"Little brat, stop being so arrogant!"
Four Dao Pattern Realm powerhouses stepped forward, each unleashing their Dao Wheels. Runes filled the sky as they charged at Chu Lingfeng.
"Slash!"
Chu Lingfeng shouted angrily, swinging the Heaven Burning Sword. A red sword qi precious technique dozens of meters long burst forth, shattering all the runes instantly.
The four Dao Pattern Realm powerhouses trembled violently, as if struck by a heavy blow.
This sword strike was too terrifying. Defeating four Dao Pattern Realm powerhouses in one move caused everyone present to widen their eyes in sheer shock.
"Elder Yang, Elder Lin, kill him for me! Kill him!"
Liu Shaoqing's face twisted savagely as he ordered the two Void Dao Realm powerhouses.
"Liu Shaoqing, today not even these two Void Dao Realm powerhouses can save you. I said it!"
Chu Lingfeng's gaze grew cold, a fierce glint surging within his eyes. A surge of Great Dao power poured into the formation ring, causing the inscriptions on it to blaze brilliantly and erupt with a dazzling cyan light!
The next moment, a ball of cyan strange fire transformed into a cyan dragon with monstrous momentum, pouncing fiercely toward the two Void Dao Realm powerhouses.
Boom!
Cyan flames soared to the heavens, sweeping across the area. The two Void Dao Realm powerhouses shrieked as they were heavily battered by the cyan dragon.
Meanwhile, Chu Lingfeng moved with unimaginable speed, appearing right in front of Liu Shaoqing and delivering a heavy palm strike straight to the latter's shoulder.
Bang!
A muffled, heavy crash echoed, accompanied by the sound of cracking bones. Liu Shaoqing fell to his knees, both kneecaps shattering completely as he let out a shrill scream.
"Didn't you want me to break my own legs? Today, I'll break three of yours!"
Chu Lingfeng said indifferently, raising a foot and kicking fiercely at Liu Shaoqing.
"Ah!"
A miserable, piercing shriek escaped Liu Shaoqing's lips as his testicles were crushed into pieces.
"Who dares to cause trouble on the territory of the Treasure Pavilion?!"
An angry shout rang out, and immediately afterward, the figures of multiple Void Dao Realm powerhouses came hurtling toward them.
The Treasure Pavilion managed the trading market, and the massive commotion here had attracted the attention of numerous Void Dao Realm powerhouses.
"I am Liu Shaoqing! I order you all to attack right now and kill that brat!"
Liu Shaoqing's face was ferocious as he howled like a madman.
When the several Void Dao Realm powerhouses saw Liu Shaoqing with his lower body soaked in blood, their expressions shifted dramatically. In this Desolate City, who could possibly have the sheer audacity to inflict such a vicious punishment on the young master of the Treasure Pavilion?
"Brat, you'd better surrender and come back to the Treasure Pavilion with us to await the Pavilion Master's judgment!" one of the Void Dao Realm powerhouses barked.
"You can try!"
Chu Lingfeng gripped the formation ring without the slightest trace of fear. As long as he released all the fire Dao power contained within the ring in one go, even Void Dao Realm powerhouses would be forced to bite the dust.
"All of you, stand down!"
That robed elder stepped forward and commanded with great authority. It was none other than the elder who had previously praised Chu Lingfeng's sharp eye.
"Old Ancestor!"
Liu Shaoqing cried out with extreme excitement, as if he had just grabbed onto a lifesaving straw.
"Old Ancestor, hurry up and kill this brat! Avenge me!"
Chu Lingfeng's gaze turned cold. The cyan-robed elder gave him a deeply dangerous feeling; he was likely an Extreme Dao Realm powerhouse.
Jiang Ruoxi's eyes also turned icy cold, and the three powerhouses accompanying her closed in as well.
***
### Chapter 16: On the Ninth Floor, Meeting Pavilion Master An Linglong
Inside the trading market, the atmosphere where Chu Lingfeng stood was tense to the extreme, the air practically frozen.
Everyone present gasped. Who could have imagined that a figure like the Liu family's Old Ancestor—treated as an esteemed guest in any kingdom—would actually appear in the trading market?
"This kid is finished. Having crippled the Treasure Pavilion's young master right in front of the Liu family's Old Ancestor, could he possibly find a way to survive?"
"You can only say his luck is abysmal. If the Liu family's Old Ancestor hadn't shown up, he might have had a chance to escape. Now, he doesn't even have that chance!"
"He probably used up all his luck finding so many treasures earlier."
...
The crowd buzzed with noisy chatter, sighing in disbelief.
Liu Shaoqing was wildly excited, his face full of venom as he roared, "Old Ancestor, he crippled me! He made it so I can't even be a man! Drag him back to the Treasure Pavilion, I want to torture him slowly and make him wish he were dead..."
"You scoundrel, shut your mouth!"
To everyone's utter shock, the robed elder's face turned furious as he let out a thunderous roar.
No sooner had his voice fallen than a blast of palm qi shot out, striking Liu Shaoqing fiercely across the face. It sent Liu Shaoqing staggering back with a badly swollen cheek and a mouthful of blood.
"Old Ancestor, you..."
Liu Shaoqing was completely dumbfounded, staring at the Liu family's Old Ancestor with incredulous eyes. He never dreamed that his own ancestor wouldn't go after Chu Lingfeng to settle accounts, but instead strike him first.
Everyone present was equally struck dumb, completely unable to figure out what the Liu family's Old Ancestor was doing.
"This old man is Liu Qing. It is due to this old man's lax discipline over the younger generation that such a scoundrel emerged. I ask the young friend not to hold it against the Treasure Pavilion," said the Liu family's Old Ancestor.
At these words, the onlookers stared even wider. It was one thing for the Liu family's Old Ancestor not to capture this young man, but given his status, why was he apologizing to a junior?
Liu Shaoqing's gaze was vacant, unable to believe his ears. Was Liu Qing his ancestor, or Chu Lingfeng's ancestor?
Chu Lingfeng put away the formation ring. One does not hit a smiling person; since Liu Qing, the Liu family's Old Ancestor, had personally apologized, giving him an immense amount of face, it wouldn't be proper for him to pursue the matter further.
"Senior is too polite," Chu Lingfeng said.
Seeing that Chu Lingfeng bore no grudge, Liu Qing looked as though a heavy burden had been lifted; a trace of a smile finally appeared on his weathered face.
While nobody else understood why he acted this way, Liu Qing knew very well in his heart.
Ever since Chu Lingfeng found the first treasure, he had been tailing him. Intuition told him that this young man was not simply lucky—he must be hiding some profound secret.
When he discovered that Chu Lingfeng possessed a Dual Dao Wheel, he was even more shaken.
The two Void Dao Realm experts and one Extreme Dao Realm powerhouse by Jiang Ruoxi's side were also reasons why Liu Qing dared not act rashly.
Having lived for over a century, Liu Qing was a seasoned old fox.
In Liu Qing's view, the Liu family could have many young masters, but an absolute genius with astonishing discernment and a Dual Dao Wheel like Chu Lingfeng was exceedingly rare.
Making a formidable enemy out of someone who might shape the future of the Treasure Pavilion simply because of a worthless piece like Liu Shaoqing would be the height of foolishness.
The reason the Treasure Pavilion was able to thrive across various kingdoms was inseparable from the cautious nature of the Liu family's Old Ancestor, Liu Qing.
"If the young friend doesn't mind, would you care to accompany this old man to the Treasure Pavilion for a chat?" Liu Qing asked.
"No need, I have other matters to attend to."
Chu Lingfeng replied, showing no great interest in the Treasure Pavilion.
Hearing this, Liu Qing did not press the issue. Instead, he produced a talisman seal and handed it to Chu Lingfeng.
"This old man has one more presumptuous request: I hope the young friend will consent to become an honorary elder of the Treasure Pavilion. With this talisman seal, you may purchase any treasure within the Treasure Pavilion with priority. No matter where you go, as long as there is a Treasure Pavilion, you will receive the highest standard of hospitality."
Everyone present was left speechless. The Liu family's Old Ancestor, Liu Qing, was actually inviting a youth not even twenty years old to be an honorary elder of the Treasure Pavilion—something that had absolutely never happened before.
"Then many thanks, Senior."
Finding it difficult to refuse further, Chu Lingfeng accepted the talisman seal. Having this identity would undoubtedly make things much more convenient when traveling to other places in the future.
"Farewell!"
Stared at by so many people, with crowds trailing behind him wherever he went, Chu Lingfeng had lost any desire to continue browsing. He thoroughly despised the feeling of being watched at every turn.
Upon returning to the Cloud Pavilion, one of the pavilion's maidservants knocked on Chu Lingfeng's door.
"Young Master, my master invites you for a chat, if Young Master has the time," the maid said.
"Who is your master? Man or woman? Human or ghost, why must she chat with Brother Lingfeng? Is there something that can't be said right here?"
Jiang Ruoxi gave a cute huff. Out of a woman's intuition, she sensed this matter wasn't so simple.
"My master is the Pavilion Master of the Cloud Pavilion. I don't know the rest; I was only entrusted by the Pavilion Master to invite the Young Master."
Jiang Ruoxi placed her delicate hands on her slender waist and pouted, "You're not allowed to go! Go back and tell your master that this princess forbids it!"
The Cloud Pavilion was gathering places of beauties; she was deathly afraid that her Brother Lingfeng might be snatched away by someone.
Even if Chu Lingfeng was utterly devoted to her, he might still not withstand the temptations of those beautiful sirens.
What if the master of the Cloud Pavilion turned out to be a seductive femme fatale to the core?
Chu Lingfeng couldn't help but chuckle. How could he not see through Jiang Ruoxi's little thoughts?
"The Cloud Pavilion Master extended a kind invitation. If we don't go, wouldn't it be a bit discourteous?"
Chu Lingfeng said with doting laughter. The Cloud Pavilion Master was not someone just anyone could meet, and he also wanted to know what business this pavilion master had with him.
"I don't care, you simply aren't allowed to go! Who knows what kind of beauty trap she's setting? What if the Cloud Pavilion Master is a natural disaster of a beauty?" Jiang Ruoxi protested.
Hearing this, Chu Lingfeng was left between laughter and tears.
"Even if the Cloud Pavilion Master is a woman, she wouldn't take a fancy to a fallen prince, right? Aside from you, in the eyes of others, I really am not that important."
"Then I'm going with you!" Jiang Ruoxi declared.
With no other choice, Chu Lingfeng could only agree. It seemed that if he didn't bring this lass along, she would tear the roof off the Cloud Pavilion.
Following the Cloud Pavilion maidservant, the two of them headed toward the top floor of the pavilion.
The ninth floor of the Cloud Pavilion was the exclusive domain of the Pavilion Master, closed to the public. Without the Pavilion Master's authorization, no one was permitted to enter.
Inside a luxurious room, Chu Lingfeng and Jiang Ruoxi met An Linglong, the Pavilion Master of the Cloud Pavilion.
Unlike Jiang Ruoxi's youthful and peerless beauty, An Linglong possessed a charm bordering on the demonic, every glance and smile capable of captivating one's soul.
"This concubine is An Linglong, Pavilion Master of the Cloud Pavilion. I asked for Young Master's presence today on account of the Fire Spirit Stone."
An Linglong said, her voice seemingly imbued with a mysterious magic that drew people into a trance.
Chu Lingfeng suddenly recalled that when paying for his meal earlier, fearing the funds might fall short, he had tossed a Fire Spirit Stone into the storage spirit artifact he handed to the maid.
"May I ask if Young Master still possesses any Fire Spirit Stones? The Cloud Pavilion is willing to purchase them at three times the price," An Linglong said.
"I do have them, but I'm quite curious why you need Fire Spirit Stones in such a rush. As far as I know, while Fire Spirit Stones are rare, they aren't valuable enough to warrant a threefold purchase price."
Chu Lingfeng said indifferently. He possessed over a hundred Fire Spirit Stones and more than a dozen Fire Spirit Marrow crystals; to him, they weren't particularly precious items.
"This... really is inconvenient to disclose."
An Linglong said, seemingly harboring some unspeakable difficulty.
Chu Lingfeng chuckled softly, "I am a poor man, and a worldly one at that. I have no other skills, but I am rather stubborn. Wealth is like dirt in my eyes. If you don't tell me the reason, no matter how much money you offer, I won't sell you the Fire Spirit Stones."
An Linglong looked at Chu Lingfeng with a strange gaze. The young man didn't look like he was joking; this was her first time encountering someone like him.
"I can only tell you it's to save a little girl. She has Yin-malice Qi within her body."
"Yin-malice Qi?!"
Chu Lingfeng was slightly startled. Fire Spirit Stones didn't reach the Saint grade, but they could effectively suppress Yin-malice Qi, and the effect of Fire Spirit Marrow would be even better.
As the master of the Cloud Pavilion, An Linglong was willing to step forward in person for the sake of a little girl...
After a moment, Chu Lingfeng handed a storage spirit artifact to An Linglong.
Discovering over a hundred Fire Spirit Stones and more than a dozen Fire Spirit Marrow crystals inside the artifact, a strange look flashed in An Linglong's eyes.
"Take them as a gift. Consider it my contribution to charity."
With those words, Chu Lingfeng took Jiang Ruoxi's small hand and walked out of the room.
In Chu Lingfeng's view, earning a personal favor from the Cloud Pavilion Master was clearly far more cost-effective than a bit of money.
"That little girl is so pitiful. I really want to see her."
Jiang Ruoxi said. To suffer from the torment of Yin-malice Qi at such a tender age was truly heartbreaking.
"Since the Cloud Pavilion Master didn't mention letting us see her, she must have her reasons. We'll have a chance to meet her in the future," Chu Lingfeng said.
***
Several days later, the time for Wèncāng Pavilion to recruit new disciples finally arrived.
During this period, the news that Chu Lingfeng, the Ninth Prince of the Chu Kingdom—whose imperial bone had been seized and whose Dao Wheel had been crippled—had recondensed a Dual Dao Wheel spread like wildfire throughout Desolate City. Before long, it would surely reach the Chu Kingdom, the Jiang Kingdom, the Jin Kingdom, and other realms.
Departing from Desolate City and traveling a hundred miles forward brought one to Wèncāng Pavilion.
This was a mountain range piercing the clouds. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth was dense, the aura of the Great Dao majestic, and thick mists drifted everywhere—the ultimate manifestation of extremely concentrated spiritual energy.
And this was merely the outer area of Wèncāng Pavilion; one could hardly imagine what kind of scene lay within the pavilion itself.
In the middle of this mountain range lay a mist-shrouded valley, which was the mountain gate of Wèncāng Pavilion.
Tens of thousands of young men and women had gathered outside Wèncāng Pavilion. All of them under twenty years of age, brilliant talents with startling aptitudes, they had already reached at least the Dao Inscription Realm.
Chu Lingfeng and Jiang Ruoxi were also outside Wèncāng Pavilion, waiting alongside the others for the pavilion's trial to begin.
"Little brat, we meet again!"
A sinister voice drifted over, followed by the figure of Ye Chen, the genius of the Ye family, walking toward Chu Lingfeng with a face full of venom.
He would never forget the humiliation he suffered a dozen days ago.
Murong Miaotong, the talented young maiden of the ancient Murong family, spotted Chu Lingfeng once more, a strange light flashing in her eyes.
***
### Chapter 17: The Hu Family Genius, Unleashing the Ancestral Decree
"To think this young master would run into you outside Wèncāng Pavilion! The matter from last time is still far from settled between us!"
Ye Chen's face was ferocious and his eyes gloomy, as if he wanted to tear Chu Lingfeng apart alive.
Chu Lingfeng cast a disdainful glance at him, saying coldly, "A petty person biting off more than he can chew. If Miss Murong hadn't pleaded for you last time, you'd already be dead, without even the chance to stand here and talk to me!"
"You..."
Having the old matter brought up left Ye Chen speechless, his face flushing crimson without a single word to retort.
"Ye Chen, let past grievances be written off. If you trouble this young master again, my Murong family will choose to stand on his side!"
Murong Miaotong declared, warning Ye Chen not to act rashly.
Having stayed in Desolate City for several days, she too had heard the news about the Ninth Prince of the Chu Kingdom recondensing a Dual Dao Wheel.
If she guessed correctly, the youth before her was none other than Chu Lingfeng, the Ninth Prince of the Chu Kingdom, and the young maiden beside him was the princess of the Jiang Kingdom.
A Chu Lingfeng who had recondensed a Dual Dao Wheel likely possessed an aptitude surpassing even Chu Lingfeng, the Fifth Prince of the Chu Kingdom.
Ye Chen's expression darkened further. The reason he had been tagging along behind Murong Miaotong was in hopes of one day becoming her partner and elevating his status within the Ye family. Never did he expect Murong Miaotong to fall out with him over a man she had only met twice.
Daring not offend Murong Miaotong, Ye Chen let out a heavy snort and swept a contemptuous glance around him.
"Unlike you lot, this young master is an officially designated disciple of Wèncāng Pavilion! Passing Wèncāng Pavilion's trial is no easy feat—I hope you don't disappoint this young master!"
After speaking in a haughty and arrogant tone, Ye Chen walked toward the mountain gate of Wèncāng Pavilion amidst the envious gazes of many.
Young geniuses from ancient families possessed the privilege of becoming Wèncāng Pavilion disciples without undergoing evaluations.
"Young Master, see you inside Wèncāng Pavilion."
Murong Miaotong curtsied slightly toward Chu Lingfeng before heading toward the mountain gate as well.
Shortly after, both of their figures vanished from the gorge, entering Wèncāng Pavilion.
"Geniuses of ancient families can directly become disciples of Wèncāng Pavilion and receive greater attention. This is so unfair!"
"Nothing to be done about it; there are too many unfair things in this world. Just lump it—who told you not to be born into an ancient family?"
...
Many felt indignant yet helpless. Even if their aptitude wasn't weaker than that of the ancient family geniuses, Wèncāng Pavilion would still focus its cultivation resources on these pre-selected disciples, tilting all advantages toward them.
The pre-selected disciples of Wèncāng Pavilion were far more than just Murong Miaotong and Ye Chen; over the span of an hour, two to three dozen young talents successively entered the pavilion.
Before long, a dozen elders of Wèncāng Pavilion appeared—all powerhouses above the Void Dao Realm—and the trial of Wèncāng Pavilion officially began.
"Brother Lingfeng, I can only accompany you this far. I'll wait for you in the Jiang Kingdom. Even if you have nothing left, I am willing to live a life of ordinary lovers with you."
Jiang Ruoxi was reluctant to part. With the start of the trial, the time had come for her to say goodbye to Chu Lingfeng.
Chu Lingfeng planted a kiss on Jiang Ruoxi's forehead and said nothing; at this moment, all words seemed pale and powerless.
Then, under Jiang Ruoxi's gaze, Chu Lingfeng walked toward the mountain gate of Wèncāng Pavilion.
The task of these dozen Wèncāng Pavilion elders was to complete the first round of screening: any young genius over the age of twenty was barred from participating in the trial.
The moment an elder grasped Chu Lingfeng's wrist and infused Dao power into his body, a look of sheer shock surged into his eyes.
"Dual... No, Triple..."
The Wèncāng Pavilion elder's eyes were filled with disbelief. Stopping his words there, he said no more.
A Triple Dao Wheel surpassed the Supreme realm by far—it was destined to ascend the Heavenly Road!
This was a heaven-shaking secret; as an elder of Wèncāng Pavilion, under no circumstances should he let this news leak.
"Qualified. Go ahead."
The Wèncāng Pavilion elder said, handing Chu Lingfeng a Dao seal.
The trial of Wèncāng Pavilion was extremely perilous; crushing this Dao seal in a critical moment would safely teleport one out of the formation, though it also signified failure in the trial.
"Many thanks!"
Out of courtesy, and out of gratitude for the elder cutting off his words, Chu Lingfeng uttered these two words.
Immediately afterward, Chu Lingfeng stepped into the gorge ahead.
As soon as he entered, Chu Lingfeng realized that this place was an ancient grand formation. Runes filled the sky, radiating terrifying ripples, and a lightning bolt as thick as a water barrel immediately came crashing down toward him.
Boom!
The pale lightning shattered between Chu Lingfeng's fingers and palm, its thunder Dao power swallowed by him. Its might was no weaker than the full-strength strike of a Sixth Layer of Dao Inscription Realm powerhouse.
This was the trial of Wèncāng Pavilion. Only by passing this grand formation could one become a disciple of the pavilion.