"But you must promise me that your defense will focus on yourself!"
Xue Tuan was so happy when she saw that Feng Fei had agreed to let her stay that she didn't pay any attention to Feng Fei's instructions. She just happily opened up the defense of the turquoise tortoise shell, held Feng Fei's hand and smiled.
At this moment, Feng Fei didn't know what to say, only hoping that nothing bad would happen.
But sometimes, things are just like that; the things you most hope will not happen are the things that do happen.
As Feng Fei and Xue Tuan walked in opposite directions, a vertical pupil the size of a lantern suddenly appeared behind them.
This vertical pupil doesn't appear to be a physical entity, but rather a phantom. However, underestimating this phantom will surely lead to your demise.
The instant the vertical pupil appeared, Feng Fei seemed to sense something and quickly turned around, but saw nothing. However, when Feng Fei turned back, the illusory vertical pupil reappeared.
The vertical pupil was surrounded by a dark gold rim, giving it an extremely luxurious appearance. The pupil itself was a pale gray, with a subtle shimmer within it, echoing the surrounding dark gold yet appearing extremely malevolent and unsettling.
The vertical pupils were fixed on the backs of Feng Fei and Xue Tuan, as if brewing a fatal blow.
Feng Fei had already sensed it. Although she was unaware of the existence of the vertical pupils, the terrifying sense of being spied on when they appeared was so obvious that it was almost tangible, making it impossible for her to ignore.
Secretly instructing Xue Tuan to concentrate the turquoise tortoise shell defense on their backs, Feng Fei then summoned the black seal.
Although she couldn't fully control the black seal, she was aware of its defensive capabilities. With the protection of the azure tortoise shell and the black seal, her and Xue Tuan's lives were largely secured. But if even this didn't prevent their escape from danger, they could only lament their bad luck.
The feeling of being watched from behind grew stronger, but Feng Fei didn't stop to look back. Instead, he quickened his pace and fled into the distance, hoping to escape the danger zone.
Despite it being wishful thinking, Feng Fei still sped up.
The dark gold around the vertical pupils became more pronounced, while the gray within the pupils became even darker.
Gradually, a gray ball of light with a dark gold border appeared directly in front of the vertical pupil. Although only the size of the pupil, its power distorted the surrounding air. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
Chapter 27 The Playful Vertical Pupil
As time went on, the gray orb with gold edges grew increasingly deep and terrifying.
The surrounding air was not only distorted, but also cracked with terrifying tiny fissures. These were ripped pieces of space, and everything near them was annihilated.
Feng Fei didn't see any of this because she simply couldn't turn around. She couldn't turn around because she wasn't sure if she could avoid the needle-like attack from behind if she did. If she didn't turn around, then she would have a slight chance of escaping, but that chance was extremely small.
Feng Fei thought of some comforting words that were better than nothing, but his speed remained unchanged, and he even strengthened the defense behind him to the limit.
There are no easy paths near Bihan Pool; in fact, there isn't even a proper trail. It's understandable, as almost no humans have ever walked this place; perhaps only the creatures that inhabit it could leave any traces.
My feet were stumbling and I felt weak, even if I wanted to run faster.
Suddenly, Feng Fei felt something trip him up, and then the world spun around him.
After a dizzying spin, they plummeted endlessly, as if falling into a bottomless abyss. Feng Fei tried desperately to steady herself, but the dizziness hadn't subsided, and even circulating her spiritual energy was extremely difficult. Xue Tuan was even worse off, collapsing limply into Feng Fei's arms. If Feng Fei hadn't been holding her tightly, she might have been thrown off somewhere by now.
"Bang!"
Feng Fei felt a sharp pain in his buttocks, saw stars, and felt dizzy.
Xue Tuan wasn't in much better shape. Despite being held in Feng Fei's arms, she had experienced the same thing, so Xue Tuan was also turning her head, her eyes glazed over: "Sister Fei Fei... what... happened just now?"
Feng Fei was in a lot of pain from the fall. She didn't answer Xue Tuan's question immediately.
It took Feng Fei a long time to recover.
After letting out a long breath, Feng Fei finally had a chance to look around.
But this close inspection almost made Feng Fei jump up in surprise.
They weren't in some pitch-black abyss where they couldn't see their surroundings; their surroundings were completely exposed—there was nothing there. They had been running frantically through the vegetation beside the Azure Pool, so where were they now?
I subconsciously looked down and saw a clean, clear blue color beneath my bottom, with some pure white, cloud-like things slowly floating around.
Seeing such a pleasant scene, Feng Fei felt somewhat relaxed. But the next moment, Feng Fei's expression changed drastically!
She finally understood why the blue things beneath her bottom looked so familiar. She also understood why the drifting white, cloud-like objects felt so familiar. It was because this was the view she had seen earlier when she stood beside the Jade Cold Pool and looked up at the sky.
Feng Fei quickly looked up and, sure enough, the boundless, emerald-green pool was right above them. They were surrounded by towering green trees—by this point, Feng Fei realized that these trees weren't actually that tall.
At this moment, Feng Fei finally saw the thing that had always made her feel like she was being spied on.
What kind of thing was that? It had a body the size of a lantern, and its shape was a single vertical pupil. Within that pupil shone a cold, ruthless light, reminding Feng Fei of the giant python guarding the karmic fire lotus he had encountered in the cave before. The pupil was outlined in gold, adding to its noble appearance; the pupil itself was a deep gray color. Faint, mysterious ripples emanated from it.
The vertical pupil seemed unaware that Feng Fei and Xue Tuan had been thrown into the air, so it unleashed its prepared attack with maximum power. This allowed Feng Fei to witness a scene that had terrified her for a long time.
The attack brewing in the vertical pupil slowly condensed in front of the pupil, eventually taking shape.
The sharp edge turned everything around to ashes. The attack was slow, even deceptively slow. But Feng Fei knew that if she were caught in the trajectory of the vertical pupil's attack, no matter how slow it was, she wouldn't be able to escape. Even from this distance, Feng Fei could clearly feel the terrifying pressure; the immense pressure locked onto her filled her with dread.
She was thinking. If she hadn't suddenly triggered some mechanism, she might just be standing there waiting to die.
The vertical pupil's attack was slow yet resolute. As it moved, everything in its path turned to ashes, forming what appeared to be the first path in the Azure Cold Pool. The attack traveled in a straight line, quickly reaching the top of the Azure Cold Pool. Seemingly ignoring the pool's terror, the vertical pupil's attack slowly and steadily annihilated all the water and creatures within its path.
The attack on Bihantan caught Feng Fei off guard, and a vacuum passageway in the water appeared before him.
Feng Fei couldn't help but click her tongue in admiration. This Azure Cold Pool was indeed one of the most dangerous places, but this single vertical pupil was enough to ensure that everyone who entered would never return. Fortunately, however, they were lucky enough to inexplicably reappear above their original positions after being locked on.
Although Feng Fei was relieved, her intuition told her that something was wrong. But before she could think about it, Feng Fei saw that the vacuum zone formed after the vertical pupil attack disappeared in an instant.
Yes, it vanished in an instant. As if the attack by the vertical pupil had never existed, the vegetation on the shore remained lush, and even the tiny insects that were currently resting on the leaves were lifelike, leaping to another leaf in the next moment. The pool water also returned to its previous state, but Feng Fei had no way of knowing whether anything had changed. However, just seeing that the scenery on the shore remained unchanged was enough to leave her stunned.
The vertical pupils seemed completely unsurprised by what was happening before them, as if it knew that its attack would not cause any harm to the Azure Pool.
The vertical pupil remained rooted to the spot for a long time, its already somewhat ethereal body becoming even more transparent. It seemed surprised that Feng Fei and Xue Tuan would disappear—its attacks could create a brief vacuum in the environment of Bi Han Tan—it assumed Feng Fei and Xue Tuan were outsiders. If they disappeared after being attacked and then returned to normal, it would mean that Feng Fei and Xue Tuan were native creatures of Bi Han Tan, just like it. But if they disappeared without a trace—it shouldn't be gone, right? If they weren't natives of Bi Han Tan, they would only be covered in dust and dirt.
With its extremely limited intelligence, it would never have imagined that its target had run up to its head.
This vertical-pupiled creature wasn't some bloodthirsty, ferocious beast; it was merely a playful creature from the Azure Cold Pool.
However, Feng Fei and Xue Tuan would never know this, and Shu Tong was also unable to give them any explanation.
Then, the illusory vertical pupil slowly dissipated into the air. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Q. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Entangled in White Clouds
Feng Fei and Xue Tuan pointed at the disappearing vertical pupil and whispered to each other for a long time, completely unaware that the white clouds beneath their bottoms were slowly approaching them.
The soft, sweet cotton candy-like white clouds, both near and far, drifted towards Feng Fei and Xue Tuan's location. Since clouds naturally move in the sky, Feng Fei and Xue Tuan didn't suspect anything. They only noticed that the clouds were drifting in somewhat erratic directions; their attention was primarily focused on the vertical pupils that had transformed into the view overhead.
After the vertical pupils disappeared, Feng Fei and the other person temporarily forgot that the ground they were on was the infamous Bihan Pool, a forbidden place. They sat leisurely on the blue sky and white clouds, pointing out the scenery of Bihan Pool, chatting and laughing, having a great time.
An environment without crisis will always make people complacent, and what may follow is a dead end.
Although Feng Fei and Xue Tuan's situation wasn't quite a death without a burial place, it wasn't good either. Just as they realized something was wrong, all the white clouds in the sky gathered beneath their feet.
"Ah! Sister Feifei! Look what these are!" Xue Tuan was the first to notice the white clouds gathered at their feet. These white clouds did not look so gentle; their soft bodies concealed extremely sharp teeth.
Just as Xue Tuan shouted, the previously slow-moving white clouds suddenly wrapped around Feng Fei and Xue Tuan's ankles.
Feng Fei felt that she had been having really bad luck lately, and she was attacked wherever she went. The three years she spent in the secret room were the most peaceful time, but that peace was gone forever.
With a heavy sigh, Feng Fei replied weakly, "I don't know what these things are either. They look like cotton candy, but they're covered in tentacles. You can't judge a book by its cover... Ah, they're not even human..."
Feng Fei told some boring, lame jokes, but Xue Tuan didn't understand what they meant and just looked at Feng Fei strangely.
The white clouds that had entangled Feng Fei and Xue Tuan did not attack immediately. Instead, they bared their sharp teeth and made a snarling face, much like a kitten whose fur had been ruffled.
But Fengfei felt that they hadn't done anything to offend Baiyun.
While wondering how they had provoked these white clouds, Feng Fei was also pondering why the azure tortoise shell and the black seal had allowed them to approach. Sensing Feng Fei's confusion, the black seal stammered, "They...don't...have any...malice...ah..."
Feng Fei's face darkened. She hadn't expected that the defenses of the azure tortoise shell and black seal would be so picky. If that was the case, what if they encountered a high-level assassin who was extremely skilled at concealment and didn't reveal the slightest hint of killing intent next time? Wouldn't they be doomed?
The black seal refuted, but Feng Fei could no longer understand it.
"Snowball. Can you communicate with the tortoise shell?" Feng Fei looked at Snowball expectantly, afraid that she would say no.
"Sure! What do you need me to do?"
"Talk to the tortoise shell and ask it why it let these things get close to us."
"Okay!" Xue Tuan replied, then fell silent. Feng Fei knew that Xue Tuan was communicating with the turquoise tortoise shell, so he didn't rush to speak. Instead, he calmly observed the white clouds beneath his feet.
Feng Fei suddenly squatted down, which startled the white clouds, and even the tentacles wrapped around their ankles loosened their grip.
Feng Fei was overjoyed and immediately tried to pull her foot out. However, Bai Yun reacted quickly, loosening her grip slightly before tightening it again.
Feng Fei angrily poked at the bodies of these white clouds. He found the texture wonderful and for a moment played with them like a child.
Although Feng Fei seemed to have relaxed all her guard and was having a great time, after being inexplicably entangled by Bai Yun, Feng Fei's heart was still pounding. She didn't think that Bai Yun hadn't made a move after trapping them.
Although she could try to break through the white clouds with her golden sword, her intuition told her that it was not feasible. The clouds were not hostile at the moment, but if she did something to anger them, things could get messy.
Now, their feet were simply entangled. In this Azure Cold Pool, filled with unknowns and dangers, Feng Fei first reflected on their previous carelessness, then heightened their vigilance, but didn't show it outwardly. Since they had shown a lax attitude from the beginning, he might as well go down and see what happened; perhaps there would be some unexpected gains.
Xue Tuan naturally received Feng Fei's notification and, after communicating closely with Gui Jia and obtaining the answer that it could defend against all targets, immediately informed Feng Fei.
Feng Fei wasn't so surprised by this answer, and the fact that the tortoise shell wasn't completely defending itself was probably related to the black seal; the black seal's previous reaction was enough to explain everything.
A strange light flashed in Feng Fei's eyes—this black seal was something used by Feng Jin'er, so it was highly likely that it would lead them to the place where Feng Jin'er had stayed. Since it showed no hostility towards the white clouds that were entangled with them, one possibility was that these white clouds were the outer guard of some hiding place of Feng Jin'er.
Judging from the shape of these white clouds, they should be some kind of living creature, but she didn't know what species these cloud-like creatures were. Even the extremely fierce-looking vertical-pupiled creature from before was something they didn't know. Even Xue Tuan, who possessed ancient memories, knew little about these things. There was no way around it; Xue Tuan's memories couldn't just appear on a whim; they needed sufficient stimulation to surface.
Time passed slowly, and the white clouds that had been binding them remained, baring their teeth and making no further moves. It seemed their only task was to trap Feng Fei and the others in this place.
A considerable amount of time had passed, which made Feng Fei somewhat impatient.
She wondered if she should try to provoke the white clouds, perhaps with some unexpected gains. However, Feng Fei did not act immediately, still harboring some concerns, unsure if doing so would condemn them to eternal damnation.
"Sister Feifei, I'll support whatever you do!"
Xue Tuan was able to communicate with Feng Fei mentally, and she could also sense some of the strong emotions in Feng Fei's heart. So when she sensed the hesitation in Feng Fei's heart, she immediately spoke up to express her position.
Feng Fei was deeply moved by Xue Tuan's unwavering support, but she still did not act rashly. It was precisely because of Xue Tuan's unconditional support, and because she had thought things through carefully, that she could not risk Xue Tuan's life.