“Chu Feng, I’m serious. You must not underestimate Gongsun Yuntian.”
“Earlier, you could fight him only because you controlled the power here.”
“But if you truly leave this place and compete in boundary spirit techniques with your own strength, Gongsun Yuntian’s ability is definitely not as simple as you think.”
Xia Yan continued to persuade him.
“Don’t try to talk me out of it. Once I’ve made a decision, no one can change my mind.”
Chu Feng said this with a smile. He was not annoyed by Xia Yan’s attempts to dissuade him. He knew she had his best interests at heart.
But as he had said, when he decided something, others truly could not sway him.
The grudge with the Gongsun family was already formed. Gongsun Yuntian had previously wanted his life, but a private duel, even if won, would only be simple revenge.
Yet defeating Gongsun Yuntian in front of a large crowd would strike him to the very depths of his soul.
Hum.
Chu Feng formed hand seals with both hands. Suddenly, brilliant light shone forth. His formation was complete.
Then, with a sweep of his wide sleeve,
Swish.
Light poured out like water. The formation spread, transforming into a radiant and enormous formation diagram that floated in mid-air.
It turned out that the formation Chu Feng had arranged was not a boundary one. Instead, it demonstrated to Xia Yan and Xiao Yu how to set up the method.
It was the way for the two of them to leave this place.
“This formation should not be difficult for you.”
“As long as you complete it successfully, you can use it to depart. However, only one person can leave at a time, so you will need to arrange it separately.”
“Alright, I’ve said everything that needs to be said. I’m off. See you outside.”
After doing this, Chu Feng prepared to leave.
“If you’re going to set up a formation, just do it. Why do you have to go?”
“At worst, I’ll stop trying to persuade you.”
Seeing Chu Feng about to depart, Xia Yan quickly spoke up. She did not want to part from him.
“The formation I need to arrange is different from yours. It requires time and full concentration alone. See you outside.”
After explaining to Xia Yan, Chu Feng left directly.
At this moment, Xia Yan could not very well chase after him.
“This Brother Chu Feng is really quite unpredictable.”
“Brother Xiao Yu, what do you think his background is?”
Xia Yan asked Xiao Yu.
She had grown increasingly curious about Chu Feng.
“Chu Feng must be concealing his identity. He is definitely not from the Sacred Light Heavenly River.”
Xiao Yu gave her judgement.
Yet this judgement earned her a rather displeased look from Xia Yan.
“Brother Xiao Yu, why do you say that Brother Chu Feng is definitely not from the Sacred Light Heavenly River?”
“Could it be that you know him?”
Xia Yan asked.
“No, I don’t.”
Xiao Yu replied.
“Brother Xiao Yu, it’s not that I’m criticising you, but this isn’t quite right.”
“Since you don’t even know Brother Chu Feng’s background, why assert that he isn’t from the Sacred Light Heavenly River?”
Xia Yan pressed.
“How could the Sacred Light Heavenly River possibly produce a junior of such strength?”
Xiao Yu countered with a question.
“Brother Xiao Yu, if you put it that way, then I can only say you’re looking down on people.”
Xia Yan said.
“Xia Yan, why are you suddenly insulting me?”
A trace of anger appeared on Xiao Yu’s face.
In her view, “looking down on people” was an insult.
“I’m not insulting you. It’s the truth. Do you really understand the Sacred Light Heavenly River?”
“Looking down on it like this could cause you trouble in the future.”
Xia Yan said.
Xiao Yu felt annoyed but did not wish to argue further with Xia Yan. Instead, she sat cross-legged on the ground and closed her eyes.
“Why are you sitting down? Aren’t you going to search for the Illusory Palace Soul Water anymore?”
Xia Yan asked.
Xiao Yu ignored her.
“Good call not searching. Just stay here obediently. If you encounter the Gongsun family again, no one will save you.”
Xia Yan said sarcastically.
“Why are you suddenly targeting me?”
“Do you have special feelings for Chu Feng?”
Xiao Yu seemed unable to hold back and countered.
“Special feelings?”
“I’m a grown man, and so is he. How could I have special feelings? What nonsense are you spouting?”
Xia Yan asked.
“So it is special feelings.”
“Though rare, I’ve seen men who like men.”
Xiao Yu said.
“Don’t talk rubbish. My preferences are normal.”
Xia Yan replied.
“Then why get so worked up when I belittle the Sacred Light Heavenly River?”
“Isn’t it because you think Chu Feng is from there and want to defend him?”
“Let me tell you, I don’t mean to look down on Chu Feng at all. On the contrary… I’m very grateful he saved me.”
“So there’s no need for you to target me over this.”
Xiao Yu said.
“I just can’t stand your habit of belittling things you don’t understand. I’m not speaking up for anyone.”
“Fine, fine. You rest. I’m going to arrange the formation to leave this place.”
“You usually say so little, yet when arguing, you have plenty to say.”
Xia Yan glanced at Xiao Yu, then began setting up the departure formation according to what Chu Feng had left behind.
Seeing this, Xiao Yu paid her no further attention and likewise started arranging her own departure formation.
…
Outside the Thousand Transformations Illusory Palace, on the vast plaza’s viewing stands, crowds still packed the area.
The Black Fiend Old Demon, along with world spiritists from various forces in the Nine Souls Heavenly River, remained gathered here.
Their gazes did not fix constantly on the Thousand Transformations Illusory Palace, but their conversations revolved endlessly around it.
They discussed how long it would take for the Gongsun family geniuses to emerge.
Though the Thousand Transformations Illusory Palace opened only once every thirty years, the Black Fiend Old Demon had possessed it for many years.
Thus, numerous geniuses had entered it before.
Some had tragically perished inside, but nearly every opening saw successful exits.
Because geniuses from different eras had entered, the palace held records, such as the fastest exit time, set three hundred and thirty years ago by a boundary spirit genius named Dao Hui.
Dao Hui was now under four hundred years old. Though no longer a junior, at that age, compared to the average lifespan of cultivators, he was still extremely young.
Yet he had already grown into a renowned world spiritist throughout the Nine Souls Heavenly River.
He was hailed as the most talented world spiritist in the Nine Souls Heavenly River since ancient times.
However, the current generation of junior world spiritists in the Nine Souls Heavenly River was also exceptionally outstanding.
Especially Gongsun Yuntian of the Gongsun family and Zhuge Feiluan of the Zhuge family, the strongest among the many genius juniors.
Though Zhuge Feiluan had not come to this marriage recruitment event, Gongsun Yuntian was present.
People discussed whether Gongsun Yuntian could break the record left by Dao Hui.
If he could, it would not only suggest that his future achievements might surpass Dao Hui’s,
but the Gongsun family would also gain great face.
Hum.
Suddenly, a strange sound came from the Thousand Transformations Illusory Palace.
Then, the enormous palace began to tremble slightly.
This scene drew everyone’s attention.
As they looked over, the Thousand Transformations Illusory Palace started releasing golden aura.
Unlike mere radiance, this aura was visible to the naked eye and followed special trajectories.
The aura gathered at the palace’s peak, rapidly intertwining until it soon condensed into a sphere.
The golden sphere resembled a miniature sun. Its brilliance was so dazzling that it even overshadowed the light emitted by the palace itself.
“Lord Black Fiend, what is that?”
Those present were all world spiritists of considerable strength and reputation.
Yet no matter what methods they tried, none could discern what the golden sphere was. Thus, they could only seek guidance from the Black Fiend Old Demon.
“This… seems to be a phenomenon.”
The Black Fiend Old Demon answered, though with some hesitation.
He… appeared uncertain as well.
“A phenomenon?”
“Why would there be a phenomenon?”
“Could it be triggered by those Gongsun family juniors?”
The crowd asked one after another.
“External forces rarely affect the Thousand Transformations Illusory Palace. Since a phenomenon has appeared, it must be caused by someone inside.”
Though the Black Fiend Old Demon did not give a direct answer, he had effectively provided one.
“Is it really those Gongsun family juniors?”
“The Gongsun family juniors are truly extraordinary.”
Praises rang out endlessly, and as these words reached the ears of the Gongsun family members, each revealed smiles they could barely conceal.
