Volume 43 — Testing the Third Secret
The chamber still glowed faintly from the energy of the third secret. Lin Feng hovered in the center, petals of the First Bloom spinning like a radiant storm. Each petal now carried a refined balance of offensive and defensive energy, harmonized perfectly with the palace's ancient power.
Caiyi watched him, awe in her eyes. "Lin Feng… after that trial, I can feel your strength has grown tremendously. But how do we know the third secret's power in battle?"
Lin Feng's gaze hardened. "We test it. Trials can teach mastery, but combat proves it. We need to face real challenges—strategic opponents, powerful cultivators. Only then can I fully understand the potential of this secret."
Host, the Peach Spirit whispered, your mastery of the palace's energy has reached a new level. The third secret is now part of you, but its true potential is revealed through combat. The enemies you face next will test everything—strength, strategy, and spirit.
Almost as if on cue, the chamber doors trembled. A group of elite cultivators, drawn by the rumors of the Obsidian Root Palace, stepped into the Core Archives. Their auras were formidable, a mixture of cunning and raw power, clearly intending to challenge the new master of the palace.
Caiyi's eyes narrowed. "Lin Feng… they're strong. Stronger than anyone we've faced since Hei Xu."
Lin Feng's petals flared, energy radiating outward. "Then we give them a demonstration of the palace's true strength."
The battle began instantly. Shadows, illusions, and lightning-fast strikes assaulted them. Lin Feng's petals moved with uncanny precision, intercepting attacks, slicing through defenses, and creating openings for Caiyi to exploit. The third secret amplified his perception, allowing him to anticipate every movement, even the slightest feint.
Caiyi marveled, "It's like the palace is guiding your attacks… every strike, every defense, perfectly synchronized!"
The elite cultivators struggled against the onslaught. Even their coordinated formations were dismantled, their strategies undone by Lin Feng's mastery of both the palace and the third secret.
Lin Feng's voice rang out, confident and commanding. "This is the true power of the Obsidian Root Palace. None can stand against its master!"
The cultivators faltered, realizing that the new secrets of the palace had elevated Lin Feng far beyond any ordinary opponent.