"Very well."
Once the insects reached the required number, they began to emit a blinding radiance, and their transformation was unmistakable.
They were still alive, still flitting about, but anyone with a discerning eye could see that they had become a living compass.
"It worked, Brother Chu Feng! You did it! You're absolutely incredible! Heavens, how did you figure out that these flying insects could become the key to reaching the Spirit Burial Pool once they reached a certain quantity?"
The people who had been following Chu Feng this whole time were beside themselves with excitement. To them, this was nothing short of a miracle.
Can you really blame them? They had no idea that the clue Chu Feng had obtained was connected to that purple tree. And even if they had received the same clue, they probably never would have thought that these flying insects were the key to the Spirit Burial Pool.
"Young Master Chu Feng, may I take a closer look?"
"Of course."
Chu Feng didn't think twice. He handed over the formation that contained the insects to Xia Yun'er.
Once she had it in her hands, Xia Yun'er began examining it with great care.
"Young Master Chu Feng is truly impressive." A brilliant smile spread across Xia Yun'er's face.
Her smile was already captivating on its own, but this dazzling display of it was enough to leave every man present utterly mesmerized.
Li Xiang in particular — he had been in foul spirits ever since his cultivation was crippled, but the moment he saw Xia Yun'er's smile, it was as if he had forgotten all about it. He looked positively blissful.
Chu Feng, however, noticed something. Xia Yun'er's smile didn't seem to be one of happiness for his sake, nor for anyone else's. It looked more like she was happy for herself.
That was right. Though Xia Yun'er's smile was dazzling and enchanting, Chu Feng could tell it was a selfish one.
"Young Master Chu Feng, give these flying insects to me. Once you hand them over, the debt between us will be settled."
Just as he expected, Xia Yun'er spoke up.
But Chu Feng hadn't anticipated that she would use the half of the favor he owed her as leverage.
He couldn't quite understand her reasoning, because even without this demand, he had already intended to bring her along to the Spirit Burial Pool.
So he felt her request was entirely unnecessary.
In fact, it wasn't just Chu Feng who was confused — the others were equally baffled. They had no idea what debt existed between Chu Feng and Xia Yun'er; they simply couldn't understand why she insisted on possessing these flying insects.
"Miss Xia, why do you feel you must hold on to these insects?" Chu Feng asked.
"Does Young Master Chu Feng not know that the power released by the Spirit Burial Pool during each eruption has been growing weaker with every cycle?" Xia Yun'er asked.
"I've heard as much," Chu Feng replied.
"And has Young Master Chu Feng heard that the fewer people inside the Spirit Burial Pool, the greater the insights one can gain?" Xia Yun'er said with a cheerful smile.
"This is the first I've heard of it."
Chu Feng was surprised, and so were the others. It seemed this piece of information wasn't something only he had been unaware of — none of them had heard it before either.
"It's the truth. And that's why I think there are far too many people present here today," Xia Yun'er said.
"Miss Xia, what exactly do you mean by that?"
"Could it be that you intend to enter the Spirit Burial Pool with only the people from your Starfall Sacred Ground? Are you planning to leave us behind?" A disciple from the
They were panicking, afraid that Xia Yun'er would abandon them.