The Art of Chaotic Divinity

"Hahaha! Great news!"

Xiao Juanyun hurried over to Ling Feng in just a few strides and excitedly slapped him on the shoulder several times.

The martial practitioners of the Dongling Region stared in disbelief.

In their eyes, someone as lofty and untouchable as Xiao Juanyun was actually acting so warmly toward Ling Feng.

"What great news?"

Ling Feng was briefly taken aback before quickly realizing the answer.

"The Great Desolation Ruins are finally opening?"

"Mhm, the Great Desolation Ruins are finally about to open!"

Xiao Juanyun nodded vigorously.

"Sunset Ancient City will close in about ten days, so I was worried the ruins wouldn't open in time. Thankfully, these past few days of waiting weren't for nothing."

Ling Feng rubbed the bridge of his nose.

After all, wasn't the reason so many geniuses and experts from every region had gathered here precisely because of the Great Desolation Ruins?

Now that they were finally opening, it was no wonder Xiao Juanyun was so excited.

Of course, Xiao Juanyun's true objective was probably to recover the sword that belonged to the Xiao Clan.

"Brother Ling, Brother Luo, this is a portrait of the sword my Xiao Clan's ancestor lost."

Xiao Juanyun took out a scroll and slowly unrolled it.

"Two golden characters, 'Ling Xiao,' are engraved on the blade. It's a treasured heirloom passed down through the clan head's bloodline, and it's of immense importance to the Xiao Clan."

"I'll keep an eye out."

Luo Hanzhou remained as sparing with his words as ever.

Ling Feng nodded as well.

"If I happen to find it, I'll return it to you intact."

"Then I thank you both in advance."

Xiao Juanyun cupped his fists respectfully before continuing.

"The ruins should open around noon. Let's gather at the hill north of the city. With me there to vouch for you, the other factions of the Xijian Region should give me some face. They probably won't make things difficult for the martial practitioners of the Dongling Region."

"In that case, I'll thank you on behalf of all my fellow disciples."

Ling Feng returned the salute.

Compared to the Xijian Region and the Beihan Region, the overall strength of the Dongling Region's martial practitioners was undeniably much weaker.

Once they entered the ruins, they would most likely become easy targets.

However, with the disciples of Solitary Moon Heavenly Palace looking after them, they might not gain any great opportunities, but at least their chances of surviving would improve considerably.

...

"The Great Desolation Ruins..."

At the former residence of the Dragon Sword Heavenly Manor disciples, another expert had just returned from the twelfth zone of Sunset Ancient City.

With Long Aotian dead, the disciples of Dragon Sword Heavenly Manor had been left leaderless.

Fearing retaliation from Ling Feng, many of them had even considered giving up their chance to enter the Great Desolation Ruins.

After all, the Long Aotian brothers had deeply offended Ling Feng. If they encountered him inside the ruins, revenge would be inevitable.

To their surprise, just at that critical moment, another senior brother returned from the twelfth zone.

It was like timely rain after a drought.

"That's right, Senior Brother Han. The Great Desolation Ruins are about to open. This ruin is no less valuable than any of the secret realms on the twelfth level."

One disciple of Dragon Sword Heavenly Manor spoke with an eager smile.

"Hehe. No wonder Long Aotian never bothered going to the eleventh level and stayed here on the tenth instead. So he had his eyes on the Great Desolation Ruins."

Han Su sneered.

In truth, he had been thoroughly intimidated by an expert from the Zhongyuan Region and had no choice but to retreat to the tenth zone.

Unexpectedly, that retreat had led him straight to such a fortunate opportunity.

Anyone capable of reaching the twelfth zone naturally possessed extraordinary strength.

Han Su was far stronger than Long Aotian.

The disciples then gave him a brief account of everything that had happened.

A sinister smile spread across Han Su's face.

"So Long Aotian actually died by Long Xingye's hand. Hahaha. Now that's interesting."

"Uh..."

The disciple looked uncomfortable.

As someone from the Long Clan faction, he naturally dared not laugh at Long Aotian's death.

"Still, I'm rather interested in this brat from the Dongling Region called Ling Feng."

Han Su narrowed his eyes.

"I've never thought much of Long Aotian, but regardless, he represented the face of Dragon Sword Heavenly Manor. That brat has humiliated us time and time again. If we let him continue, everyone will think Dragon Sword Heavenly Manor is easy to bully. When that happens, not only Solitary Moon Heavenly Palace, but even Tianchuan Sword Manor and the other sword manors will start looking down on us."

"Yes, yes. Senior Brother is absolutely right."

"Good. In that case, there's no reason for that brat named Ling Feng to keep living."

Han Su let out another cold chuckle.

"He still dreams of entering the Great Desolation Ruins and claiming its opportunities?"

A cold gleam flashed across his eyes before a surge of killing intent quickly vanished.

"Since you're so determined to enter, then the Great Desolation Ruins will become your grave."

...

At that very moment, Ling Feng had no idea that he had already become the target of another expert from Dragon Sword Heavenly Manor.

Instead, he was facing an entirely different dilemma.

Standing before him was a woman of breathtaking beauty.

She gently bit her rosy lips as her lovely eyes remained fixed on Ling Feng.

Her gaze flowed like mist drifting across distant mountains, gentle and filled with unmistakable affection.

"Uh..."

Ling Feng felt goosebumps rising all over his body under her unwavering stare.

Half an hour earlier, the woman named Mu Fenghua had come looking for him.

She had introduced herself as a disciple of the Floating Willow Sword Sect, mentioned that the sect consisted mostly of female disciples, and then... simply kept staring at him.

She had been doing exactly that for the past half hour.

"So, Mr. Ling, have you made your decision?"

Mu Fenghua finally spoke, her voice soft and gentle.

"My decision about what?"

Ling Feng looked completely baffled.

"If there's nothing else, Miss, I'd appreciate it if you stopped wasting my time."

The corners of Mu Fenghua's lips twitched.

Was this man made of wood?

She had already hinted at it.

No, it was practically a direct confession.

Biting her lip again, she continued.

"My meaning is quite simple. Your swordsmanship is exceptional, Mr. Ling. Why remain in the Dongling Region? If you're willing, you can join the Floating Willow Sword Sect. I can guarantee it would be an opportunity for you to soar to new heights."

"Soar to new heights?"

Ling Feng chuckled, amusement flickering across his eyes.

This woman certainly was interesting.

Even Xiao Juanyun had tried to recruit him more subtly.

She, on the other hand, couldn't have been more straightforward.

"That's right."

Mu Fenghua proudly straightened her ample chest and said through gritted teeth,

"You probably don't know this, but I'm the granddaughter of the Floating Willow Sword Sect's Sect Master. If you're willing to join our sect, I'll marry you. Just think about it. Once you become my husband, you'll receive the full support and resources of an entire sect. Isn't that exactly what it means to soar to new heights?"

"Pfft..."

Ling Feng nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

So in this woman's eyes, even he was nothing more than a bargaining chip.

Still, she was free to think whatever she liked.

It had nothing to do with him.

"My apologies."

"Ling Feng has never had the habit of living off a woman."

"And besides..."

"You're simply not my type."

Ling Feng shook his head.

He had absolutely no interest in a woman like her.

"You..."

Mu Fenghua bit her lip and shot him an irritated glare.

Then she flicked her sleeve and turned to leave.

"Ling Feng, let me give you a warning. Another expert from Dragon Sword Heavenly Manor has arrived, and he's far beyond anything you can handle. If I step in, I can still save your life. There are still a few hours before the Great Desolation Ruins[1] open. If you change your mind before then, come find me."

After one last glare, Mu Fenghua stopped trying to persuade him and walked away without another word.

"Hehe. Another one?"

Ling Feng shrugged calmly.

"Then let them come."

1. Previously first appeared in chapter 1742 as Great Wilderness Ruins. Changed to Great Desolation Ruins. This is an ancient ruin or secret-realm site accessible from Sunset Ancient City. ☜