Li Feihuang reached the summit and was unfazed by the odd looks directed at her by the crowd. Among the direct disciples, there were always cliques, and there was a subtle ostracism towards those like her who entered through the Divine Will Assembly, not to mention that she had deliberately changed her appearance. All of this was quite normal.

For Li Feihuang, she was merely passing through the Divine Will Sect; her future was destined to be that of an empress, exalted above all. Why should she care about the gazes of others? Thus, with her chin lifted, she was indifferent as she prepared to fly into the grand hall, ready to suppress all enemies and seize the phoenix blood.

However, before Li Feihuang could land, her eyebrows twitched slightly. Because right in front of the hall, two figures were violently ejected. Accompanied by the incredulous exclamations of the other direct disciples, they heavily crashed to the ground.

The noise was even louder than before, creating a crater tens of meters deep. At the bottom of the crater, the two men's faces were flushed red, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Just as they had entered the grand hall, Shi Wanli had taken the lead, solid as a rock, and Qiao Ciguang's body surged with a fierce bloody light, aggressively charging forward.

Yet, it was still just a flash of light—a palm or perhaps a finger strike, unclear in its form but unmatched in power. Despite their best efforts, they had no chance to resist and were directly blasted out.

Shi Wanli, who was at the forefront, was severely injured, even spitting out a mouthful of blood. The spectacle left all the direct disciples again astonished. Even Shi Wanli, with his Stone Spiritual Root and mystical tortoise bloodline, was injured? Who exactly was inside, hidden so deeply?

Now, Shi Wanli and Qiao Ciguang also noticed Li Feng outside. It wasn't Li Feng inside? Then who could it possibly be? Could it be An Yuyi? Or another direct disciple?

They couldn't figure it out, but after being jointly blasted out, a deep fear took root in their hearts. No longer daring to attempt another entry, they sat down cross-legged to wait. Eventually, whoever was inside would have to come out. Then, they would know who it was.

…

Li Feihuang, having reached the summit, was indifferent to the astonished gazes from the crowd. Elder Zhang had warned her that her greatest adversaries in the Cave Heaven would be Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli. She had initially paid some attention to them, but this was their performance?

Li Feng no longer bothered to watch them. After all, even among geniuses, there were disparities. She possessed an Earth Spiritual Root and the Fire Phoenix Spiritual Body, which allowed her to easily overpower these so-called geniuses of the Divine Will Sect.

Though she didn't know who was inside the hall, Li Feihuang didn't care. No matter who it was, they surely couldn't stop her. Her defeat at the Divine Will Assembly had been merely to avoid revealing her true identity. However, for the contest over the phoenix blood, she was determined to win at all costs—even if it meant revealing her Fire Phoenix Spiritual Body.

Li Feng floated gracefully towards the hall's entrance. The watching disciples were not hopeful. Meanwhile, Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli, who were recuperating, couldn't help but show a schadenfreude grin.

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They had not withstood the force within; what chance did Li Feng, a mid-entry true disciple, have? They expected at least severe injuries for him.

Li Feng's figure soon vanished before the hall's doors.

The two smugly waited, expecting to hear the sounds of a struggle. But after a breath, there was no reaction from within the hall. Ten breaths later, the doors of the hall remained calm.

...

Could it be that Li Feng had actually withstood the mysterious direct disciple's ambush and secured a foothold inside the hall?

The surrounding direct disciples' eyes widened in shock. A hall that neither Qiao Ciguang nor Shi Wanli could enter, and Li Feng had entered alone? That implied...

Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli, realizing what everyone must be thinking, grew even more somber. It was unprecedented for prodigies among the direct disciples to be so humiliated.

Both men abruptly stood and charged towards the hall. They could not allow Li Feng to obtain the phoenix blood. Since the two inside were likely engaged in a fierce battle, they wouldn't be prepared for their entry. They wanted to see for themselves which direct disciple inside was capable of launching such powerful attacks.

In the next moment, the two rushed into the hall. The outside disciples raised their eyebrows, some eager to see for themselves who this formidable direct disciple was.

But before they could move, another thunderous explosion sounded. Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli, who had just charged into the hall, were once again blasted out.

"Why can Li Feng enter while they were thrown out?" they wondered, their spirits crushed.

Originally full of pride and standing out as prodigies, they never expected to be so humiliated, so close to the treasure, yet unable to even step into the hall.

Inside the hall, after ejecting two would-be intruders again, Ye Chen greeted Li Feihuang with a gentle smile as she stood before him in shock, "Fellow Daoist Li, we meet again!"

Li Feihuang was incredulous, "How are you here?"

Only Divine Will Sect's direct disciples were supposed to be eligible to enter the Cave Heaven. How had Ye Chen managed to get in?

Ye Chen's smile grew at her question. Keeping others out was simply to avoid trouble. After all, this was Divine Will Sect territory, and being an outsider here could lead to complications if discovered. Although he was confident in handling them, it was best kept quiet.

But Li Feihuang was different. The phoenix blood was meant for her, and she was unlikely to betray him, so there was no harm in her knowing.

"I had a chance encounter in the Boundless Demon Sect that allowed me early access to the Divine Will Cave Heaven!" he explained. "I don't need to use the entrance and can teleport directly inside."

Li Feihuang's eyes lit up. She had been grateful for the early opening of the Cave Heaven, which saved her time and seemed to confirm her blessed fate, only to discover that it was all Ye Chen's doing.

This pleased Li Feihuang even more. Ye Chen had repeatedly come to her aid, and this advance opening of the Cave Heaven would allow her to obtain the phoenix blood sooner, advancing to the Golden Core stage and solidifying her claim to the throne when the time came. He truly was her destined Golden Dragon King!

At that moment, Li Feihuang looked into Ye Chen's eyes, which sparkled with admiration. She even felt the impulse to confer upon him the title of "King of Equal Status."

However, she restrained herself. Imperial promises should not be made lightly. If she granted him such a high title now, what would be left for the future? So, she seriously said to Ye Chen, "Fellow Daoist Ye, I am aware of everything you've done for me. When I ascend the throne, I will certainly not treat you unfairly!"

Ye Chen squinted his eyes. Did Li Feihuang think he would simply hand over the phoenix blood to her? That wouldn't do. He was indeed planning to give it, but if she anticipated it, what if it didn't have the intended impact when the time came? Perhaps he should consider beating her up a bit first? But would that affect their future relationship and his plans to gift her?

These thoughts raced through Ye Chen's mind as he pondered. At that moment, another figure entered the hall.

Ye Chen was about to react, but upon recognizing the newcomer, he raised an eyebrow.

An Yuyi had also arrived!

A smile spread across Ye Chen's face.

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