Chen Feng sat cross-legged inside the tent, calming his mind as the vortex of energy in his Dantian slowly spun, ceaselessly absorbing the Yuan Qi between heaven and earth.
His mind was utterly clear, the special trajectory of the vortex circling back and forth through the meridians of his body. With every revolution, the color of the vortex in his Dantian would deepen by a shade, and the vortex itself would expand slightly.
Since leaving the valley, Chen Feng dedicated at least two hours every day to cultivation. No matter how powerful the Quan Huang skills were, without personal effort, everything would be in vain!
It was precisely because he understood this principle that Chen Feng persisted tirelessly in his cultivation, leading to the steady strengthening of his vortex power.
The vortex spun ceaselessly within his Dantian, resembling a dazzling nebula. Any Yuan Qi from the surroundings that entered this spiral was immediately incorporated as part of it.
What perplexed Chen Feng to this day was that when executing the Orochi no Mai technique, this brilliant vortex would actually explode!
The powerful suction of the vortex, upon detonation, could instantly transform the yellow energy of the vortex into crimson flames!
This was truly an unbelievable metamorphosis! If the control were even slightly lacking, the slightest error during the vortex’s explosion could reduce a person to ashes on the spot!
Where the Quan Huang techniques originated was unknown, as they resided inexplicably in his memory, but their rigorous structure and immense power could certainly be deemed heaven-defying methods!
However, such a profound technique could only reveal its mysteries as his strength increased, a prospect that was truly agonizing!
It was akin to knowing one’s fiancée was the most beautiful woman in the world, yet never having met her; after arduous struggle, one finally catches a glimpse of her shadow, only to find she wears a mask… and she declares that you cannot see her face until the wedding night…
This feeling was something no normal man could tolerate.
Currently, Chen Feng felt this exact sensation: the Quan Huang techniques in his mind might suddenly manifest at any moment, and upon their appearance, he would still need to verify the extent of their power…
During the battle with Spencer, he knew he could have directly defeated him using the Orochi no Mai, yet in order to deepen his comprehension of combat, he insisted on trading blows for several rounds!
But through that fight, his insight into applying the Quan Huang techniques deepened by another layer.
Sometimes, ultimate moves are not omnipotent; this was the same as in his past life playing King of Fighters. Light punches and light kicks possessed little power, yet many moves fundamentally required these lesser techniques to be executed! Moreover, without these simple, ordinary moves, the ultimate techniques were nothing more than mere ornaments!
For example, ultimate moves require charging. To unleash the Orochi no Mai, the vortex inside the body must first explode—a duration long enough for a fast opponent to retreat tens of meters! Although the Orochi no Mai carried immense power, what use was it if the opponent was dozens of meters away?
Viewed this way, its efficacy might actually be inferior to a simple light punch!
Combat truly was the best way to refine one's cultivation! This point proved absolutely correct!
Chen Feng exhaled deeply. His two hours of practice for the day were complete. Infinite power surged within his Dantian. He slowly stood up, just about to step out of the tent to find Xiao Hu, when he suddenly heard faint footsteps!
Someone was leaving the tent!
A flicker of suspicion crossed Chen Feng’s mind, and he swiftly slipped out. Beneath the bright moonlight, a silhouette was clearly visible to his eyes.
"Austin?"
The figure sneaking stealthily ahead was none other than Austin, the Third Prince of the Fenlai Empire.
Austin was a Fifth-Level Knight, quite agile, but this speed was insignificant in Chen Feng's eyes.
He followed about a hundred meters behind, maintaining distance. Chen Feng unleashed his Phantom Crane Steps, his form moving like a phantom.
Austin quietly slipped out of the tent perimeter, then cautiously navigated past the encirclement of the Ice Rock Dire Wolves before quickening his pace, weaving back and forth through the forest.
Chen Feng observed that the Prince was heading straight in the direction of the Nine Nether Canyon.
What was Austin up to? Why was he sneaking alone toward the Nine Nether Canyon in the middle of the night?
Chen Feng wished to discover the man's objective. Without disturbing him, he followed behind like a gentle breeze, the two walking one behind the other for over half an hour until the mist surrounding the entrance to the Nine Nether Canyon was visible ahead. At this point, Austin halted.
Chen Feng concealed himself behind a rock nearly a hundred meters away, regulating his breathing down to an almost imperceptible level.
Austin stood still, looking around cautiously. Finding nothing amiss, he pulled a small scroll from his embrace.
Chen Feng watched, perplexed. What purpose was there in taking out a magic scroll at this hour?
But his curiosity was short-lived. Austin suddenly tore the scroll open. Immediately, intense magical fluctuations erupted from the parchment, and a magical array, over five meters long, materialized in the air above the ground!
A spatial magic array contained within a scroll?
Though Chen Feng wasn't deeply familiar with magic, he recognized this scroll was far from ordinary!
The moment the scroll was torn, the sealed spatial magic within instantly activated. The array in the air flashed with a spectrum of multicolored light, and an old man clad in a gray robe stepped out from within!
"Elder Rodriguez!" Austin bowed deeply in greeting!
Chen Feng didn't know who this elder was, but seeing him emerge from the magic array confirmed he was no simple figure. The elder’s magic robe was inlaid with stellar insignia indicating his rank, but the distance was too great to make out clearly.
Rodriguez nodded slightly and spoke, "Once I help you obtain the Qilin Jade, you must fulfill your promise!"
Austin hurriedly bowed again, "Of course, Elder Rodriguez. Even if I possessed the audacity of a leopard and a bear, I would never dare deceive you!"
"Hmph, as if you would! Then tell me about that half interest—that Yellow Jade Demon Crystal? Bring it out now!" Rodriguez demanded.
A look of distress crossed Austin's face. After a moment, he confessed, "Truthfully, I dare not deceive Elder Rodriguez, but that Yellow Jade Demon Crystal is not currently in my possession. I have already given it away. However, once I secure the Qilin Jade, I will find a way to make it up to you…"
"Nonsense!" Rodriguez lost all semblance of elderly grace and cursed loudly, "Are you trying to trick me? Or do you believe I lack the capability to help you secure the Qilin Jade?"
Austin rushed to placate him, "How could I, Elder Rodriguez? As one of the four great elders of the Magic Association, possessing the strength of a Ninth-Level Magus—if even you cannot obtain the Qilin Jade now that it is unguarded by the Qilin, then no one in this world can!"
One of the four great elders of the Magic Association? A Ninth-Level Magus? Chen Feng was stunned; he finally grasped the man's identity!
Austin’s flattery, subtle yet perfectly pitched, managed to dissipate a large portion of Rodriguez's fury. He looked at Austin sternly, "Didn't we agree when we left the Imperial Capital? You gave it away? To whom?"
At this moment, a look of sheer horror spread across Austin’s face, as if recalling a nightmare figure. Rodriguez immediately perceived this terror emanating from deep within the Prince’s heart—it was genuine, not feigned. This made him even more puzzled. The Third Prince was known for his great ambition and strategy, the most outstanding of the three princes. For him to be struck with such dread, who could this person possibly be?
Austin's expression shifted several times before he finally uttered a sentence that nearly caused the hidden Chen Feng to collapse.
"He is from China!"