"Sikong Senior, you..."
Looking at Sikong Zhaixing and the gaze full of expectation, Chu Feng felt somewhat at a loss.
Although he had already known that Sikong Zhaixing thought highly of him and valued him greatly because he had broken through the formation at the exit of the Heavenly Path, leading the Elder to order all the elders to search for him, he had never expected the elder's expectations to be this high.
While this was undoubtedly a good thing for him, Chu Feng still felt a certain amount of pressure. If he were to disappoint Sikong Zhaixing's expectations, and if he couldn't make a name for himself in Qingmu Mountain—a place brimming with geniuses where even Heavenly Bestowed Divine Bodies existed—the Southern Greenwood Forest, already devoid of the Han Family's support, might truly fall into a state worse than those unofficial affiliated forces.
"Young friend Chu Feng, don't burden yourself with this. This was my decision, and it has nothing to do with you, truly."
"Our Southern Greenwood Forest hasn't found a talented junior like you in a very long time. In fact, ever since our branch was established here, we've never found anyone as outstanding as you."
"Do you know? The Southern Greenwood Forest was founded at the same time as the other three Forests. Our first Master was superior to the masters of the other three Forests in both influence and cultivation strength at that time."
"Four territories were available for him to choose from, yet he insisted on choosing this one. He even personally set up that formation at the Heavenly Path exit."
"At that time, many people didn't understand why he did that, because this territory was the worst among the four back then. Apart from controlling a Heavenly Path exit leading to the Southern Sea, it had nothing special—truly desolate, you could call it a backwater, and that wouldn't be an exaggeration."
"But the first Master said that someone who would astonish the entire Martial Holy Land would eventually appear here, and he hoped that the Southern Greenwood Forest would be the one to send this person to Qingmu Mountain, so that this remarkable individual would carry the name of Qingmu Mountain."
"Over the years, many Masters have come and gone in the Southern Greenwood Forest, yet not a single outstanding disciple has emerged. In fact, so few exceptional disciples have been sent that none of them have managed to make a name for themselves within Qingmu Mountain."
"Our Southern Greenwood Forest is now far behind the other three Forests. Even those unofficial affiliated forces look down on us. The subsidies Qingmu Mountain grants us each year grow smaller and smaller. We not only lag far behind the other three Forests but have even fallen to the level of third-rate forces. Our Southern Greenwood Forest has completely become a laughingstock in everyone's eyes."
"Actually, I used to be confused too. I didn't understand why the first Master chose this place. With his strength at the time, he could have chosen the best territory, granting us, his descendants, far better treatment. Why did he insist on choosing this one?"
"Before meeting you, I could never figure out his reasoning. But when I saw you emerge from the Heavenly Path exit and break through the formation the first Master had set, I suddenly understood."
"I finally understood the first Master's words." At this point, Sikong Zhaixing turned his gaze back to Chu Feng and said, "The purpose of our Southern Greenwood Forest's establishment wasn't simply to send a large batch of talented individuals to Qingmu Mountain every year, like the other three Forests."
"The purpose of our Southern Greenwood Forest's establishment was to send one great powerhouse to Qingmu Mountain—a person capable of influencing the entire Martial Holy Land. And I believe that person is you."
"You can think I'm daydreaming. You can even think I'm crazy. But in my eyes, you are the hope of our Southern Greenwood Forest. The entire reason our Southern Greenwood Forest was established was for you. Now that I've waited and found you, nothing else matters."
"No matter what you think, no matter whether you're willing or not, I will do everything in my power, spare no expense, to cultivate you."
"Wow, you've really hit the jackpot! This old man is going to put everything on the line to protect you!" After hearing the Southern Greenwood Forest Master's words, Eggy laughed happily. But between her laughs, she sighed with a hint of regret:
"It's a pity, though. From the sound of it, the Southern Greenwood Forest's status is so low now. I'm afraid he doesn't have much say in Qingmu Mountain, and his connections probably aren't that extensive either."
"If you cause some huge trouble in Qingmu Mountain in the future, I'm afraid he won't be able to protect you at all. But regardless, seeing how he is now, at the very least he'll do his utmost to smooth out your path within Qingmu Mountain. Having someone backing you is definitely better than having no one. All in all, it's still a good thing."