This kid actually practiced the Eight Gates Opening Technique; he’s courting death.

Wei Wu looked at Li Feng, ten steps away from him, his eyes flickering. Although he didn’t know who taught Li Feng the Eight Gates Opening Technique, he couldn’t deny the kid’s reckless spirit.

Martial Artists must possess a momentum of going forward fearlessly, embracing life and death.

Moreover, under these circumstances, not only did Li Feng disregard the domineering pressure and gravity domain of Nine Layers Mountain, but he also used its pressure to achieve a breakthrough. That’s interesting.

But the Eight Gates Opening Technique, once initiated, is extremely difficult to close, especially for the practitioner. Since the Eight Gates inherently absorb the Power of Heaven and Earth, failing to close them in time results in limitless absorption, ultimately causing the body to burst from excess energy.

Utilizing energy far exceeding one’s capacity naturally leads to suppression failure. Is Li Feng planning to use their presence as an insurance policy?

Wei Wu, a 300-year-old veteran, acclaimed as the Military God of the era, was far from dull. A mere glance revealed Li Feng’s intentions.

Ha, interesting.

If you can break through, this old man wouldn’t mind lending a hand.

On the other side.

Li Feng had reached a critical moment, sequentially opening seven gates, resulting in a vast influx of nature’s spiritual energy into his body.

It’s known that Ancestor Dragon City, as the core of this secret realm, is rich in spiritual energy concentration, a precious place indeed.

And the Ancestor Dragon’s Ninth Ring location, the higher up you go, the more abundant the Power of Heaven and Earth. Nourished by the Third Ring, Nine Layers Mountain was brimming with spiritual energy. At this moment, above Nine Layers Peak, with Li Feng opening seven gates, his body became akin to a black hole, constantly devouring surrounding Power of Heaven and Earth, forming a Dragon Water Absorption vortex overhead.

Logically, the massive influx of Power of Heaven and Earth should’ve overwhelmed his body, incapable of enduring even a moment before exploding.

Yet.

Li Feng’s second Core Formation was rather unique; its core was the domineering Purple Flame within him.

This Purple Flame originated from a mutated Earth Spirit Pill, refined from the inner core of a fierce beast. After Li Feng consumed it, it fused with the Power of Destruction remaining from opening the Death Gate, eventually forming a variant Purple Flame.

From the start, this Purple Flame exhibited a unique ability: devouring, able to absorb various energies. Afterward, it further integrated Li Feng’s innate domineering nature, forming the domineering Purple Flame.

And now, this domineering Purple Flame sought to form a core, unhesitant to absorb the incoming nature’s spiritual energy, akin to a black hole swallowing an endless supply.

Seemingly never satiated.

Yet through the process, Li Feng endured unbearable impacts; the overwhelming spiritual energy flooded his body instantly, his mortal flesh unable to withstand it.

Fortunately, Li Feng had awakened the Vermilion Bird’s transcendent Bloodline Talent ability, the Undying Body, in Underground Palace City.

At this moment, as Li Feng’s physical form began to crumble, it triggered the Undying Body’s ability, transforming him into an elemental form, removing natural physical barriers, allowing unhindered spiritual energy influx to condense the domineering Purple Flame into a core.

As the vast spiritual energy continued to pour in, Li Feng realized the previously balanced Purple Flame began struggling, showing signs of indigestion.

Suddenly.

Li Feng’s Undying Body began to expand like a balloon filled with air.

"This is bad; he’s absorbed too much. His body simply can’t handle it; he’s going to explode." An elder’s expression drastically changed upon seeing the situation. Damn it, is this kid insane, recklessly absorbing nature’s spiritual energy like a bottomless pit?

The second elder, Xia Changhe, also gasped: "A pity, a promising talent, such a pity."

"Mount Elder, if we don’t suppress him, this kid will explode; the impact would be immense."

Despite Nine Layers Mountain Hall being constructed from Nine Layers Mountain stone, resilient under enormous gravity, the place was incredibly sturdy; but with Li Feng absorbing excessive Power of Heaven and Earth, if he were to explode, the impact could rival a Golden Core Late Stage’s self-detonation.

Among the present elders, perhaps only the Mount Elder might escape unharmed, but others stood little chance, potentially destroying the entire Nine Layers Peak.

"Let’s wait and see."

Wei Wu, watching Li Feng’s constant expansion, furrowed his brows; has the breakthrough failed?

Wei Wu naturally hesitated to intervene prematurely; his interference could disrupt Li Feng’s breakthrough, possibly causing backlash, leaving him crippled even if he survived.

Li Feng gritted his teeth, facing life and death, this breakthrough was unplanned, a venture into the unknown, akin to crossing a river by feeling the stones, uncertain what might unfold.

Now, his Undying Body expanded like an inflating balloon, a heartbeat from explosion. Is this the end?

At the brink of life and death, Li Feng abandoned all reservations.

Eighth Gate.

Death Gate.

Open.

Li Feng directly unsealed the Death Gate, and upon its opening, it resembled a gateway into the abyss, allowing the gathered spiritual energy within him a discharge path, akin to floodwaters pouring into the ocean.

Suddenly, Li Feng’s expanding Undying Body began to contract.

Wei Wu watched Li Feng open the Eighth Gate, contemplating the kid’s audacity; the Eight Gates Technique, historically terrifying upon opening the Death Gate.

Because the other seven gates connect to the Current World Gate, only the Death Gate links to the abyss.

Life exists on the bright, yang side of the world, while the yin side—the abyss—remains separated by just a veil. The Eight Gates Technique is forbidden for reaching across yin and yang.

The abyss harbors entirely negative forces: devouring, destruction, madness—opening the Death Gate foretells dire outcomes.

Yet the direst threat isn’t the abyss’s inherent power; once spiritual energy enters the abyss, it might attract abyssal demons.

Such demons could possess and breach the abyss, bringing disaster.

Li Feng remained ignorant of these truths. Once the Death Gate opened, the abyss power was absorbed by the Purple Flame, restoring the fractured balance.

Phew.

Li Feng exhaled a sigh of relief as the Purple Flame steadied upon forming a core as the Death Gate opened, absorbing a substantial amount of the domineering presence of Nine Layers Mountain’s fierce beast overlord.

The benefits reaped by Li Feng were quite satisfying. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Naturally, cultivating such a presence himself was extraordinarily challenging; yet now, the domineering Purple Flame not only furthered Li Feng’s innate might, but qualitatively enhanced it.

Just as everything seemed smooth.

Li Feng calculated a time frame to close the Eight Gates; as opening was easy, closing was difficult. If only two or three gates were opened, Li Feng could manage, but opening all eight was a first for him.

Thinking about it, Li Feng glanced at the little old man before him.

Just then, Commander Wei Wu also glanced at Li Feng, their eyes locking instantaneously, seemingly understanding each other’s thoughts.

This kid, thoroughly unreserved.

But that’s fine; given his unparalleled talent in Martial Strategy Hall that shook them, let it be a fated opportunity bestowed upon him.