“I-I… I’m already fully prepared. After that old thing’s conditioning, I’m in peak condition now.”
“What’s missing is just… j-just… just that old thing. He’s very weak right now, but as long as the lake’s power can be infused into his body, he can return to his peak state. Then, merging with me will be a perfect fusion,” Wang Qiang said.
“So, we’re just helping him recover to his peak state, and the actual fusion still depends on you two?” Chu Feng asked.
“That’s right,” Wang Qiang nodded.
“Alright.”
Chu Feng nodded as well. On the surface, he seemed to agree, but in reality, he wasn’t convinced.
As he nodded, he secretly transmitted a message to Wang Qiang: “Brother, let me ask you something. Do you really trust that Blood-devouring Demon Venerable?”
Chu Feng asked this because he feared Wang Qiang was being used.
After all, what they were about to do didn’t seem to offer any clear benefit to Wang Qiang.
But if they succeeded, the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable would gain tangible benefits.
In simple terms, what they were doing next was helping the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable, not directly aiding Wang Qiang.
“To be honest, I don’t fully trust him either, but I have no choice. I can only choose to believe him,” Wang Qiang replied via secret transmission.
“Is there no other way to suppress your divine power? Does it have to be through merging with him?” Chu Feng still deeply distrusted the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable.
If he had to put it into words, it was a gut feeling—Chu Feng sensed that the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable was dangerous.
“Brother, I know what you’re worried about.”
“But fortune favors the bold. If I don’t take this risk, I might as well give up being a martial cultivator,” Wang Qiang said.
“Fair point.”
Chu Feng couldn’t deny that Wang Qiang’s reasoning made sense.
In fact, Chu Feng understood this better than anyone. It was a principle he’d always lived by—if he hadn’t been willing to take risks and fight with everything he had, he wouldn’t have made it this far.
But as the saying goes, those involved are often blinded, while bystanders see clearly.
When faced with such situations himself, Chu Feng would dive in without hesitation.
But when it was his friend in this position, Chu Feng couldn’t help but worry.
“Stop overthinking it. J-just… just trust in your brother’s abilities,” Wang Qiang said, patting Chu Feng’s shoulder.
“Mm.” Chu Feng nodded.
Since Wang Qiang had made his decision, even if Chu Feng still had doubts, he could only choose to support him.
That… was what brothers did.
“By the way, I heard from that old thing that the lake contains dense heaven-and-earth energy, and when you merge with it, you can comprehend it.”
“Though the heaven-and-earth energy and martial insights aren’t particularly profound, the old thing said it could still be helpful for someone at your cultivation level.”
“So, brother, this isn’t a favor you’re doing for nothing. If you go down there and successfully merge, your cultivation will likely break through.”
“So, when you’re merging, make sure to carefully sense the surrounding heaven-and-earth energy,” Wang Qiang said.
“Oh?” Chu Feng was pleasantly surprised by this.
This journey into the Void Divine Tree had put Chu Feng through significant trials.
Though that powerful little girl had merged into his body, and the precious Divine Tree Seed had been absorbed into his dantian, so far, Chu Feng hadn’t felt any substantial boost to his cultivation.
The little girl was a wildcard—she was uncontrollable.
As long as she didn’t cause trouble for him, Chu Feng didn’t dare hope for any benefits from her.
As for the Divine Tree Seed, though it was clearly a cultivation treasure, Chu Feng couldn’t refine it.
From the perspective of improving his cultivation, Chu Feng had, so far, gained nothing.
If entering the lake truly offered a chance to break through his cultivation, then this trip wouldn’t have been in vain.
Next, Chu Feng could only wait patiently…
Waiting for Zhang Yanfeng and the others to activate the grand formation.
Rumble—
When the final stone pillar was infused with power, the entire valley began to tremble. Then, the light from the pillars transformed into beams.
The beams connected, forming a majestic formation.
As the formation took shape, the once-calm lake seemed to awaken, beginning to churn.
Though the formation was activated, Zhang Yanfeng and the others didn’t look well. Not only were their faces pale, but their entire beings seemed drained.
It was clear that activating the formation had taken a significant toll on them.
“It’s done.”
Wang Qiang, who had been sitting, stood up and looked down at Zhang Yanfeng and the others. Suddenly, he raised his arm, and three pills flew toward them.
“T-take… take the pills and channel them into your dantian. It’ll ease your condition,” Wang Qiang said.
Hearing this, Zhang Yanfeng and the others complied.
At first, they might have been skeptical, but once the pills entered their bodies, they discovered their remarkable effects.
In just half an hour, their faces regained color, and their energy and spirit were even better than before they entered the valley.
“Thank you, Lord Envoy.”
At this moment, Zhang Yanfeng and the others stood and thanked Wang Qiang.
Regardless of how much they had disliked him before, their gratitude now carried some sincerity.
“D-don’t… don’t thank me. This was prepared by the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable,” Wang Qiang said.
“Blood-devouring Demon Venerable?”
At those words, complex expressions appeared on the faces of Zhang Yanfeng and the others.
Their reaction was much like Chu Feng’s when he first heard the name—both unfamiliar and oddly familiar.
“There’s something you sh-should… should know now.”
“In truth, Lord Qin Kunlun doesn’t exist,” Wang Qiang said.
“Doesn’t exist? What do you mean?”
Hearing Wang Qiang’s words, Zhang Yanfeng and the others grew anxious. After all, they had gone through immense hardship to reach this place, not just to cultivate in the Divine Hall, but to meet Qin Kunlun.
“D-don’t… don’t panic.”
“Let this envoy explain slowly.”
Wang Qiang smiled, then recounted the story of the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable and Qin Kunlun to Zhang Yanfeng and the others.
Upon learning the truth, far from being disappointed, Zhang Yanfeng and the others grew even more excited.
To them, Qin Kunlun himself wasn’t important—what mattered was the one who had passed down their power, and as long as that being still existed, they were satisfied.
Moreover, Qin Kunlun was merely a vessel, while the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable was the true source of power.
When they learned that the one who had granted them their power was even greater than they’d imagined, their excitement only grew.
Wang Qiang didn’t stop at explaining Qin Kunlun and the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable. He also told them what to do in the lake.
He informed them that, when merging with the Void Divine Tree’s power in the lake, if they focused, they might have a chance to break through their cultivation.
In this regard, Wang Qiang was fairly decent, at least sharing the lake’s benefits with Zhang Yanfeng and the others.
