This object was in fact a black stone platform. The platform was covered in intricate patterns, and an ancient aura emanated from it.
Chu Feng determined that this item originated from the ancient era, but the formations upon it carried the aura of the Black Fiend Old Demon. It was likely crafted by the Black Fiend Old Demon using materials from the ancient period.
“You may challenge one another. The challenged party may surrender if they feel outmatched.”
“The final two victors will advance to the ultimate trial.”
The Black Fiend Old Demon looked separately at Chu Feng and the four geniuses from the Gongsun family as he spoke.
“I, Gongsun Tuoba… challenge Chu Feng.”
No sooner had the Black Fiend Old Demon finished speaking than one of the Gongsun family geniuses immediately declared war on Chu Feng.
This person named Gongsun Tuoba was the only one among the four from the Gongsun family who had passed the trial to possess merely third-level Dragon Transformation strength.
In truth, among the seven geniuses from the Gongsun family present, three were at the fourth level of Dragon Transformation, while Gongsun Yuntian was even at the fifth level.
By rights, in terms of strength, apart from Gongsun Yuntian, the other three who passed the trial should also have been at the fourth level of Dragon Transformation.
Unfortunately, the qualification for this trial was determined by the order of emergence from the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace.
The geniuses of the Gongsun family had focused solely on ensuring Gongsun Yuntian emerged first. They had paid little attention to the order of the others.
This led to the current situation, where one of those who passed the trial was Gongsun Tuoba at only the third level of Dragon Transformation.
Yet even at the third level of Dragon Transformation, Gongsun Tuoba showed no regard for Chu Feng whatsoever.
In fact, earlier inside the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace, when he had encountered Chu Feng, he could only hide behind Gongsun Yuntian and had no qualification to fight Chu Feng at all.
But now back in reality, he immediately regained his confidence.
After all, before entering the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace, they had all undergone testing.
He had long known that Chu Feng was merely at the second level of Dragon Transformation.
“That despicable fellow really thinks Chu Feng is a soft target he can pinch at will?”
“You will soon have a bitter fruit to eat.”
Although Xia Yan cursed under his breath, his face wore a look of schadenfreude.
They all knew the little scheme Gongsun Tuoba was playing.
But they also knew that Chu Feng was far more than merely second-level Dragon Transformation. By challenging Chu Feng, Gongsun Tuoba would not gain any advantage. Instead, he was courting suffering.
Let alone him. In Xia Yan’s view, among the four geniuses from the Gongsun family who had passed the trial, apart from Gongsun Yuntian, the other three would find it far from easy to defeat Chu Feng.
Yet Gongsun Tuoba clearly failed to realise this.
After declaring his challenge to Chu Feng, he even added a remark.
“Chu Feng, if you are afraid, you may surrender.”
Gongsun Tuoba looked utterly smug.
Swish.
Who would have thought that Chu Feng would move his body and directly descend from mid-air onto the enormous black competition platform.
Seeing Chu Feng land, Gongsun Tuoba gave a light humph. He also leaped and landed upon the platform.
The moment Gongsun Tuoba landed, he released his boundary spirit power and was about to attack Chu Feng directly.
“Wait a moment.”
But Chu Feng spoke up to stop him.
“What, are you afraid?”
“If you are afraid, then get lost quickly.”
Gongsun Tuoba roared at Chu Feng.
Yet unexpectedly, Chu Feng ignored him entirely and instead turned his gaze towards the Black Fiend Old Demon.
“Lord Black Fiend, this junior has a question.”
“In this duel, is it to stop at a touch, or is anything permitted as long as life is not taken?”
Chu Feng asked the Black Fiend Old Demon.
“Normally speaking, since this is merely a trial, it would naturally be to stop at a touch.”
“But for this trial, this old man wishes to see something different. You may exert full strength, as long as you do not take life.”
“Thus, if you do not wish to be injured, you may surrender directly.”
“But since you accept the challenge, you must be prepared to be wounded.”
The Black Fiend Old Demon said.
“Thank you for the guidance, my lord. This junior understands.”
Chu Feng bowed respectfully to the Black Fiend Old Demon.
Then he released his boundary spirit power.
The moment Chu Feng’s boundary spirit power emerged, it immediately intertwined, forming a formation in the blink of an eye.
It was a colossal boundary dragon.
The boundary dragon was lifelike. It let out a dragon roar while exuding draconic might as it charged straight towards Gongsun Tuoba.
“Humph!!”
Gongsun Tuoba gave a light humph, his face full of disdain. He likewise released his boundary spirit power and set up a formation to attack Chu Feng.
For he could sense the combat power of Chu Feng’s boundary spirit power. It was indeed only second-level Dragon Transformation and utterly incapable of contending with him.
Roar.
Yet who could have imagined that, as Chu Feng’s boundary dragon drew extremely close to Gongsun Tuoba, not only did its roar become even more piercing, its body grew larger, and its might became several times more ferocious than before.
If the combat power of second-level Dragon Transformation boundary techniques was comparable to fourth-rank Supreme,
then at this moment, the combat power of Chu Feng’s boundary dragon was comparable to seventh-rank Supreme.
Such combat power could not be blocked even by third-level Dragon Transformation.
After all, the boundary combat power of third-level Dragon Transformation was only comparable to sixth-rank Supreme. How could it possibly rival seventh-rank Supreme?
In an instant, the two boundary formations had drawn near.
Yet Chu Feng’s boundary dragon was unstoppable.
By contrast, Gongsun Tuoba’s boundary formation was like paper paste.
The two formations had not even collided head-on. Merely the might from Chu Feng’s boundary dragon caused Gongsun Tuoba’s formation to disintegrate completely.
If this boundary formation landed on Gongsun Tuoba’s body, the consequences would be unimaginable.
“Stop!”
Seeing the situation turn dire, people from the Gongsun family immediately released their oppressive might.
They sought to rescue Gongsun Tuoba.
Ugh wah.
However, the moment those who released oppressive might did so, their might was forcibly suppressed back into their bodies.
Their own oppressive might unexpectedly wounded them heavily. After spurting a large mouthful of blood, they collapsed weakly to the ground as if drained of strength.
“Is it your turn to interfere here?”
The Black Fiend Old Demon abandoned his earlier amiable demeanour. Though his face showed no anger, his voice had turned deep and low.
Just this alone terrified the people of the Gongsun family into trembling.
“You bunch of fools, why do you not apologise to Lord Black Fiend at once?”
The head of the Gongsun family berated those injured clansmen.
How could those clansmen dare delay? Although they had clearly been injured by the Black Fiend Old Demon, they still humbled themselves extremely and apologised to him.
“Enough of the false pretences.”
“Take your useless juniors away.”
As the Black Fiend Old Demon spoke, he looked towards the competition platform.
By now, the duel between Chu Feng and Gongsun Tuoba had long concluded.
Although ripples formed from boundary spirit power still lingered upon the platform, the specific situation on it was visible.
Chu Feng stood in place, completely unharmed.
But Gongsun Tuoba lay on the ground, his clothes in tatters.
His body was drenched in blood, covered in wounds.
Chu Feng had not killed him, but he had severely injured him and stripped him of all dignity.
“Why is this young friend’s boundary combat power so peculiar?”
In the stands, the boundary spirit masters from various parts of the Nine Souls Heavenly River pointed and discussed while watching Chu Feng.
By now, they regarded Chu Feng with new respect, realising he was far more than second-level Dragon Transformation.
Yet they also harboured confusion, for if Chu Feng were fourth-level Dragon Transformation, his boundary combat power should be comparable to eighth-rank Supreme, not seventh-rank Supreme.
“It should not be suppressed combat power.”
“Rather, it seems he used some special treasure to enhance his combat power.”
“If my guess is correct, this boy’s true strength should be the same as Gongsun Tuoba’s, also third-level Dragon Transformation.”
“But his strength lies in possessing a treasure that can boost boundary techniques by one rank of combat power.”
“With such a supreme treasure, it seems this boy’s background is far from simple.”
After some speculation, people seemed to arrive at an answer. Precisely because they had an answer, their attitude towards Chu Feng changed once more.
Swish.
At that moment, another figure plunged from high in the sky and landed where Gongsun Tuoba had previously stood.
It was another genius from the Gongsun family.
“I, Gongsun Wude, come to seek instruction.”
This one named Gongsun Wude was a boundary spirit master at the fourth level of Dragon Transformation.
Although fourth-level Dragon Transformation was only one level above third-level,
the combat power of fourth-level Dragon Transformation was comparable to eighth-rank Supreme!!!
Thus, when Gongsun Wude issued his challenge,
some people in the stands revealed smiles of schadenfreude.
Even if Chu Feng had a treasure to boost his combat power and could defeat the third-level Dragon Transformation Gongsun Tuoba,
facing the fourth-level Dragon Transformation Gongsun Wude, he was clearly powerless.
They felt that this junior from the Sacred Light Heavenly River, though far from ordinary, would obviously have to surrender automatically.
He… could not possibly defeat Gongsun Wude.
“Gongsun Wude? In my view, you should be called Gongsun Wude (Gongsun Without Virtue).”
“There are five who passed the trial. Why keep challenging me?”
“Is this not simply relying on the fact that you are family to bully me, an outsider?”
Chu Feng asked.
“Cut the nonsense. Do you dare accept the challenge or not?”
“If you do not dare, kneel and beg for mercy. Then I will let you off.”
Gongsun Wude was extremely arrogant. Gongsun Tuoba had merely told Chu Feng to get lost, but this one actually demanded Chu Feng kneel and beg for mercy before he would spare him.
Swish.
Yet in the next moment, Chu Feng’s figure flickered and actually vanished.
When Chu Feng reappeared, he was already behind Gongsun Wude.
By the time Gongsun Wude reacted, Chu Feng had already whipped out a leg sweep.
With a muffled thud, not only did blood spray, Gongsun Wude’s jaw was shattered by the kick. He flew tens of thousands of metres before landing. After landing, he tumbled hundreds of times on the ground before barely stabilising himself.
But by then, his face was utterly disfigured, and he had fainted dead away.
With just one strike, Chu Feng had defeated the fourth-level Dragon Transformation Gongsun Wude.
His defeat was even more miserable than Gongsun Tuoba’s!!!
This scene left everyone utterly stunned.
Not to mention others, even Xia Yan and Xiao Yu wore expressions of shock.
They had long known that, after employing special methods, Chu Feng’s boundary technique combat power could rival fourth-level Dragon Transformation.
Yet they had not expected that, facing a true fourth-level Dragon Transformation like Gongsun Wude, Chu Feng would win so effortlessly.
However, just as shock filled everyone’s hearts, Chu Feng’s voice rang out.
“Next.”
Chu Feng cast his gaze towards the two remaining geniuses from the Gongsun family high in the sky.
