Hearing Chu Feng's answer, the Chief Elder's expression stiffened slightly, seemingly caught off guard by Chu Feng's honesty.
But he quickly asked again, "Why do you wish to meet Lady Xianhai Yuer? Did you hear that she is exceptionally beautiful, and so your worldly heart was stirred?"
"That is one reason. There is a second as well," Chu Feng said.
"Feel free to elaborate," the Chief Elder replied.
"Although my barrier techniques are limited, ever since I was born, I have held my own unique understanding of barrier formations."
"This subordinate is humble, but I am confident that if I were given the opportunity to help Lady Xianhai Yuer improve her barrier armor, I could be of some assistance," Chu Feng said.
"That barrier armor is no ordinary formation," the Chief Elder said with a laugh.
His laughter was laden with deeper meaning, yet it also spoke to just how difficult the barrier armor was to modify.
Otherwise, even after witnessing how extraordinary Chu Feng was, he would not have reacted this way.
"If the Elder would grant this subordinate the chance, I will do everything in my power to serve the Star Sea world," Chu Feng said.
The Chief Elder did not answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Five-Two-One, did you feel some kind of power enter your body?"
"I did." Chu Feng nodded, then asked in turn, "Did the Elder feel it as well?"
"Mm." The Chief Elder nodded as well.
"But ordinarily, someone at your level should not be able to sense it. You truly are different."
"Very well. I will give you this opportunity."
"Originally, I was going to assign you to armor maintenance."
"I will make an exception and grant you the role of modifier instead."
As he spoke, the Chief Elder handed a token to Chu Feng and added, "But Five-Two-One, that barrier armor is the key to Lady Xianhai Yuer entering the Xingnian Territory."
"Even when making modifications, you must ensure it remains flawless. Should a disaster arise because of you, this old man will not be able to shield you from the consequences."
"And the result could very well be your death."
"Rest assured, Elder. This subordinate will proceed with the utmost caution." Chu Feng accepted the token, his heart already surging with excitement.
Why had he come here?
To help Little Fishy. And now he had been given this very chance.
Yet even with the token in hand, Chu Feng was still not satisfied. He could not help but ask again, "Elder, is there any chance I could meet Lady Xianhai Yuer?"
"That would be very difficult. Lady Xianhai Yuer does not like being around men. She only requested one attendant, and that attendant is a woman."
"But — you have heard about the contest between Lady Xianhai Yuer and Lord Jietian, correct?" the Chief Elder asked.
"I heard that Lady Xianhai Yuer competed against Lord Jietian, and that she lost — and was injured?" Chu Feng asked.
"There was indeed a contest, but it was not a direct clash, and neither was she injured."
"It was merely a wager the two of them agreed upon."
The Chief Elder then recounted the true sequence of events.
The reason the Star Sea world was treating Little Fishy and Jietian with such hospitality was that the Xingnian Territory was of paramount importance to the Star Sea world.
Yet the Formation Clan could not set foot inside it.
However, those Formation Clan members who had defected to the evil forces — for some unknown reason — were able to enter.
Those who passed the trial, though, could enter as long as they wore the specially crafted barrier armor.
That was the current mission assigned to Little Fishy and Jietian.
They needed to don the barrier armor forged specifically for them by the Star Sea world, enter the Xingnian Territory, and eliminate the traitors while also uncovering the secrets of the Xingnian Territory.
The hope was that the power of the Xingnian Territory could be leveraged to eradicate the evil forces and the traitors once and for all, restoring peace to the Star Sea world.
Recently, Little Fishy and Jietian had been able to venture deep into the Xingnian Territory.
And deep within, they had discovered new members of the Formation Clan.
No — not members of the Formation Clan. They were monsters born from powerful formation energy.
Those monsters would block their advance, and with no other choice, the two of them needed to join forces to clear them out.
During the process, Jietian proposed a contest with Little Fishy — to see who could slay more monsters.
Little Fishy happily accepted.