As Jie Yu led Chu Feng and the others closer, the gazes of the young generation of the Seven Realms Sacred Residence turned toward them.
Some were surprised, some were startled, but hostility was the predominant sentiment.
"Miss Sheng'er, I've brought the person you requested."
Jie Yu descended and spoke.
Since the young disciples were standing separately by clan — the Ling clan on one side and the Jie clan on the other — once he delivered Chu Feng and Bai Yunqing over, he retreated to the Jie clan's side.
"So this young master is Chu Feng?"
Ling Mo'er turned her gaze to Chu Feng immediately, clearly already knowing who he was beforehand.
"Chu Feng, this is my elder sister, Ling Mo'er."
"The two of us will be entering the ancient palace together today," Ling Sheng'er introduced.
"Chu Feng greets Miss Ling Mo'er." Chu Feng offered a courteous bow.
"It's a pleasure to meet Young Master Chu Feng." Ling Mo'er smiled and returned the courtesy with a bow of her own.
Seeing this, the members of the Ling clan were all bewildered.
They couldn't understand why these two noble young ladies were being so polite to an outsider, but they only dared to murmur among themselves — none would dare ask directly.
"Jie Yu, who are these two?"
Over on the Jie clan's side, someone asked Jie Yu outright.
"They are both guests of our Seven Realms Sacred Residence. That Chu Feng is extraordinarily talented, so Miss Sheng'er invited him to join the expedition to the ancient palace," Jie Yu explained.
"What? An outsider worthy of entering the ancient palace?"
At these words, the Jie clan members immediately took issue.
But they only dared to grumble privately — no one would dare voice their displeasure to Ling Sheng'er directly.
"Ladies, I have an impertinent request," Chu Feng said.
"Please speak, Young Master Chu Feng."
Ling Mo'er spoke with a warm smile throughout, and in contrast to Ling Sheng'er, she actually seemed even more approachable.
"This is my sworn brother, Bai Yunqing. He is a disciple of the Grand Elder and guest minister of the Totem Dragon Clan. The two of us are extremely close — not blood brothers, but closer than brothers in all but name."
"So for this journey, I was hoping to…"
Before Chu Feng could finish, Ling Mo'er interjected with a smile: "Young Master Chu Feng, you'd like to bring Young Master Bai along as well?"
"Yes. I hope that would be convenient," Chu Feng said.
"Of course." Ling Mo'er nodded.
Upon hearing this, both Bai Yunqing and Chu Feng showed visible delight.
Jie Yu, however, was caught off guard — he hadn't expected Ling Mo'er to agree to such a request.
"That won't do." Just then, a young man from the Jie clan shouted out.
He, too, was a member of the younger generation, and possessed the strength of a Blue Dragon Divine Robe.
"I'm inviting a friend — do I need your permission?" Ling Sheng'er's gaze swept over him, sharp as a blade.
The man clearly cowed, not daring to meet Ling Sheng'er's eyes. Instead, he looked toward Ling Mo'er.
"Miss Mo'er, allowing outsiders into the ancient palace goes against the rules of our Seven Realms Sacred Residence. This is a sacred site — how can outsiders be permitted to enter?"
The Jie clan member spoke, not so much in reprimand as in earnest negotiation.
"I've already discussed it with Lady Shuangyu, and her position is that as long as none of you have objections, it will be permitted."
"So — do any of you have objections?"
Ling Mo'er spoke gently, genuinely consulting the group. There wasn't a hint of threat in her words, unless someone pushed too far.
And her accommodating demeanor, naturally, emboldened a few.
"Of course I have objections! Our Seven Realms Sacred Residence's sacred grounds — how can outsiders be allowed to set foot in them?"
The man then turned to the other Jie clan juniors. "Everyone, what do you think?"
"He's right. We don't agree either."
Sure enough, a handful of the younger generation chimed in.
Though it was only a small minority, it was enough to make Ling Mo'er furrow her brows slightly, putting her in a difficult position.
"What's all the commotion about?"
Just then, several more figures descended from the sky. All of them possessed considerable cultivation — the weakest among them wore the Blue Dragon Divine Robe.
The one leading the group wore the Purple Dragon Divine Robe.
A private voice transmission from Jie Yu reached Chu Feng and Bai Yunqing's ears: "That is Jie Zhou."
And the one who had just spoken was none other than this Jie Zhou.
"Young Master Jie Zhou, you've arrived at the perfect time! Miss Mo'er and Miss Sheng'er — they're actually inviting outsiders into the ancient palace!"
As soon as Jie Zhou touched down, members of the Jie clan rushed forward to brief him on the situation.
Upon hearing the details, Jie Zhou didn't react as strongly as the others. Instead, he offered a faint smile, then stepped forward.
"I am Jie Zhou. A pleasure to meet Young Master Chu and Young Master Bai."
He actually bowed to the two of them of his own accord.
The man held a distinguished status, and he was treating them with courtesy — so naturally, Chu Feng returned the bow in kind.
Then Jie Zhou looked toward Ling Mo'er and Ling Sheng'er.
"Since you are the ones who invited them, the Jie clan has no objections."
The moment Jie Zhou said this, the faces of those Jie clan members who had been opposing it turned ugly.
But not a single one dared say another word.
It was clear that Jie Zhou held considerable standing.
In truth, many on the Ling clan's side were also against it — they simply hadn't dared speak up from the very beginning. Now that the Jie clan had agreed, they certainly weren't going to push back either.
"This Child of Prophecy seems like a decent fellow," Bai Yunqing praised through a private transmission.
He was practically elated. He hadn't harbored much hope to begin with, yet everything had gone so smoothly — he was actually going to be able to enter the ancient palace.
"So far, so good," Chu Feng said with a slight smile.
Then, Ling Mo'er and Jie Zhou each produced a key carved from stone.