"The true Ancient Star Sea?"
"Isn't the current Ancient Star Sea inaccessible?"
"Can we really get in from here?"
A member of the Totem Phoenix Clan expressed skepticism.
"Brother Chu Feng says it's possible, so it must be. What reason do you have to doubt him?"
Feng Tiansheng immediately reprimanded the person.
"I was foolish, I was foolish."
The person hurriedly apologized repeatedly.
As for Chu Feng, he couldn't have cared less what they thought. Instead, he turned his gaze to Long Chengyu and the others.
"Interested in going in together?" Chu Feng asked.
"I'd like to go in and take a look," Long Chengyu said.
"I'd also like to go in and take a look," Feng Tiansheng added right after.
Soon, more and more people expressed their willingness to go in and explore.
But for those present, it was only a small minority. The majority still had no desire to try.
Why? Because they had a clear understanding of what the Ancient Star Sea truly was. In the end, only one person could ever carve their name onto the stone stele of the Ancient Star Sea — and they clearly had no chance of being that one.
In truth, even Long Chengyu and his group had abandoned any notion of leaving their names on that stele.
Not for any other reason — but because Chu Feng was going in too.
After everything that had happened, Chu Feng had thoroughly shattered their confidence.
Or more precisely, they had no confidence when standing before Chu Feng.
So all they wanted was to venture inside and see for themselves what truly lay within the Ancient Star Sea.
After all, hearing about something a hundred times was never as good as seeing it once.
"Sister, this opportunity is rare."
"You know that if Father found out, he might not agree to let me go in."
"So..." Long Chengyu looked to Long Muxi.
"Go ahead. I'll speak to Father about what happened here," Long Muxi said.
"Sister, you're the best," Long Chengyu chuckled with a grin.
Then Feng Tiansheng turned to his own sister, Feng Jiuyue.
"Go," Feng Jiuyue said simply.
And so, the group split into two.
Long Muxi, Feng Jiuyue, and the majority of both clans chose to leave the area immediately.
After all, something so momentous had occurred here, and they needed to inform their fathers as soon as possible so the clans could prepare.
Meanwhile, Chu Feng, Long Chengyu, Feng Tiansheng, and a small handful of others chose to enter the Ancient Star Sea.
After stepping through that barrier gate, they found themselves in a bizarre world.
The surroundings were ethereal and surreal, resembling the Ancient Star Sea in some ways, yet clearly not the Ancient Star Sea itself. However, beneath their feet lay a path.
The path was long, stretching deep into this strange and unfamiliar world. They had no idea what lay at its end.
Moreover, they could only move about within the confines of this road.
Though the areas on either side of the path were vast beyond measure — stretching out to the horizon and beyond — they were unable to step off it.
But that was not the most troubling part. From both sides of the path, an unknown force surged like tidal waves, ceaselessly sweeping across the road they stood upon.
Although the path itself seemed to block that force from reaching them, they could still feel an overwhelming pressure bearing down on them.
"Why does this place seem so different from the Ancient Star Sea I've heard about?" Feng Tiansheng said with furrowed brows.
Although this was their first time entering the Ancient Star Sea, they had long heard tales of it.
They had learned from their elders what to expect upon entering.
Yet none of the scenes those predecessors had described included what they were currently witnessing.
"This isn't the true Ancient Star Sea yet. This appears to be... a barrier zone."
"And this path is... most likely a route that the compass's power forcibly carved open for us."
"My guess is that once we pass through this path, we'll be able to enter the true Ancient Star Sea," Chu Feng said.
"Young Master, Young Hero Chu Feng, I... I can't go on."
"The pressure here is too much. I can't endure it. May I turn back?"
At that moment, a member of the Totem Dragon Clan spoke up.
It wasn't just the Totem Dragon Clan — many members of the Totem Phoenix Clan also indicated that they were struggling to hold on.