"I want to continue the trial."
"On the condition that you release her."
These words from Chu Feng were not directed at the Asura Sword, but at the Ancient Killing Sea itself.
And the Ancient Killing Sea responded almost immediately.
"You master and servant treat this place as what, exactly? You rescue each other, reap the benefits, and then leave?"
"Do you truly think this place exists to serve you?"
The voice was unfriendly, laced with unmistakable fury.
Chu Feng realized that the Ancient Killing Sea would not easily release Eggy, so he said, "Release her. I'll do whatever you want."
"Whatever I want?"
"Wager your life — are you willing?" the voice asked.
"Willing." Chu Feng answered without the slightest hesitation.
Hummm— The next moment, a barrier gate appeared before him.
Chu Feng walked toward it without hesitation.
Even though he had no idea what awaited him on the other side.
But just as he was about to step through, the voice rang out once more.
"Saving her won't be that easy."
"This is only the first trial. Pass it, and you'll have the chance to take her away — but whether she's willing to go is another matter," the voice said.
Chu Feng said nothing and stepped straight through.
He had long known that taking Eggy away would not be simple, but no matter what trial or test awaited him, he would face it head-on.
Because Eggy was different from Little Fishy.
Ever since childhood, his parents had never been by his side.
His parents had their reasons, and Chu Feng understood that.
But their absence was still a fact.
He had been raised by his foster father, and so his foster father held tremendous weight in his heart.
Yet the one who had truly walked alongside him on the path of martial cultivation, who had been there through every stage of his growth, was Eggy.
To Chu Feng, family was important, and friends were important too.
If asked which mattered more — family or friends — he couldn't say.
But if asked who the most important person in his life was, who he absolutely could not lose— Chu Feng's answer was crystal clear.
And that was why he could never accept the possibility of Eggy vanishing from the rest of his life.
Because Eggy was, to him, the most important person in the world.
Passing through the barrier gate, Chu Feng found himself standing in an endless desert. The moment he set foot there, the barrier gate behind him vanished, while a new one materialized ahead.
"Your opponent will appear from that barrier gate. Defeat them, and you will earn the right to take your spirit companion away."
As soon as the voice spoke, Chu Feng gripped both divine weapons in his hands.
He understood that the opponent he was about to face would not be weak.
But in that very moment, Chu Feng sensed something was wrong.
His combat strength was off.
He hastily unleashed his Thunder Marks, Thunder Armor, Thunder Wings, and Thunder Flame.
Though they manifested successfully and his cultivation rose smoothly from first-rate True God to fifth-rate True God, his overall combat strength still fell far short of before — the gap was enormous.
"The day you forcibly executed the Ninefold Heavenly Thunder Slash, your bloodline suffered severe damage."
"You can no longer use bloodline techniques."
"The Ninefold Heavenly Thunder Slash is similarly off-limits."
"Look after yourself."
At that moment, the voice of the crimson thunder beast resounded within Chu Feng's mind.
It was a warning.
And that warning jolted Chu Feng to clarity.
If not for Eggy, he would already be dead.
Now his combat strength was diminished, but at least he could still cultivate normally.
Chu Feng released his barrier power as well, and sure enough, his strength in barrier techniques had also weakened.
Yet Chu Feng felt no sorrow — only shame.
This was already the best outcome Eggy had secured for him.
Without Eggy, Chu Feng knew that his path of martial cultivation would have been completely ruined.
"Eggy, I will definitely save you."
A look of absolute resolve appeared in Chu Feng's eyes.
Though his combat strength was no longer what it once was, the confidence in his gaze had not diminished in the slightest.