Chapter 128: Chains of the Titan Realm: The Dawn of Chaos

Jiang Feng tilted his head upward, his gaze fixed on the colossal chains that stretched across the heavens, sealing off the sky and the realm itself. The chains swayed ominously with the wind, their metallic rattling echoing endlessly, a sound that seemed to reverberate through the very bones of those who stood below.

The mountains around them lay shattered, their jagged peaks reduced to rubble, and the silence that followed was deafening. No one dared to speak, their voices swallowed by the weight of the unknown. This was unprecedented—none of the previous openings of the Obsidian Waterfall Realm had ever been like this. The only solace they had was the rings on their arms, glowing faintly, a silent promise of safety in this chaos.

Jiang Feng's brow furrowed as he scanned the horizon, his mind racing. "This shouldn't be the case," he muttered under his breath. "In the dreamscape, no one survived. They all died. So why has this place become a cage, what is it caging, who is it imprisoning?" His eyes darted toward where the Titan Race Mountain should have been, but it was nowhere to be seen. The space they were in was distorted, as if reality itself had been twisted into something unrecognizable.

"Do you know what's going on?" Jiang Feng's voice echoed in his mind, a silent plea for answers. He was accustomed to the Eternal Flame Codex or the Aetherion Dragon responding, offering guidance or cryptic wisdom. But this time, there was only silence. It was as if they had withdrawn, unwilling or unable to intervene.

A sigh escaped his lips, heavy with frustration. Then, a voice broke the silence—deep, resonant, and tinged with ancient authority. It was Saloris, the golden crow that now resided within Jiang Feng's mental space. The creature lifted its head, its golden feathers shimmering with an otherworldly light.

"The Titan Realm is not what it seems," Saloris began, his voice rumbling like distant thunder. "It is a cage, forged by the current rulers of the immortal realm. Long ago, during the war, the last leader of the Titan Race sent away the young—remnants of their kind. Those survivors grew powerful, their strength shaking the heavens as they sought revenge. In response, the immortal realm united to trap them here, sealing their homeland with a technique considered unbreakable. And we... we were used to power that seal."

Jiang Feng's eyes widened as the weight of Saloris's words settled over him. The golden crow continued, its voice growing more solemn. "But unforeseen events led to our freedom. The other ten flames have awakened alongside us. We no longer fuel the sealing formation, and it will begin to weaken. When the upper realms realize this, they will send someone to investigate.

The hour is upon us, Jiang Feng. The masters of the ten flames are both blessed and cursed. Those who seek the flames will come, and chaos will descend. Only one shall rise. This is the era of cause and effect, and the ten flames are far more than they appear. A deadly storm approaches. Remain steadfast, or you will perish."

As Saloris spoke, the golden crow spread its wings, and yellow flames began to gather around it. Beside it, blue flames surged, rising like a tidal wave within Jiang Feng's mental space. The two flames roared to life, their power manifesting in the physical world as Jiang Feng's body erupted with dual flames—one golden, one blue. The heat was intense, the energy palpable, and it drew the attention of everyone nearby.

Beside him, Ji Moran's moon flame reacted instinctively, bursting forth from her body like a tempest. The silver flames danced around her, cold and radiant, a stark contrast to Jiang Feng's fiery aura. The two flames seemed to resonate with each other, their energies intertwining in a delicate balance of Sky, sun and moon.

A voice, ancient and commanding, echoed across the realm. It was the voice of the moon flame, echoing from above. "Only two shall remain. Once the numbers on your arms reach 500 and above, you will have passed the trial, and your talent will be recognized as that of an upper realm genius. Fight until you can fight no more. Force every ounce of potential from your body. Rise above the masses, forge your soul from the ashes of mortal bindings, and be reborn. The sky is too small—even the great Peng mourns that the heavens have limits."

Her words ignited something within the challengers. Their blood boiled, their fighting spirit surging like a wildfire. This was no ordinary trial. It was a free-for-all, a brutal test of strength, cunning, and ruthlessness. Death could come from any direction, at any moment. Alliances would crumble, and teamwork would only last so long. In the end, only two victors could remain.

The atmosphere grew tense, the air thick with anticipation and dread. Ling Meixue, her Twin Shard Daggers gleaming in her hands, stepped forward. Her eyes glowed with a menacing light, her cold killing intent radiating like a storm. The space around her seemed to tremble under the weight of her aura.

"You need to control your emotions," Han Yunfei said, his voice calm but laced with warning. He stood beside her, his expression unreadable. Of all the people he had faced—both inside and outside the Obsidian Waterfall Realm—Jiang Feng was the one who unsettled him the most. Even standing still, Jiang Feng exuded an overwhelming pressure, a presence that both annoyed and infuriated Han Yunfei. But he was a man of discipline, and he refused to let his emotions dictate his actions.

Ling Meixue grinned, her lips curling into a feral smile. "This is a rare moment," she said, her voice dripping with excitement. "Normally, we kill in the shadows, but here, we can fight in the open, unrestrained. What could be more exhilarating than that?" Without waiting for a response, she lunged forward, her daggers slicing through the air as she targeted the nearest challenger.

The battlefield erupted into chaos. Jiang Feng and Ji Moran stood side by side, their flames blazing like beacons in the storm. Their voices rang out, commanding and unwavering.

"Skyforge Bipolar Zone, Great Sun Domain!" Jiang Feng roared, his golden flames surging outward, creating a domain of searing heat and blinding light, mixed within that blinding light were blue flames which burned with an icy aura and dreadful heat, doubling the effects of the two domains.

"Deepfrost, Phoenix Rebirth—Ice Domain!" Ji Moran countered, her silver flames spreading like a glacial tide, freezing everything in their path.

The two domains clashed, their energies intertwining in a dazzling display of power. The challengers around them were instantly shocked as their mind went blank, their instincts screaming at them to stay back. But hesitation was a luxury they could not afford. The trial had begun, and the only way out was through everyone standing.

"Sword Judgment."

A sharp yet calm voice pierced the air, its tone carrying an undercurrent of authority that made the atmosphere tremble. The air itself seemed to ripple as sword Qi erupted, rumbling like distant thunder and blanketing the surrounding space in an oppressive weight. All eyes turned toward the source of the voice, and there, amidst the chaos, stood the Little Sword Emperor, Cheng Yantian.

He shot toward Jiang Feng like a bolt of lightning, his body wreathed in raging sword Qi that towered around him like a storm. The sheer force of his movement left deep gashes in the ground, the earth splitting as if in protest. The air hissed and swooshed as the sword Qi carved through it, leaving behind a trail of destruction. His sword glowed with a silver light, so bright and swift that it seemed to defy the very concept of speed. In mere moments, he was within the blazing zone of profound flames, his presence a stark contrast to the inferno around him.

Jiang Feng's eyes gleamed as he turned to face Cheng Yantian. He had anticipated that the strongest here would target him—after all, his actions had made him a prime enemy. But he hadn't expected the Little Sword Emperor to be the first to step forward. Jiang Feng's lips curled into a faint smile, a mix of respect, wariness and excitement. Cheng Yantian was no ordinary opponent; his reputation as a prodigy of the sword was well-earned. Jiang Feng had to admit, even to himself, that this would be a battle to remember.

The silver sword light cut through the flames like a silent dragon, its movement so precise and fluid that it seemed almost ethereal. There was no unnecessary flourish, no dramatic display—just a single, devastating strike aimed with lethal intent. Yet, as the blade neared its target, a blue vortex materialized out of nowhere, slamming into the sword with a force that reverberated through the air. The impact was so powerful that the sword Qi surrounding the blade shattered into fragments, dissipating like mist in the wind.

Before anyone could react, two more vortexes formed. One spilled forth torrents of fire, its flames licking hungrily at the air, while the other unleashed a terrifying suction force, pulling at everything within its reach. The battlefield became a chaotic dance of elements, fire and wind intertwining in a deadly embrace.

Flames rose skyward, a mesmerizing blend of blue and yellow, their heat so intense that the very air seemed to shimmer and warp. This was no ordinary fire—it was the manifestation of the Skyforge Bipolar Domain, a realm where opposing forces of creation and destruction coexisted in a delicate balance. Mixed with the Great Sun Domain, the flames took on an otherworldly quality, their light so brilliant that it seemed to challenge the sun itself. The sky above became a canvas of swirling colors, a breathtaking yet terrifying sight that left onlookers in awe.

Cheng Yantian's expression remained calm, his eyes narrowing as he observed the unfolding spectacle. "I see," he murmured, his voice steady. "No wonder no one can match your skills. But I am different, you may be a once in a life time genius but so am I!."

With a deep breath, he raised his sword and chopped downward in a single, decisive motion. Behind him, a city began to materialize, its form both real and illusionary, as if it existed in a realm beyond the physical. This was no ordinary city—it was a metropolis forged from raw sword Qi, its towering buildings made entirely of swords. Each structure gleamed with a cold, metallic light, their edges so sharp they seemed to cut into the very fabric of reality. The city loomed over the battlefield, its presence overwhelming, as if it were a manifestation of Cheng Yantian's indomitable will and a reflect of his Sword Dao.

"Sword Domain, Sword Emperor City!"

Cheng Yantian's roar echoed across the battlefield, his aura surging with unparalleled intensity. A white light emanated from his body, centering on him as if he were the axis of the world. His figure seemed to grow larger, more imposing, as if he had become one with the city behind him. The air around him crackled with energy, the sheer force of his presence pressing down on everyone present.

Jiang Feng's eyes narrowed as he took in the sight. This was no mere technique, like his understanding of Dao Threads—this too was a form of understanding, it was a declaration of dominance, a testament to Cheng Yantian's mastery of the sword. The battle had just escalated to a level far beyond what anyone had anticipated in but a few simple exchanges.

The two domains clashed, their energies intertwining in a dazzling display of power. The Skyforge Bipolar Domain's flames roared against the cold, unyielding swords of the Sword Emperor City, each force vying for supremacy. The ground beneath them cracked and splintered, unable to withstand the sheer magnitude of their clash.

Jiang Feng's mind raced as he assessed the situation. Cheng Yantian was indeed a formidable opponent, but he was not one to back down. With a determined glint in his eyes, he prepared to meet the Little Sword Emperor's challenge head-on as the Celestial Dagger hummed inside his chest, releasing thundering blade light throughout his body.