Hummm— At that moment, a teleportation force emerged from the ancient palace, enveloping everyone present.
The next instant, Chu Feng and the others all returned to the original plaza.
Everyone who had made it out alive was here.
Including Long Xiaoxiao and the others, who had been unable to enter the ancient palace.
Not only that, but a ranking board had also appeared in the sky above, formed entirely from formation energy.
The board was enormous, hanging high in the void.
It was covered with names.
It was the rankings of Chu Feng and the others from this trial.
The moment everyone emerged, their eyes were drawn to the board.
Hummm— But suddenly, another wave of teleportation force enveloped Chu Feng.
When the force dissipated, Chu Feng found himself in the courtyard of a temple.
Within this courtyard stood an old monk wearing a plain kasaya.
He was thin and small, his face radiating gentleness.
And in his hands, he held a string of prayer beads.
Those prayer beads were the very ones Liu Kuo had been holding before.
"Master Jiudian?" Chu Feng asked tentatively.
"Benefactor Chu Feng, we have finally met." The old monk smiled.
"Junior pays respects to Master Jiudian." Chu Feng quickly bowed.
The other's response confirmed his identity beyond any doubt.
More importantly, this was the very voice that had brought Chu Feng back to his senses when his bloodline had gone berserk.
"Benefactor Chu Feng, there is no need for such formality."
"Cough… cough… cough…"
Master Jiudian had been wearing a gentle smile, but suddenly he broke into violent coughing, each fit worse than the last.
Chu Feng had already noticed that Master Jiudian's complexion was poor.
He immediately released his Mental Power to observe, and discovered that Master Jiudian's condition was caused by a backlash — this was an injury, not an illness.
And it seemed to have occurred not long ago.
"Master, could it be… that you were injured because of what you did to help me just now?"
Seeing Master Jiudian wounded, the first thing Chu Feng connected it to was the moment the master had awakened him.
Master Jiudian had actually managed to say only a few words before his voice could no longer pass through.
That meant some kind of obstruction had blocked him.
Chu Feng had long learned from Liu Kuo that while Master Jiudian was, on the surface, the controller of the Nine Heavens Peak, in truth, the Nine Heavens Peak had never truly been under his control.
For example, the decision of the Nine Heavens Peak to come here had been its own choice.
For this iteration of the Nine Heavens Peak, there were many things Master Jiudian simply could not interfere with.
Because of that, when Master Jiudian had forcibly intervened, he had likely suffered a backlash from the Nine Heavens Peak — which was why he was wounded.
"Benefactor Chu Feng, this humble monk's injuries are of no consequence."
Master Jiudian said with a smile, but this answer only confirmed Chu Feng's guess.
Master Jiudian had indeed been injured because of him.
"Master, you told me earlier that my mother had not had her bloodline stripped away by the Seven Realms Sacred Palace."
"You deceived me so that I would calm down."