Yellow Court Daoist

"I wouldn't dare talk nonsense," Lin Feng immediately said.

However, he saw the Golden Phoenix King's eyes quickly twist with a fleeting sly spark before sternly saying, "It wouldn't be difficult for this king to help you escape your bind, but you must first remove the constraints of the Dragon Tiger Altar. Otherwise, I cannot comply."

The Golden Phoenix King wasn't stupid.

With just a thought, he understood Lin Feng's intentions for trapping him in the Eight Sceneries Tower over the years.

Seizing this rare opportunity, he aimed to push his advantage.

"That's impossible."

"Without the Dragon Tiger Altar, if you leave alone, wouldn't I be caught blind?"

Lin Feng shook his head.

Without a method to check the Golden Phoenix King's powers—given his temperament—it would certainly be tough to control him.

Seeing the Golden Phoenix King's expression suddenly change and about to explode in anger, Lin Feng spoke calmly, "Daoist Brother, don't be annoyed. I swear that if you follow my plan and get out of the Desolate Cold Stream, I will set you free."

Releasing the Golden Phoenix King was not a big deal for Lin Feng.

The precondition was—

To escape the Desolate Cold Stream first.

Otherwise, it was beyond his control whether the Golden Phoenix King would run away or deliberately slack off, bungling the job and then sneaking off on his own.

"I can help you get out, but you must first release the Dragon Tiger Altar," the Golden Phoenix King thought he had the upper hand as he staunchly insisted.

"Daoist Brother has no sincerity."

"If that's the case, let's talk later."

Lin Feng stood his ground and with a slight flick of his hand, he was about to confine the Golden Phoenix King back into the Eight Sceneries Tower.

Upon seeing Lin Feng was serious, the Golden Phoenix King panicked.

He didn't want to be shut away again.

"Wait. Don't rush," he said, his expression struggling as he quickly spoke up to stop Lin Feng, urgently saying, "You swear first that as long as this king helps you out of the Desolate Cold Stream, you will release this king and the Golden Phoenix Sparrow Clan within the Eight Sceneries Tower without breaking your word!"

"No problem."

Lin Feng didn't haggle, directly agreeing.

He immediately pledged a Heart Demon Oath.

As long as he could get out, releasing the Golden Phoenix King and the Golden Phoenix Sparrow Clan was nothing to him.

Material possessions.

They were all just material possessions.

"Good, good, good."

Seeing Lin Feng swear, the Golden Phoenix King was overjoyed, his demeanor softened significantly as he eagerly said, "What are we waiting for? Quickly take this king to break that damn formation."

"..."

Lin Feng shook his head.

If it were that simple, why would he bother negotiating with the Golden Phoenix King here? He could just carry the Eight Sceneries Tower, call the Golden Phoenix King out when he reached the spot, and stride out easily.

"What problem now?!" The Golden Phoenix King frowned with impatience.

Lin Feng didn't mind and explained gently, "The Desolate Cold Stream is like a separate world. Even a True Immortal can hardly find the Heavenly Extreme, the end of the Desolate Cold Stream. Only an Earth Immortal can glimpse it."

That was the greatest problem.

Inside the Desolate Cold Stream, there were 108 Little Cave Heavens, filled with smoke and fire that confused the heart and mind, making it hard to discern direction. There were also formations left by Yang Sen the Great Marshal outside, hazy and obscure. Without certifying the Earth Immortal Dao Fruit, one could not even hope to have a chance to break the formation—

Not to mention finding where the formation lay!

Hence,

Lin Feng was so cautious.

If it were just the Golden Phoenix King, even if he were defiant, Lin Feng had a thousand and one methods to deal with him. But involving an Earth Immortal, if the Golden Phoenix King pulled any tricks, Lin Feng would deeply regret it.

Life and success were at stake; Lin Feng couldn't afford not to be careful.

"The Fiery Fire Demon Emperor is violently temperamental and the lord of the Demon Court. If one, a Human Clan True Immortal, were to go alone, it would be suicide."

"Guiyuan Immortal Venerable presides over the Immortal Court, with no shortage of top True Immortals under his command. My combat power might not be lacking, but with lower cultivation, I may fail to catch Guiyuan Immortal Venerable's eye. To meet the Immortal Venerable and gain his attention, then request a look at the very edge of the Desolate Cold Stream, I would need to undergo strenuous efforts."

"And as for the last one, the Nine Heavens Immortal Venerable—"

"This Immortal Venerable appears amiable and easy to get along with, but like a Divine Dragon that shows its head but not its tail, he always acts alone."

When it comes down to it,

It might seem easy to seek refuge with any one of the Earth Immortals and offer up the Golden Phoenix King, with a chance of getting out of the Desolate Cold Stream.

But how could Lin Feng know these three Earth Immortals' character and temper?

If after taking the Golden Phoenix, they refused to do anything, what could Lin Feng do?

Therefore,

He couldn't just hand over his hopes to someone else and let fate be toyed with.

And without alerting the Earth Immortals—

"The Fiery Fire Demon Emperor."

"Guiyuan Immortal Venerable."

"The Nine Heavens Immortal Venerable."

After weighing his options for a long time, Lin Feng had made his decision, "To the Immortal Court!"

...

Once his mind was set,

Lin Feng discussed his plan with the Golden Phoenix King, going over all the details.

The key point was once they obtained Guiyuan Immortal Venerable's approval and reached the Heavenly Extreme, they had to escape the Desolate Cold Stream with the swiftness of a thunderbolt that one cannot cover their ears in time to block.

If Guiyuan Immortal Venerable discovered their intent, whether intercepting them in advance or following them out, it would be very bad.

The former need not be elaborated on—it would likely be tragic.

And even for the latter.

No one knew if an Earth Immortal, upon seeing the Golden Phoenix King, would develop other thoughts or have different plans for Lin Feng.

To put one's life in the unpredictable hands of an Earth Immortal is always insecure.

"You make a good point!"

The Golden Phoenix King understood the stakes too.

If he were to be discovered by an Earth Immortal, Lin Feng might escape unscathed, but he would likely suffer a terrible fate.

In a moment, his expression also turned grave.

As the two conversed.

At that very moment.

Boom!

A rumbling thunder sound came from beyond the skies, causing even this little world around the Earth Strange Cave to surge with energy and the Spiritual Energy to vibrate. Mortals could not detect it, but cultivators all lifted their heads.

Lin Feng and the Golden Phoenix King both looked up into the sky beyond, with the former furrowing his brows and saying, "This is Earth Immortal combat. Fierce battles have been ceaseless outside the Earth Strange Cave for nearly half a year. Could it be that the Immortal Court is about to go to war with the Demon Court?"

In the Desolate Cold Stream.

Only the 'Three Cold Venerables' were Earth Immortal figures.

Of them, Nine Heavens Immortal Venerable roamed free from disputes, unconcerned with conflicts. But Guiyuan Immortal Venerable and the Fiery Fire Demon Emperor each led their respective Immortal and Demon Courts, often clashing in major battles.

One might say, they find their pleasure through strife.

Every major battle caused an earth-shattering uproar.

Whether it was Lin Feng or other cultivators in the Desolate Cold Stream, all were accustomed to it. Initially, they would bravely venture to observe battles but as time passed, it became monotonous, and they seldom joined the excitement.

Take Lin Feng, for example.

In the first few hundred years after arriving at the Desolate Cold Stream, he witnessed more than a dozen Earth Immortal combats, each time feeling his blood boil with excitement. But over time, it became mundane, and even his heart grew indifferent.

If one day these two ceased their fighting, that would truly be big news.

"Once the war begins, isn't it the perfect time for you to fish in troubled waters?"

Golden Phoenix King remarked.

Lin Feng was not optimistic, "I'm afraid that if Guiyuan Immortal Venerable is preoccupied with the battle, and the Immortal Court is also in chaos fighting the Demon Court, my request to see the Heavenly Extreme might seem too strange and arouse suspicion."

Even if it doesn't raise suspicion.

In the midst of a great battle, Guiyuan Immortal Venerable might not have time to attend to him.

After some thought,

Lin Feng decided not to join the tumult beyond the sky.

But the trip to the Immortal Court could be moved up the agenda.

Perhaps he could make some achievements during the battle. By climbing to a high enough position during the fight, once the battle ended, it would be just right to make his request to Guiyuan Immortal Venerable.

With plans settled in his heart,

Lin Feng shook the Eight Sceneries Tower, saying to the Golden Phoenix King, "I'm going to have to trouble Daoist Brother for a while."

"Hmph!"

The Golden Phoenix King, now tied to the same string with Lin Feng, no longer bristled at the idea and squeezed into the Eight Sceneries Tower with a pinch of the nose.

Lin Feng, holding the Eight Sceneries Tower, turned to go back to his dwelling to refine the Mei Hua Needle and Dragon Capturing Net that had just come into his possession.

Suddenly, he sensed something.

He looked up again towards the sky and saw a gray murkiness on the horizon—

Clang!

A beam of Sword Qi cut through the heavens, shooting in from beyond the sky, wielding the power to destroy heaven and earth, scattering clouds for thousands of miles.

It made one's heart feel as if a sharp sword dangled overhead, tension snapping taut.

Lin Feng had experienced this feeling several times over the past half year while in seclusion.

But he was focused on refining the Taiyi Green Spirit Fire and had paid it no mind.

Seeing it with his own eyes this time, he felt as if struck by lightning.

"Vulture?"

The Golden Phoenix King saw Lin Feng's mana falter, freezing him in place, and looked on in bewilderment.

"..."

This utterance jolted Lin Feng awake.

Ignoring the Golden Phoenix King completely, he surged into the sky, mana rippling. His body was enveloped in Sword Qi, exhibiting all the mastery he had acquired from the Luo Fu Sword Scripture over ten thousand years.

The Golden Phoenix King saw Lin Feng.

"What—"

Then, glancing at the Sword Qi coalescing but not dissipating in the sky above, his eyes suddenly bulged as if he'd realized something.

His expression turned frantic; not daring to change form, he shot up in his humanoid shape, following hot on Lin Feng's heels.

…

Outside the limit of the blue sky.

The dark, boundless fog churned.

Boom!

Boom!

Two masses of Pure Yang collided.

Within them, one was like a ball of Sword Qi, sweeping around with an invincible Sword Intent. The other was like a scorching sun, with Fierce Fire leaping about, and every casual motion brought a skyful of flames sweeping across.

The two forces clashing.

Ordinary cultivators couldn't see clear details, but a Mahayana True Immortal with a Spirit Eye or Dharma Eye would discern that the Sword Qi was far weaker than the Fierce Fire.

At a disadvantage.

However, the petite Female Sword Immortal who had transformed into Sword Qi had a solid Cultivation Technique and Mysterious Divine Skills. Xuan Light burst from beneath her feet as she shifted positions unpredictably, hard to pin down.

The Magic Robe on her body ballooned and within the clear blue sky, moonlight manifested, making her Magic Robe appear even more mysterious, as if a bell-dome covered her entire body.

Once the Magic Robe was revealed, the Fierce Fire upon arrival, turned into nothingness, failing to stir up the slightest ripple.

"Good fellow, this newcomer Female Sword Immortal is really fierce. With two Great Divine Powers, even the Demon Emperor has a hard time coping."

"Not just the Demon Emperor. A month ago, this Female Sword Immortal fought a battle with Guiyuan Immortal Venerable. Guiyuan Immortal Venerable didn't get any advantage either. That Female Sword Immortal even has a Palm Fan, with one fierce wave, Guiyuan Immortal Venerable could only dodge in a disheveled retreat."

"Amazing! Amazing!"

…

The Desolate Cold Stream was neither too big nor too small.

Some had grown tired of watching Earth Immortal battles, yet there were always those interested.

This time was different as two Immortal Venerables had come, now fighting non-stop battles against Guiyuan Immortal Venerable and the Fiery Fire Demon Emperor, driven by grudges unknown.

This provided the observing Primordial Spirits and True Immortals quite the thrill.

They were sure that with the arrival of two external Immortal Venerables, the situation in the Desolate Cold Stream would likely have to change. Like stagnant water, any change displaced these cultivators with anticipation.

The battle in the arena went on without pause.

With narrow, triangular eyes and a hooked nose, Han Feng, too, joined the excitement, observing from outside the Earth Strange Cave. The sullenness in his heart had not yet dissipated, "These two new Immortal Venerables have arrived at the perfect time for recruiting. If I make my move now, I might gain significant authority. Later, when I encounter Vulture again, I will make sure—"

"Han Feng."

"Han Feng."

Lost in his aspirations, Han Feng suddenly heard someone calling him. Turning his head, he nearly scattered the twenty Mei Hua Needles hidden in his sleeve with a burst of mana.

Lin Feng landed not far away, peeking curiously beside Han Feng, and immediately smiled, "The Jishan Four Beasts aren't with you?"

"Lin Feng."

"The Immortal Venerable and Demon Emperor are in combat – if you want to die, don't drag me into it!"

Han Feng cursed his bad luck; holding onto the Mei Hua Needles, he tried to distance himself from Lin Feng.

With so many spectating the Earth Immortal fight, if the combatants above were disturbed by True Immortals below, the consequences would be unpredictable.

Han Feng was not about to gamble with his life.

Seeing Han Feng's reaction, Lin Feng promptly said, "Brother Han, don't leave. I mean no harm, only—"

"Humph!"

But seeing the Golden Phoenix King land beside Lin Feng, how could Han Feng dare to linger? Snorting without looking back, he vanished without a trace.