The Art of Chaotic Divinity

Chapter 294: Wind and Thunder Transformation

Gradually, the young geniuses from the four major academies concluded their challenges, and every single one of them successfully passed the sixth level.

As for Du Shaoling, Li Yunlong, Jun Moxie, and Chu Bingyun, they even surpassed the eighth level, only to falter at the ninth level.

The difficulty of the ninth level was indeed quite formidable.

Of course, no one knew at that time that the challenge Ling Feng faced on his fifth level was equivalent to the difficulty of the others' ninth level!

Ultimately, one by one, everyone returned to the shore of the lake. Most individuals, upon realizing they couldn't overcome the challenge, resolutely chose to abandon it. Consequently, there were hardly any fatalities. Though a few sustained significant injuries, their lives were not in jeopardy.

These young, talented youths, following this trial, had each acquired at least six treasured artifacts and valuable items, along with medicinal pills, which filled them with immense joy.

"Du Shaoling?"

At that moment, Jun Moxie from Tianwei Academy emerged from the water, noting that Du Shaoling had left the Sword Tower of Wind and Thunder even before himself. Unable to hold back, he chuckled, "It appears that you, Du Shaoling, haven't actually succeeded in passing the ninth level!"

"Hmph!" Du Shaoling snorted, sweeping his wide sleeves and crossing his arms, completely ignoring Jun Moxie.

He remained here solely to see how far that reckless Ling Feng, who had chosen the hellish difficulty, could progress.

Or perhaps Ling Feng had already perished inside the Sword Tower of Wind and Thunder!

After all, the hellish difficulty was on an entirely different level compared to the regular difficulty.

Finally, dusk arrived once more. A full day and night had passed since they entered the Sword Tower of Wind and Thunder!

Bang!

Another figure burst out of the water—it was none other than Li Bufan!

Li Bufan's aura seemed to have changed. It was subtly infused with a violent thunderous power, making him appear even more enigmatic and formidable.

"Junior Brother Li, did you actually make it past the ninth level?" Jun Moxie asked, swallowing hard in astonishment.

"What does it matter to you?"

Li Bufan, clutching his longsword, stood coldly to the side, his usual forbidding expression warning others to keep their distance.

He glanced around the crowd, but didn't spot Ling Feng. He pursed his lips, inwardly confident. It seems I've surpassed myself in the trials of the Sword Tower of Wind and Thunder!

Indeed, Li Bufan had successfully passed the ninth level, but not without resorting to his last-ditch effort—he activated the power of an amulet bestowed upon him by his family's ancestors, just to barely make it through.

Of course, the various trump cards and valuable treasures the challengers had also contributed to one's strength. The Spirit of Wind and Thunder acknowledged this success and ultimately passed on the incantation of the Wind and Thunder Transformation to Li Bufan.

Furthermore, he was bestowed with a spiritual object possessing dual attributes of wind and thunder by the Spirit of Wind and Thunder. This object was successfully infused into his spirit, hence the faint hint of the fierce thunderous power emanating from Li Bufan.

It could be said that with this opportunity, Li Bufan's future path in martial arts would undoubtedly be smoother. As long as he doesn't falter, he would steadily become an expert in the Spiritual Sea Realm. He might even reach the level of a half-step emperor like Yan Cangtian.

As for whether he could ascend further and become an emperor level expert would depend on his opportunities and luck.

In the Tianbai Empire, there ere quite a few known half-step emperors, but the number of martial artists who have broken through to the emperor level could be counted on one hand.

Those who could take this step were without exceptional individuals blessed with great opportunities, exceptional luck, and outstanding talents.

Jun Moxie's face turned embarrassed as he received a cold shoulder. However, Li Bufan was the son of the grand commandant's family; naturally, Jun Moxie didn't dare to provoke him easily. He could only snort coldly and ignore Li Bufan.

However, judging from the time Li Bufan emerged from the Sword Tower of Wind and Thunder, he very likely did pass the ninth level, and he even received the Wind and Thunder Transformation!

Such an opportunity was truly enviable!

"Now, only Ling Feng is left!"

Ye Nanfeng stared at the calm lake ahead and furrowed his brows. "Considering Ling Feng's exceptional talent, even if he can't surpass the ninth level, he should easily be able to handle the eighth. It's been quite a while, so why hasn't he emerged?"

"Tsk, seems like that kid bit off more than he could chew. If he hasn't surfaced yet, he's probably done for!" A student from Zhenlong Academy laughed heartily.

"Yeah, yeah! One must know their limits!"

Another student from Zhenlong Academy chuckled with a strange tone, eagerly hoping for the demise of all Tianwei Academy students.

"It's getting late," Li Yunlong from Hailan Academy nodded towards Jun Moxie, Du Shaoling, and the others, offering a fist-and-palm salute. "We of Hailan Academy shall take our leave now!"

With those words, the students from Hailan Academy crushed their return talismans and made their way back to their academy.

Following suit, Chu Bingyun from Wenyuan Academy, along with the remaining students, departed together. There was no need to linger any longer.

On the Zhenlong Academy side, Du Shaoling remained standing with his arms crossed, unmoving as if he had no intention of leaving.

"Senior Brother Du, should we wait?" Asked a cautious student from Zhenlong Academy.

"You all can go ahead. I'll wait a bit longer. That kid isn't ordinary!" Du Shaoling's eyes flashed with a hint of brilliance. Anyone brave enough to choose the hellish difficulty like Ling Feng could surely carve out a place in the empire if they emerged alive!

"Uh, alright..."

With Du Shaoling opting to stay, the remaining students from Zhenlong Academy had no choice but to wait as well. Naturally, some, like Chen Boguang, who had always harbored resentment towards Du Shaoling, didn't even spare him a glance. He promptly crushed his return talismans and made his way back to Zhenlong Academy.

As for the students from Tianwei Academy, since they all hailed from the same academy and the three-day deadline had yet to expire, they decided to wait until the final deadline before departing.

...

Meanwhile, within the confines of the Sword Tower of Wind and Thunder.

Under the formidable pressure, Ling Feng's combat prowess skyrocketed at an incredible speed!

In fact, he even delved deeper into the incomplete Boundless Sword Steps, attaining a true state of freedom where his movement speed became even more elusive and unpredictable.

Utilizing his speed advantage, Ling Feng's longsword, empowered by the amplification of the Slaughterous Sword Will, claimed the lives of one limit expert after another.

A lethal thrust!

Followed by another!

And yet another!

The sword gleamed brilliantly, radiating a chilling aura!

Every strike from Ling Feng bore a ruthless intent to kill, cutting through anything in its way!

At last, he passed the fifth level of the hellish difficulty!

In this grueling trial, Ling Feng sensed a breakthrough in his cultivation once again. The bottleneck of the Fourteen Meridians Realm had loosened considerably, leaving only that final step before the breakthrough.

"Battle truly proves to be the most effective means of strengthening one's power!"

Seated cross-legged, Ling Feng began replenishing his true qi.

As for the sixth level, its challenges remained unknown. Ling Feng knew he must prepare himself in the best possible condition to face whatever it may bring.

Thankfully, the Wind and Thunder Trial imposed no time constraints. Ling Feng had ample time to adjust his condition to its peak.

Half an hour later, Ling Feng had completely recovered. A confident smile graced his handsome face. With my current speed, even if there are some weaknesses in strength, I can easily make up for them. I wonder what kind of opponents await on the sixth level?

But no matter who they are, I'll defeat them with a single stroke of my sword!