Chu Huanyu picked up speed and quickly vanished into the depths of the dark cave.
Meanwhile, Chu Haoyan suddenly came to a stop.
His smile faded, replaced by a contemplative look tinged with a trace of caution.
Though he didn't much care for Chu Huanyu, in his memory the latter was not one to talk nonsense. And the fact that Chu Huanyu had warned him so earnestly had planted a seed of unease in Chu Haoyan's heart.
But that didn't last long. The cautious gleam in his eyes quickly dissipated, supplanted by arrogance and conceit.
"Hmph, a waste — what waves can he possibly make? Even if anyone needs dealing with, it'll be me, Chu Haoyan, who does it."
With that, Chu Haoyan likewise accelerated and, in the blink of an eye, disappeared into the depths of the Death Gate.
As for Chu Feng, he too had entered what was known as the Death Gate — only he was the very last one through.
Compared to the Life Gate, this Death Gate was indeed far more sinister. Traps and mechanisms lined every stretch of the path, and without sharp observational skills, it would be truly difficult to navigate.
Walking through it alone, the Death Gate gave Chu Feng an unmistakable feeling — danger lurking at every turn.
Yet even so, Chu Feng pressed onward at his fastest pace. After all… he wanted to beat Chu Haoyan.
And along the way, these traps and mechanisms were, for a Spirit World Master like Chu Feng, actually quite easy to avoid.
"Chu Feng, is all this endurance really worth it — just for that girl Chu Yue?" the Queen asked midway through.
She was clearly displeased. She didn't like what Chu Feng was doing, because she didn't want to see him suffer injustice.
"Endure a moment of trouble and enjoy a lifetime of calm — or so they say," Chu Feng replied in a joking tone.
"Do you really believe that? If you did, you wouldn't have agreed to compete with that Chu Haoyan in the Divine Domain Selection," the Queen shot back.
Hearing those words, the look in Chu Feng's eyes shifted. If it weren't for Chu Yue, he truly would not have endured what happened today.
"Chu Feng, there's something I think I have to point out," the Queen said.
"Go ahead," Chu Feng replied.
"I know the reason you held back earlier was because you didn't want to drag Chu Yue into it. But first of all — you can protect her for a moment, yet you cannot protect her for a lifetime."
"Moreover, your bond with her isn't particularly deep, and she hasn't done much for you. Even the care she showed you was at Chu Xuan Zhengfa's request, and she already received her reward — the right to participate in this Divine Domain Selection."
"If you let someone like that become your weak point, you need to ask yourself whether she's truly worth it," the Queen said.
Chu Feng remained silent. He truly hadn't thought that deeply about it — he simply felt a warmth toward Chu Yue and wanted to keep her safe.
"Most importantly," the Queen continued, "everyone now knows that you are Chu Hanxian's grandson and Chu Xuanyuan's son. So what you carry on your shoulders is no longer just your own reputation, Chu Feng — but also your grandfather's and your father's."
Hearing these words, the look in Chu Feng's eyes grew complicated.
Yes. He was Chu Hanxian's grandson. He was Chu Xuanyuan's son.
He could afford to lose face himself, but he could not afford to tarnish Chu Hanxian's name — and even less could he tarnish Chu Xuanyuan's.
Chu Yue — he naturally didn't want her getting hurt.
But when weighed against the reputations of his grandfather and his father, Chu Yue was, after all, of little consequence.
At that thought, Chu Feng's fists suddenly clenched tight, and the fury in his eyes erupted forth.
In that instant, the air around Chu Feng turned deathly cold, for what accompanied his fury was a towering wave of killing intent.
It was killing intent he had suppressed for a long time — killing intent directed at Chu Haoyan.
"Egg, I understand. When it comes to this, I will make the right choice," Chu Feng said.
Hearing Chu Feng say this, the corners of the Queen's mouth curved upward in a smile, and then she said: