Chapter 257: Strength Skyrockets, King-Class Inheritance, Bronze Treasure Chest Opens

Chapter 257: Soaring Strength, Peerage Inheritance, Bronze Chest Opened! Renowned Across the Sea of Stars, Arrival at Mount Leixiang!

The moment Qin Feng's consciousness detached from that pristine, white mental space and returned to the physical universe, what he experienced was not the chaotic battlefield he had anticipated, but a profound and absolute silence.

The Guluo King Ruins, that magnificent palace complex which had stood amidst the nebula for countless epochs, had been thoroughly reduced to the dust of history.

The once-grand halls, corridors, and high towers had now fragmented into hundreds of millions of shards, floating quietly in the boundless vacuum, forming a vast and silent belt of wreckage.

Those forbidden sealing restrictions that used to glimmer with an eerie light had also completely dissipated with the annihilation of their vessels, leaving behind not a single shred of royal majesty.

All the geniuses from the myriad races who had entered, including the renowned figures on the Hidden Dragon Ranking—Kuang Ye, Shui Mo, and Death Toll—had completely vanished.

Presumably, at the very instant the Guluo King Ruins collapsed, they had each used their own means to flee this perilous place.

At this moment, within the expansive cosmic debris, the only sign of life emanated from a figure not far away.

It was a powerful warrior clad in violet-gold power armor, the lines of the plate flowing and magnificent, exuding a sense of supreme majesty and might; behind him, a pair of massive bat wings was furled, dark gold energy veins coursing through the membranes, seemingly harboring the strength to tear stars apart.

He simply hovered there in silence, yet an invisible, boundless majesty radiated from his form like an unseen gravitational core, slowly drawing and gathering the countless fragments of the palace, ultimately compressing them into a sphere of astonishing density.

To reshape the landscape of a star sector with a mere casual gesture—this was precisely the formidable power of a Marquis-level expert.

As if sensing the return of Qin Feng's consciousness, the powerhouse ceased compressing the fragments and turned around.

His visage was concealed beneath the visor of his power armor, yet the gaze he cast upon Qin Feng was gentle and entirely devoid of pressure.

"You are out."

His voice resounded directly within Qin Feng's mind through spiritual force, peaceful and carrying a trace of approval.

"Congratulations on seizing the ultimate fortune of the Guluo King Ruins. I am known as Marquis Cloudbat."

Facing a genuine Marquis-level expert, Qin Feng dared not show the slightest negligence.

He reined in all of his outward-radiating aura, clasped his hands toward the distant figure, and said in a deep voice, "Junior Qin Feng greets Senior Cloudbat."

"No need for such formality."

A hint of a smile entered Marquis Cloudbat's voice. "Speaking of which, there is some history between us. Your eldest senior brother, Marquis Firelin, and I are old friends. We ventured through the Battlefields of the Myriad Races together for millions of years; we are brothers who have shared life and death."

Hearing this, Qin Feng was secretly startled.

He had completely failed to anticipate that the Marquis-level expert tasked with guarding this location would actually be his eldest senior brother's intimate friend.

When he first entered the Battlefields of the Myriad Races, everything Marquis Firelin had done for him remained vivid in his memory; that sect affection was the first warmth he had felt in this cruel arena.

And now, that very bond seemed to protect him once more in a different guise.

"I was commanded by the Sacred Academy to guard this place, and it has been over three thousand years now."

Marquis Cloudbat's voice continued to resonate; he seemed to discern Qin Feng's surprise and offered an explanation on his own initiative. "Seeing that it is a genius of our Human Race, and especially the junior brother of an old friend, who has seized this resource, I can finally rest easy."

The closeness in his words was entirely undisguised, easing Qin Feng's mind slightly.

Marquis Cloudbat's tone then shifted, becoming somewhat more solemn: "Qin Feng, since this fortune point now has an owner, I must submit a detailed report to the Sacred Academy. Therefore, I have a few questions to ask you. Of course, you may choose to answer, or you may choose not to.

Should you choose to answer, the information you provide will be recorded into the Sacred Academy's database as intelligence."

"Intelligence?"

Qin Feng was somewhat bewildered.

How could acquiring an inheritance be tied to the word "intelligence"?

As if seeing through his thoughts, Marquis Cloudbat explained patiently, "Indeed, intelligence.

The Battlefields of the Myriad Races, and even the entire boundless universe, are vast beyond measure, and the number of fallen experts is beyond counting.

These experts, particularly those who reached the level of Kings, Emperors, or even higher realms, usually find ways to leave behind their lineage and inheritance when they realize their end is near or when they face an unexpected demise.

After all, no one wishes for the path and wisdom they spent a lifetime of blood and effort to seek out across countless eras to completely vanish from heaven and earth."

"However, the ways these inheritances are preserved vary wildly.

Some set up layer upon layer of trials, unattainable unless one possesses exceptional character, talent, and strength; others are simple and direct, going to whoever is fated; still others, like the one you encountered this time, come with certain conditions and promises.

The Sacred Academy collects this intelligence not out of greed for the inheritances themselves, but because it is conducting a monumental project—gathering a sufficient number of samples to establish a probabilistic model regarding the 'Inheritances of the Mighty.'

"By analyzing massive amounts of data, we can statistically determine the patterns of inheritances left by experts of different races, strengths, and temperaments, the types of trials they set, and the probability distribution of attached conditions.

This way, when the geniuses of our Human Race encounter similar fortune points in the future, they can make predictions based on intelligence, make more advantageous choices, and enjoy higher success and survival rates.

This is precisely the value of the intelligence you provide."

Hearing this, a sudden realization dawned upon Qin Feng.

In his heart, he could not help but feel a sincere admiration for the profound foresight of the human leadership.

Transforming every exploration of fortune into analyzable data, and then using that data to nurture future generations—this was truly one of the foundations upon which the Human Race stood unyielding in the cruel cosmic competition.

Having thought this through, Qin Feng hesitated no longer.

This matter did him no harm and allowed him to contribute to his race, so there was every reason to do it.

Furthermore, the figure before him was an old friend of his eldest senior brother; there was no need for concealment.

"Junior understands."

Qin Feng sorted through his thoughts and recounted the sequence of events truthfully. "After junior obtained that shard of the Guluo Bell, a residual spiritual phantom of the Guluo King appeared.

He drew my consciousness into an independent, mysterious space and explicitly stated the conditions for the inheritance."

"Using the cosmic anomaly 'The Covenant' as proof, he required me to make an oath.

If I possess sufficient strength in the future, I must avenge him; if my strength falls short, I must deliver his complete lineage and inheritance to the Feathered Race Empire.

In exchange, he informed me of the sealed locations of all his remaining resources and taught me a method to briefly activate the shard of the Guluo Bell."

Qin Feng's narrative was detailed and candid, omitting only the specific information regarding the target of vengeance, the "Gold Emperor," and the location of the resources, the "Furnace Home."

These were secrets he had to keep, and they were also part of the covenant.

Marquis Cloudbat listened quietly, nodding slightly from time to time.

Once Qin Feng finished speaking, he smiled with satisfaction. "Very good, the intelligence you provided is highly valuable.

With 'The Covenant' as proof, accompanied by vengeance or transfer missions—this is a classic 'high-value, high-constraint' model of inheritance.

The Sacred Academy's database has gained another high-quality sample."

He paused for a moment before deliberately adding, "As for the location of his remaining resources, that belongs to your personal fortune, so there is no need to tell me. The Sacred Academy has its rules; we never force geniuses to hand over their gains. That cosmic anomaly 'The Covenant' will belong to you directly once you fulfill the agreement, and you can employ it yourself in the future."

This piece of advice caused Qin Feng's goodwill toward this Marquis-level expert to increase by several margins.

The cosmic anomaly "The Covenant" was indeed a highly useful item.

To think that he would directly possess this cosmic anomaly after fulfilling the agreement made Qin Feng marvel inwardly at how immense the harvests from this journey to the Guluo King Ruins truly were!

And this was merely a difficult-grade fortune.

"Very well, the matter has been clarified, and I should proceed to handle this wreckage and report back to the Sacred Academy."

Marquis Cloudbat waved his hand, and the sphere of fragments compressed by his majestic power began to spin slowly. "You may leave. If you return to the Heaven-Devouring Cosmic City later on, remember to pass on my regards to your eldest senior brother."

"Junior will certainly deliver them."

Qin Feng clasped his hands once more.

Just as he was about to turn and depart, Marquis Cloudbat's voice rang out once again.

"Oh, and one more thing."

His tone carried a hint of admonition. "Those myriad-race prodigies who left, though they could not harm you within the Ancient Luo King's Ruins, will not let the matter rest. The fragment of the Ancient Luo Bell in your hands is enough to drive Black Hole-level beings mad.

I have exerted pressure on their clans or sects through my channels, and the existences behind them have granted me some face.

Thus, I have secured a ten-year period of safety for you. Within these ten years, they dare not actively hunt you down."

"But only ten years."

Cloud Bat Marquis's voice grew grave. "If you meet again after ten years, they will surely strike to kill you without mercy.

These ten years, you must find a safe place for seclusion, digest what you have gained, and enhance your strength."

"Thank you for the warning, senior. This junior will keep it in mind."

Qin Feng's heart tightened, and he expressed his gratitude solemnly.

This ten-year reprieve was undoubtedly a timely gift.

He knew well that with his current strength, if he were immediately hunted by prodigies of the caliber of Kuang Ye or Shui Mo, he would likely face great peril.

"Good, go now."

Cloud Bat Marquis said no more, turning his attention back to the starry ruins.

Qin Feng cast a deep glance at the back of this marquis-level powerhouse, then hesitated no longer, transforming into a streak of light and vanishing into the deep cosmos.

He did not alter his original course; his next major goal remained the "Thunder Phase Mountain" entrusted by Sun Chantang, as well as the location of the clue to that cosmic artifact.

But for now, the urgent task was to use the ten years Cloud Bat Marquis had secured to find a sufficiently hidden and safe place for a long seclusion.

Time lost meaning in the lonely voyage through the cosmos.

Stars were born and died before his eyes; nebulae unfurled and rolled up like scrolls.

Qin Feng urged his Crimson Gold Wings to their utmost speed, leaving far behind any possible prying eyes.

...

Ten years, on the vast scale of the universe, was but a fleeting moment.

Qin Feng's journey had crossed several star domains, and he finally found an ideal place for seclusion—a giant star nearing the end of its life.

This star was tens of thousands of times larger than an ordinary star, but its light had grown extremely dim, showing a decaying dark red.

Its internal nuclear fusion reactions were nearly ceasing, and its immense mass was triggering gravitational collapse—a dying celestial body evolving into a black hole.

Because of this, the spiritual-psychic energy field around it was chaotic to the extreme, with violent energy tides and disordered gravitational waves interweaving to form a natural barrier impenetrable by any psychic force.

For most cosmic travelers, this was a death zone to be avoided at all costs, but for Qin Feng, who needed absolute concealment, it was a perfect cave dwelling.

As for the harsh environment that could tear apart galaxy-level warships, it was negligible to him.

Without hesitation, Qin Feng, like a pebble cast into a furnace, silently dove into the violent interior of the giant star, penetrating deeper through layers of energy storms until he carved out a temporary space in the most stable core region.

After settling down, Qin Feng began to carefully inventory the immense gains from his trip to the Ancient Luo King's Ruins.

First were two Black Hole-level secret techniques—[Ancient Luo Hammer] and [Master Seal].

[Ancient Luo Hammer] was the essence of the Ancient Luo King's artifact-forging path; once he advanced to Black Hole level, he could begin learning it, forging his own powerful treasures and increasing his speed in breaking the restrictions of other treasures.

[Master Seal] was a bizarre and powerful enslavement technique.

Second, and most importantly, was the fragment of the king-level treasure [Ancient Luo Bell].

Though only a fragment, the kingly pressure it contained was a supreme treasure far surpassing all his current equipment.

Besides these, there were numerous heavenly materials and earthly treasures obtained during the exploration, including a withered but still potent Bodhi Flower.

The total amount of these resources exceeded what he had plundered over the past thousand years.

But there was also a task from the Cosmic Will!

Qin Feng's consciousness linked to the Cosmic Will, and a pale blue light screen appeared before him.

[Task Completed]

[You have obtained a Bronze Chest]

[Open it?]

"Yes."

[You have opened the Bronze Chest and obtained a fragment of the Supreme Void Imperial Map x1]

[Supreme Void Imperial Map Fragment: A total of eight fragments; when collected, they can open the inheritance of the Supreme Void Ancient Emperor.]

Qin Feng glanced at it; this item was useless for now.

So he stuffed the Supreme Void Imperial Map fragment into his storage space.

"The goal of this seclusion is clear."

Qin Feng planned in his mind. "First, use the [Tenfold Hand] to refine all resources and break through the final barrier of the Galaxy level. Second, comprehend the activation technique left by the Ancient Luo King and initially master the Ancient Luo Bell fragment, this great killing weapon."

"Once these two points are achieved, I can set out for Thunder Phase Mountain. By then, whether it's rescuing the descendants of Sun's old friend or later contending for that cosmic artifact, I will have greater confidence."

With the plan set, Qin Feng sank into deep focus, immersing his entire mind in cultivation.

This collapsing giant star, with its chaotic energy field, isolated all internal and external detection. Occasionally, star-level or galaxy-level beings passed through this dead star system, now utterly devoid of life, but they only cast a cursory glance and never lingered.

Time, once again, lost meaning.

Inside Qin Feng, the [Tenfold Hand] technique operated with unprecedented efficiency, continuously converting vast amounts of resource energy into the purest psychic power, all poured into his Indestructible Projection—the [Indestructible Tower].

The tower's height had long been fixed at ten million light-years, no longer increasing.

What Qin Feng needed to do was control this colossal structure, maintaining its volume while frantically filling and compressing psychic power within, increasing its "density."

This was an extremely arduous process; the later stages required geometrically increasing resources and effort for every tiny density increase.

The psychic power inside the tower had long condensed into a solid, with a dazzling golden-red radiance. Each compression caused the entire tower to emit a groaning hum of strain.

...

Outside the star, the cosmos shifted and stars moved, while Qin Feng at the star's core seemed to have turned into an eternal statue.

Five hundred years passed silently.

When the last heavenly material's energy was fully absorbed and refined, Qin Feng slowly opened his eyes.

In his pupils, a golden-red divine light flashed and vanished, as if suns, moons, and stars were born and extinguished within.

Qin Feng could clearly feel that his [Indestructible Tower] had reached an unprecedented state of saturation.

The progress bar toward the "Eternal Singularity" had steadily stopped at ninety percent!

Only the last ten percent remained before he could complete the Galaxy-level perfect accumulation, attempt to ignite his psychic power, condense the eternal indestructible singularity, and break through to the Black Hole level, becoming a supreme being who draws infinite knowledge from the cosmos!

Yet, Qin Feng's face showed little joy, instead carrying a trace of gravity.

Because he knew better than anyone that this last ten percent was the true chasm.

The process of controlling the projection's volume and continuously increasing psychic density became exponentially harder as it progressed.

He estimated that to fill this last ten percent, the total resources required would likely be far greater than all the resources consumed from zero to ninety percent, and the difficulty would be many times greater.

"The road ahead is long and arduous."

Qin Feng let out a soft sigh.

Yet he did not lose heart; his Dao heart remained as firm as a rock.

Having completed his first goal, he immediately devoted all his mind to the second—comprehending the secret art to activate the [Ancient Luo Bell].

This, too, was a project as vast as the boundless sea.

The torrent of information left by the Ancient Luo King was immense and complex, containing principles of the Dao that far exceeded what a galactic-level being could grasp.

Qin Feng could only rely on his own transformed, formidable spiritual power, combined with the methods the Ancient Luo King had taught him, to perform billions of deductions and simulations, like an apprentice painstakingly deciphering those intricate runic structures and energy pathways.

Another five hundred years passed.

After exhausting five hundred years of mental effort, Qin Feng finally managed to grasp a mere fraction of the obscure activation art.

He could now barely activate a fragment of the Ancient Luo Bell for an instant.

That single instant of activation drained his vast sea of spiritual power completely, leaving not a trace.

Yet its might was terrifying beyond imagination.

Qin Feng had no doubt that once the Ancient Luo Bell was unleashed, even a true black hole-level powerhouse, if caught off guard, would have to retreat or suffer severe injury.

This had become one of his most powerful life-saving trump cards, and also the most costly.

Thus, his thousand-year seclusion came to a perfect close.

Qin Feng began to systematically organize his current assets and strength, making the most thorough assessment for his next moves.

“After the trip to Thunderous Elephant Mountain, I’ll go after that cosmic treasure.

The risk is immense; I must know every card up my sleeve.”

“First, defense. I have the Imperial Chief Medal, which can block any secret art or killing technique below the domain lord level. But against a top-tier black hole-level killing technique, it likely only has one chance to block.

After that one block, it will become useless.”

“Second, offense.

The protective jade talisman gifted by Senior Brother can unleash a single attack capable of slaying any enemy below black hole level—an excellent tool for assassination or counter-kill.

Then there’s the Ancient Luo King Bell I just mastered, which can be activated once, with power threatening to black hole-level foes. But after activation, I will fall into absolute weakness and must flee immediately. It must never be used lightly unless at a critical moment of life and death.”

“Finally, mobility. The black hole-level treasure ‘Crimson Gold Wings’ has seventy-two seals, ranking high among black hole-level treasures. Though I’ve only unlocked one seal, its speed when fleeing is already astonishing.

Even ordinary black hole-level powerhouses, unless they have studied spatial knowledge to the point of easily tearing space, can at best match my speed.

To catch me, they would need a speed-type treasure of the same level.

Pity I’ve only unlocked one seal, but once I advance to black hole level and learn the [Ancient Luo Hammer], I’ll be able to refine the seals faster.”

Qin Feng analyzed his trump cards one by one, and confidence gradually grew in his heart.

He realized that, without noticing, he had become a veritable “rich man.”

Whether the Imperial Chief Medal, the Ancient Luo Bell fragment, or the Crimson Gold Wings—any one of these, if leaked, would make countless black hole-level beings covet it, even sparking a bloody storm.

Especially the Ancient Luo Bell fragment, a remnant of a king-level treasure. Once revealed before others, he would instantly become a target of all, drawing endless greed.

“An innocent man may harbor a priceless treasure, but that very treasure becomes his crime. Strength is the root of all.”

Qin Feng’s heart was as clear as a mirror.

“It’s about time. I should set out for Thunderous Elephant Mountain.”

He slowly rose, his body, unmoved for a thousand years, emitting a series of crackling sounds.

With a single step, his form pierced through the chaotic core of the giant star and emerged into the dead, silent depths of space.

He glanced back at the giant star still slowly collapsing, but there was no nostalgia in his eyes.

He identified the direction on the star map, and the Crimson Gold Wings behind him unfurled fully.

Compared to a thousand years ago, his strength was now worlds apart.

His spiritual power, many times more abundant, supported by the endless regenerative effect of the *Tenfold Hand*, could now sustain long-term activation of the Crimson Gold Wings with one seal unlocked.

Of course, this was a steady cruise at about one-third of full burst speed, where spiritual power consumption matched recovery, allowing near-infinite endurance.

If he pushed to full speed, his spiritual power consumption would still be enormous, lasting only a month.

But even so, it was already terrifying.

A dazzling stream of gold and red light cut through the darkness and solitude of the universe, racing toward the next destination marked on the star map.

...

The universe was silent; the river of stars flowed on.

Since leaving the shattered Ancient Luo King’s Ruins, another five hundred years had slipped by.

In the realm of mortals, five hundred years could turn seas into mulberry fields, see a dozen dynasties rise and fall, and spark a technological explosion. But for Qin Feng, traversing the boundless cosmos, it was merely a long yet purposeful, solitary journey.

The Crimson Gold Wings spread behind him, not always at maximum speed, but maintained at a constant cruising velocity far beyond what ordinary galactic-level warriors could imagine, supported by the terrifying recovery power of the *Tenfold Hand* at its peak.

The streak of light cut through the dark vacuum, leaving behind dead stars and barren nebulae.

These five hundred years of travel were not monotonous.

In the first century, Qin Feng immersed most of his mind in sorting and consolidating his own power.

No longer did he have the vast quantities of heavenly treasures to devour as during his thousand-year seclusion. Instead, he began a more refined and tedious form of cultivation.

The *Tenfold Hand* operated on its own, like an invisible net spreading from his body, capturing the ubiquitous yet extremely thin free spiritual-psychic energy fields in the universe.

These energies were motley and chaotic, containing the death aura of decaying stars, the violent heat of burning suns, and even fragments of will unintentionally shed by powerful beings.

Ordinary warriors could not absorb them directly; forced absorption would only pollute their own undying projection and shake their Dao foundation.

Yet, with the *Tenfold Hand* in motion, it could unravel these chaotic energies, extract the essence, discard the dross, and finally transform them into the purest nourishment, merging bit by bit into his undying tower, now spanning ten million light-years.

This process was extremely slow, its efficiency far inferior to refining top-tier treasures like the Bodhi Flower.

Qin Feng had estimated that if he relied solely on this method, the final stretch from 90% to 100% would take tens of thousands of years or more.

But his temperament had been tempered by countless life-and-death trials and long solitary journeys, as firm as rock. He understood the principle of accumulating small gains.

Space travel was inherently dull; if he could use this time, even if it only moved the progress bar by an insignificant fraction, it was still a victory.

In this day-after-day bitter cultivation, his aura grew more restrained and profound, the quality of his gold-red spiritual power became more stable, and every inch of his undying tower’s structure grew more indestructible under this slow nourishment.

Besides this grinding cultivation, the universe’s gifts occasionally appeared in more direct ways.

In the 370th year, Qin Feng’s course deviated from the planned route, entering a dense asteroid belt known as the “Stellar Graveyard.”

The gravitational environment there was extremely complex, with countless stellar remnants converging, colliding, and annihilating—a natural danger zone.

Yet, Qin Feng’s transformed gold-red spiritual power sensed an extremely subtle yet pure energy fluctuation.

He spent three full years, relying on his exquisite control over spiritual power, like a top bomb disposal expert, carefully bypassing gravitational traps and spatial rifts that could tear apart galactic-level warships.

Finally, inside a giant metallic asteroid over three thousand kilometers in diameter, he found a strange object the size of a human head, with a liquid metallic luster—a Star Marrow Crystal Core.

This was a fine resource, a cosmic rarity that could only be born when a dying white dwarf, in its final collapse, compressed all its matter and energy to the brink of a singularity.

The energy contained within was condensed to the extreme, offering immeasurable benefits for constructing an undying projection.

Qin Feng immediately carved a temporary cave dwelling inside that metallic asteroid and spent ten years completely refining the Star Marrow Crystal Core.

This single treasure alone pushed his foundation progress steadily forward by half a percentage point from ninety percent.

In the four hundred and fiftieth year of his voyage, within the core eye of a gas giant, he discovered a "Storm Vine" clinging to a gravitational crystal core, its entire form wreathed in the power of wind and thunder.

This too was a natural cosmic treasure, though its value fell short of the Star Marrow Crystal, it still added a measure of richness to his accumulation.

Yet, across five hundred years of travel, the most abundant harvest was not adventure, but slaughter.

Ever since parting ways at the Ancient Luo King Ruins, the three prodigies of the Hidden Dragon List—Wild, Water Mo, and Death Knell—had unsurprisingly spread the news that Qin Feng had seized a fragment of the King-Sealing Secret Treasure.

This news, like a drop of boiling oil onto a lake's surface, swiftly stirred a massive upheaval across this vast star domain.

A King-Sealing Secret Treasure!

Even if only a fragment, for the vast majority of galaxy-level or even black hole-level powerhouses, it was a supreme opportunity worth staking their lives to claim.

In an instant, the name Qin Feng, along with his labels of "Human Prodigy" and "Chaos Bane," spread far and wide, making him the prey locked onto by countless greedy gazes.

At first, those who came were merely mediocre galaxy-level rogue cultivators or warriors from minor races, often in small groups, believing they had laid an inescapable net, only to find themselves like mantises trying to stop a chariot before Qin Feng's terrifying strength.

Once the ninth-level killing art "Heaven Cleaver" was unleashed, his spear moved like a dragon, rivers of stars reversed their flow, and often a single encounter ended in utter annihilation of body and soul.

But as time passed, the enemies targeting him grew stronger and their backgrounds more formidable.

In the four hundred and eightieth year, a hunting squad of three peak galaxy-level experts appeared on Qin Feng's route.

They hailed from a powerful combat race called the "Rock Scale Clan," renowned for their formidable physiques and mastery of formation combat, a sub-branch that had split from the Stone Clan.

The three formed a triangular formation, intercepting Qin Feng in an empty stretch of starry space.

"Human Qin Feng, hand over the Ancient Luo Bell fragment, and we will spare your life."

The leading Rock Scale elder's voice boomed like a great bell, his body clad in dark gray rock scales, exuding a presence as heavy as a mountain.

Qin Feng stood in the void, gripping the Star-Swallowing Spear, his Limit Power Armor shimmering with flowing light, his expression utterly unruffled.

He couldn't even be bothered to reply, knowing that any words were hollow before absolute interest.

The only language of communication was battle.

"Obstinate fool!"

The Rock Scale elder wasted no more words; the three instantly linked their auras, their scales rearranging into a mysterious formation diagram.

This was their combined killing technique, capable of matching an ordinary black hole-level strike, and countless galaxy-level experts had met their end beneath it.

Facing this world-shattering blow, a cold glint flashed in Qin Feng's eyes.

He chose not to meet it head-on. The crimson-gold wings behind him blazed with light; with a single flap, his form turned into a golden streak nearly impossible to track, instantly escaping the edge of the stone mountain's suppression range.

"Such speed!"

The three Rock Scale experts were startled, but their coordination was seamless. They immediately shifted tactics, the stone mountain dissolving into three streams of light that converged on Qin Feng from different directions.

Yet Qin Feng's speed far exceeded their imagination.

The crimson-gold wings, a black hole-level treasure, even with only one seal unlocked, when fully unleashed, granted him unmatched mobility among his peers over short distances.

Like a phantom, he wove through their encirclement, the tip of the Star-Swallowing Spear occasionally carving out heaven-rending, earth-shattering edges, steadily wearing down their protective divine light.

The battle raged for three full days and nights.

Qin Feng, like the most patient hunter, used his speed advantage to constantly pull and exhaust.

Though the Rock Scale experts were physically formidable and their combined arts exquisite, their energy was ultimately finite.

In contrast, Qin Feng, relying on the terrifying recovery of the "Ten Complete Hands," kept his mental energy at a relatively healthy level.

Moreover, his killing art was steadily improving, breaking through to the Great Perfection realm!

His spiritual will was nearing the domain level, gaining immense amplification within his own domain.

As one side waned and the other waxed, the scales of victory began to tip.

On the evening of the third day, the moment one Rock Scale expert's aura showed a hint of decline, Qin Feng seized that fleeting opportunity.

He no longer roamed. The crimson-gold wings snapped shut, and all his power poured into the Star-Swallowing Spear.

"Heaven Cleaver!"

With a single thrust, a condensed, extreme red-gold spear light shot forth.

Where the spear light passed, space itself seemed sliced open by the supreme sharpness contained within that strike.

The Rock Scale expert with the faltering aura felt his pupils contract; he sensed the threat of death. The defensive formation he had set with the other two was as fragile as paper before this spear light.

Pfft!

The spear light pierced through his brow, and along with his indestructible soul, both were utterly annihilated by the terrifying power within.

The combined formation shattered in an instant.

For the first time, the remaining two Rock Scale experts showed expressions of shock and fear.

They wanted to flee, but it was too late.

Without the formation's boost, before Qin Feng, they were little different from the rogue cultivators he had casually slain.

Half an hour later, the battle ended.

Qin Feng silently collected the spoils from the three, then used the Star-Swallowing Spear to devour their physical forms. The spear's power grew, though it still fell short of a black hole-level treasure.

Afterward, he resumed his journey.

Through this battle and dozens of others, large and small, Qin Feng's reputation grew ever louder.

Everyone now knew that this human prodigy, holder of a King-Sealing Secret Treasure fragment, was a hard bone to chew.

Some weaker coveters began to retreat, but this also drew the attention of more truly powerful beings.

They all wondered what trump card Qin Feng possessed to survive unscathed under the pursuit of so many experts.

But they would never guess that his greatest trump card was the ability to briefly activate the power of the Ancient Luo Bell fragment.

If they knew he could wield a King-Sealing Secret Treasure, even for an instant, the deterrent effect would be incomparable to what it was now.

That single instant of power was enough to threaten any black hole-level being with fatal danger, and weaker ones might even die on the spot.

Such deterrence would make ninety-nine percent of pursuers think twice.

Of course, Qin Feng had not revealed this, or he would not have been hunted by so many beings.

...

As his route deepened, Qin Feng could clearly sense that the surrounding star regions were becoming more "prosperous."

No longer the dead silence where decades passed without encountering a life-bearing planet, planets brimming with vibrant life began to appear frequently, and more warships sailed through the cosmos.

He knew he was drawing closer to Thunder Phase Mountain.

Qin Feng began to gather intelligence deliberately.

At a neutral space station inhabited by multiple races, he disguised himself as an ordinary interstellar mercenary and heard a flood of rumors about Thunder Phase Mountain from information brokers and adventurers in taverns.

The protagonists of these tales, without exception, pointed to a mysterious human martial artist.

"Have you heard? Something huge happened at Thunder Phase Mountain! The complete inheritance of the Thunder Emperor has been taken!"

"How is that possible? For eons, countless black hole-level experts have gone to comprehend it, at most gaining a few scraps. Who could have such ability?"

"Absolutely true! Two thousand years ago, a human powerhouse arrived with a prodigy, and by some heaven-defying means, they devoured the 'Undying Phoenix Thunder' that was the essence of the Thunder Emperor's life's work! Now, that human prodigy has turned into a massive thunder cocoon, trapped atop Thunder Image Mountain!"

"As for those human powerhouses, they waged a great war with the myriad races of that time and all fell."

"A thunder cocoon? What is that?"

"Who knows! But word has spread—that cocoon is the new vessel of the inheritance! Whoever obtains it, devours and refines it, will take its place and gain everything of the Thunder Emperor! That's the legacy of a sealed emperor!"

"Who knows, but lately this star region no longer allows domain lord-level beings to enter; whoever comes dies."

"Yes, it's already under the joint control of powerful beings from the peak cosmic races."

Qin Feng listened silently, a storm raging in his heart.

One key piece of information after another was captured and connected by him.

Thunder Image Mountain, the place where the Thunder Emperor fell.

The Undying Phoenix Thunder.

Human martial artists.

The thunder cocoon...

He immediately linked these clues to Sun Chantang's entrustment.

Master Sun had said his old friend's descendant was "trapped" there; now it seemed this "trap" manifested in such a breathtaking way.

"Black hole-level beings..."

"Hidden Dragon List prodigies..."

"As expected of a sealed emperor's inheritance, attracting so many strong ones."

Qin Feng held a cup of energy drink, sitting in a corner, his mind racing with calculations, feeling unprecedented pressure.

This was no longer a fortune on the level of the Ancient Luo King's Ruins.

Though the Ancient Luo King's Ruins held an inheritance, he still had to go to Furnace Village to obtain it all—compared to the complete legacy of a sealed emperor, it was like a minor sorcerer before a great one.

This inheritance was not merely a few secret techniques or weapons; it condensed the entire path, insights, and essence of laws of a supreme being into a single core—the Undying Phoenix Thunder.

To obtain it meant gaining a detailed "answer key" pointing straight to the pinnacle of the universe.

Of course, Qin Feng also understood that this inheritance could not allow a black hole-level martial artist to directly step into the domain lord level by following another's path.

To advance to domain lord, one must forge their own path and gain the recognition of the universe's will—that was an iron law.

But without doubt, the value of this "answer key" was immeasurable.

Not to mention anything else, the Undying Phoenix Thunder itself could serve as the mightiest weapon and deepest foundation, to be refined and used even until one reached the sealed emperor level, providing immense combat power.

"And it formed a thunder cocoon—no wonder Master Sun told me he was trapped here."

Qin Feng murmured to himself.

This state was both a tremendous opportunity and a deadly predicament.

Becoming a living inheritance meant becoming a prime target in the eyes of all powerhouses.

Qin Feng listened a while longer, then left the tavern on that planet.

Over five hundred years of hunting and counter-hunting, Qin Feng had gained much; the resources he plundered were casually refined by him. Now, his foundation progress had silently reached 91%.

He was one step closer to that door called "black hole level."

But facing the coming storm at Thunder Image Mountain, this progress seemed far from enough.

He lingered no longer, transforming into a resolute streak of light, speeding toward Thunder Image Mountain.

(Chapter End)