Chapter 1612: The Divine Wilderness Atlas
In the next instant, a tranquil flute melody drifted through the air. Zuo Feiqing fused his Wind conscious realm into the sound, and at once, fierce gales took shape like countless blades as they swept toward Yuan Yangzi.
In the blink of an eye, Yuan Yangzi's entire body was torn open, his flesh ripped apart until he was covered in blood. Those invisible wind blades pierced straight through him, feeling as though countless razor-thin edges were carving through his body from within. Compared to death by a thousand cuts or the agony of slow execution, this torment was ten times crueler.
What made it even more unbearable was Saint Lady Bi Luo using the power of her wood source to protect his heart meridian. He could not shatter his own heart meridian, nor could he end his life on the spot. All he could do was endure that horrifying torture.
Ling Feng narrowed his eyes. He felt no sympathy whatsoever for a demonic heretic like Yuan Yangzi.
As for the Despicable Donkey, realization dawned on its face as it muttered under its breath, "So this is another way to torture someone. Learned something new today, learned something new!"
"Ahhh!"
At last, Yuan Yangzi let out a miserable scream. He could endure no longer and said in a trembling voice, "Stop... stop! I'll talk. I'll tell you everything!"
Zuo Feiqing withdrew the jade flute into his sleeve, the music cutting off at once. His voice remained calm as he said, "If you were going to speak, why wait until I had to act? Yuan old fiend, confess the Blood Shadow Alliance's scheme truthfully, and I can grant you a quick death."
Yuan Yangzi's whole body trembled violently as he gasped for breath. He glared coldly at Zuo Feiqing, hatred burning in his eyes.
"Surname Zuo, you'd better pray you never fall into my hands!"
"You still have plenty to say. It seems you want another taste of my Wind Blade demonic melody."
"No need. I'll speak!"
Yuan Yangzi drew in a deep breath and struggled to his feet. His gaze locked onto the entrance to the secret chamber as his voice turned low and grave.
"There truly is a great secret hidden in this secret chamber. Inside lies a scroll known as the Divine Wilderness Atlas."
"The Divine Wilderness Atlas!"
At those words, all four Hall Masters' expressions changed at once.
Ling Feng also narrowed his eyes slightly. The name stirred something faintly familiar in his mind, as though he had heard it somewhere before.
"Hehe, what utter bullshit!" Lei Wensheng barked immediately. "Old bastard, don't think you can make up lies just to spare yourself a little suffering. I've gone in and out of this secret chamber more times than I can count. Other than that ancient Spirit Gathering array, there isn't a damn thing in here!"
Yuan Yangzi gave a cold snort.
"That only proves how ignorant you are."
His eyes remained fixed on the secret chamber as he continued, "If you don't believe me, I can bring it out for you to see."
Lei Wensheng sneered. "Fine. If you can't find it, I'll make your death miserable."
He drove a kick straight into Yuan Yangzi's back.
"Well? Move!"
Yuan Yangzi turned and shot Lei Wensheng a venomous glare, then limped step by step into the passageway.
Saint Lady Hui Yue and the others followed immediately, wary that he might try something.
After a moment's thought, Ling Feng followed as well.
This Divine Wilderness Atlas might very well be some peerless treasure.
"Wait."
Zuo Feiqing, who was walking ahead, suddenly turned back and looked at Ling Feng.
"Ling Feng, stay outside. This concerns a secret known only to the sect's upper ranks. You are merely an ordinary disciple. Knowing too much will bring you no benefit."
"Uh..."
Ling Feng frowned slightly.
Zuo Feiqing's reasoning was not without merit, but after all the effort he had put in, he was now being excluded at the very moment the truth was about to be revealed.
Lei Wensheng snorted.
"Zuo Feiqing, quit hiding behind the sect's rules. Opportunities belong to those destined for them. Kid, I like the look of you. Come in. I've got your back!"
It was not necessarily because Lei Wensheng truly liked Ling Feng that much. He simply enjoyed opposing Zuo Feiqing whenever possible.
"Ridiculous."
Zuo Feiqing flicked his sleeve and turned toward Saint Lady Hui Yue and Saint Lady Bi Luo.
"What do the two junior sisters think?"
"I have no opinion."
Saint Lady Hui Yue answered coldly, her expression as indifferent as ever.
Saint Lady Bi Luo studied Ling Feng for a moment before speaking slowly.
"I heard from Lin Mu that Ling Feng rescued quite a number of disciples this time and rendered great service to the sect. Since he is already involved, that is fate at work. Letting him enter does no harm."
"Hear that? Even Bi Luo agrees!"
Lei Wensheng burst into laughter, strode over to Ling Feng, and casually hooked an arm around his neck.
"Little Brother Ling, I hear you're close with that brat Lin Mu. You're his brother, and I'm his Big Brother, so that makes us brothers too!"
"Ugh... you are a Hall Master, how could I possibly..."
Ling Feng was completely caught off guard.
This man's train of thought was absurdly fast.
Lei Wensheng clicked his tongue.
"What Hall Master nonsense? When I make friends, I only care whether they suit my eye. If you're a real man, stop acting all stiff and awkward. I can't stand that sort of thing."
Though he never named anyone, every word was clearly aimed at Zuo Feiqing.
Ling Feng could only shake his head with a bitter smile before nodding.
"In that case, Big Brother Lei, I'll have to rely on your guidance in the future."
"Hahaha, easy! Very easy!"
Lei Wensheng laughed heartily and gave Ling Feng's shoulder a heavy slap.
Ling Feng did not know whether to laugh or cry.
Somehow, in the middle of all this confusion, he had become sworn brothers with Lei Wensheng, one of the Eight Great Hall Masters.
Still, Lei Wensheng was a bold and straightforward man. He had no airs, spoke his mind, and carried himself openly. He was someone worth befriending.
"What childish nonsense."
Zuo Feiqing shook his head.
It was not that he held prejudice against Ling Feng. This was simply his nature. He was refined, courteous, and disciplined in conduct, and deep down, he looked down on rough men like Lei Wensheng.
Lei Wensheng rolled his eyes.
"I do as I please. A man only lives once, so what matters is living freely and boldly."
As he spoke, he planted another kick squarely into Yuan Yangzi's back.
"Yuan old fiend, what are you dawdling for? Hurry up and find the Divine Wilderness Atlas!"
Yuan Yangzi took that kick for no reason at all, hatred gnashing in his heart, yet he had no choice but to bow his head under another's roof. He quickly ran to the center of the secret chamber, crouched down, and began fiddling with something.
Ling Feng took the chance to look around.
Although the seal inside his body prevented him from drawing in elemental force, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth here was so dense that it had nearly liquefied. Simply standing within it felt like floating in an endless sea of spiritual energy, refreshing both body and mind beyond words.
Even the weakness he had suffered from overusing Devouring Flame had completely vanished.
Nearby, Saint Lady Hui Yue seemed to be experiencing the same effect, and a touch of color returned to her pale face.
Yuan Yangzi knelt before the ancient array and worked at it for some time. Then he pulled out a piece of jade from his robes and carefully set it into one of the array's positions.
Boom!
The earth trembled violently.
The ancient array, which had existed for who knew how many tens of thousands of years, split open down the middle.
In the next moment, a massive stone slab slowly rose from beneath the Spirit Gathering array.
Every eye fixed upon it.
Carved across its surface were strange and mysterious patterns, utterly incomprehensible at first glance. Yet the longer one looked, the more it seemed to contain profound truths beyond measure, drawing the mind deeper and deeper until one could no longer pull away.
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