Looking at the storage ring in her hand, Yun Yaoyao couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.
This mortal.
He really made her laugh and cry.
Forget about one million, any single item in Old Demon Yan's storage ring was worth far more than one million spirit stones.
But Yi Feng's swift and decisive attitude put even her, a Martial Emperor powerhouse, to shame.
Even for her, killing someone like Old Demon Yan would give her many concerns, yet this mortal spoke of slaying him as easily as swatting a fly, without batting an eye.
Thinking back on it, her status as a Martial Emperor had become like a pig waiting to be slaughtered.
"That reminds me, while we cultivators have lost our cultivation bases, our physical strength and combat experience are still beyond what mortals can defeat. How exactly did you manage to overpower me earlier?" Yun Yaoyao couldn't resist asking the question that had been puzzling her.
"Oh that, heh heh..."
Yi Feng scratched his head and grinned, "This inferior one may have no cultivation base, but I do possess some skills in fist and footwork."
"Some skills in fist and footwork?"
Yun Yaoyao pursed her red lips.
She still found it rather hard to believe.
Even with some mastery over fist and footwork techniques, it still shouldn't be possible to overwhelm Old Demon Yan.
The undeniable fact that Yi Feng lacked any cultivation base aside, even if he did secretly possess one without her knowledge, it would have also been suppressed under the dimensional pressure here. So she could only conclude that Yi Feng's fist and footwork skills really were quite incredible.
However, there was one unbelievable implication she was having trouble accepting - since Yi Feng could casually slap Old Demon Yan to death with a brick, she wouldn't stand a chance against him either now.
In other words.
Yi Feng had become even stronger than her at present.
And once more, she had become a burden to this mortal man.
Having gone through a similar situation previously however, this fact was not as hard to accept this time round.
"What should we do next?"
She turned to Yi Feng and asked, unconsciously already deferring to him as the leader.
"We need to figure out where exactly we are first." Yi Feng replied.
"If I'm guessing correctly, we should be inside the ruins left behind by that ancient immortal cultivator." Yun Yaoyao frowned.
"Oh?"
Yi Feng was slightly surprised as he quickly asked, "I remember you mentioning that immortal left behind some impressive treasures. Does that mean we can go treasure hunting?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself."
Yun Yaoyao couldn't resist rolling her eyes at Yi Feng as she retorted, "With the dimensional pressure suppressing us, we'd be lucky just to stay alive without any cultivation base. Harboring any fantasies about seizing treasures is nothing more than wishful thinking. Not to mention the prohibitive formations and guardian beasts that will no doubt be protecting the treasures. So obtaining any treasures is simply impossible under these circumstances."
"Our top priority should still be finding a way out of here!"
"I see."
Yi Feng weighed the brick in his hand as he led Yun Yaoyao to search for an exit.
And this search went on for a good long while.
"Who goes there?"
At this point, Yi Feng called out upon catching sight of the passageway up ahead.
Next, three wary figures emerged from within the passage.
One was a youth wielding a long spear.
The other two were elderly men.
"Oh? If it isn't Miss Yun."
The youth was clearly surprised to see Yun Yaoyao as he exclaimed.
Yun Yaoyao was equally astonished.
Because all three people before her eyes were no ordinary folk. The youth was Gu Wunian from Dongsheng Zhou, possessing a cultivation level at the Sixth Order Martial Emperor realm. His mastery over the long spear in his hands was matched by few.
As for the other two elderly men, they were comparable existences to Old Demon Yan, eminent experts hailing from the Central Continent, known as the Yin Yang Elders. One at the Fifth Order Martial Emperor realm, the other at the Sixth.
"How did you all end up together?"
Yun Yaoyao couldn't resist asking.
"We happened to run into each other by chance and decided to band together, strength in numbers and all. Travelling alone would be courting death under the suppressive pressure in this place!" Gu Wunian chuckled.
Hearing his words, Yun Yaoyao gave a nod.
What he said was reasonable indeed.
"What do you say Miss Yun, now that we've met, why not travel together? Safety in numbers as they say, we'll be better able to handle any dangers we encounter." Gu Wunian suggested.
"I no longer intend to go treasure hunting so I'm afraid our paths differ." Yun Yaoyao replied.
"Miss Yun jests, we too are only searching for a way out. With our cultivation bases suppressed here, preserving our lives takes priority if we wish to obtain any treasures." Gu Wunian said with a laugh.
Yun Yaoyao gave a nod.
It would seem everyone understood where they stood.
Perhaps those at lower cultivation levels might still take risks, but for existences that have reached their level of mastery, they treasured their lives even more than any treasures they might obtain.
"Shall we travel together then?"
Gu Wunian asked with a smile.
"Well..."
Yun Yaoyao's face was filled with hesitation as she turned to glance at Yi Feng.
And this subtle reaction from Yun Yaoyao did not escape Gu Wunian's notice.
His mind raced to guess - just who exactly was this youth that Yun Yaoyao seemed to defer decisions to?
"May I ask for this brother's name?"
Gu Wunian cupped his fist.
"My name is Yi Feng."
Yi Feng returned the gesture likewise.
"Yi Feng?"
Gu Wunian racked his brains, but could not recall ever hearing of such an eminent figure. And with everyone's cultivation bases gone, he had no way of discerning Yi Feng's true level of mastery either.
"Those two seniors, why not travel together with us to seek a way out?" Gu Wunian asked again.
Yun Yaoyao threw a glance at Yi Feng.
Yi Feng finally gave a nod.
The edges of Gu Wunian's lips lifted into a faint smile. The group of five thus banded together to continue their search for an exit.
Time passed.
Nearly half a month had gone by in the blink of an eye.
Yet the five wandering the maze still found no way out.
And with their cultivation bases gone, their ability to abstain from food had vanished along with it. Although still far superior to ordinary men, half a month of wandering had taken a visible toll, leaving the five increasingly haggard and disheveled.
Over the course of their travels however, Yi Feng had become better acquainted with Gu Wunian and company.
And they in turn had also learnt of Yi Feng's mortal identity.
While Gu Wunian took this revelation in stride, the Yin Yang Elders had since ceased speaking another word to Yi Feng, their eyes filled with disdain whenever they looked his way.
"Going round and round for so many days, yet we've ended up back here again."
Gu Wunian, taking the lead at this moment, sighed dejectedly.
The rest followed his gaze.
Indeed.
They were back at the very spot where they had first crossed paths, meaning the past half a month of wandering had been for naught.
Even existences at their level of mastery felt the tremendous psychological strain at this moment, made worse by their inability to withstand hunger for much longer.
In contrast, Yi Feng's eyes glinted perceptively.
He pondered for a moment before speaking up, "Everyone, why not follow me? I may have a solution."
Hearing this, all eyes turned towards Yi Feng.
"Hmph!"
The Yin Yang Elders gave a derisive snort, clearly not putting any stock in Yi Feng's words.
"Brother Yi Feng, you're but a mere mortal. If even we have failed to find an exit, what solution could you possibly have?" Gu Wunian eyed him dubiously as he questioned.
"I cannot say for certain if this counts as a solution, but it still beats wandering blindly. If you believe in me, come along. Otherwise, I will take my leave alone." Yi Feng responded indifferently.
Because from their current position, it wasn't too far off from the palace where he previously had snake for a meal. If he recalled correctly, he was quite confident in finding his way back there.
And thinking back now, there did seem to be something special about that palace.
In all their days of wandering, he had never once come across another palace like it. That fact alone spoke of its uniqueness. Yi Feng thus guessed that the palace might hold the key to escaping this place.
Yi Feng watched the others, waiting for them to respond.
But no one spoke a word.
Yi Feng gave a nod, prepared to leave on his own, when Yun Yaoyao finally broke the silence beside him. "I'll go with you." She declared.
"Alright."
Yi Feng nodded at Yun Yaoyao.
"Miss Yun, you really shouldn't..." Gu Wunian said through gritted teeth, "We've come across countless demonic beasts on our journey. While their cultivation bases have likewise been suppressed, travelling in smaller numbers would still be taking great risks!"
Yun Yaoyao fell silent briefly before lifting her head to respond, "It's fine, I choose to place my faith in him."
As soon as she was done speaking, her gaze drifted towards Yi Feng.
While the mortal vexed her to no end at times, she had to admit that there was an inexplicable sense of security that she felt by his side.
The irony of a Martial Emperor powerhouse feeling safe beside a mortal man was not lost on her, yet it remained an undeniable fact.
"Then what about me?"
Gu Wunian's face turned uglier as he probed.
"I suggest you come with us." Yun Yaoyao glanced at Gu Wunian and added after some hesitation, "Trust me, I won't lead you astray."
Looking at Yun Yaoyao's solemn expression, Gu Wunian gritted his teeth and finally nodded.
"Humph!"
However, the Yin-Yang Elders let out a cold humph and turned to leave.
"Hey elders, why don't we go together? It'd be good to have some company on the road!" Gu Wunian called out.
"The esteemed Martial Emperor, actually putting his hopes on a mere mortal. Don't you find that laughable?"
The Yin-Yang Elders said disdainfully, "In any case, we two brothers would never do something so foolish."