The man and woman of the Linghu Heavenly Clan were likely stationed here specifically as guards. Their presence was meant to prevent anyone from the four eastern, southern, western, and northern domains from trespassing into the central domain.
Although they had concealed their aura, Chu Feng could tell that their strength was superior to everyone present, including the strongest member of the Dongguo Heavenly Clan — Dongguo Bingyu.
These two also carried themselves with an air of superiority. Even though quite a few people had already gathered in the area, they kept their eyes closed, seemingly unwilling to so much as exchange a greeting with anyone.
"The Chu Heavenly Clan? Why are they here too?"
The moment Chu Feng and the others appeared, people immediately took notice.
"Based on their strength, they shouldn't qualify for the Newcomer Celebration, right?"
"What right do they have to take Purple Flame Peak's place?"
Quite a few people began whispering among themselves.
"Watch your mouths. Don't you know that young man is Chu Feng — son of Chu Xuanyuan?"
However, there were those who recognized Chu Feng, and they couldn't help but offer a word of caution.
"What? Son of Chu Xuanyuan?"
After being reminded, everyone who hadn't known Chu Feng wore looks of astonishment, and their gazes were drawn involuntarily toward him as they began reassessing him from head to toe.
Even the two Linghu Heavenly Clan members who had been sitting with their eyes closed now opened their eyes and looked at Chu Feng.
That was hardly surprising. The name "son of Chu Xuanyuan" was probably known to every single person in the entire Ancestral Martial Starfield.
"I was the one who recommended the Chu Heavenly Clan for this Newcomer Celebration. Do any of you have a problem with that?" It was Dongguo Bingyu who spoke up at that moment.
"Miss Bingyu, Purple Flame Peak has always been a subordinate force of your Dongguo Heavenly Clan. If you convinced them to relinquish their spot in the Newcomer Celebration so the Chu Heavenly Clan could take their place, then we really have nothing to say about it."
"Rather than worrying about that, what I'd like to know is — the Newcomer Celebration is about to begin, so why hasn't the Azure Feather Monster Clan shown up yet?" A man in a black robe suddenly spoke.
He was from the Soul Chasing Bright Sect, and his strength was formidable. Chu Feng estimated that his power was on par with Dongguo Bingyu's — a Second Level Martial Immortal.
This was likely the strongest cultivator of the Soul Chasing Bright Sect. It was precisely this strength that allowed the Soul Chasing Bright Sect to stand alongside the Dongguo Heavenly Clan and the Azure Feather Monster Clan as equals in the Eastern Domain.
"Right, why hasn't the Azure Feather Monster Clan arrived?"
After the man from the Soul Chasing Bright Sect spoke, many others voiced the same question.
Even members of the Dongguo Heavenly Clan, as well as Chu Qing and Chu Shuangshuang, wore puzzled expressions.
No one understood why the Azure Feather Monster Clan had failed to appear. Only Chu Feng knew that the Azure Feather Monster Clan would never be coming. That day… Azure Feather Ruize had led a massive force to deal with Bai Liluo.
Even if he hadn't taken every member of the Azure Feather Monster Clan who was present in the Ancestral Martial Cultivation Realm, he had taken nearly all of them.
And every last one of those people was already dead — not driven mad, but thoroughly, completely dead. They had been thoroughly annihilated within the Ancestral Martial Cultivation Realm.
How could the dead possibly show up here?
"Hmph. Not bothering to attend the Newcomer Celebration — has the Azure Feather Monster Clan become so arrogant as to reach this level?" A cold snort rang out from the woman of the Linghu Heavenly Clan.
She didn't care in the slightest why the Azure Feather Monster Clan hadn't come. In her view, their absence alone was a show of contempt toward the Newcomer Celebration, and she wore her displeasure openly on her face.
She then turned her gaze toward Chu Feng. Her look was not exactly friendly, but she said nothing to him. Instead, she finally looked at Dongguo Bingyu and spoke:
"Dongguo Bingyu, you should know that the strength of those participating in the Newcomer Celebration determines whether the Gate of Light can be opened smoothly."
"Although Purple Flame Peak was also weak, at least they could guarantee that the Gate of Light opened without issue every year. If something goes wrong with the Gate of Light this year, will you be able to shoulder that responsibility?"
The woman spoke to Dongguo Bingyu with an utterly haughty air, as though she were a celestial being looking down upon a mortal — lofty, cold, and utterly dismissive.
But Chu Feng guessed that even if her strength surpassed Dongguo Bingyu's, it couldn't be by much. Her air of absolute superiority came entirely from the fact that she was a member of the Linghu Heavenly Clan.