“But?” Huang Quan asked, “But what?”
“He was wrapped in a layer of bandages,” the Great Priest said. “When I fought him, his sleeve slipped, revealing those bandages. They were very noticeable.”
“But there was no smell of blood on him.”
No smell of blood meant no injuries. In this case, if he was wrapped in bandages, either there was something on his body that needed to be covered, or the bandages themselves were special.
Huang Quan understood the Great Priest’s implication. After pondering for a moment, she said, “We need to find that person!”
If she was right, that person was the young boy Rong Mian cared about!
Huang Quan said, “It’s imperative to find him!”
Hearing this, Jing Chen and Feng Jiuyuan spoke simultaneously, “We’re about to enter the fourth level of the tower realm.”
In this situation, how could they go searching for someone?
Moreover… why did they need to find that person?
What exactly did Huang Quan encounter on the first level?
Several question marks appeared above everyone’s heads, but they couldn’t ask Huang Quan in detail. One reason was that there were too many people around, and the other was that Lin Xu was present. If they asked too much, Lin Xu might turn around and inform the teams from the Southern Abyss Empire.
“Congratulations to all of you for successfully emerging from the first level of the tower realm,” a raspy voice suddenly sounded. “I have good news: you can rest for half an hour.”
“During this half-hour, you can choose to stay here or leave and move around freely. After half an hour, no matter where you are, you will all return to this place,” the man behind the screen said slowly. “The ruins are not under my control, which means there are dangers. If you leave here, you may very well die elsewhere. Those lacking strength should choose carefully.”
“Whoosh…”
As the man’s words fell, everything around them began to change. When the transformation stopped, the scene before their eyes had completely changed.
A tower.
What they saw was no longer a wide plaza, but a tall tower.
Around the tall tower, there were other buildings. While Huang Quan and a few others who had been here before were not surprised, everyone else was astonished.
“This is the time he’s given us,” Huang Quan said, looking at the Great Priest. “We only have half an hour. We must find that person within this time.”
The Great Priest didn’t know why Huang Quan was so determined to find that person, but since Huang Quan had only demanded this after coming out of the first level, there had to be a reason related to the tower. Moreover, it might have something to do with whether they could reach the topmost level of the tower.
“I’ll go with you to find him,” the Great Priest said, then looked at Feng Jiuyuan and the other three. “You all stay here.”
Feng Jiuyuan was stunned. “Why?”
“The man said that other parts of the ruins are also very dangerous. Time is short. When Huang Quan and I go to find the person, we won’t be able to take care of you. If you come with us, I won’t be able to protect you.”
“I don’t need your protection,” Feng Jiuyuan said with a smile. “I can protect myself.” Then he turned to Jing Chen and smiled. “Jing Chen, don’t you agree?”
Jing Chen looked up at him and shook his head. “I’m not going.”
Feng Jiuyuan: “…”
“Feng Jiuyuan, you shouldn’t go either,” Jing Chen said calmly. “If you go, you’ll only cause trouble.”
Feng Jiuyuan: “…” You always expect me to listen to you, but when I ask something of you, you don’t cooperate at all. Don’t expect me to listen to you anymore in the future!
Due to Jing Chen’s non-cooperation, Feng Jiuyuan couldn’t go along and was left behind.
Before leaving, the Great Priest looked at Jing Chen, who seemed the youngest but was the most reliable. “I’m entrusting them to you for now.”
Jing Chen nodded. “Alright.”
The Great Priest gave Feng Jiuyuan one last look before departing with Huang Quan.
The others were watching them closely, and when they saw the Great Priest and Huang Quan leave, they wanted to follow.
Jing Chen frowned and was about to summon the Dragon Chant Zither to stop them when a figure appeared on the path that Huang Quan and the Great Priest had taken.
Fo Xin looked at the crowd and smiled. “There’s half an hour before the fourth level of the tower opens. Since we have some time, this humble monk would like to discuss Buddhism with all of you. Do any of you have time?”
Have time?
Did they dare say they didn’t?
Those who wanted to leave looked at Fo Xin standing in front of them, furious but not daring to express it. They had no choice but to reluctantly say, “Master Fo Xin, we have time, we have time.”
“Since you have time, let’s discuss together.” Fo Xin finished speaking and made a hand seal. As soon as the seal appeared, a transparent barrier quickly spread out, encompassing everyone present.
Without Fo Xin’s permission, no one could leave the barrier.
Everyone: “…”
Damn!
How was this any different from being in the square?
The man controlling the ruins had given them half an hour to rest, but now? Fo Xin had trapped them here!
Angry?
Of course they were angry, but they could only be angry. There was nothing else they could do!
Jing Chen sighed in relief. With Fo Xin blocking them, these people couldn’t follow the Great Priest and Huang Quan, and wouldn’t cause trouble for them.
Thinking of this, Jing Chen turned to look beside him. “Feng Jiuyuan…”
No one was there.
Lin Xu and Nangong Qingle were still in place, but Feng Jiuyuan was already gone.
Jing Chen frowned and looked at Lin Xu and Nangong Qingle. “Where did he go?”
Lin Xu pointed to the tower. “He went to the back.”
With Fo Xin’s barrier, no one could leave without his permission. Jing Chen wasn’t worried about Lin Xu and Nangong Qingle having any trouble. After instructing them not to leave, he went to find Feng Jiuyuan.
On the other side of the tower.
Feng Jiuyuan found a place to sit casually. With no one else around, the usual smile on his face faded. Without his usual mischievous expression, he looked much more innocent.
Seeing Jing Chen approaching, Feng Jiuyuan snorted coldly and closed his eyes.
Jing Chen stopped in front of him. Since Feng Jiuyuan was sitting, Jing Chen didn’t have to look up to talk to him this time.
“Feng Jiuyuan, are you angry?” Jing Chen asked.
Feng Jiuyuan said nothing, clearly showing he was angry.
Jing Chen continued, “I didn’t let you go because this place is very dangerous. The Great Priest and Huang Quan can handle those dangers, but you can’t.”
Feng Jiuyuan’s eyes snapped open, his blood-red pupils staring coldly at him. “What makes you think I can’t?”
“Do you know my true strength?”
“I know,” Jing Chen said. “You have the blood of the demon royal family flowing in you. That half of your demon bloodline is extremely pure. When you were born, you almost got completely transformed into a demon. You are very powerful.”
“Hmph.”
“Your father tried many ways to seal your demon blood, but couldn’t completely seal it, which is why your eyes retain the demon’s unique red color,” Jing Chen continued. “You lost to me because of the Dragon Chant Zither. Without it, I wouldn’t be your match.”
Feng Jiuyuan snorted coldly again, “As long as you know.”
