"Uh... what is this?"

A trace of surprise flashed through Tong Chengtai's eyes as he looked up at Ling Feng. Inside the secret chamber, the mentors and instructors quickly gathered around as well.

While hiding in this secret chamber, they had not only lacked such pure heaven and earth spiritual energy, they had even struggled to obtain enough food. With their cultivation levels they could endure for a short time, but if this situation dragged on any longer, they would eventually reach their limits.

"This is one of my magical treasures," Ling Feng said with a calm smile. "It contains its own internal space called the Five Elements Heavenly Palace."

He glanced around at the gathered mentors and instructors.

"I ask all mentors and instructors to step inside and temporarily take shelter in the Five Elements Heavenly Palace. The spiritual energy inside is abundant and highly suitable for cultivation and recovery. Please follow me."

Ling Feng expanded the gate of light to its widest state and led everyone through one by one into the Wood Elemental Realm.

Before long, everyone had entered the Five Elements Heavenly Palace. The moment they felt the dense wood spiritual energy and the strong energy of life, every person present felt as if they had been reborn.

"This... this is truly unbelievable!"

Tong Chengtai took a deep breath as he felt elemental qi circulating smoothly within his body.

"A magical treasure that contains its own world. It also holds such pure heaven and earth spiritual energy. At the very least this must be a peak sacred artifact. It might even stand at the threshold of becoming a celestial artifact."

"Something like that."

Ling Feng shrugged slightly. Even he did not fully understand the origin of the Five Elements Heavenly Palace. At first he believed it was a sacred artifact. However, after obtaining the celestial artifact level Bow of Yi, he began to suspect that the Five Elements Heavenly Palace might not be inferior to it at all.

"Wow, this palace is incredible!"

"Cultivating here for one day is equal to ten days outside!"

"Wait, I think I see a donkey!"

Someone suddenly noticed the Despicable Donkey napping inside the Five Elements Heavenly Palace. It was as if they had discovered a new continent. Everyone rushed over to surround it.

"This donkey even has scales on its body. That's quite something. It must be some kind of hybrid!"

"I can sense demonic beast aura from it. It should be a demon donkey. A black donkey becoming enlightened is extremely rare!"

The moment Ling Feng heard them discussing about the donkey's origins, several black lines appear across his forehead.

These people were about to suffer.

Sure enough, Despicable Donkey could not endure it any longer. He had finally managed to enjoy a peaceful nap, yet these people kept repeating the phrase "black donkey becoming enlightened." That was more than enough to trigger his temper. A wave of demon emperor aura burst out instantly, terrifying the onlookers. Every one of them trembled as they collapsed onto the ground.

"A... a demon emperor!"

"Hmph! How dare you show disrespect to your granddaddy divine donkey!"

Despicable Donkey lifted his head proudly and swayed his tail. He shot an unfriendly glance toward Ling Feng.

"Brat, why did you suddenly bring so many people in here?"

"It is temporary. More people might come later. Don't bully them or I will hold you responsible!"

Ling Feng shook his head with a smile. Despicable Donkey would not truly go too far, but his mischievous nature meant he would definitely play some tricks on these people.

The one who called him a black donkey that became enlightened had probably already been marked for revenge.

Despicable Donkey was not only shameless. He also held grudges and had a very petty temper.

Ling Feng silently observed and felt a moment of sympathy for that poor fellow.

"Hmph!"

After hearing Ling Feng's warning, Despicable Donkey flicked his tail and walked off to the side. His eyes glared fiercely at the group that had just surrounded him. The meaning behind that stare was obvious. Once Ling Feng left, those people would learn the might of granddaddy divine donkey!

Ling Feng merely smiled. As long as Despicable Donkey did not go too far, he would pretend not to notice. With such pure spiritual energy filling the Five Elements Heavenly Palace, even if he tried to send these people away, they probably would refuse to leave.

"Vice-Director Tong, please stay here and focus on recovering from your injuries."

Ling Feng thought for a moment before taking out a bottle of eighth-tier spirit pills. He handed it over casually.

"These pills will help your injuries greatly. If you combine them with your healing, you should recover quickly and might even break through to a higher level."

Tong Chengtai had remained at the half-step Human Emperor realm for many years. The pills Ling Feng gave him were far more precious than the Divine-Will Nine-Transformations Pill that once helped Yan Cangtian breakthrough. Once Tong Chengtai recovered, he would likely take the final step and become a true Human Emperor.

"Ling Feng, I cannot see through your current strength anymore," Tong Chengtai said while looking deeply at him. "However, you must never underestimate Yan Jinghong."

"I understand!"

Ling Feng nodded.

He then looked at Su Qingxuan and gave her a slight nod.

"Mentor Su, you should all rest here. I believe it will not take long before I resolve everything!"

Su Qingxuan looked at Ling Feng for a long moment. Two years ago, when he first arrived at Tianwei Academy, he was still a somewhat inexperienced youth. Now he had grown into a man capable of standing tall beneath the heavens.

She believed there was nothing the current Ling Feng could not accomplish.

"Ling Feng, we... we will wait for your good news!"

Su Qingxuan gazed at him deeply. The distance between her and this man seemed to grow greater with every passing moment.

Ling Feng laughed lightly. His figure disappeared from within the Five Elements Heavenly Palace.

Many tasks still awaited him tonight.

...

Ling Feng soon left Tianwei Academy and headed toward the Alchemist Guild.

Inside the guild, he found several ordinary disciples and learned the current situation from them. All of the elders had been imprisoned. As for President Hong Haotian, his cultivation had been crippled. His limbs had been broken before he was thrown into a death cell where he lived without ever seeing daylight.

Ling Feng sighed quietly.

"In the end, it was my actions that dragged you into this!"

He swore silently that he would rescue Hong Haotian and the others.

After leaving the Alchemist Guild, Ling Feng moved again and flew toward the Ascendant Eagle General's Mansion.

Deng Xian, the Ascendant Eagle General, had once been one of the three great generals of the Tianbai Empire. His achievements were immense and his status had been unmatched. Now his title had been stripped away and the entire general's mansion had been sealed.

The mansion stood silent and empty.

Ling Feng sighed softly. He already understood that Old General Deng had probably suffered treatment similar to President Hong. The other members of the Deng family were most likely imprisoned as well. Some of them might even have been killed.

He had no idea how his "bargain" student, Deng Yongshi, was doing now.

"I still need to find where Yan Jinghong is keeping the prisoners."

Ling Feng frowned. After searching two locations without results, anxiety began to creep into his heart. He quickly forced himself to calm down. At times like this, composure mattered more than anything.

"One last place remains. I will check General Weiyuan's Mansion."

Ouyang Jing had once said that General Weiyuan's Mansion had been turned into a prison. Ling Feng knew this was probably a trap prepared by Yan Jinghong. Even so, whether it was a trap or not, he had no choice but to face it.

Ling Feng took a deep breath.

His figure flickered, then disappeared. With his movement technique and dark clothing, he melted into the night, drifting through the shadows like a ghost that left no trace behind.