"Xiao Rou, Xiao Mei, you want to come with us?" Chu Feng asked.
"No. They want to follow us — I'll keep them safe," Lord Luokong said.
Upon hearing this, Chu Feng furrowed his brow. Lord Luokong and his forces were heading off to wage a brutal battle against the Dark Hall. Following them — was that really safe?
Was it truly safe?
However, if Su Rou and Su Mei stayed with Chu Feng and the Weapon Refining Immortal, he couldn't guarantee their safety either.
By comparison, Su Rou and Su Mei would indeed be safer accompanying Lord Luokong and the elite forces of the Ancient Elves.
Still… Chu Feng couldn't put his mind at ease.
"Junior Chu Feng, rest assured. I will do everything in my power to protect these two young ladies," Lord Luokong said, seemingly aware of Chu Feng's concerns.
"Actually, I know a shortcut that leads to the Peaches of Immortality tree," Chu Feng said suddenly.
"A shortcut?" Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.
"Yes. So, if that killing formation is easy enough to control, there's no need for the Weapon Refining Immortal to accompany me. I can take the shortcut by myself, reach the Peaches of Immortality tree, and set up a formation in advance to block the killing formation," Chu Feng said.
"Really?" Lord Luokong asked. After all, the Weapon Refining Immortal was a seventh-grade Martial Emperor. If he accompanied them, even in a direct clash with the Dark Hall, it would undoubtedly be a tremendous boost to their strength.
In the end, Lord Luokong also hoped the Weapon Refining Immortal would join them.
The best strategy was to confront the Dark Hall in a life-or-death battle right at the formation's core. As for traveling to the Peaches of Immortality tree and setting up a formation to block the killing formation — that was merely a precaution.
"I do know a shortcut. If we take that path, we'll be much faster than anyone else," Chu Feng nodded.
Chu Feng was telling the truth. The scroll the Compass Immortal had given him also led to the Peaches of Immortality tree — except it was a shortcut.
What delighted Chu Feng even more was that taking this shortcut would pass right by the location where the Beast Emperor's treasure was hidden. Two birds with one stone.
In other words, no matter what, Chu Feng was going to take that shortcut. After all, his original purpose in coming to the Labyrinth of the Moon was to obtain the Beast Emperor's treasure.
And speaking of which, Chu Feng's shortcut was indeed far faster than the route on the Dark Hall's map, so he wasn't worried about running out of time.
He was confident he had more than enough time to claim the Beast Emperor's treasure.
And more than enough time to reach the Peaches of Immortality tree and set up a formation to block the killing formation.
As long as the killing formation could be blocked, then with Chu Feng's mastery of barrier arts, he could absolutely pull it off.
If the killing formation was truly unstoppable once activated, then even having the Weapon Refining Immortal along would be useless.
But most importantly, Chu Feng was worried about Su Rou and Su Mei and wanted the Weapon Refining Immortal to protect them.
"But Junior Chu Feng, where did you learn about this? Can you be sure the shortcut actually exists?" the Weapon Refining Immortal asked. This matter was of grave importance, and he was somewhat uneasy.
"Senior, take a look at this map and judge for yourself whether it's real or fake." Chu Feng brought out the Compass Immortal's scroll directly.
"Actually, we also know of a shortcut, but it requires a key to open. Could it be the same one you're referring to, Junior Chu Feng?" Lord Luokong said.
"Lord Luokong, why not take a look?" Chu Feng handed the map to Lord Luokong.
"It really is." Upon seeing the map, Lord Luokong immediately relaxed and broke into a smile. "This was left behind by Qing Xuantian. The map itself is the key — it's genuine, it's definitely genuine."
"With this map, Junior Chu Feng can take the shortcut and reach the Peaches of Immortality tree quickly. If he sets up the blocking formation in advance, the effect will clearly be much better." At this point, Lord Luokong was also elated, because this meant the Weapon Refining Immortal could now join them.
"But… what if the Dark Hall, just to be safe, has also sent someone to the Peaches of Immortality tree?" Su Mei worriedly said. More than the situation at hand, she was concerned about Chu Feng's personal safety.
"They shouldn't have sent anyone," Lord Luokong said. "Once the killing formation is successfully activated, everyone will die. They wouldn't send someone to their death — and no one would willingly go."
"I think Xiao Mei has a fair point. As the saying goes — better safe than sorry," Su Rou added. Naturally, she was also worried about Chu Feng's safety.
"Relax. A seventh-grade Martial Emperor can't hurt me. I possess a supreme treasure that can slay seventh-grade Martial Emperors," Chu Feng said.
Hearing this, Su Rou and Su Mei fell silent. Chu Feng's implication was crystal clear — if a seventh-grade Martial Emperor couldn't harm him, then the ones who could were eighth-grade Martial Emperors.