Xiao Yu did not even glance at Xia Yan, but he uttered four words: “None of your business.”
Then, Xiao Yu continued forward.
It turned out that Xiao Yu was not only cold towards Chu Feng, but equally so towards Xia Yan.
“Full of personality. I like it.”
Yet faced with such a Xiao Yu, Xia Yan did not get angry. Instead, he grinned widely and followed with a smile.
As for Chu Feng, he followed as well.
Originally, as they proceeded, Xia Yan had been leading the way.
But now, Xiao Yu walked at the front. His manner suggested he was equally familiar with the place.
This showed that not only Xia Yan understood the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace, but Xiao Yu did too.
Suddenly, a secret voice transmission entered Chu Feng’s ears. The voice belonged to Xia Yan.
“Although the Illusion Palace Soul Water has the effect of seizing souls, it actually only works for a short time.”
“That genius who drank the Illusion Palace Soul Water soon detached from his friend’s body. His soul automatically returned to his own body. Everything reverted to normal, and his friend suffered no harm, recovering fully as well.”
“Later, people discovered that the Illusion Palace Soul Water can only be used on those weaker than oneself.”
“For example, between you and me, if you consumed it, you could not occupy my body. But if I consumed it, I could occupy yours.”
“So if that fellow Xiao Yu wants to use the Illusion Palace Soul Water to harm others, it would be utterly pointless. To deal with someone weaker, he could just act directly. There would be no need for the Illusion Palace Soul Water.”
Xia Yan’s secret transmission aimed to explain the effects of the Illusion Palace Soul Water to Chu Feng in detail.
But it also seemed to imply indirectly that Xiao Yu wanting the Illusion Palace Soul Water was probably not for malicious purposes, since it did not suit the conditions for doing evil.
“Then what do you think he came to this Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace specifically for the Illusion Palace Soul Water to do?” Chu Feng asked.
“He must have his own use for it. If you want to know what, you can ask him directly.”
Xia Yan said with a cheeky grin.
Though Chu Feng was somewhat curious, he was not familiar with Xiao Yu. Whatever Xiao Yu intended to do was actually none of his concern, so Chu Feng did not speculate further.
“And you? Do you have a particular goal here?”
This question from Chu Feng was no longer a secret transmission but asked openly.
“Of course. My goal is the Purple Mist Ghost King Pearl at the deepest part of the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace.”
Xia Yan replied.
“What is that?”
Chu Feng asked.
“There are countless natural treasures in the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace, but the one most coveted is undoubtedly this Purple Mist Ghost King Pearl.”
When Xia Yan said this, his face was full of anticipation.
Then, through Xia Yan’s explanation, Chu Feng learned what the Purple Mist Ghost King Pearl truly was.
Although the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace only opened once every thirty years, cultivators generally lived for nearly ten thousand years. Some could even reach over ten thousand.
From that perspective, thirty years was not long.
Thus, no small number of people had entered the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace before.
One person alone might not understand it fully, but with information shared among so many, the palace became far less mysterious.
Because of this, some collected details about it, drew maps, and devised methods to break formations, then sold them at high prices to geniuses with the chance to enter.
This explained why Xia Yan and Xiao Yu, despite it being their first time, were so familiar with the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace.
Though the terrain did not change much, many formations remained unbreakable.
For instance, a bead emitting purple radiance.
Not only did the bead glow purple, but the characters “Ghost King” were engraved upon it, hence the name Purple Mist Ghost King Pearl.
Yet to this day, no one had successfully obtained the Purple Mist Ghost King Pearl.
Precisely because no one had taken it, it became Xia Yan’s goal.
If Xiao Yu obtaining the Illusion Palace Soul Water involved some secret he could not reveal, then Xia Yan wanting the Purple Mist Ghost King Pearl was to demonstrate his ability and make his name known throughout the world.
Of course, since the Purple Mist Ghost King Pearl was so hard to acquire and placed at the final stage of the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace, it must be an extraordinary treasure.
As for exactly what kind of treasure it was, only its future owner would know.
Though the Purple Mist Ghost King Pearl was Xia Yan’s goal, reaching the deepest stage to even see it was not easy.
Therefore, for now, they decided to first help Xiao Yu find the Illusion Palace Soul Water.
While the Purple Mist Ghost King Pearl was difficult to obtain, it remained there, at the final stage.
As long as one had enough skill to reach it, one could see it.
In comparison, the Illusion Palace Soul Water could be taken immediately upon discovery.
Yet it had no fixed location. Finding it depended on luck.
According to maps and records, forty-nine areas within the palace had previously yielded Illusion Palace Soul Water.
But one place had the highest probability.
Thus, that became the first destination for the three of them.
…
The three proceeded smoothly, thanks to the map. They faced no obstacles. Even blocking formations were easily broken.
But now, ahead of them appeared a vast lake.
The lake was filled with inky black water that swirled powerfully, forming a massive vortex.
Waves surged skyward with thunderous roars. The black vortex resembled a gigantic maw capable of devouring everything, sending chills down one’s spine at the mere sight.
To be caught in such a terrifying vortex would mean certain death.
Most crucially, the lake possessed devouring power. Above it, not only was flight impossible, but even ordinary formations would be swallowed.
Crossing this lake was far from easy.
“Actually, breaking through this lake is simple.”
“Brother Chu Feng, take this.”
As Xia Yan spoke, he handed Chu Feng a transparent bead.
Within the bead lay concealed formation arrays. Its surface was covered densely with runes resembling ships.
“Is this a treasure to prevent being devoured?”
Chu Feng asked.
“Exactly.”
Xia Yan nodded.
“Can we cross the lake with this treasure?”
Chu Feng asked again.
“No. But with it, Xiao Yu and I can get across.”
After saying this, Xia Yan grinned, then raised his hand and struck with a palm, sending Chu Feng directly into the lake.
Once in the lake, Chu Feng was trapped in the water, unable to escape. He could only drift with the current, continuously drawn towards the centre of the vortex.
As Chu Feng was trapped and pulled deeper into the vortex, Xia Yan and Xiao Yu soared into the air and began crossing the lake.
They reached the other side smoothly.
Logically, with the lake’s devouring power, flight should have been impossible.
Just as Chu Feng wondered about this, Xia Yan provided the answer.
“This lake is a man-eating monster, but it has a weakness. When it devours a person, its devouring power vanishes.”
“Brother Chu Feng, this is why we needed your help.”
Xia Yan said to Chu Feng.
“You never intended to team up with me. You just wanted to use me to cross this lake?”
Chu Feng’s face showed anger.
Yet Xia Yan still wore a smiling expression.
“Brother Chu Feng, I am truly sorry.”
“But there was no choice. Among the three of us, your role was the least valuable.”
