“My goodness, Brother Chu Feng, you… you have been hiding your true strength deeply.”
“How did you do that?”
“You are only at the second level of Dragon Transformation. How can you command such powerful formation techniques?”
“Moreover, I feel that within your formation power, there seems to be something extraordinary. I understand now. Ah, so that is how it is.”
“You have been playing the pig to eat the tiger. In fact, your understanding of this Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace far surpasses ours, right?”
Xia Yan asked one question after another.
Even Xiao Yu spoke up. But compared to Xia Yan’s curiosity, Xiao Yu’s attitude was rather displeasing.
“You did it on purpose, didn’t you?”
When Xiao Yu looked at Chu Feng, there was not a trace of gratitude on his face, but instead a hint of displeasure.
“What do you mean?”
Chu Feng asked.
“You could have acted directly. Why wait until we were swallowed by the swamp before making your move?”
Xiao Yu asked.
“I told you not to act rashly, but you ignored my advice.”
“Though you are right. I did it on purpose.”
“Compared to being pushed directly into the black lake by you, letting you get trapped in the swamp is nothing.”
Chu Feng did not conceal it. He had indeed done it deliberately.
“The one who pushed you into the black lake was not me.”
Xiao Yu said.
“But you did not save me either. Whereas I at least saved you.”
“Moreover, I advise you not to be too arrogant.”
“Because you are not yet free. If I choose to stand by and watch, you still would not survive.”
As Chu Feng spoke these words, he deliberately glanced at the swamp trapping Xia Yan and Xiao Yu.
Hearing this, Xiao Yu and Xia Yan realised something was wrong. They hurriedly examined the swamp holding them captive more closely.
Only then did they discover that the swamp had begun to emit strange bubbles. It felt as though hot water was about to boil.
As the bubbles appeared, a foul stench followed. Most importantly, a terrifying corrosive power emanated from the swamp.
With more and more bubbles rising, the stench and corrosive force grew stronger. If this continued, the two of them would soon be completely devoured by the swamp.
“Brother Chu Feng, I was wrong. I should not have pushed you into the black lake without warning.”
“But I had no intention of harming you. I was afraid you would not trust me, so I acted first and explained later.”
“Still, it was all my fault. I was wrong from the start. Please forgive me. I do not want to die. I still have an elderly mother who depends on me.”
Xia Yan hurriedly explained to Chu Feng. Panic was evident in his voice. He was on the verge of tears.
“Brother Xia Yan, I believe you.”
As Chu Feng spoke, he immediately arranged a formation. Once it enveloped Xia Yan, Xia Yan regained his freedom and quickly leaped out of the swamp.
In truth, he had only intended to scare Xia Yan a little. He had no plan to truly abandon him to death. If he had, there would have been no need for Chu Feng to act earlier.
However, after rescuing Xia Yan, Chu Feng turned his gaze to Xiao Yu. He had no intention of saving Xiao Yu immediately.
Xiao Yu was an extremely arrogant person. Even with his life hanging by a thread, he showed no sign of begging Chu Feng for mercy.
Instead, he desperately tried every method to free himself.
Yet no matter what he attempted, he could not escape.
“Brother Xiao Yu, hurry and admit your mistake to Brother Chu Feng. We are all brothers. If you are wrong, just admit it. There is no shame in that.”
“Brother Chu Feng, Brother Xiao Yu bears no hostility towards you. We are all good brothers. You cannot stand by and let him die.”
Seeing the situation, Xia Yan tried to persuade both Xiao Yu and Chu Feng.
But no matter how he pleaded, Xiao Yu had no intention of admitting fault.
Chu Feng had no intention of relenting either.
This Xiao Yu truly had backbone.
Soon, the swamp began to boil. Amid the overwhelming stench, the corrosive power started to engulf Xiao Yu. His skin began to be eroded by the swamp’s force.
Though he gritted his teeth, a grimace of pain still appeared on his face.
He knew full well that if he continued to endure, his life would truly be lost.
“Chu Feng, consider this me owing you a favour.”
Finally, Xiao Yu looked at Chu Feng. Though extremely reluctant, he compromised in the end.
Seeing this, Chu Feng gave a faint smile. Then he immediately arranged a formation and rescued Xiao Yu.
In fact, he harboured no hostility towards Xiao Yu. On the contrary, the more backbone Xiao Yu showed, the more Chu Feng admired him.
What Chu Feng despised most were those who pretended to be proud and aloof, yet became utterly cowardly the moment they encountered someone stronger.
But Xiao Yu was different. He genuinely had spirit. Even when he finally sought Chu Feng’s help, it was not with a humble attitude, nor did he beg.
After rescuing both of them, Chu Feng arranged another formation.
When he threw the formation into the swamp, upon its re-emergence, a large amount of water appeared within Chu Feng’s formation.
The appearance of water in the foul swamp was strange enough, let alone the fact that the water in Chu Feng’s formation was so clear and even emitted a faint fragrance.
With a thought from Chu Feng, the formation transformed. It directly turned into a pool and landed in front of Xia Yan and Xiao Yu.
“The mud on your bodies is poisonous. Ordinary methods cannot cleanse it. Only the essence water from this swamp can wash it away. Hurry and clean yourselves. Otherwise, the poison in the swamp will not only corrode your physical bodies but also invade your souls. If it reaches your souls, even I cannot help you.”
Chu Feng said to Xia Yan and Xiao Yu.
“Thank you.”
Xiao Yu cupped his fist towards Chu Feng. This thank you came from the heart.
Though he and Xia Yan had escaped the swamp, mud still clung to their bodies. It was no ordinary mud. It stuck like a parasite. He could sense its danger.
Had Chu Feng not reminded him, he would not have realised that essence water could be extracted from the swamp, and that this essence water could precisely cleanse the poisonous mud from their bodies.
Without Chu Feng, they would truly have been doomed.
This was why he thanked Chu Feng.
After thanking him, Xiao Yu took out an item. He drew some of the water from Chu Feng’s formation, then left.
But after taking only a few steps, he spoke to Chu Feng and Xia Yan again. “I have a cleanliness obsession. Do not come and watch. Wait for me to return.”
His words were far from gentle. It was less a reminder and more a warning.
Having said that, Xiao Yu departed.
“Brother Chu Feng, do not take it to heart. Though I have not known Brother Xiao Yu for long, I can tell he is just poor with words. In reality, he is not a bad person.”
As Xia Yan spoke these words, he also took out an item and collected all the remaining water.
“What, do you have a cleanliness obsession too?”
Chu Feng asked Xia Yan.
Chu Feng had deliberately turned the formation into a pool, intending for Xia Yan and Xiao Yu to quickly wash off the poisonous mud right there.
Instead, these two grown men had become shy about it.
“Hehe, it is not that I have a cleanliness obsession. I am just afraid mine is too big and you will feel inferior.”
Xia Yan grinned widely, revealing his teeth. Then he took out a pearl-sized treasure.
With a toss, the treasure instantly transformed into a small palace, and Xia Yan quickly entered it.
Faced with such a Xia Yan, Chu Feng helplessly shook his head. He did not think much of it and began arranging formations to completely eliminate the swamp.
After its explosion, the swamp had spread over a vast area.
If Chu Feng did not remove it entirely, Xia Yan and Xiao Yu would probably be unable to pass smoothly.
“This feeling…”
But soon, Chu Feng’s expression changed. He immediately shouted towards the palace where Xia Yan was. “Brother Xia Yan, hurry and wash. We must leave at once.”
After saying this, Chu Feng leaped forward and sped towards the direction Xiao Yu had gone.
Chu Feng had sensed an even more terrifying power deep within the swamp. They had to leave quickly. Otherwise, even he might not be able to withstand it.
Fortunately, Xiao Yu had not gone far. Chu Feng soon found the location of Xiao Yu’s palace.
It was a similar palace to the one Xia Yan used. Both were treasures meant to isolate external forces and protect oneself.
In his urgency, Chu Feng feared that calling out from outside might not reach Xiao Yu. Fortunately, having gained control over part of the Thousand Transformations Illusion Palace’s power, he possessed abilities beyond the ordinary here.
Even these special treasures of Xiao Yu and Xia Yan could not block him.
Thus, instead of shouting, Chu Feng directly passed through the palace and entered its interior.
“This!!!”
However, the scene that greeted him upon entering left Chu Feng stunned.
Inside the palace, someone was indeed bathing.
But it was not Xiao Yu. It was an extremely beautiful woman.
“Chu Feng?”
When the woman saw Chu Feng, her expression changed dramatically. She turned her body, quickly dressing herself. Her appearance also changed. Only then did it become Xiao Yu’s face.
Seeing this, Chu Feng suddenly understood. So Xiao Yu had been disguising herself as a man.
“Uh… I… I did not see anything.”
Chu Feng hurriedly turned away.
“Why did you come in?”
Xiao Yu asked in a stern voice. She was clearly displeased, but perhaps due to Chu Feng’s strength, she did not flare up.
“I came to tell you to hurry and finish washing. We must leave this place immediately. It is very dangerous.”
Chu Feng said.
“I understand. You go out first.”
Xiao Yu replied.
“Got it.”
As Chu Feng acknowledged, he immediately exited the palace.
Yet after coming out, his mind was unsettled. Though he had only glimpsed it for an instant, Xiao Yu’s true exquisite beauty and fine figure lingered in his thoughts. After all, she had been completely bare.
“Still not out?”
In his daze, Chu Feng returned to the swamp area. He found Xia Yan still inside his palace and grew somewhat anxious.
Thus, Chu Feng directly passed through the palace and entered it.
“This…”
But upon entering, Chu Feng froze once again.
The scene inside this palace was almost identical to the one in Xiao Yu’s.
Only, inside this palace was another stunning beauty.
“Brother, you… are you Xia Yan?”
Chu Feng asked.
Only upon hearing this did the beauty notice someone had entered.
“Ah!!!!!”
The next moment, a piercing scream rang out.
