"There's nothing to fear. They're merely mechanisms," Long Lin said calmly.
"Mechanisms?" Everyone, including Chu Feng, was stunned once more. What kind of mechanisms could produce such powerful beings? These were Martial Emperor-level existences!
And judging by the looks of them, they had existed for countless ages — practically eternal and indestructible.
Whoosh—
Just then, Long Lin flicked his sleeve, and a streak of golden light shot toward Chu Feng.
Chu Feng raised his hand and caught it. When he opened his palm to look, he saw that it was a golden token.
Looking at the golden token in his hand, Chu Feng's pupils contracted involuntarily. The token appeared to be made of pure gold, yet it was as heavy as a mountain in his grasp, and it carried a force that shook the soul. This was no ordinary token.
"Hold this token, and they won't harm you. Do me a favor — enter the first hall of this palace and retrieve ten golden arrows for me. In exchange, I'll honor my promise, release Yao'er, and grant you the fruit." Long Lin pointed at the golden palace suspended in midair.
"That doesn't seem to fall within the scope of the original agreement," Bai Li Xuankong said.
Long Lin ignored Bai Li Xuankong entirely, as though he hadn't heard a word, and addressed Chu Feng directly: "You may choose not to do it."
Chu Feng glanced at the token in his hand, then at the thousand golden-armored soldiers outside the palace radiating killing intent, and finally at Yao'er standing behind Long Lin, gazing back at him. Then he said: "I'll go."
"Chu Feng, that palace is far too dangerous. I'm not talking about those golden-armored men — I'm talking about what's inside. There's an aura in there of unknown origin, a power so terrifying that even I dare not face it head-on."
Bai Li Xuankong seized Chu Feng's arm, unwilling to let him take the risk, because he had truly sensed an extremely horrifying power within that palace.
"That's right, Chu Feng — under no circumstances should you go in. Him asking you to enter that hall isn't asking for help at all — he clearly means to kill you," Dugu Xingfeng added.
At the same time, Yin Chengkong and Guan Hong nodded repeatedly, showing that they agreed with Dugu Xingfeng.
"Power?" At these words, Chu Feng looked toward the palace once more. He could sense that there was indeed a peculiar aura within, but he had not perceived anything resembling the terror they described.
"Do you know why I need Chu Feng to go in? It's because this palace isn't something just anyone can enter. No matter how high one's cultivation, if one's talent is mediocre, entering it means death."
"But if one's talent is exceptional, even with somewhat lower cultivation, one can enter with ease — at least through the first hall. So stop using your own perceptions to warn Chu Feng, because what you feel and what he feels are entirely different," Long Lin said with mockery.
"You—" Such cutting words naturally left Bai Li Xuankong and the others irritated. But after a moment of careful consideration, they had nothing to say and let the matter drop.
After all, looking at Chu Feng's expression, he truly did not seem to sense the danger they had felt inside the palace. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so composed.
"Ancestor, it seems we have no other choice. Besides, I believe this senior wouldn't harm me for no reason. Since we're already here, I might as well do him this favor," Chu Feng said.
"Go, then. Be careful, and don't push yourself beyond your limits," Bai Li Xuankong said.
"Your disciple understands." With those words, Chu Feng launched himself into the air and soared toward the palace.
"Halt!!!"
The moment Chu Feng drew near, the thousand golden-armored soldiers shouted in unison. Then they withdrew their spears and stood ramrod straight on either side of the great gates. The defensive formation dissolved as well.
Chu Feng entered the grand hall just like that. But once inside, his gaze grew heavy and his heart began to race.
The hall held an entirely different world within — far more vast than it had appeared from the outside.
Moreover, the interior was lined with golden-armored soldiers, standing in neat rows on both sides, with only a red carpet stretching down the center forming a path.
These golden-armored soldiers were slightly different from those outside. Some gripped long spears, some wielded broadswords, and others held single-bladed swords paired with shields.
There were even a hundred golden-armored soldiers standing nearly a hundred meters tall. They hoisted enormous hammers overhead, and astride their hips were massive stone statues resembling demon beasts — an imposing sight indeed.
A single glance revealed that the total number of golden-armored soldiers within this hall amounted to tens of thousands.
Although Chu Feng could not sense their auras, he was certain that every last one of them was at least a Martial Emperor-level existence.
Many were likely far beyond mere second-grade Martial Emperors as well, particularly those hundred riding demon beast statues. Even though they stood perfectly still, frozen like stone, their appearance alone made their ferocity unmistakable. These were no ordinary Martial Emperors.