Chapter 946: The Mark of Brilliance Sacred Monument

"Wait for me! Wait for me!"

Qiao Qiao scurried after them, finally catching up while panting heavily.

"You..."

Yue Yunlan turned and gave her a look. The little maid had clearly stayed behind on purpose to reveal Ling Feng's identity.

"

Heehee,

Miss, you should've seen Senior Brother Du's face turn green when I mentioned Mr. Ling's name!" Qiao Qiao clutched her stomach with laughter. "Mr. Ling, your reputation truly terrifies people now!"

Ling Feng rolled his eyes. "Am I really that frightening?"

"Just moderately so! Ordinary folks in the capital tell their children 'Ling Feng is coming' to stop them from crying!" Qiao Qiao giggled.

Ling Feng's expression darkened. This girl's exaggerations knew no bounds.

"Enough joking, Qiao Qiao." Yue Yunlan shook her head with a smile. Letting Yanxia Mountain's disciples know Ling Feng's identity might prevent further trouble anyway.

After all, the name "Ling Feng" carried considerable weight these days.

Soon, the trio reached the depths of Shadowmist Sword Forest.

At its center stood an enormous sword-shaped stone monument over ten zhangs tall. A terrifying aura radiated from it, seemingly suppressing the surrounding space while simultaneously concentrating the forest's dense elemental qi of the world.

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

The stone monument's surface shimmered with shifting markings, sometimes coiling like dragons, other times flashing like lightning. Countless mysterious images flowed across its surface unpredictably.

This was the stone monument that enabled Cangqiong Sect's elite disciples to condense their Marks of Brilliance.

"This is called the Mark of Brilliance Sacred Monument," Yue Yunlan explained softly, pointing with her jade-like finger. "It's the core of this ancient Shadowmist Sword Forest. Comprehending its patterns offers the highest chance of condensing a Mark of Brilliance."

Her voice lowered slightly. "However, everyone only gets one chance to study it. After that first attempt, it loses effectiveness. The surrounding stones have no such limitation."

Ling Feng nodded. No wonder such a miraculous sword monument stood unattended, as qualified disciples must have already used their single opportunity.

His gaze swept across the dozen oddly-shaped stones encircling the sword monument. Their surfaces gleamed with profound engravings, shrouded in multicolored mist that transformed the area into a celestial palace.

"Mr. Ling, simply enter the chaotic stone formation and meditate beneath the Mark of Brilliance Sacred Monument," Yue Yunlan said with a smile. "I'm quite curious what kind of Mark a 'monster' like you will condense."

Ling Feng rubbed his nose. "Let's hope this trip proves worthwhile."

Generally, only geniuses could condense Marks of Brilliance during the Transformation Realm. Doing so meant their future soul manifestations would far surpass peers at the same level.

Of course, Marks of Brilliance had tiers.

Normally, anything from plants, rocks, birds, and beasts could become a Mark of Brilliance. A step above that would be demonic beasts or ferocious beasts, followed by ancient sacred beasts and spirit animals.

But for true monsters with extraordinary talent, the Mark of Brilliance they condensed would either be a primordial divine beast or a rare phenomenon born of heaven and earth.

This was closely tied to the soul manifestation they would awaken in the future.

The highest tier of Marks of Brilliance came from various attribute sources.

These included the elemental sources of heaven and earth. Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, then the natural ice, wind, and thunder, and even the Great Dao sources of yin and yang. All of these were considered attribute sources.

If one managed to condense a Mark of Brilliance formed from an attribute source, then the soul manifestation awakened in the future would undoubtedly surpass the level of a mere Sword of Attribute. Such individuals would have limitless potential and a brilliant path ahead.

Take Xuanyuan Pozhen, for example, whom Ling Feng had fought before. His soul manifestation was the Golden Edge Profound Sword, and the Mark of Brilliance he condensed came from the Metal Element Source.

"I'm also curious what Mark of Brilliance I'll condense."

Ling Feng's sword-like eyebrows arched upward as he inhaled deeply. The surrounding elemental qi of the world felt incredibly attuned to his body, every pore drinking it in greedily.

"First-timers benefit most from this place's elemental qi of the world," Yue Yunlan advised. "Meditate beneath the sacred monument and use spiritual thoughts to connect with its patterns. Whichever imprints in your mind determines your Mark of Brilliance. I will begin my own comprehension too."

With that, they separated within the chaotic stone formation.

The moment Ling Feng stepped inside, the elemental qi of the world concentration increased yet again, now forcibly channeling into his body without needing active absorption.

The Mark of Brilliance Sacred Monument's radiant patterns made his sea of mind unusually active, seemingly enhancing his comprehension.

Already at the Transformation Realm's peak, Ling Feng's energy surged violently, nearly breaking through to the Spiritual Element Realm on the spot.

Suppressing the impulse, he found a clear space and sat cross-legged.

Instantly, vast elemental qi flooded his meridians. All one hundred meridian gates activated simultaneously, projecting a shimmering sword silhouette around him as the energy infusion brought unprecedented euphoria.

For the first time, cultivation felt genuinely pleasurable!

Like a fish returned to water, Ling Feng absorbed the surrounding elemental qi with ease. The Mark of Brilliance Sacred Monument's multicolored light bathed him, its divine rays carrying Mark essences that seeped into his sea of mind. Comprehending these would condense his Mark of Brilliance.

The Mark of Brilliance Sacred Monument's profound patterns seemed to contain universal truths. Each minor revelation made Ling Feng's body flare with light while his elemental qi absorption rate skyrocketed.

Under the terrifying infusion of elemental force, Ling Feng could feel his own elemental qi growing increasingly refined. The elemental force stored within each of his meridian gates had at least doubled in capacity.

Shadowmist Sword Forest truly lived up to its reputation as a cultivation paradise!

Before long, Ling Feng entered a profoundly mystical state, his consciousness completely immersed in the Mark of Brilliance Sacred Monument's recorded patterns.

Boom!

Thunderous explosions erupted from his body, the shockwaves resonating with surrounding elemental qi.

Seeing Ling Feng fully immersed with soaring energy, Yue Yunlan found her own spot nearby to begin cultivation.

Having reached the Transformation Realm with over seventy meridian gates opened, though not comparable to Ling Feng, she too qualified as a prodigy in her own right.