"Senior Niantian."
Upon seeing Daoist Niantian, Sacred Light Menglai immediately bowed. Though Daoist Niantian held the status of guest elder, Sacred Light Menglai showed him exceptional respect.
After bowing, she quickly asked, "Senior Niantian, you seem to know quite a lot about Chu Feng?"
"Miss Menglai, there's no need to overthink your talent. It's already exceptional."
"But Chu Feng… he's simply too extraordinary."
These words from Daoist Niantian were meant to comfort Sacred Light Menglai, but her expression clearly showed she wasn't willing to accept that.
Her beautiful eyes flickered, as though she were pondering something.
"To be honest with you, Senior, I was only a step away from comprehending the second layer of my Sacred Light Bloodline."
Finally, Sacred Light Menglai spoke what she had been wanting to say.
"The second layer of the bloodline?"
As soon as those words left her lips, it was like a thunderclap, shocking everyone present.
At that moment, nearly everyone who heard those words turned their gaze toward Sacred Light Menglai.
"Menglai, is what you're saying true?"
Sacred Light Baimei, Sacred Light Shishen, and the others asked simultaneously, their eyes filled with anticipation, smiles already unconsciously spreading across their faces.
"Sister Menglai, is this real?"
Even Sacred Light Xintian couldn't help but ask.
The smile on her face was even more open — brilliantly radiant, as though the most joyous event in the world had occurred.
As members of Sacred Valley, they understood the Sacred Light Bloodline intimately.
The Sacred Light Bloodline was the unique bloodline power possessed only by members of the Sacred Light Clan.
If she could comprehend the second layer…
That meant that even at the Martial Venerable realm, Sacred Light Menglai could raise her cultivation by two ranks.
In that case, Sacred Light Menglai's cultivation at the Third Rank Martial Venerable could reach the Fifth Rank Martial Venerable realm.
Most importantly, those who could comprehend the first layer of the Sacred Light Bloodline at the Martial Venerable realm were exceedingly rare.
As for comprehending the second layer at the Martial Venerable realm — to this day, no one in Sacred Valley had ever achieved it.
But Sacred Light Menglai was about to do exactly that. This news was an enormous blessing for Sacred Valley.
"I can feel it — I'm only a step away from comprehending it. Give me ten days, and I'll succeed."
When Sacred Light Menglai mentioned this, there was no pride on her face — only regret, and an even deeper look of unwillingness.
In her view, if she had been able to comprehend the second layer of the Sacred Light Bloodline sooner, she could have fought Chu Feng on equal footing.
Even if she had lost, at least she wouldn't have been so thoroughly defeated.
And in truth, she believed that if she had comprehended the second layer, there was a very high chance she could have beaten Chu Feng.
"Miss Menglai is on the verge of comprehending the second layer of the Sacred Light Bloodline — truly something to celebrate."
"But if this old man may be forgiven for dampening your spirits, Miss Menglai, even if you comprehend the second layer, you still wouldn't be able to defeat that Chu Feng."
Daoist Niantian said.
When those words came out, people's gazes shifted from Sacred Light Menglai to him.
There was confusion, but even more was defiance — even resentment.
Many of Sacred Valley's juniors, though they had witnessed Chu Feng's abilities, still believed that Sacred Light Menglai had lost only because of her cultivation level. If she had comprehended the second layer of the Sacred Light Bloodline, she wouldn't have lost.
Therefore, they felt that Daoist Niantian's words were bolstering Chu Feng's spirit while trampling Sacred Valley's prestige.
This was why their gazes toward Daoist Niantian were tinged with hostility.
At such stares, Daoist Niantian simply smiled faintly.
"The current patriarch of the Sacred Light Clan, Sacred Light Xuanye, is a Sixth Rank Martial Venerable. By channeling his bloodline power, his cultivation can reach the Seventh Rank Martial Venerable."
"When Chu Feng challenged the Sacred Light Clan, it was this Sacred Light Xuanye who fought him."
"But if Lord Baimei hadn't intervened in time, Sacred Light Xuanye would likely already be dead at Chu Feng's hand."
"Lord Baimei, am I correct?"
At this point, Daoist Niantian turned to Sacred Light Baimei.
Baimei took a deep breath, then gave a slight nod.
And that single gesture left all the Sacred Valley juniors frozen in place as though petrified.
Even Sacred Light Menglai's expression solidified.
Even Sacred Light Xuanye was no match for Chu Feng?
Then Sacred Light Menglai certainly stood no chance against him.
They had already known Chu Feng was strong, but they hadn't imagined he was this powerful.
And yet, at the same time, they harbored doubt.
They didn't want to believe that Chu Feng was truly this formidable.