Chu Feng didn't think too much about it either. He hurriedly opened the scroll and examined it carefully.
Though the old woman had indeed given him a peculiar feeling, the scroll was still his primary objective.
After opening the scroll, Chu Feng discovered that it depicted a barrier gate, with a terrifying pattern right in the center.
Beneath the barrier gate was an inscription: "Only the brave are worthy of entering the Land of the Strong."
"What does this mean? Another gate—enter a gate, get a scroll, then enter another gate, get another scroll. Are we stuck in some kind of infinite nesting dolls here?" the Queen said indignantly, unable to hide her disdain.
"It is a bit much. It's just a shame that we don't even know where this gate is."
"Let's go ask Ling Sheng'er and the others. Maybe they'll know."
Compared to the Queen's frustration, Chu Feng remained in good spirits.
He could feel that whatever he was after was growing closer, even though… Chu Feng himself didn't know exactly what he would end up gaining.
But he had a hunch that his efforts would be rewarded. He was certain he wouldn't leave empty-handed.
"But where's Bai Yunqing?"
Before long, however, Chu Feng realized that Bai Yunqing was nowhere to be seen.
He didn't dwell on it too much, though. He had just entered the world inside the scroll, so it was entirely possible that Bai Yunqing thought Chu Feng had left and gone out to search for him.
So Chu Feng stepped out of the palace to see if he could find Bai Yunqing. If not, he'd go find Ling Sheng'er instead.
He wanted to ask Ling Sheng'er about the barrier gate with the terrifying pattern.
Hummm—
But the moment Chu Feng stepped through the palace doors, the space in front of him twisted, and an elderly man appeared right before his eyes.
"A concealment barrier?"
Chu Feng recognized at once that the barrier power enveloping the old man was a concealment barrier, which meant the man had likely been here for quite some time.
But on the territory of the Seven Realms Sacred Temple, why would he need to hide his presence?
"Chu Feng, where did you go?"
After revealing himself, the old man looked at Chu Feng with a startled expression.
"Where did I go? I've been inside the palace the whole time. Who are you?" Chu Feng asked.
"When did you get back?" the old man asked.
"I told you, I never left," Chu Feng said.
"Impossible." The old man looked thoroughly unconvinced.
Hearing this, Chu Feng realized that since the old man could so confidently assert that Chu Feng hadn't been in the palace earlier, there was only one explanation—he had been inside himself.
And Bai Yunqing's disappearance might not be so simple after all.
So Chu Feng narrowed his eyes slightly: "Where is Bai Yunqing?"
When he asked about Bai Yunqing, the old man actually laughed:
"Bai Yunqing committed a grave offense. He tried to steal a Life Crystal for you and was caught."
"Anyone who dares steal from the Seven Realms Sacred Temple has committed a capital crime. He's as good as dead."
"Steal a Life Crystal? Whose Life Crystal did he steal?" Chu Feng asked.
"He stole Lord Shuangyu's Life Crystal," the old man replied.
"That's impossible. You're framing him," Chu Feng declared immediately, convinced that the old man was falsely accusing Bai Yunqing.
Though he did indeed need Life Crystals, Chu Feng believed that even at his most foolish, Bai Yunqing wouldn't be stupid enough to steal from the Seven Realms Sacred Temple.
"Why would I frame him?"
But just then, another voice rang out. Turning toward the sound, Chu Feng saw a dark-haired middle-aged woman appear on the distant horizon—it was none other than Lord Shuangyu.
"My Lord, did Bai Yunqing really steal your Life Crystal?" Chu Feng asked.
"He did. I caught him red-handed," Lord Shuangyu said.
Chu Feng didn't argue, but he still didn't believe it. He felt something was off about the whole thing.
"Where is he now?" he asked.
"Before he dies, I can take you to see him one last time."
"Follow me." With that, Lord Shuangyu led the way, and Chu Feng followed close behind.
Before long, they arrived at a dungeon, and sure enough, Bai Yunqing was there.
The massive dungeon held only Bai Yunqing as a prisoner, but two guards of the Seven Realms Sacred Temple stood watch inside.
"Big Brother Chu Feng!!!" The moment Bai Yunqing saw Chu Feng, he looked like a drowning man who had spotted a lifeline.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Chu Feng asked.
"I'm fine, but Big Brother Chu Feng, I didn't steal any Life Crystal. She's framing me!" Bai Yunqing pointed at Lord Shuangyu behind Chu Feng.
"She tricked me. She said she had decided to give the Life Crystal to you and told me where to find it, even giving me the barrier key to enter that place."