"First Level Supreme?"
"How could he be a First Level Supreme?"
Hua Xu looked at Chu Feng again, his expression growing deeply conflicted.
From disbelief, to repeated confirmation, to the reluctant acceptance that followed — and then the panic that surged into his eyes.
He had originally written Chu Feng off as a nobody. That was the reason he had looked down on Chu Feng and dared to provoke him.
But now he realized that he had inadvertently provoked someone far beyond his reach.
Hua Xu was also a junior. He knew all too well what kind of existence a junior at the Supreme realm represented.
The smug satisfaction he had worn moments ago was now replaced by a face drenched in cold sweat that he could not wipe away.
"Junior… Junior Sister Tu."
"Who exactly is this Chu Feng?"
"Which force does he belong to? Why have I never heard of him before?"
In his panic, Hua Xu turned to Tu Yuanyuan and asked her about Chu Feng through a private voice transmission.
He felt that Tu Yuanyuan must know about Chu Feng — otherwise she would not have been so enthusiastic toward him earlier.
"We've already entered the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect."
"Why worry so much about what happens outside?"
Tu Yuanyuan did respond to Hua Xu, but she did not tell him anything about Chu Feng.
It was a perfunctory answer, nothing more.
But Hua Xu took it as a reminder.
He believed Tu Yuanyuan was telling him that regardless of Chu Feng's cultivation or his reputation outside, once inside the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect, they were all on equal footing.
And after giving it serious thought, Hua Xu had to admit that was true.
Chu Feng's cultivation may be impressive, but Hua Xu's talent was no slouch either. Moreover, within the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect, he had far more backing than just his master.
Outside, he might not be able to afford offending Chu Feng. But inside the sect, he had no real reason to fear him.
And so, the cold sweat on his face subsided, and the panic began to fade.
Especially standing behind his master — he had found his confidence once more.
"Dao Qinian, what's going on?"
"Has the talent testing platform malfunctioned?"
But to everyone's surprise, Hua Xu's master — Elder Ouyang Che — turned toward Dao Qinian with a face full of fury.
"Reporting to Elder Ouyang, the talent test was conducted according to proper procedure," Dao Qinian replied.
"There must have been an error. Administer the test again."
Among the three elders from the Eastern Dragon Academy, another one spoke up as well.
"There is no need. The talent test is merely a gauge — it is not necessarily foolproof."
"At such a young age, this boy is already a First Level Supreme. That alone is the best proof of his talent."
As Elder Ouyang Che spoke these words, he was studying Chu Feng once more.
The gaze that had been filled with hostility before now brimmed with admiration.
"Young friend Chu Feng, earlier I did not have a complete understanding and misunderstood you. Please do not take it to heart."
Elder Ouyang Che said this to Chu Feng with a warm smile on his face.
Upon seeing this, Hua Xu's heart clenched.
Even if he were a fool, he could see the dramatic shift in his master's attitude toward Chu Feng.
But compared to Hua Xu, the others showed little surprise at Elder Ouyang Che's change of heart.
Chu Feng was indeed only a First Level Supreme — but then again, so had been Xu Cheng.
Both First Level Supreme, yet Chu Feng had defeated Xu Cheng in a single strike. That alone spoke volumes about his strength.
Chu Feng's talent test may have only produced a wooden token.
But he was very likely a monster-level genius.
A disciple of this caliber — forget Elder Ouyang Che, it was safe to say that many elders from the Eastern Dragon Academy would want to take him as their disciple.
If word of this got out, plenty of Eastern Dragon Academy elders would surely regret it…
Regret not having come here today to select disciples.
And in doing so, missing out on a talent as outstanding as Chu Feng.
"Ouyang Che, you just wrongly accused Chu Feng, and now a few sweet words are supposed to make everything go away?"
Of the three Eastern Dragon Academy elders, the most powerful one — the female elder — spoke up.
This female elder had since become Tu Yuanyuan's master.
Earlier, when Tu Yuanyuan had first tried to speak on Chu Feng's behalf, the female elder had actually stopped her.
But now, she was the one speaking up for Chu Feng.
Her change in attitude was every bit as dramatic as Ouyang Che's.
The reason was, of course, Chu Feng's talent.
She clearly wanted to take Chu Feng as her disciple as well.
"I was blind."
After these words, Elder Ouyang Che waved his sleeve. A sharp crack rang out as a resounding slap landed across Hua Xu's face.
The force of the blow sent Hua Xu flying tens of thousands of meters.
When he hit the ground, not only was there a bloody handprint branded on his face — half of his cheek was grotesquely twisted out of shape.
"Master, you…"
Hua Xu stared in disbelief.
"Unworthy disciple — do not call me master."
"I, Ouyang Che, have no such disciple."