109: This is my escape route!

Seeing Zhou Yan lost in thought, Yuan Chenling knew his boss was acting on his greed again and couldn't help but groan inwardly.

"Boss, oh Boss, this is not the time to be greedy for everything you see!"

"You must absolutely stay calm!"

Feng Xu stood quietly in place, waiting for Zhou Yan's reply.

However, what Zhou Yan was pondering in his heart was far from what appeared on the surface. He had neither been deceived by time like a shuttle nor influenced by the recent provocation; he was simply contemplating the authenticity of that door.

Since the time like a shuttle from just a moment ago could be an illusion, this door might not necessarily be real either.

If everything was fake, then if he rashly chose to leave, the outcome would likely be unfavorable.

The initial trace of malice was still fresh in his memory, and at this moment, it was spreading like a shadow.

It was like when you are playing a game; originally, the weather is pleasant, the birds are singing and the flowers are fragrant, and the art style is very beautiful.

But just when you think it is some kind of casual game, a ghost face suddenly pops out and gives you a fright.

After that, no matter how beautiful the art style is or how childlike the content may be, you will never believe it is not a horror game.

This was exactly how Zhou Yan felt at this moment; once trust is broken, it is not so easy to rebuild.

"Senior, there is no need to provoke me. If you want me to make a decision, you must first explain the content of the trial," Zhou Yan said in a calm tone.

"Besides, this is no longer the era of the past. To speak bluntly, this place is still a Secret Realm now, but in a while, it might become a tourist attraction for everyone to visit."

"By then, whether this Magic Treasure will still be yours to distribute is hard to say."

Although Feng Xu did not understand what a "tourist attraction" was, he roughly understood Zhou Yan's meaning. This era should have methods to break into Secret Realms without damage, but that was reasonable enough.

Times were progressing, but this Secret Realm was only a Soul Transformation Secret Realm.

"Little one, are you threatening me?" Feng Xu's aura stirred slightly, looking as if he were about to take action.

Seeing this, Zhou Yan thought the negotiation had collapsed and was just preparing to execute Plan B.

Yet, Feng Xu instantly switched to a smiling face.

"Not bad. You do not fear the strong and know how to utilize your wisdom. You truly have the demeanor of a Prodigy."

"Since you want to know, there is no harm in telling you."

"After all, there is nothing that needs to be hidden."

"First, discuss the Dao of time with me; convince me, and you win."

"Second, fight me; defeat me, and you also win."

"Choose one of these two. No matter which one you choose, as long as you pass, I will give you the time like a shuttle."

"How about it? Do you dare to try?"

Zhou Yan sighed inwardly.

Do you have to be so rigid? No, that's not right; it should be said that the ancients are like this.

With the way Feng Xu is acting right now, he might as well have the words "I have a problem" written on his forehead.

But that's fine too; it's a good opportunity to take advantage of the ancients' lack of knowledge.

"Senior is the number one person on the path of time; how could I dare to compare myself?"

"I will choose the fight. After all, I am still considered invincible in the Foundation Establishment Stage."

Feng Xu was stunned upon hearing this, then immediately burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, do you dare to speak such wild words even after knowing who I am?"

"You brat, you certainly have a knack for amusing people."

After laughing, he straightened up and said.

"I have seen countless Prodigies, but they all call me a Prodigy. The four words 'invincible in Foundation Establishment' are basically what others use to describe me."

Feng Xu displayed his full aura, and the aura of Foundation Establishment Perfection once again filled the entire area.

"My cultivation is fixed here and cannot be changed. I suppose I am taking advantage of you."

"However, since you claim to be invincible in the Foundation Establishment Stage, then try to defeat me with your Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage cultivation."

"Xiao Yuan, go to the side and wait for me. The battle will be quite intense later, so don't get caught in the crossfire," Zhou Yan instructed.

Yuan Chenling acknowledged and retreated. Although he was helpless about his boss's greed acting up again, in his heart, Zhou Yan's strength was still very authoritative.

A Core Formation cultivator fighting someone in the Foundation Establishment Stage—that is surely invincible in the Foundation Establishment Stage.

After confirming that Yuan Chenling was safe, Zhou Yan suddenly attacked.

Five feathers traced a beautiful arc. With one move of Feather Kill, guided by his Divine Sense, he struck directly at Feng Xu.

Feng Xu's expression did not change; he simply blew a breath of air.

A pale green wind swept past, and the feathers shattered upon contact. The dust crackled like ice cubes hitting hot oil, all dissolving into the wind.

"To have Core Formation Divine Sense in the Foundation Establishment Stage, and this move even has the effect of restricting others' movement... Not bad," Feng Xu evaluated calmly, gesturing for him to continue.

Zhou Yan was unhurried. The golden bow appeared, and several silver bullets with special attributes shot out!

Feng Xu's pupils constricted slightly. He put away his playful expression, his palms condensing wind waves into a long snake that coiled toward the silver bullets.

Explosions rang out one after another. Just as Feng Xu breathed a sigh of relief, a silver bullet broke through the dust and struck his palm directly!

"Pfft—"

A sensation of paralysis instantly spread throughout his entire body.

Feng Xu raised his eyes, wanting to speak, but saw that Zhou Yan had already picked up Yuan Chenling and was rushing toward the door leading to the next level.

"Hahaha, this is my true escape route!"

Zhou Yan leaped toward the door, not forgetting to turn his head back in mid-air to make a gesture at Feng Xu that he couldn't understand.

"Thump—"

"Ouch, what the f*ck!"

Zhou Yan fell to the ground, instinctively exclaiming.

Meanwhile, Feng Xu's face was as dark as water. A special power surged around his body, quickly shaking off the paralysis effect.

"When did you discover it?" His voice turned cold.

Zhou Yan climbed up, pushed Yuan Chenling to the back, and made an "OK" sign at him behind his back.

"What is Senior talking about?"

Feng Xu gazed into his brilliant yet cunning eyes and sighed lightly.

"I thought I was acting quite convincingly."

【Recluse of Spiritual Stream · Feng Xu Silhouette】

【Rank: Foundation Establishment Perfection】

【Health Points: 17937 / 18000】

【Mana Points: 0 / 0】

"Uh... Senior saw through it? Is my acting that bad?"

Seeing that Zhou Yan was still playing dumb, the Recluse of Spiritual Stream no longer concealed it.

"That's right, I am indeed the Recluse of Spiritual Stream, Ma Hao, but I am not my final self."

"Just as this appearance is the youthful form of my master, I am merely the Recluse of Spiritual Stream from my old age."

Only then did Zhou Yan seem to suddenly realize, shouting somewhat pretentiously.

"So it is the Recluse of Spiritual Stream! This Junior has long admired you!"

"If you can't act, then don't." Ma Hao looked at Zhou Yan's appearance with some helplessness.

"Since you were able to reach this level, it proves that you have already seen me from different periods."

"If you keep acting, it will become annoying." Ma Hao walked to the position where Zhou Yan first entered and waved his hand across the screen.

The image began to shift. The content on it was no longer a small boat, but a coffin wrapped in chains, exuding an ominous aura.

"Speak, how exactly did you see through it?" As if afraid that Zhou Yan would continue to fool around, Ma Hao added, "Answer properly, otherwise I will chase you away."

Feeling the seriousness in the other's words, Zhou Yan also put away his previous expression.

"Hehe, this Junior has had a sharp Divine Sense since childhood and has a deep perception of other people's temperament."

"I think that back in the day, Senior Feng Xu, whether it was extending the path of time or achieving the first Mahayana through enlightenment, even if there were regrets, should have been high-spirited."

"Especially in his youth, even with the same memories, there shouldn't have been an air of decadence. On the contrary, due to youthful arrogance, he would be dissatisfied with his future self and firmly believe his own Dao to be true."

"Just like the youth period of Senior that I have seen, passionate and sharp, just as it was in the beginning."

Ma Hao's eyes flickered, seemingly touched: "Was it me in my youth that you saw then? That was indeed a foolish period of time."

He turned around, his youthful face showing only a vicissitude that did not match his age.

"Your performance is indeed that of a qualified inheritor."

"You have both courage and strategy, and you are meticulous, but precisely because of this, you cannot go any further to take the final Legacy."

Ma Hao looked toward the coffin heavily sealed in the image, his voice cold and heavy.

"Because I will kill you."