The Divine Will Cave Heaven is vast. When the disciples of the Divine Will Sect enter, they are teleported to the edges of the domain. The phoenix blood is located on the main peak at the center of the Cave Heaven. The disciples must traverse through various perilous areas to reach the main peak and compete for the phoenix blood.

With the entrance of the Divine Will Sect's direct disciples, the previously tranquil Cave Heaven began to stir.

Ten days later, the first group of direct disciples arrived at the foot of the main peak. The disciples looked up at the tall man at the forefront with admiration in their eyes.

"Senior Brother Qiao Ciguang is truly formidable."

With the Yang Spiritual Root, his fire spells seemed to possess the power of the great sun. But what was truly terrifying was his physical strength. Even demonic beasts in the later stages of the Foundation Establishment phase were torn apart by him; he was like a humanoid beast. To say his physical strength was close to that of a Golden Core was no exaggeration. To the disciples who encountered Qiao Ciguang and followed him, it seemed almost certain that he would secure the phoenix blood this time.

As Qiao Ciguang gazed up at the hall atop the peak, his eyes filled with eagerness. Suddenly, as if sensing something, he slightly turned his head. Soon, a group emerged from the base of a mountain tens of kilometers away.

The disciples began discussing.

"Senior Brother Shi has also reached the main peak so quickly?"

"That's normal; Brother Shi has a Stone Spiritual Root, rumored to contain a trace of the mystical tortoise's bloodline, giving him astonishing defensive capabilities, virtually impervious to all spells."

"He also has a powerful technique called Blood Explosion which greatly enhances his combat power once activated. In the previous direct disciple competition, although Brother Shi lost to Brother Qiao, it was only by one move! It looks like the two of them are set for another great battle!"

The disciples buzzed with excitement.

Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli locked eyes from a distance, both brimming with combativeness. However, both restrained themselves from acting immediately. They decided to wait until they saw the phoenix blood. After all, there was also Li Feng, a dark horse. Both were somewhat worried that Li Feng might steal an advantage.

As for An Yuyi? Although she too was at the latter stages of the Foundation Establishment phase, no one really took her seriously. To them, An Yuyi's background was noteworthy. As for her strength? It was insignificant.

Normally, they would give her some face. But in the face of phoenix blood, a spirit material crucial for forming a Golden Core, there would be no concessions.

The two exchanged glances and began ascending towards the peak, followed by the other direct disciples. While most understood they had little chance, watching the excitement unfold was not without its merits.

The main peak was extraordinarily high, tens of thousands of meters, but this was trivial for cultivators. In just an hour, Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli, along with the other direct disciples of the Divine Will Sect, reached the summit.

Atop the peak stood a grand hall, adorned with countless carvings of ancient fierce beasts, lifelike and intimidating. The massive doors of the hall were wide open, yet the interior remained obscured.

No one was puzzled by this; the hall contained a spatial formation. Only by entering could one see inside.

"This sudden opening of the Cave Heaven, I wonder if the phoenix blood has properly condensed!" Qiao Ciguang muttered, furrowing his brow slightly before striding decisively towards the grand hall.

Shi Wanli did not rush. He adjusted his spiritual energy and silently watched as Qiao Ciguang entered first. To him, Qiao Ciguang was his greatest adversary in this venture. Their previous match in the direct disciple competition was merely a fluke, not a true measure of his capabilities compared to Qiao Ciguang.

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This time, not only did he intend to obtain the phoenix blood, but he also aimed to defeat Qiao Ciguang to make it clear to everyone in the sect that he, Shi Wanli, was the strongest prodigy of this generation of the Divine Will Sect.

Just as Shi Wanli was about to step into the hall, a thunderous noise erupted.

Shi Wanli's eyes widened. He saw Qiao Ciguang, who had just stepped into the hall and vanished, suddenly fly backward in a flash. Shi Wanli quickly stepped aside. Qiao Ciguang's burly body created a huge crater where he landed.

This scene shocked not only Shi Wanli but also all the disciples who were watching. Was there already someone in the hall? And they managed to blast Brother Qiao out with a single strike?

This was utterly inconceivable. Among the direct disciples, Qiao Ciguang was acknowledged as the strongest. During the last competition among the direct disciples, he dominated his peers. The only one who hadn't faced Qiao Ciguang directly was Li Feng.

But Li Feng was previously a loose cultivator, and she hadn't even won first place at the Divine Will Assembly; she was rumored to have entered through the back door. How could she possess such strength?

…

"Is Li Feng inside?" Shi Wanli asked.

Qiao Ciguang got up, his expression grim as he shook his head, "I assumed there was no one inside and was careless. I didn't see anything, but it's most likely Li Feng!"

After all, there are just over a hundred direct disciples, and everyone is familiar with each other's strengths. Li Feng is an outsider, and her actual power is not well-known.

Qiao Ciguang's words only intensified the shock among the disciples. They hadn't even seen what their opponent looked like. The adversary must be incredibly powerful.

Shi Wanli's lips curled into a confident smile, "In that case, I'll handle it!"

Qiao Ciguang had lost face. If Shi Wanli could calmly enter and subdue Li Feng, it would certainly erase the humiliation of his previous narrow defeat.

Shi Wanli quietly stimulated his Stone Spiritual Root, his skin emitting a greyish-black luster, as if made of stone. He was extremely confident in his defensive abilities. Ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn't harm him in the slightest. Thus, even if Li Feng had the upper hand, it was impossible for him to injure Shi Wanli.

With confidence, Shi Wanli strode into the grand hall. His figure disappeared from sight. Qiao Ciguang, with a troubled expression, also prepared to follow. But before Qiao Ciguang could take a step, another thunderous roar sounded.

Shi Wanli reappeared, smashing into the ground and creating a crater tens of meters wide. Within the crater, Shi Wanli lay at the center, his expression dazed and utterly ghastly...

He too had been blasted out. Most importantly, he hadn't seen anything either. He had been blown away instantly. His much-prided Stone Spiritual Root had not blocked any of the attack.

This was outrageous. The astonished looks from the other disciples made Shi Wanli, who had intended to demonstrate his prowess, rather embarrassed.

"Li Feng is something else!" he exclaimed.

"Let's all enter together!" Qiao Ciguang suggested.

Shi Wanli nodded immediately without hesitation. Though the two were rivals, they were even more reluctant to let Li Feng obtain the phoenix blood. Would it not show that all the sect's direct disciples were incompetent if an outsider managed to secure the phoenix blood? That a mere loose cultivator had outdone them?

Thus, without any hesitation, the two joined forces. Qiao Ciguang's body emitted flames of utmost yang and rigidity, his blood essence surging towards the sky. His already imposing stature swelled even more, resembling a giant.

With all his might, Shi Wanli activated his Stone Spiritual Root, and the mystical tortoise bloodline within him also awakened. His body became like an indestructible crystal, covered with divine patterns resembling a tortoise shell, making him appear as unyielding as a small mountain. Exchanging a glance, they stepped into the grand hall together.

The onlooking direct disciples watched in awe. They had initially thought that the competition for the phoenix blood would again be a contest between Senior Brother Qiao and Shi, with others merely playing supporting roles.

Unexpectedly, right from the start, Brothers Qiao and Shi were forced to join forces. Li Feng, who had entered through a slot from the Divine Will Assembly, seemed to truly possess some formidable skills.

However, formidable or not, it seemed irrelevant. Both Brother Qiao and Brother Shi had strength nearing that of a Golden Core cultivator. With the two of them united, even a true Golden Core cultivator would have to take them seriously. No matter how strong Li Feng was, he couldn't possibly be a match for them!

This was what everyone was thinking when, suddenly, they were startled. Because a figure serenely ascended to the main peak. That unremarkable appearance that sparked no interest—who else could it be but Li Feng? But if Li Feng was here, then who was inside? The crowd was utterly confused. Could it be An Yuyi? Had the intensive training from the Great Elder resulted in a sudden surge in her power?

However, before they could further ponder the possibilities, another thunderous explosion emanated from the entrance of the grand hall...

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