Upon seeing Chu Lingxi, Chu Feng felt a wave of relief wash over him.
Because Chu Lingxi had been following her mother, Gu Mingyuan, she had not been taken along with the rest of the Chu Heavenly Clan when that mysterious figure had abducted them.
"Sister, when did you get back?"
Chu Feng revealed himself without hesitation.
Daoist Niantian, Saint Light Unspoken, and Saint Light Whitebrow could tell that Chu Feng and Chu Lingxi wanted to catch up, so they tactfully remained hidden.
"Chu Feng?"
Chu Lingxi was visibly thrilled to see him.
"How come you're back?"
She flew through the air and hurried over to Chu Feng, peppering him with questions out of curiosity.
"Well, why did you come back?" Chu Feng asked.
"I just missed everyone, so I came back to see how they're doing," Chu Lingxi said.
"Same here," Chu Feng replied.
"Chu Feng, where do you think everyone actually went? They… they're all right, aren't they?"
As Chu Lingxi asked, the worry on her face grew ever more apparent.
The disappearance of the Chu Heavenly Clan was no longer a secret — everyone in the Grand Azure Upper Realm knew about it, but nobody had any idea where they had gone.
Chu Feng had once known, but now even he was in the dark. Fortunately, his instincts told him that the clan members had not come to harm and were most likely still alive. After all, the one who had taken them did not seem to be an enemy of the Chu Heavenly Clan — though Chu Feng had no idea what that person's true intentions were.
"The clan members should be fine. Don't worry," Chu Feng reassured Chu Lingxi. Afraid of making her anxious, he chose not to tell her the full truth.
But this reassurance didn't really help. Still, Chu Lingxi didn't want to be a burden to Chu Feng, so she forced a smile.
"Chu Feng, I've already heard about everything you did at the Saint Light Clan. You're so impressive now — even the Saint Light Clan has to try to stay on your good side."
"Sigh, I'm only at the early Supreme stage, but you've already become a Martial Emperor. Looks like I can never catch up to you again, and I can never be your elder sister — I'm stuck being your little sister forever."
"I'm happy that you've gotten stronger, but the thought of you always calling me 'little sister' just makes me so mad."
Chu Lingxi pouted her lips, looking genuinely aggrieved.
"Young Hero Chu Feng is no ordinary Martial Emperor — he is an eighth-grade Martial Emperor," Saint Light Whitebrow chimed in, his figure materializing at the same time.
Seeing this, Saint Light Unspoken and Daoist Niantian revealed themselves as well.
"Eighth-grade Martial Emperor? Really?" a voice called out.
As Saint Light Whitebrow and the others appeared, yet another figure emerged — it was the Hall Master of the Myriad Monster Palace. And trailing behind her was none other than Chu Lingxi's mother, Gu Mingyuan.
Chu Feng and the others were not at all surprised to see them. They had long since detected the presence of the Hall Master of the Myriad Monster Palace and Gu Mingyuan. The two had apparently come along with Chu Lingxi.
They had simply chosen not to show themselves, remaining concealed in the shadows the entire time. Their hiding techniques were impressive, but they were no match for the keen perception of Chu Feng and his companions.
"Greetings, my lords!"
The Hall Master of the Myriad Monster Palace had stepped forward in her astonishment at Chu Feng's current cultivation level. But once the initial shock wore off, she hastily bowed to Saint Light Whitebrow, Saint Light Unspoken, and Daoist Niantian.
After all, she now fully understood the might of the Holy Valley.
Though Gu Mingyuan had not personally witnessed Saint Light Whitebrow's display of power that day, she had heard the rumors and knew that this was a figure whose status and strength far surpassed that of the Saint Light Clan's patriarch. So upon revealing herself, she wasted no time and stepped forward to pay her respects.
Chu Lingxi naturally followed her mother's lead, not daring to show any discourtesy toward these illustrious figures.
"They are all friends of Young Hero Chu Feng — there is no need for such formalities," Saint Light Whitebrow waved his hand.
Though the Hall Master of the Myriad Monster Palace still feared Saint Light Whitebrow, it was precisely that fear that compelled her to obey his words without question.
"Young friend Chu Feng, just now Lord Whitebrow said you've reached the eighth-grade Martial Emperor realm — is that true?" The Hall Master of the Myriad Monster Palace looked at Chu Feng with eager curiosity.
"Yes," Chu Feng nodded.
"Oh my heavens, kid — your progress is unreal!"
Sensing Chu Feng's aura, the Hall Master's jaw dropped open.
When Chu Feng had fought Saint Light Xuanye back then, she had already been terrified by how quickly he had grown. But now his cultivation had actually reached the eighth-grade Martial Emperor realm.
At this level, a single spit of his could drown Saint Light Xuanye.
If no one from the Holy Valley intervened, Chu Feng would undeniably be the most powerful individual in the entire Saint Light Heavenly River.
And yet Chu Feng… was still technically only a junior.
Especially when she recalled his strength the very first time she had laid eyes on him, and then compared it to now — the sheer contrast was almost too much for her to stomach.
"You monster — an absolute freak of nature. Your rate of growth is something I've never heard of in my life."
"If I didn't know you personally, and someone else told me about this, I'd beat them to death. How could anyone possibly advance this much in such a short period of time?"