Chapter 317: The Dark Gate

“Good! So you’ve learned to stand up to me now?”

Wang Situ spoke with a smile, though his words carried a subtle edge.

Wang Feng instinctively wanted to shake his head but forced himself to resist. He took a deep breath and said,

“Grandfather, this matter truly has nothing to do with Chen Fei. I had already taken the Severance Pill by then.”

“Without Senior Brother Chen’s help, I might not have lived to see you again!”

Wang Situ’s face twitched slightly. After a long sigh, he finally said,

“Foolish! So what if you’re a spiritual body now? I’ll handle this matter.”

It was clear Wang Situ deeply cared for his grandson. He simply had a stern and overbearing personality that made it difficult for Wang Feng to express himself openly. The earlier pressure he’d exerted on Wang Feng felt more like a test than punishment.

“I’m taking the Soul-Link Tower. I’ll compensate you accordingly. How’s that?” Wang Situ said after a pause.

Chen Fei didn’t hesitate.

“Senior Brother Wang has always looked after me. Supporting one another is what sect members should do. Sect Master Wang, no need to stand on ceremony.”

“You talk well! If only Wang Feng had your cleverness!”

Wang Situ gave him a deep, meaningful look and waved his sleeve, collecting the Soul-Link Tower. Wang Feng’s figure vanished with it.

Wang Situ didn’t leave right away. Instead, he looked at Chen Fei with interest.

“Since you know who I am, you should also know about the Dark Gate, right?”

“To be honest, Sect Master Wang, I don’t,” Chen Fei answered plainly.

“Interesting!” Wang Situ chuckled.

“If you have time tomorrow, come find me. I’ll be waiting.”

With that, his figure disappeared.

Chen Fei frowned slightly.

To be fair, he had saved Wang Feng without expecting any rewards. He only knew that Wang Feng had a powerful elder in the sect. He hadn’t expected that elder to be the master of the Dark Gate!

“The Dark Gate, huh…”

Chen Fei turned and went back to his room.

Right now, his body was extremely weak—just like when Qin Shuang had pulled out his foundational bone. Sitting cross-legged, he brought out the pills he had received. The dim Void Heaven Cauldron instantly lit up, sensing the medicinal power. With a surge of suction, it began to solidify again, and Chen Fei’s weakness slowly began to fade.

The Dark Gate was one of the most secretive divisions within the Heavenly Apex Sacred Land. Though technically under the sect’s jurisdiction, it operated with near-complete independence. Most disciples didn’t even know it existed.

But if you thought about it carefully, a sect as dominant as Heavenly Apex wouldn’t have lasted this long in the Xuanhuang Continent without hidden forces protecting its foundations. Some things couldn’t be handled in the open—that’s where the Dark Gate came in.

Light and shadow divide the world, and even a sect must have its yin and yang.

The Dark Gate’s location wasn’t particularly hidden. In fact, most disciples walked past it daily. But oddly, no one ever thought to stop and investigate—it was as if they subconsciously ignored it.

“Formation magic?”

Chen Fei recalled walking by it before and grew suspicious.

He reached out, and the space before him rippled like water. His suspicion was confirmed. There was resistance, but with a gentle push, his body passed through the veil.

The vibrant landscape outside immediately turned into cold, solid stone structures. Above him loomed a massive sculpture of a sword hilt—no blade, just the hilt, yet still exuding a sharp and imposing aura.

A shadow passed swiftly by, paying him no attention.

Unlike the serene cultivation environment outside, everyone here seemed in a hurry. No one spoke to him. No one even looked at him twice.

Chen Fei walked upward along the mountain path. Strangely, no one stopped to question him. At the top, within a small pavilion, he found Wang Situ.

“So, how does it feel?” Wang Situ asked, hands clasped behind his back.

“Everyone here seems very busy,” Chen Fei replied without hesitation.

“That’s it?” Wang Situ turned his head with surprise.

Chen Fei shook his head.

“That’s all.”

Wang Situ laughed.

“You really are an interesting kid. Come on, I’ll show you around.”

With Wang Situ leading the way, the hurried figures began pausing to nod in respect. Many gave Chen Fei curious glances.

“You’re wondering why they’re looking at you like that, aren’t you?” Wang Situ asked, smiling as if he could read Chen Fei’s mind.

Chen Fei nodded honestly.

“The Dark Gate isn’t like the rest of the sect. Without permission, no disciple is allowed inside. Since you’re wearing core disciple robes, they’re naturally curious.”

He stopped in front of a cave.

“This is the other side of the Repentance Cliff. You’ve heard of it, haven’t you?”

Of course Chen Fei had—it was one of the punishment sites for disciples who broke sect rules.

“There’s nothing interesting about the scenery over there,” Wang Situ said,

“But this side is very different.”

He raised a finger and tapped the air. Space shimmered—and an enormous stone mural sculpture appeared.

The figures carved into the mural were vivid, their angry faces full of righteous wrath. They emanated immense power. Yet half of the mural was missing. But based on the poses, it was clear this was a battle scene.

So then… who were they fighting?

“I’m sure you’re curious,” Wang Situ said,

“Why this sculpture is hidden here, and why only half remains.”

Chen Fei nodded, silent.

Wang Situ seemed pleased with the reaction.

“It’s simple: the enemies our ancestors once fought still exist.”

Chen Fei’s pupils shrank at those words.

The Heavenly Apex Sacred Land was the peak of power in the continent. For their enemies to still be around… they must be terrifyingly strong!

“Could it be the demonic cultivators?” Chen Fei asked.

“Demonic cultivators?” Wang Situ scoffed.

“Just a bunch of arrogant fools. This world… is far bigger than you think. And that’s exactly why the Dark Gate must exist.”

His eyes sharpened as he looked at Chen Fei.

“So… are you interested in joining the Dark Gate?”