"I have one last question — was Chu Feng invited by you?" Yuan Jiang asked.
"No. Originally, I intended for Zhou Dong to pass the trial. Chu Feng was an unexpected blessing."
"Of course, looking at it now, Zhou Dong is nowhere near qualified. Only Chu Feng has this chance."
As she spoke, Little Crescent looked toward Chu Feng, undisguised expectation shining in her eyes.
Yuan Jiang followed her gaze to Chu Feng and noticed that the imprint on his forehead was gradually merging with him.
"What exactly is that? Is it truly the Ancestral Statue possessing him?" Yuan Jiang asked.
"No. That is merely a wisp of the Ancestral Statue's power," Little Crescent said.
"Why must you toy with me like this? What is your purpose?" Yuan Jiang asked furiously.
"Shouldn't someone with a traitor's heart be toyed with?"
"As for my purpose? It is to gain the Ancestral Statue's recognition and leave the Ancient World," Little Crescent said.
Yuan Jiang's expression grew complex. Then, with a thud, he dropped to his knees in midair.
"Ancestor, I was foolish. Please, give me a chance to redeem myself."
Little Crescent paid no more attention to Yuan Jiang. Instead, she looked to the leader of the Ancient World.
"Watch carefully. This is how traitors are dealt with."
With that, Little Crescent raised her small hand and clenched it tight.
With a bang, Yuan Jiang's body exploded, killing him instantly.
The person who had raised her for five years had just died, and she didn't even spare him a glance.
Instead, she produced another bead — this one gleaming with golden light, equally a priceless treasure. She crushed the bead and merged its power into Chu Feng's body.
As the bead's power fused into him, the originally weakened Chu Feng began to show signs of recovery.
"Take Bai Yunqing away and tend to his injuries properly," Little Crescent said.
"Understood." Despite their own severe injuries, the leaders of the Ancient World dared not disobey her command. Dragging their battered bodies, they helped Bai Yunqing away for treatment.
Little Crescent watched as Chu Feng gradually recovered, then turned her gaze to the mass of black flames that Her Majesty had become.
"You're still the troublesome one. But don't you dare die on me," Little Crescent said to the flames.
…
Chu Feng had fallen into a dream — a truly terrifying one.
Suddenly, he jolted awake from the nightmare.
He found himself lying inside a grand hall — the very chamber the people of the Ancient World had arranged for him to rest in.
His injuries had completely healed, with virtually no lasting effects. The backlash had been severe, but it hadn't claimed his life.
Little Crescent sat nearby in a chair, legs crossed, nibbling on snacks.
Though she still had the appearance of a child, all of her childish innocence was gone — replaced entirely by a worldly composure.
"You're awake?" Little Crescent looked at Chu Feng.
"Little Crescent?" Chu Feng asked softly.
He had noticed the change in her and sensed that something was off.
"I am not the Little Crescent you knew. I am one of the ancestors of the Ancient World. My name is Gu Yueyue."
"But if you prefer, you may continue calling me Little Crescent," she said.
Chu Feng furrowed his brow. He realized something had changed in the Ancient World.
But he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he quickly projected his consciousness into the World Spirit Space.
The moment he looked, Chu Feng froze. A deep sense of dread washed over him.
Her Majesty was nowhere to be found within the World Spirit Space.
"Where is my Queen?" Chu Feng looked toward Little Crescent.
He shot to his feet. His tone had changed entirely, and two forces began to manifest in his eyes — black flames and lightning.
A terrible possibility had crossed his mind: that Her Majesty was dead.
And once that possibility took root, he felt his entire soul fill with rage until he thought he might explode.
"Hey, calm down." Little Crescent's brows furrowed slightly. She too sensed that something was wrong.
Crackling —
But the next instant, thunderous lightning erupted from within Chu Feng's body regardless.
"Damn it."
Seeing this, Little Crescent appeared before Chu Feng in an instant, pressing her small hand against his forehead.
She was desperately trying to suppress the lightning force that was about to be unleashed.
She knew this was a bloodline rampage.
The moment Chu Feng had realized Her Majesty might be dead, his towering fury and killing intent had reached unprecedented heights.
He had lost control.
Only two thoughts remained in his mind: revenge. Slaughter.
"Seriously."
"What is with the two of you?"
"Risking your lives one after another?"
"Are you putting on some grand display of love for me?"
Little Crescent was exasperated. The bloodline rampage surging through Chu Feng was so violent that even she was having difficulty suppressing it.
Chu Feng had completely lost his reason.
"Chu Feng, listen to me — your Queen is not dead yet."
"Calm yourself. You can't save her like this."
"If you want to save her, then calm down right now!"
Little Crescent shouted.