Gazing at the phenomenon that blotted out the sky, people were initially incredulous but eventually had to accept it.
Though still awed by the spectacle, their shock gradually subsided.
Their focus shifted from speculating about the phenomenon’s cause to observing the events within the Purple Star Otherworld.
But soon, they noticed that Chu Feng, whom the mysterious blue-robed man had praised as unparalleled, was nowhere to be seen in the Purple Star Otherworld.
Nor was the entire Chu Heavenly Clan present.
This puzzled everyone.
Could it be that the Chu Heavenly Clan had never entered the Purple Star Otherworld?
Amidst the confusion, Purple Star Hall, with the approval of its leaders, revealed details about the Chu Heavenly Clan.
When it was learned that the Chu Heavenly Clan had fled the Purple Star Otherworld shortly after entering, fearing its dangers, and that Chu Feng had claimed illness and never appeared, people’s opinions of him plummeted.
Suddenly, not only Chu Feng and the Chu Heavenly Clan became targets of criticism, but the blue-robed man who had proclaimed Chu Feng a prodigy was also attacked.
People believed he had deliberately deceived them.
Chu Feng was no prodigy.
The Chu Heavenly Clan was nothing but trash.
…
Since the ten major forces entered the Purple Star Otherworld, more than ten days had passed.
And since Chu Feng fell into a coma, over twenty days had elapsed.
Finally, the sleeping Chu Feng began to awaken.
Upon waking, not only had the toxins plaguing him completely receded, but his mental state was better than before the poison’s outbreak.
Moreover, a look of joy adorned Chu Feng’s face.
“Truly unexpected, a blessing in disguise.”
Chu Feng sighed inwardly.
A blessing in disguise, indeed.
Initially, Chu Feng had been tortured by the poison, its strength so overwhelming that he could barely endure, slipping into a state of blurred consciousness.
During that time, he was cut off from everything, feeling only pain.
But later, his barrier bloodline instinctively activated to protect him, confronting the poison.
Notably, this bloodline’s resistance didn’t endanger his life but slightly suppressed the poison’s power.
Though the poison was too strong, and the bloodline’s autonomous protection had limited effect, it allowed Chu Feng to gradually regain consciousness.
Realising his barrier bloodline could counter the poison, Chu Feng began actively wielding it to suppress the toxin.
During this process, something strange occurred.
Chu Feng sensed that special presence again.
This entity lurked deep within his barrier bloodline.
He had discovered it after breaking through to the Dragon-Mark Saint-Cloak World Spiritist level.
It resembled a dragon yet wasn’t one, exuding a sacred aura and containing immense power.
Most importantly, it held an irresistible allure for Chu Feng.
When he first encountered it, he tried to communicate with it, but the moment his mental power touched it, he was struck, nearly collapsing.
From then on, he dared not sense it, let alone communicate.
But now, as he used his barrier bloodline to suppress the poison, this mysterious entity suddenly appeared.
This alarmed Chu Feng.
Yet what followed surprised him.
The entity, no longer elusive, approached him willingly, showing no hostility but pure goodwill.
Chu Feng realised it might be trying to help him.
Then, he made a bold decision.
He attempted to communicate with it again.
Unexpectedly, this time, it was remarkably smooth, and he succeeded.
With this power’s aid, Chu Feng began fully suppressing the poison.
Once the poison was subdued, the mysterious entity merged with him, becoming part of his barrier bloodline.
Upon waking, Chu Feng could feel the strength of this mysterious power.
It not only helped him suppress the poison but made him stronger overall.
Normally, a Dragon-Mark Saint-Cloak World Spiritist would have combat strength comparable to a First-Rank Supreme.
But Chu Feng now matched a Second-Rank Supreme.
With his Nine Dragons Saint Cloak and the power of his bloodline, his barrier techniques now rivalled a Fourth-Rank Supreme.
This transformation was due to merging with that mysterious power.
Had the poison not afflicted him, and had his bloodline not protected him, that mysterious power might not have aided him at this critical moment.
Without it, Chu Feng couldn’t have mastered this power so quickly.
“How can this be?”
But just after waking, Chu Feng closed his eyes again.
He sensed the mysterious power once more.
And like the first time he discovered it, it was majestic, sacred, and elusive, as if it might vanish at any moment.
“How is this possible? I’ve already mastered it. That power has fused with me. Why is it appearing again? Did I fail? Has it left my body?”
Chu Feng grew fearful, thinking he had lost the power he had just gained.
But soon, he realised the power he had mastered was still within him. He had indeed secured it.
If that mysterious power had fused with him, what was this new presence?
“No, this entity is far stronger than the one I fused with.”
“Even its form is different, much larger than what I obtained.”
“Could this be a new power?”
“If so, if I could merge with this new power, wouldn’t my combat strength improve further?”
“Could this be the true power of a Dragon-Mark Saint-Cloak World Spiritist?”
“It’s not limited to First-Rank Supreme strength but can harness even greater power?”
With this hypothesis, Chu Feng observed closely.
Eventually, he confirmed his guess, growing even more excited.
Inevitably, he wanted to master this stronger power.
The thought thrilled him.
After mastering the first mysterious power, his barrier techniques’ combat strength had already improved.
He was eager to know how much further it could rise if he mastered another.
Though his martial cultivation had hit a bottleneck, unable to break through, an improvement in his barrier techniques was equally thrilling.
Driven by this temptation, Chu Feng acted.
He carefully used his mental power to communicate with the mysterious force.
With the lesson from his first attempt and experience fusing with the prior power, Chu Feng believed his barrier bloodline might strongly attract this force.
So, he not only deployed his mental power but infused it with his barrier bloodline to connect with the stronger mysterious force.
“Ugh—”
But the moment he touched it, he was struck.
His body went numb, and his soul was jolted.
In that instant, Chu Feng felt as if he had brushed against death.
The pain was so intense he let out a wail.
This impact was far fiercer than the first.
So fierce that Chu Feng lost consciousness…
After a while, he gradually came to.
As he regained awareness, a familiar voice sounded in his ears.
“Chu Feng, what’s wrong?”
“Are you alright?”
Hearing this, Chu Feng quickly opened his eyes.
He found himself lying in a chamber, with Chu Hanpeng standing before him, looking anxious.
“Supreme Elder, I’m fine,” Chu Feng said.
“You’re fine? Thank goodness, Chu Feng, you’ve finally woken up.”
Chu Hanpeng, usually stoic, had tears in his eyes.
“Supreme Elder, don’t cry. I’m awake now,” Chu Feng comforted.
“No tears, no tears. I’m getting old, useless,” Chu Hanpeng said, wiping his eyes with a bitter smile.
Perhaps he hadn’t realised how much pressure he’d been under, breaking down upon seeing Chu Feng awake.
“Supreme Elder, how long was I unconscious?”
“Are we in Purple Star Hall?”
Chu Feng asked repeatedly.
These days, he had been focused on using his barrier bloodline to combat the poison, oblivious to the outside world.
Not only was the place he awoke in unfamiliar, but he had no idea what had happened or what anyone around him had said.
“You’re fine, that’s what matters,” Chu Hanpeng said, overjoyed to see Chu Feng recovered.
Under Chu Feng’s persistent questions, Chu Hanpeng recounted recent events, focusing on the positive.
He mentioned good things, like how the Xuanming Family caused trouble, only for Red Cloak Holy Land to intervene, humiliating them.
He also spoke of the Chu Heavenly Clan entering the Purple Star Otherworld for cultivation.
But he omitted the negative, like how dangerous the Otherworld was or that their clan leader was gravely injured.
“Where’s the Clan Leader?”
“Is he still in the Purple Star Otherworld?”
Chu Feng asked casually.
But as he spoke, he noticed a change in Chu Hanpeng’s expression.
Though fleeting, it alerted Chu Feng something was wrong.
He stood up, staring gravely at Chu Hanpeng. “Supreme Elder, tell me the truth. Has something happened to the Clan Leader?”
“Chu Feng, you…”
Seeing Chu Feng’s expression, Chu Hanpeng knew he couldn’t hide it any longer.
