Chapter Sixty-Eight: Myriad Manifestations of the Forest

Originally, Duan Xingyun was confident and composed, but Jiang Feng’s sudden strike left him utterly bewildered. The unbelievable sights surrounding him made it impossible to distinguish reality from dream—within that instant, it felt as if he had entered another world. The instantaneous transformation inflicted immense trauma upon his spirit.

Jiang Feng felt a stir in his heart, realizing he had finally succeeded in wielding the myriad manifestations of the Forest of All Things. But before joy could take root, a wave of pain surged through his mind. He understood this was the result of his spirit being split and torn apart in the process—such agony from the fragmentation of the soul was something no one could bear.

“What a domineering necromancy technique! The schools of necromancy have indeed multiplied over time,” Jue remarked with nostalgic admiration as he observed the scene.

Jiang Feng was puzzled and asked, “Senior Jue, in your era, were there no techniques like this?”

“Not exactly none, but at the very least, only those who had reached the True Nether Realm could hope to use them. Besides, necromancy back then was far less refined than it is today—mostly just simple, ordinary tricks.” Jue reminisced about his era, speaking at length. “Later, people began to form various factions, and necromancy gradually became systematic. Unique, powerful techniques were preserved as legacies within certain schools, passed down through generations. Some families lacking such techniques faded into obscurity, while others rose to prominence thanks to a single necromancy. I have witnessed countless cycles of rise and fall among sects and clans, which led me to withdraw from this world. Then I recalled the legend of the Enigmatic Forest, ventured there, met Little Ghost, and have remained ever since.”

Jiang Feng listened, enraptured, wide-eyed, like a child hearing an elder recount mythical tales. When Jue spoke of Ghost Yue, Jiang Feng couldn’t help but inquire, “And what of Senior Ghost Yue’s story?”

Jue laughed heartily, unable to conceal his admiration for Ghost Yue. “That girl is no ordinary soul. She was once a princess of the Langya Kingdom. Displeased with a marriage her father arranged, she fled in haste, driven also by an insatiable yearning for power, which led her to the Enigmatic Forest.”

Suddenly, Jue’s deep gaze twinkled with mystery. “Do you know how many battles Little Ghost has fought in her life?”

“How many?”

Jiang Feng’s nerves tightened. Ghost Yue was a master of Nether King rank, and his own goal was to become a Nether King. Her experience intrigued him far more than Jue’s.

“Three thousand five hundred battles, three thousand four hundred thirty-two victories, sixty-seven draws, and one defeat.”

Jiang Feng was struck dumb, as though carved from stone, his mind echoing with disbelief—was it really necessary to exaggerate so much?

From Duan Xingyun came repeated cries of agony, but to Jiang Feng, they seemed nothing but fleeting clouds.

Jiuyan Town, Fang family estate.

“Yichen, you’ve done well this time. The entire Jiang family now hates Jiang Feng to the bone, and the Wang family is seen as his backing. Ha! That astounding Jiang Feng has become the target of all in Jiuyan Town.” The head of the Fang family, Fang Chuhan, sat high and mighty, his sharp eyes barely masking his excitement.

Fang Yichen sat in the seat to Fang Chuhan’s immediate right, a testament to his high standing within the Fang family.

“Big brother, despite all this, I still worry about one thing,” Fang Yichen said.

Fang Chuhan was taken aback. “What is it, dear brother? Speak.”

Fang Yichen took a slip of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and pointed to the writing. “My spies in Jiuyan Town report that since the day I spared Jiang Feng, he sought out a site belonging to the Langya Chamber of Commerce called the Star Soul Flowing Light Array. The person stationed there is a rising star of the Chamber, a favorite to win the upcoming Jiuyan competition—the Langya Little Demon Star, Duan Xingyun. Though known as the Demon Star, he’s actually quite amiable and cares little for convention. If he takes a liking to someone, even if they're public enemy number one, he’ll disregard all else. My concern is he might recommend Jiang Feng to join the Langya Chamber.”

“Hmm, you’re right. If that happens, things could get truly troublesome,” Fang Chuhan mused. The Langya Chamber was the strongest force in Jiuyan Town, and its members cared only for capability, not background. Even if you were a wanted criminal, as long as you were willing to serve them, they would take you in.

Fang Yichen’s expression shifted to a cunning smile. “That might actually play to our favor. If Jiang Feng joins the Chamber, we can unite the Jiang and Liu families to demand his handover. While the Chamber’s strength is formidable—capable of destroying the four major families—they wouldn’t risk most of their power for a promising youth. Such a loss would not be worth it.”

“Indeed! Yichen, your thinking is thorough.” Fang Chuhan seemed to envision Jiang Feng kneeling before him, delighting in the prospect. But then his face turned serious, a trace of worry and fury in his eyes. “But my son Fang Lingtai was killed by him. Who will we send to the Jiuyan competition?”

Even the crafty Fang Yichen had no answer. With Fang Lingtai gone, the Fang family had no young talents capable of shouldering this responsibility. The Jiang family was full of soft targets, but the Liu family was not so easily bullied. Add the enigmatic Langya Chamber, and the Fang family’s chances of winning the championship were slim.

“Every Jiuyan competition bestows a precious Nether Artifact upon the champion. Last time, the Sea Elephant Coral was a priceless treasure. This time, we must win!” Fang Chuhan’s voice was full of authority, befitting a family patriarch.

Below the platform where Fang Chuhan and Fang Yichen sat stood the elders of the Fang family and their descendants. Originally, they were eager to participate, thinking Fang Lingtai would bear the brunt, and they could simply gain experience. But with Fang Lingtai dead, the burden of winning fell upon them. Their excitement faded, and they stood there like beaten eggplants, none daring to volunteer.

If they failed to win, the family head who commanded wind and rain would never let them off lightly!

“Big brother, I believe the Fang family cannot field such a candidate now,” Fang Yichen said thoughtfully. In his mind, if there was no pride to be had, there was no point in showing off and bringing shame. The family’s prestige was not theirs to uphold. “We could hire a young man and adopt him as a godson, making him a representative of the Fang family.”

Fang Chuhan’s eyes brightened, and after a moment’s thought, he clapped enthusiastically. “You truly are my strategist! Such a clever ruse—then I’ll leave the task of finding this youth to you.”

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“Of course.” Fang Yichen nodded slightly, his eyes flashing with ruthless intent.

The world is vast, with many unknown youths—some younger than Jiang Feng, yet possibly more powerful than Fang Yichen himself!

With such a youth in their ranks, even the formidable Duan Xingyun of the Langya Chamber would not threaten the Fang family’s standing.

At that moment, a discordant voice rang out: “Isn’t that cheating?”

Fang Yichen frowned slightly, but his years of studying scripture had cultivated a calm temperament, so the comment barely rippled his mind. Fang Chuhan, however, was different. As the head of the Fang family, burdened by countless affairs, he had developed a volatile temper. Upon hearing the remark, his anger flared, a malignant fire rising within him, channeling his Nether energy and giving him murderous intent.

He moved abruptly; the child who spoke was caught off guard and seized by a large, fierce hand. The suddenness of it overwhelmed the child, who began to cry loudly.

“Useless! Frightened into tears!” Fang Chuhan growled, solemn as a death god from the underworld.

The child’s father, an elder of the Fang family, quickly knelt and pleaded, his voice trembling: “Big brother, please show mercy and forgive his ignorance. Shuang’er, hurry and apologize to your uncle!”

Fang Shuang, already nearly strangled unconscious, rolled his eyes, green fluid seeping from within—a shocking sight. Several Fang family children shut their eyes, but none shed a tear.

“Hmph, scared into bile—useless! Keeping you all only brings shame upon the Fang family!” Fang Chuhan, furious, threw Fang Shuang far across the room, nailing him to the wall, brain matter splattering and filling the air with its stench.

“Dismiss yourselves!”

Another shout, and no one dared defy Fang Chuhan. Like birds startled by thunder in the jungle, disaster looming, they scattered.

“Big brother, calm yourself. They’re not worth it,” Fang Yichen said, smiling without the slightest concern for Fang Chuhan. In his heart, he harbored thoughts far more rebellious than the child’s words: “Big brother’s rage will consume him sooner or later, and when he succumbs, who else but I shall claim the head of the Fang family?”

~

Whoosh...

In the void, inch by inch, light seeped forth, as if the Forest of All Things was slowly expelling Duan Xingyun’s star sand. Yet Duan Xingyun, now fully aware of the technique’s power, could not break free.

Moreover, he realized this necromancy was unleashed by Jiang Feng amid intense pain. If Jiang Feng learned to wield it perfectly, its power would be unimaginable—how long could he hold out then?

“What a pity, you can only unleash one-tenth of this technique’s strength. If you could wield even half of the Forest of All Things, you could obliterate Duan Xingyun with a mere gesture,” Jue sighed, seeing that the battle’s outcome was all but decided. He faded away, transforming into a stream of light that sank deep into Jiang Feng’s sea of consciousness.

During this silence, Jiang Feng nearly exhausted his Nether energy. If not for the Jiangshan Bottle sustaining the technique’s momentum, it would have collapsed. Still, his strength had greatly increased; at least now, he could easily use a tenth of the Forest of All Things’ power. That tenth was not to be underestimated—it could well be his secret weapon in winning the Jiuyan competition.

Just then, the once-vanished Jue reappeared. “After you win the championship, you must kill Fang Yichen. Otherwise, his temperament guarantees he will never let things rest. Better to strike first than wait for trouble.”

“But even if I fully wield the Nether Soul power and have a chance to subdue him, he could self-destruct. He’s a first-stage True Nether Realm master, capable of forging a pseudo-Nether Pill. If he self-destructs, I’ll die with him.”

Killing a True Nether Realm master carried the greatest risk—the opponent might self-destruct their pseudo-pill in desperation. Such an explosion, unlike Duan Xingyun’s shattered star sand, could collapse the void for a hundred miles, leaving no place to escape.

This was Jiang Feng’s main concern in killing Fang Yichen.

For this reason, True Nether Realm masters were universally respected—few dared provoke them. Having forged a pseudo-pill was equivalent to possessing an extra life, greatly reducing the risk of death on the Nether Continent.

Perhaps sensing Jiang Feng’s worries, Jue smiled calmly. “You possess infinite devouring power, and your body, forged by the Jiangshan Bottle and Ice Soul Liquid, can prevent a True Nether master from self-destructing.”

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“What?” Jiang Feng was astounded. “If that’s so, I can absorb his pseudo-pill, merge it into myself, and multiply my Nether energy!”

Jue nodded in affirmation.

Jiang Feng was astonished beyond measure. He pondered: by acquiring the pseudo-pill of a True Nether master and merging it, he could not only elevate the Jiangshan Bottle by a tier, but his Nether energy would reach terrifying levels. Duan Xingyun would never pose such a challenge again!

“It seems this is truly heaven’s aid—or rather, Jue’s aid. But I must not rush; I need to familiarize myself with the Forest of All Things and secure the Jiuyan championship first!”

Jiang Feng insisted on precise calculation in such matters, lest a slip lead to disaster. Killing must be swift, neither delayed nor hasty—and when the time came, it must be done with lightning speed and utter secrecy. He was already a focal point, and if he killed Fang Yichen, no amount of explanation could clear his name. Once the plan was set, he must strike with thunderous force and eliminate Fang Yichen!

If successful, he would be one step closer to the Nether King.

Jiang Feng’s eyes flickered with countless strategies, analyzing, comparing, and synthesizing a perfect approach.

Just then, his Nether energy was finally depleted. Within the Forest of All Things, a thunderous explosion echoed, as though even the Star Soul Flowing Light Array was about to collapse. Jiang Feng focused and couldn’t help but laugh.

Duan Xingyun, dazed, drooling, muttered incoherent words, flailing about with no grace or rhythm.

Jiang Feng understood this was the result of immense spiritual trauma from the Forest of All Things.

Seeing Duan Xingyun thus, Jiang Feng couldn’t help but laugh again. His first step was to win the Jiuyan championship, and Duan Xingyun was the favorite. Defeating him almost guaranteed the title—the only concern was the Liu family.

Although the Jiang and Liu families had always cooperated, the Liu family was the most mysterious of the four major clans. Jiang Feng had never heard of its members, so it troubled him—what if they had someone even stronger than Duan Xingyun?

“Ah!”

A scream from Duan Xingyun pulled Jiang Feng from his thoughts.

“Jiang Feng, what’s the name of that move? It’s amazing—I’m still hazy!” Contrary to his words, Duan Xingyun seemed in surprisingly good spirits, his eyes bright, a far cry from his previous stupor.

Looking at him, Jiang Feng felt almost unsure whether his technique had truly struck Duan Xingyun. He asked reflexively, “How are you so unaffected?”

Duan Xingyun rolled his eyes exaggeratedly. “What, you were hoping I’d be in trouble? Bad intentions! But I am troubled—my once-unshakeable confidence has been shattered. I had the championship in the bag, but with you here, I suddenly feel hopeless. No wonder you’re the Jiang family’s rare genius—I concede. Oh, when you win, don’t forget to share the prize with me. After all, I lost to you.”

Duan Xingyun’s incessant chatter left Jiang Feng dumbfounded—was this really the fierce, red-eyed Little Demon Star from moments ago?

“That one’s talent far exceeds yours,” Jue whispered with a mischievous laugh.

Jiang Feng ignored him and, seeing Duan Xingyun’s eager face, nodded and promised, “Alright, but I don’t think I have much chance of winning.”

“Why? You beat me,” Duan Xingyun replied, unaware of how self-centered his statement was.

Jiang Feng broke into a light sweat. “The Langya Chamber surely has more experts than just you. And there’s the Liu family—I’m wary of them.”

Duan Xingyun pondered, then analyzed for Jiang Feng with genuine generosity, as if he had no intention of competing himself. “Jiang Feng, listen. The Langya Chamber has another expert you should watch out for: Xue Qiming. He’s about as strong as I am, but always uses underhanded tricks. As for the Liu family, there’s only Liu Mengbai, I think. He wields a chain-blade and is unstoppable, but I doubt he’s your match. That necromancy you used was incredible.”

Jiang Feng was both awed and alarmed, marveling at the Langya Chamber’s status as Jiuyan Town’s most formidable force. The Liu family, always shrouded in mystery, was so familiar to Duan Xingyun—testament to the Chamber’s power!

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