"Egg, what's wrong with you? What do you mean? Where are you going?" Chu Feng was extremely nervous, already losing composure. Instinctively, he sensed that something terrible was about to happen.
"You bastard, you still dare call me Egg? I already told you to call me Her Majesty." Eggy gave a sweet, heart-stirring smile, but in Chu Feng's eyes at this moment, it only made his heart ache with an indescribable feeling.
"Your Majesty, what on earth is going on? Please tell me — did I do something wrong? Are you going to leave me?" Chu Feng felt wretched, his eyes even growing slightly moist.
Although he hadn't known Eggy for long, she had been with him since childhood, sharing one body. She had accompanied Chu Feng through every memory he had — a bond that no words could fully explain.
"Don't worry, I'm just tired. I'll be fine after some rest. Did you get that secret technique?" Eggy asked with concern.
"Mm." Chu Feng nodded vigorously.
"Good, then it wasn't in vain that I forcibly took over your body." Eggy's smile grew even sweeter, yet her body became increasingly translucent. It was clear she had been prepared for this all along.
"Was it my body that caused a backlash against you? Or did you exhaust your own cultivation because of me? What exactly happened?" Chu Feng finally caught on, and guilt flooded his heart.
"Don't blame yourself. No matter the reason, I did it willingly. Cultivate hard, but also protect yourself. Although I won't be able to witness your battle with Gong Luyun, I know — you will win."
"Remember, I am with you. You are not fighting alone." With those words, Eggy's body grew weaker and weaker, until she finally dissolved into streams of multicolored light.
The light was dazzling and magnificent, swirling around Chu Feng as though unwilling to leave yet having no choice but to say a final goodbye.
"Egg! How can I save you? How can I save you?!"
Chu Feng kept calling out, but there was no response. Only after the light orbiting him faded away did he collapse weakly to the ground, his gaze blank.
His heart ached — ached that Eggy had left him so completely. He could no longer feel her presence. An indescribable pain spread through him, as if half his soul had been torn away, departing with Eggy.
"Egg, I will definitely bring you back." After a long while, Chu Feng finally came to himself. The helplessness on his face faded, replaced by a look of iron determination.
Although he truly could not sense Eggy's presence now, the Spirit World contract they had formed still existed — which meant she wasn't dead. There had to be some way to awaken her.
He didn't know that method himself, but that didn't mean other Spirit World Masters wouldn't. So Chu Feng decided to return to the Azure Dragon Sect and seek help from Zhuge Liuyun. No matter what, he would bring Eggy back — at any cost.
Having made up his mind, Chu Feng didn't hesitate. First, he searched the tomb carefully, hoping to find some treasures left behind by Murong Xiaoyao. However, apart from the rune array that the purple-robed girl had already unraveled, there was truly nothing left.
With no other option, Chu Feng took out the Spirit World gray robe he had forcibly stripped from the purple-robed girl and examined it closely. He discovered it really was something special — definitely a valuable item. Perhaps he could sell it for a good price later and exchange it for some Yuan Pearls for his cultivation.
Entering the black hole and guided through a passage of dark suction, Chu Feng arrived at a spot within the White Tiger Mountain Range. Looking around, he could still see the White Tiger Manor engulfed in the flames of battle, though the sounds of war cries had already ceased. The conflict seemed to have settled.
Chu Feng paid it no mind. He found the swift horse he had left behind earlier and set off back toward the Azure Dragon Sect. The White Tiger Mountain Range was sealed off — those with weak cultivation could hardly leave. But after making some inquiries, Chu Feng managed to find a way out, and after a roundabout journey, he finally returned to the Azure Dragon Sect.
However, at the sect's main gate, he found a crowd gathered. Looking closely, he saw several Inner Sect disciples beating two people senseless.
The attackers were members of the Sword Dao Alliance, a notorious organization within the Azure Dragon Sect's Inner Sect. The ones being beaten were familiar faces — two brothers of the Chu Family, Chu Cheng and Chu Zhen.
"Damn it, I told you to get the hell out of the Azure Dragon Sect, and you actually dare disobey? I told you to leave! I told you to leave! I'll beat you until you crawl out!"
The Sword Dao Alliance members cursed and struck, while Chu Cheng and Chu Zhen kept their heads down without a word, clutching their skulls. No matter how they were beaten and humiliated, they refused to beg for mercy even once.
"Tch, the Sword Dao Alliance is really going too far. They bully these Chu Family people every day, and the elders don't do a thing. How are the Chu people supposed to survive in the Azure Dragon Sect?"
"Who can you blame? You can only blame that Chu Feng from the Chu Family. He's the one who offended the Azure Dragon Sect's number one disciple, Brother Gong Luyun."
"Exactly. Everyone knows Brother Gong Luyun will be the future sect master. Offending him is the same as offending the entire Azure Dragon Sect. That Chu Feng really has some nerve." The onlookers pointed and whispered, while the Sword Dao Alliance members beat even harder.
"Damn it, kneel and beg for mercy, or I'll cripple your cultivation!" Suddenly, one of the Sword Dao Alliance members drew the Dark Iron Sword from his back and pointed it at Chu Cheng.
"I spit on you! Go ahead and cripple me if you've got the guts! When Brother Chu Feng gets back, he'll never let you off!" Chu Cheng roared viciously. There was fear on his face, but he refused to back down.
"That's right! Every single person who's oppressed the Chu Family these past days — we've remembered every last one of you. When Chu Feng returns, none of you will escape!" Chu Zhen shouted as well, as if pouring out all the grievances they had endured.
"Chu Feng? You really think highly of him. He already ran off with his tail between his legs after offending Brother Gong. You're still waiting for him to save you? What a pipe dream." The Sword Dao Alliance members sneered repeatedly.
"I spit on you! Just you wait — sooner or later, there'll be a day when you'll be crying!" Chu Cheng spat out, and a thick glob of phlegm landed right on the Sword Dao Alliance member's clothes.
"You little bastard, you're really tired of living! I'll cripple you right now, and I'd love to see how that Chu Feng is supposed to settle the score with me!" The Sword Dao Alliance member erupted in fury, raising his sword and thrusting it straight at Chu Cheng's Dantian.
"Aaah~~~"
But when the scream rang out, every single onlooker was struck with shock.
Because the one who had crumpled to the ground was not Chu Cheng — it was the Sword Dao Alliance member. And a large foot was planted firmly on his back, twisting back and forth. The crisp crackling of bones snapping could be heard, popping one after another.
And when the crowd saw who that foot belonged to, their faces changed drastically. One person even cried out involuntarily: "Chu Feng!"