"Young friend Chu Feng, why aren't you speaking? Could it be that you didn't obtain the treasure?" a powerhouse from the Kong Heavenly Clan asked, a look of suspicion crossing his face.
At the same time, the gazes of the crowd shifted one by one, no longer as warm and friendly as before.
It was clear… none of them wanted to accept that Chu Feng had failed to obtain the treasure. Nor did they want to believe that Chu Feng and his companions had returned empty-handed.
"Hehehe…"
However, just at that moment, sudden bursts of cold laughter laced with bone-chilling sinister intent echoed from the entrance of the ruins.
Simultaneously, a terrifying wave of oppressive might surged toward them head-on.
"That aura!!!"
Feeling that overwhelming aura wash over them, every person present had their expression change drastically, eyes filling with terror — even the peak Martial Ancestor powerhouses were no exception.
Because that aura not only carried dense killing intent, but also contained a force that none of them could withstand.
It made people tremble involuntarily with fear.
"A True Immortal — it's a True Immortal?"
"There's still a True Immortal?"
Panic spread through the crowd. They all understood with chilling clarity that against a True Immortal expert, even if there was only a single one, none of them stood a chance.
The gulf between a Martial Ancestor and a True Immortal, though seemingly just a thin line apart, was in truth staggeringly vast.
If the Martial Ancestor represented the absolute pinnacle of the human body's physical power, then the True Immortal was an existence that had transcended the mortal body entirely. It was an entirely new realm of martial cultivation — a true immortal, no longer human.
And before long, the members of the Soul Infant Sect arrived with terrifying momentum, sealing off all escape routes and trapping everyone within.
"The Soul Infant Sect?!"
Upon recognizing these people from the Soul Infant Sect, a number of the experts present cried out in shock.
Clearly… these experts, more so than those from other factions, were aware of the mysterious existence that was the Soul Infant Sect.
"What a coincidence. The Sword-Bearing Immortal Sect, the Buddha Light Celestial Temple, the Zhou Heavenly Clan, and the Kong Heavenly Clan — all four of our old rivals have shown up today."
"Even Prophet Master is here. Prophet Master, it seems you didn't retire at all — you simply weren't willing to work for us," the Palace Master of the Western Hall remarked, fixing Prophet Master with a cold smile.
"Western Hall, none of us here have a True Immortal among us today. Are you planning to bully the weak with your superior strength?" a powerhouse from the Kong Heavenly Clan said.
"Master Kaihong's ruins — such an important place — and you didn't send a True Immortal to hold it down. That's your stupidity."
"Would you have my Soul Infant Sect be just as stupid alongside you?" the Protector of the Western Hall replied. As those words left his lips, a crushing wave of oppressive might bore down on them. Under that pressure, everyone stumbled backward repeatedly — even the Martial Ancestors struggled to keep their footing.
In that moment, let alone the others, even the widely renowned Prophet Master's brow furrowed deeply.
Yet Chu Feng, Zhao Hong, and Wang Qiang remained utterly unchanged in expression.
"Chu Feng, you really aren't afraid of me, are you? It seems you truly do have a True Immortal backing you."
"In that case, let's all stop wasting time. Why don't you just call out your True Immortal patron, and we'll settle things once and for all?" the Protector of the Western Hall said to Chu Feng in a strange, sing-song tone.
"What? Chu Feng has a True Immortal backing him?" Upon hearing this, everyone present felt their expressions shift.
Many among them even showed looks of lingering dread — because these were people harboring ulterior motives. They had all placed great hope on Master Kaihong's treasure and had no intention of letting Chu Feng leave safely.
But after the Western Hall's Protector of the Soul Infant Sect suddenly dropped those words, they realized they had severely underestimated Chu Feng.
At this point, they couldn't help but feel a sliver of relief — relief that they had only questioned Chu Feng about the treasure and hadn't yet made a move against him. Otherwise, they would likely be in serious trouble.
As for those who had never harbored ill intentions toward Chu Feng, they were now filled with joy. If Chu Feng truly had a True Immortal backing him, then perhaps they could ride his coattails and escape this catastrophe.
"My friends, you all give this Chu Feng far too much credit. If this Chu Feng truly had a True Immortal as his patron, would he have just stood by and let me take that wretched key, or let me kill his friend?" the Barrier Saintess said with biting sarcasm.