Possible disaster

"Liu Feng!" Cheng shouted, his solemn expression replaced by a gentle smile.

"Could it be Cheng?" The figure froze momentarily before turning toward the voice.

Liu Feng's face drained of color as he stared at Cheng Xiao in astonishment. Thoughts raced through his mind, "Oh, ancestor... What is he doing here?" He was truly shocked.

In a matter of seconds, Liu Feng's face transitioned from pale to red, from shame to anger, and finally to acceptance. He approached Cheng and greeted him.

"How have you been, Brother Cheng?" Liu Feng asked, tightly hugging Cheng.

"Hahaha, I'm even better after seeing you, Brother Liu," Cheng replied. "This is Zhang Fenlei."

Liu Feng looked at the man with a kind smile, offering a slight bow. "I'm his senior brother. It's very nice to meet you."

Zhang Fenlei stood up and returned the bow. "You are too kind, brother. Come and have a seat since you're also waiting for the show."

Liu Feng froze upon hearing Zhang Fenlei's words, then turned towards Cheng, who was struggling to contain his laughter.

"Tsk...tsk..tsk, brother, I didn't expect you to be like this," Cheng teased.

Liu Feng cared greatly about his reputation, especially in front of this junior of his. He felt a sense of shame and swallowed his pride, ultimately deciding to sit down.

After a brief moment of silence, Liu Feng noticed Cheng's tired appearance and asked, "What is it? You seem tired."

"Nothing, it's just that I've been feeling a bit fatigued lately," Cheng replied, taking a sip of wine.

"You're lying, I can see it... Is it Yan Xin? Are you two fighting again?" Liu Feng inquired.

Cheng's body shook for a moment before denying, "No, I told you, it's nothing like that."

Liu Feng gazed at him intently. "Okay, okay. You've always been secretive. You can keep what you want, but don't lie to your brother."

Sensing the somber atmosphere, Zhang Fenlei interjected, "Brothers, are you participating in the Path of Radiance Tournament?"

"What is that?" Cheng asked.

"How did you know we're from a big sect!?" Liu Feng looked at him shocked as he asked cautiously.

"Hahaha, brother, you're just too powerful. Even though you're restraining your power from leaking, your gaze and attitude tell me more than anything else," Zhang Fenlei said, reassuring them of his observations.

Both Cheng and Liu Feng remained somewhat suspicious, still eyeing Zhang Fenlei with caution.

"Relax, I mean no harm. I'm just a small character in your eyes, and I have no strength to resist if you wanted to kill me," Zhang Fenlei added, attempting to alleviate their concerns as he gazed at Cheng.

Cheng, still harboring doubts, questioned further, "Brother Feng, what is this Path of Radiance Tournament?"

Liu Feng let out a sigh before proceeding to explain, "That's why I've been so busy these days, hunting demon beasts everywhere."

He continued, "This tournament is a gathering of the twelve strongest sects in the eastern continent. It's a complex and dangerous event where countless geniuses compete."

Cheng and Liu Feng exchanged glances, their suspicions gradually easing as Zhang Fenlei's earlier remarks resonated with them.

The tournament that everyone was concerned about was held every five years in the sect, and only those above the core formation realm were allowed to participate.

Before Cheng could process the information, a loud sound of a door breaking startled him. The trio, their senses heightened by an unexplained dread, turned their heads as one, their eyes falling upon the entrance where five figures emerged, casting elongated shadows that danced malevolently along the walls. The room seemed to shudder in response to their arrival, as if nature itself recoiled at the presence of these formidable interlopers.

Clad in garments as white as the purest snow, the five cultivators strode forth with a regality befitting their station. Their robes billowed, swirling like ethereal mists, while a solemn symphony of footsteps marked their passage. Their swords hung on their hips, gleaming with a spectral luminosity that spoke of battles waged and victories won.

Upon their chests, a vibrant insignia burned like a crimson ember against the snow-white canvas of their attire. It was a symbol of power, a mark that denoted their affiliation with the revered Crimson Moon Sect.

"Crimson Moon Sect!" Liu Feng thought as he looked at the arrogant way those cultivators entered and behaved in a place so close to their Celestial Ascendancy Sect.

This was pure provocation!

Everyone lowered their gaze in horror when they looked at their insignia. The five went directly to a table and forcefully took the seats of other people. No one resisted. It was pure oppression. Even though this brothel was filled with loose cultivators and others from different sects, no one dared to oppose them.

Liu Feng's whole body trembled in pure rage as a horrid and dreadful force seemed to be escaping his grasp and leaking. The air seemed to distort, and the world lost its color as Feng's eyes turned ruthless. His face seemed designed to instill fear in anyone who laid eyes upon it. His original kind face turned pallid, ashen, almost devoid of life, contorting into a grotesque visage unlike anything remotely human.

Both Cheng and Zhang Fenlei trembled uncontrollably as if caught in the grip of an invisible vice. Every muscle seemed to quiver with palpable fear, threatening to give way under the weight of their terror. A sheen of cold sweat covered their foreheads as they struggled to fight off the horrifying aura Feng released.

Just as he was about to stand up, a hand touched his shoulder.

"Brother, it's not worth it. Stay," Cheng said with difficulty. Instantly, the terrible force that seemed to prey on their greatest fears disappeared.

"That was terrifying," Cheng thought as he sighed in relief and adjusted his breathing. Zhang Fenlei almost appeared to be in a worse state. Even as a low-level ranked cultivator, he wasn't far from fainting.

"Brother Feng, you know that this is uncommon behavior. No sane man would come and make a fuss in this place without a hidden motive," Cheng said.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I couldn't control myself. It's just that I've been fighting demons a lot, you know... you have to become one to be able to kill those malicious creatures," Liu said as he poured himself more drinks and observed the five cultivators from the Crimson Moon Sect.

Cheng nodded understandingly. "I know you've been through a lot, Brother Feng. Fighting demons takes a toll on one's spirit. But remember, you have to stay composed. Losing control will only bring more trouble."

Liu Feng took a deep breath, attempting to compose himself amidst the tense atmosphere. He refilled his cup with a steady hand, all the while keeping a watchful eye on the five cultivators from the Crimson Moon Sect. Their presence continued to be an affront, but Liu knew that reacting impulsively would only lead to more trouble. He needed to think strategically.

Zheng's voice broke the suffocating silence once again. "I've heard rumors of the top sects splitting into factions, vying for leadership within the alliance."

Cheng, perplexed, responded, "But how is that possible when the most terrifying man in the continent is still alive?"

"They say he is gravely ill and confined to his deathbed," Zheng replied.

Liu Feng's disagreement was evident as he voiced his concerns. "It's hard to believe. If these factions are indeed plotting rebellion, it will weaken the alliance and give the demonic sects an opportunity to wreak havoc upon the world. We cannot afford to let our guard down."

Zheng nodded, understanding Liu's perspective. "That's why I believe this provocative act by the Crimson Moon Sect is significant. It's unusual for such a powerful sect to cause trouble in such close proximity to your sect. It might be a deliberate challenge."

Liu Feng mulled over Zheng's words, finding reason in them. He turned his gaze back to the Crimson Moon Sect cultivators, their arrogant demeanor still evident .

Lui Feng found his reasoning to be correct and remarked, "But He's already halfway to the immortal ascension realm, on the verge of becoming an immortal. How can he possibly be sick?"

"That's why it's still just a rumor," Zheng solemnly replied.

A heavy silence fell upon everyone. They were uncertain about what to believe, realizing that the world was descending into chaos, and they felt powerless to bring about any meaningful change.

Lost in his thoughts, Cheng examined his hands and muttered, "If I participate in this tournament, my name will become known throughout the continent, and I'll acquire more travel points to unlock additional functions of the system."

However, reaching the core formation realm was an incredibly arduous task, especially for someone like him who had only started cultivating a few months ago. He hadn't even refined the energies he had absorbed before.