Chen Feng nearly passed out hiding behind the rock. Could Austin possibly know he was a transmigrator? That was disastrous; the other man must also know about his KOF skills! At this thought, a deep, killing intent flashed in Chen Feng’s eyes!

The KOF skills and his identity as a transmigrator were Chen Feng’s greatest secrets. If they were exposed, he would lose his biggest advantage—how could he not be anxious?

A Ninth-Level Magister was absolutely not someone he could defeat right now; one slip-up and he could lose his life. His only option for the moment was to endure and wait for the perfect opportunity!

But thinking about it, it was strange. Didn’t Austin think he was someone on a trial from a certain family? Why was he suddenly saying he was from China? How could he have seen through his identity as a transmigrator?

A string of questions left Chen Feng thoroughly perplexed.

“From China?” Rodriguez paused upon hearing this, a grave expression dawning on his face. “Are you sure you aren’t mistaken?”

Austin shook his head. “Absolutely certain, no doubt about it!”

Seeing Austin speak with such conviction, Rodriguez fell silent. He knew that although this Third Highness was young, he was decisive and possessed unparalleled cunning; he would never speak without good reason. Since he stated it so positively, there had to be a reason.

Rodriguez remained quiet for a moment before asking, “This… how old did this person look?”

Austin replied, “He looked about fourteen or fifteen, carrying a large shovel on his back!”

“A shovel?” Rodriguez sounded genuinely surprised. “How did you encounter him?”

Austin dared not conceal anything then and poured out everything he had witnessed during the few days he spent with Chen Feng. He revealed everything, holding nothing back about the Ice Rock Fighting Wolf’s submission or the Pterodactyl’s evolution.

Rodriguez did not interrupt as Austin spoke. The more Austin revealed, the heavier his expression became, until it was dark as charcoal.

“Indeed! But haven’t they been out of worldly affairs for a long time? Why arrive at this moment? Could it truly be that sort of millennium pact? The cataclysm that occurs every thousand years?” Rodriguez mumbled to himself for quite some time before his spirit finally steadied.

“I wish to pay my respects to this senior!” Rodriguez declared.

“Pay my respects to him?” Austin looked troubled, stammering for a long time before managing, “He… he has a bad temper…”

It seemed Austin had genuinely been frightened by Chen Feng’s cold severity, worried about angering him with the slightest misstep.

Rodriguez stared at Austin with his sky-blue eyes for a moment, then sighed. “Then never mind! But you absolutely must cultivate a good relationship with him… Alas!”

As if lamenting something, Rodriguez hesitated for a moment, straightened his magic robe, and said, “Very well. Once the Qilin Jade is found, I intend to amend our previous agreement!”

Austin frowned, a hint of displeasure in his tone. “Elder Rodriguez, are you trying to raise the price now?”

Rodriguez was not angered by Austin’s impolite tone; instead, he said calmly, “No. I wish for you to convey the Magic Association’s goodwill to ‘him’!”

Austin asked, unconvinced, “Convey goodwill?”

Rodriguez clarified, “What I mean is, I hope you can persuade him to visit the location of the Holyrelis Grand Magic Association!”

Holyrelis was an isolated island far from the continent, not governed by any of the Four Great Empires, yet it reigned supreme above them all. It was the magic sanctuary of the entire continent, and every mage’s ultimate dream was to make a pilgrimage there! It was much like the concept of holy pilgrimage in his past life—the ultimate goal for every believer was the chance to reach the sacred site.

However, Holyrelis was not a place ordinary people could enter; otherwise, with so many mages across the continent, all wishing to go, the island would surely sink from the sheer weight!

Anyone wishing to enter Holyrelis first had to pass the test of the Half-Angle Mirror and the sensing of the All-Occupying Stone. Otherwise, even a Magister would be barred entry.

As for what the Half-Angle Mirror test and the All-Occupying Stone sensing entailed, perhaps only those who had entered knew the answer!

Austin was startled. “Entering Holyrelis… but whether he listens to my persuasion is another matter entirely!”

Rodriguez replied, “Persuade him as best you can; whether he goes or not, I won’t blame you! Let’s go!” With that, he strode toward the mist enveloping the entrance to the Nine Nether Gorge.

The dense water vapor solidified the instant Rodriguez stepped in, burying his somewhat faded magic robe in the darkness.

Austin followed closely into the fog.

Seeing the two disappear, Chen Feng leaped out from behind the rock, pushing his speed to the limit, and rushed in after them.

Once inside, Chen Feng realized the horror of the mist. Not only could he not distinguish direction, but it also seemed to contain a peculiar energy capable of suppressing one’s spiritual perception.

Furthermore, the mist held an aura that Chen Feng found repulsive, inexplicably making him irritable.

Walking in a dark, somewhat oppressive environment was agonizing. Chen Feng calmed his spirit, and a pale yellow flame sparked at his fingertip.

Though the flame couldn't illuminate the surroundings, it managed to dispel the inner sense of oppression.

However, the moment the flame formed on his fingertip, Chen Feng sensed trouble. The mist swirled toward the flame, the power of the vortex struggling to sustain it. Due to the speed of its formation, it dispersed almost immediately—a sensation similar to when he approached the Sun-Sky Dragon Fruit.

Chen Feng sucked in a cold breath and quickly extinguished the flame. As long as the vortex didn't form, the flame wouldn't dissipate. After testing it several times, he finally understood: the mist seemed to possess a special power that devoured flame energy. Vortices and Dou Qi could not be released here either.

“What a strange place.”

Sighing, he moved forward slowly. If his strongest flame energy couldn’t be deployed in this unknown location, it meant he couldn’t use Grass Tiger Fist. Without the ability to use Aragami or Orochinagi, he knew exactly how diminished his actual strength was.

What was this mist? Why did this strange phenomenon occur?

Chen Feng couldn't figure it out, so he stopped dwelling on it and quickened his pace.

Because his body had undergone special training, Chen Feng channeled force through his legs; the muscles in his thighs contracted violently, allowing him to leap six or seven meters in a single bound.

Within the mist, besides the disorientation, there seemed to be no immediate danger—not even a single stone was visible, which was baffling for a valley setting.

After walking for about half an hour, estimating he had traveled nearly five or six kilometers in a straight line, a profoundly familiar aura suddenly emerged ahead!

The aura flashed and vanished instantly, the same one he had been sensing along the way, but now it seemed significantly weaker.

He sped up, Chen Feng charging forward urgently. Less than a hundred meters ahead, a patch of brightness appeared. The protective barrier formed by the mist had vanished, replaced by a vast valley, with the round full moon hanging slantedly over the peaks before him.

ps: Shamelessly begging for votes to climb the rankings... Although the chances of succeeding now are slim, I must still strive…