The closer the monster drew, the larger it appeared, and the more the disciples felt just how insignificant they were in comparison.
And that oppressive aura only grew stronger.
No one knew whether waiting here for this terrifying creature to approach was the right choice.
But they didn't dare run again — having been dragged back through the barrier gate once already, they had no idea whether that meant life or death.
So they chose to trust Chu Feng, though cowardice still drove them to retreat one after another. Even Xia Yan ducked behind Chu Feng, her hands clutching tightly at his clothes.
Chu Feng, however, glanced at Xia Yan sideways, because he had a nagging feeling that the others might truly be afraid, but Xia Yan could very well be putting on an act.
Regardless, Xia Yan had at least stepped aside.
The only person besides Chu Feng who hadn't hidden at all was Zuoqiu Youyu.
Zuoqiu Youyu was the sole individual other than Chu Feng who, from start to finish, had not shown the slightest hint of fear.
Though his cultivation was on par with Zuoqiu Yanliang, his courage alone gave him far more of the bearing befitting a supreme disciple.
Boom— The earth shook once more, and then everything finally settled.
The enormous monster came to a halt roughly thirty thousand meters from the group of disciples.
Awooo— Though it stopped advancing, it suddenly opened its massive jaws.
When it did, a wave of putrid stench washed over them, and its oppressive aura surged even more intensely.
Many were so terrified they squeezed their eyes shut, certain catastrophe had arrived.
But before long, people realized that although the pressure had grown after the monster opened its mouth, it hadn't launched any attack.
And when they looked more carefully, a measure of surprise and astonishment rippled through the crowd.
They could see that after opening its jaws, the monster extended a long, barb-covered tongue.
And sitting cross-legged at the very tip of that tongue was an old man.
The old man's features bore a striking resemblance to the monster itself, yet his body was comparable in size to a normal human — in fact, compared to young people like Chu Feng, the old man was even somewhat shorter and smaller.
The colossal monster wore nothing at all on its body aside from a tattered cloth draped over its private parts.
But this diminutive old man sitting inside its mouth was dressed in a complete set of robes. Though equally worn and threadbare, they at least looked considerably more dignified.
"To summon this old one out of seclusion, one of you must be quite talented."
"What surprises me, however, is that this time not only did someone manage to enter this place on their own merit, but several of you actually succeeded in undoing the Yin-Yang Lock."
"Courage naturally deserves reward. Now… this old one shall grant you an opportunity. Whether you can reap the benefits will depend on your own abilities."
With those words, the old man inside the monster reached into his chest and pulled out a whisk.
The old man's clothing was ragged, but the whisk was anything but ordinary.
It appeared to be carved from white jade, though the material was clearly no mundane substance. More importantly, the whisk was not only infused with extraordinarily powerful barrier energy but also radiated an aura of primordial antiquity.
If one had to compare, Chu Feng's Heavenly Master Whisk would be rendered utterly insignificant beside this white jade whisk.
A treasure — even Chu Feng had never laid eyes on such a formidable barrier artifact.
The treasure was so powerful that every single person present could sense its might.
The disciples who had been cowering moments before now looked at the whisk with entirely changed expressions. Some were simply mesmerized by its power, but others revealed unmistakable glints of greed.
Within the Yin-Yang Withered Well Realm, there existed not only unfathomable monsters but treasures such as this as well.
Whoosh—