Volume 44 — The Coalition Assault
The Core Archives trembled as a coalition of elite cultivators advanced, their combined auras pressing against the palace's defenses. Lin Feng hovered at the center, petals of the First Bloom spinning in a radiant storm, slicing through the air with precision. The third secret pulsed within him, amplifying his strength, perception, and control.
Caiyi's eyes narrowed. "Lin Feng… they've coordinated their attacks. It's not just raw power—they're trying to overwhelm you with strategy."
Lin Feng's gaze hardened. "Then we show them why the palace chose its true master. Peach Spirit… synchronize everything. Every petal, every movement, every pulse of energy—let's harmonize perfectly."
Yes, Host, the Peach Spirit replied. This is the ultimate test of the third secret. Strategy, adaptability, and mastery of the palace are all required. Focus.
The cultivators struck simultaneously, forming a web of attacks designed to trap him. Energy blasts collided, shadows surged, and illusions twisted the chamber. Yet Lin Feng moved as if guided by the palace itself. Petals spiraled outward, intercepting and dismantling every assault.
Caiyi struck alongside him, exploiting the openings created by Lin Feng's precise control. "It's incredible… every strike and defense is perfectly timed. The palace is anticipating their moves!"
The coalition faltered, their attacks disrupted and countered at every turn. Lin Feng's mastery allowed him to redirect energy, neutralize illusions, and strike with pinpoint accuracy. His aura surged, petals spinning faster, creating a storm of radiant energy that pushed the cultivators back.
One of the leaders shouted, frustrated, "Impossible… he's not just fighting—he's controlling the battlefield itself!"
Lin Feng's voice rang out, calm yet commanding. "The Obsidian Root Palace is mine, and its power flows through me. You cannot overcome it!"
With a final flurry, Lin Feng unleashed a synchronized strike using the third secret. The petals expanded into a blinding vortex, dismantling the coalition's formation and scattering the elite cultivators.
The chamber fell silent, the energy slowly calming. Caiyi exhaled, awe in her voice. "We… we defeated them. All of them."
Lin Feng hovered, petals still spinning, aura harmonized with the palace. "The third secret has proven itself. But this is just the beginning. There are still greater challenges and deeper mysteries waiting in the Obsidian Root Palace."