This was the first and last sentence Feng Fei heard between the young man and woman.
The sound seemed to come from a distant place, entering the ears and mind, making it impossible to distinguish whether it was a man or a woman.
Feng Fei's eyes finally closed shakily. Even though he was unwilling, he couldn't resist the strong drowsiness that overwhelmed him, and eventually he fell into a deep sleep.
Before falling into a deep sleep, Feng Fei could only think: "Jin'er? Or Jin'er? Or Jing'er? I don't know who is speaking... but that sense of familiarity... it's really making me rack my brains..." Feng Fei wanted to raise his hand to tap his head to see if he could remember anything. But his arm only went up less than an inch before falling back down.
"Jin'er...stop making a fuss..."
"Jin'er, be good..."
"..."
The gentle voice lingered in his mind, and Feng Fei soon fell into a deep sleep.
Just as Feng Fei fell into a deep sleep, the black seal protecting her suddenly flipped over, revealing the words beneath. If Feng Fei were awake at that moment, she would have recognized the three characters engraved on the seal—Feng Jin'er.
The words on the black seal didn't appear just now; they had been there all along. However, due to Feng Fei's limited strength, she couldn't clearly see the characters beneath the seal. The seal, subjected to several sudden shifts between extreme cold and heat within the secret chamber, had its initial seal removed, revealing only a small part of the black seal.
The various lights in the secret chamber finally faded, and the previously smooth stone walls returned to their original state. If one had not personally experienced everything that had just happened, they would surely think that it was just an illusion under the influence of drowsiness.
The stone table no longer resembles its former self; beneath the peeling surface, black and white patterns are revealed, exuding a grand yet unconventional style.
A gentle breeze seemed to come from nowhere, and the mottled stone patina on the table crumbled to the ground, revealing a black and white table beneath, exuding an air of noble elegance. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote for it on Q. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Futon
This black and white stone table is neither jade, nor gold, nor wood; it is impossible to tell what material it is made of.
Black and white blend together seamlessly, as if these two extremely distinct colors were born to exist naturally, leaving one completely unaware of any other sensations—this is how two colors should be perceived.
This stone table, its outer layer peeling away, seems to have a white base with smooth black patterns running across it, or perhaps a black base with white shimmering patterns. These two perceptions alternate, making it difficult to distinguish which is real and which is fake. Or perhaps, both are real.
The stone table, which looked as if it had been splashed with ink, became even more dynamic the moment the black seal appeared.
The black seal danced in mid-air for a moment, and finally, as if throwing away a fortune, it slowly but firmly landed on the upper right corner of the black and white stone table.
Suddenly, the entire chamber began to tremble slightly. It was as if something was trying to burst forth from some other space, and the surrounding air distorted. The clash between the lingering cold and heat in the air seemed to reach its peak at that moment, and the intense sense of confrontation was awe-inspiring.
The black seal protected the unconscious Feng Fei from disturbance.
It's unclear how much time passed—it seemed like an instant, yet also like millennia—before the secret chamber gradually quieted down. A golden wooden box then abruptly appeared on the stone table, as if it had always been there.
The black seal seemed extremely satisfied, circling the golden wooden box a few times before retreating back into the sky above Fengfei.
At this moment, the Yin-Yang Two Elements Pearl obtained in the Water Moon Cave of Mochou Lake suddenly appeared above the wooden box. The black seal trembled, and a pearl with the same aura but a white color shot out from the stone wall beside it. If Yuan Jue were here, he would definitely tell Feng Fei that this was the Yang Pearl among the Yin-Yang Two Elements Pearls.
The formation of the Yin-Yang Beads is unknown. It is only known that these naturally formed beads have effects similar to Soul Beads. Using both Yin and Yang Beads simultaneously can greatly nourish the soul and expand the sea of consciousness. However, if one recklessly consumes only one, at best, one will survive but lose half of one's three souls and seven spirits; at worst, one will be reduced to ashes and never reincarnate.
Two Yin-Yang beads rotated slowly above the golden wooden box, gradually forming a Yin-Yang array with the beads as its eyes. The initial array was extremely ethereal, as if it would crumble into bubbles at the slightest touch. However, as the array rotated, it became increasingly clear, its subtle majesty gradually emanating from it.
A golden outline appeared around the Yin-Yang Array. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that this gold originated from the golden wooden box on the stone table. This box seemed unable to withstand the fusion of the two Yin-Yang Beads. Its edges showed signs of melting, yet not a trace of liquid remained on the tabletop. All the melted parts had entered the Yin-Yang Array, making the entire array appear more dignified.
The wooden box melted extremely quickly. In no time, the entire golden wooden box disappeared, leaving only a pool of blood-red liquid floating in place.
The black seal seemed to shout, then rushed onto the crimson liquid with lightning speed.
The next moment, the seal bearing the three characters "Feng Jin'er" was imprinted on the blood-red liquid.
The crimson liquid, like inkpad, readily absorbed the approach of the black seal, and soon the already limited amount disappeared. If one were to turn the black seal over at this moment, one would find that its base, which originally contained only three characters, was now a deep crimson, as if the three characters "Feng Jin'er" could be inscribed in any suitable place.
Having received the black stamp containing the "ink," he was smugly standing there when he turned around. It seemed he had just noticed the Yin-Yang symbol still hovering in mid-air, and he bumped into it somewhat unhappily.
Instantly, the Yin-Yang array diagram, with the Yin-Yang beads as its fish eyes, rapidly rotated and shrank, finally shrinking to the size of a thumb before being struck into the center of the forehead by the black seal.
After doing all this, the black seal returned to Feng Fei's brow.
Just then, Feng Fei also woke up.
The dazed feeling of a thousand-year dream made Feng Fei feel uncomfortable, and it took him a while to emerge from that chaotic feeling. At this moment, the black seal that had entered Feng Fei's sea of consciousness emitted bursts of spiritual fluctuations and communicated with Feng Fei.
Only then did Feng Fei realize what had just happened. Before he could react, he hurriedly followed the instructions of the black seal to circulate his spiritual power.
Within Feng Fei's sea of consciousness, the Yin-Yang Two Elements Array slowly rose and fell in the very center, its obscure ripples spreading throughout the entire sea of consciousness, expanding and consolidating Feng Fei's sea of consciousness at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Feng Fei exerted his spiritual power to provide an expanding supply of spiritual energy for the Yin-Yang Two Elements Array Diagram, but due to his cultivation level, the expansion speed of his sea of consciousness still slowed down. However, this expansion did not stop, but rather continued to grow slowly at an extremely imperceptible rate.
Feng Fei let out a long breath, showing no dissatisfaction with the result.
At this moment, Feng Fei looked at the secret room with some emotion. He hadn't expected that this place was related to his predecessor's mother, but his predecessor had no memory of her mother at all. He didn't know what kind of woman Feng Jin'er was.
What Feng Fei didn't expect was that the black seal she accidentally found inside the snake-tailed fish-headed monster's belly was also an artifact used by Feng Jin'er. Judging from its spiritual appearance, a spirit must have been born within the black seal. Although she had already entered the Innate Realm, she still didn't seem to have reached the level where she could communicate with artifact spirits.
Feng Fei couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive, wondering what kind of strength Feng Jin'er possessed to be able to use such a powerful magic weapon as the black seal.
After the previous encounter, the secret room seemed to have lost some kind of spirit. Feng Fei sighed, picked up the still unconscious Xue Tuan, and walked towards the futon.
During the conversation between the black seal and her, Feng Fei learned that the key to the exit of this secret room lay on this futon.
Perhaps due to insufficient strength, Feng Fei could only discern that the exit was related to the prayer mat, but could no longer understand the other meanings emanating from the black seal. The black seal seemed to realize this as well, and immediately transmitted its dejected mood to Feng Fei.
Feng Fei found it somewhat amusing; this black seal was like a child who hadn't grown up, laughing one moment and crying the next, acting entirely on its whims. However, Feng Fei also knew that this black seal was reliable; otherwise, it wouldn't have survived until now.
Feng Fei reassured the black seal in his heart and then carefully examined the prayer mat.
This was crucial to their ability to leave, so Feng Fei was extremely vigilant.
The prayer cushions on the ground remained unchanged, simple yet grand. They seemed to have withstood the test of time, but without the wear and tear of age. This sense of profound yet newness felt remarkably natural on the prayer cushions.
Feng Fei wasn't just now realizing the special nature of the futon; the fact that it could increase her cultivation speed a hundredfold was enough for her to take it seriously. However, what Feng Fei hadn't expected was that her initial attention wasn't enough to fully appreciate the futon's capabilities. Only now did she truly discover its extraordinary nature.
Feng Fei secretly admired the person who created this futon, wondering what kind of person could make such a thing. In the present world, it would be impossible to achieve such craftsmanship. Even if something with one-tenth the efficacy of this futon appeared in the world, it would probably cause a frenzy among people.
This continent seems to have a fault line, or perhaps some major event occurred there, causing many things on this continent to disappear. Only a few families with deep foundations have preserved some items that can demonstrate their former strength, but now almost no one can use those remaining things.
Thinking of this, Feng Fei suddenly became extremely curious about what had led to his current predicament. However, this was not the time to concern himself with that. Feng Fei suppressed his curiosity and focused all his efforts on finding the key to escape from the prayer mat.
Suddenly, Feng Fei's eyes narrowed sharply.
Her divine sense, which had been probing into the futon, was suddenly swallowed up completely as it passed under the futon, leaving the unsuspecting Feng Fei with a hidden loss.
Feng Fei secretly regretted his carelessness and became more vigilant, finally bringing back the caution he had long forgotten.
He separated a wisp of his divine sense again, and this time nothing seemed amiss. However, Feng Fei dared not be careless and continued to carefully examine the futon. After the futon had just absorbed Feng Fei's divine sense, it seemed to have returned to calm and showed no further reaction.
Feng Fei picked up the futon in his hand and examined it, seemingly unable to understand why the phenomenon of divine consciousness being devoured had just occurred.
When Feng Fei probed the futon again with her divine sense, she found that it felt like a part of her body, without the unfamiliar feeling she had before.
Feng Fei was extremely surprised. Thinking of a possibility, he quickly sat on the futon and circulated his spiritual energy.
At the very moment Feng Fei circulated his spiritual power, mysterious runes flashed on the futon. The next instant, Feng Fei vanished from the secret chamber, and the futon disappeared as well.
When Feng Fei saw the light emanating from the futon, she knew something was wrong. But when she tried to take some action, she felt a strong sense of distortion. The next moment, Feng Fei found herself beside a pool of water surrounded by towering, lush green trees.
The surroundings were filled with misty vapor, the sky was a clear, cloudless blue, and the fresh air told Feng Fei that she had truly left the secret chamber. If she hadn't still been sitting on the futon, she might have thought that everything that had happened in the secret chamber was an illusion.
"Oh no! Xue Tuan is still in the secret room!" (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
Chapter 24 Leaving the Secret Chamber
Thinking that Xue Tuan was still in the secret room, Feng Fei suddenly found the surrounding scenery extremely annoying.
Feng Fei paced around impatiently. When his gaze swept over the futon that was floating quietly an inch above the ground, a thought flashed through his mind: "I was sent to this place just now because I was sitting and circulating my spiritual energy. If I continue to sit on the futon and cultivate, will I be teleported back?"
Thinking of this, Feng Fei felt a little eager to try.
But then she thought, if the teleportation location of this futon is random, who knows where it will take her next time.
Gritting his teeth, Feng Fei decided to give it a try.
Since the secret room is the first place where the futon is, even if you can't teleport back the second or third time, you will eventually be able to return to the secret room if you try a few more times.
Having made up his mind, Feng Fei planned to put it into action immediately.
As Feng Fei sat on the futon, he worried about Xue Tuan, wondering if she would be anxious and worried when she woke up and found herself no longer in the secret room.
Clearing her mind of distractions, Feng Fei circulated her spiritual energy, and the dizziness followed. Feng Fei knew this was a sign that she was about to be teleported to another place, but she didn't know where she would be sent. She hoped she would be sent back to the secret chamber.
After a brief moment of darkness followed by light, Feng Fei opened his eyes again and found himself back in the secret chamber.
Feng Fei was almost moved to tears.
Xue Tuan remained asleep and did not wake up, which relieved Feng Fei.
Feng Fei gently stroked Xue Tuan's head and sighed softly. Then he hugged Xue Tuan in his arms, sat on the futon, but did not rush to circulate his spiritual energy.
At this moment, Feng Fei realized that the futon beneath her was something like a teleportation array, cleverly placed on what appeared to be an ordinary futon. Although this secret room was quite nice, for Feng Fei it was merely a place to hide. Originally, there was a futon that could accelerate cultivation, but now, simply sitting on it and circulating her spiritual energy would teleport her out, rendering that benefit useless.
Besides, she didn't know how far the teleportation array was. If there were range limitations, then this secret room would be extremely useless to her.
Just as Feng Fei was muttering to himself about the uselessness of this secret room and the futon, the black seal began to protest in his mind.
Feng Fei received all the information transmitted by the black seal in astonishment. After reading it, she realized that her cultivation level was too low, and many of the functions of the futon had not yet been explored. However, the black seal still generously told Feng Fei a little trick for using the futon: how to cultivate while sitting on it without being teleported out.
Feng Fei tried it, and it was indeed as the black seal had said.
However, this action only made the black seal more relentless—it interpreted it as Feng Fei not trusting it. Feng Fei found it amusing, but still managed to appease the black seal.
After calming down the black seal, Feng Fei didn't rush to leave the secret room with Xue Tuan.
After all, she didn't know much about the outside world and what dangers might be lurking behind it. However, she had been in the secret room for more than three years, and apart from the recent so-called "danger," everything had been peaceful. Moreover, there was the guarantee of the black seal. Feng Fei subconsciously regarded this place as her trump card.
Right now, what Feng Fei wanted to know was how to put the futon away. She had already tried storing it in her storage ring, but it hadn't worked at all. So Feng Fei had to think of other methods.
Although the black seal said her abilities were "low," she was still at the third level of the Innate Realm, which made her a top-tier expert on this continent. If we think about it carefully, there might be some unexpected surprises.
After thinking it over, Feng Fei devoted all his attention to studying the abilities of the futon.