Chapter 1417: I Am Chu Feng

In Qingzhou, within the Yang Realm, stood the Daoist temple of the Martial Maniac, its mountain gate towering, grand, and magnificent.

Two colossal black peaks, resembling sky-reaching walls, spanned the mountain range, forming two imposing gates with only a single path winding between them. An intimidating aura emanated from the two mountains, where mysterious, hazy symbols flickered intermittently, releasing faint wisps of primeval chaos energy—a manifestation of the temple's protective barrier. As a direct descendant of the Martial Maniac lineage, how could Grand Martial Heavenly Venerate's mountain gate be an ordinary place? It drew upon the very essence of heaven and earth, and a rash intrusion would undoubtedly lead to danger with every step. Though the two sentinel peaks were as dark as the bodies of gods and demons, they nonetheless exuded an ethereal spiritual mist, marking them as a truly rare and sacred place. Golden waterfalls cascaded down the peaks like bolts of silk, roaring and thundering with magnificent force. Above them, silver luan birds circled, radiating a sacred aura.

Chu Feng arrived. Though in the form of a youth, his demeanor was remarkably composed, exuding an extraordinary aura. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the rare, sacred land before him. "'This is indeed a good place!' he murmured. Such spiritually endowed mountains typically harbored auspicious omens and nurtured rare, precious herbs, making them ideal for secluded cultivation and advancement."

In front of the mountain gate, a bottomless pool radiated a five-colored glow, with beams of light rising from its depths, indicative of astonishingly rich energy. Coiled within the water was a divine beast resembling a qilin, acting as the guardian of the mountain. With a quick glance, Chu Feng instantly perceived that this ancient beast had reached the quasi-Heavenly Venerate realm, an impressive feat indeed. Without hesitation, he strode forward, heading towards Grand Martial's mountain gate.

Long flights of stone steps, resembling a path to the heavens, stretched upwards like a dragon's winding path, leading directly to the mountain gate. On either side of the path, ancient pines stood like small mountains, and colossal vines coiled like dragons, exuding an astonishing vital energy. They appeared as though they should have long since transformed into powerful demons but were inexplicably bound here, prevented from fully awakening their sentience.

Having attained the physique of an Eternal King, Chu Feng was arguably the mightiest among divine kings, an unprecedented and world-shaking achievement. Now comparable to a Heavenly Venerate, his youthful form exuded an unparalleled presence, so much so that along the entire path, very few dared to approach and question him. Though he appeared to be only in his teens, his exceptional temperament made him seem like a young immortal king traversing the world. Every movement, every gesture, intrinsically formed a microcosm, embodying profound laws and principles. With each step he took, and with every graceful sweep of his wide sleeves, faint thunder rumbled and chains of divine order intertwined, powerful enough to awe this entire realm. At the same time, his features were refined, and he possessed an ethereal, transcendent aura, as if he existed beyond the mortal realm. In both motion and stillness, he was like a true dragon, capable of tearing through the nine heavens when active, yet in repose, he found serenity in the unfolding clouds, listening to the Daoist hymns of transcendence.

"'Fellow Daoist, have you come for the Immortal Bud Sacred Fruit Gathering?' someone finally inquired."

For the past few days, a grand event had been underway at Grand Martial Heavenly Venerate's temple. Though most participants had already arrived, new attendees continued to trickle in. This explained why so few people had approached to question him. Nevertheless, to access the innermost sanctums of the pure land, one still had to undergo inspection and present an invitation formed from purple-gold Daoist talismans.

Chu Feng scoffed. With a flick of his wide sleeve, he stepped directly into the mountain gate. However, divine-level cultivators quickly blocked his path, intending to examine his invitation. Yet, how could their cultivation possibly compare to Chu Feng's? A mere roar from him now could shatter a divine-level cultivator; they were utterly incapable of resisting him. However, in an instant, Chu Feng used his Eternal King Dao fruit to perceive their soul-lights, realizing a grand gathering was underway. He immediately changed his mind, choosing not to force his way in with violence. In a flash, everyone felt a peaceful aura wash over them as an invitation formed from purple-gold Daoist talismans appeared before them, and then, the person vanished in an instant. No one attempted to stop him, assuming that a powerful, invited cultivator—a super-evolutionary—had just arrived.

Indeed, over the past few days, numerous distinguished guests had arrived at the temple, including even Heavenly Venerates themselves. This was because the 'Immortal Bud Sacred Fruit Gathering' was an exceptionally grand occasion, typically attracting many powerful clans to participate and exchange rare pollen and sacred fruits unique to the Yang Realm. This time, with the Martial Maniac's recent resurgence and re-establishment as ruler of the Yang Realm, his lineage—as a direct branch—was naturally delighted and invigorated. They had requested and now hosted this specific Immortal Bud Sacred Fruit Gathering.

"'Excellent,' Chu Feng smiled. 'Let's see if there are any Immortal Buds or Sacred Fruits I fancy!'" His arrival here was not solely to eliminate Grand Martial Heavenly Venerate; he had a further objective: to seize this territory and then utilize its abundant vitality and the unique soil, accumulated over eons, to plant his three seeds. His greatest asset, the foundation that had propelled him this far, was the three seeds contained within his stone jar. Regrettably, the soil in the Lesser Yin Realm could no longer support the germination of these seeds. Since arriving in the Yang Realm, Chu Feng had been patiently awaiting the opportune moment. Once he had laid the strongest possible foundation, he intended to make his three seeds sprout anew.

Now, having completed his baptism in the Grand Supreme Forbidden Zone, his flesh and bones were free of any obstruction, cleansed and having shattered all past constraints. Even his current Yang Realm body, whose Dao fruit was once considered slightly lower in evolutionary level compared to the Lesser Yin Realm, had become legendary: indestructible, saintly pure, like a Buddha walking the Yang Realm! Within his current domain of self-evolution, he had reached the pinnacle, unable to advance further. It was time to once again absorb pollen.

Inside the mountain gate, a different scene unfolded: orchids bloomed everywhere, and spiritual fields were neatly and regularly laid out. The soil was crystalline and shimmering, while fragrant herbs glowed brightly, radiating various auspicious auras. Beneath some cliffs, exotic divine beasts coiled, their silver eyes flashing like lightning as they exuded spiritual energy. In some volcanoes, brilliant golden mists erupted, indicating golden crows absorbing and expelling spiritual essence. In certain wetlands, azure dragons leaped forth, their roars echoing across heaven and earth. Each peak truly resembled a celestial realm, erupting with vibrant, colorful light and enveloped in dense immortal energy, countless times more potent than the two guardian mountains at the gate.

Along the way, numerous cultivators were present, but none hindered Chu Feng; he passed through unhindered. To this day, few would dare to attack Grand Martial Heavenly Venerate's territory. The mere mention of 'Martial Maniac's direct lineage' was enough to intimidate the world. The primary reason for this reverence was the Martial Maniac's recent 'resurrection.' Everyone was convinced that his cultivation had reached unimaginable heights, leaving no one capable of restraining him.

Ahead, clusters of jade palaces stretched out, each radiating an immortal aura, truly magnificent structures. Many of these palaces even floated in mid-air. Throughout this area, various divine birds and exotic beasts served as decorative elements. Golden-winged roc birds and fiery red sparrows circled overhead, carrying auspicious fruits like Ganoderma and flat peaches. Grand Martial's disciples bustled about, greeting and seeing off guests, creating a lively atmosphere.

Chu Feng approached this cluster of palaces. Among them, a section of silver buildings, cast from rare secret gold, stood out, exceptionally grand and drawing the largest crowd. This was the main venue for the Immortal Bud Sacred Fruit Gathering. The attendees were all highly distinguished, many being disciples of renowned great sects, with high-ranking individuals also participating. Chu Feng was surprised to recognize some familiar faces from the three battlefields, including members of the Peacock, Buddhist, and Daoist clans. He even spotted old acquaintances with whom he had a good rapport. This place was a convergence of exceptional talents, featuring divine maidens from various clans and heaven-blessed prodigies from every major sect.

With a moment's thought, Chu Feng instantly understood the immense importance of this grand gathering to these individuals. Rare pollens and exotic fruits directly impacted their Dao fruits and their future prospects. This was because, for each cultivation realm, there were a few universally acknowledged most powerful and effective pollens and fruits, yet it was nearly impossible for any single sect to acquire them all. Therefore, an exchange meeting like this was crucial and highly significant. It was cherished by exceptionally talented individuals, and the elders of various clans spared no effort to fulfill their needs, helping them exchange for and acquire the most potent pollens and fruits. Chu Feng paid close attention, carefully absorbing information about the grand event.

"'It's... the Wisdom Fruit from the Ancient Temple of Abujinpo!'" someone gasped, their desire clearly heartfelt and undisguised.

"'Ah, and the Alchemy Fruit from the Prehistoric Demon Emperor's Palace! That's incredible—they actually managed to harvest it?!'"

"'Don't be so surprised, calm down a bit. Over there, there's even mysterious pollen from the abandoned grounds of the Longevity Monastery!' someone whispered, cautioning their companion to remain composed."

Upon hearing these exclamations, Chu Feng was also inwardly startled. It appeared this grand gathering was indeed of exceptionally high value and well worth his attention. He was particularly interested in the unique pollens and exotic fruits of the Yang Realm, having long possessed an in-depth understanding of their specifics. Earlier, when he first arrived in the Yang Realm, he had paid close attention to reports from the Four Great Evolutionary Authority Journals. Among them, the Black Blood Institute had publicly reviewed several renowned pollens and fruits. Notably, the Wisdom Fruit from the Ancient Temple of Abujinpo and the Alchemy Fruit from the Prehistoric Demon Emperor's Palace were prominently listed, hailed as the most potent fruits in the Yang Realm for their respective cultivation stages. Furthermore, fruits from the abandoned grounds of the Longevity Monastery and the Phoenix Prison Graveyard were also among the strongest, holding legendary status as dominant forces within their respective cultivation realms. It was rumored that ancient powerful beings and top magnates in the Yang Realm had, during their youth, been fortunate enough to encounter several of these very fruits. Consequently, all sects were extremely eager, striving to acquire these for their disciples, and even more so, hoping to one day gather a complete collection.

And now, Chu Feng was here! A peculiar expression crossed his face. He not only intended to eliminate Grand Martial, but also desired to seize all the most potent pollens and fruits within this temple, plundering them clean.

"'Fellow Daoist, you seem unfamiliar to me. May I ask which sect you hail from, and what fruits you wish to exchange?' In the grand hall, a young Divine King with an extraordinary demeanor and a cascade of silver hair smiled courteously at Chu Feng as he greeted him." Judging by his attire, he was likely a core disciple of the Grand Martial lineage, possessing considerable strength and ranking among Grand Martial's core Divine Kings.

"'Who am I?' Chu Feng smiled, his demeanor exuding soaring confidence. He intended to inform the Grand Martial lineage today: 'I am Chu Feng, and I have arrived!'" Today, he wasn't here to exchange rare pollens or fruits; instead, he was here to present Grand Martial with a significant gift!

"'Grand Martial, I shall deliver your death knell before the eyes of all under heaven!' Chu Feng's expression remained serene, before a brilliant smile spread across his face as he continued forward."