Chapter 1252: Wu Madman's Lineage

Chu Feng raced back like a demonic whirlwind, stirring up sand and stones. The string of captives coughed, having swallowed a lot of sand along the way.

This time, many in the Yongzhou camp were exhilarated; Cao De's triumphant return meant he had reclaimed all the secret realms within the Saint domain. Others, however, were left speechless. Their faces were ashen as they watched him race back, utterly unable to comprehend his insane power. For instance, the members of the Nine-Headed Bird clan looked grim, harboring considerable hostility. The more formidable Cao De became, the more displeasure showed on their faces.

Then there was Kun Long, who had been cut in half and nearly died. The former top Saint of Yongzhou had been cast from the heights of glory into the depths of despair, leaving his face a picture of misery. Jin Lin of the Mutant Qilin clan, however, showed an unusual expression. Today, Cao De seemed far more appealing to her; she admired strength, and even her animosity towards this adversary had significantly diminished.

Chu Feng handed over the group of captives to designated personnel. Wu Di, the prodigy of the Golden Crow clan, was momentarily speechless. These were all familiar faces, and now… every single one of them was here; not a single one had escaped!

At this moment, the supreme Saints from Hezhou and Zhanzhou exchanged speechless glances. They had gathered, only to find themselves herded into the Yongzhou camp, captured in one clean sweep. How could they possibly bear such humiliation? The few who had been captured earlier were also rendered speechless. They had believed they were merely careless, accidentally caught by that despicable young scoundrel. Now, the truth was out: that was a Great Saint sweeping through all the other Saints. And now, the main force had arrived, reuniting once again in this very place!

"This is truly…" They themselves blushed, overwhelmed with shame, wishing they could crawl into the ground. It was, in essence, a complete annihilation; not a single one escaped, all captured in one spot.

Chu Feng was very amiable, showing great concern and treating the captives well. However, the sight of him sickened many, especially the female cultivators, who genuinely feared he would once again volunteer to give them massages to promote blood circulation and dispel stagnation… It was simply too disgraceful!

Heavenly Venerate Qi Rong declared, "Excellent, Cao De, you have done extraordinarily well. I solemnly promise here that you may be the first to enter five of the ten secret realms you've reclaimed!" Millions of evolvers in the vicinity turned red-eyed upon hearing the Heavenly Venerate's incredibly generous personal bestowal. From a single secret realm, a Fusion Grass had been unearthed, and Cao De's achievement as a Great Saint was largely attributed to it. Now, he was being granted five such secret realms at once—who wouldn't be envious? Everyone was utterly astounded. The Nine-Headed Bird clan members glared with cold eyes, each clenching their fists, wishing they could seize this enormous, heaven-sent opportunity for themselves.

"Bring the wine, fill Cao De's cup!" Heavenly Venerate Qi Rong commanded. The medicinal wine, brewed from potent elixirs as promised earlier, was finally ready.

"Thank you, Heavenly Venerate!" Chu Feng took the cup and downed it in a single gulp. Instantly, a surge of heat coursed through his body, impacting every limb and bone, making him glow all over, almost on the verge of breaking through the Saint realm. At that moment, lightning flashed and thunder roared as his blood energy surged. Various phenomena burst forth from the crown of his head. As chaos first dawned and myriad things began, he stood alone amidst them, reflecting a blurred and hazy world. Everyone found it difficult to discern its true state.

Yet, people realized that Cao De was on the verge of defying the heavens; was he about to break through… to a higher realm?! Without relying on pollen, he was about to force his way into the Illumination realm merely by means of a cup of medicinal wine. Was he about to forge a legend?!

Some trembled, feeling utterly discomfited after witnessing this scene with their own eyes. For instance, Akamine, the Divine King of the Nine-Headed Bird clan, also an evolver, wondered why their youths had been so starkly different.

Chu Feng, however, remained vigilant. It wasn't that he didn't want to break through to the Illumination realm, but he was unsure of the medicinal wine's exact composition, particularly if it contained any exotic fruits—that would be no different from consuming pollen! He was determined to walk the strongest path, exercising extreme caution. He used the small gray millstone within his body to relentlessly crush and fuse all the medicinal properties, sending them into his previous life's Divine King Dao Fruit.

"Hmm, you nearly forged a myth among myths. You are truly extraordinary; you startled me greatly!" Divine King Li Jiuxiao approached, patted Chu Feng's shoulder, and revealed a look of surprise, deep admiration, and a touch of emotion. At the same time, he also felt a tinge of pity and regret for Chu Feng; he had been so close to breaking a miracle rarely seen throughout history, to becoming a myth among myths.

Chu Feng felt no regret at all. He was certain to take that step, but he dared not do so by relying on Heavenly Venerate Qi Rong's medicinal wine. He looked up at Heavenly Venerate Qi Rong, sensing a profound depth in the Heavenly Venerate's smile. This made Chu Feng grow serious; while he believed the Heavenly Venerate was a good person, he dared not let down his guard.

Just then, Heavenly Venerate Yu Shang appeared. Though seemingly forlorn and solitary, the old man now exuded immense power, with terrifying light gleaming in his usually mournful eyes. "Cao De, you've done well; rest by my side." He patted Chu Feng's shoulder, an invisible, secret power surging into his body, circulating as if to dissolve something. When he found nothing, he finally exhaled deeply. Chu Feng was touched. Clearly, Old Heavenly Venerate Yu Shang was also concerned and had personally intervened, subtly investigating for him without regard for the consequences. Li Jiuxiao also seemed to recall something; his eyes glinted with divine light as he patted Chu Feng's shoulder, then stood beside him, facing everyone shoulder-to-shoulder.

This time, the high-level experts from Yongzhou delivered an astonishing performance on the battlefield, securing more than half of the secret realms during the grand Divine King confrontations. This was primarily due to the exceptional strength of Li Jiuxiao, Xiao Shiyun, Mi Hong, and Ji Caixuan, who were truly paragons among Divine Kings, capable of ranking within the top ten Divine Kings in the Yang Realm! However, in confrontations at other levels, the Yongzhou side exhibited significant weaknesses. Aside from the Saint domain, their engagements in other realms were disastrous. In some domains, they even suffered complete annihilation.

Where was the monkey? Chu Feng was surprised; he felt unaccustomed to Mi Tian not appearing to show off. He saw Mi Hong and noticed the Divine King's troubled expression. Then he spotted Mi Qing, whose face was openly furious, her emotions fluctuating wildly. What happened? Where's Mi Tian? At the same time, Chu Feng noticed that Peng Wanli and Xiao Yao were also missing, immediately sending a chill down his spine as he realized something serious might have occurred. Could it be that something happened to them in the Sub-Saint realm confrontations?!

"Where are Mi Tian and the others?!" Chu Feng asked directly.

"My brother and the others are injured," Mi Qing said, her eyes red.

At this moment, others also showed solemn expressions, recalling the recent Sub-Saint confrontation, which had left them feeling helpless and deeply regretful. Chu Feng rushed to see them and found the monkey in the rear, looking truly miserable. He was covered in blood, impaled by a black spear, and had been carried back. Besides the monkey, Peng Wanli and Xiao Yao had also suffered this calamity; they had been pinned to the ground by black spears, bleeding profusely, and severely wounded. No wonder Mi Qing's eyes were red; the monkey and the others were so terribly injured, nearly killed!

"Who did this?!" Chu Feng demanded, looking towards the Sub-Saint battlefield, but too many people obstructed his view. He felt that his battle against the Saints hadn't taken long, yet such a shocking event had occurred here: the monkey and the others were brutally pinned to the ground, all bloodied. It was too sudden.

"Damn it, that guy is a ridiculously powerful pervert," the monkey spat. "I swear that once I enter the Saint realm, I'll go into the Grand Eight Trigrams Furnace to temper my true self. I won't return until I become a Great Saint!" The monkey's eyes were bloodshot. The black spearhead had been pulled from his body, but he was still trembling, a tremor born of extreme rage. He felt this was an immense humiliation. He had been defeated on the battlefield, and utterly so, actually hit by a thrown spear and nearly pinned to death!

Xiao Yao and Peng Wanli were also pale-faced, clenching their fists as they lay there, consumed by shame, indignation, and uncontrollable fury. For when their opponent nearly slew them, he had also mercilessly trampled on their dignity. "He's incredibly strong," Peng Wanli said, seething with shame and indignation. "He shattered one of my wings with a fist strike, then almost toyed with me before finally throwing a spear and pinning me to the battlefield!" Both he and Xiao Yao vowed that if they couldn't undergo an astonishing transformation after reaching the Saint realm, they would leave, retreat to their clans for a permanent seclusion, and never emerge again. They viewed this crushing defeat as an immense disgrace. Especially the opponent's cold words and utterly humiliating demeanor left a thorn deeply embedded in their hearts. Unfortunately, they truly couldn't defeat their opponent, leaving them with nothing to say.

From the southern Zhanzhou side, a terrifying Sub-Saint had recently emerged, sweeping through the monkey and the others with irresistible force. Even Heavenly Venerate Qi Rong personally issued an order: there was no need for anyone else from the Sub-Saint realm to fight, as victory was impossible with that individual present. Such a formidable individual had actually appeared! Chu Feng's performance was so astonishing, suppressing a group of people with the might of a Great Saint, that it drew everyone's attention. Otherwise, the Sub-Saint realm battle would undoubtedly have become the focal point! That being was terrifying, crushing and crippling opponents with overwhelming force.

"What's his background?!" Chu Feng asked. Unfortunately, he was one realm higher and thus unable to intervene on behalf of the monkey and the others. In fact, Divine King Mi Hong was equally infuriated by this; despite his strength, he could not personally descend to the battlefield as a Divine King to seek retribution for his younger brother.

"He wields the Millstone Fist," Peng Wanli stated. At the very beginning, one of his roc wings had been shattered by the opponent's punch; the individual showed utter disregard for the Roc clan. Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed deep within Chu Feng's eyes. The Millstone Fist? Could this be a disciple from the lineage of Heavenly Venerate Taiwu?! He and that lineage were sworn, undying enemies!

"It's even more profound than the Millstone Fist; he must be from the Martial Lunatic's lineage!" the monkey gnashed his teeth. Being defeated was one thing, but the opponent had also subjected them to every kind of humiliation.

"The Martial Lunatic's lineage?!" Chu Feng exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, we suspect he cultivates the Seven Deaths Body," Xiao Yao said. "Otherwise, he wouldn't be so heaven-defying!"

Chu Feng grew serious; his impression of the Seven Deaths Body was profound. When he, Old Gu, and Dong Dahu had gone overseas to gather bloodline fruits, they encountered someone from the Martial Lunatic's lineage on a terrifying island. That individual cultivated the Seven Deaths Body and was a Three-Revolutions Peerless King, so terrifying that even a weakened Old Gu couldn't contend with him. In the end, it was only by Chu Feng using the Reincarnation Earth and the small black wooden spear that he was finally slain!

"Cao De, he once boasted that he would kill you in a moment!" the monkey revealed, his face contorted in an awkward expression. When that individual humiliated them, he told them to deliver a message: after he had swept through the Sub-Saint battlefield and taken some time to comprehend, he would come for Cao De!

"How incredibly arrogant!" Many nearby were quite astonished. However, some elder high-ranking figures showed grave expressions; a monster who had cultivated the Seven Deaths Body would undoubtedly be absurdly powerful. Even Heavenly Venerate Qi Rong spoke, saying, "Do not be overconfident!" Heavenly Venerate Yu Shang also nodded, saying, "Having cultivated the Seven Deaths Body, combined with an opportunity similar to Fusion Grass, he most likely has the confidence to swiftly advance to the Great Saint realm!" Many were startled: was that being planning to break through on the battlefield, directly evolving into a Great Saint?!

"There is such a possibility!" Heavenly Venerate Qi Rong nodded, and he stated clearly that if one cultivated the Seven Deaths Body to its perfect state, they wouldn't even need opportunities like Fusion Grass. Once the Seven Deaths Body is perfected, a breakthrough into the Saint realm would inevitably lead to becoming a Great Saint! In prehistoric times, the Martial Lunatic had shaken the world by rising through the Seven Deaths Body. He repeatedly entered death seclusion within a certain realm, dying and reviving seven times, ultimately achieving an invincible true self and emerging into the world to complete the Seven Deaths Body! However, ordinary people simply cannot cultivate it. Even reaching the Three Revolutions Body is considered heaven-defying and would make one renowned throughout a region.

"Cao De, come out! Do you dare to fight me? I intend to slay a Great Saint!" Just then, from the direction of the Sub-Saint battlefield, the challenging voice of that being indeed rang out.

"Aren't you afraid I'll slap you to death?!" Chu Feng retorted.

"Heh, there are differences and disparities even among Great Saints. Just wait for me; allow me to undergo a heavenly tribulation, and then I will slay you!" That being was incredibly conceited, domineering, and arrogant, actually uttering such words on the battlefield. For a moment, everyone heard it and was greatly shaken. Someone was actually planning to slay Great Saint Cao De?!

"Heh, there's nothing more fulfilling than slaying a Great Saint at the very moment of one's own ascendancy. This will be an excellent experience and memory, worth savoring later!" He spoke again, and then dark clouds gathered, lightning flashed, and thunder roared over that area as he began his tribulation. The sheer power of it was terrifying; the thunderous light was vast and boundless!