Outside the main city of the Chu Heavenly Clan, Chu Feng and the other two were still being blocked by the people of the Martial Hall.
However, the crowd gathered here was no longer just Chu Feng's group and the Martial Hall's forces.
News traveled fast. The fact that Chu Feng had returned to the Chu Heavenly Clan and been intercepted outside the main city by the Martial Hall was already spreading.
At this moment, many people were converging here. Already, over ten thousand individuals had gathered behind the Martial Hall, and that number was constantly increasing.
Among them were many familiar faces.
Like Chu Lingxi, Chu Ruoshi, Chu Huanyu, and Chu Xianshuo.
There was also someone Chu Feng didn't recognize, though he recognized Chu Feng.
He was a junior named Chu Huai.
Back in the Hundred Refinements Realm, both Chu Huai and Chu Yue had followed Chu Banruo, responsible for monitoring the situation in that realm.
After returning to the Chu Heavenly Clan, he had remained within the clan cultivating, but he had always been very concerned about news concerning Chu Feng.
"Chu Feng, you've actually reached the fifth rank of True Immortal."
Observing Chu Feng from the shadows, Chu Huai sighed with emotion upon sensing the aura emanating from him.
He remembered the first time he saw Chu Feng in the Hundred Refinements Realm. Back then, Chu Huai himself was already a fourth-rank True Immortal, while Chu Feng was still a mere Martial Ancestor.
Now, Chu Feng had become a fifth-rank True Immortal, yet he, Chu Huai, remained a fourth-rank True Immortal.
He recalled how he used to stand above the Hundred Refinements Realm like a god, looking down upon all living things.
But now, even standing on the territory of the Chu Heavenly Clan, looking at Chu Feng gave him a sense of looking up at someone far above.
"Geniuses really are the most unreasonable existence in the martial cultivation world."
After this sigh of admiration, a smile touched the corner of Chu Huai's mouth.
He was genuinely happy for Chu Feng.
"Genius? This Chu Feng is nothing but a cripple."
Chu Huai's soft sigh was overheard by a clansman standing nearby, who immediately let out a cold laugh.
This person had been one of Chu Huanyu's lackeys outside the Ghost Sect Hall that day.
"Exactly, a cripple. Did he really think that with Chu Xuanzhengfa backing him, he could return to the clan? What a pipe dream."
"He's dumbfounded now, isn't he? Getting blocked right outside the main city. Serves him right."
Following that, other clansmen began to mock Chu Feng as well, their voices deliberately loud—not necessarily to let Chu Feng hear, but specifically for Chu Huanyu to hear. After all, saying these things was their way of currying favor with Chu Huanyu.
And while they were indeed flattering Chu Huanyu, it was also true that many within the Chu Heavenly Clan disliked Chu Feng. Many did not want him to return.
So, one after another, more and more people joined in hurling insults at Chu Feng.
"Silence!"
Just then, a furious roar suddenly rang out from the direction of the main city.
The moment that roar echoed out, everyone hurriedly shut their mouths, because that voice belonged to Chu Xuanzhengfa.
Chu Xuanzhengfa was leading the vast army of the Punishment Hall, flying out from within the main city.
As they swept through, anyone who saw them scrambled to get out of the way. Their imposing aura was truly formidable.
Finally, the army led by Chu Xuanzhengfa arrived behind the group from the Martial Hall.
"Move aside." Chu Xuanzhengfa addressed Chu Moqiong of the Martial Hall, his tone so cold it was as if the man didn't even register in his eyes.
"Lord Xuanzhengfa, it's not that I'm disobeying your order, it's just that..." As he spoke, Chu Moqiong raised the Elder's token in his hand.
He intended to use this token to pressure Chu Xuanzhengfa.
But who could have guessed that Chu Xuanzhengfa wouldn't even glance at the token? Instead, he coldly uttered a single word:
"Scram."
He said it loudly enough that almost everyone present heard it.
At this moment, Chu Moqiong's expression was ugly beyond description. Even his fists were clenched tighter and tighter. If one were close enough, they could hear the creaking sound his knuckles made.
It was easy to imagine just how furious Chu Moqiong was in that moment.