Chapter 2662 - 2663: Endless Labyrinth

As they advanced through the oppressive corridor, neither Feng Yuan nor Veronia were affected. To them, this was child’s play, but it wasn’t the same for Xiao Ji and the others.

The initially spirited Fluffy Fire Wolfhound now had its tail tucked, ears drooping; although nothing had happened, it seemed rather jittery. Xiao Ji was slightly better, but instead of trailing behind Feng Yuan as usual, Xiao Ji was now clinging tightly to Feng Yuan, causing Feng Yuan to bump into it whenever he moved his legs.

Picking up Xiao Ji and holding it in his arms, Feng Yuan said, somewhat helplessly,

"You all don’t need to worry. Just pretend you’re walking outside as usual. As for any attacks, aren’t I here?"

As he spoke, he gently smoothed Xiao Ji’s feathers. Whether it was Feng Yuan’s words or his feather grooming that calmed it, Xiao Ji seemed much calmer than before.

"Mental induction is at work here; it’s not affecting us, but it seems to have caught them,"

Veronia noticed something and spoke up, glancing at the eagle in Feng Yuan’s arms, Feng Yuan replied in mild frustration,

"It’s likely on par with the power of the deep layer of the Qi Realm, just with a weaker effect. Ordinary barriers can’t block that stuff."

If the Qi Realm’s power didn’t penetrate most barriers, Feng Yuan would have already deployed a shield for defense. Unfortunately, Tamur hadn’t come along. Feng Yuan could indeed draw on similar resources as the Mythical Era Projection, but that would cause too much commotion. He couldn’t be sure whether introducing such a force would trigger new changes.

"Besides, why not retract them to the Spirit Beast Space?"

Thinking of something, Veronia looked at Feng Yuan and suggested, though it didn’t mention the World of Mirrors, sensing the surrounding energy was peculiar; opening a passageway to the World of Mirrors might risk that energy infiltrating it.

"No way. Aside from the discomfort of staying there, the Qi Realm’s power has a strong permeating ability. The Spirit Beast Space has linked coordinates; it can’t resist the erosion of the Qi Realm’s power."

Feng Yuan shook his head slightly. The Spirit Beast Space is just a personal subspace that theoretically isn’t affected by the surrounding environment, but in the face of forces capable of influencing subspace, that theory doesn’t hold.

The Spirit Beast Space maintains a connection with the Beastmaster, transmitting power through this link. In contrast, Veronia’s World of Mirrors is different.

As a relatively independent domain, the World of Mirrors interacts with the outside only when the passage is open. When closed, the World of Mirrors can be considered an isolated world.

Thus, even if the World of Mirrors is anchored in Veronia, the Qi Realm’s power won’t invade it.

If in other circumstances, before entering, Feng Yuan could’ve let Xiao Ji hide in the World of Mirrors, but now they’ve come too far to turn back.

Under these circumstances, Feng Yuan couldn’t have Veronia open the World of Mirrors here. He knew the importance of the World of Mirrors to Veronia, a crucial memory from the Mythical Era. If troubles arose from something minor, he wouldn’t know how to face Veronia.

Looking at Feng Yuan, Veronia understood his concerns and sighed without persuasion. The World of Mirrors was Veronia’s sole reminiscence, even if, theoretically, the Qi Realm’s power wouldn’t severely harm the World of Mirrors...

The Fluffy Fire Wolfhound came over seeking cuddles, yet Feng Yuan couldn’t accommodate it now. Smiling, Feng Yuan held Xiao Ji with one hand while gently stroking the wolfhound’s head, saying,

"Relax, just chill. I’m here, don’t worry about those sneaky ones."

Beside him, nine small shields floated around Feng Yuan, slowly rotating. Though using Xiao Ji’s power initially, after blending in Feng Yuan’s power, blocking regular sneak attacks was now easy.

Regarding stronger attacks? Feng Yuan couldn’t believe such an event would occur here. This wasn’t a trap, nor did the Qi Realm Stele or Blood-Colored Crystal Stone exceed the test boundaries despite their hazard.

If an attack goes beyond the shield’s defense limit, the location breaches test principles. Such attacks can’t be considered exams.

Veronia glanced at Feng Yuan, chuckled lightly, and said nothing. Only he dared to make such claims. Others, including itself, wouldn’t declare safety amid this eerie Qi Realm.

Though devoid of life-threatening danger, looking disheveled was inevitable; if an overwhelmingly strong enemy ambushed, the Fluffy Fire Wolfhound getting harmed wasn’t impossible barring Feng Yuan’s combat power.

With Feng Yuan’s comforting presence, the Fluffy Fire Wolfhound gradually calmed, though it still traversed cautiously to avoid stepping on traps.

The endless corridor felt relentless, never-ending. Through Feng Yuan’s divine sense, their spatial position ceased moving, a predicament akin to traveling forward yet remaining stationary.

"Forcefully break through using divine sense?"

Mulling over this thought, Feng Yuan hesitated despite having the capability. Such an action breached rules, and while unconcerned himself, breaking the rules might delay reaching the true endpoint.

After pondering, Feng Yuan opted to proceed. Unfortunately, an hour later, he discovered he was still stuck in circles.

"That doesn’t seem right—with all this walking, shouldn’t there be some changes? Did I mess something up?"

Wondering aloud, Feng Yuan surveyed the surroundings. The maze’s stone walls revealed no hidden secrets or mysteries to Veronia, unaware they’d been stagnant, it puzzled, glancing at Feng Yuan for clues.

"Without employing high-grade power, we’ve stayed static, at least spatially. Even testing patience shouldn’t be like this."

Using his hand to touch the wall perplexed, Feng Yuan found no signs of these being illusions.

"Hmm, so, pure progression leads nowhere."

"Could it relate to the Qi Realm stance?"

After deep reflection, Veronia suggested, Feng Yuan paused, then contemplated briefly before replying,

"Possibly, I’ll give it a shot."

Unlike Qi Chen’s group, Feng Yuan and Veronia didn’t fret about Qi Realm contamination, so either could assume the Qi Realm stance. If progress depended solely on the stance, barring direct spatial transfers, one person leading was sufficient even if others saw nothing.

Assuming the Qi Realm stance, Feng Yuan noticed a shift in the maze’s appearance. What had been stone walls became writhing flesh, its eyeballs intermittently surveying him.

Watching the flesh wall’s cells periodically split and cluster elsewhere, Feng Yuan quietly muttered,

"Perhaps the maze pathway’s randomness hails from this."

"Wait, could that thing be a door?"

Then, Feng Yuan spotted an unusual place, where a mouth-like circle embedded in the flesh wall resembled a giant maw.

"Only one way to find out."

Murmuring, Feng Yuan swung his arm, merging nine small shields into a greatsword that cleaved fiercely at the round maw.

No screams emerged; the seemingly impregnable teeth turned brittle like glass, shattering instantly upon contact.

"A vortex-like spatial passage lies ahead, no doubt." Veronia stated before Feng Yuan could react, pointing out the blood-red vortex looming ominously as he released the Qi Realm stance, furrowing his brow, wondering if it was a trap.

For a moment, Feng Yuan shook his head amusedly, unperturbed. He stepped into the blood-red vortex; surroundings flipped unexpectedly.

Despite not in the Qi Realm stance, around was a flesh barrier with blood-colored raindrops suspending as if slow-motioned.

"What an odd area. I sense peculiar energies ahead of us." Veronia marveled skeptically, staring ahead shrouded by flesh walls, encountering a strange yet distinctive force.