Chapter 469: The Depths of the Weak Water

After passing through several narrow corridors, an open expanse appeared.

The clearing was approximately 300 zhang in each direction, with a lake over 100 zhang wide at its center. Upon closer inspection, one could see hundreds of slender iron chains suspended 100 meters above the lake, with roughly 3-meter gaps between them.

This area was specifically designated for advancement assessments, so even students of Tianwei Academy rarely had access to it. Naturally, they had never discovered such a large lake within the academy.

"Hehe. Little bastards, your performance in the first test wasn't bad!"

Leng Jianfeng leapt onto one of the iron chains, standing steadily on it with a smug smile on his face. "The second test isn't too difficult either. Simply walk across the iron chains to the other side of the lake to succeed."

"

Tch!

That's too easy!"

Immediately, many students began rubbing their fists and preparing eagerly.

Wang Yishan scoffed. "Just a simple tightrope walk? Instructor Leng, this assessment is a joke, right?"

"Oh?" Leng Jianfeng raised an eyebrow and gestured towards a nearby iron chain. "Wang Yishan, why don't you give it a try first?"

"Fine, I'll try!" Wang Yishan confidently put away his weapon, displayed his movement art, and leaped onto the iron chain next to Leng Jianfeng.

The moment he landed, Wang Yishan's expression changed drastically.

The iron chains above the lake not only swayed but were also slippery. Even more unsettling, the lake seemed to possess some mysterious quality.

Wang Yishan struggled to maintain his balance and looked puzzled at Leng Jianfeng. "What's going on here? It's like standing in a tenfold gravity field!"

Leng Jianfeng stroked his beard and chuckled. "Have you heard of Weak Water?"

Everyone's faces changed abruptly. A saying on the Xuanling Continent goes: "Three thousand depths of Weak Water, even a goose feather cannot float!"[1]

If one were to fall into the Weak Water by accident, surviving would be out of the question.

"Damn it!"

Wang Yishan quickly jumped back to the shore, wiping the sweat from his forehead, and said with lingering fear, "Instructor Leng, this is just an assessment. There's no need to make it life-threatening, is there?"

"Hahaha!" Leng Jianfeng laughed heartily before saying, "If this lake were entirely filled with Weak Water, not even I, nor the vice-deans, would dare to stand on these iron chains."

Leng Jianfeng took a few steps on the iron chains, looking smug. "This vast lake contains only a single drop of Weak Water!"

Ah, so that's how it is!

Ling Feng nodded slightly. The legendary and terrifying Weak Water, when diluted in such a large lake, naturally posed much less danger.

"Because of that one drop of Weak Water, however, the gravity here is ten times stronger than elsewhere."

Leng Jianfeng stood on the iron chain and looked back at the yellow-tier students of the East Court. "Alright, it's time to see the results of your usual gravity training. You have half an hour. If you can't make it across within that time, you fail the assessment."

Meanwhile, the instructors from the other courts also explained the assessment rules to their students, and the second test officially began.

Ling Feng observed the iron chains, which were about one hundred zhang long, or approximately 300 meters. On flat ground, even with tenfold gravity, it wouldn't be too challenging for students accustomed to gravity training.

But on these iron chains, it was a different story.

"Alright, begin." Leng Jianfeng's figure flickered and he swiftly reached the other side, calling out, "See? It's not difficult!"

"Bah!" Many students raised their middle fingers at Leng Jianfeng's back. Let's see you do it so easily when you are at the Pulse Formation Realm!

"Big Brother, crossing this chain bridge is no easy task!" Ouyang Jing whispered to Ling Feng.

"Indeed," Ling Feng nodded slightly while analyzing. "With tenfold gravity and the slack in the chains, making them a hundred and thirty zhang long despite the lake's width of a hundred zhang, it will certainly sway a lot."

"And the chains are wet and slippery, making it even more challenging!" Ouyang Jing added.

Wang Yishan, who had just experienced the iron chains, still had lingering fear. "It's not just that. The lake water seems to have some strange attraction ability. As soon as I stood on the chains, I felt dizzy and wanted to jump into the lake."

"Oh? It even affects the mind?" Ling Feng touched his nose, becoming more interested in the challenge of the tightrope bridge.

Cheng Qi, the chief of the North Court who had been deeply disheartened by Ling Feng and others, made his move once more.

Eager to prove himself, Cheng Qi leapt onto an iron chain while the others were still observing them.

Though he often acted arrogantly, Cheng Qi had the skill to back it up.

Upon landing on the iron chain, he only wobbled slightly before stabilizing himself, maintaining his balance and proceeding with relative ease.

However, halfway across, he found that the cold lake below seemed to emanate a peculiar mental disturbance which slowed his pace considerably. Nevertheless, he managed to steady himself and continued at a consistent speed.

With Cheng Qi leading the way, all the students from the five courts began to attempt the crossing as well, mindful of the half-hour time limit and the need to avoid any further delay.

Li Bufan glanced back at Ling Feng, a hint of challenge in his eyes. Ling Feng raised his sword-like brows in response, ready for the contest.

In the next moment, the two figures shot out, leaping onto the two outer iron chains.

In an instant, one white and one purple figure darted forward like streaks of lightning.

Ling Feng utilized his Boundless Sword Steps, while Li Bufan employed the Wind and Thunder Transformation, an art he acquired from the Sword Tower of Wind and Thunder.

Although the Wind and Thunder Transformation was not a movement art, its attributes—wind and thunder—were renowned for their speed. When fully executed, Li Bufan's speed almost surpassed the limits of the Pulse Formation Realm.

Swish! Swish!

The two figures, one in front and the other behind, reached the other side in the blink of an eye, so quickly that it was nearly impossible for ordinary observers to distinguish who was faster.

However, Ling Feng knew that, in terms of speed, he was still slightly behind.

"Heavens...!"

The students on the opposite shore stared in awe with their eyes wide oepn. This speed was even faster than Leng Jianfeng's!

"Truly two freaks!"

Even the East Court students felt a deep sense of inadequacy. Competing alongside prodigies like Ling Feng and Li Bufan was incredibly daunting.

Jiang Xiaofan's performance fell short this time. Although his brute strength and defense were formidable, his movement art was his greatest weakness, causing him to advance slowly on the iron cables.

"You won," Ling Feng said to Li Bufan with a faint smile, not appearing particularly disheartened.

"Winning doesn’t mean much if you didn’t give your all," Li Bufan replied arrogantly, standing with his hands behind his back as he radiated an air of exclusivity.

"And you didn’t exactly give it your all either," Ling Feng retorted with a smile. "I look forward to seeing your Wind and Thunder Transformation reach an advanced level after the break."

"Hmph, don’t you slack off either. If you’re not careful, I’ll leave you behind!" Li Bufan said proudly.

"Hahaha, then let’s wait and see!" Ling Feng’s eyes sparkled with determination. "Let’s not forget, our goal is to challenge the Royal Sword Team!"

Li Bufan clenched his fists, producing a crackling sound, his eyes also gleaming with fierce intent. He slowly uttered the three words, "Royal Sword Team!"

1. This is a saying in reference to the Ruoshui River in China ☜