The three of them pressed forward toward the Primordial Star Sea. Because Chu Feng had found a safe route to follow, there was initially no oppressive force at all.
But as they ventured deeper, even within the safe route, the oppressive sensation began to make itself felt, gradually intensifying.
"Mmm..." Long Muxi's expression grew increasingly strained.
"Miss Muxi, are you alright?" Chu Feng hurriedly asked.
"I don't think I can keep going," Long Muxi said bluntly.
"Chu Feng, you keep going. I'll stay behind with my sister."
Long Chengyu said. Although his own face showed signs of strain, he still appeared capable of continuing further. But for his sister's safety, he chose to stay.
"I'll take you back first," Chu Feng said, because the safe route was constantly shifting. If Long Chengyu and his sister tried to retrace their steps along the path they had come, it would be tantamount to suicide.
And Long Muxi was already feeling unwell — leaving her behind was clearly not an option either.
"Chu Feng, it's fine. We can just wait here," Long Muxi said. Reaching this point had already taken a considerable amount of time, and she didn't want Chu Feng to waste it on her account.
Chu Feng looked at Long Muxi and smiled, then turned to Long Chengyu. "Brother Chengyu, take your sister back."
As he spoke, he was already heading back.
Seeing this, Long Chengyu smiled as well and immediately helped Long Muxi to her feet.
Long Muxi didn't resist. The only reason she had refused to go back earlier was that she didn't want to trouble Chu Feng. Since he insisted on escorting her back first, she had no choice but to agree.
Soon, Chu Feng led them both out of the Primordial Star Sea's range.
Once they left the Primordial Star Sea, Long Muxi and Long Chengyu's complexions began to improve.
"Want to give it another try?" Chu Feng asked Long Chengyu. He wasn't sure when they would reach the end, but he felt Long Chengyu could still push forward a bit more.
"Forget it. I don't think I've got it in me."
"I'd love to know what's at the end of that path, but I guess you'll have to see it for me."
"But Chu Feng, don't push yourself too hard either," Long Chengyu said.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." With that, Chu Feng set off alone once again along the same path.
"Sis, I don't want to hang out with Chu Feng anymore," Long Chengyu suddenly said.
Long Muxi said nothing but looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"Chu Feng's too much of a freak. After spending so much time with him, I'm starting to lose confidence," Long Chengyu said with a laugh.
The words were clearly a joke, yet they also spoke to his frustration — his frustration over the gap between himself and Chu Feng.
Hearing this, Long Muxi actually smiled at Long Chengyu — a rare sight — and said, "You'll get used to it."
…
Chu Feng stepped into the Primordial Star Sea once more, following the route he had discovered, and ultimately reached the destination.
This destination was the location of that stone stele.
Although there was still some distance to cover, the stele was clearly visible to the naked eye.
"No more path?" Her Majesty asked.
"There isn't," Chu Feng said.
Her Majesty asked no further, because at this point there was nothing she could do to help — Chu Feng was on his own.
Chu Feng examined the stele, only to find that there was nothing on it.
He took a step forward, leaving the safe route behind.
The moment he stepped out, a tremendous wave of oppressive force bore down on him.
The pressure was more than ten times stronger than what he had endured within the safe route.
Even Chu Feng's entire body tensed up in pain — such pressure was beyond what even he could withstand for long.
But what truly forced Chu Feng to retreat was not just the soul-deep pressure — there was also a repelling force. If he stayed under that power for too long, he would be forcibly expelled from this place.
He had wanted to approach the stele and examine it up close, but that was clearly not going to be possible.
"Strange. There's nothing on the stele at all — so why did the path end here?" Chu Feng muttered, puzzled.
"Chu Feng, could the clue be somewhere other than the stele?" Her Majesty said.
"That's a good point — that's entirely possible." Chu Feng found Her Majesty's words to be quite reasonable, so he shifted his gaze from the stele and began scanning his surroundings.
At last, Chu Feng noticed a particular spot.