"I've grown tired of worldly disputes. Besides, the Cangming Medicinal Garden is where I was born. I have an attachment to it, so I stayed."
"As for those who bullied me, hmph—not a single one of them managed to leave the Cangming Medicinal Garden alive." As she spoke, a flash of bone-chilling coldness passed through
Seeing that gaze, seeing that smile,
And from Yao'er's smile, Chu Feng could see that she felt not a shred of remorse for those she had killed, nor a shred of sympathy. Cold-blooded and ruthless.
This Yao'er did not match her appearance at all. She was no gentle young girl—she was a cold-blooded demon.
But Chu Feng was not afraid of her. He could sense that although Yao'er was a demon with countless bloodstains on her hands, she held no ill intent toward him.
"Chu Feng, why did you come here? This is the forbidden zone of Qingmu Mountain. It's truly not a place you should be."
"If I hadn't stopped you, you wouldn't even need the ancient creatures here to devour you—the people of Qingmu Mountain would have killed you themselves." Yao'er suddenly spoke, her voice thick with worry.
"To tell you the truth, I came here with a purpose. I can't leave until that purpose is fulfilled," Chu Feng said.
"What purpose?" Yao'er asked.
"I need to reach the deepest point in that direction." Chu Feng pointed toward the misty region, from which the low roars of ancient creatures continuously emanated, each more piercing than the last.
"You're trying to plunder the treasures of these ancient ruins?!" Yao'er asked.
"You know there are treasures here too?" Chu Feng asked.
"Of course I know. It's not just me—the Qingmu Mountain elders know as well. Otherwise, why would this place be designated as a forbidden zone?" Yao'er said.
"Even so, I'm still going. I've already come this far, and I don't want to miss this opportunity. Besides, I've already dismantled their tracking formation—they won't know whether I've continued forward or not," Chu Feng said stubbornly.
"Chu Feng, don't be so obstinate," Yao'er urged.
"I know you mean well for me, but once I've made up my mind, I won't turn back."
"Just now I was careless to be targeted by the ancient fierce beasts, but I'll be more careful from now on. It won't happen again."
"Oh, and Yao'er—the fact that you rushed here for me, I'm truly grateful. Thank you."
"And thank you for willing to show your true form and tell me about your past." Chu Feng smiled at Yao'er, then continued walking deeper into the ruins.
"If you insist on going alone, then I'll lend you a hand—so you can see just how weak you are in a place like this, and how terrifying what lies ahead truly is."
Suddenly, Yao'er transformed into a purple aura once more, whirling like a cyclone as she enveloped Chu Feng, then shot into the depths of the ruins as a streak of purple light.
Yao'er's speed was astonishing—absolutely beyond Chu Feng's imagination. If he hadn't been observing carefully with his Heaven's Eye, he wouldn't have been able to make out the surrounding scenery at all. This was a Martial Emperor—possessing true Emperor-level martial force, standing at the very pinnacle of the Holy Land of Martial Arts.
Along the way, Chu Feng sensed countless powerful auras brushing past him. There was no need to guess—these were all ancient creatures. But their strength was truly formidable. Nearly every single aura's owner possessed power that could crush Chu Feng with ease. Each one was terrifying beyond measure.
This was why Yao'er was leading Chu Feng forward. Had he been traveling alone, he would truly have needed to be doubly cautious—one slip, and he would have fallen straight into the tiger's jaws, certain death.
Step—
Finally, Yao'er stopped. Before Chu Feng and the others now lay a canyon—tens of thousands of meters wide, bottomless, and stretching endlessly into the distance.
Most importantly, from within this canyon, Emperor-level martial force surged skyward, forming an invisible wall of martial power that sealed off heaven and earth.
This wall of martial force carried no destructive power, nor would it truly block anyone's path. It was more like a boundary line, warning people: do not go forward.