However, the moment Chu Feng touched the sea of lightning, the purple lightning transformed into bolts that bound him like ropes to the surface of the lightning sea.
Immediately after, the lightning blazed brilliantly, and deafening booms rang out one after another.
Countless bolts of lightning lashed Chu Feng's body like whips.
"Aagh—!"
At that moment, Chu Feng let out a heart-wrenching scream.
He began struggling with all his might, but it was to no avail. The lightning seemed intent on devouring him—the harder he struggled, the deeper he sank, and his screams grew ever more agonizing.
Though seeing Chu Feng swallowed by the lightning and suffering so miserably filled everyone with immense satisfaction, it also planted a question in their minds.
"Why is this happening to him?"
Lu Yingzhuo had been injured by the lightning too, but it was more like he had slammed into a wall. After that single impact, he had fallen back down. But Chu Feng's fate was far more wretched by comparison.
He had actually been engulfed by the lightning, and once swallowed, he was subjected to relentless bombardment. And the ferocity of that bombardment only intensified as he sank deeper and deeper.
Judging by this, Chu Feng was very likely going to die inside the lightning sea. After all, that purple sea of lightning was simply terrifying. Even the sect masters of the six great powers—beings of that caliber—would feel a chill of dread upon witnessing the purple lightning sea's imposing might. They themselves might not necessarily be able to pass through it safely.
It was precisely because of the difference between the two that people grew confused. They had both charged into the lightning sea, so why were their fates so drastically different?
"Hahaha…"
Just as everyone was puzzling over this, Lu Yingzhuo suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter.
He fully released the hidden power within his body, and his true appearance was revealed for all to see. He was covered in charred blackness from head to toe, his robes torn to shreds, looking utterly wretched. Yet he seemed to have forgotten all the pain on his body, laughing with wild abandon—almost crazed.
His laughter drew the attention of everyone present.
"Karma. This is karma!" he shouted.
"Hahahaha…"
"You think I was bowing and scraping to you for nothing just now?"
"What I did was all to bring you to this exact end!"
"You thought that by using underhanded methods to sneak into this barrier world and obtaining that armor, you could pass through the lightning sea and claim the treasure?"
"You think I failed to cross the lightning sea just now because I couldn't wield that armor?"
"Now you see how wrong you were, don't you?"
"Even wearing that armor, you still can't pass through the lightning sea!"
"Because only the true young generation can cross that lightning sea!"
"And you… just like me, cannot!"
"But you and I are still different—you've received an even harsher punishment!"
"This is karma! This is the barrier world's punishment on you! This is the stone box's punishment on you! Hahahaha…"
Lu Yingzhuo's voice echoed far and wide.
He laughed with tremendous satisfaction, releasing all the pent-up frustration Chu Feng had forced upon him earlier.
Hearing Lu Yingzhuo's words, everyone suddenly saw the light.
At last, people understood the truth. It turned out there had never been anything wrong with the armor. Instead, Lu Yingzhuo and Chu Feng simply lacked the qualification. The purple lightning sea held a special blocking force—it repelled all those who were not members of the younger generation under one hundred years of age.
That was why both Lu Yingzhuo and Chu Feng had been stopped.
"Good. Truly wonderful!"
"Hahaha…"
"He deserves it! He absolutely deserves it! He's getting exactly what he asked for!"
"Heaven has opened its eyes! Heaven has truly opened its eyes!"
At that moment, whether it was the disciples of the Zhutian Gate inside the barrier world, or the vast sea of people across the heavens beyond the barrier world, they all erupted in such rousing cheers.
Every last one of them wished for Chu Feng's death.
And to think he had been trapped in this manner made them even happier. To them, this was the barrier world's punishment upon Chu Feng—and it was exactly the kind of punishment they had wanted to see.