"Feng'er, it's almost time. You should leave." Suddenly, Chu Xuanyuan spoke to Chu Feng.
"Father." Hearing those words, Chu Feng's heart sank. Looking at his own father standing right before him, he truly couldn't bear to part.
Although he had already been here for some time, in Chu Feng's eyes, the time had passed far too quickly.
Moreover, once they separated, no one knew how many years it would be before they met again.
"Feng'er, this place is the Chu Heavenly Clan's forbidden area, and there are people from the Chu Heavenly Clan keeping watch. I've publicly announced that you are dead, so you cannot stay here for long."
"Furthermore, once you return to the Outer World, you cannot tell anyone that you are my son. At least… not until I tell you it's safe to do so." Chu Xuanyuan said.
"Father, rest assured. The Chu Heavenly Clan has already abandoned me. From that moment on, I was no longer a member of the Chu Heavenly Clan. So naturally, I won't have the audacity to claim that I belong to the Chu Heavenly Clan."
"But I will not change my name, Chu Feng. After all, you and mother gave it to me. In other places, it doesn't matter, but in the Outer World, I intend to make a name for myself with it."
"However, I will follow father's instructions and not reveal my origins." Chu Feng said.
"Mm." Chu Xuanyuan nodded.
"But father, what must I do to get you out of here?" Chu Feng asked.
"Feng'er, this place couldn't possibly hold me. I came here for the sake of cultivation."
"Only here can I comprehend certain things. And only after comprehending them will I be able to find what I'm looking for."
"Until I do, I will not leave this place." Chu Xuanyuan said.
Hearing this, Chu Feng was momentarily stunned, then broke into a wide smile. "Your son understands."
Chu Feng truly did understand. In other words, if the Chu Heavenly Clan couldn't even hold his father, then no one could harm him. His worries could naturally vanish into thin air.
"Old Ape, are you ready?" Suddenly, Chu Xuanyuan called toward the depths of the forbidden area.
"Ready." At that moment, the figure of the Old Ape slowly walked out.
"Feng'er, this is the Old Ape. You should call him Uncle Ape. Your Uncle Ape and I, your father, have fought side by side across many battlefields. Although he is much older than I am, to me, he is the closest of brothers." Chu Xuanyuan introduced him.
"Chu Feng greets Uncle Ape." Chu Feng hurriedly bowed to the Old Ape. After hearing his father's words, his respect for the Old Ape only deepened.
"Your father has prepared a gift for you, and as your uncle, naturally I've prepared one as well."
"Though I'm afraid you might not like this gift." The Old Ape said.
"What is it?" Chu Feng asked.
"Follow me." The Old Ape spoke as he led Chu Feng deeper into the forbidden area.
After walking only a short distance, Chu Feng once again saw the Blind Elder and Zi Ling. However, what drew his attention most at this moment was a peculiar stairway.
It was called peculiar because it was enormous, and each step appeared to be made of glass. Yet despite its grand appearance, it had only nine layers.
Chu Feng could feel a strange power emanating from within the stairway. It seemed to be some kind of testing tool.
"Feng'er, this stairway is called the Nine Layer Heavenly Thunder Platform. It is something that every junior of the Chu Heavenly Clan must ascend upon reaching the age of twenty."
"The Nine Layer Heavenly Thunder Platform primarily tests the willpower of those who possess the Heavenly Thunder Bloodline. For those with the Heavenly Thunder Bloodline, willpower is the key to cultivation."
"After all, the path of martial cultivation depends on perseverance. Especially for us bearers of the Heavenly Thunder Bloodline—once we cultivate the Self-Punishment Mystic Art, every breakthrough to a higher level of cultivation brings heavenly thunder punishment. Whether one can endure that punishment depends partly on one's constitution, but willpower is the most important factor."
"And the Nine Layer Heavenly Thunder Platform—with every layer you ascend, it will resonate with your Heavenly Thunder Bloodline and bring you pain."