CHAPTER 30: CHAPTER 30: THE TEN CHALLENGE KING GOLDEN THRONES

EDITOR: ENDLESSFANTASY TRANSLATION

"Bring forth the Challenge King Gold Thrones!"

As Zi Hongyuan’s resonant voice rang out, a line of people emerged from the side. In groups of four, they carried shimmering golden thrones, placing one down every ten meters to form a row.

"Those are the Challenge King Gold Thrones!"

A chorus of astonishment echoed throughout the square. Numerous students licked their lips, their eyes fixed on the ten thrones in the center, shining with fervor.

These thrones, each a meter high, were entirely gilded and intricately carved with flying dragon patterns, exuding a majestic aura.

Each throne bore a number, from one to ten.

These ten thrones represented the top ten ranks in the Challenge King competition. The first student to sit on a throne would receive the corresponding Challenge King title. Beyond the material rewards, this title itself represented the highest honor.

Luo Feng was long familiar with these proceedings, so nothing surprised him. He squinted, his gaze falling upon the first three thrones, a hint of determination in his eyes.

Luo Feng was not the only one whose attention was drawn to the first three thrones.

On the opposite side of the square, Lin XiaoXiao clenched her delicate fists, her face alight with excitement as she gazed at the first three thrones, her eyes filled with longing.

Lin XiaoXiao retracted her gaze and looked at Li Tianyang beside her. "Tianyang, can you really help me secure a spot in the top three?"

Li Tianyang folded his arms, replying nonchalantly, "Don’t worry, Junior Sister. Since I promised Young Master Duanmu, I won’t go back on my word. With your strength, getting into the top ten shouldn’t be an issue. The only one who might challenge you for the top three is Qin Luoxue. Still, with my help, she won’t be much of a threat."

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Lin XiaoXiao’s cheeks flushed crimson as she thanked him.

Her gaze returned affectionately to the first three thrones, her delicate tongue unconsciously moistening her red lips.

Her cultivation was only at the peak of the fourth level of the Rigid-Soft Realm. With some luck, she might clinch a spot in the top ten, but reaching the top three was impossible on her own. With Li Tianyang’s help this time, if she could secure third place, she would receive a high-grade Yellow Rank martial art. With a little training, she could then break through to the fifth level of the Iron Bone Realm, participate in the inner court examination, and gain entry into the inner court.

At that moment, Li Tianyang changed the subject. "However, before any of that, there’s something else I must do."

Sensing the chilling aura emanating from Li Tianyang, Lin XiaoXiao followed his gaze and saw a familiar figure.

"Luo Feng..."

Observing the familiar figure, a subtle sneer touched Lin XiaoXiao’s lips.

She had heard about the conflict between Li Tianyang and Luo Feng in Qingfeng Town. Li Tianyang was a man who would seek revenge for the smallest slight; he certainly wouldn’t let this go. For some reason, the one thing Lin XiaoXiao dreaded most was seeing Luo Feng grow stronger day by day. The thought filled her with an inexplicable terror. Thus, hearing Li Tianyang’s intention to teach Luo Feng a lesson delighted her beyond measure.

As Luo Feng studied the Challenge King thrones, he suddenly sensed something. Turning, his eyes met Li Tianyang’s frosty, rage-filled gaze. Luo Feng merely offered a faint smile, completely unfazed.

Given his current strength, neither Lin XiaoXiao nor Li Tianyang were worth his concern.

The competition was about to commence.

Zi Hongyuan rose from his seat, addressing the hundreds of participating students in the square, "Everyone, today is the annual Challenge King competition! The top one hundred students who successfully complete the challenge will receive rewards from the academy and immense honor. You should already be aware of the rewards, so I won’t repeat them."

"You will start from the eastern gate, pass through the Demon Forest, the Giant Wood Valley, and cross the Oblivion River. Once you return to the academy via the western gate, you will have successfully cleared the challenge. I will await your triumphant return here!"

RUMBLE...

As Zi Hongyuan’s voice fell, the academy square began to tremble. The massive stone gates to the east and west slowly rumbled open, revealing desolate landscapes beyond.

The crowd eagerly turned their attention towards the eastern gate—the starting point of the competition!

"Let the competition commence!"

As Zi Hongyuan’s voice faded, the hundreds of students in the square surged like a torrent towards the eastern gate.

Exiting the eastern gate, Luo Feng found himself before a deep, sprawling mountain valley.

This horseshoe-shaped valley, known as Purple Snake Valley, stretched for tens of miles, snaking around the entire Purple Spirit Peak like a colossal serpent. The competition route required participants to traverse this valley and then return to the academy via the western gate.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Hundreds of competitors swarmed into the valley, many employing Light Martial Arts, anxious not to fall behind.

Luo Feng moved at an unhurried pace, not bothering to use the Teng Dragon’s Step.

This wasn’t a critical stage of the competition yet, so there was no need to waste precious energy.

"Ruolan, let’s split up for now. We’ll regroup at the Oblivion River," Luo Feng said to Bing Ruolan beside him.

The Challenge King competition had three major trials: the Demon Forest, the Giant Wood Valley, and the Oblivion River. For the first two trials, traveling in larger groups was often a hindrance.

"Alright, but be careful. Li Tianyang still seems to hold a grudge about losing to you in Qingfeng Town," Bing Ruolan warned.

"Haha... Don’t worry about it! If he lost to me before, he’ll lose to me again. There’s no doubt about it!" Luo Feng patted the Tiger Soul Saber on his back, his face full of confidence.

Bing Ruolan pouted, dismissing Luo Feng’s words as mere boasting.

Luo Feng was only at the late stage of the fourth level of the Rigid-Soft Realm, while Li Tianyang was already at the mid-stage of the fifth level of the Iron Bone Realm. Even if Luo Feng’s strength was somewhat greater, she believed he couldn’t possibly be Li Tianyang’s match.

"Alright, alright, I know you’re supposedly very strong, okay? I’m off..." Bing Ruolan winked. As her voice faded, her light blue figure quickly blended into the stream of people, disappearing into the vast mountain forest moments later.

"That girl, she doesn’t even believe me! Just wait, I’ll show her how truly remarkable I am!" Luo Feng mumbled, rubbing his nose, and then quickly followed.

RUSTLE! RUSTLE! RUSTLE!

Although Luo Feng didn’t use the Teng Dragon’s Step, his speed was still extremely fast. He moved through the forest like a cheetah, gradually distancing himself from the students with ordinary cultivation. Soon, he arrived at the first major trial: the Demon Forest.

The valley, initially only tens of meters wide, suddenly broadened here. Trees towered over one hundred feet high, their canopies dense. Layers of white mist drifted among them, emanating a mysterious and eerie atmosphere that sent an inexplicable chill down one’s spine.

Without hesitation, Luo Feng charged directly into the Demon Forest. About ten meters to his left, a small team of four Gold Sun class members moved together.

"Wang Wen, I heard it’s best to enter the Demon Forest alone," one of the shorter students among the four said, nervously eyeing the towering trees around them.

The student named Wang Wen turned back and chuckled, "Li Erchuan, look at your pitiful courage. Our strength is already at the bottom tier of the Gold Sun class. If we don’t stick together, we have no hope of successfully passing this trial!"

Wang Wen pointed towards Luo Feng, who was not far off, and snorted, "See that Silver Moon class kid over there? I bet he’ll be eliminated soon!"

The other three nodded in agreement.

At that moment, disaster struck.

SQUEAK! SQUEAK!

Accompanied by a series of ear-piercing shrieks, numerous dark shadows suddenly burst from the dense canopies.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Stones and wooden clubs rained down from the canopies.

"It’s the Great Power Tree Apes! Ah!" The short student named Li Erchuan cried out as a stone struck him, causing him to double over in pain and fall to the ground.

Only then did the group get a clear look at the dark figures in the canopies.

These dark figures were nearly two meters tall, with exceptionally sturdy arms and crimson pupils—they were indeed Great Power Tree Apes, a type of first-level Demon Beast inhabiting the Demon Forest.

These Great Power Tree Apes, holding either stones or thick wooden clubs, continuously hurled them at the students. Occasionally, a Great Power Tree Ape would leap down from a tree to deliver a stunning blow with a club. Each successful hit was accompanied by their joyful screeches, as if they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

"These beasts!" Wang Wen roared. "Circle up!"

The four immediately formed a defensive circle.

SWOOSH!

Wang Wen drew his longsword. Spotting a Great Power Tree Ape charging towards them, he thrust out, viciously stabbing the Great Power Tree Ape’s right shoulder. SQUEAK!

Wounded, the Great Power Tree Ape shrieked and rolled away.

It was as if they had poked a hornet’s nest; the entire forest instantly erupted!

The Great Power Tree Apes in the surrounding canopies, their eyes turning crimson, beat their chests and shrieked. They leaped down from the trees and rushed towards the four Gold Sun class students. Stones and wooden clubs rained down on the four like a furious storm!

From a distance, Luo Feng could initially hear the angry shouts of the Gold Sun class students, but soon, only miserable screams remained.

"What idiots!"

Luo Feng silently shook his head, casting a sympathetic glance in their direction.

The Great Power Tree Apes were typically mild-mannered, but they were extremely territorial Demon Beasts, not tolerating any encroachment upon their domain. Towards intruders, they would initially offer a slight warning, attempting to halt their advance. However, if they met resistance, the apes would immediately launch an all-out attack, beating the intruders until they were half-dead before tossing them out of their territory. It was worth noting that the more intruders there were, the more likely they were to provoke a full-scale assault from the Great Power Tree Apes. More experienced students would choose to enter the Demon Forest alone, trying their best to avoid entanglement with these troublesome creatures.

The surrounding Great Power Tree Apes were now drawn towards the Gold Sun class students, significantly easing the pressure on Luo Feng.

SWOOSH!

Seizing the opportunity, Luo Feng pushed off with his feet, his figure darting forward.

Along the way, he occasionally encountered more Great Power Tree Apes, but with his agile movements, Luo Feng easily evaded them each time, maintaining a rapid pace.

By this time, most students had poured into the Demon Forest. The entire forest immediately erupted into chaos, with students’ miserable cries and the piercing roars of Great Power Tree Apes echoing everywhere!

As he pressed on, the number of students around him dwindled. Luo Feng roughly estimated that nearly half of the participants had already fallen in the Demon Forest.

An hour later, his vision gradually widened. WHOOSH! Luo Feng finally burst out of the Demon Forest.

Before him lay a barren canyon, with sheer cliffs rising a thousand ren on all sides, devoid of any vegetation. Ahead was a narrow valley entrance, shaped like the mouth of a gourd. Dozens of students stood near it, all wearing the Gold Sun class uniform.

"Huh? Another student from the Silver Moon class..."

"I didn’t expect that besides Bing Ruolan, someone else from the Silver Moon class could pass through the Demon Forest so quickly this year."

"Passing the Demon Forest is nothing. The Giant Wood Valley and the Oblivion River are the true tests of the Challenge King competition. I bet he won’t make it through the Giant Wood Valley..."

Hearing the voices, the group turned. Seeing the student uniform Luo Feng wore, a hint of surprise flickered in their eyes.

Luo Feng paid no attention to their gazes and walked directly to the valley entrance.

This was the second major trial of the Challenge King competition: the Giant Wood Valley!