After careful observation, Chu Feng quickly found a way to break through.
But he also discovered that the method of breaking through was actually a trap.
If he used this method to break the formation, they could indeed shatter the barrier cage that confined them and reopen the passage to leave this place.
But they wouldn't obtain the benefits Chu Feng wanted — it would amount to all their efforts going to waste. It would have been better to have just left through that formation gate from the start.
As for why the first layer of the breaking method couldn't be used — naturally, it was because there was a deeper level to it.
After breaking the formation with that deeper method, Chu Feng wasn't sure what exactly they would obtain. But in theory, there should be some benefit.
As time slowly passed, Chu Feng gradually began to glimpse that deeper method of breaking through.
"I've found a way to break through!"
But at that very moment, Zhao Zhuyin suddenly spoke up, and as she did, she released her power of the barrier and began setting up a formation.
The vast and powerful barrier force was exactly as Chu Feng had anticipated — she truly was a peak God-Cloak Spirit World Master.
The barrier power Zhao Zhuyin displayed even caught Yuwen Yanri off guard and left him surprised.
But from the structure of the formation she was laying down, Chu Feng could tell that her method of breaking through was merely the surface-level one.
"Miss Zhao."
"If you use this method to break through…"
"We'll have wasted everything."
Chu Feng said.
"I know. Using this method, we can only survive — because there's a deeper formation here."
"But the deeper formation… comprehending it is extremely difficult, and I don't think we have enough time."
"But if that incense burns out completely, we will die without question."
"So right now, I don't want any benefits from this place. I just want to leave here as quickly as possible."
As Zhao Zhuyin spoke, the formation continued without pause — she never stopped laying it down.
"Brother Chu Feng, should I stop her?" Yuwen Yanri's secret voice transmission reached Chu Feng's ears.
"No need." After responding to Yuwen Yanri, Chu Feng continued observing the deeper method of breaking through.
Although his observation didn't stop, he also spoke aloud: "Miss Zhao, wanting to protect yourself — that's your right. I won't stop you."
"But I'd like to ask you to give me a chance."
"After you finish setting up the formation, don't activate it right away."
"If the time truly runs out and I still can't find the deeper method, then you can activate it. Would that work?" Chu Feng said.
"Activating it also takes time."
"When the incense burns down to one-fifth remaining, that will be the final deadline."
"I don't care whether you find the method or not — before that point, you must break the formation."
"If you can't, I will activate this formation." Zhao Zhuyin said.
"That's fine."
Chu Feng readily agreed.
He didn't blame Zhao Zhuyin for not trusting him.
On the contrary, he completely understood her position.
Setting aside the fact that they weren't close — even if they were the best of friends, sometimes self-preservation had to come first.
After all, once you lost your life, everything else was gone.
Besides, Zhao Zhuyin was quite reasonable. At the very least, she had left Chu Feng one-fifth of the incense's remaining time.
Zhao Zhuyin not only possessed a high level of mastery in barrier arts — her control over barrier power was formidable as well.
Therefore, when the incense had only two-fifths left to burn, her formation was already complete.
But she didn't activate it. Instead, she turned to look at Chu Feng.
"Chu Feng, your time is running short."
In her view, setting up the formation required time, and Chu Feng still hadn't come up with a solution.
Most likely, he would fail.
"One-fifth. If I can't set up a formation by then, you can activate yours."
Chu Feng said with a smile.
Compared to Zhao Zhuyin, Chu Feng appeared remarkably relaxed.
() Zhao Zhuyin said nothing more and simply readied herself to activate the formation at any moment.
In truth, one-fifth of the incense was, in her view, already quite the gamble.