Upon hearing the name Sima Xiangtu, Chu Feng’s heart jolted.
He naturally knew exactly who Sima Xiangtu was.
Sima Xiangtu had once been a close friend of many years to his master, the old cow-nosed daoist.
Sima Xiangtu’s boundary spirit techniques were also extremely refined. The two had even shared a fateful encounter together.
The old cow-nosed daoist had trusted him completely.
However, because his boundary techniques had always been overshadowed by the old daoist, Sima Xiangtu harboured resentment.
In secret, he colluded with Enlightenment Saint Venerable and plotted against the old cow-nosed daoist.
It was Sima Xiangtu who had been the true culprit behind the old daoist’s defeat in the boundary spirit contest against Enlightenment Saint Venerable all those years ago.
Today, Enlightenment Saint Venerable had replaced the old cow-nosed daoist as the strongest spirit master in the Sacred Light Galaxy.
If Chu Feng wanted revenge against him, he only had to go and find him.
But Sima Xiangtu had vanished for many years.
The old cow-nosed daoist had been secretly searching for his whereabouts all this time, yet there had never been any news.
“Master, have you found a lead on Sima Xiangtu?”
Chu Feng asked.
“I have some clues, but I still need to confirm them.”
The old cow-nosed daoist replied.
“Master, let me go with you.”
Chu Feng was worried. He always felt that Sima Xiangtu was not someone easy to deal with.
“What would you come for? Does your master need his disciple to protect him?”
The old daoist smiled, then added, “Rest assured, your master will not fall for the same person’s tricks twice.”
“Besides, this trip is only to follow up on clues. I’m not even certain they are genuine, let alone that I will confront Sima Xiangtu.”
“You should focus your thoughts on the Wish God Palace instead.”
“The trials there are far from as simple as you imagine. Remember to observe carefully, truly observe with your heart. Do not just accept the trials as they appear on the surface. Do not follow the obvious rules. Do you understand?”
The old cow-nosed daoist said.
“This disciple understands. I will be careful and will not waste this opportunity.”
Chu Feng replied.
After that, the old cow-nosed daoist left.
Not long after his departure, Chu Feng, Long Xiaoxiao, Long Xiaoxiao’s mother, the Long clan chief, and the others set off.
Besides the four of them, there was one more person Chu Feng knew well travelling with them: Long Shengbu.
Long Shengbu had always been Long Xiaoxiao’s personal bodyguard.
Although Long Xiaoxiao had now become the most important figure in the Long clan, her affection for Long Shengbu far surpassed that for any other elder.
Thus, Long Shengbu continued to serve as her protector.
Along the way, Chu Feng finally saw the so-called Wish God Bead.
The Wish God Bead was not actually a simple pearl.
It resembled a treasure forged from metal. Though still spherical, it looked more like a weapon.
From Chu Feng’s observation, it contained a formation, but the formation was extremely powerful, far beyond his current comprehension.
Although Wish God Granny had placed the eight Wish God Beads in the Sacred Light Galaxy this time, according to their guidance, the Wish God Palace itself was still within the territory of the Nine Souls Galaxy.
Therefore, the journey did take some time.
Although the Sacred Light Galaxy was close to the Nine Souls Galaxy, crossing two galaxies inevitably required more time.
After hurrying along, they finally arrived at the location indicated by the Wish God Beads.
This place lay within the Nine Souls Galaxy, in the Tianwu Upper Realm, above a vast desert.
According to the beads’ guidance, they needed to proceed deeper into the desert.
Yet as they walked, an invisible barrier suddenly appeared across the sands.
The barrier stretched from earth to sky, seemingly boundless and extraordinarily sturdy, practically indestructible.
It blocked not only Long Xiaoxiao’s parents and Long Shengbu, but also Chu Feng and Long Xiaoxiao.
Faced with this barrier, they tried many methods.
Chu Feng attempted to break it with boundary power, but it was useless.
The Long clan chief tried to shatter it with brute force, yet he could not damage it in the slightest.
It was a barrier they were utterly helpless against.
“It seems we can only escort you this far.”
After their attempts failed, the Long clan chief said to Chu Feng and Long Xiaoxiao.
They knew this must be a barrier set by Wish God Granny.
They themselves could go no further, but they were not worried about Chu Feng and Long Xiaoxiao.
As long as Chu Feng and Long Xiaoxiao bound their respective Wish God Beads to themselves, the two of them would be able to pass through.
Without hesitation, Chu Feng and Long Xiaoxiao quickly bound the beads.
Once bound, the Wish God Beads turned into silver marks that merged into the backs of their hands, rendering them unusable by anyone else ever again.
Even though the beads had become marks on their hands, their guidance remained, now directly imprinted into their minds.
Chu Feng and Long Xiaoxiao walked towards the barrier again.
They found that it was as if the barrier had vanished, though in reality it was still there.
“It looks like this is as far as you can take us.”
Long Xiaoxiao said with a smile to her parents and Long Shengbu.
She was about to part from her family, yet she showed not the slightest reluctance. On the contrary, she seemed very happy.
Of course she was happy. At last, she could be alone with Chu Feng.
“Xiaoxiao, remember that this is the territory of the Nine Souls Galaxy. Try not to cause trouble.”
“Even if you meet disciples from the All-Demon Sacred Palace, the Yu Heavenly Clan, or the Cloudsky Immortal Sect, seek harmony where possible. Avoid conflict if you can.”
“Of course, if they dare provoke you, you need not hold back. If you encounter someone too difficult to handle, your father will stand up for you when you return.”
The Long clan chief instructed Long Xiaoxiao.
His words were exceptionally domineering. He was clearly telling her that he had her back.
Yet almost at the same moment, he secretly transmitted a very different message to Chu Feng.
“Young friend Chu Feng, the disciples of the All-Demon Sacred Palace, Yu Heavenly Clan, and Cloudsky Immortal Sect are all naturally arrogant.”
“Geniuses like them share one flaw: they look down on others.”
“If they learn you are not a member of my Long clan, they will surely belittle you. Do not stoop to their level.”
“That girl Xiaoxiao has a bad temper. If she clashes with them, I must trouble you to calm her down. After all, the Sacred Light Galaxy is only so large. It is always better to have one more friend than one more enemy.”
The meaning behind the clan chief’s words was crystal clear.
He believed that once Chu Feng’s status was revealed inside the Wish God Palace, he would be looked down upon.
If Chu Feng were belittled, Long Xiaoxiao would never stand idly by. The clan chief knew his daughter’s temperament all too well, especially now that she liked Chu Feng so much.
But the clan chief did not want Long Xiaoxiao to offend the geniuses of the Yu Heavenly Clan, All-Demon Sacred Palace, and Cloudsky Immortal Sect because of Chu Feng.
Therefore, he hoped Chu Feng would restrain himself.
If someone truly looked down on him, he wanted Chu Feng not only to endure it, but also to restrain Long Xiaoxiao.
“Clan Chief, rest assured. I, Chu Feng, am a reasonable person.”
Chu Feng replied secretly.
“I know young friend Chu Feng is reasonable. With you accompanying Xiaoxiao, I feel much more at ease.”
The clan chief responded secretly.
Yet these words were utterly insincere. If Long Xiaoxiao had not insisted on bringing Chu Feng, the clan chief would never have given this precious slot to him.
So Chu Feng merely smiled politely and offered no further reply.
“Father, if they disrespect me, can I really teach them a lesson?”
Long Xiaoxiao asked her father.
“Of course. With your father backing you, what do you have to fear?”
“If you cannot beat them, Father will get revenge for you later.”
The Long clan chief thumped his chest in guarantee. His doting was truly enviable.
But Chu Feng knew full well that the Long clan chief was a complete hypocrite and an utter villain.
He still remembered how the man had treated Long Xiaoxiao and her mother before she obtained the Dragon Pulse Source.
“Father, hearing you say that is enough.”
“Don’t worry. Unless someone provokes me first, your daughter will never cause trouble.”
Long Xiaoxiao said with a cheeky grin.
After that, they made arrangements. The Long clan chief and the others would wait here, and once Chu Feng and Long Xiaoxiao completed the trials, they would return to this spot to reunite.
With everything decided, Chu Feng and Long Xiaoxiao followed the guidance of the Wish God Beads and headed deeper into the desert.
