"My apologies, everyone — I've arrived a bit late."
Just then, a hearty laugh rang out, and as the voice sounded, a figure swiftly took the seat of the Compass Immortal.
At that moment, everyone knew the belated Compass Immortal had finally arrived.
Even though he was late, no one dared say a word, for everyone present understood that among the four immortals appearing today, the Compass Immortal carried the most weight.
A figure of such caliber — the fact that the Moonworship Cloud City had managed to invite him was already extraordinary. Who would dare utter a single word of complaint?
Everyone felt that simply being fortunate enough to see the Compass Immortal's true face was already a blessing.
And so, at this moment, regardless of age or strength, many among the crowd showed looks of reverence on their faces.
"It's actually him?!"
However, amid everyone's delight, Chu Feng's heart skipped a beat, because the Compass Immortal looked nothing like the other three immortals with their otherworldly, Daoist bearing.
He was actually a monk — not only that, but he wore tattered, worn-out robes.
This attire, this appearance — wasn't this the shameless monk who had forcibly snatched the scroll from Chu Feng's hands outside the Southern Palace Imperial Clan?
If it hadn't been for that monk stealing the scroll that the Snow Hair Immortal had handed to Chu Feng to examine, Chu Feng wouldn't have been toyed with so mercilessly by the Snow Hair Immortal either.
Chu Feng truly hadn't expected that this monk, who looked like a con artist, would turn out to be none other than the Compass Immortal among the Ten Immortals.
Furthermore, judging by everyone's reaction, the Compass Immortal's status seemed to be far from ordinary.
"Damn it — will this old geezer expose me?"
Chu Feng felt a twinge of unease. Though his impression of the Compass Immortal wasn't great, he had to admit that the man's Spirit Realm mastery was formidable.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to spot the scroll inside Chu Feng's Universe Bag at a single glance and see through Chu Feng's concealment technique back then.
If the man had been able to see through him before, then logically, he should be able to see through Chu Feng today as well.
"Heh heh, let's begin."
Yet after taking his seat, the Compass Immortal merely glanced at Chu Feng. He paid him no further attention, instead nodding with a smile to the experts present, signaling that the contest could commence.
By all rights, a figure like him couldn't possibly have failed to see through Chu Feng, but since he hadn't spoken, he evidently had no intention of exposing him.
Whatever game he was playing or whatever scheme he had in mind, as long as he didn't expose him, Chu Feng figured that was good enough.
"Who is that one on the platform?"
At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out. Turning toward the source, they saw a man whose cultivation was also unfathomably deep — at least at the Martial Emperor level.
But this person belonged neither to the Nine Powers nor the Four Clans. He was the City Lord of the Moonworship Cloud City.
Though he too was a white-haired elder, he had a powerful, sturdy build and wore a suit of silvery-white armor.
The armor gleamed brilliantly, and the crescent moon emblem on its chest radiated an overwhelming, domineering aura. Setting the armor aside, the old man himself possessed an extremely imposing presence — one could tell at a glance that he was a man of tyrannical temperament.
"This junior's name is Feng Xing. I belong to no sect or clan. I have come here simply to spar with the younger generation of the Four Clans." Chu Feng cupped his fists and spoke.
"No sect or clan? With that level of cultivation, how could he possibly have no sect or clan?"
"Looks like this kid didn't come with good intentions." Upon hearing Chu Feng's words, the members of the Four Clans all wore expressions of displeasure.
"It matters not. Since you've proven yourself victorious, you have the right to face the younger generation of the Four Clans."
"However, you would do well to listen carefully to the rules of this spar."
"The younger generation of the Four Clans will fight you in succession. But before that, you may choose to challenge any one of them first."
"If you win, you may rest for one round while the younger generation of the Four Clans spar among themselves. After they complete their round, you must then challenge any one of them again."
"This continues in turn — until you lose. The moment you lose even once, you forfeit the right to continue challenging."
"Do you understand?" said the City Lord of the Moonworship Cloud City.