“Team up? Of course.”
Chu Feng answered without hesitation.
“You are not even going to think about it?”
Seeing how straightforward Chu Feng was, Xia Yan widened his eyes instead, feeling rather surprised.
“I am only at the second level of Dragon Transformation, but you are at the fourth level. When there is a big thigh to hug, of course I must hug it tightly.”
Chu Feng said with a beaming smile. Not only did he look harmless, but his face was full of sincerity.
“Brother, you are truly straightforward.”
“Since that is the case, we shall team up. Remember clearly, the three of us are teaming up.”
As Xia Yan spoke, he glanced at Xiao Yu beside him.
Xiao Yu also took the opportunity to look at Chu Feng.
Clearly, Xiao Yu had already agreed to the alliance.
However, Chu Feng could tell from Xiao Yu’s eyes.
The person he really wanted to ally with was only Xia Yan. He had no expectations of Chu Feng at all, and even felt some disdain.
But Chu Feng did not care about Xiao Yu’s opinion of him.
Chu Feng had already sensed the hostility from the younger generation of the Gongsun family towards him.
To be precise, the younger members of the Gongsun family harboured hostility towards all three of them: Chu Feng, Xia Yan, and Xiao Yu.
In this situation, it was only natural for the three of them to join forces.
Otherwise, once the assessment truly began, if the Gongsun family’s juniors attacked them, they would have no power to fight back.
Even if they teamed up, it would still be difficult to resist the Gongsun family’s juniors. After all, the Gongsun family had a terrifying figure like Gongsun Yuntian.
At the fifth level of Dragon Transformation, with power comparable to a first-grade Martial Venerable, who among the juniors present could contend with him?
Yet at least by teaming up, they still had a slim chance of survival.
As long as they did not encounter Gongsun Yuntian, the other geniuses of the Gongsun family were not only within their ability to fight, but they might even hold an advantage.
After Chu Feng agreed to team up, Xia Yan kept his word and began telling Chu Feng about the origins of this Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace.
The Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace was a secret treasure. Its exact origin was unknown.
What was certain, however, was that this secret treasure concealed many benefits within.
Inside, numerous treasures and opportunities related to World Spiritists were hidden.
Therefore, if this assessment site was the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace, it could be considered a rare opportunity for World Spiritists like them.
If luck was good enough to find something rare inside, even if they failed in the marriage recruitment contest, the trip would not have been in vain.
Upon learning that the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace was such an excellent place, Chu Feng felt a secret joy in his heart. Wherever opportunities were hidden, Chu Feng rarely returned empty-handed.
Of course, all the conversations between Chu Feng and Xia Yan were conducted through secret voice transmission, so the people from the Gongsun family were unaware that the three of them had already decided to join forces.
While they were talking, the Black Fiend Old Demon formed a hand seal with one hand while pointing the other towards the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace.
Powerful and vast formation power surged continuously into the palace, causing it to tremble slightly.
Under his activation, the gates of the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace slowly opened.
Chu Feng also noticed that beads of sweat had appeared on the Black Fiend Old Demon’s face. Although there was no expression of struggle, the sweat indicated how strenuous it was for him.
Although Chu Feng could not determine the exact strength of the Black Fiend Old Demon, he could sense his power through the formation energy he released.
At the very least, his strength was unmatched in the current Sacred Light Heavenly River.
Yet even such a powerful existence found merely opening the gate so taxing.
This gave Chu Feng a new perspective on the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace.
“Oi, Brother Xia Yan.”
“Is this Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace not the secret treasure of the Black Fiend Old Demon? How come he seems to be struggling when opening it?”
Chu Feng voiced the doubt in his heart to Xia Yan.
“How could it be easy?”
“Although the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace belongs to the Black Fiend Old Demon, this secret treasure has its own independence. He does not have much control over it.”
“Their relationship is more like an equal transaction.”
“It is said that the Black Fiend Old Demon must pour a massive amount of formation power into the palace every day for thirty years straight before he can open it once.”
Xia Yan explained.
“Thirty years? It is actually so troublesome?”
Chu Feng was greatly surprised.
“Then why would the Black Fiend Old Demon give this opportunity to us instead of using it himself?”
Chu Feng felt something was amiss.
The Black Fiend Old Demon had always worn a smiling face and appeared amiable, but he was certainly not truly kind-hearted. Otherwise, he would not have earned the infamous name of Black Fiend Old Demon.
How could such a person offer such great benefits to outsiders like Chu Feng without reason?
“Brother, you have hit the key point.”
“First, once the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace is opened, only juniors can enter. No matter how powerful the Black Fiend Old Demon is, he cannot go inside, so the benefits within are destined to have no connection with him.”
“The next part is the most important, though it is only hearsay and unconfirmed.”
“Tell me about it.” Chu Feng asked with great curiosity.
“I heard that whenever a junior obtains a treasure or gains something inside the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace, a special power is generated within the palace.”
“This power brings enormous benefits to the Black Fiend Old Demon, reportedly capable of enhancing his formation techniques.”
Xia Yan said.
“In other words, the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace is actually a secret treasure used for cultivating formation techniques.”
“But to activate it, juniors must enter and obtain some gains.”
Chu Feng asked for confirmation.
“Yes, that is roughly the meaning.”
“However, the latter part is only rumour. The Black Fiend Old Demon has never admitted to it.”
“Publicly, he has always claimed that opening the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace is to provide opportunities to the juniors of the Nine Souls Heavenly River, for the sake of the Heavenly River.”
“But look at this old fellow’s appearance. Does he look like someone that kind-hearted?”
Xia Yan remarked.
Chu Feng merely smiled at this statement.
He felt that what Xia Yan said made sense, because the Black Fiend Old Demon indeed did not seem like a kind-hearted person.
But if the Black Fiend Old Demon could also benefit when juniors gained something inside, that would explain everything.
Rumble, rumble, rumble.
It took a full half hour before the gates of the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace were completely open.
Once fully opened, what appeared was a massive formation gate.
“My young friends, I believe you have all heard something about my Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace.”
“I will not introduce this fine thing in detail.”
“I will put it plainly today. After you enter the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace, if you encounter any treasures, as long as you have the ability, you may take them. Whatever you obtain belongs to you.”
“But there is one matter I must remind you of. After entering, you may each display your skills, but you must not attack one another.”
“I do not care about other places, but inside my Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace, I hope you will get along peacefully.”
“If anyone attacks you, you may tell me when you come out, and I will directly disqualify that person.”
“Furthermore, only the first five among you to exit the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace will advance to the next round of assessment. So, seize this opportunity.”
“Senior, rest assured. We will certainly follow your instructions and do our utmost.”
The seven geniuses of the Gongsun family bowed and expressed their stance simultaneously.
Seeing this, Chu Feng, Xia Yan, and the others also expressed their agreement.
In truth, they were the ones who most hoped for peaceful coexistence inside. But they also knew that the Gongsun family members might not be so obedient.
“Good. The opportunity is provided to you. How much you gain depends on your own abilities.”
The Black Fiend Old Demon waved his hand.
As soon as he made this gesture, the seven geniuses of the Gongsun family moved together, soaring into the air and entering the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace.
“Brother, take this. Once inside, do not move around randomly. Wait for me to find you.”
Just as Chu Feng was about to set off, Xia Yan quietly slipped a talisman paper into his hand. Without looking, Chu Feng sensed its function with his spirit power.
It was a positioning talisman, and a special one at that.
This type of positioning talisman was not permanent. Its effective duration was very short, but its effect was excellent.
Swish, swish.
After giving Chu Feng the positioning talisman, Xia Yan soared into the air and entered the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace together with Xiao Yu.
At this moment, only Chu Feng remained standing there alone.
Chu Feng could feel that all eyes were upon him.
Yet those gazes were far from kind. Most were looks of waiting to see him make a fool of himself.
Not a single person held any expectations for Chu Feng. They all regarded him as a joke.
But Chu Feng paid it no mind. He smiled faintly, then soared into the air and passed directly through the massive formation gate, entering the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace.
However, once Chu Feng entered, there was no one in front of him. Only he stood alone.
Looking back, the massive formation gate had already vanished. Behind him was only a vast wall, with no path of retreat.
Yet Chu Feng was not surprised by this situation.
The moment Xia Yan gave him the positioning talisman, he had already realised that after passing through the formation gate, they would be scattered apart.
