NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 307
CHAPTER 307: A Test of Resolve
Four of the ten candidates had passed.
In the second wave of attacks by Jie Hai, both Quan Chao and another candidate failed to react in time. They couldn’t escape the quasi-Divine realm expert's fury, and like flickering flames snuffed out in a storm, they were eliminated.
Now, only two remained in the dream world: Lu Ming and Lin Feng.
Jiu Han's attention was fixed on them. As he observed their trials within the dreamscape, he stroked his beard, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"The hatred for a father’s death is irreconcilable... But how will these two face a sworn enemy who stands at the pinnacle of power?"
Jiu Han had already seen enough to know that neither Lin Feng nor Lu Ming was a man of treachery or evil. Both had passed the essential tests for his acceptance as disciples. Yet, something made him linger, wanting to witness more. Particularly, he found himself intrigued by Lu Ming. The boy’s relentless dedication to cultivation had piqued the old man’s curiosity in ways he hadn’t expected.
Lin Feng, fleeing for his life, turned to his butler, Uncle Qing, who ran beside him, panic etched on his face.
“Uncle Qing,” Lin Feng called, his voice sharp with urgency, “did Father leave any instructions before this?”
Uncle Qing’s expression clouded. “None, young master. The attack happened too suddenly.”
Lin Feng pressed further. “Then tell me—did my father have any close allies at the quasi-Divine level?”
This time, Uncle Qing hesitated before answering. “Yes. He had a close friend, the City Lord of Pingye City, Lord Feng Qixiao.”
“Can Uncle Feng help us take down Jie Hai?” Lin Feng asked, though the question came with a sinking feeling in his chest.
Uncle Qing’s hesitation was palpable. “After death, friendships grow cold. Your father and Lord Feng were close, but now that your father is gone… it’s hard to say if he’d risk opposing another half-step Divine expert on our behalf.”
Lin Feng wasn’t naive. He could see from Uncle Qing’s expression that the old family friend might not be a reliable option. Still, he made up his mind.
“Let’s head to Pingye City,” Lin Feng ordered.
—Meanwhile, Lu Ming’s mind was just as active. He turned to his own Uncle Qing as they raced through the night.
“Is there any place in the outside world where we can hide?” Lu Ming asked, his voice steady, focused.
The butler thought for a moment before nodding. “Yes. Your father had a secret residence in Tiandu, the capital of the Eternal Clan.”
Lu Ming processed the information swiftly. His father, a man of power and wealth, had owned a large mansion even in the capital. That would be their refuge.
“Did my father have any close friends or enemies in Tiandu?” Lu Ming inquired.
“None that I know of, young master,” Uncle Qing replied.
“Good. We’ll go to Tiandu.”
With his decision made, Lu Ming wasted no time. Yet Uncle Qing couldn’t hold back one final question.
“And what of your father’s revenge?” the butler asked quietly.
Lu Ming’s voice remained calm, his eyes focused. “A gentleman’s revenge can wait ten years. I will avenge my father myself.”
Satisfied with the answer, Uncle Qing fell silent.
Two men. The same tragedy. But two entirely different responses.
Lin Feng sought external allies in Pingye City, desperate to gather enough power to strike back at his enemy. Lu Ming, in contrast, buried his rage deep within, choosing to focus solely on his personal growth, biding his time.
Jiu Han observed both paths with quiet contemplation. Lin Feng, now in Pingye City, was struggling to convince Lord Feng Qixiao to aid him in his quest for revenge. Meanwhile, in Tiandu, Lu Ming had sequestered himself in a cultivation chamber, diving headlong into his training with renewed vigor.
Jiu Han shook his head, a chuckle escaping his lips.
"This boy… He's single-minded to a fault."
Cultivate. Cultivate more. Cultivate again.
Lu Ming was a machine, relentlessly chasing after strength. The dreamscape accelerated around him, but he didn’t waver—there was no distraction strong enough to pull him away from his path.
In contrast, Lin Feng's journey was far more complex. He faced constant setbacks with Feng Qixiao, but he refused to give up. He expanded his network, rooted himself within Pingye City’s political landscape, and patiently gathered intelligence on Jie Hai’s vulnerabilities. Lin Feng endured hardships that would have broken lesser men. His cleverness and resilience turned potential allies into real ones, allowing him to build the power he needed for revenge.
Jiu Han, observing all of this from his vantage point, accelerated the dream even further. He released an aspect of Divine Origin into their souls, ensuring that neither Lin Feng nor Lu Ming would suffer any ill effects from their prolonged time in the dream world.
In the waking world, only ten minutes passed. But within the dream, hundreds of years flew by.
When the dream finally reached its climax, Jiu Han sighed in both admiration and amusement.
“I’m impressed.”
In Lin Feng’s dream, the day had finally come. Today, Lin Feng—the City Lord of Pingye City—declared open war on Jie Hai, the tyrant who ruled Xuanshui City. His reason was simple: revenge.
The outside world, however, didn’t share Lin Feng’s confidence. Jie Hai, after all, was a quasi-Divine realm expert, while Lin Feng remained in the mid-stage of the Ancient Realm. Some even speculated that Lin Feng’s rise to power in Pingye City was fueled by treachery, whispering that Lord Feng Qixiao’s mysterious death was Lin Feng’s doing.
Standing atop the tallest tower in Pingye City, Lin Feng surveyed his domain, his heart full of determination. He muttered to himself, outlining his plan.
“The four City Lords surrounding Xuanshui City have long despised Jie Hai’s tyranny. They’ll aid me in this.”
“But I won’t rely on them alone. I’ve secured an alliance with the Crown Prince. If needed, I can call on the royal family’s quasi-Divine realm experts.”
His fist clenched tight, knuckles turning white.
“And there’s my quasi-Divine realm ally… This time, it’s settled.”
But as he reveled in his plans, the world around him began to warp. The dream reality blurred, and true memories started bubbling to the surface. Lin Feng felt a rush of confusion.
Before he could process it fully, the dream shattered.
The surrounding scene faded away, and Lin Feng found himself waking up in the real world. The memories of his dream remained sharp and vivid, imprinted on his mind by Jiu Han’s careful manipulation of the dreamscape.
Blushing slightly, Lin Feng took a deep breath.
“If I had just a few more decades in that dream, Jie Hai wouldn’t have stood a chance,” he muttered.
His dream experience had been nothing short of legendary. A fallen family, a powerful quasi-Divine realm enemy, yet Lin Feng had almost achieved his revenge through sheer will and cunning.
If asked to grade his performance, Lin Feng would give himself top marks.
Glancing to his side, Lin Feng saw Lu Ming standing calmly, his face betraying no emotion.
Unable to contain his amusement, Lin Feng smiled. “Junior Brother… Well, you’re younger than me, so I’ll take the liberty of calling you that.”
Lu Ming nodded silently.
Lin Feng continued, “That dream test wasn’t easy. Tell me, Junior Brother, how far did you get?”
Lin Feng didn’t believe for a second that Lu Ming could have bested his experience.
Before Lu Ming could respond, Jiu Han appeared before them, his arrival swift and commanding. Both Lin Feng and Lu Ming bowed in unison, greeting their master. But something felt different.
Jiu Han was staring intently at Lu Ming, his eyes full of curiosity and a strange, almost begrudging respect.
After what felt like an eternity of silence, Jiu Han exhaled and finally spoke.
“Tell me,” he said, his voice steady but amused, “what was your thought process during the examination?”
End of Chapter 307