Once I enter the pass, great Confucian scholars will surely debate the classics for me.

The mountain road leading to the summit of Flaming Mountain.

Yan Bipo and others were in front.

Zhou Qingfeng and Jin Wei were behind, neither too far nor too close, just within sight of each other.

At this point, whoever goes first will encounter more unknown dangers and enemies. But Yan Bipo is not stupid and insists on rushing ahead. He has his own considerations. Whoever goes first will be able to get the Escape Ruler first. Even if it is only half a step ahead, it will be enough to determine the outcome.

It might be safer for Zhou Qingfeng and Jin Wei to follow behind, as they would have more time to react if danger arose. However, they would also be a step slower, so there are pros and cons.

Soon, the group arrived at a wooden bridge.

A heavily armored general stood before the wooden bridge. The general was nine feet tall, holding a sword hilt in both hands with the sword tip touching the ground. He wore silver-white heavy armor, his entire body hidden inside. Only through his visor could one see a pair of scarlet eyes that were slowly opening: "You've come to the wrong place, you little bastards. Get lost, or I'll kill you."

Yan Bipo glanced at the heavy swordsman blocking his way, who was only at the Devouring Fiend Realm, and said calmly, "Er Gou, take care of him."

"Alright, Chief Yan." Li Ergou stepped forward, wielding his double maces, and pointed at the heavy swordsman, saying, "I advise you to make way, or I'll beat you to death."

Upon hearing this, the heavy swordsman slowly moved, twirling his heavy sword with one hand: "If you won't listen, then die!"

Upon seeing this, Li Ergou's pupils contracted sharply. He cursed inwardly, "Holy crap! Wielding a greatsword with one hand, this guy is definitely a super warrior who is proficient in close combat!"

Without a second thought, the heavy swordsman had already appeared in front of Li Ergou in an instant, his speed and strength were extremely fast. With a sweeping sword, he carried the force of ten million jin, intending to cut Li Ergou in half at the waist. Li Ergou reacted quickly, but it was too late to dodge. He could only take the blow head-on and raise his mace to block the greatsword's strike.

"Boom!" Li Ergou was sent flying on the spot, making a sonic boom as he crashed into the even more solid mountain wall.

Li Ergou took the blow head-on, then braced his maces against the wall and charged at the heavy swordsman with even greater speed. He spun his maces and slammed them down on the heavy swordsman's greatsword, instantly cracking it. His magical maces were specifically designed to break through magical weapons and armor, making him invincible in close combat.

As the enemy fights, they will find that their magical artifacts are shattered, and their armor is destroyed.

The two sides then engaged in a fierce battle, their blows creating a chaotic shockwave, each strike carrying immense force.

If this place hadn't been exceptionally sturdy, it would have been reduced to dust long ago by the aftershocks of their battle.

"Li Ergou, catch up with me later." Yan Bipo glanced coldly at Li Ergou, put his hands behind his back, stepped onto the bridge, and continued forward.

Seeing this, Zhao Ying didn't say anything. After all, in her and Yan Bipo's eyes, Li Ergou was just an obedient tool, available whenever called upon, and disposable at will. His life or death was not important at all. It was good enough if he could be of use. She just glanced back at Zhou Qingfeng, seemingly lost in thought, and then followed Yan Bipo with light steps.

Zhou Qingfeng and Jin Wei exchanged a glance. They didn't intend to help Li Ergou. Since Yan Bipo was in such a hurry to clear the way, they would just follow behind. Anyway, they wouldn't suffer any losses. There was nothing wrong with going smoothly. At most, they could overtake Yan Bipo and the others when they were almost at the summit.

The group quickly walked up the mountain and soon reached the halfway point.

A white crane and a black crane blocked the way.

The black and white cranes spread their wings and transformed into human form in the blink of an eye.

The two men, dressed in Taoist robes, bowed with one hand: "White Crane (Black Crane), we greet you fellow Taoists. This road is blocked. Please return the way you came. Do not force us to take action to persuade you to turn back, or you will suffer a terrible death."

Yan Bipo, Zhou Qingfeng, and the others paused, raising their eyes to scrutinize the black and white cranes. They discovered that they couldn't discern the cultivation level and realm of these two individuals. In other words, these two either cultivated techniques to conceal their cultivation or were cultivators of a higher realm.

Zhou Qingfeng glanced at Yan Bipo, not intending to step forward. "Anyway, Yan Bipo, you're in a hurry, so keep going and don't back down!"

Yan Bipo glanced sideways and snorted coldly: "Hmph, we helped with the last test, now it's your turn to help with this one, Fellow Daoist Tian."

After a moment's consideration, Zhou Qingfeng realized it wasn't the right time to turn hostile, so he nodded, stepped forward, and clasped his hands in a salute: "Junior Tian Xingyi greets Senior Baihe and Senior Heihe. I am here to retrieve the Escape Ruler and leave Spiral Town, following Senior Tie Shan's guidance."

Upon hearing this, Bai He smiled faintly: "Oh? Iron Fan sent you. It seems you've broken the sure-death gamble she set up."

Zhou Qingfeng responded with a fist and palm salute: "Just lucky."

Black Crane clicked his tongue: "White Crane, this kid was able to break the sure-death bet. It seems that it was the will of Heaven. The glimmer of hope left by Spiral Town may have been prepared for him. If we deliberately make things difficult for him, we may cause a karmic backlash and bring about our own demise. We might as well let him pass. We won't need to guard this place anymore."

Bai He shook his head and said, "No, if the Sky-Piercing Ruler falls into the wrong hands, the potential dangers will be too great."

Heihe said, "Then what do you suggest we do?"

Bai He pondered for a moment, then chuckled and said, "Tian Xingyi, I will ask you three questions. If you can answer them all, you will pass and we will let you pass. But if you cannot answer any of them, you must return the way you came and cannot insist on passing. Otherwise, we will have no choice but to kill you."

Zhou Qingfeng licked his lips, nodded, and said, "Please feel free to ask me any questions, senior."

Bai He smiled slightly: "First question: If sacrificing yourself could save the world, would you be willing to die?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingfeng answered without hesitation, "No."

Bai He raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "Don't you want to reconsider? Such a decisive answer, have you thought it through?"

Zhou Qingfeng clasped his hands in response: "There's nothing to consider. I'm neither a saint nor a hero. Sacrificing myself to save the world would be the greatest evil for me personally. The lives of the world are none of my concern. My life is the most important. Why should I give up my own life to save them? I will not willingly go to my death."

Bai He laughed heartily, pointed at Zhou Qingfeng, and looked at Hei He: "I like this guy, he's awesome. Moral blackmail won't work on him."

Black Crane looked Zhou Qingfeng up and down and said calmly, "Second question: If there were your beloved parents among the people of the world, would you be willing to die for them?"

Zhou Qingfeng fell silent, frowned slightly, and slowly uttered two words: "No."

Black Crane said, "Why not? Among all the people in this world, there are your beloved parents."

Zhou Qingfeng calmly said, "At any time, for any reason, in any environment, or in any difficulty, I will never give up my own life. Moreover, my real parents cherish me as their own life. They would rather die themselves than let me die. I know that, so I will not."

Black Crane clicked his tongue twice: "Tsk tsk... White Crane, this kid is impervious to reason, his heart is as hard as stone, he's truly a rare breed."

Bai He stroked his chin and chuckled, "The last question, are you ready? This one is very difficult."

Zhou Qingfeng calmly said, "Please ask the senior to pose the question."

Upon hearing this, Bai He smiled slightly and asked, "Then please answer me, what is love?"

"what?"