“Master Tang Chen speaks reason,” Elder Ruyi nodded in agreement.
His words were undeniably true. Chu Feng had been chosen by the crowd, and if anyone owed anyone, it was they who owed him, not the other way around.
Yet, they insulted him, an utterly unjust act.
Master Tang Chen’s words did reduce the verbal attacks on Chu Feng.
But this didn’t mean the crowd agreed with him.
On the contrary, many, though silent, sneered with contemptuous expressions.
They understood the logic but didn’t act on it.
Many still resented Chu Feng, cursing him inwardly even if they held their tongues, restrained only by the strength of Master Tang Chen and Elder Ruyi.
“Master, is Brother Chu Feng in danger?” Yuan Shu whispered to Master Tang Chen.
As Chu Feng’s friend, he felt no blame, only concern.
The ancient voice had hinted earlier that Chu Feng’s situation was dire, causing the increased pressure due to his struggles.
“The power of this Ancient Spirit Domain is too strong. We’re helpless here, at its mercy,” Master Tang Chen said. “Even if Old Ox-Nose or Saint Venerable Wudao were here, it would make no difference. The gap between us and the domain’s power is vast. And Chu Feng’s chessboard is different from Lü Jie’s. Even if we could see him, we couldn’t communicate or help. He’s on his own now.”
To Master Tang Chen, the arrays in both chessboards were likely similar.
But Chu Feng and Lü Jie’s strengths were not.
This was unfair to Chu Feng.
Though he had immense faith in Chu Feng’s talent, breaking the array required current strength, not just potential.
Lü Jie’s success, though seemingly easy, demanded considerable effort.
For Chu Feng, trapped in a more challenging chessboard, the outlook was grim.
“The final array,” Yuan Shu said, his gaze heavy and complex.
Lü Jie had reached the last array in his chessboard.
He had swept through, unstoppable, breaking nearly a hundred arrays in a short time.
Facing the final array, Lü Jie observed briefly before starting to dismantle it.
“Lü Jie is truly Lü Jie. When he exerts his full strength, he remains the Saint Light Galaxy’s top World Spiritist junior,” Yuan Shu remarked, unable to hide his admiration.
Though he disliked Lü Jie’s character, he couldn’t deny his skill.
Lü Jie breezed through the arrays effortlessly.
At this moment, he was not only confident but in a heightened state, sharper and more precise than usual.
The final array was formidable, but Lü Jie was steadily unraveling it.
At last, he broke it.
As he stepped out of the chessboard, the light from the domain’s depths receded back into the earth.
Everyone regained their freedom.
“He did it! Lü Jie succeeded!”
“We’re free! We’re saved!” Cheers erupted across the heavens.
Praise for Lü Jie was unending.
Inside the chessboard, Lü Jie couldn’t see or hear the outside world, unaware of how he compared to Chu Feng.
But now, from the crowd’s voices, he knew he was their hero.
Though a junior, he had single-handedly saved them all.
The contest was decided.
Lü Jie had won.
“Chu Feng, you’re nothing special,” he said, turning to the other chessboard, still shrouded in red.
No one knew if Chu Feng was alive or dead.
But Lü Jie hoped he was alive.
He had won decisively, earning everyone’s admiration.
If Chu Feng was dead, so be it.
But if alive, he’d face defeat, and Lü Jie wanted to see that frustration on his face.
Suddenly, Lü Jie’s expression shifted.
A figure emerged from the blood-red chessboard.
It was Chu Feng.
“It’s Chu Feng! He broke the array too?” The crowd was stunned.
They had assumed he’d died inside.
Though they didn’t truly care for his fate, his survival surprised them.
“Chu Feng, are you alright?” Unlike the others, Master Tang Chen, Yuan Shu, and Yu Ting were alarmed.
Lü Jie had emerged unscathed, but Chu Feng was not.
Pale and frail, he looked gravely injured.
Seeing his condition, Master Tang Chen and the others rushed toward him.
Ignoring the domain’s dangers, they wanted to help him heal.
“Argh!” But as they neared the Ancient Spirit Domain, they cried out in pain.
A massive barrier surged forth, sealing the entire area.
Master Tang Chen and the others stood before it, their earlier screams caused by colliding with it.
“It seems we can’t enter now,” people realised, seeing the barrier.
Though free from the oppressive threat of death, they had missed their chance at the domain’s inheritance.
But Master Tang Chen wasn’t concerned with that. His worry was for Chu Feng.
“Chu Feng, how are you?” he shouted.
“Senior, I’m fine,” Chu Feng replied weakly. Seeing Master Tang Chen, Yuan Shu, and Yu Ting safe, a joyful smile curved his lips. “Seeing you all safe makes my injuries worthwhile.”
His heartfelt smile pained Master Tang Chen and the others.
Without them, Chu Feng wouldn’t have faced such danger.
They felt ashamed, knowing he’d risked his life but unaware of what perils he’d faced in the red chessboard.
Then, a malicious voice boomed across the sky.
“Your injuries are your own failure. What’s that got to do with us?”
It was none other than Master Mule Camel.
