"Zhang Tianyi, Chu Feng has made his decision. Stop trying to persuade him." At that moment, Zhang Ming spoke up.
When Zhang Tianyi's father opened his mouth, Chu Feng narrowed his eyes slightly. He could already see that while Zhang Tianyi was doing his utmost to convince him to stay, his father didn't seem to share that wish.
But Chu Feng bore no ill will. In fact, he felt a sense of relief. No matter what kind of bond he shared with Zhang Tianyi, at the end of the day, Zhang Tianyi's father had to look out for his own son.
Moreover, once the tournament was over, Zhang Tianyi's father could have simply opened the fortress and allowed everyone to leave directly. But he hadn't done that. Instead, he'd had everyone retrace their steps through the original route—which was really just buying Chu Feng a chance to escape.
In any case, Chu Feng felt that Zhang Tianyi's father was a pretty decent man. He may not have done everything, but he had done what he should.
"Chu Feng, Immortal Whitebrow has joined forces with numerous experts. In the span of just a few days, he has set up a heaven-and-earth net outside my fortress."
"I know your Spirit World techniques are formidable, but Whitebrow, regardless of anything else, is a Dragon-veined Imperial-robed Spirit World Master. There's no guarantee you can break through his methods."
"However, with this, you'll be able to slip out of Whitebrow's formation without making a sound." Zhang Ming handed a talisman to Chu Feng. This was no ordinary talisman—it contained powerful formation-breaking energy that could silently shatter a grand array, allowing Chu Feng to escape.
Zhang Tianyi's father's mastery of barrier arts was truly exceptional—at the very least, far surpassing that of Immortal Whitebrow.
"Thank you, Senior." Chu Feng didn't refuse, because he genuinely felt that this talisman could help him.
"This is all I can do for you," Zhang Ming said.
"I understand your kind intentions, Senior."
"Senior, Brother Zhang Tianyi—then we shall take our leave here." After that, Chu Feng departed with Yan Xie and the others.
"Chu Feng, you'd better leave quickly. All the checkpoints here have been sealed, so we can get out on our own just fine."
"But you're different. Right now, I'd wager the four clans have their eyes locked on every exit, just waiting for you to walk out. If you leave with us, you're bound to get caught."
"You'd be better off getting out quickly, slipping out while most of them haven't dispersed yet, blending in with the crowd," Yan Xie said.
"Then, everyone—until we meet again." Chu Feng clasped his fists in farewell.
"Until we meet again." Yan Xie, Big Chili Pepper, and the two radishes all clasped their fists toward Chu Feng in return.
Then, with a spin of his body, Chu Feng transformed into a streak of light and shot swiftly toward the exit.
Yan Xie was absolutely right. If Chu Feng wanted to get out, the best method was to mingle with the larger crowd.
Especially among the people of the Three Houses—because no matter how overbearing the four clans got, they wouldn't dare cause trouble for anyone from the Three Houses.
…
Outside the fortress, the four clans—both their visible and hidden forces—stood fully prepared and on high alert. Heavy manpower was stationed in every direction, eyes fixed on each exit.
But those exits remained shut and showed no sign of opening. So far, not a single person had come out.
Meanwhile, Chu Feng had already arrived at the exit. He was concealing his aura and hiding his body within the void, so no one knew he'd already made it out. But from where he was, he could observe the scene unfolding before him.
Only twenty people had entered the heart of the fortress, but the total number of people who had stepped inside the fortress was immeasurable. And right now, all of them were still here.
These people would be the best cover for Chu Feng's escape.
"Senior Zhang has truly done everything he could."
Looking at the still-shuttered gates and the forces from various factions stationed around them, Chu Feng understood. Zhang Tianyi's father had deliberately kept the gates closed—deliberately refusing to let those people leave—in order to keep them here as a shield for Chu Feng.
Rumble rumble rumble—