy.

"Instructor, it’s been a while," Chen Feng replied with a weary but genuine smile.

After spending over ten days in the Ten Thousand Woods, teetering on the edge of life and death, it felt like months had passed.

"Have you broken through to the Seventh Level of the Body Forging Realm?" Li Xinyue pressed urgently. Seeing Chen Feng nod, she immediately urged, "Hurry! The Preliminary Screening is about to close. Go register now!"

Chen Feng hurriedly rushed into the Disciples' Hall.

"Chen Feng of the Sword Martial Arts Branch has come to register for the Huntian Sect's assessment," Chen Feng announced clearly as he stopped before a square table where an elderly man sat.

"How long have you been in the Dao Academy?" the old man asked in return.

"Six years," Chen Feng replied swiftly.

"Chen Feng... from the Chen Family of Lingshan City, entered the Dao Academy at twelve, now in his sixth year, currently eighteen..."

Someone beside the elder immediately picked up the corresponding Disciples' Register, verifying Chen Feng's age and identity.

"Activate your Organ Force," the elder commanded, his sharp gaze fixed on Chen Feng as if trying to see through him. "Good. The force is robust and enduring—undoubtedly Organ Force. You pass. Remember, gather outside the Disciples' Hall tomorrow at exactly 7:00 AM. Latecomers won’t be accommodated."

"Yes," Chen Feng responded solemnly.

"Chen Feng, well done!" Li Xinyue cheered, patting his shoulder happily.

"Didn’t disappoint," Chen Feng replied with a smile.

"Where have you been?" Li Xinyue withdrew her hand, eyeing his tattered robes and dust-covered appearance with curiosity.

"The Ten Thousand Woods," Chen Feng answered.

Recalling his time in the Ten Thousand Woods—the repeated dangers he faced, yet the significant improvements in his cultivation and strength—he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

"The Ten Thousand Woods?!" Li Xinyue gasped, scrutinizing him before relaxing slightly when she saw no visible injuries. "Well, at least you’ve broken through to the Seventh Level of the Body Forging Realm. With your swordsmanship and movement techniques, you’ll most likely pass the Huntian Sect’s assessment."

"Exactly," Chen Feng replied without modesty.

In truth, he wasn’t at the Seventh Level but the Ninth Level of the Body Forging Realm. However, during the preliminary screening, he had only displayed the Seventh Level, as that was sufficient.

As they conversed, the two walked briskly toward the Disciples' Hall.

Just as they stepped out, several figures appeared, blocking their path.

"Chen Feng, where are Ye Huai and Ye Yao?" a young man around twenty years old demanded sharply, his eyes as piercing as blades, as if trying to split Chen Feng open.

"Why would Chen Feng know where your Ye Family members went?" Li Xinyue retorted coldly, stepping forward.

"Li Xinyue, this doesn’t concern you," the Ye Family youth snapped before turning back to Chen Feng. "Speak! Where are Ye Huai and Ye Yao?"

"How should I know? Maybe they’re lost on some pleasure boat," Chen Feng replied with a faint smirk.

Admit that he had killed Ye Huai and Ye Yao?

Now wasn’t the time to provoke the Ye Family—better to avoid unnecessary complications.

"Don’t play dumb! Ye Huai and Ye Yao clearly went to the Ten Thousand Woods to kill you—" Another Ye Family disciple stepped forward, pointing at Chen Feng angrily.

Li Xinyue’s expression darkened.

"What? They went to the Ten Thousand Woods to kill me?" Chen Feng feigned shock before exhaling in relief, putting on a frightened expression. "Luckily, I didn’t run into them."

"Could they have encountered danger in the Ten Thousand Woods? Maybe eaten by demonic beasts?" Chen Feng speculated.

"You—!"

The Ye Family disciples glared at him furiously.

"You should hurry to the Ten Thousand Woods and search. Maybe you’ll find undigested remains in the demonic beasts’ droppings," Chen Feng 'helpfully' suggested.

The Ye Family disciples nearly exploded with rage.

"Seize him and take him back!"

Several Ye Family disciples immediately moved to attack.

The sharp clang of steel rang out as cold light flashed from their drawn blades. Li Xinyue's expression turned stern, her sword already unsheathed and blocking the path of the Ye Family disciples.

"Enough from all of you," Li Xinyue said, her voice icy, her gaze piercing.

"Get out of the way, Li Xinyue. This has nothing to do with you."

"Li Xinyue, do you really think we can't deal with you?"

The faces of the Ye Family disciples darkened with fury.

"Instructor, there's no need for you to intervene. I'd like to see how they plan to take me down," Chen Feng said coldly, his eyes sharp and filled with overwhelming killing intent. The Ye Family disciples couldn't help but shrink back, feeling as if they had been plunged into an icy abyss.

"What are you all doing?"

At the height of the tension, a thunderous roar erupted from the Disciples' Hall, shaking the air and startling everyone.

"Get back, all of you! Anyone who dares to fight will be disqualified from the Huntian Sect's assessment!"

The expressions of the crowd shifted dramatically.

With reluctant hatred, the Ye Family disciples glared at Chen Feng a few more times before turning away, their resentment palpable.

Sheathing her sword, Li Xinyue quietly let out a sigh of relief.

"By the way, Chen Feng, did you really not encounter Ye Huai and Ye Yao?" Li Xinyue asked casually, trying to shift the topic.

"You guess..." Chen Feng responded with a faint smile.

"How would I know?" Li Xinyue muttered.

"I'm heading back, Instructor. I need to take a bath," Chen Feng said with a grin. "See you tomorrow morning. If we both pass the Huntian Sect's assessment, I'll treat you to a feast."

"That's a promise," Li Xinyue replied, her eyes crinkling with a bright smile.

Chen Feng waved and walked away. Only when his figure had completely disappeared did Li Xinyue withdraw her gaze, sighing softly. A flicker of suspicion crossed her mind at Chen Feng's earlier response, but she shook her head. "Impossible..."

Returning to his quarters, Chen Feng washed up, the cool water washing over his body bringing a long-missed sense of refreshment. He scrubbed away layers of grime, revealing fair, firm, and incredibly supple skin beneath.

"This trip to the Ten Thousand Woods allowed my cultivation to break through repeatedly, advancing to the Ninth Level of the Body Forging Realm. The strength of my energy now surpasses that of most at this level."

"Additionally, I've progressed from the Nine Shadows Illusion Form to the Ten Shadows Illusion Form, mastered the Treading Waves Step, and perfected the Burning Blood Force. I've also derived the Wind Shadow Annihilation Style from the Wind Shadow Sword Technique and further elevated the Wind Shadow Nine Swords to the Wind Shadow Ten Swords..."

As he scrubbed away the dirt, Chen Feng sorted through his gains.

"I wonder how my current strength compares to Ye Yunqi's?"

Against someone like Ye Huai, Chen Feng was absolutely confident he could kill with a single strike. But Ye Yunqi's true strength remained an unknown.

"There are still twelve Crimson Vein Fruits left. After passing the Huntian Sect's assessment, I'll have an alchemist refine them into Meridian Opening Pills."

By then, using the Meridian Opening Pills to break through to the Aperture Opening Realm, his strength would undoubtedly surge dramatically.