Chapter 32: The Hidden Dragon of Huntian

Chapter 32: The Hidden Dragon of Huntian

Juejian Peak.

The morning sun rose, its golden rays piercing through the sea of clouds, shimmering with fleeting brilliance.

At the Flying Leaf Cliff's sword practice platform, a tall figure clad in a white robe with blue patterns stood with his sword held horizontally. The blade gleamed like a mirror, its cold light flowing like autumn water, exuding an indescribable, razor-sharp aura.

Chen Feng's gaze pierced through the Flowing Cup Sword, fixed upon the endless sea of clouds beyond the cliff, lost in thought.

"The Juejian Thirteen Swords truly lives up to its reputation as a supreme-grade sword technique, far surpassing the Wind Shadow Sword Technique..."

He had effortlessly comprehended and mastered the Wind Shadow Sword Technique within a mere hour. Yet, despite having grasped the mysteries of the first stance of the Juejian Thirteen Swords since receiving it the night before, he still struggled to fully master it.

Strangely enough, after a night of contemplation, he had unexpectedly developed a thirteenth sword move for the Wind Shadow Sword Technique.

"Young Master, the Juejian Thirteen Swords is not only a supreme-grade sword technique but also the foundation of Juejian Peak's sword-based divine abilities," Yang Tao said casually as he approached. "Moreover, it is a combat sword technique—a technique forged for battle and slaughter."

"A combat sword technique..."

Chen Feng's thoughts shifted at these words.

"Uncle Yang, where in the Huntian Sect would be a suitable place for combat?" Chen Feng asked directly.

"Young Master, why not try the Huntian Battle Tower?" Yang Tao suggested with a smile.

Chen Feng's eyes lit up.

"If you wish to go, this old servant will accompany you," Yang Tao offered.

"Then I’ll trouble you, Uncle Yang," Chen Feng replied.

"No trouble at all," Yang Tao said with a chuckle before turning to Li Xinyue. "Disciple, now that you’ve mastered the Hunyuan Force, would you like to visit the Huntian Battle Tower as well?"

"Yes, Master," Li Xinyue answered promptly.

With a wave of his hand, Yang Tao summoned a streak of sword light, carrying Chen Feng and Li Xinyue as they soared out of Juejian Peak, traversing the sea of clouds in an instant.

Along the way, he explained the origins and purpose of the Huntian Battle Tower.

The Huntian Battle Tower was originally a Sacred Weapon obtained by the sect's founder, the Huntian War Emperor. After modifications, it was erected in the Outer Sect disciples' area, not far from the Disciples' Hall. The tower stood a hundred stories high, each floor guarded by a Tower Guardian. Defeating the guardian allowed challengers to ascend to the next level.

The Huntian Sect had a rule: disciples in the Body Forging Realm were strictly forbidden from leaving the sect for training. Thus, the Huntian Battle Tower became the perfect place for disciples to hone their skills. Moreover, successful challengers could earn Contribution Points as rewards.

As a result, the Huntian Battle Tower was always bustling with activity, with challengers coming and going in an unending stream.

A dazzling sword light descended from the heavens, instantly drawing countless gazes.

Chen Feng and Li Xinyue stepped out from within the radiance, immediately becoming the center of attention.

"Who are those two?"

"That’s Chen Feng—the one who struck the drum four times and was directly promoted to True Disciple!"

"The same Chen Feng who was personally taken in by the Peak Master of Juejian Peak?"

"Exactly! Not long ago, he even defeated Ye Yunqi, another True Disciple and a prodigy!"

Whispers and exclamations rose and fell like waves, spreading through the crowd.

Many seasoned disciples fixed their eyes on Chen Feng, as if trying to see through him.

Chen Feng remained composed, casually conversing with Li Xinyue while his gaze swept over the towering Huntian Battle Tower. Despite himself, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of awe.

The Huntian Battle Tower stood towering over the land, reaching a height of 1000 meters, majestic and imposing. Its entire structure was a deep, solemn black, as if imbued with the aura of ancient times. It resembled a colossal sword planted into the earth, pointing toward the heavens, or like a pillar holding up the sky, unmoving and steadfast as a mountain through the ages.

Around the Battle Tower stood fourteen stone steles, each reaching 100 meters in height. Among them, four were black, positioned at the four sides of the Huntian Battle Tower, inscribed with radiant silver names. The remaining ten steles stood in the outer perimeter, their names shimmering in dazzling gold.

Chen Feng’s gaze first fell upon the four silver-inscribed steles at the inner circle.

"These must be the Hidden Dragon Ranking, Rising Dragon Ranking, Soaring Dragon Ranking, and Celestial Dragon Ranking of the Huntian Sect, corresponding to the Body Forging Realm, Aperture Opening Realm, Meridian Forging Realm, and Qi Sea Realm of martial cultivation. Each ranking lists the top one hundred disciples of the sect at their respective cultivation stages."

"The other ten steles record the strongest one hundred individuals in the Huntian Sect’s history, spanning from the Body Forging Realm to the Dao Integration Realm."

"My master is in the Transcendent Realm—I wonder if he is listed on the Strongest Transcendent Ranking?"

As this thought crossed his mind, Chen Feng’s eyes swept across the steles. At the very top of each of the Strongest Rankings, the same four characters stood out: Huntian War Emperor!

"The Huntian War Emperor—the founding ancestor of the Huntian Sect. I can only imagine what kind of peerless figure he must have been." Chen Feng marveled inwardly before shifting his focus to the Strongest Transcendent Ranking stele, scanning carefully from top to bottom.

"Master is only ranked eighty-eighth?" Chen Feng frowned slightly.

"Young Master, our Huntian Sect has existed for over thirty thousand years, giving rise to countless unparalleled geniuses and prodigies. For the Sect Master to be listed among the Strongest Rankings is already an extraordinary feat," Yang Tao explained, noticing Chen Feng’s expression as if reading his thoughts. "You must understand—among the current members of the Huntian Sect, the Sect Master is the only one listed on the Strongest Transcendent Ranking."

Hearing Yang Tao’s words, Chen Feng began to grasp just how difficult it was to earn a place on the Strongest Rankings.

"One day, I too will be listed on every Strongest Ranking!" Chen Feng silently vowed.

At that moment, a figure was projected out of the Huntian Battle Tower—a challenger who had just completed their trial. The tower could accommodate up to ten challengers simultaneously, with some exiting faster than others. As one left, another would enter seamlessly.

"Senior Brother Chen, are you planning to challenge the Battle Tower?" a disciple approached and asked respectfully.

"Yes," Chen Feng replied, though he did not recognize the person.

"As a True Disciple, you have priority. Please proceed, Senior Brother Chen," the disciple said without hesitation, and none of the others voiced any objection.

Such was the privilege of status. The higher a disciple’s standing, the greater the privileges they enjoyed.

Had a Quasi-Sect Heir or even the Sect Heir been present, Chen Feng would have had to defer.

Unless, of course, one possessed the power to defy convention.

Without hesitation or need for courtesy, Chen Feng strode toward the Huntian Battle Tower. He retrieved his Huntian True Disciple Token and pressed it against the tower’s surface. Instantly, a surge of energy enveloped his entire body, and in the next moment, his vision shifted as if time and space were twisting around him.

"This place…"

Chen Feng’s sharp eyes swept across his surroundings, finding himself standing on an endless, desolate expanse of land.

"Challenger Chen Feng, True Disciple of Juejian Peak, Body Forging Realm cultivation. Will you challenge the Huntian Battle Tower?" A cold, mechanical voice abruptly rang out.

"Who?" Chen Feng immediately countered.

"I am the Tower Spirit of the Huntian Battle Tower. You may address me as War. Challenger Chen Feng, you may challenge either the Hidden Dragon Ranking or the Strongest Ranking. Make your choice." The cold, rigid voice spoke again.

Chen Feng suddenly understood. Elder Yang had mentioned before that the Huntian Battle Tower was the Sacred Weapon of the Huntian War Emperor, so it made sense for it to have a Tower Spirit.

Still, coming from a small place, Chen Feng found it quite miraculous.

"War, I choose to challenge the Hidden Dragon Ranking," Chen Feng declared decisively.

"Challenge begins. Defeat the Tower Guardian, and you shall take their place." The Tower Spirit's voice faded, and in the next moment, a beam of light descended from the heavens, coalescing into the figure of a young woman with long legs and a curvaceous figure, clad in the attire of an Outer Sect Disciple and wielding a spear.

"Outer Sect Disciple Lin Siyun. I await your guidance."

Her clear voice rang out as her sharp eyes locked onto Chen Feng. With a low shout, she flicked her spear, unleashing a surge of refined and formidable Force, thrusting forward with unstoppable momentum.

"Ninth Level of the Body Forging Realm, perfected..."

Chen Feng observed her and immediately discerned her cultivation level from her aura. Calmly, he drew his sword.

The moment he unsheathed it, he keenly noticed that the cold gleam of the Flowing Cup Sword had vanished, as if it had degraded from a spiritual weapon to an Ordinary Weapon.

But he paid it no mind.

Elder Yang had already explained that within the Huntian Battle Tower, any weapon below the level of a Sacred Weapon would have its power suppressed, temporarily reduced to the level of an Ordinary Weapon. This was to prevent challengers from relying on weapon superiority, ensuring the true purpose of tempering oneself remained intact.

With a casual flick of his wrist, he swung his sword.

The instant blade met spear, Chen Feng's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Such refined Force—far more condensed than mine before I cultivated the Huntian Force." He couldn't help but feel inwardly astonished.

As their exchange continued, Chen Feng grew increasingly surprised. Not only was her Force refined, but her spear techniques were also exceptionally skilled, her footwork superb. Before mastering the Huntian Force, he would have stood no chance against her.

He estimated that the previous version of himself would have been defeated within ten spear strikes.

"Disciples of the Huntian Sect are truly remarkable..." Chen Feng mused inwardly while effortlessly parrying her relentless spear strikes.

But upon reflection, those who could join the Huntian Sect were, at the very least, elites—if not geniuses—among the disciples of various Dao Academies. And those who could rank on the Hidden Dragon Ranking were the elites among geniuses, as the Hidden Dragon Ranking encompassed the top hundred Body Forging Realm cultivators in the entire Huntian Sect.

So, how many Body Forging Realm disciples did the Huntian Sect have?

Over ten thousand.

After testing her strength, Chen Feng accurately gauged her limits and then thrust his sword forward.

The blade moved with extreme speed, piercing through her in an instant. Her body rapidly dissipated.

At the same time, a cold voice echoed throughout the space.

"Congratulations to Chen Feng, True Disciple of Juejian Peak, for successfully challenging the Huntian Battle Tower and securing the 100th rank on the Hidden Dragon Ranking."

The announcement reached the ears of all present.

On the Hidden Dragon Stone Tablet surrounding the Huntian Battle Tower, the last name shimmered with a dazzling silver light, swiftly changing from Lin Siyun to Chen Feng.

"So impressive! He defeated his opponent so quickly!"

"As expected of a True Disciple. After all, Lin Siyun's strength is no joke."

"It's no surprise. Lin Siyun cultivated the Lesser Hunyuan Force, which is far inferior to the Huntian Force. Moreover, Chen Feng has already broken through to the Tenth Level of the Body Forging Realm and is said to have completed three Force refinements. The first fifty floors won't be able to stop him. The only question is how high he'll ultimately rank."

"Truly something to look forward to."

Amid the discussions, figures rushed over from the distance, stopping before the Hidden Dragon Stone Tablet. Their gazes fixed on the tablet, eager to see Chen Feng's final ranking.

The characters "Chen Feng" suddenly shone brightly, leaping upward and pushing down the 99th-ranked disciple to take their place.

At that moment, several more people emerged from the Battle Tower.

"Master, I’ll also try challenging the Battle Tower," Li Xinyue said decisively.

"Go ahead," Yang Tao replied with a smile.

Li Xinyue immediately dashed forward and entered the Battle Tower. Meanwhile, the name "Chen Feng" on the Potential Stone Tablet glowed brilliantly once more.