Just as Fu Xing was puzzling over the situation, that existence looked at Chu Feng and suddenly broke into a meaningful smile.
"Young man, you really are interesting."
Chu Feng didn't answer, but Fu Xing grew curious. "Senior, what do you mean?"
"I can sense his Mental Power. After eating the fruit, he's been observing the murals in this hall the entire time."
"He's been slow to get up because he's trying to stall — trying to buy more time to study the murals."
"But the fruit's effects have already worn off. With his own comprehension alone, he can't decipher these murals."
"Even if you gave him ten times as long, it would make no difference," the existence explained.
"There are hidden secrets in these murals too?" Only now did Fu Xing realize what was going on.
In truth, after her comprehension had been enhanced, she had also tried observing the murals. But she couldn't discern any secrets in them, so she had concluded they held nothing of importance.
Instead, she had focused on comprehending her Mental Power, seeing if she could achieve a breakthrough.
Although she hadn't broken through, she had made excellent use of her temporarily boosted comprehension, reaping rich rewards that laid a solid foundation for her future advancement.
But only now, hearing those words, did she realize she had been wrong.
The real secret had been hidden in the murals all along.
"He's smarter than you — though not by much." The existence glanced at Fu Xing, then turned its gaze back to Chu Feng.
Watching Chu Feng, who still refused to rise, still keeping his eyes shut, the existence shook its head, a look of disappointment crossing its eyes.
"Young man, enough with the act. I know you've already figured some things out. But time is up, and you need to face reality."
"You chose to eat that fruit, so you must bear the consequences it brings."
"The dangers of the black fruits were suppressed long ago by that girl from the Seven Realms Sacred Palace."
"That's why you were able to obtain so many fruits unscathed."
"But now… you've challenged the black fruit — the one even that girl failed to challenge."
"That girl's seal can't hold any longer."
"Now, you'll have to bear the burden yourselves."
"Even if you can't handle it, you must — this is the path you chose for yourselves."
With those words, a force of teleportation surged forth, forcibly pushing Chu Feng and Fu Xing out of the hall.
And at that moment, the hall's doors began to close.
Most alarmingly, the entire ground started to shake violently — so powerfully that it seemed not only the hall itself was affected, but the outside world as well.
"Senior, what on earth is happening?"
Sensing that something terrible was about to unfold, Fu Xing hurriedly called out to the existence before the doors fully shut.
But the existence said nothing. It simply stared at Chu Feng and shook its head in disappointment.
Hummm— But then, suddenly, Chu Feng formed a seal with his left hand while his right hand clenched tight, and radiant light blazed forth in every direction.
"This young man, he actually…"
Seeing the object in Chu Feng's hand, the look of disappointment in the existence's eyes was instantly replaced by astonishment.
"This sword — what a powerful sealing formation?!"
At that same moment, Fu Xing also realized that the light emanating from Chu Feng's hand was a sword — a sword forged from an incredibly powerful formation.
A sealing formation — extraordinarily complex, yet utterly formidable.
"Senior, I was indeed stalling — but not to comprehend the murals. I was using the time to set up a formation."
"Now that the formation is complete, I have you to thank."
Chu Feng rose to his feet. Before the doors had fully closed, he slipped through the narrowing gap and bowed respectfully toward the existence within the hall.
Then, with a swift turn, he brandished the sealing sword forged from the sealing formation and dashed outside at full speed.
In truth, Chu Feng had seen through what was coming long before he set foot in the hall.
Consuming the fruit would indeed enhance one's Mental Power — but it would also summon terrifying Fierce Beasts.