At this very moment, Chu Feng closed his eyes and projected his consciousness into his spiritual world.
He stood within the Spirit Realm space, facing Dan Dan directly. "Dan Dan, is this Ice and Fire bead really as powerful as Brother Monkey says?"
"I'm not a Spirit World Master, so I don't have the Mental Power to gauge just how strong the hidden force within that bead truly is. However, I have a feeling that these two beads are no ordinary items. That little demon monkey is a purple-robed Spirit World Master with considerable Mental Power. If he says so, then these two beads must be something special. After all, the master of this Emperor's Tomb was a most extraordinary existence — how could anything he left behind be weak?" Dan Dan replied.
"Then I understand." As he spoke, Chu Feng shifted his will and projected his consciousness back into his physical body. He opened his eyes and said, "I need everyone here to move away from this area and head outside."
"Because no matter what, I, Chu Feng, am going to save Su Rou and Su Mei. Even if there is only the slightest hope, even if the cost of failure means dragging the entire continent down with us — I have to save them."
"This…"
Hearing Chu Feng's words, the people present exchanged uneasy glances. Those who had previously tried to convince him to give up on Su Rou and Su Mei wore particularly conflicted expressions. Yet in the end, not a single person chose to leave. They all remained rooted in place, refusing to budge even half a step.
"Brother Chu Feng, I, Chu Wei, am admittedly someone who fears death. But I respect your decision, and I consider you a brother. So whether we succeed or fail, I will stand by your side — live and die with you," Chu Wei said.
"That's right, Brother Chu Wei speaks true. Chu Feng, go ahead and do it. No matter the outcome, we're all behind you."
"Exactly, Brother Chu Feng. The fact that we're alive today is all thanks to you. How could we possibly abandon you at a time like this?"
"Brother Chu Feng, I'm not strong enough to help you in any real way, but I'll support you with everything I have. I'm not leaving this place."
Yet to Chu Feng's surprise, once he had made his decision, everyone — whether they had previously urged him to save Su Rou and Su Mei or to give them up — now stood fully behind his choice.
It had to be said that this kind of support, given without regard for their own lives, warmed Chu Feng's heart. It meant, at the very least, that he hadn't wasted treating these people as family, hadn't thrown away his efforts on their behalf. Some among them might fear death, some might harbor selfish thoughts, but they were all people he could trust — people who would step forward for him when it mattered most.
"BOOM!"
But at that very instant, a deafening roar suddenly echoed through the air. The cold mist and flames within the barrier surged past the sealing formation and burst outward in a torrent. Blue frost and crimson fire interwove into a wave of scorching and freezing energy that swept across the surroundings.
"All of you — get out of here now! The farther, the better!"
The Monkey King bellowed the moment he saw this. His hands moved in a flurry, forming a series of intricate seals, and a massive purple barrier surged forth from his body like a rising tide, sealing the cold mist and flames back in.
"Brother Monkey, I'll stay and help you," Chu Feng said.
"I'm staying too," Zi Ling added.
"No! The barrier power you two wield is nowhere near enough to assist me. You'd only get in the way. Go — all of you, get out now! If I have to worry about protecting you, I won't be able to use my full strength, and those two beads will overwhelm me!" At that moment, the Monkey King's face was drenched in sweat, and a flicker of wariness had appeared in his crimson eyes.
"This…" Everyone froze, unsure of whether to stay or leave. And so every gaze turned toward Chu Feng.