"You've got quite the poker face, Chu Feng."
"Let's see just how long you can keep it up."
Unlike the others, however, Jiang Kongping had been watching Chu Feng the entire time.
He knew his older brother well — his brother cared more about face than anything.
That was precisely why, despite all the Nine Soul Galaxy martial cultivators present being dead men walking, Jiang Yuantai had insisted on fighting Chu Feng right in front of them.
He wanted everyone to see his overwhelming power.
Even if they were all going to die, he wanted them to know, before their final breaths, just how formidable Jiang Yuantai truly was.
But the way things were unfolding was nothing like what Jiang Yuantai had wanted.
So Jiang Kongping had to find a way — any way — to prove that his brother had not lost.
Only then could he ease the blow to his brother's pride.
"Keep it up?"
"So the backlash can be endured? Then I really am something."
Chu Feng smiled faintly, then reached toward his Universe Bag. He drew out his hand and held it open, palm facing Jiang Kongping.
"Jiang Kongping, take a good look — did I Chu Feng take even a single one of your three forbidden pills?"
Sitting in Chu Feng's palm were indeed three forbidden pills — the very same three forbidden pills that had been in Jiang Kongping's Universe Bag.
"Impossible!!!"
The sight of those three forbidden pills left Jiang Kongping dumbfounded.
He had been nearly certain that Chu Feng had consumed the pills. But here they were, right in front of him — an irrefutable fact.
Chu Feng had genuinely not taken the forbidden pills?
No wonder, after all this time, there was still no sign of backlash.
Just reading Jiang Kongping's expression was enough for Jiang Taibai and the others — their brows furrowed as they realized what it meant.
They all knew now. Chu Feng had not used the forbidden pills. He had defeated Jiang Yuantai purely on his own strength — and not just defeated him, but defeated him after Jiang Yuantai had consumed a forbidden pill.
But… how had Chu Feng suddenly become so powerful?
"How did you do it?"
At that moment, it was the long-silent Jiang Yuantai who spoke.
He genuinely wanted to know how Chu Feng had managed to defeat him.
Swish, swish —
Chu Feng twirled the long sword in his hand before answering.
"Back when your combat strength was that overwhelming, you were relying on the spear technique you'd cultivated. You know that better than anyone."
"And on that very day, under the pressure of your spear technique, I comprehended a sword technique. But time was limited, and I hadn't fully mastered it."
"After days of contemplation, I've now thoroughly grasped it. So you… are naturally no match for me."
"Of course, it's a good thing you only took one forbidden pill. If you'd taken two, even my sword technique wouldn't have been enough to beat you — at best, we'd have tied."
Chu Feng said with a grin.
"You comprehended it that very day?"
"You managed to comprehend such a powerful sword technique in so short a time?"
It was the Nine Soul Galaxy cultivators who were most stunned by Chu Feng's words, because in their eyes, this was simply impossible.
Even those who knew Chu Feng well, like Dao Sea Fairy, found it hard to believe.
Not for any other reason — it was just that a sword technique of that caliber should not have been mastered in such a brief window of time.
And it wasn't even something Chu Feng had cultivated from a manual — he had comprehended it entirely on his own?!
That made it even more unbelievable!!!
"Hahaha…"
Suddenly, Jiang Yuantai began to laugh. His laughter grew louder and louder, taking on an increasingly eerie edge that sent chills down the spines of everyone present.
"Chu Feng, you really are something. No wonder my little brother lost to you."
"But a good talent is wasted on a poor brain."
"If you'd hidden yourself away like a rat scurrying across the street, in a few years' time you really might have become a threat to us."
"But you're truly foolish. In the name of some noble loyalty, you didn't even stop to weigh the pros and cons."
"You chose to walk right into your own death?"
"Fine. Since you dared to show up today, it would be wrong of me not to grant you your wish."
As Jiang Yuantai spoke, his vast killing intent surged outward.
And at that moment, his cultivation — which had been at the fourth grade of Martial Ancestor — recovered all the way to the eighth grade!!!
Clearly, now that the tide had already turned against him, he saw no point in pretending any longer.
He intended to eliminate Chu Feng.
"Hold on."
"Let me ask you something — are you planning to go back on your word?"
Chu Feng asked suddenly.
"Chu Feng, why even bother asking?"
"You don't actually believe that after you defeated me, I'd let you go, do you?"
"If you had lost, and you'd begged me properly, I might have taken pity and spared you."
"But since you've proven yourself stronger than me, how could I possibly let the tiger return to the mountains and give you the chance to stage a comeback?"
Jiang Yuantai stared at Chu Feng as though looking at an idiot.
"You're wrong. I never believed you'd let me go."
"I just wanted to confirm one thing — that you're a man who goes back on his word."
"As expected, I'm a good judge of character. You really are nothing but a dishonorable scoundrel."
"Alright, I've confirmed what I needed to confirm. Now, whatever you're planning to do next, don't bother hiding it — just come at me."
Chu Feng spread his hands wide, adopting the posture of a man resigned to death, and wore a faint smile on his face.
In Jiang Yuantai's eyes, this was nothing short of provocation — the most brazen kind of provocation.
"Has Chu Feng lost his mind?"
"How does he dare?"
Chu Feng's actions drew bewilderment from everyone present — whether it was Dao Sea Fairy and her companions or the cultivators of the Alchemy Dao Immortal Sect.
Even the Nine Soul Galaxy cultivators, who had no connection to Chu Feng whatsoever, were completely baffled.
If Chu Feng's original purpose in coming here had been to save people, then what he was doing now was truly incomprehensible.
Because right now, Chu Feng was genuinely looking for death.
Forget Jiang Yuantai — if Chu Feng dared provoke any of them like this, they wouldn't let him walk away either.
"At a time like this, you still dare provoke me?"
"You want to die that badly?" Jiang Yuantai asked through gritted teeth.
"Heh…"
Chu Feng didn't answer. The smile on his lips only deepened, but this time it carried an unmistakable air of contempt.
"Fine, then I'll grant your wish!!!"