Chapter 1241

Not long after, however, the gray‑robed man with a jade‑like visage immediately chuckled and said: "Xiao Yan, I am Han Yu, and this is Qiu Yue. We two are descendants of the Pingnan Army that once guarded this place. Our ancestors were the last batch of cultivators who entered this land to fight, but because the older generation almost all died on the battlefield, perishing together with the enemy, they left no last words for the remaining juniors."

And my grandfather and father's generation also did not know how to leave this place because they were young, so they were forced to have several generations remain here. But just now, after learning from Little Black that you have arrived, I felt hopeful and wanted to obtain the method of leaving from you, fellow cultivator.

After the former finished speaking, the burly man immediately continued in a buzzing tone: "Don't worry, Xiao Yan, we two are not the type who like to bully the weak with strength. If you can tell us the way to leave, we brothers will certainly not let you suffer loss. Whether it be combat techniques, cultivation methods, or pills and heavenly treasures, we will do our best to satisfy you."

Hearing that the two men had shown no hostility so far, Lin Feng temporarily gave up the idea of fleeing immediately, lest he anger them.

However, upon learning that the other party were descendants of the Pingnan Army, he momentarily blinked, then glanced without changing expression at the storage ring that had just been holding the bones.

If his guess is correct, this skeleton on Pingnan Pass should also be someone from that Pingnan Pass.

But this skeleton, it seemed there had been no trace of movement before, that.

But immediately afterwards, he promptly smiled and clasped his hands in salute, saying: "Junior pays respects to Senior Han Yu and Senior Qiu Yue."

As soon as his words fell, he quickly continued: "As for the matter of leaving that you two mentioned, I'm afraid I cannot satisfy you. For the reason I know of this place is that, many years ago, I by chance discovered a paper recording this place among the relics of an ancient cultivator."

"Unfortunately, because entering that relic would randomly transport one to some place, and moreover, back then my strength was still weak, and I also encountered a powerful expert of the Soul Clan, who are enemies of our Tianfu Alliance; under their threat I had no choice but to reluctantly hand over that item. Even if it weren't for my wife Gu Xun'er, the daughter of the continent's number one expert Gu Yuan, I might not have even kept my life."

Upon hearing this, Han Yu's expression changed abruptly, and he hurriedly asked: "Xiao Yan, does that mean you also don't know how to get out?"

"Xiao Yan, this place is so dangerous; if there were no way out, how could ordinary people dare to enter at will. We two sincerely seek a trade, and furthermore our ancestors shed blood and fought desperately against the invasion of the Baiyuan Continent by the Pingnan Army; we will certainly not harm you. As long as you can tell us a feasible way to leave, I, Qiu Yue, will immediately gift you the two Nine‑grade Mystic Pills here."

Seeing the meaning implied in the former's words, the burly man instantly jumped up in agitation.

While speaking, before the other person beside him reacted, he straightened his index and middle fingers together, and a azure light flashed across them; then the pouch at his waist emitted an extremely faint fluctuation, and two exquisite jade bottles flew out.

"?"

However, regarding that action, both Han Yu and Lin Feng were instantly frightened out of their wits, their heartbeats even lagging by half a beat.

As for Lin Feng, he swiftly and silently stepped back with one foot.

But shortly afterwards, the former seemed to recall something, quickly putting his foot back forward, and his eyes instantly filled with a visible greed, staring fixedly at the two jade bottles taken out by the burly man.

Although he had not come into close contact with those two jade bottles, from the faintly emanating fresh medicinal aroma within them, the energy inside was far greater than that of the Half‑step Mystic Pill Lin Feng had refined.

And a pill possessing such rich medicinal power is undoubtedly the Nine‑grade Mystic Pill.

At the same time, seeing Xiao Yan's attitude toward these two Nine‑grade Mystic Pills, Han Yu's anxiety on his face lessened considerably.

As for Qiu Yue, who had just reacted, beads of sweat had at some point covered his back.

He knew that he had just almost provoked a great disaster; at that time, he would likely not escape death!

However, seeing Lin Feng's greedy expression, he curled his mouth and laughed loudly: "Xiao Yan, what do you think? As long as you are willing to give us the way to leave, these two Nine‑grade Mystic Pills are yours, without any delay."

While speaking, his voice thundered like a heavenly clap, causing the surrounding space to hum, yet not shattering it.

And regarding the words of the young man called Xiao Yan up front, claiming there was no way out, he naturally did not believe them at all.

After all, this person is not at death's door, forced to come here seeking a slim chance; how could he possibly rush into this place without any retreat?

Upon hearing this, the greed on Lin Feng's face slightly receded, allowing his brows to gradually furrow tightly.

And Han Yu, seeing that the former had not responded for a long time, a soft smile appeared on that handsome face capable of bewitching thousands of maidens, and then he comforted: 'Little friend, if you have any questions, just speak up; there's no need for this. In this world we inhabit, the spiritual energy is who knows how many times richer than the outside world, and the heavenly treasures and earthly riches grow who knows how much more. Even that ninth-grade golden core, before us, cannot make us greedy, so there's no need to covet anything from you.'

"If it weren't for our ancestors' wishes and the yearning for freedom, even if others came begging us to leave this place, we would certainly refuse. After all, given sufficient strength, the benefit this place offers to cultivation must already be clear to you, little friend. Unless one is a person devoid of desire and pursuit, who would be so eager to leave this world."

While speaking, the jade-crowned man also reluctantly grasped at the air.

After all, this place truly makes one want to claim it as one's own.

"Ah"

And Lin Feng, hearing those words, immediately let out a heavy sigh, his tone rather helpless as he said: "Since you seniors have said so, I will no longer hide anything."

Seeing the former loosen up, the jade-crowned man instantly rejoiced, hurriedly saying: "Xiao Yan little friend, just speak up."

"Exactly, exactly, Xiao Yan little friend, just speak up; if there really is a way to leave, and if there's anything we brothers can help with, just speak up."

Seeing that the other party seemed to truly have a way to leave, the stalwart man could not help but exult.

And because the former lost his reason in his delight, his voice instantly lost control, momentarily shattering the space outside Pingnan Gate into fragments.

Even Lin Feng, under that sound wave, instantly felt his vision darken and his head buzz.

At the same time, his body uncontrollably retreated several tens of zhang, and then he actively flew back several tens of zhang, after which the pain eased considerably.

"Xiao Yan little friend!"

As for the jade-crowned man, seeing his companion lose his reason, he fiercely glared at him and then hastily tried to step forward to support the retreating Lin Feng.

However, the moment his foot stepped out, the jade-crowned man seemed to recall something, quickly pulling his foot back, and then he asked with concern: "Xiao Yan little friend, my brother has been imprisoned for thousands of years; upon hearing that he could leave this place, he became overly excited for a moment—are you alright?"

As soon as his words fell, he glared at the stalwart man beside him and then rebuked: "Look at what you've done—don't you realize Xiao Yan little friend had no defenses? You're just a hollow frame propped up by heavenly treasures and earthly riches, relying only on being several thousand years older. Once Xiao Yan little friend cultivates for a few more decades, I'll press your old bones, which took thousands of years to reach this level, to the ground and beat them soundly!"

"Uh, my mistake, my mistake. I hope Xiao Yan little friend will not hold it against me."

Seeing the former's gaze approaching, the stalwart man hastily turned toward Lin Feng with an apologetic smile.

While speaking, he hesitated for a moment, then flicked his finger, shooting one of the two jade bottles before him; the force was just right so it vanished before Lin Feng, and then the bottle slowly and weakly came to a stop before the latter.

As for the stalwart man, after launching the jade bottle, he immediately said with sincere apology: "Xiao Yan little friend, regarding this ninth-grade profound pill, consider it a deposit for the method to leave; please accept it."

"Both seniors need not worry; I am unharmed. This is merely due to my insufficient Dou Qi cultivation, not anyone else's fault."

Seeing the two standing at the mountain peak's edge apologizing, Lin Feng's face first flickered with a thoughtful expression, but soon he restored his previous smile, casually waving his hand to indicate he was fine.

However, when he saw the ninth-grade profound pill before him, his eyes instantly blazed with intense greed, and he hastily grabbed it.

And the moment he grasped the jade bottle before him, Lin Feng instantly felt that inside the bottle there existed an extremely rich and pure energy.

According to his calculations, the energy inside this jade bottle, even if a six-star early-stage Dou Saint were to take it rashly, would likely cause them to explode and die.

In that case, it is undoubtedly that ninth-grade profound pill!

"What a good thing, this profound pill—I must find a way to get my hands on it."

After muttering to himself, Lin Feng immediately hesitated for a while, then, under the two's expectant gazes, he began to explain: "Back then, although I was forced by the Soul Clan's experts to hand over that paper under duress, in that flash of lightning and stone, I also noted some information on the paper. I know that this world's seal is one-way—only entry, no exit—and the true exit is a special space channel that can only be opened by a specific method."

"However, I can't quite recall the exit's location, after all, my attention back then was drawn to those words, and besides, the time was too short to remember everything on the parchment." Upon hearing that, Han Yu and Qiu Yue exchanged a glance, both eyes flashing with delight, and then quickly nodded, saying: "Xiao Yan little friend is correct; after our several generations' investigation, this world's seal is indeed one-way—only entry, no exit—and the exit is that space channel in the north."

"However, just as you said, opening this space wormhole requires a special method; we families have researched for several generations but still haven't figured out how to open the space channel."

Upon saying that, Qiu Yue couldn't help but lick his lips, delighted: "Xiao Yan little friend, I don't know what the method to open the space channel actually is; we've been trapped here for far too long and really want to go out for a walk. After all, since birth we've been forbidden to leave this world—no one could bear that."

"That's right; as long as you little friend give us the method to leave, then this remaining ninth-grade profound pill will be yours."

Seeing that the hope of getting out was right before his eyes, the jade-crowned man could no longer control his emotions, his voice trembling as he spoke.

Hearing that, Lin Feng, somewhat reluctant, rubbed the jade bottle in his hand a few times, fell silent for a moment, then continued speaking: "It's possible, but seniors, I must first clarify something: regarding opening the passage, if you insist on trading, I can now trade it to you seniors. However, as for your departure, I can only say I have a sixty percent certainty. Whether this succeeds or fails, I will not refund the items, and you must bear responsibility for your own safety."

"Sixty percent?"

Hearing this answer, completely different from what they had expected, Han Yu and Qiu Yue were both greatly startled, and hurriedly asked: "Xiao Yan, why is that? Could it be that leaving this place still has a failure rate?"

After Qiu Yue finished speaking, he immediately continued loudly: "Young friend, this passage was formerly a military passage, surely focused on stability—how could there possibly be a chance of failure? If you truly cannot bear to part with the complete method for free entry and exit here, then we don't need your treasured method for opening the spatial passage; as long as you bring us out and in a few times, that will suffice."

Hearing that, Lin Feng spread his hands helplessly and said: "Whether seniors want this method or not is up to them; I have no reluctance to part with it. However, while the military passage is stable, the problem lies in the urgent situation at the time—I only recorded the method to open the seal and enter this place; as for the departure seal, I didn't have time to finish reading it, only remembering that whoever opens the passage needs to possess the continent's bloodline as a prerequisite, as well as half of the spatial passage opening seal."

Having said that, Lin Feng furrowed his brows, fell silent for a moment, then continued: "Furthermore, before I entered here, the external part of this exit spatial passage had already been announced by the Soul Clan. I worried that entering here I wouldn't be able to get out, so I studied it for a while, and to my delight the exit had inexplicably been destroyed, so I can only construct it temporarily when leaving. With the incomplete seal plus the damaged spatial passage, the sixty percent chance is, frankly, already quite high."

As soon as his words fell, the former also gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

"Continent bloodline, sixty percent is fine; we can try several more times. How about this, Xiao Yan: we'll directly give you three Nine-Grade Profound Pills and three six-star Dou Saint-level spiritual plants. Regardless of whether it's once or multiple times, as long as you help us open this passage so we can live freely, how does that sound?"

Hearing the two words "bloodline," the handsome man glanced toward the north, then after a moment of contemplation, a strange expression flashed in his eyes, and he immediately smiled faintly with his hands behind his back, like a spring breeze.

Hearing that, the hint of hatred in the stalwart man's eyes quickly faded, and he immediately echoed: "That's right, Xiao Yan; as long as you help us open this passage and tell us how to leave, once we're out we'll immediately give you the things above."

"Hehe, you two are getting happy too early. This passage has long been neglected; the interior segment you haven't described must be well preserved. But the outside is not so stable. I probed this passage before entering, and due to its special nature I simply cannot repair it. If I fail to open it while inside, then each additional attempt will increase the chance of the spatial passage being completely scrapped because the other end is damaged."

Having said that, Lin Feng's eyes shifted slightly as he continued: "Seniors, if I were alone, I would have at least a ninety percent chance of leaving this place without damaging the spatial passage. But if I bring you two, that chance can only be, as I just said, at most sixty percent."

"Just one person gives ninety percent?"

After hearing those words, the jade-crowned man's expression changed slightly, his brows immediately knitting together; if he were in the outside world, this person would surely be enough to make countless girls ache, stepping forward to smooth his furrowed brows.

But unfortunately, this place is an ancient continent forgotten by the outside world.

And the former, upon thinking of this, immediately asked somewhat puzzled: "Xiao Yan, how should we understand this?"

Hearing that, the stalwart man also looked over and said in a low voice: "Xiao Yan, we have already given you a Nine-Grade Profound Pill in advance; you should be able to feel our sincerity. Your words sound like you're deceiving me. If this spatial passage can be used, how could adding the two of us lower the chance of getting out?"

Having said that, the stalwart man seemed to have grown a bit angry, his copper-bell-sized eyes glaring at Lin Feng with ill intent.

"Hehe, please calm down, seniors; let me clear up your doubts."

Seeing this, Lin Feng stowed away the jade bottle containing the Nine-Grade Profound Pill without changing his expression, and then, under the astonished gazes of the other party, his figure suddenly vanished into the space before them.

However, the next moment, Han Yu and Qiu Yue swiftly turned around, gazing at the empty space behind them.

"Whoosh!"

Not long after the two turned around, Lin Feng's figure strangely appeared from the void, silently showing up in Han Yu and Qiu Yue's line of sight.

Although this whole process seemed simple, the two afterward were extremely astonished.

Because although the means displayed by "Xiao Yan" could not escape their Dou Qi perception, judging by his proficiency in controlling space, even an Eight-Star Dou Saint might not be able to match him.

However, just as the two were startled, Lin Feng, walking from the void, saw Han Yu and Qiu Yue's reaction and his heart sank slightly.

But soon he adjusted his emotions, clasped his hands, and said: "I think after that demonstration, you seniors should understand. If I were alone, I would rely on my spatial control ability far beyond ordinary people; as long as my half seal can open a sliver of passage, I still have great confidence, relying on my spatial talent to walk out of here unharmed, so the success rate is naturally high."

"But if I bring the two seniors, I would have to figure out how to fully open the spatial passage and maintain it for a period; thus the success rate would naturally drop considerably, and because the seal is incomplete, we would need to half-force the passage open. Even if we luckily succeed, there would be a chance of it collapsing. Unless the two seniors, like me, also possess special spatial control ability, then I could maintain this success rate without reduction, and the spatial passage would have no problems."

"Otherwise, if the two seniors could continue waiting for a while, once my strength increases this success rate would greatly increase. But let me say, if Senior Qiu Yue were to give me another Nine-Grade Profound Pill, I would then give you seniors the half of the method for opening the spatial passage that I know; after all, with your unfathomable strength, your chance of opening the passage on your own would definitely be much higher than mine."

Having said that, Lin Feng spread his hands helplessly, indicating that you yourselves opening the spatial passage is the best option, while he himself had no other way.

"No wonder Xiao Yan, you have such confidence in leaving this place; it turns out you possess extraordinary spatial ability."

Seeing this scene, Han Yu and Qiu Yue immediately lowered their weapons and ceased hostilities; even the latter's previous anger instantly vanished like smoke, turning into a bitter smile.

Because the words spoken by "Xiao Yan" actually left them unable to refute.

Soon after, Han Yu raised his head to look at "Xiao Yan" and continued asking: "Xiao Yan, you said earlier that the success rate is low, but later you claimed great confidence in taking us out; could you elaborate?"

Hearing that, Lin Feng spread his hands and explained: "My spatial talent has just been demonstrated to Senior Han Yu; I won't elaborate further on other matters and will get straight to the point. With my Six-Star Dou Saint ability, I currently have only some confidence in escaping on my own. However, if I could advance to Eight-Star Dou Saint or Emperor Realm Soul, then my success rate in bringing the two seniors out of this place could rise to around eighty percent."

"Of course, if I could simultaneously advance to Eight-Star Dou Saint and Emperor Realm Soul, I would have full confidence in rescuing the two of you!"

Having said that, Lin Feng immediately extended his hand, lightly grasping the void, his expression extremely confident about the passage.

"Eight-Star Dou Saint. Emperor Realm Soul?"

Hearing these two terms, Han Yu and Qiu Yue exchanged a glance, then their brows suddenly furrowed.

After all, neither of these is something simple.

After all, they have relied on the near-inexhaustible stockpile of heavenly treasures and earthly riches in this place; after thousands of years, they have only just reached the level of Nine-Star Dou Saint.

But if it were merely a matter of raising the strength of the boy named Xiao Yan in front of us from Six-Star Peak Dou Saint to Eight-Star Dou Saint, that would not be too difficult.

But even so, the other party would only have an eighty percent chance of opening the spatial passage.

(End of Chapter)