A Cunning Pervert in the Cultivation World Chapter 349: The First Calamity (3)

A simple smile graced Li Feng's lips upon hearing those words.

He was acutely aware that his time was running short, yet not a single hint of apprehension showed in his eyes.

Instead, with a slow, deliberate breath, Li Feng adopted a broad, stable stance, as if gathering his internal power.

The celestial patterns adorning his body began to subtly fade as he concentrated his remaining stellar energy inward, compressing it for one final, decisive strike.

The dark expanse seemed to detect the building power and let out a gurgling, multi-voiced laugh that echoed from every recess of its domain.

[...Foolish... No matter how much you destroy, no matter how brightly you burn... I will always come back. I am... the ocean itself!]

Li Feng’s smile remained unwavering.

If anything, it sharpened, becoming colder and more menacing.

The mocking laughter wavered for a fleeting moment.

Before the encroaching calamity could react,

A faint cracking sound was heard as the icy shell finally gave way.

Then, accompanied by a magnificent, piercing cry from a phoenix that reverberated through the tower’s very structure, a pair of brilliant golden eyes opened amidst the swirling mist.

Ice began to form with astonishing speed, encasing the dark ocean.

The corrosive black liquid instantly solidified as colossal waves froze mid-break, transforming into stark, jagged glaciers.

Thousands of crimson orbs shattered and went dark, enveloped by thick layers of translucent ice.

The screaming visages within the liquid were entombed in perpetual silence, their agonized expressions forever preserved.

But the frigid effect didn't cease with the ocean... it began to creep up the tower itself.

In mere seconds, the entire interior of the tower was transformed into an icy, desolate landscape.

[...Curse you Ice Phoenix!! But... it’s useless! You think... the Divine Ice can... hold me forever—]

Its proclamation was abruptly silenced as the imposter cultivator finally perceived the unusual circumstances.

[...My "Blessing" has...been frozen ?!...]

It then turned its attention to locate Li Feng... only to discover he had already vanished along with the others.

Li Feng had manipulated the fabric of space itself and was now standing composedly outside the tower.

Currently, the frozen structure of the tower appeared diminished, hovering before him like a colossal icicle suspended within a warped spatial distortion of his own making.

He let out a cold smirk, gazing at the fully condensed black orb of ice that hung in the distorted space before him.

His right fist pulsed with a terrifying radiance.

An uncountable number of phantom stars had congregated around his knuckles, ancient celestial bodies that had willingly offered their remaining lifespan and essence to empower this ultimate attack.

Many of the phantom stars shimmering above him had already faded or completely disappeared, their light freely given to him.

"...Thank you, old stars..." he murmured softly, a rare flicker of genuine respect in his voice for the celestial bodies that had answered his summons.

His eyes then blazed with unyielding determination.

He raised his fist high and brought it crashing down towards the sphere.

The instant his fist made contact with the spatial barrier—

It was as though delicate glass shattered or reality itself fractured.

A fine, hairline crack materialized on the surface of the frozen black sphere.

In the subsequent moment, the entire distorted spatial bubble violently imploded.

The collapsing gravitational pull of the impact crushed inward while the stellar annihilation simultaneously exploded outward.

The frozen tower emitted a final, piercing shriek as every layer of ice, every drop of the sealed black ocean, and every residual trace of the calamity's essence was drawn into the heart of the collapsing star.

!!!

A silent yet devastating explosion bloomed in the void.

Silver and black light intertwined as the sphere was ground into nothingness.

The calamity's ultimate roar lasted only a fraction of a second before it was utterly consumed... its "eternal" existence obliterated by the combined force of sacrificed stars and absolute stellar destruction.

When the light finally receded,... nothing remained.

No tower... no black sphere, and no trace of the calamity.

Only faint particles of innocuous ice crystals and fading starlight drifted silently in the empty expanse, slowly dissolving into oblivion.

And with that—

[Ding!]

[Ruler of the Stars state has ended!]

"Haa.... Haa..."

Li Feng lowered his smoking fist, his augmented Ruler of the Stars form receding back to its normal proportions.

His breaths were ragged, and sweat slicked his brow.

He collapsed onto his back, feeling utterly depleted, as if the final blow had drained him completely.

"...Haaa.... Haha... hahahaha!"

Despite being physically incapable of further movement, Li Feng began to laugh, staring up at the clear sky and feeling the soft grass beneath him.

Just then, he heard gentle footsteps approaching, and soon a beautiful face appeared above him, looking down with those familiar golden eyes.

Yue Lan blinked, a mix of curiosity and concern flickering in her gaze, as if she were trying to ascertain if Li Feng was truly unharmed.

"...Li Feng, are you alright?"

Li Feng's gaze fell upon that exquisite countenance... a visage that appeared to have become even more ethereally beautiful, as if she had ascended beyond the realm of mortals and immortals.

Noticing her formerly dark locks had transformed into a cascade of pure white, a wry smile touched his lips.

Yet, after a moment, he simply let out a breath and broke into a heartfelt grin.

"Never better. And... welcome back, Senior Sister."

Yue Lan's eyes fluttered at his declaration, a gentle smile gracing her features as her gaze settled softly upon Li Feng.

An ocean of unspoken words seemed poised to pour forth, but ultimately, only a quiet murmur escaped her lips—

"Yes... I have returned."

Suddenly—

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, Host! You have successfully guided Yue Lan through her First Calamity!]

[Ding!]

[Yue Lan's karma entanglement with the host has advanced to a ??? stage!]

[Ding!]

[Reward compilation initiated...]

Li Feng blinked, bewildered by the sudden influx of system notifications, before erupting into even more boisterous laughter.

'Yes! After all that I endured, this reward had better be spectacular!'

Yue Lan observed him, concern etching delicate lines upon her fair brow as he once again dissolved into laughter.

Hovering above him, the Divine Brick also materialized, pulsing with an almost eager energy, as if ready to partake in its master's elation.

_

_

_

Meanwhile, a short distance behind the pair, Goldie stood in stoic silence, unmoving and... isolated.

Goldie's unblinking gaze remained fixed on Li Feng, observing his radiant, joyful smile... as a complex and enigmatic emotion flickered within its depths.

"..."

Then, from the very core of its being...

....a soft, feminine voice, tinged with a hint of amusement, whispered.

{...The hour for you to fulfill your sacred duty has arrived...}

{...O Divine Authority of Gold.}