"Actually, the choice you made inside the tower earlier was also a test," the woman of white light said.
"This junior was aware." Chu Feng hadn't realized it was a test at the time, but in hindsight, he too felt it had been one.
"I did choose you because of how much you value loyalty and bonds, but what I value even more is your talent. In truth, whether you passed the test or not, I would never have let you die," the woman of white light said.
"Senior is truly kind to me," Chu Feng said with a smile.
"Save the flattery. I won't be giving you any more benefits, but I can offer you one piece of advice," the woman of white light said.
"Please, Senior, speak," Chu Feng said.
"Valuing loyalty and bonds is a strength, but for you, it is also a weakness."
"People have both a selfish side and a selfless side. I chose you not because I want you to save the world, but because your talent is worthy of the Way of Specialization."
"Even without my inheritance, you would have eventually grasped it on your own. So… you must learn to protect yourself first."
"Don't let your loyalty and bonds be the death of you," the woman of white light said.
In truth, Chu Feng did not agree with the woman of white light's view. He was not a selfless person, but when it came to those he cared about, he would stop at nothing.
This was what he believed to be right, and it would not change simply because the woman of white light advised him otherwise.
But Chu Feng did not argue with her. Instead, he clasped his fists and bowed respectfully. "Thank you for the reminder, Senior."
After all, the woman of white light meant well.
"You may leave now," the woman of white light said.
"Senior, wait one moment." Chu Feng feared that the woman of white light would simply send him away, so he hurried to speak.
"Is there something else?" the woman of white light asked, confused.
Chu Feng tossed Xu Tianjian out from the jade box.
"Don't—don't kill me."
Xu Tianjian's face was deathly pale. The first thing he did upon seeing Chu Feng was beg for his life.
But Chu Feng paid him no attention whatsoever. Instead, he stripped every treasure from Xu Tianjian's body without leaving a thing.
Then, he employed barrier techniques and set up an illusion formation, trapping Xu Tianjian within it.
Though Xu Tianjian possessed decent talent, his willpower was feeble. Compounded by his grievous injuries, he quickly fell victim to the illusion formation's effects.
"You little rascal," the woman of white light said, seeing through Chu Feng's intentions at once.
After all, Xu Tianjian had backers. Chu Feng feared that Xu Tianjian would come after him for revenge.
But once trapped in the illusion formation, Xu Tianjian would soon reveal of his own volition that he was the Demonic Monk's disciple — and that would be the end of him.
No matter how powerful the forces behind Xu Tianjian might be, they all submitted before the Totem Dragon Clan.
And the reason Chu Feng had set up the formation here was that once he returned inside the tower, he would be unable to employ barrier techniques.
After dealing with Xu Tianjian, Chu Feng turned back to the woman of white light. "Senior, will you truly not reveal your name?"
"You really are persistent," the woman of white light said with a look of helplessness, but she spoke three words regardless: "Mu Youzhi."
"Senior Mu, I hope that one day we may meet again," Chu Feng said.
At that, Mu Youzhi smiled. She could clearly see that Chu Feng was not merely being polite — she knew he was someone who repaid his debts of gratitude.
"Now go on," Mu Youzhi said, waving her hand.
"This junior takes his leave." With those words, Chu Feng grabbed Xu Tianjian and stepped through the barrier gate.
Passing through the barrier gate, Chu Feng returned directly to the towering pagoda.
The moment he set foot inside, a wave of teleportation energy appeared, transporting him to the very top of the pagoda. And the Strongest Token, suspended above the pagoda's peak, descended automatically into Chu Feng's hand.
At the same time, Chu Feng could see the pagoda's gates swing open as Xu Tianjian was teleported out.
"Look— it's Chu Feng! Chu Feng won! Chu Feng is the strongest Martial Emperor!"
When Chu Feng appeared at the top, the crowd did not react with much surprise. After all, he had already demonstrated his power earlier.
But just then, Xu Tianjian suddenly spoke.
"You're done for, Chu Feng! You're dead! You dared to refuse to hand the Strongest title to me? My Master is the Demonic Monk — he will never let you go!"
Xu Tianjian had been influenced by Chu Feng's illusion formation and could no longer distinguish reality from fantasy, which was why those words tumbled from his mouth.
"The Demonic Monk? He's the Demonic Monk's disciple?"
Those words sent shockwaves through the crowd.
The Demonic Monk's disciple?
What had just happened was still fresh in everyone's minds.
And in that moment, Xu Tianjian froze. Facing the hostile gazes all around him, his face turned ghastly pale, and his body began to tremble.
Chu Feng's illusion formation had been lifted — deliberately. He had released it so quickly precisely to create the impression that Xu Tianjian had been trying to threaten him inside the tower but had accidentally revealed himself outside, thereby exposing his own identity.
So Xu Tianjian stood there in a daze. He had just realized he'd been deceived, and in that single moment of clarity, he had spoken words that would bring destruction upon his entire clan.
Hum—
Just then, a barrier gate materialized, and several elders of the Totem Dragon Clan appeared on the scene.
It turned out that the woman of white light had already lifted the restrictions on the Totem Dragon Clan's formation at the same time she teleported Chu Feng back into the pagoda.
So the Totem Dragon Clan had finally regained complete control of this place. They could now see everything within the formation and manipulate it freely.
The moment they heard Xu Tianjian's confession, they had entered the Strongest Trial grounds and seized him directly.
"I was framed! It's Chu Feng—he did this to me on purpose!"
Once in their grasp, Xu Tianjian began screaming frantically.
"Shut up."
One of the elders delivered a slap that warped Xu Tianjian's face beyond recognition, leaving him unable to utter another word.
In truth, the elder had already shown restraint. Had it not been for the need to investigate further, he would have killed Xu Tianjian on the spot.
After all, the Demonic Monk had just committed an atrocity against them that defied all conscience.
"Young friend, you will come with us as well."
Among the elders, the leading one turned to Chu Feng. Without waiting for Chu Feng's consent, he took both Xu Tianjian and Chu Feng away the moment he finished speaking.
In reality, the Totem Dragon Clan only wanted to question Chu Feng regarding Xu Tianjian's background — they sought to confirm the details surrounding Xu Tianjian's identity.