"Come, sit down. Let me tell you about my affairs." After Chu Feng took a seat, he gestured to the chair beside him.
"C-C-Come?" Wang Qiang eagerly plopped himself down. With one hand he lifted a large platter of pastries, and with the other he kept stuffing food into his mouth. Meanwhile, his eyes were locked on Chu Feng as he happily waited to hear what Chu Feng had to share.
Chu Feng then told Wang Qiang everything about this place — including the Chu Heavenly Clan, the death of the Dark Hall's Hall Master, and Xue Ji's escape beyond the heavens. He held nothing back.
The reason he kept no secrets was that Chu Feng considered Wang Qiang a friend, and telling him the truth was an act of trust. Moreover, Wang Qiang had already been honest with him first, so Chu Feng felt all the more obliged to return that sincerity.
Besides, Wang Qiang was remarkably talented — he was no ordinary person. Chu Feng wanted to invite him to journey beyond the heavens together. That way, they could watch each other's backs.
"Go t-together… beyond the heavens? Are there lots of beautiful women… women out there?" Wang Qiang asked excitedly upon hearing the invitation.
"I don't know whether there are many beauties, but there are certainly countless powerhouses. If you want to walk the path of martial cultivation and grow ever stronger, then beyond the heavens… is a place you must go," Chu Feng said.
"Actually, I've long s-s-since gotten sick of this lousy place. Since that useless Dark Hall Hall Master is dead, let's just go already. What are we w-w-waiting for? Let's leave right now," Wang Qiang said joyfully. It was clear that he, too, was filled with anticipation for the unknown world beyond the heavens.
"Not yet. There are still some matters to settle," Chu Feng said.
"What matters?" Wang Qiang asked.
"Bringing my family back to life," Chu Feng said.
"Family? Isn't your family beyond the heavens? Man, you've g-g-got me totally confused," Wang Qiang said, his face a picture of bewilderment.
"I have far too many stories to tell. If you want to hear them, I'll tell you as we go — but we'll talk on the road," Chu Feng said with a smile.
After that, Chu Feng sought out the blind elder and told him he wished to leave. After all, he was impatient to go save his family.
"Master, leaving now is… perfectly fine."
"If I calculate the timing, the Heavenly Path in the Eastern Ocean Region should be opening soon. That works out nicely — I can accompany Master and pay respects to Lord Xuanyuan together."
"But Master, you mustn't take that dangerous spatial rift again. If we're going… we take the safe route," the blind elder said.
"There's another spatial rift leading to the Eastern Ocean Region?" Chu Feng said, quite astonished.
"There is." The blind elder nodded.
With that, Chu Feng and Wang Qiang departed from God's Domain.
Though the Dark Hall's Hall Master had already been killed, and with the cultivation levels of both Wang Qiang and Chu Feng, there was virtually no one in the Martial Holy Land who could threaten them now — the blind elder personally escorted them out regardless, so as to speed up their journey. After all, he also wanted to visit Chu Feng's father and see with his own eyes how Zi Ling was doing.
However, given his identity, the blind elder would not truly reveal himself. As always, he would remain hidden.
Chu Feng first arrived at the Gate of Transformation. He had to inform everyone that the Dark Hall's Hall Master had been killed.
Of course, Chu Feng couldn't tell the whole truth. There were too many people present, and he couldn't let everyone learn about God's Domain and the Chu Heavenly Clan.
When people saw Chu Feng return, they were already overjoyed beyond measure.
And after Chu Feng made up a story on the spot, they became even more excited.
The story itself wasn't what mattered — what mattered was the result: the Dark Hall's Hall Master was dead. That was what everyone had hoped for.
With confirmation that the Dark Hall was finished, the Gate of Transformation was opened. Now that the threat of the Dark Hall was gone, both demon beasts and humans alike would return to their respective factions.
Everyone was going home.
Looking at the dense sea of figures — demon beasts and humans alike — all beaming with smiles and unable to contain their joy and excitement, Chu Feng's heart, too, was filled with delight.
He was delighted not because he felt he had saved them and was somehow wonderful — but because these people were alive, and he had played a part in that.