"But, Lord… That Chu Feng hates me to the bone. He will certainly come after me again, and I am no match for him."
"If that is the case, then even the tasks you entrust to me, this humble one would find it difficult to complete," the Soul Infant Sect Master said.
"Are you threatening me?" The elder's sword-like brows shot upward, and in an instant a torrential wave of killing intent flooded the cave.
"This humble one would not dare." The Soul Infant Sect Master was so terrified that he immediately prostrated himself on the ground, not daring to even lift his head.
"As a matter of fact, during that battle against the Kong Heavenly Clan, the Demonic Armament in Chu Feng's hands was once suppressed by a Demon Suppression Amulet. As long as you obtain that amulet, you will be able to restrain his Evil God Sword. And with your abilities, how could he possibly be your match?" the elder said.
"The Demon Suppression Amulet… That thing — where is it now?" the Soul Infant Sect Master asked.
"It is currently in the hands of the Zhou Heavenly Clan's Clan Master," the elder said.
"But the Zhou Heavenly Clan's Clan Master has been missing for a long time. Where am I supposed to find him?" The Soul Infant Sect Master's expression grew troubled.
"Hmph, truly dense. Everything that happens within the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm is laid bare before my eyes. Others may not know where the Zhou Heavenly Clan's Clan Master has gone, but how could I possibly be unaware?" the elder said.
"What you say is quite right, Lord. It was this humble one who was dense." Upon hearing this, a gleam of delight appeared on the Soul Infant Sect Master's face.
But soon, as though he had thought of something, his gaze shifted noticeably, and only then did he ask: "Though this humble one is dense, even I can see that the Demonic Armament Chu Feng wields is no ordinary object. How could the Zhou Heavenly Clan's Clan Master possibly possess a treasure capable of suppressing it?"
"Of course they would not possess such a treasure on their own. Naturally, it was gifted by a certain expert," the elder said.
"And who exactly gifted it?" the Soul Infant Sect Master asked.
"Too much prattle!" The elder's fury flared the moment he heard this, and he barked at him: "Since your injuries have already healed, why haven't you gone to carry out your task yet?"
As he finished speaking, the elder tossed a stone toward him.
Inscribed upon the stone was the location where the Zhou Heavenly Clan's Clan Master was currently hiding. The Soul Infant Sect Master caught the stone, bowed to the elder in farewell, and immediately departed, heading toward the spot recorded on the stone.
He was well aware that his ability to stand above all others in the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm on his own was entirely thanks to that half-completed Immortal Armament — and that armament had been bestowed upon him by this very elder.
It was this elder from the Chu Heavenly Clan who had granted him power that soared above every living soul in the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm.
But he was equally aware that from the very day this elder had made contact with him, his life was no longer his own to control.
If he wished to keep breathing, he had to do one thing — and that was to obey every command without question.
After the Soul Infant Sect Master departed, the elder did not leave. Instead, he gazed into the distance and murmured:
"Ever since Chu Feng entered the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm, this realm has become a completely different place. People who never involved themselves in anything have all been drawn into the fray, one way or another, all because of that Chu Feng."
"But who on earth gifted that Demon Suppression Amulet? I had assumed the donor had a grudge against Chu Feng and meant to eliminate him, but that is clearly not what happened."
"Chu Feng, oh Chu Feng — just who exactly are you? Could it really be true that you are his descendant?"
At the thought of this, both fists clenched tightly inside the elder's sleeves.
He may have been responsible for surveilling everything within the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm, but there were still many things that remained beyond his knowledge.
Countless secrets concerning Chu Feng in particular were riddles that even he, as he stood now, had no idea how to answer.
It was precisely because of this that he had erupted into such fury moments ago when the Soul Infant Sect Master had asked about the origin of the Demon Suppression Amulet.
Because he did not know who its true owner was — and that ignorance filled him with a sense of defeat.
He who should have been like a god upon the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm, omniscient and omnipotent, had failed to achieve the kind of total dominion that a god would wield.
"Ah…" The elder let out a soft sigh, but still he did not leave, as though he were waiting for something.