"Next, allow me to tell you about our clan — the Chu Heavenly Clan," Chu Xuanyuan said.
Hearing this, Chu Feng grew even more attentive. After all, when it came to his own clan, curiosity burned all the brighter within him.
"The Chu Heavenly Clan originated in the Lower Realm of Ancestral Martial. You already know this much."
"The Chu Heavenly Clan now holds a certain standing beyond the heavens. There is no need to elaborate on that either."
"What I wish to tell you is that throughout the long history of the Chu Heavenly Clan, two extraordinary figures have emerged."
"One was named Chu Yetian Hong."
"The other was named Chu Hanxian."
"Chu Yetian Hong was a founding ancestor of our Chu Heavenly Clan. It was he who led us from the Lower Realm into the Mortal Realm, and from there fought his way upward into the Upper Realm — ultimately seizing the throne of its overlord."
"And to this day, even after tens of thousands of years have passed, the Chu Heavenly Clan remains only the overlord of the Upper Realm. That alone speaks to the terrifying power our ancestor Chu Yetian Hong possessed. The contributions he made for the Chu Heavenly Clan are beyond compare."
"Chu Hanxian, meanwhile, was the most gifted prodigy the Chu Heavenly Clan had produced since Chu Yetian Hong. His strength surpassed even Chu Yetian Hong's, and he held the potential to elevate the Chu Heavenly Clan to the throne of Star Domain Lord."
"But unfortunately… Chu Hanxian ventured into another star domain and was never heard from again."
"Though Chu Hanxian's fate ended in regret, every member of the Chu Heavenly Clan should remember the contributions he made."
"Especially you. You should remember above all, because Chu Hanxian — was my father. Your grandfather," Chu Xuanyuan said.
"Grandfather?" Chu Feng had always thought his father remarkable, but he never imagined his grandfather had been even more extraordinary.
"Father, is it true that grandfather was never heard from again? Is he… dead?" Chu Feng asked with concern. Regardless of how powerful his grandfather had been, the simple fact that he was his grandfather was enough for Chu Feng to earnestly hope he was still alive.
"I searched for him myself, but never found any trace. Yet every sign points to the likelihood that your grandfather is no longer in this world."
"Concerning your grandfather — do not dwell on it, and do not interfere," Chu Xuanyuan said.
Those words sent a jolt through Chu Feng's heart. Though his father had not stated it explicitly, Chu Feng could sense that his grandfather's disappearance must have been tangled in far deeper circumstances.
"Feng'er, what you need to understand now is that our branch of the family is the sole surviving line within the Chu Heavenly Clan. Your grandfather had only me as a son, and I have only you as a grandson."
"The two of us, father and son, should have enjoyed endless glory within the Chu Heavenly Clan. Setting aside your grandfather's achievements, even I alone was no ordinary figure."
"And yet now… we have been banished to this forbidden land — a place that devours one's cultivation," Chu Xuanyuan said.
"Father, what exactly happened back then? Please, tell me," Chu Feng pressed once more. He genuinely wanted to know the truth of what had transpired.
"Back then, your grandfather and I were expelled from the Chu Family and sent to this forbidden land. The fault — was mine."
"The root of it all lay in a rule of the Chu Heavenly Clan."
"When a child is born into the clan, a talent assessment is conducted. That assessment is of the utmost importance — it determines the child's standing within the Chu Heavenly Clan going forward, and by extension, their entire fate."
"You are my son, and Chu Hanxian's grandson. Never mind the Chu Heavenly Clan — even outsiders paid extraordinary attention to your talent. That assessment was known to virtually everyone."
"To demonstrate its authority, the Chu Heavenly Clan even invited numerous distinguished guests and conducted your first assessment before them all."
"Unfortunately, the results were far from satisfactory," Chu Xuanyuan said.
"Father, what were the results of my assessment?" Chu Feng asked curiously. This was about him, after all — how could he not be eager to know?
"The standard rating is 'Good.' A better result is 'Excellent.' A worse one is 'Poor.' And you… you failed to reach even one of the three," Chu Xuanyuan said.
"Failed to reach any of them?" Surprise flashed across Chu Feng's eyes.