Chapter 686  : Hard to Escape Death

Dozens of people around were initially somewhat confused, as they had just been undergoing trials on the mountain path moments ago, only to inexplicably find themselves in the martial arena.

In the trials of the Dream Shadow Cave spanning thousands of years, there seemed to be no such challenge.

However, upon seeing the Soul Heartstone, everyone immediately sobered up a bit. It was undeniable that this Soul Heartstone was indeed an extremely precious natural treasure.

It was one of the few spiritual materials that could be used by martial practitioners in the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.

Other spiritual materials that could enhance spiritual power were either too powerful, causing the untransformed spiritual consciousness of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm to be unable to bear it, or they were too precious, even the Mountain Sea Realm would fight over them, let alone share with Combined Aperture Tempering realm martial practitioners.

A piece of Soul Heartstone, when used by a peak Combined Aperture Tempering realm practitioner, could directly increase the chance of breaking through to the Mountain Sea Realm by one percent.

Though one percent may seem low, many deeply cultivated martial artists fail to break through to the Mountain Sea Realm because sometimes they lack just that tiny bit of time. And the Soul Heartstone could provide that extra time.

Success and failure often hung by a thread.

The gazes of the dozens of people around Chen Fei had already changed. There were eight peak Combined Aperture Tempering realm practitioners present, with the rest ranging from mid to early Combined Aperture Tempering realm.

In such a confined area, with dozens of Combined Aperture Tempering realm practitioners surrounding one person, it seemed like they had already won.

Now, the only thing to consider was how to be the last one standing and slay the person before them. After all, there was only one Soul Heartstone, and according to the Dream Shadow Cave, only the one who slays will obtain the Soul Heartstone.

“What have you done, sir, to make the Dream Shadow Cave treat you like this?” Chen Yandong looked at Chen Fei, somewhat curious.

Others were intrigued as well, looking at Chen Fei, still curious about the matter.

“Perhaps nearing the summit displeased the Dream Shadow Cave.”

Chen Fei chuckled softly, turning his head to meet the gaze in the void.

A ripple emerged from the half-empty space, containing a powerful force within its gaze. When the two gazes clashed, it caused a disturbance in the natural qi of heaven and earth.

Everyone instinctively looked towards the ripple’s location, surprised, then glanced at Chen Fei, their gazes turning somewhat peculiar.

So, the one who was recklessly breaking through the barriers near the summit just now was this person before them?

Because he was too outstanding, he became the target of the Dream Shadow Cave?

Chen Fei’s words carried a weighty message, leaving them momentarily unable to discern its truth.

But if the person before them was truly the one who had just broken through the barriers near the summit, then indeed, he had surpassed the records of the Dream Shadow Cave spanning thousands of years.

Could the current scene before them be a part of the inheritance?

Chen Fei sensed the spread of the powers of the Dream Realm throughout the martial arena, his gaze subtly fluctuating.

Unbeknownst to them, the dozens of people present had already been influenced by the powers of the Dream Realm. As time passed, this influence would lead those around them into a dreamlike state, and the more severe cases would obey the commands of the Dream Shadow Cave in every word and action.

At this moment, any discourse unfavorable to the Dream Shadow Cave would gradually be distorted by it. Deep within the Dream Shadow Cave, a figure gazed upon the martial arena.

Chen Fei’s sudden shift in gaze slightly startled the figure. It only now realized that this challenger had been able to perceive its gaze all along.

Such Combined Aperture Tempering realm practitioners, who could perceive being observed, were rare throughout the thousands of years of the Dream Shadow Cave’s existence.

Even though there were some prodigies who could sense being observed, it was only a vague feeling, impossible to accurately pinpoint the direction.

No wonder the challenger’s speed was initially ordinary on the mountain path, but became increasingly faster later on. It’s likely that he sensed its gaze and decided not to hide anymore.

The figure’s gaze returned to calmness. This human’s talent was indeed extremely suitable for the inheritance of Master Dream Shadow. If Master Dream Shadow were still alive, upon seeing this human, they would probably immediately accept him as a closed-door disciple.

But alas, Master Dream Shadow had passed away many years ago, unable to witness this human’s extraordinary talent.

Although it, as the inheritor of Master Dream Shadow’s legacy, had established the Dream Shadow Cave specifically for the transmission of techniques, it could not allow this human to pass the trial.

Because once someone truly passed the trial, not only would they gain the inheritance, but they would also completely gain ownership of the Dream Shadow Cave.

This was a small gift from Master Dream Shadow to the inheritor upon their first meeting!

But as the spirit of the Dream Shadow Cave, how could it acknowledge another as its master?

With no previous option, it had to rely on human power to better exist.

However, in order to ensure the Dream Shadow Cave’s longevity, Master Dream Shadow had hidden the Dream Shadow Stone within the Strange Heart Realm.

Because of the Strange Heart Realm, the spirit of the Dream Shadow Cave gradually broke free from constraints and was no longer entirely bound by the rules laid down by Master Dream Shadow.

Over the millennia, the Dream Shadow Cave still manifested in the mortal realm from time to time, not to seek inheritors anymore, but to refine incense and faith for its own transcendence.

In this world, all things had spirits. As long as their power levels were high enough, not only monsters and humans were the protagonists of this world, but also spirit entities.

Among the great sanctuaries of the Middle Continent, there were also spirit entities who had achieved enlightenment. However, those spirit entities were ultimately still constrained by the great sanctuaries.

With the passing of Master Dream Shadow, the spirit of the Dream Shadow Cave had a real chance of true independence.

Anyone attempting to prevent its independence would meet only one end: annihilation.

However, even now, the spirit of the Dream Shadow Cave was not truly transcendent; it still had to adhere to some rules set by Master Dream Shadow.

At most, the spirit of the Dream Shadow Cave could make some minor adjustments within the rules, like relocating everyone to the martial arena and slaying the human there.

It could also release powers of the Dream Realm within the martial arena, manipulating the thoughts of Combined Aperture Tempering realm practitioners for its own use.

The scent of bloodlust permeated the martial arena. Initially, these people had thought about how to obtain Chen Fei’s head, but as time passed, they subconsciously forgot about it.

Instead, the idea of slaying Chen Fei here gradually began to occupy their minds.

They hadn’t realized they were being influenced; they thought it was just the allure of the Soul Heartstone. After all, without reaching the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, one couldn’t help but be swayed by the Soul Heartstone.

“Whoosh!”

Suddenly, a wind rose in the martial arena, shattering the tranquility.

The Combined Aperture Tempering realm practitioner closest to Chen Fei, with Three Flowers Converging at the Crown denoting his peak Combined Aperture Tempering realm status, took a step back with his right foot and, in an instant, appeared before Chen Fei. The blade in his hand swung down with lethal intent. At the peak of Combined Aperture Tempering realm, with Three Flowers Converging at the Crown, each move and stance was filled with formidable power. In this moment of striking with lethal intent, the sharpness was exceptional, as if intending to cleave open the heavens and earth.

His name was Lin Hanyu, a wandering cultivator. Passing through Thousand Geese City, he heard about the manifestation of the Dream Shadow Cave in the mortal realm and came to test his mettle.

Wandering cultivators often had some flaws in their cultivation methods, unable to possess complete inheritances like those within sects.

But Lin Hanyu was an exception. He had belonged to a sect before, but the sect was destroyed by others, forcing him to become a wandering cultivator.

Lin Hanyu managed to escape and traveled to distant lands.

Over the years, he progressed from the early stages to the peak of Combined Aperture Tempering realm, refining the sect’s techniques to their pinnacle and achieving the state of Three Flowers Converging at the Crown.

As Lin Hanyu made his move, others also erupted into action in an instant.

There was no talk of fairness or single combat; it was all about swarming and thoroughly killing Chen Fei here.

Chen Fei remained calm as the energy within him surged gently, then suddenly boiled, sending out a huge wave of fluctuations from his body.

Nine Revolutions of the Universe!

The nine forbidden techniques operated within his body, causing Chen Fei’s hair to fly backward as golden flames burned in all directions. The imposing aura instantly filled the entire martial arena, pressing down on everyone’s minds.

Compared to his battle against the Monster King on the Boundless Sea, Chen Fei appeared even more composed when using the Nine Revolutions of the Universe this time.

Though he remained at the peak of Combined Aperture Tempering realm, his cultivation of the Heavenly Profound Sword, a Mountain Sea Realm technique, had allowed him to master the manipulation of elemental energy to a greater degree.

Back then, with the Profound Heavenly Sword at the Great Completion stage, he had already completely controlled elemental energy. However, the power of the nine forbidden techniques was too overwhelming, forcing Chen Fei to suppress it forcibly with the Suppressing Dragon Elephant Soul Tempering techniques.

Now, with the method of controlling elemental energy contained within the Heavenly Profound Sword, there was a hierarchical improvement. The elemental energy under the nine forbidden techniques seemed less unruly, its power becoming more traceable under the control of the soul.

Lin Hanyu, being the closest to Chen Fei, felt the power contained within Chen Fei’s aura most clearly, and a feeling of fear involuntarily crawled into his heart.

As a wandering cultivator for over two hundred years, Lin Hanyu always went all out whenever he made a move, giving his enemies no chance.

The blade in his hand right now was no exception. With dozens of people surrounding them, there was no need for him to hold back.

However, it was precisely because he went all out without leaving any room for retreat that, upon sensing Chen Fei’s formidable aura, Lin Hanyu wanted to step back, only to find that he was too late.

Chen Fei turned his head to look at Lin Hanyu, and Lin Hanyu’s movements, in Chen Fei’s eyes, had become extremely slow.

This was both due to the power of the Heavenly Eye and because under the Nine Revolutions of the Universe, Chen Fei’s mental power had been skyrocketing, making his perception of the surroundings extremely acute.

The Broken Ruler appeared in Chen Fei’s hand, sweeping towards Lin Hanyu’s blade.

With no room to retreat, Lin Hanyu’s ferocity was completely ignited. The blade in his hand burst out with dazzling brilliance, slashing towards Chen Fei even more fiercely than before.

With so many people, as long as they held out for a moment, others would have already arrived.

No matter how unparalleled your strength, facing the encirclement of dozens of Combined Aperture Tempering realm practitioners, you ultimately cannot escape death!

“Boom!”

A massive wave of energy swept out, momentarily halting the approaching dozens of people, and at the center of the wave, the ground of the martial arena had already turned into a deep pit.

Lin Hanyu stared wide-eyed at Chen Fei, his gaze filled with fear and struggle.

The next moment, starting from the hand holding the blade, Lin Hanyu’s arm began to shatter inch by inch. The violent force extended all the way, breaking apart his shoulders, torso, and limbs. In the blink of an eye, Lin Hanyu turned into a mass of flesh pulp.