Chapter 693: A Group of Brothers at the Canxia Realm

It was clarified that the act of forging one's own path corresponds to the Freedom Realm.

The East Sea stretched out, vast and boundless, with billions of acres of turquoise waves.

After emerging from the island where the Indestructible Mountain stood, Chu Feng plunged into the sea, heading into the distance. Underwater, he moved with the same divine speed.

Before long, he neared the East Sea Dragon City, an underwater metropolis. Constructed from gleaming, beautiful corals, enormous conch shells, and tortoiseshells, the city sparkled magnificently.

Particularly, vibrant red corals glowed, and fist-sized sea pearls emitted a shimmering, colorful luminescence, providing a brilliant and wondrous light source for the underwater city.

The underwater world was exceedingly beautiful. Near the city, numerous exotic trees grew, their beautiful leaves displaying a vibrant array of colors: some golden yellow, some bathed in purple light, others as silvery white as jade, all bursting with life.

Rainbow fish glided, white sea turtles ambled, jiao snakes moved about, and merfolk strolled... a diverse array of creatures filled the scene.

It was truly like a fairy tale world, beautiful to the point of being dreamlike.

It wasn't Chu Feng's first visit, yet he remained captivated by the beautiful scenery, finding it utterly delightful.

He altered his appearance and confidently made his way to the center of the underwater city, the site of the East Sea Dragon Palace. With countless underwater vines and extensive groves of exotic trees, it was truly a rare sanctuary.

However, despite the city's large population, this crystal Dragon Palace was unusually quiet, unlike its usual bustling state.

Notably, the sea creatures standing guard outside the palace were unusual. They were not native cultivators, but rather colorful, two-headed flying serpents with cold, piercing eyes, distinctly different from the Dragon Palace guards he had encountered previously.

“Is the Dragon Maiden here?” Chu Feng asked, stepping forward.

The two-headed flying serpents immediately constricted their pupils, flicked their forked tongues with audible hisses, and one of them commanded, “You, come here.”

Most communication underwater occurred through spiritual telepathy.

However, this particular area was unusual, forming a unique space. Inside the Dragon Palace, there was no water, as if it were completely cut off from the ocean.

Chu Feng sighed, instantly realizing something was amiss with the Dragon Palace. These were not the original guards of the East Sea Dragon Clan. His expression immediately turned cold as he advanced.

He felt a pang of worry for the Dragon Maiden, fearing she might have met with misfortune.

In fact, he had harbored a premonition before arriving. With so many Holy Sons flocking to the East Sea and hundreds of evolutionary sects uniting, it was highly probable that the power dynamics here would be reshaped. Now, it appeared his foresight was correct!

His heart heavy with apprehension, he hoped no harm had come to the Dragon Maiden.

“Boom!”

The next instant, a network of domain runes illuminated near the Dragon Palace, intending to ensnare Chu Feng. Evidently, the occupying forces had anticipated such a scenario and had prepared to capture or eliminate anyone associated with the East Sea Dragon Clan.

“Surrender now!” the two-headed serpents sneered, their eyes venomous and their horrifyingly white fangs gleaming.

“You fools don't know your place!” Chu Feng stomped his feet, instantly extinguishing all the domain symbols, then lashed out with a devastating palm strike.

One two-headed serpent exploded, dissolving into a mere splash of blood, its very bones obliterated.

Next, he unleashed a Lightning Fist, obliterating all but one of the two-headed serpents.

Chu Feng seized the sole surviving two-headed serpent, pressing a finger to its head to explore its memories. He could forcibly delve into the mental domain of cultivators significantly weaker than himself.

In an instant, Chu Feng’s expression turned frigid. Some aquatic races from beyond this realm had occupied the palace as a temporary residence and had already slain several members of the East Sea Dragon Clan.

“You all deserve to die!” Chu Feng roared, crushing the two-headed serpent with a sudden crack.

The races currently occupying this place were the Sea God Serpents and the Sea Yakshas. The Holy Sons of both races favored residing in water, spending most of their time here when not besieging the Indestructible Mountain.

“All of you, get out here!”

Chu Feng, radiating surging killing intent, stormed directly inside. Simultaneously, extraterrestrial sea guards appeared en masse, shouting and charging at him.

With just a single punch, the fist-light tore through the entire Dragon Palace, sending the group of enemies hurtling away—some broken, some exploding, some incinerated. This was the divine skill of the Yang Realm: Lightning Fist.

Its power was utterly overwhelming!

“Who dares to seek death and disturb my slumber?!” A furious roar echoed from within the Dragon Palace, and then a Sea Yaksha appeared, its face like that of a malevolent ghost, its appearance hideous. It possessed golden skin, a robust physique, and horns on its head.

“Your grandpappy has arrived! Get over here!” Chu Feng roared.

At that moment, he revealed his true face, radiating a terrifying killing aura, his eyes tinged with red. The Dragon Maiden was a close friend, and if she had perished at the hands of these individuals, even slaying them all would be futile and irreversible.

“You... you're Chu Feng?!” The Sea Yaksha was utterly stunned. Seeing Chu Feng's return, his heart began to pound, and he was profoundly unwilling to initiate combat.

The Sea God Serpent was absent, having gone to the surface. Only this Sea Yaksha remained, and he instantly knew his odds were grim.

“Come here and face your death!” Chu Feng thundered, unleashing a furious roar. He extended a large hand, reaching forward to seize his foe.

The Sea Yaksha attempted to break through, while various sea serpents and other yakshas around him attacked in unison. Yet, with a series of muffled pops, they were either crushed to death or exploded by Chu Feng's overwhelming force.

The Holy Son of the Sea Yaksha clan was seized by Chu Feng. A single palm strike fractured half of his body, leaving him limp and immobile on the ground.

The Sea Yaksha was horrified to realize the immense disparity between them. This 'Demon Chu' was far more formidable than the rumors suggested, truly a Holy Son among Holy Sons, virtually peerless among his generation!

“Where is the Dragon Maiden? Dare to utter a single lie, and I'll flay you alive!” Chu Feng demanded, his face devoid of emotion, a lethal intent burning within him.

The Sea Yaksha trembled, immediately becoming cooperative. “Holy Son Chu Feng, please show mercy,” he pleaded. “We did try to capture the Dragon Maiden, but she wasn't in the Dragon Palace; she had already escaped. Furthermore, some members of the East Sea Dragon Clan had managed to flee beforehand and were not all slain by us.”

“What Holy Son, Divine Son?” Chu Feng scoffed. “Do you think I value such titles as much as you do? They're nothing but fodder, a mere commodity to exchange for resources.”

Chu Feng pressed his foot down on the yaksha, forcing more detailed information. Finally, he let out a long sigh of relief, confident that the Dragon Maiden was indeed alive.

To avenge the East Sea Dragon Clan, Chu Feng ended his suffering swiftly, striking him down with a fist imprint.

Subsequently, he swept through all the extraterrestrial sea races occupying the palace, eliminating every last one.

Chu Feng stood motionless and silent, simply waiting.

Within the underwater city, a great commotion erupted. Many of the East Sea's native clans had witnessed the scene and were utterly astonished.

Chu Feng did not leave; instead, he sat in meditation, circulating his breathing technique to calm his mind.

As expected, someone eventually approached him, cautiously identifying him before whispering, “You... are you truly Chu Feng?!”

“It is I,” Chu Feng confirmed with a nod.

“This way, please!” a sea race cultivator said, leading him away.

Finally, far from the city, they stopped in a deep-sea trench. A white sea turtle, fiercely loyal to the East Sea Dragon Clan, halted and requested a token from Chu Feng.

Chu Feng pondered for a moment, then retrieved the vibrant red flying sword he had used in his earliest days and presented it to the turtle.

“Very well, wait here!” The white sea turtle, surprisingly, possessed a secret treasure that could tear open space, allowing it to vanish instantly.

“Chu Feng, it’s truly you!” Finally, the Dragon Maiden arrived. Upon seeing Chu Feng, she was overcome with surprise and immense excitement, though a touch of sadness clouded her expression, knowing some of her kin had perished.

“It’s me, I’m back,” Chu Feng replied, equally delighted. Seeing his friend alive, the worry that had weighed on his heart finally lifted.

“Didn't you go into the starry sky? When did you return? The forces from beyond are besieging the Indestructible Mountain, and they're particularly targeting you. You must be careful,” the Dragon Maiden cautioned.

Chu Feng nodded. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I returned precisely for those hundreds of evolutionary sects. They want to besiege the Indestructible Mountain? I think they’ve miscalculated. We’ll turn the tables and hunt them instead. Come on, join me!”

He intended to bring the Dragon Maiden to the True Dragon's Lair, and also wished to provide her with evolutionary elixirs to help her ascend to the Meal-Mist level.

“Meal-Mist?!” After hearing his detailed explanation, the Dragon Maiden’s beautiful eyes widened in astonishment, her face filled with shock.

“Yes, currently, it’s only possible to reach the Meal-Mist Realm,” Chu Feng explained. “Higher-grade exotic fruits cannot be brought in because the mother planet is recovering and imposes a certain suppression. Only cultivators from beyond this realm at the Meal-Mist level are currently permitted to enter, and the same applies to corresponding exotic fruits, weapons, and so forth.”

Soon after, they emerged at the East Sea's eye, gaining entry into the True Dragon's Lair.

The moment they entered, Chu Feng sensed something amiss. Many cultivators had been here before, and even domain masters had made their move. There were bloodstains and even corpses strewn outside the True Dragon's Lair.

At the far end of the ruins, nestled against the mountain, lay a dragon cave. Within it, a dragon nest constructed from lightning-struck wood shimmered into view, radiating surging dragon energy.

Chu Feng frowned. “I underestimated this place,” he admitted. “I thought I could enter the Dragon Nest after becoming a peak-level domain master, but now it seems I was overly optimistic. This area is also recovering, and it’s even more formidable than before. Outsiders have attacked here in the past, but they all failed.”

He searched the area, even delving into the ruins to decipher the ancient, lingering domains. There, he discovered more corpses, astonishingly, including two domain masters.

Ultimately, Chu Feng sighed. He took some lightning-struck wood and, more importantly, harvested some Dragon Blood Grass that had undergone three or even four evolutions. He gave this herb to the Dragon Maiden, knowing it would greatly aid her transformation into a dragon.

“Let’s go. I can’t enter the True Dragon’s Lair right now,” Chu Feng said, gazing at the ancient cave in the mountainside with a sense of helplessness.

The dragon energy within grew increasingly dense, and a strong medicinal fragrance filled the air. Faintly, he discerned Dragon Embryo Trees and Reverse-Scale Flowers, two plants that resembled parts of a true dragon, complete with scales, their potent fragrance wafting towards him.

This was a tremendous fortune!

Chu Feng felt a pang of regret, but then his expression brightened. From another perspective, he could return here later when his strength was greater. Domain researchers possessed a heaven-defying technique: they could utilize True Dragon's Lairs and Phoenix Divine Nests to gather the power of mountains and rivers, drawing in creation. By entering a state of nirvana while slumbering within these nests, they could embark on an incredibly formidable evolutionary journey.

While ordinary cultivators could consume exotic fruits to enhance their physique and evolve, the method employed by domain researchers was akin to devouring the spiritual essence of mountains and rivers—a far more terrifying and astonishing feat.

Naturally, the risks involved were also immense.

Moreover, where in this world could one hope to find True Dragon or Phoenix nests? How many intact ones could be discovered even by searching the entire universe?

“Hmm, perhaps it's for the best,” he mused. “I won’t use it now. At a crucial juncture, when I reach a certain pinnacle, returning here will prove far more beneficial!”

Undergoing nirvana at a greater height would be far superior to hastily utilizing this place’s fortune now!

Ultimately, Chu Feng escorted the Dragon Maiden to the Indestructible Mountain, instructing her to enhance her physique and begin her evolution there. He then departed once more, traversing the ocean and heading for the mainland.

Chu Feng arrived in Shandong Province, making his way to the outskirts of Heze and entering the Great Wild Marsh, a place that had only appeared after the cataclysmic changes to the world.

According to historical records, Qilins once roamed this area; the event known as the Western Hunt for the Qilin occurred precisely here.

Chu Feng had visited before and had indeed located the ancient Qilin Nest, but it had long since been occupied by extraterrestrial cultivators. At that time, he had been powerless against them, but now, naturally, they posed no challenge.

Walking the path leading into the depths of the Great Wild Marsh, Chu Feng was filled with a myriad of emotions. It was on this very path, long ago, that he had slain Yuan—the master of the Jade Void Palace and the superior of old man Lu Tong!

The ancient Qilin Nest was now bustling. Numerous cultivators were operating together, following the commands of four domain masters, intent on dismantling the area.

Indeed, the extraterrestrial forces had mobilized a massive contingent, now launching a full assault here, determined to seize the Qilin Nest.

“Hmm, as expected, it’s not as terrifying as the True Dragon’s Lair,” he murmured. “This place was breached in ancient times, so it’s not a complete divine beast nest. Perhaps it’s also related to the Qilin being hunted prematurely before it had fully matured.”

Chu Feng examined the terrain, concluding that this location was likely unsuitable for undergoing nirvana.

“This is the place. My brothers are in for a treat,” he declared. “All the fortune they need will come from the potent energy left behind by the Qilin.”

This place contained Qilin Qi, from one of the world’s most powerful auspicious beasts, whose veins coursed with divine blood. Any place a Qilin inhabited became a pure land, imbued with divine mist and auspicious radiance. When condensed with Qilin Qi, it was exceptionally suitable for cultivators at the Meal-Mist level to consume.

“The nest contains Qilin Flowers, which condense the most potent Qilin Qi,” Chu Feng exclaimed, overjoyed. “They cannot be missed!”

The term “eating mist and consuming qi” referred to the Meal-Mist Realm.

Chu Feng observed the group, noting their slow progress. At this rate, it would take at least half a month to dismantle the fragmented Qilin Nest.

“First, let them do the grunt work,” Chu Feng thought with a smile. “Once my brothers are ready, I’ll return here to take over!”

With that, he departed!

Eight days later, Chu Feng returned, bringing a group of companions. They had covertly left the East Sea aboard a green bamboo boat, stealthily making their way to this location.

“Ah, they’ve been working through the night,” Chu Feng remarked, surprised. “It looks like this place will be breached in just two more days.” His smile widened even further.

“I can barely wait; I’m so excited!” the old donkey exclaimed, excitedly kicking its heels.

“I can’t stand it either!” the Northeast Tiger roared. “I desperately want to enter the Meal-Mist Realm right now and devour a mouthful of Qilin’s radiant mist here!”

The Dragon Maiden, Big Black Ox, Ouyang Feng, Yellow Ox, Wu Qifeng, Old Lama, and the others were equally restless, their blood surging with eagerness, wishing they could storm inside immediately.

Chu Feng spoke. “Alright,” he said, “I’ll make our move early to avoid any complications. If we truly wait for them to breach it, the reinforcements they’ve arranged might arrive. We’ll strike two days ahead of schedule!”

What followed was a completely one-sided battle!

Initially, the battle was fierce, as several domain masters stood guard. Yet, in the end, Chu Feng eliminated them all. He not only understood domains but was also a master of combat, crushing everything in his path.

A day later, Chu Feng personally breached the fragmented ancient Qilin Nest.

“Owooo...”

A chorus of great demons let out joyous, ghost-like howls, filling the area with exultation. Then, radiant light flickered and clouds churned as they began their breakthrough, gathering the first wisps of vital energy and mist required for the Meal-Mist Realm!

A new generation of Meal-Mist Realm cultivators was being born!