This sudden turn of events left everyone stunned. Sun Feiyang's expression — a mixture of surprise and unease — only deepened the crowd's confusion.
Gazing at that withered palm that had stopped Old Wang's battle-axe, people could guess that whoever had arrived was no ordinary person. But who could possibly be formidable enough to put Sun Feiyang on edge?
"Young friend Chu Feng, I trust you've been well. I didn't expect us to meet again so soon."
Yet, while the crowd was still buzzing with speculation, the old man stepped out of the rift in space and looked toward Chu Feng with a warm smile.
"Senior Miao!" At the sight of him, Chu Feng felt both joy and astonishment.
This was Elder Miao — the foremost Spirit World Master of the Alliance of Spirit World Masters, and someone on very good terms with Sima Ying. When Chu Feng had escorted Sima Ying back to the Alliance, he had met this very elder.
But he couldn't quite figure out why Elder Miao would show up here out of the blue. If Sun Feiyang and his people had come to demand the Sealed Cold Water, then what was Elder Miao's reason? He couldn't have traveled all this way just to save Chu Feng — that was far too unrealistic. Elder Miao shouldn't even know he was here.
Regardless, Chu Feng was inwardly delighted. Elder Miao's cultivation was far too powerful — he hadn't fully grasped it before, but looking at it now, Chu Feng could confirm that Elder Miao's strength surpassed not only Sun Feiyang and Old Village Chief Ma, but even Hong Qiang.
"Miao Renlong — Lord Miao!" At that moment, several senior elders of the Sealed Village also recognized Elder Miao, and every single one of them was visibly shocked.
"We pay our respects to Lord Miao!" In an instant, the people of the Sealed Village bowed respectfully toward Elder Miao.
"We pay our respects to Elder Miao!" Even the typically arrogant Huang Feng, Sun Lei, and the others dared not be negligent, offering deep bows of their own.
Though Chu Feng didn't know exactly what status Elder Miao held within the Alliance of Spirit World Masters, the reactions of those around him made it clear that the elder was a figure of tremendous weight. Otherwise, a man of Sun Feiyang's temperament would never have shown such deference.
"Lord Miao, why… why have you come here?" Sure enough, even Sun Feiyang no longer dared to be brash. Fellow Spirit World Masters as they were, he addressed Elder Miao as "Lord" — and with genuinely respectful tone at that. It was enough to surprise everyone present.
"Why have I come here? Sun Feiyang, I should be the one asking you that question. Why are you here? And why did you attack young friend Chu Feng, even injuring Village Chief Ma?" Elder Miao's voice was cold.
"This…" Sun Feiyang's brow furrowed tightly, seemingly at a loss for an answer.
"Senior Miao, if you don't mind, perhaps you could let me explain what happened," Chu Feng spoke up.
"What would you know? Look at yourself — who are you to speak here?" Seeing Chu Feng try to talk, Sun Feiyang rushed to cut him off, terrified that the young man would embellish the story.
"Silence!" But before he could finish, Elder Miao barked a reprimand. Then, turning to Chu Feng with a far gentler expression, he said: "Young friend Chu Feng, if you know something, please speak freely."
At this, Sun Feiyang's face turned ugly beyond words — yet all he could do was lower his head and keep quiet. The onlooking crowd, too, was deeply shocked.
They all knew what kind of figure Elder Miao was. For Chu Feng — a mere disciple of Qingmu Mountain — to be acquainted with him was surprising enough. But for Elder Miao to treat him with such warmth? That was truly beyond their wildest imaginings.
Not knowing the true reason, the thought that came to most of them was this: Chu Feng's background must be far more powerful than they had ever suspected, if even Elder Miao was this friendly toward him.