Linghu Yuhua was surprised, because the Linghu Heavenly Clan's search for Chu Xuanyuan was a secret known to only a handful of people within the entire Linghu Heavenly Clan.
So she asked, "Hongfei, who told you about this? Was it the Clan Master?"
Linghu Yuhua was Linghu Hongfei's personal guardian. She knew better than anyone who he had come into contact with and what he had encountered.
However, there was one person whom Linghu Hongfei met with that even she had to avoid.
That person was the Clan Master of the Linghu Heavenly Clan.
And in truth, the Clan Master of the Linghu Heavenly Clan had also come for the Ancestral Martial Ten Stars selection this time.
Furthermore, before the selection began, the Clan Master had met with Linghu Hongfei privately.
So she surmised that Linghu Hongfei had learned of this matter most likely from the Clan Master.
"It was indeed the Clan Master," Linghu Hongfei nodded, then added, "However, the reason the Clan Master specifically brought this matter up with me was likely because of you, Senior."
"I imagine that Senior, you told the Clan Master about my grudge with Chu Feng. The Clan Master didn't want me to kill him, so he told me about this," Linghu Hongfei said.
Linghu Yuhua did not answer, but inwardly she had already acknowledged that it was indeed she who had informed the Clan Master of what had transpired between Linghu Hongfei and Chu Feng.
This was her duty — not only to protect Linghu Hongfei, but also to report everything he experienced truthfully to the Clan Master.
"So then, Senior, as long as Chu Xuanyuan exists, I truly cannot kill that Chu Feng, is that correct?" Linghu Hongfei asked.
"Hongfei, since the Clan Master has already told you, you should understand clearly. Within the entire Ancestral Martial Starfield, apart from the Starfield Main Realm, the only true threat to our clan is Chu Xuanyuan."
"Given Chu Xuanyuan's temperament, the chance of him allying with us against the Starfield Main Realm is very slim. And yet, we cannot afford to touch his sore spot."
"Otherwise, setting aside a war with the Starfield Main Realm, Chu Xuanyuan alone would be enough to cause our clan tremendous headache," Linghu Yuhua said.
"I understand." Linghu Hongfei nodded, then said, "Senior, I wish to enter the Thunder Fire Bloodline Formation."
"Hongfei, don't be impetuous. With your talent, even without entering the Thunder Fire Bloodline Formation, your cultivation will continue to grow steadily. There's no need to take such a risk," Linghu Yuhua said.
"If I don't take this risk, what happens when that Chu Feng summons an even more powerful spirit in the future? How am I supposed to deal with that?" Linghu Hongfei asked.
Linghu Yuhua's expression froze. For a moment, she didn't know how to answer.
Chu Feng might not compare to Chu Xuanyuan at the same age, but his performance today had truly opened Linghu Yuhua's eyes.
Even if Chu Feng fell short of what his father had been in those days, among the current younger generation of the Ancestral Martial Starfield, he was dazzling enough.
And what Linghu Hongfei worried about was not impossible to happen.
After all, monsters were always capable of doing things that defied all logic.
"Senior, you should know that what I, Linghu Hongfei, aspire to be is not one of the strongest — but the strongest."
"Besides, Celestial Venerable Tianji has already made his prophecy. Chu Feng and I are destined to have a battle. I may not kill him, but I cannot lose to him."
"This is my fate. I either live a coward's life, or I face the battle," Linghu Hongfei said.
Linghu Yuhua felt a deep ache in her heart. Having been by Linghu Hongfei's side since childhood, few understood him better than she did.
Linghu Hongfei was a man of extreme resolve, with an incredibly fierce competitive spirit.
It was precisely because of his obsession with being the best, because of his refusal to lose to anyone, that he would stop at nothing, that he was hypocritical, and at the same time incredibly hardworking — even crazily so.
That Linghu Hongfei had achieved what he had today was inseparable from his monstrous talent, but the effort he had put in was beyond what ordinary people could ever match.
At the very least, among all the younger generation of the Linghu Heavenly Clan today, no one worked harder than Linghu Hongfei.
"Since you have made up your mind, then discuss it with the Clan Master," Linghu Yuhua said. She knew full well that she could not change Linghu Hongfei's decision.
The only person who could change his mind was one — the Clan Master of the Linghu Heavenly Clan.
"He has already agreed," Linghu Hongfei said.
Upon hearing this, surprise immediately surfaced in Linghu Yuhua's eyes. But soon she came to terms with it. After that brief moment of surprise, she figured everything out.
She already had her guess.
"Senior, you should know better than I."