The white-haired elder stared at Chu Feng, his eyes filled with shock.
He had been wary of Chu Feng simply because Chu Feng had claimed the title of the strongest Martial Venerable.
He never expected that Chu Feng's barrier techniques would be this formidable.
Everyone knew that a person couldn't focus on two things at once. Most top geniuses chose between martial cultivation and barrier techniques based on their natural talents, picking one or the other.
Within the Seven Realms Sacred Palace, there were many talented Spirit World Masters, but most of them had rather weak martial cultivation.
As for the geniuses of other factions, most had strong martial cultivation but were lacking in barrier techniques.
A prodigy like Chu Feng, excelling in both, was extraordinarily rare across the entire vast world of martial cultivation.
And such a genius would inevitably have a powerful force backing them. Otherwise, no matter how exceptional their talent, they couldn't possibly have grown to this level in just a few decades.
"Hand it over." Chu Feng extended his hand.
Young Master Bai Yue's expression was ugly to behold. He fixed his gaze on Chu Feng, open defiance blazing in his eyes.
He had clearly lost, yet he seemed unwilling to hand over the item.
Chu Feng stared right back at him. His expression was calm, but his gaze was razor-sharp.
The two locked eyes. At first, Young Master Bai Yue's presence was overwhelming, but as he met that piercing stare, his composure began to crumble.
He didn't know why, but he suddenly couldn't bring himself to hold Chu Feng's gaze. An inexplicable fear surged into his heart.
"Don't worry, I'm not the type to refuse to pay up." Young Master Bai Yue tossed the compass toward Chu Feng.
Chu Feng caught the compass but didn't immediately return it to Patriarch Zhou. Instead, he said, "Patriarch Zhou, once we return to Ageless Peak and I awaken that treasure, this item will be returned to its rightful owner."
Chu Feng was being cautious. After all, he had seen the guardian formation. If the other party refused to activate it, he truly couldn't get in.
Hearing this, Patriarch Zhou grew anxious.
"Chu Feng, that treasure…"
Chu Feng understood what Patriarch Zhou meant. The man was worried that if Chu Feng failed to awaken the treasure, he would simply keep the heirloom.
So Chu Feng said, "I know this item is difficult to awaken. If I, Chu Feng, cannot do it, then that simply means my abilities are insufficient."
"All you need to do is activate the guardian formation and let me attempt it. Whether I succeed or fail, I will return this item."
Only then did Patriarch Zhou feel at ease.
After that, the Zhou clan's army set off with Chu Feng toward Ageless Peak.
The crowd that had gathered here, upon learning that Chu Feng was heading to Ageless Peak to awaken the treasure, all followed along.
They knew the treasure was nearly impossible to awaken, but they wanted to see the spectacle all the same. After all, they had come here for the show. Now that one event was over, there was a new one to watch, and they weren't about to miss it.
However, after Chu Feng's group departed, Young Master Bai Yue returned to the city and flew into a rage.
"Damn it!"
His face was terrifyingly dark, his eyes brimming with unwillingness.
Seeing him like this, the people around him didn't dare say a word. They all knew Young Master Bai Yue's temper and feared that a single poorly chosen remark would bring disaster upon themselves.
What they didn't know was that Young Master Bai Yue wasn't furious because Chu Feng had beaten him.
He was angry at himself. When he had stared down Chu Feng, he had intended to intimidate him, only to be the one who got spooked instead. He felt utterly pathetic.
"Why such a fit of rage?"
A middle-aged man suddenly walked in.
"Greetings, Cult Master!"
The moment they saw him, everyone present bowed deeply in reverence.
"Father, you've returned." Young Master Bai Yue hurried forward to greet him.
"I've been back for a little while. I saw everything that just happened outside."
"That Chu Feng is indeed a rare genius. There's no shame in losing to him. Don't be so hard on yourself," his father comforted.
"Father, I'm sorry. I embarrassed you," Young Master Bai Yue said, lowering his head.
"My son is so outstanding — what is there to be embarrassed about?" his father asked.
"Sigh, perhaps I've been too domineering for too long. To lose to Chu Feng in front of everyone today, and then let him walk away unscathed — it really doesn't sit well with me," Young Master Bai Yue said.
"If that's all it is, then there's even less reason to be this furious."
"Because you'll be able to settle this score very soon," his father said.
"Father, what do you mean?" Young Master Bai Yue looked up at his father, his eyes lighting up. He could already sense that good news was coming.
"I've received word that Chu Feng has no real backing. He simply has exceptional talent."
"So there's no need to fear him at all."
"As it happens, the Alchemy Dao Immortal Sect recently summoned me, and one of their orders was to eliminate this Chu Feng," his father said.
"Eliminate Chu Feng?"
"Does that mean, once Chu Feng is dealt with, we can finally come out of hiding?" Young Master Bai Yue asked.
"Once we eliminate Chu Feng and seize the treasure on Ageless Peak, the Alchemy Dao Immortal Sect will back us. Our cult can finally emerge from the shadows."
"We'll no longer need to live under assumed names."
"And you won't have to endure this kind of humiliation anymore. You can go back to being the domineering young master you were," his father said.
"That's wonderful news!" Young Master Bai Yue was instantly overjoyed. He had long grown sick of the life he'd been living.