Before departing, Chu Feng personally went to ask the old man on the island, along with several young people, whether they wanted to leave with them.
Their answer was that they intended to remain on the island and take no further risks. Once this trial ended and the surrounding seas returned to normal, they would make their way back to the Golden Coast.
Seeing that they had already made up their minds, Chu Feng didn't try to persuade them further and set off directly.
Chu Feng's group advanced steadily, with the Three Thousand Temple members clearing the path. They excelled in barrier techniques, and three among them were Royal-Robed Spirit World Masters, so Chu Feng was able to enjoy a relatively carefree journey.
But the good times didn't last long. Following the map from the palace on that small island, they hadn't gone far when a fork in the road unexpectedly appeared ahead.
This fork was not recorded on the map at all, and both paths were corridors formed by storms. In other words, if Chu Feng and the others wanted to keep moving forward, there were only two routes available — the rest of the sea was engulfed by those terrifying storms, making passage completely impossible.
The two storm corridors were quite interesting. The left one was filled with gale-force winds, torrential rain, and crackling lightning — one glance was enough to tell it was extremely dangerous.
The right one was the exact opposite. Although storms still surrounded it on all sides, there was no offensive force whatsoever. It was practically a smooth, flat road stretching deep into the distance, and it was immediately obvious that the right path was far safer.
"Take the left. The left looks perilous, but it's actually an illusion meant to deceive the eye. The right looks simple, but I suspect it hides far greater danger," the leader of the Three Thousand Temple analyzed seriously, studying the two storm corridors.
"Temple Master, I think you've been fooled," Chu Feng said.
"What did you say? How have I been fooled?" The Temple Master of the Three Thousand Temple asked with a displeased expression, clearly offended that Chu Feng would dare question his judgment.
"The left looks dangerous, the right looks simple. Anyone with even a shred of intelligence would think they should take the dangerous path — like yourself, Temple Master, for instance. But I can tell you clearly: these two paths are designed specifically to deceive people like you," Chu Feng replied.
"What do you mean? Are you saying I'm outsmarting myself — that cleverness has backfired?" The Temple Master grew even more displeased, a hint of anger already creeping into his voice.
Truth be told, he had looked down on Chu Feng from the very beginning. How could he tolerate someone he deemed inferior telling him what to do?
"That's not what I'm trying to say. I simply want to tell you that a Spirit World Master should use his heart when examining formations like this, not just his eyes."
"Look with your eyes, but judge with your heart. That is the correct way to assess the situation," Chu Feng continued.
"Oh, so you're saying your barrier techniques surpass mine? And your conclusion is that we should take the right — the path that looks safe?" The Temple Master's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Well, if you want to take it, go ahead. But when you die in there, don't say I didn't warn you. What an idiot."
The Temple Master's words were brimming with hostility, and he even began openly insulting Chu Feng.
As for Chu Feng, he simply offered a faint smile and paid no attention. He couldn't be bothered to argue with someone like this any further.
"Watch your mouth. Chu Feng is not someone you can insult. If it weren't for him, my little sister and I might have died long ago." But just then, Nangong Baihe could no longer stand the affront.
"Miss Baihe, this old man spoke out of turn. I shouldn't have insulted your friend. But please, believe me — we must take the left path. If we go right, we're walking straight to our deaths," the Temple Master of the Three Thousand Temple said to Nangong Baihe with undisguised respect.
Although neither Nangong Baihe nor Nangong Moli were daughters of the current patriarch of the Nangong Imperial Clan, their father still held a considerable position within the clan. Otherwise, the Temple Master of the Three Thousand Temple would never have known their names in the first place.
"Chu Feng, let's go left. I also feel that while the right path looks safe, it's likely hiding danger, whereas the left should be the opposite," Nangong Baihe urged Chu Feng.