Chapter 127: Titan Race Prison

The mountain peaks buzzed with sharp, hushed whispers, a cacophony of tension that seemed to hum through the very air. Those who had managed to reach this part of the trail were considered the elite, the best of the best. Yet, not all had earned their place through sheer skill or strength—some had stumbled here by a stroke of luck, a twist of fate. But luck was a fickle thing, and many who had relied on it had perished along the way, their bodies left to crumble into the unforgiving terrain below.

From Thunderclap and Mist Ridge City, the cultivators had noticed something amiss after a long while of waiting. Zhan Huito and Gao Zhenlei were conspicuously absent. The realization hit them like a thunderclap, and the heavy, ancient doors of the mountain pass had already sealed shut, leaving no room for doubt. Even those from Northern Moon and the other cities were taken aback. The two strongest from Mist Ridge and Thunderclap—dead? It was unthinkable. Yet, the truth hung in the air, heavy and undeniable.

Jiang Feng and Ji Moran stood apart from the chaos, their faces as calm and composed as still waters. It was as if the accusations and the rising tension had nothing to do with them. Their expressions betrayed no emotion, no flicker of guilt or concern. They were statues amidst the storm, unmoved and unshaken.

"Haha," Ling Meixu's voice cut through the tension like a blade, her tone light and playful, yet laced with a dangerous edge. She pointed a slender finger at Jiang Feng, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. "The one who's killed the most people is right there. I bet he ran into those two and ended them. Can't you sense it? His malevolent aura has doubled since the last time we fought." Her words were casual, almost teasing, but the weight of them was undeniable.

Han Yunfei, standing beside her, frowned deeply. His sharp eyes narrowed as he studied Jiang Feng, his gaze piercing through the layers of calm that the man projected. "Meixu," he said slowly, his voice low, "can't you sense something strange about him? The air around him... it's darker and more violent. It's like he's drowning in bloodlust or dark energy." His words were heavy, carrying a sense of unease that even Ling Meixu couldn't ignore.

Ling Meixu tilted her head, her playful smile never wavering. "It's obvious his killing intent has hardened. The blood on his hands is plenty," she replied, her tone almost dismissive. But Han Yunfei remained silent, his frown deepening. He knew there was more to it, something darker and more malevolent lurking beneath the surface.

The tension on the mountain peaks was palpable, a storm waiting to break. From the ranks of Mist Ridge and Thunderclap, voices rose in fury, their accusations sharp and venomous.

"How dare you kill the son of Elder Gao Yundian!" one cultivator shouted, his voice trembling with rage. "We'll kill all of you from Northern Moon for this blood debt! Gao Zhenlei was a treasure, and your pieces of filth will pay for his life with your own!"

"To dare kill Master Houyan's disciple—you look down on Mist Ridge City too much!" another voice roared, this one from a tall, broad-shouldered cultivator named Mo Chenkai. He was the second strongest in Mist Ridge, and his bond with Zhan Huito had been unshakable as they climbed the ranks to the strongest spot in their cities.

Beside him stood Xun Baoyu, the third strongest, his eyes burning with hatred as they locked onto Jiang Feng and Ji Moran. Even Danue Ge, the owner of the Water Prison Pearl, wore a peculiar expression, his sharp features twisted in a mix of disbelief and anger as he processed the news of Zhan Huito's death.

On the side of Thunderclap City, Kong Tianxue's voice thundered across the peaks, his rage echoing like a storm. He had finally regrouped with his fellow cultivators, only to find that their carefully laid plans had crumbled to ash. Gao Zhenlei was dead, and with him, their hopes of dominance in the Obsidian Waterfall Realm were dashed, gone with the wind. Though Kong Tianxue had now risen to the rank of first place in Thunderclap City, with Lou Jinhai trailing behind him, there was no joy in the promotion. Only fury and murderous intent.

"You all sure talk big," Jiang Feng's calm voice cut through the chaos, his tone as steady as the mountains themselves. He didn't deny the accusations, nor did he accept them, but what surprised him was that everyone got heated with just a few words from those of the Shadow Church which disgusted him. His eyes met Ling Meixu's for a brief moment, a flicker of something unreadable passing between them before he continued. "A few words from these bastards, and all of you are on your tiptoes like dogs. What a waste of space and time. Such shame and disgrace. Might as well go work for the Celestial Shadow Church and be killed you good for nothings."

His words were like a blade, cutting deep and leaving no room for rebuttal. He didn't back down, didn't flinch. Instead, he stood tall, inviting the hate and the fury, daring them to come at him. He didn't care if they felt hurt and embarrassed, nor if they would seek revenge, as long as it was all directed at him. He would bear it without hesitation.

"Ji Moran," a sharp voice called out, breaking through the tension. It was Ji Kan, his eyes locked onto Ji Moran with a mixture of anger and desperation. He had noticed her the moment he arrived, and the sight of her standing so close to Jiang Feng had ignited a fire in him. "Leave that man's side at once. Come over here before it's too late. The Ji clan doesn't fear anyone, but if you stay with that man you'll be killed!"

Ji Moran's gaze flicked toward Ji Kan, her expression cold and unreadable. She didn't respond, didn't move. Instead, she turned her attention back to Ling Meixu, who was still smiling that infuriatingly playful smile.

"Ji Moran, leave this instant!" Ji Kan's voice rose, his frustration boiling over. "What will I tell your father if you get yourself killed because of this nobody?" His words were sharp, laced with a desperation that bordered on panic. It was common knowledge in the Ji clan that he liked Ji Moran but she had never given him the time of the day.

"Shut up," Ji Moran's voice cut through the air like ice, her tone calm but deadly. "Or I'll kill you." Her words were simple, yet they carried a weight that silenced the entire mountain. Ji Kan's mouth fell open in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief, he looked around as if wanting to verify that he had heard correctly. When he saw the same look of shock on the rest of the Ji clan's face, a buzzing sound went off inside his head.

"Haha, Did I hear that correctly?" Shi Yan, the young prodigy from Obsidian Lake City, laughed, his voice filled with glee. His hands were clasped behind his back, his posture relaxed but imposing as he held his nose up high. "This Ji Moran sure has some spunk!"

"Indeed," Peng Ruili, the third strongest from Obsidian Lake, replied with a smirk. "She's got fire in her."

"This is an interesting show," Ren Xiangfeng from Verdant Sky City chimed in, his eyes gleaming with a lustful light as they roamed over the young ladies present. His gaze lingered on Fang Lili, Zhen Ruru, and Wu Lihua from the Ironwood Sect, a sly smile playing on his lips as various thoughts played across his mind.

Ji Moran's cold eyes swept across the crowd, her voice cutting through the murmurs like a blade. "You all seem to take us for granted. Inside the Obsidian Waterfall Realm, I will naturally support my family, but do not think for a second that you can command me." Her words were final, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Jiang Feng's eyes narrowed, his expression turning serious. The air around him began to get heated, his infernal breathing technique circulating at full force. The tension on the mountain peaks was reaching its breaking point as those from Mists Ridge and Thunderclap foamed, and the storm was about to erupt.

"Lower Realm juniors, this will be your final trial." A low, resonant voice hummed from all directions, echoing as though it emanated from the very fabric of the realm itself. The sound was neither loud nor harsh, yet it carried an undeniable weight, commanding the attention of everyone present. "On your arms are rings that will monitor your life energy. Should you face mortal danger, a shield will activate to protect you. However, once the shield is triggered, you will be immediately expelled from the realm—and you will have failed the trial."

The voice paused, allowing the gravity of its words to sink in. "Those of you who have made it this far have already achieved tremendous breakthroughs. It would be a shame to see your progress cut short by an untimely demise, the weak has already fallen."

The moment the voice faded, the group instinctively glanced down at their arms. There, encircling their wrists, were black rings that had appeared without warning. No one had felt their presence—no weight, no sensation, nothing. It was as if the rings existed outside the realm of physical perception, a paradox that left them unnerved. The rings were there, yet their bodies refused to acknowledge them, creating a disorienting disconnect between sight and touch.

Jiang Feng frowned, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studied the ring on his arm. The surface was smooth and featureless, save for a chain of numbers etched into its surface: *69*. He ran a finger over the digits, but they offered no clue as to their meaning. Around him, the others exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

"How strange," Jiang Feng murmured, more to himself than to anyone else. His voice was calm, but his mind raced, piecing together what little information they had. The voice, he was certain, belonged to the two flames—the enigmatic entities that governed this trial. Their presence was felt even when unseen, their influence woven into every aspect of this trail ground.

The obsidian waterfall realm had been their crucible, a place where time seemed to stretch and warp, pushing them to their limits. Without its opening, they had no way of knowing how long they had been training, how close they were to reaching the pinnacle of the Essence Condensation stage, let alone the elusive Golden Core Realm which many elders couldn't even cross into. The rings, the voice, the trial—it all felt like part of a larger design, one they were only beginning to understand.

Jiang Feng's gaze swept across the group, noting the tension in their postures and the determination in their eyes. They had come far, but the final trial loomed before them, a test that would separate the truly exceptional from the merely fortunate. He clenched his fist, the black ring glinting faintly in the dim light. Whatever lay ahead, he was ready.

Shortly after, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble, a low, ominous rumble building in intensity until it felt as though the very earth might split apart. From the peaks of the surrounding mountains, massive black chains erupted, shooting skyward with a force that seemed to defy nature itself. The chains grew in size as they ascended, their links thickening and expanding until they dominated the heavens, their dark forms blotting out the light. Dozens of them now crisscrossed the sky, forming a colossal web that seemed to shackle the heavens above.

The rumbling grew louder, a deafening roar that reverberated through the air and shook the mountains to their cores. The peaks trembled violently, their jagged edges crumbling as debris cascaded down their slopes. The chaos lasted for what felt like an eternity, though in reality, it was no more than fifteen minutes. When the shaking finally subsided, an eerie silence fell over the realm, broken only by the faint creaking of the chains as they swayed gently in the wind.

The chains now formed an immense cage, their massive links interlocking to create a barrier that seemed to seal off the entire realm. The sight was both awe-inspiring and terrifying, a testament to power far beyond anything Jiang Feng and the others had ever encountered.

Jiang Feng's eyes widened as he took in the scene, his mind racing to make sense of it. "Is this a cage?" he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the lingering echoes of the rumbling. He tilted his head back, following the chains as they stretched into the heavens, their sheer scale overwhelming. "Why are they so massive? Could it be...?" His thoughts spiraled, the only explanation he could fathom sent a chill down his spine.

The Titan Race- trapped here, a prison for the unlikable!

The name alone carried a weight that made his stomach churn. From the dreamscape, he knew that the Titan Race was legendary, its people had unimaginable power, their strength rivaling that of the gods themselves. If these chains were meant to contain something—or someone—of that magnitude, then the trial they were about to face was far more dangerous than any of them had anticipated.