"Those three seem to be just like Old Cat — unable to endure the pain."
"So the barrier power bestowed upon them after the trial wasn't very strong, and they simply dispelled that granted barrier power on their own, choosing to use their original strength instead."
Tao Wu gazed at the Demon Spirit King and the other two with mockery.
The barrier power they had just obtained from the spikes was an enhancement temporarily bestowed upon them, but it came with numerous restrictions.
With that barrier power active, they couldn't just passively hold it — they needed to actively channel their own power to fight, and Tao Wu had done the same.
Now, watching the three of them battle with all manner of techniques and formations on full display, it was clear they had all voluntarily dispelled the barrier power.
Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to use such methods.
Why dispel it?
Naturally, because the barrier power they received wasn't strong enough — weaker than what they could achieve through their own techniques. That was why they had gotten rid of it.
Take Chu Feng, for example. He was originally an Eighth Grade Martial Ancestor, but with the barrier power enhancement, he had obtained the strength of a Ninth Grade Half God.
Even now, with the barrier power restricting him — unable to use weapons, martial arts, or formations — he absolutely would never voluntarily dispel it.
After all, the enhancement it granted him was simply too enormous.
"Brother Chu Feng, these fellows may have strong cultivation, but their willpower is actually quite lacking. Their future achievements will be rather limited."
"But you're different — your endurance is something even I admire. Your future achievements will be limitless."
Tao Wu couldn't help but praise Chu Feng once more.
Chu Feng, however, had been staring intently at the rune-inscribed door at the far end of the cave.
"Senior, that appears to be a method to break through the door," Chu Feng said.
"It's not just 'appears' — it is the method," Tao Wu confirmed.
"Will there be a Divine Spirit behind that door?" Chu Feng asked.
He asked this because he had not only noticed that the rune contained the method to break the door, but the rune also gave a clear hint — behind the door lay the ultimate treasure within this Demon Coffin.
Presumably, the Demon Spirit King and the other two had figured this out as well, which was why they were fighting so fiercely here.
"I can't be certain, but since it's the ultimate treasure, it's most likely a Divine Spirit."
"Brother Chu Feng, do you think you can beat these three old fellows?" Tao Wu asked.
Although Tao Wu looked down on the three of them, even with the barrier power boosting his cultivation to Eighth Grade Half God, he was clearly no match for those three.
Forget about the Demon Spirit King and Dragon Eight Daoist — even Dragon Nine Daoist he couldn't beat. After all, the barrier power carried too many restrictions, and he couldn't hope to contend with people who had their full range of techniques at their disposal.
"Not a chance. Not even close."
"I could catch them off guard and dash through, but a head-on confrontation is out of the question," Chu Feng said.
"I figured as much. The barrier power enhancement comes with too many restrictions."
"But both of us with the barrier power can't set up formations either."
"Old Cat, you don't have much barrier power on you — why don't you dispel it and set up a concealment formation instead? The three of us can sneak past quietly," Tao Wu said, looking at Old Cat.
"Brother Tao Wu, you think too highly of me."
"My concealment methods couldn't possibly fool those three." Old Cat shook his head repeatedly, then asked, "Is there any other way?"
"There is one more option — while the three of them are locked in fierce combat, we charge straight through and break the door open quickly, then step inside," Tao Wu said.
"Isn't... isn't that suicide?" Old Cat exclaimed, startled.
"Old Cat, look carefully — the rune patterns already give a hint. Once the door is broken, as long as someone steps inside, the door will close, and it can't be reopened for quite some time. A very long time."
"In other words, as long as we manage to break the door and get inside, they won't be able to get in no matter what," Chu Feng said.
"But even if they can't get in — what if there's no way out from inside? They'd only need to wait here, and the moment we come out, we'd be dead anyway."
"Besides, charging right past all three of them in broad daylight? The chances of that working are astronomically low," Old Cat said.
"Then what do you suggest?" Tao Wu asked.
"Brother Tao Wu, your abilities are heaven-reaching — don't you have some method to conceal us?" Old Cat looked at Tao Wu hopefully.
"I do have concealment techniques, but I'm not certain they'd fool those three. Besides, I suspect this barrier power enhancement may come with other benefits — if we rashly dispel it, we'd be at a tremendous loss," Tao Wu said.
"Ugh..."
"Brother Tao Wu, Brother Chu Feng."
"I still want to keep roaming the Totem Galaxy. The Demon Spirit King is one thing, but the Nine Daoists of the Totem — I really don't dare offend them."
"Besides, there's only one Divine Spirit. With the two of you here, I doubt it would ever be my turn anyway, so I'm going to bow out of this."
At this point, Old Cat looked at Chu Feng.
"If that's the case, then we won't force you," Tao Wu said.
"Old Cat, do more good deeds in the future and stop scamming people." After saying this, Chu Feng secretly transmitted his voice to tell Old Cat the exact location where his disciple — that so-called Young Master Wolf — was being held captive.
"Brother Chu Feng, thank you."
"Brother Tao Wu, until we meet again."