"Chu Feng, you actually..." Hearing these words, Sikong Zhaixing was stunned. But after a brief silence, he continued:
"The Starview Observatory may not openly cause trouble for our Greenwood South Forest on the surface, but I've always had the feeling that they want to eliminate us. They simply haven't had a proper reason or the right opportunity."
"After all, no matter how much our Greenwood South Forest has declined, we remain the legitimate subordinate force of Greenwood Mountain. They need a valid excuse to move against us."
"Now, Yuan Qing of the Starview Observatory has actually triggered the Ancient Immortal Needle. Not only will Yuan Qing receive special treatment upon entering Greenwood Mountain, but the Starview Observatory itself will be handsomely rewarded. Their arrogance will only grow from here. At this rate, who knows when they'll finally make their move against us."
"But what concerns me most is your grudge with Yuan Qing. The man already has extraordinary talent, and with the Starview Observatory's influence at Greenwood Mountain, if he sets his sights on you once he gets in, I'm afraid you'll be at a disadvantage."
"And now that he's triggered the Ancient Immortal Needle, entering Greenwood Mountain will be like a fish finding water. So what I fear most is Yuan Qing targeting you." At this, Sikong Zhaixing sighed, all his worry and inner concerns laid bare before Chu Feng without reservation.
"If that's the case, Senior Sikong can rest easy," Chu Feng said.
"Rest easy? Chu Feng, you..." Sikong Zhaixing was clearly puzzled by Chu Feng's words.
"It wasn't Yuan Qing who triggered the Ancient Immortal Needle—it was me," Chu Feng said in a low voice, his expression perfectly natural and his emotions calm.
"What? Chu Feng, what did you just say? Say that again!" Upon hearing this, Sikong Zhaixing's expression changed dramatically. Trembling with excitement, he seized Chu Feng's shoulders with both hands—completely out of character.
Chu Feng, however, seemed to have anticipated this reaction. He remained composed and repeated unhurriedly: "It was actually me who triggered the Ancient Immortal Needle."
"Heavens, is that true? Hahaha, this is wonderful—truly wonderful! I knew it all along. How could that Yuan Qing from the Starview Observatory ever compare to our South Forest's Chu Feng!" At this moment, Sikong Zhaixing was overcome with wild joy, his aged body trembling with excitement.
He had no doubt whatsoever about what Chu Feng said. He trusted Chu Feng completely, and now that Chu Feng claimed to have triggered the Ancient Immortal Needle, even if the entire world disbelieved him, Sikong Zhaixing would still believe—for in his heart, Chu Feng was the only hope of the Greenwood South Forest.
"Chu Feng, if you were the one who triggered the Ancient Immortal Needle, why didn't you expose Yuan Qing? Why let him reap the benefits for nothing?" Amid his ecstasy, Sikong Zhaixing couldn't help but ask.
After all, triggering the Ancient Immortal Needle was a monumental feat that would bring boundless rewards—the reverence of the human race, and Greenwood Mountain's focus on their development. All of this should have belonged to Chu Feng, yet it was now claimed by Yuan Qing. The thought left Sikong Zhaixing deeply unhappy.
"Senior Sikong, I have my reasons." Seeing this, Chu Feng dropped his pretense and told Sikong Zhaixing everything that had transpired in the depths of the Ancient Immortal Pool, holding nothing back.
He especially recounted how the Ancient Spirits had killed Qin Guang, then turned on him—and how he had killed them in return.
And how he had not admitted to triggering the Ancient Immortal Needle because he feared the Ancient Spirits would hunt him down. The Ancient Spirits were far too powerful. If they truly wanted him dead, not even Sikong Zhaixing—perhaps not even Greenwood Mountain itself—could protect Chu Feng.
"So you're saying Yuan Qing is now in mortal danger? His days are numbered?"
Upon hearing Chu Feng's words, a flicker of secret delight appeared on Sikong Zhaixing's face. Though he was the lord of the South Forest and held a noble position, he couldn't help but wish that Yuan Qing—the one who had snatched up the benefits—would be done in by the Ancient Spirits. In other words, Yuan Qing's behavior had indeed been despicable.
"To be honest, I can't say for certain whether the Ancient Spirits will kill Yuan Qing. I didn't admit to triggering the Ancient Immortal Needle simply because I feared something unexpected might happen."
"But I never imagined that, through this twist of fate, Yuan Qing would end up being the person everyone believed had triggered the Ancient Immortal Needle."