White light bathed heaven and earth, sacred beyond compare.
The radiance was so blinding that even the cultivators dared not open their eyes.
Fortunately, the brilliance did not last long before it began to gradually dissipate.
But when the light faded, people found that everyone around them was still there.
Their positions had not changed, yet the space they stood in had transformed entirely.
This was no longer the Fierce Beast Prison World, nor was there any sign of the terrifying black hurricanes.
The place was immaculately clean — not a single blade of grass or tree in sight. It was as if they had entered a world blanketed by light, a vast expanse of white stretching as far as the eye could see.
Yet the feeling was one of serene comfort, as though this were some kind of holy sanctuary.
The Prison King was still present, but it too had been transformed into a pure white statue.
Although its appearance remained fearsome, for some reason, now that it had become a pristine white sculpture, people no longer felt terror when looking at it. Instead, an aura of sanctity emanated from its form.
Most importantly, the Prison King's massive jaws were wide open, and inside its mouth was a barrier gate.
Moreover, upon the barrier gate, four large characters writhed and shifted.
Crouching Dragon Phantom Palace!!!
Though it was merely a barrier gate, the aura it emitted was even more sacred than before.
Just looking at it was enough to fill everyone with excitement.
Anyone could sense that this was no ordinary place.
And Chu Feng still stood atop the Prison King's head.
Though his body was small in comparison, he towered above them all, like the sovereign of this realm.
One more glance at Zuoqiu Yanliang, who was still weeping bitterly, unable to pull himself out of his breakdown — and every disciple already had their answer as to who was the hero and who was the coward.
"Junior Brother Chu Feng, where is this?"
"Weren't we supposed to split up and cultivate separately?" someone asked curiously.
"This is the opportunity I spoke of."
"Wait a moment — once you pass through this barrier gate, you will enter a phantom realm."
Chu Feng pointed at the barrier gate within the Prison King's mouth, then smiled and continued:
"I have good news for all of you, Senior Brothers and Sisters."
"The moment we enter this barrier gate, we will all receive a certain benefit — one that will undoubtedly be superior to hunting within the Fierce Beast Prison World."
"Within the phantom realm, there will also be trials."
"If you can overcome the trials of the phantom realm, not only will you receive even greater rewards, but you will also be able to leave this place ahead of schedule."
"If you cannot overcome the trials, it's no matter — there will be no punishment. You will simply be trapped within the phantom realm, and will have to wait for its power to dissipate before you can escape."
"In any case, there is no downside. At most, you will simply have to stay here a while longer," Chu Feng explained.
"We can just go straight in?"
"Junior Brother Chu Feng, since you know so much about this, could you share a bit more with us?"
"How do we overcome the trials in the phantom realm?" a true disciple asked.
"That's right, Junior Brother Chu Feng, tell us more."
"If we can break through the phantom realm and reap greater rewards, we will certainly never forget your kindness," the other true disciples chimed in.
"I won't hide anything from you. Here, while I can draw upon the Prison King's power, I can dominate everything."
"But once we enter the Crouching Dragon Phantom Palace, I will be just like you — an ordinary person."
"Each person will face different trials within the phantom palace. I don't even know what kind of trials I myself will encounter."
"So, Senior Brothers and Sisters, it's not that I'm unwilling to help you — it's simply that I don't know what trials await us inside the Crouching Dragon Phantom Palace."
"What I can tell you is that this was left behind by the founding ancestor of our sect. Regardless of whether we succeed or fail, the mere fact that we are able to train in such a place is an honor in itself."
"We may well be the very first people since the founding of the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect to set foot inside the Crouching Dragon Phantom Palace," Chu Feng said.
"The very first?"
"Now that you mention it, I've never once heard of a place called the Crouching Dragon Phantom Palace before."
"Doesn't that make us incredible?"
"Junior Brother Chu Feng, we have you to thank for this."
Though Chu Feng had not provided them with any direct help, the mere knowledge that they would be the first people in the entire history of the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect to enter this place filled them with extraordinary excitement — and genuine gratitude toward Chu Feng.
Honor. This was indeed an honor.