Xia Yun'er and the experts of the Starfall Holy Land were all working to open the ruin.
Although they possessed the key to unsealing the ruin, their mastery of barrier arts was limited, so opening it required a great deal of effort.
Chu Feng had initially intended to reveal himself and lend them a hand, but he felt that their presence here opening this ruin might have deeper reasons. Showing himself directly might not be entirely appropriate.
After all, Chu Feng's goal was simply to help them—whether openly or from the shadows made no difference.
If he helped covertly, it would even come as a pleasant surprise.
So Chu Feng decided to lend his aid in secret.
Back in those days, Chu Feng and Xia Yun'er had been juniors of comparable strength.
At that time, even the Eight Immortals of Starfall were towering figures he could only look up to, and an existence like the Starfall Holy Land's Holy Master was someone Chu Feng hadn't even been qualified to meet.
But now, if the entire Starfall Holy Land fought Chu Feng at once, he could annihilate every last one of them in the blink of an eye.
Such was the gap in their realms.
Of course, though Chu Feng had once had run-ins with them, they had long since mended fences and become friends.
That was precisely why Chu Feng chose to help them in secret.
With his mastery of barrier arts so formidable, his covert intervention went entirely unnoticed by the Starfall Holy Land's group.
Moreover, after Chu Feng stepped in, the ruin—which had been nearly impossible to open—suddenly yielded like butter before a hot knife.
Everyone from the Starfall Holy Land could feel that the ruin was on the verge of opening.
In that moment, the Starfall Holy Land's members were wild with joy.
"All elders and disciples, heed my command—focus your minds and pour every ounce of your strength into this. We must open this ruin in one decisive push!"
Once the Holy Master of the Starfall Holy Land gave the order, every member clenched their teeth and released every shred of barrier power they possessed.
And under these circumstances, the ruin indeed opened successfully.
What they did not know, however, was that the speed with which the ruin had been unsealed had almost nothing to do with them. It was Chu Feng's covert assistance that made it possible.
Once the ruin's gate swung open, the phenomenon hovering in the void became clearly visible.
Originally, it had been concealed—only someone with Chu Feng's exceptional perception could have spotted it.
Now, the phenomenon surged skyward from the earth. Forget cultivators—even ordinary mortals could behold the spectacle from miles away.
"What manner of person is that?"
Chu Feng's gaze shifted. He had been about to reveal himself, but now he hesitated.
The phenomenon had attracted a number of people. Chu Feng did not recognize any of them, but judging by their attire, they were not from the Ancestral Martial Dragon City.
He had already found it puzzling enough that the Starfall Holy Land had come here. Now, members of yet another power had arrived. Had the Ancestral Martial Dragon City invited all of them, or had some upheaval occurred within its territory?
However, what Chu Feng noticed now was that these unfamiliar figures did not appear to come in peace.
So he did not rush to show himself. He wanted to observe—see what they intended, whether they meant to seize the treasure inside the ruin.
If not, then fine. But if that was truly their aim, then even if the Starfall Holy Land could swallow the insult, Chu Feng certainly could not.
Setting aside the fact that the Ancestral Martial Starfield was now the domain of the Chu Heavenly Clan, the Starfall Holy Land hailed from the Great Thousand Upper Realm—Chu Feng was honor-bound to stand up for them.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—
Sure enough, those people had come for the ruin.
The Starfall Holy Land's members had just opened the gate and had yet to step inside when those several figures descended and landed before the entrance.
Without so much as a glance at the Starfall Holy Land crowd, they strode straight toward the interior of the ruin.
As though the ruin were their very own home—their composure was absolute.
Hum—
Yet before they could set foot inside, a wave of oppressive might sealed the ruin's gate shut.