"Young friend Chu Feng, we're in your hands," Liangqiu Chengfeng said.
Chu Feng clasped his fist in acknowledgment, then launched himself forward, diving straight into the rift.
As he passed through the crowd of geniuses, he could feel those gazes full of contempt directed at him, but he paid them no mind, walking past everyone with a composed stride.
Before long, Chu Feng arrived before Wuma Shengjie.
Looking at Wuma Shengjie, Chu Feng's lips curved upward, a meaningful arc forming on his face. His gaze was that of someone greeting an old friend, though in truth, he felt a touch guilty.
After all, he had… seen things he shouldn't have seen.
Yet despite Chu Feng's eager approach, Wuma Shengjie didn't even glance at him, striding right past without a second look.
Seeing this, Chu Feng shook his head and sighed inwardly. "As expected — a grudge-holding girl."
Hummmm—
Suddenly, blinding light erupted in all directions. At the same time, a tremendous force surged toward the area where Chu Feng and the others stood. The entire world trembled, and within the rift of the barrier where they were stationed, the shaking was particularly violent.
Chu Feng didn't even turn his head, because he knew that Liangqiu Chengfeng had activated the dismantling grand formation. He simply took his position at the formation's core. Once Chu Feng settled in, the younger generation behind him began channeling the formation.
At that moment, not only did the barrier's power outside the rift pierce through heaven and earth, but within the rift, barrier energy was also circulating.
Now, what Chu Feng should have been doing was pouring his full effort into operating this formation, coordinating with Liangqiu Chengfeng from the inside to break apart the grand formation.
But Chu Feng did not release his own barrier energy, nor did he take control of the formation's power. He had absolutely no intention of dismantling that protective barrier.
However, no one else knew that Chu Feng wasn't operating the barrier formation.
All they saw was that after both formations began running, the rift showed not the slightest change.
No change at first was one thing, but after a full hour passed, there was still absolutely no difference whatsoever.
This confirmed what everyone had suspected: Chu Feng was no prodigy capable of breaking the grand formation. He was nothing more than a useless waste.
"Hmph, so full of himself — and all along he was nothing but a paper tiger."
"At his level, even if you put me up there, I'd do better."
"Brother, don't compare yourself to him — that's practically an insult to yourself."
"Because at his level, forget any one of us — you could pull some random person from the Lower Realm who hasn't even cultivated, and they'd be able to do just as well."
"Truly said."
"Lady Liangqiu, are you sure you lost to a guy like this before? You must have mistaken him for someone else, right?"
At that moment, the two grand formations ceased operation, and the younger generation behind Chu Feng began heaping scorn and ridicule upon him.
They hadn't dared speak up before, fearing Chu Feng might actually be capable. But now they were finally free to humiliate him and mock him to their hearts' content, and they certainly weren't going to let this opportunity slip by.
"Chu Feng, what are you doing?" Liangqiu Hongyue stepped forward and asked.
But Chu Feng ignored her, looking around instead.
"Chu Feng, I'm talking to you," Liangqiu Hongyue pressed, her voice urgent.
She was genuinely anxious. If Chu Feng failed today, the humiliation wouldn't fall on him alone — she and her sister would be dragged down as well. After all, she had just publicly admitted that she had lost to Chu Feng before.
"Shh, I'll explain in a moment," Chu Feng waved his hand, signaling for Liangqiu Hongyue not to disturb him.
"This guy is still putting on an act, hmph… Let's see how long he can keep up the pretense."
"Lady Liangqiu, are you sure he's the one who beat you before? If it really was him, then I guarantee he must have resorted to some underhanded trick, because his barrier skills are inferior even to mine."
The younger generation watched Chu Feng with the eager expressions of spectators at a show. They were all convinced he was a good-for-nothing, and that their earlier worries had been completely unnecessary.
Now they were waiting — waiting for Liangqiu Chengfeng and the important figures within the formation core to punish this fraud Chu Feng.
"See? I told you this kid was useless. Sure enough, just as I predicted."
"What a shame… Two ancient site slots, completely wasted."
Meanwhile, the senior figures within the formation core were also shaking their heads and sighing.
Though they wore expressions of helplessness on the surface, inside they were secretly delighted. Chu Feng's incompetence suited their wishes perfectly.
Yet no matter what anyone said, Liangqiu Chengfeng watched Chu Feng with an unwavering calm.
Others couldn't see it — that Chu Feng hadn't been operating the barrier formation at all — but he, a Royal-cloak Spirit World Master, saw everything with perfect clarity.