After Xue Ji departed, Chu Feng—his thoughts consumed with worry over Wang Qiang and Zhao Hong's safety—did not delay. Instead, he headed straight for the Drought Demon's Dead Pool.
At last, Chu Feng arrived once more at the place where Wang Qiang, Zhao Hong, and Kong Sheng had been trapped that day.
Even though his cultivation had improved somewhat since then, Chu Feng still did not dare let his guard down upon reaching this place.
After all, even Zhao Hong had been no match for that mud monster—so naturally, Chu Feng wasn't either.
Unless he resorted to the Evil God Sword, but that was the one thing he wished to use least of all.
"I've returned. The Hundred-Refined Emerald Stone is right here." Chu Feng raised the Hundred-Refined Emerald Stone high and called out.
Swoosh—
The moment Chu Feng's words fell, the pool began churning violently, forming a rapidly spinning vortex.
Soon enough, the same mud monster from before emerged from the center of the whirlpool.
"I've brought what you want. Release my friends now," Chu Feng said.
"How do I know whether the Hundred-Refined Emerald Stone you hold is real or fake? Throw it over first so I can examine it," the mud monster replied.
"Let me see my friends first—at the very least," Chu Feng said.
"Very well, as you wish." As soon as the mud monster's words fell, another figure surfaced from the pool.
It was Kong Sheng. Though he was still trapped, his complexion had improved considerably compared to that day.
It was clear that during the time Chu Feng and Kong Zheng had been gone, the mud monster had honored its promise and not made things difficult for Kong Sheng.
Chu Feng continued to watch, waiting for Wang Qiang and Zhao Hong to appear, but after a short while, neither of them surfaced.
"Where are my friends?" Chu Feng asked.
"Isn't this your friend?" the mud monster said.
"You're toying with me?" Chu Feng's face darkened with anger.
When he had left, the mud monster had arranged for Chu Feng and Kong Zheng to compete for the Hundred-Refined Emerald Stone—whoever brought it back first would have their friend freed.
That meant the mud monster had known from the very beginning that Chu Feng and Kong Sheng were not friends but enemies.
Yet now it was saying something like this—clearly on purpose, deliberately trying to mock Chu Feng.
"Oh, I know who you're talking about now. The stutterer, and that rather delicate-looking young woman?"
"After you left, I asked them why they had come here. Once I learned they had other purposes, I let them go."
"As for what exactly they went to do, I have no idea," the mud monster said.
"..." Chu Feng's heart stirred. If Wang Qiang and Zhao Hong really had left, then he knew exactly what they had gone to do—help Wang Qiang search for the treasure left behind by Master Kai Hong.
However, Chu Feng did not believe for a second that the mud monster would have simply let Wang Qiang and Zhao Hong leave peacefully.
"I don't know what you want this Hundred-Refined Emerald Stone for, but... since you've shown such poor faith, I see no reason to hand it over." Chu Feng put the Hundred-Refined Emerald Stone away.
"Are you making me take it by force?" The mud monster's hollow eyes glowed with malice.
Slash—
Unwilling to back down, Chu Feng drew the Evil God Sword immediately and fixed his gaze on the mud monster. "Tell me where my friends are. Otherwise, even if you don't make a move, I will not let you off."
"Chu Feng, it isn't lying to you. Your friends really were released by it. They went deeper into the Drought Demon's Dead Pool," Kong Sheng shouted.
Slash—
However, Chu Feng ignored Kong Sheng entirely. He pointed the Evil God Sword at the mud monster and asked in an ice-cold voice: "Where are my friends?"
"Chu Feng, don't be rash." Her Majesty could sense that something was wrong and hurriedly spoke up to counsel him.