"Jiang Hao, how dare you speak that way? They're my friends, and Chu Feng isn't even a member of the Red Butterfly Association," Xu Yiyi said, clearly displeased.
"Not a member of the Red Butterfly Association, yet he still managed to secure a spot? You must be loaded," Jiang Hao continued, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he addressed Chu Feng.
"Jiang Hao, you really are ignorant. It seems you've never even heard of the things Brother Chu Feng has accomplished." At that moment, another man from Luoxia Valley stepped forward.
Chu Feng knew this man's name — Li Rui.
Unlike Jiang Hao, however, Li Rui harbored no hostility toward Chu Feng.
"Hmph. Someone from a third-tier power? I couldn't care less about their deeds." Jiang Hao's voice was laced with disdain, and his superiority as a true disciple of the presiding elder of a second-tier power radiated from every word.
Meanwhile, the three female disciples of Luoxia Valley giggled quietly from the side. They hadn't made any cutting remarks themselves, but it was plain to see that they looked down on Chu Feng and Liu Xiaoli just the same.
As for the four elders, they had seen enough of the world to remain composed. They simply observed like onlookers — neither speaking up nor throwing insults. At the same time, none of them reprimanded Jiang Hao for his rudeness. Not even Elder Ning Shuang said a word.
"Couldn't care less? What about an Asura Spirit World Master — does that not interest you either?" Li Rui asked.
"Asura Spirit World Master?" The moment those words left Li Rui's lips, Jiang Hao's expression shifted. Then he let out a light laugh. "Don't tell me you're trying to say this Chu Feng fellow is an Asura Spirit World Master?"
"I'll be straightforward with you — Brother Chu Feng really is an Asura Spirit World Master. Not many people know about it yet, but sooner or later, the news will spread across the entire Hundred Refinements Ordinary World," Li Rui said.
"Asura Spirit World Master?"
"Chu Feng, are you really an Asura Spirit World Master?" The three women, who moments ago had been looking at him with open contempt, suddenly found their gazes shifting. They actually took the initiative to greet Chu Feng.
Even the four elders' expressions changed. They couldn't help but turn their eyes toward Chu Feng once more, studying him with newfound gravity.
"You don't even need to ask — Chu Feng really is an Asura Spirit World Master, and his spirit is extraordinarily powerful. The Red Lizard of Lu Yang Pavilion was slain by Chu Feng's spirit," Xu Yiyi said.
"Hmph. So what if that's true? There's no shortage of young geniuses, but most of them burn out before they ever reach their potential. A genius who can actually grow into their power is a real genius — everything else is just hot air," Jiang Hao said.
"Jiang Hao, why do you sound so sour? Don't tell me you're jealous of Chu Feng?"
"Exactly. Who doesn't know you've got a thing for Junior Sister Yiyi? You're just afraid she'll be stolen away by Chu Feng — that's why you're targeting him like this, isn't it?"
Before Xu Yiyi or Li Rui could even speak, the three women of Luoxia Valley had already started defending Chu Feng.
As for this sudden change of heart, Chu Feng felt only a quiet sense of helplessness. The reason for their dramatic shift was nothing more than his status as an Asura Spirit World Master.
Snobbish. The very definition of fair-weather friends. So even though they were speaking up for him now, Chu Feng felt no gratitude whatsoever.
It wasn't that he was cold or unappreciative — he simply understood that when the time came for him to truly face hardship, people like these would be the first to abandon him.
"Hmph. Let me remind you all — we're at Cloud Crane Mountain, and what's being tested here is the art of spirit world techniques. If your skills don't measure up, being an Asura Spirit World Master won't save you."
"See that over there? Don't think that just because you hold an invitation token, you're guaranteed entry into Cloud Crane Mountain. If your strength isn't up to par, you'll still be turned away." Jiang Hao pointed toward the entrance of Cloud Crane Mountain.