"I was just confirming that the method for the gate is hidden within, but I don't have the confidence to comprehend everything."
"Here's what we'll do — we'll split the work. You... comprehend this half, and I'll take this half."
As Chu Feng spoke, he used his finger to delineate the regions each of them needed to comprehend.
And because he held thirteen fruits, granting him a longer duration of enhanced comprehension, Chu Feng assigned himself a larger section.
"Fine." Fu Xing agreed without hesitation.
Without further delay, the two of them downed all the fruits in one go.
Their marks intensified accordingly.
But neither of them paid that any mind — this was their last chance, and they had to comprehend everything on the hall walls within the window of heightened comprehension.
Otherwise, they would have no choice but to leave, never uncovering the true secret of this Nine Heavens secret realm.
Time passed swiftly, but fortunately, Chu Feng managed to fully comprehend his assigned section.
When he opened his eyes, Fu Xing — whose shorter window of enhanced comprehension had already elapsed — was looking right at him.
Though Chu Feng knew Fu Xing to be a serious person, at this moment a barely perceptible curve graced her lips.
Seeing her like this, Chu Feng already knew the answer.
"Looks like it worked," Chu Feng said.
"And you?" Fu Xing asked.
Chu Feng wasted no words. With a sweep of his sleeve, a vast torrent of barrier power surged forth, tracing out an intricate formation diagram.
At the sight, Fu Xing released her own barrier power in the same manner, projecting a formation diagram of her own.
Their two diagrams were designed to merge — combining into a single, complete formation diagram.
And the content of this diagram was precisely what was needed to open the other gate.
Chu Feng and Fu Xing joined forces to set up the formation, and in short order, a complete formation array took shape.
The moment the formation was completed.
The entire hall trembled!!!
The formation within the hall had responded — vast currents of barrier power surged in from every direction, converging upon the formation the two had laid.
Before long, a towering gate stood at the very center of the hall.
And once it appeared, it began to slowly swing open.
Though they had not yet stepped inside, the view from outside was clear enough.
Beyond the gate lay another hall, and at its center stood an enormous flowerbed.
Aside from the different stone carvings on the walls, the hall was identical in both size and layout to the one Chu Feng and Fu Xing currently occupied.
Chu Feng and Fu Xing exchanged a glance, then stepped through together.
The moment they entered, the flowerbed erupted — soil churning, dust billowing into the air.
Simultaneously, a colossal tree surged upward from the earth.
It was enormous, reaching a height of ten thousand meters. And unlike other trees, this one was not withered or barren.
Its branches were thick with foliage, yet both trunk and leaves were pitch black — deeply unsettling.
Even more eerie, this jet-black colossus emitted a soft, luminous glow.
Set against the black wood, the light appeared remarkably bright.
It was as though it heralded that this tree was no ordinary thing.
But because every part of it was black, neither Chu Feng nor Fu Xing could tell whether there were black fruits hidden among its branches.
"Young ones, you've got some skill."
"But you... only have three chances."
At that moment, a childish voice rang out from behind the great tree.
It sounded like a child of roughly ten years old.
And along with the voice, a figure emerged from behind the black tree.
It was a humanoid being standing two meters tall.
The term "humanoid" was used because its face was not visible, yet its build was unmistakably human.
Its attire was equally striking — an imposing suit of black armor. But this armor was not forged from steel.
It appeared to be crafted from the bark of that very black tree.
Though its face could not be seen, its mouth and eyes were visible.
When it spoke, sharp fangs revealed themselves — these were no human teeth.
And its eyes were white, gleaming with a piercing light, much like those of a demon beast.