Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Grand Competition of Nine Peaks

Jiang Feng and his River and Mountain Vase remained within the awe-inspiring Star Soul Illumination Array until the Nine Peaks Tournament commenced.

In those few days, Jiang Feng thoroughly familiarized himself with every technique and method of the Xuantian Secret Arts. He discovered that, apart from his mastery of the Eight Dragons Sonic Kill and the Xuantian Divine Palm—especially the formidable Heaven and Earth Manifestation—he also gained a deeper understanding of the River and Mountain Vase and its remarkable uses.

His opinion of the vase had changed fundamentally. Jiang Feng was now certain that the River and Mountain Vase had once been a world-shaking Nether Artifact, far more than a simple supreme dark-grade artifact—likely above even a Sacred Nether Artifact. However, its power had waned, reduced now to storing items and releasing the nether arts that Fang Yichen had placed within. The River and Mountain Eight Sword Diagram inside it was now almost unusable. Master Jue realized that even with eight top-tier dark swords, the full power of the diagram could not be unleashed. He was convinced that if the River and Mountain Vase were restored to its peak, it would surely become a supreme treasure.

Nevertheless, even in its current state, the vase was much stronger than when Jiang Feng first acquired it. Through diligent cultivation over these days, he could now wield twenty percent of the power of the Myriad Worlds Array. Once activated, its boundless might became evident—each gesture conjured endless worlds, each breath formed mountain ranges, and a single swallow could seal the void itself. Even the likes of Duan Xingyun’s Star Sand artifact would be powerless against him. In true combat, its strength would be terrifying.

The Myriad Worlds Array was profoundly mysterious. Although he had spent over ten days comprehending it, Jiang Feng could still only grasp a fraction of its secrets. Still, he could now employ its illusions to harm his opponents in battle.

Furthermore, after mentally bonding with the River and Mountain Vase, he now wielded its power and could activate some of its wonders. If he now faced someone like Fang Lingtai, whom he had previously defeated, he was confident he could easily subdue him without expending much soul force, avoiding a prolonged fight.

Of course, over these ten-odd days, Jiang Feng focused on refining all the treasures he had seized from Fang Lingtai, purifying one each day. The resulting nether energy accumulated in the vase, filling Jiang Feng with delight.

Especially after he learned the true value of such treasures.

In the Netherworld Continent, simply possessing nether force identified one as a practitioner, not a mere mortal. But only those with a proper artifact could prove their status and strength. The more treasures one owned, the greater one’s wealth, and almost anything could be exchanged for them. Their scarcity was obvious.

Over those ten-plus days, Jiang Feng refined ten treasures. Such an accomplishment would shock many and not a single member of the Jiang family would dare squander resources as he did.

Yet to Jiang Feng, these treasures were of little use to him.

“Kid, besides treasures, you also need another thing—elixirs. If you accumulate both, in two or three years, you’ll be the wealthiest individual practitioner on earth. What is a clan or a faction? Their wealth is collective and shared. After division, none could compare to you. If one day your stock of elixirs numbers in the tens of thousands, or even millions, you’ll truly dominate a region!”

Master Jue’s words struck Jiang Feng like drumbeats, echoing endlessly in his mind.

At that moment, Duan Xingyun approached and, seeing Jiang Feng in a dazed state, asked with a puzzled look, “What’s wrong with you, looking so lovestruck? Are you thinking of some girl?”

Jiang Feng nearly choked, embarrassed. “Nonsense. Say, you’re dressed so grandly—what’s the occasion?”

Duan Xingyun gave him a look reserved for fools, replying as if it were obvious, “You’re about to be a champion—why do you look so indifferent?”

“What do you mean?”

“Today is the Nine Peaks Tournament!” Duan Xingyun almost spat blood, exasperated.

Jiang Feng suddenly understood and muttered, “So time really does fly. Well, that’s fine—I’ve been waiting impatiently. Senior Brother Xingyun, let’s hurry!”

After spending more than ten days together, Jiang Feng and Duan Xingyun had gone from wary strangers to close friends, growing together.

The Nine Peaks Tournament arrived as scheduled.

The venue was the Nine Peaks Hall, presided over by the Langya Merchant Guild. It was divided into nine pavilions, each as vast and towering as a mountain. Its grandeur rivaled the bronze palace Jiang Feng had seen in the Forest of Mystery, and its decoration was even more magnificent.

“Truly the greatest power in Nine Peaks Town—what extravagance!” Jiang Feng gazed into the distance, full of admiration.

Duan Xingyun, having grown up here, was unmoved. For him, the Nine Peaks Hall was as familiar as an old family elder. He scoffed, “Usually this place is cold and empty—not lively at all. If you stayed here, you’d die of boredom. That’s why I asked my master to let me train in the Star Soul Illumination Array.”

Jiang Feng could only smile wryly, understanding Duan Xingyun’s sentiment. He’d heard that the Langya Merchant Guild was cold and impersonal—relationships were based solely on profit and cooperation, with little true affection. A young man like Duan Xingyun, after long years here, would naturally find it dull. Even Jiang Feng himself would find such an existence unbearable.

Today, however, the Nine Peaks Hall was bustling—a sea of people.

Luckily, with Duan Xingyun leading the way, Jiang Feng was able to find the competitors’ entrance; otherwise, he would have been utterly lost amid the crowds.

To Jiang Feng’s surprise, his uncle Jiang Wei was in charge of entry inspection. Jiang Wei had always sided with Jiang Lei, considering Jiang Feng a thorn in the family’s side.

“Hmph, Jiang Feng? This entry token wasn’t issued by our Jiang family.” Jiang Wei tossed the token Jiang Feng had taken from Fang Lingtai in his hand, his tone mocking.

Jiang Feng gritted his teeth, reminding himself to stay calm. As the family’s outcast, if he lost his temper with Jiang Wei, his situation would only worsen. Beside him, Duan Xingyun watched Jiang Feng’s expression and silently cursed Jiang Wei’s petty behavior.

But as a senior disciple of the Langya Merchant Guild, Duan Xingyun could not speak up for Jiang Feng—there were too many interests at play, beyond the reach of a young man like him.

“I wonder what your cousins Jiang Lei and Jiang Xian would think if they knew you took the token from the Fang family!” Jiang Wei continued to taunt, his words like poisoned blades, digging into Jiang Feng’s heart. The mention of Jiang Xian nearly made Jiang Feng lose control.

Sensing Jiang Feng’s trembling, Duan Xingyun quickly steadied him and protested, “Hey, what are you trying to do? Is there a problem with his token? If not, check mine. Enough already—there are so many people waiting. Are you trying to hold everyone up?”

Duan Xingyun’s shameless interruption resonated with the crowd. The Nine Peaks Tournament was already nerve-wracking for these young netherforce practitioners, most not yet twenty, and they were anxious to begin. With a senior disciple speaking up, others joined in:

“Yeah, if you don’t like him, take it outside—stop wasting everyone’s time!”

“Is your eyesight bad? His token is identical to ours. If you stare at each one this long, how will the tournament ever start?”

One or two complaints might not have fazed Jiang Wei, but with the whole crowd grumbling, his face turned green. Yet he dared not escalate—the Merchant Guild would not tolerate delays, and even his own family would hold him accountable.

“Hmph, lucky you. Go in,” Jiang Wei snapped, tossing back the token and checking Duan Xingyun’s next.

Once inside, Jiang Feng quickly thanked Duan Xingyun. “Thank you, Senior Brother Xingyun. That Jiang Wei is insufferable.”

“He’s not even worth calling uncle,” Duan Xingyun replied with a grin, slinging an arm around Jiang Feng’s shoulders as they walked on.

After the drawing of lots and other formalities, Jiang Feng finally arrived at his competition venue: Pine Pavilion.

Legend had it that this was once the abode of the greatest practitioner in Nine Peaks Town, the Real Man of Nine Peaks, and the finest cultivation ground in all the land. Not only was netherforce abundant, but the pavilion itself was filled with ingenious traps and mysteries.

The terrain within Pine Pavilion was rugged and vast, with peaks rising in clusters. Generations of town leaders had raised netherbeasts here—most fierce by nature. Every disciple who reached the Spirit Nether Realm would enter Pine Pavilion for trials. This was why so many bettors favored Duan Xingyun and Xue Qiming—the pavilion was their childhood training ground, while others found it utterly unfamiliar.

A paradise like Pine Pavilion required enormous netherforce to create. Founding masters of major sects would invest everything to establish such a foundation. Within Pine Pavilion, no matter how fiercely netherforce practitioners below the True Nether Realm battled, the grounds remained unharmed. This was why it served as the main battlefield; anything else would be destroyed in moments.

In all of Nine Peaks Town, only here possessed such a treasure, and it was controlled by the powerful Langya Merchant Guild.

Other sect leaders in town watched the unlocking of Pine Pavilion with envy—especially the great families. No matter how wealthy they were, to the Merchant Guild, they were mere upstarts.

Wealth without strength was nothing but a parvenu’s fortune.

Yet Jiang Yuehai was unperturbed. Seeing such a treasure, he showed no interest, as if nothing in the world could move him.

Over a hundred netherforce practitioners stood quietly, many gazing at Pine Pavilion with curiosity—most had never entered such a place. As the Merchant Guild’s second disciple, Xue Qiming looked on the others with disdain, his sense of superiority evident.

Around Pine Pavilion, the Illusory Array was activated—rainbow lights danced like schools of fish. Soon, a faint image appeared above the pavilion, growing clearer until it enveloped the sky, revealing an extraordinarily serene world of emerald peaks and winding rivers, painted as if with bold strokes of ink. The sounds of trickling water were almost audible.

All of this was displayed within the Illusory Array. Spectators had come from distant lands and were glad they’d made the journey—such spectacle was rare.

Whether floating above or standing on the ground, everyone could easily witness this vast world.

Jiang Feng did not know that above Nine Peaks Hall, a similar image was visible across the town. Everyone emerged to watch. Some even prepared food and wine, intending to feast while enjoying the spectacle.

Millions gathered, a sea of humanity like a swarm of ants.

“Such grandeur—nothing compares to the Nine Peaks Tournament,” Jiang Yuehai, usually unflappable, could not help remarking.

“Indeed, Brother Xuanxingzi, your generosity in opening Pine Pavilion is remarkable.” The speaker was Fang Chuhan of the Fang family, his face stern and eyes filled with greed for Pine Pavilion.

Beside him, Fang Yichen stood quietly, a faint smile on his face, serene as a living Buddha.

Xuanxingzi, unlike the wrinkled Master Jue, looked middle-aged and radiant. He glanced around and smiled, “You flatter me. This must be Master Yichen of the Fang family? Your presence today is truly an honor.”

Fang Yichen nodded slightly, smiling modestly. “Brother Xuanxingzi overpraises. I am but a wandering monk, able to attend only thanks to the Fang family’s invitation. How could I deserve your praise?”

“No need for modesty, Master Yichen. Tell me, who do you favor in the tournament?” Xuanxingzi asked deliberately, having noticed that the Fang family’s contestant was unknown in Nine Peaks Town.

“Duan Xingyun,” Fang Yichen replied coolly.

“Of course, Duan Xingyun,” Fang Chuhan echoed quickly, a hint of anxiety in his eyes. “The Merchant Guild is the town’s greatest power, and Duan Xingyun is a once-in-a-century talent—few could rival him.”

The Fang brothers were determined to flatter Xuanxingzi.

But Liu Tao, head of the Liu family, disagreed, startling Fang Chuhan.

“I think the Fang family’s boy is quite good—though my old eyes can’t tell who he is. Elder Jiang, can you?”

“I can’t,” Jiang Yuehai sneered. He knew full well the Fang family’s scheme but would not expose them with Xuanxingzi present.

Fang Chuhan’s face changed, but he said nothing, glancing at Fang Yichen for help.

Cursing Fang Chuhan’s incompetence inwardly, Fang Yichen composed himself and smiled, “His name is Fang Ping. He was sent away for training at birth and only recently recalled. Naturally, he is unfamiliar to everyone.”

“Exactly!” Fang Chuhan quickly agreed.

Jiang Yuehai, Liu Tao, and Xuanxingzi exchanged glances, finding the Fang brothers’ acting laughable.

Wang Yu, head of the Wang family, had remained silent, his anger simmering at the Fang family’s presence. But seeing the others so animated, he finally spoke, “Jiang Feng has grown quickly. From what I’ve heard from a distant cousin, his future is limitless.”

His words drew immediate scorn.

Fang Chuhan snorted, “He’s just a traitor to the Jiang family—a disgrace who betrayed his elders, not to be trusted!”

Fang Yichen chanted “Amitabha” several times before adding, “Patriarch Wang is too naïve. Such a one cannot be allowed to remain.”

Jiang Feng’s grandfather, Jiang Yuehai, remained impartial. With the truth not yet revealed and Jiang Feng’s guilt uncertain, he said coldly, “Jiang Feng’s progress is impressive, but he’s still only Ninth Stage Nether Warrior—far from the Spirit Nether Realm. We simply want him to gain experience.”

“No one’s betting on him?” Xuanxingzi smiled, now interested in Jiang Feng. Observing him, he noted Jiang Feng’s restrained aura and steady steps—a man of promise.

Fang Chuhan laughed, “Whoever bets on him, I’ll be impressed!”

As the family heads chatted eagerly, Jiang Feng was at a loss.

He held the tournament rules in his hand—at first, the format intrigued him, but soon he was speechless.

This year’s Nine Peaks Tournament was a melee.

All contestants would enter Pine Pavilion, and the last one standing would be champion.

Master Jue scoffed, “What a pointless format. If someone is especially good at hiding and stays there for half a month, wouldn’t they win by default?”

While not entirely practical, Jiang Feng agreed—the rules were unfair.

Clearly, the Merchant Guild had designed the contest for Duan Xingyun and Xue Qiming to win. They knew the terrain intimately and could devise strategies instantly, while newcomers would have to learn the lay of the land and watch for ambushes.

In short, it was all a game for the Merchant Guild.

Yet this only increased Jiang Feng’s desire for the champion’s treasure.