"Sect Leader Sikong, I am well aware of the agreement between our Ascension Sect's ancestor and your Southern Forest's ancestor."
"However, after all these years, your Green Wood Southern Forest has never been able to retrieve the token within the Southern Forest Tower. I believe your coming here this time is nothing but a waste of time."
"So in my opinion, you should just stop coming. To put it nicely, this kind of behavior is called 'never giving up.' But to put it bluntly, it's simply asking for humiliation." The Sect Master's wife spoke, a warm smile on her face, though her words were exceedingly harsh.
The moment those words left the Sect Master's wife's mouth, Sikong Zhaixing's brows knitted tightly together, his expression shifting between dark and light. He was furious — yet he didn't dare retort. He could only endure, because he didn't dare talk back.
This was the truth of being under another's roof: one had no choice but to bow one's head. When facing someone whose strength and influence both far surpassed your own, sometimes there was truly nothing you could do. Even if your dignity was trampled, you could only swallow it in silence.
"And how do you know that our Green Wood Southern Forest will fail again this time?" Just then, Chu Feng spoke up. Sikong Zhaixing had his reservations, but Chu Feng did not. For him, dignity was something that had to be defended on one's own.
"Oh my, daring to speak to me like that — how rather commendable. You must be the disciple preparing to enter the Southern Forest Tower. It seems you're quite confident." The Sect Master's wife looked Chu Feng over. There was no trace of distaste in her eyes — instead, a hint of surprise flickered within them.
Then she turned to Sikong Zhaixing and said, "Sect Leader Sikong, I presume you brought him here because you have some confidence in his abilities as well. Since that's the case, why don't we make a deal?"
"What deal?" Sikong Zhaixing asked.
"I will allow your disciple to enter the Southern Forest Tower — but this will be the last time."
"If he manages to retrieve the token within the Southern Forest Tower, then so be it. But if he fails, I expect you never to come to our Ascension Sect again. Furthermore, I will rename the Southern Forest Tower to the Ascension Tower. From this day forward, the Southern Forest Tower shall belong to our Ascension Sect. What do you think?" The Sect Master's wife said with a beaming smile.
"This..." Hearing those words, Sikong Zhaixing's face changed drastically. It was one thing for them to refuse him — but now they were saying something like this.
This was no longer a simple refusal. It wasn't merely about preventing the Green Wood Southern Forest from touching what rightfully belonged to them.
No — they wanted to claim the Southern Forest Tower as their own and sever all ties with the Green Wood Southern Forest forever.
In that moment, Sikong Zhaixing clenched both fists until they creaked. He hated — hated his own inadequacy, which allowed him to be bullied like this.
But he was powerless, helpless. No matter how the fury surged within his heart, it could only burn him from inside — he didn't dare let it erupt.
"I accept your terms." But after gritting his teeth, Sikong Zhaixing ultimately agreed.
His reasoning was simple: if he agreed, there was still a chance. But if he refused, the Southern Forest Tower would be lost to the Green Wood Southern Forest forever. Since the Ascension Sect had already set their sights on claiming the Tower, unless the token was retrieved, there was no way to change that. So he had no choice but to agree.
"Very well. In that case, go ahead." Seeing Sikong Zhaixing agree, the Sect Master's wife smiled enchantingly and waved her hand toward Chu Feng.
Whoosh — However, just as Chu Feng was about to set off, a beam of golden light suddenly descended from the sky, sealing the entrance to the Southern Forest Tower.
Looking up, he noticed a figure hurtling through the air at tremendous speed, finally coming to a stop above the Southern Forest Tower.
She was also a woman, but a young one — clad in a white dress that billowed in the wind, with long hair as black and lustrous as silk. Her entire bearing was that of a fairy come to life.
And it was not just her otherworldly grace — her features were anything but ordinary. Her skin was translucent and jade-like, as smooth and delicate as a baby's, and her bright, luminous eyes were as beautiful as a starlit sky.