Just as both sides were about to start fighting, however, another peak-level Human Immortal stopped them.

“Enough! Everyone is tired. I agree on resting up for a day. We are all teammates here. There is no need to start an infighting. Do not forget, we still have to compete for the Glassy Lightning Flowers.”

The one who spoke up was known as Sage Aquafire. He was a very powerful peak-level Human Immortal. He had not said anything all this while. Unexpectedly, he would choose to speak up now.

Sword Immortal Azuretip nodded. “Fine. If that’s the case, we’ll just rest up for a day. However, if the other academies snatch away the Glassy Lightning Flowers, it’ll be on you two.”

Chen Feng and Marquis Scarletfire said nothing. Instead, they walked to the side where they closed their eyes to recover.

The lightning powers here are already very strong. Chen Feng made use of the moment to sense his surroundings. At the same time, he also extended his divine sense into the ground. He was not worried that someone might attack him.

Even though we have yet to make it into the Lightning Pond, those that are not at the Human Immortal stage would certainly be torn to pieces by the lightning powers here. It is said that even Earthen Immortals would be incapable of making their way into the innermost area.

I wonder what could cause something like this to happen? Could it be due to a lightning-type Immortal artefact? If that is true, it should be possible to collect it.

Still, this is already good enough for cultivation. Chen Feng then extended his palm and strands of the lightning powers – flashing with lightning radiance – converged upon Chen Feng’s palm to form a ball of lightning. The ball of lightning kept rotating and an enormous amount of lightning power was sucked into the ball. Soon enough, a vortex had appeared around Chen Feng. The range of the vortex kept expanding to reach a radius of several li.

Copious amounts of lightning powers poured into the ball non-stop. And yet, the ball of lightning on Chen Feng’s palm did not grow bigger. On the contrary, it was shrinking.

In the beginning, none of the cultivators there cared. However, as the energy fluctuations from the lightning powers kept spreading out, they began noticing the abnormal display from Chen Feng. Seeing the power contained within the ball of lightning on Chen Feng’s palm grow increasingly high, even the four peak-level Human Immortals were shocked.

They were shocked by this move from Chen Feng. At the same time, they were also feeling puzzled at what Chen Feng was doing. It did not seem like he was cultivating some secret cultivation technique.

“Chen Feng, what are you doing?” In the end, even Marquis Scarletfire could not stop himself from asking.

“It’s nothing. I am just feeling bored,” Chen Feng replied with a smile.

Was Chen Feng truly bored? In truth, Chen Feng was secretly utilizing the Dao-tier Lightning Bead for this. The suction force that he was exerting upon his surroundings grew increasingly strong and even the lightning powers far away were pulled over.

Looking down from high above, the sky above Chen Feng – filled with lightning powers – had become like a massive black hole.

The ball of lightning on Chen Feng’s palm spun even faster. In the end, it continued for one whole day. Chen Feng himself was uncertain how much lightning powers he had absorbed. However, Chen Feng knew that unleashing all that would create a small ocean of lightning.

“It’s time for us to head in,” Sword Immortal Azuretip said, looking at Chen Feng and Marquis Scarletfire.

Chen Feng and Marquis Scarletfire stood up, not revealing any emotions on their faces. As for the ball of lightning, it simply disappeared. Even Marquis Scarletfire was shocked to the point of sweating upon witnessing that, let alone the others.

“Do you possess the Astral Lightning Constitution?” Marquis Scarletfire secretly asked.

“Of course not. Unlike you, I do not have a spiritual body. Mine is just an ordinary one.” Chen Feng smiled.

After they entered the Lightning Pond, the surrounding lightning powers rumbled and a change happened to their surroundings.

Although the lightning powers they encountered previously were violent in quality, the might of the lightning powers had been relatively small. They could only wound those who were beneath the Human Immortal stage. At that very moment, however, the lightning powers around them suddenly grew 10 times stronger. It felt as though the lightning powers were swords and spears aimed at them, giving them a formidable atmosphere of pressure.

Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa!

The soundwaves from the flashing lightning powers were strong enough to quake apart the souls of cultivators. Due to that, all of them were incapable of remaining calm. They began channelling their respective techniques to resist the surrounding lightning powers.

Naturally, despite the immense power of the violent lightning powers, there were still some who could remain calm. They were none other than the four peak-level Human Immortals and Chen Feng.

Chen Feng did not utilize his primary energy or magic treasures. Instead, he simply relied on his fleshly body to take on the surrounding lightning powers. Seeing that, Marquis Scarletfire gaped in surprise.

Upon making contact with Chen Feng’s body, lightning powers capable of obliterating everything erupted into sparks while Chen Feng remained unscathed. Rather, there were no change to his expression at all.

“This fellow.” That was all Marquis Scarletfire could say.

His fleshly body is actually even stronger than my fleshly body. I wonder what kind of cultivation technique he is practicing?

Chen Feng’s actions shocked everyone there. Some of them quickly got into a secret discussion about how they should deal with Chen Feng.

“Is he hiding his strength? He doesn’t look like a mid-level Human Immortal to me.”

“I think so too. However, according to the information we have, Chen Feng would often rely on his magic treasures in a fight. He possesses Dao artefacts on him. Everyone, be careful when taking action against him.”

“Humph! Dao artefact? This kid sure is lucky. However, his death is already set in stone. Naturally, it would be better if he dies to the lightning beasts here.”

“We cannot let him die so quickly. No matter what, we must have him act as a shield for us at least once to help us get the Glassy Lightning Flowers.”

“Chen Feng. They are secretly discussing something. Looks like they are going to take action against you soon.” Marquis Scarletfire secretly contacted Chen Feng.

“No worries. It will probably not be as simple as that.” Chen Feng shook his head.

As they continued advancing, the surrounding lightning powers grew even stronger. Even Human Immortals would be hard-pressed to cope with the lightning powers.

“This is not the real Lightning Pond. I hear that the lightning powers in the real Lightning Pond are so concentrated, they end up condensing into a liquid state. A lightning-type spiritual liquid. Due to that, the place looks like a pond. A pity, I have never seen it before,” Marquis Scarletfire whispered.

“Lightning taking on liquid form!” Chen Feng’s eyes lit up.

The Longevity Tower was in need of high-level energy. Thus, the stronger the lightning powers here were, the better it would be for it.

Roar!

A mountainous lightning beast suddenly appeared, unleashing a ferocious roar as it did. Next, it brought forth a thick clump of lightning, which it sent blasting towards them all.

“That’s a mid-level Yao King.” Sword Immortal Azuretip raised his hand and sword energy surged forward to slice the incoming lightning blast into pieces.

“Chen Feng, Marquis Scarletfire. You two are up,” Sword Immortal Azuretip said.

“The two of us are probably not enough to handle it,” Chen Feng said smilingly.

“This is a good chance for you to train yourselves. Can’t you understand our good intentions?” said another peak-level Human Immortal, Immortal Skyfire. There was a smile on his face.

“I’ll do it. Brother Scarletfire, there is no need for you to step forward. I alone will handle it.” After saying that, Chen Feng’s figure leapt forward and he quickly fired out a Great Longevity Palm.

Bang!

Lightning struck the Great Longevity Palm, shattering it apart. Next, the mountainous lightning beast’s body smashed against Chen Feng’s figure. Marquis Scarletfire rushed forward to grab Chen Feng, who coughed out a stream of blood, a lost look on his face. The aura coming off his body kept falling. It appeared as though he was already on death’s door.

“What?!”

Everyone there grew shocked. They did not think that Chen Feng could be so easily wounded. Not to mention, it did not appear fake.

Holding Chen Feng, Marquis Scarletfire quickly retreated some distance away and the mountainous lightning beast then turned around to charge at the other cultivators. This time, the lightning beast ended up meeting a miserable end. Sword light flashed and the lightning beast was cleaved into two.

Sou!

Sword Immortal Azuretip appeared before Chen Feng, stretching his hand out to grab Chen Feng.

“What are you doing?” Marquis Scarletfire shouted and his hand shot out to stop Sword Immortal Azuretip.

“I just want to check his wounds.” Sword Immortal Azuretip was very fast and he managed to grab hold of Chen Feng’s palm.

Weng!

A wave of invisible energy fluctuations poured into Chen Feng’s body. However, it was quickly retracted.

“He is quite badly injured. However, he won’t die from this,” Sword Immortal Azuretip said coolly before getting up. He then walked away, ignoring Chen Feng.

“Chen Feng, are you all right? Are you actually wounded?” Marquis Scarletfire secretly asked. In Marquis Scarletfire’s opinion, Chen Feng’s strength should be in no way beneath him. How could he end up seriously wounded after just one clash with a Yao King?

“I’m just faking it. Heh! That Sword Immortal Azuretip sure is sinister. He left a stream of sword energy inside me. I cannot refine the sword energy, lest he discovers it. Additionally, there is no telling when it would be mobilized against me.” Chen Feng replied with a secret vocal transmission.

“What? He did that?”

“Don’t worry, I have a way to deal with it.”

As Chen Feng was badly injured, he could no longer assume the vanguard position. Marquis Scarletfire, on the other hand, was taking care of Chen Feng. Thus, they ended up in the rear position while the other cultivators began fighting the lightning beasts. They displayed various moves to kill off one formidable lightning beast after another.

“These fellows possess decent cultivation bases. They are also quite talented. What a pity!” Chen Feng sighed.

“Pity? Why?”

“Because all of them are about to die.”

“Ha ha ha! That makes sense… careful!”

Marquis Scarletfire promptly shouted and flames erupted from his whole body to form a barrier of flames, encasing both him and Chen Feng.

Two cultivators slipped out from amidst the lightning powers, the swords in their hands stabbing towards Chen Feng. However, the flaming barrier that Marquis Scarletfire created stopped them. Rather, the flames also managed to burn the clothes of the two attacking cultivators.

“Assassins!” Marquis Scarletfire shouted grimly.

“They’re after me. Only, I wonder which organization they are from? Right, that doesn’t matter. What matters is who hired them,” Chen Feng said smilingly.

At that very moment, Chen Feng still appeared to be very weak. He was fully reliant on Marquis Scarletfire’s support. And yet, his expression remained calm, if not somewhat amused.

“The assassins are starter-level Human Immortals.” Marquis Scarletfire swung his hand and the two attackers who were already set on fire blew up, reduced to ash.

“They have a death wish.”

Assassins of this level posed no threat to Marquis Scarletfire at all.

“I say, Chen Feng. Hurry up and recover your strength. I fear that there will be even stronger assassins,” Marquis Scarletfire suggested.

“Wouldn’t their objective be met once I die?” Chen Feng said, a thoughtful look on his face.

“You mean…”

“That’s right. I’ll fake my death and hide in the dark. The two of us will take action to snatch the Glassy Lightning Flowers, one in the open and one in the dark.”

“A good plan.”

Sou! Sou! Sou!

More assassins appeared. Once again, the three assassins were starter-level Human Immortals. At the same time, however, more cultivators rushed forward from afar. There were over 10 cultivators, all at the Human Immortal stage. They were openly targeting Chen Feng.

“What is going on here?” It was then that one of the cultivators from Absolute Academy spoke up. This person was not one of the cultivators who were targeting Chen Feng.

“It’s none of your business! Don’t interfere,” Sword Immortal Azuretip said in a grim tone.

1 li = 0.5 km