"What?" Upon hearing those words, both Chu Feng and the blind elder's expressions changed. Then the blind elder moved, and Chu Feng felt the world around him blur. When his vision returned to normal, the two of them had not only left the bedchamber — they were now standing in a vast plaza.
Upon that plaza stood a grand formation. Within it, a pillar of golden light shot straight toward the heavens, as if it meant to pierce through the clouds and tear open the firmament itself.
And within that golden light was a ladder that appeared to be crafted from crystal — the Heavenly Staircase, identical to the one Chu Feng had seen before.
However, there was a difference. From beneath the Heavenly Staircase, wave after wave of energy surged outward, pushing toward the staircase in endless succession.
This was something Chu Feng had never witnessed during his time on the Path to Immortality within the Ethereal Immortal Peak.
"Who dares activate the Heavenly Staircase without permission?! Do you have a death wish?!" the blind elder bellowed, his stern gaze sweeping over the guards stationed around the area.
"Reporting to our master — we are unclear," a Third-level Half Ancestor elder stepped forward and replied.
"Unclear? I ordered you to guard this place strictly, and you tell me you're unclear? What use are you?!" The blind elder grew even more furious.
"Hahaha…" But just then, a burst of laughter suddenly echoed down from the Heavenly Staircase, followed by a voice: "It seems the servants of the Chu Heavenly Clan are nothing special after all."
"Xue Ji? It's you?!!!" Hearing that voice, Chu Feng's eyes narrowed sharply as he looked up toward its source.
"So it wasn't one of our people?" At the same time, the blind elder's rage flared even hotter.
He had assumed one of his clansmen had broken protocol and activated the Heavenly Staircase, but now he realized he had guessed wrong.
"How dare she use the Heavenly Staircase — she's courting death!" At that moment, many people drew their Emperor Armaments and darted toward the staircase.
"Stop!" The blind elder quickly roared upon seeing this. "The Heavenly Staircase has already been activated. If you climb it now, you'll be sent beyond the heavens — none of you will be able to return!"
"But…" Everyone halted, though unwillingly.
"Chu Feng, we'll meet again beyond the heavens." Just then, that voice came once more.
Hummm—
And as the voice faded, a blinding beam of light descended from the sky, enveloping the area below.
When the light dissipated, Chu Feng found that the Heavenly Staircase had returned to its original state.
"How infuriating."
The blind elder gritted his teeth in fury, then raised his palm and struck toward the depths of the sky.
BOOM—
The sky shook violently. Raging ripples of energy instantly sealed off the heavens, churning and rolling in a terrifying display.
The sheer power was nearly impossible to describe. Chu Feng didn't know what level of strength this represented, but he was certain that if he had been anywhere near it, he would have been killed without question.
Yet Chu Feng also knew that even such an attack would not have harmed Xue Ji. She was already gone — she had most likely already entered beyond the heavens.
"How did you let this happen? I told you to guard this place carefully, and yet someone activated the Heavenly Staircase without any of you noticing?!" the blind elder bellowed at the guards.
"My lord, we…" Every guard dropped to their knees, but they didn't know how to explain — because they truly had not seen anyone approach the Heavenly Staircase. By the time they sensed something was wrong, it had already been activated.
"It is our incompetence. Please punish us severely, my lord." Left with no other choice, the guards could only beg for punishment.
"Uncle Blind, don't make it hard on them. It's clear they were all doing their duty faithfully. It's just that Xue Ji's methods are too bizarre — it's only natural they couldn't detect her," Chu Feng spoke up to mediate.
Because even before Xue Ji had revealed herself, Chu Feng had not detected any trace of a presence. The blind elder hadn't either.
But in truth, Xue Ji had been on the Heavenly Staircase the entire time.
So if even they hadn't noticed, let alone these guards.
"Master, are you certain that was Xue Ji?" the blind elder asked.
"That voice is unmistakable — it was definitely Xue Ji," Chu Feng said.
"That girl's strength — she was able to evade my perception? How did she get in here?" The blind elder sank into deep thought.
"It may not be that her strength surpasses yours. It's more likely she possesses some special means — after all, she comes from the Asura Spirit World," Chu Feng said.
"Alas." The blind elder let out a long sigh, still feeling deeply unwilling to accept what had happened, his aged face filled with self-reproach.
"May I ask where the Dark Hall Hall Master is being held? Could someone take me to see him?" Chu Feng asked the group.