“Wasted all my efforts. Die.”
A surge of killing intent erupted from the depths of the passage.
In that moment, Chu Feng and Wuma Shengjie felt as if one foot was already in the grave.
The entity below wielded power they couldn’t match. If it wanted them dead, they could only wait for death.
“Wait!”
Seeing the danger, Chu Feng hurriedly spoke, “Senior, please hold on. This junior has something to say.”
His words didn’t dispel the killing intent, but the entity actually responded, though impatiently, “What do you want to say? Speak fast, or get lost.”
“Was that phenomenon in the sky your doing, Senior?” Chu Feng asked.
“So what if it was, or wasn’t? What’s it to you?” The entity’s tone was harsh, dripping with disdain.
“Sigh.” Chu Feng let out a sudden sigh.
“Why the sigh?” the entity demanded.
“This junior is disappointed,” Chu Feng said.
“Disappointed? You think you’ve got the right to be disappointed? I’m the one who should be!” the entity retorted.
“Before entering, I felt a pair of eyes watching me from within the phenomenon. Then I heard the phenomenon was meant to choose a destined one. I thought I was that chosen one, so I came here.”
“But meeting you, Senior, you look down on me so much. Had I known, I wouldn’t have bothered,” Chu Feng sighed.
“Eyes watching you? Is that true?” The entity’s tone shifted abruptly. From impatience, it began eagerly questioning Chu Feng about the eyes’ details.
Chu Feng recounted everything he’d sensed, truthfully.
“Waiting all these years, no one chosen, and now it picks someone so weak? Nine Dragons Saint Lord, are you toying with me?” the entity muttered, puzzled.
“Senior, were those eyes not yours but the Nine Dragons Saint Lord’s?” Chu Feng asked.
“None of your business,” the entity snapped.
“Fine, you don’t have to say. But at least tell me why you chose me to come here. What do you need me to do? Let me try. If I really can’t handle it, then kill me—it’s not too late,” Chu Feng said.
“Kid, you’ve got some guts. Knowing I could kill you, you still ask questions. Your cultivation’s weak, but my impression of you’s improving a bit.”
“But your strength’s too pathetic. Go train. Come back when you’re at Supreme Realm,” the entity said.
“If that’s the case, great. But, Senior, I don’t know this place. Can you point me to a way out?” Chu Feng asked.
“I can lead you out, but… if you leave, you need to leave something behind. Otherwise, if you don’t return, wouldn’t I be played?” the entity said.
“Senior, I’m taking my friend with me,” Chu Feng said, sensing trouble, stepping closer to Wuma Shengjie.
“This other kid’s even more useless than you. What use is she to me? I want that egg in your hand,” the entity said.
“Fine.” Without hesitation, Chu Feng tossed the Qilin Egg out.
“Chu Feng, you—!” Wuma Shengjie gasped.
The Qilin Egg could devour spirits—a priceless treasure. Yet Chu Feng gave it up without a second thought.
Did he not know its value?
Of course he did. But no matter how valuable, it was just an object—far less important than his and Wuma Shengjie’s lives.
“I said leave something, and your first thought was that your friend can’t stay. When I asked for the egg, you didn’t even hesitate to hand it over. Looks like you value loyalty. Not bad—I’m starting to like you, kid.”
Taking the egg, the entity laughed again, this time with genuine amusement, clearly in a better mood.
“Senior, can we leave now?” Chu Feng asked.
“Of course.” As it spoke, a Spirit Gate appeared before them.
Seeing it, Chu Feng and Wuma Shengjie were overjoyed. This place was like hell—they were desperate to leave.
“Don’t rush off yet. You left the egg with me, and I feel uneasy. I like things fair. Here, I’ll leave a treasure with you too,” the entity suddenly said.
“Senior, no need, really—I’d feel bad,” Chu Feng said.
“No need to be polite. Take it.”
Whoosh
A blood-red light shot from the depths, burrowing into Chu Feng’s dantian.
Ugh
As it entered, Chu Feng was wracked with pain, his body covered in blood-red veins, terrifying to see.
“Chu Feng!” Wuma Shengjie, alarmed, rushed to support him.
“Don’t panic. It’s normal to react at first. It’ll settle soon,” the entity said.
“Senior, this treasure’s too much for me. Please take it back,” Chu Feng gritted out.
He’d realized what the entity placed in him wasn’t a treasure but a deadly poison—a means to ensure he’d return.
“No one’s asking you to enjoy it. You’ll return it to me. Within ten years, reach Supreme Realm and come back here. I’ll remove it.”
“Oh, and a warning: this ‘treasure’ is potent. Don’t go to some useless World Spiritist to extract it, or you’ll regret it.”
“Now, get going,” the entity said.
“Then we’ll take our leave.”
With that, Chu Feng grabbed Wuma Shengjie and leapt into the Spirit Gate.
Whoosh—
Inside, they were swept into a powerful current.
It was a Spirit Passage, but the flow was so strong they couldn’t move freely, only drift along.
“This doesn’t feel like an exit. It’s not tricking us, is it?” Wuma Shengjie asked.
“If it wanted us dead, it’d be effortless. If it’s forcing us to do something, we couldn’t resist anyway. No need to trick us,” Chu Feng said, calmer than her.
“Chu Feng, you okay?” Wuma Shengjie asked, concerned.
“I’m fine. I’ll be okay for the next ten years, at least,” Chu Feng said with a smile.
Seeing him like this, Wuma Shengjie didn’t know how to console him, but her heart grew heavier.
“That Qilin Egg was so precious. How could you give it up so easily?” she asked.
“Just an egg. How’s it more important than our lives?” Chu Feng said nonchalantly.
Hearing this, Wuma Shengjie’s heart ached. She’d seen him instinctively shield her, refusing to leave her behind.
So many fought to the death over treasures, even betraying kin.
Yet in Chu Feng’s eyes, a priceless treasure was disposable, but a friend like her—he’d risk his life to protect. It warmed her heart amidst the ache.
“Chu Feng, I’m not as good as you,” she said softly.
“Why say something silly like that?” Chu Feng looked at her, surprised and concerned.
“From the moment we faced spirits, I was terrified. When we met that thing, I was too scared to speak. If not for you, I’d probably be dead,” she said.
“Silly girl, it’s what I should do. A man protects a woman—it’s only right. Plus, you’re my friend,” Chu Feng said, smiling as he patted her shoulder.
Before, she’d have dodged any man’s touch. But this time, she didn’t.
She used to hate it, but now, feeling Chu Feng’s hand on her shoulder, she felt safety—a kind she’d never known.
