The teleportation formation was the fastest way for martial cultivators to travel.
As such, outside of extremely remote locations, large crowds gathered near virtually every teleportation formation.
This made the areas around teleportation formations one of the best places to gather information.
When Chu Feng and Bai Yunqing stepped out of the teleportation formation, they overheard three pieces of news.
The first was that a man known as the Barrier Painter would be holding an exhibition in the near future.
Chu Feng originally had no interest in this matter.
But the second and third pieces of news both concerned him.
The second was that the Nine Totem Paths had issued the Nine Heavenly Edicts, declaring they would protect Chu Feng in the name of the Nine Paths.
Upon hearing this, both Chu Feng and Bai Yunqing were astonished. Particularly after Bai Yunqing explained to Chu Feng just what the Nine Heavenly Edicts entailed, Chu Feng was even more surprised — he had never expected the Nine Totem Paths to go to such lengths to protect him.
Receiving the protection of the Nine Totem Paths was something Chu Feng himself considered a good thing.
But the third piece of news made him feel that something was off.
It was a rumor that Chu Feng had kidnapped Jia Huo, the son of Jia Lingyi of the Dao Alchemy Immortal Sect.
And that he had declared Jia Lingyi must personally attend the Barrier Painter's exhibition to ransom her son — if she did not show up, he would kill Jia Huo.
As time passed, the news had spread far and wide, and Chu Feng's reputation had long since resounded throughout the Totem Star River.
People not only knew that Chu Feng was the strongest Martial Ancestor to emerge from the Strongest Trial — even the story of the grudge between Chu Feng and Jia Lingyi, that it was because Jia Lingyi had harmed Chu Feng's grandmother, had made the rounds.
However, because of Jia Lingyi's special status and the various rumors surrounding Chu Feng's own identity, most people considered this particular story to be false.
What people didn't know was that Chu Feng had never kidnapped Jia Huo.
In fact, before today, Chu Feng hadn't even known that Jia Lingyi had a son named Jia Huo.
"Who is impersonating you, Brother Chu Feng?" Bai Yunqing furrowed his brows.
"I don't know. We'll find out when we get there. By the way — what's the story behind this Barrier Painter?" Chu Feng asked.
"The Barrier Painter is a very mysterious Spirit World Master. It's said that all of his formations are deployed in the form of paintings."
"He holds exhibitions from time to time. If anyone can see through his formations, he rewards them."
"But it's been decades since his last exhibition, so I've never seen his paintings firsthand."
"Also, I've heard that this Barrier Painter seems to have some connection to the Dragon Breath Clan," Bai Yunqing said.
"Is that so." Chu Feng fell into thought. He was actually wondering whether the person impersonating him might have some tie to this Barrier Painter.
Otherwise, why would they have chosen the timing of the Barrier Painter's exhibition for Jia Lingyi to come ransom her son?
"Brother Chu Feng, is the rumor true — that Jia Lingyi harmed your grandmother?" When Bai Yunqing asked this, his expression turned solemn.
"Yes," Chu Feng said.
"Damn her." Upon hearing this, Bai Yunqing immediately flew into a rage.
He had previously only known that Chu Feng and Jia Lingyi had an irreconcilable grudge, but had not known the specific reason.
Now that he knew the truth, he finally understood why Chu Feng had said that Jia Lingyi must die.
This was an absolute blood feud. Were it him, Bai Yunqing would have sought vengeance too.
"Brother Chu Feng, this Jia Lingyi truly deserves to die. Rest assured — no matter the cost, I will help you settle this score," Bai Yunqing said to Chu Feng.
"Brother, I know you're loyal, but don't get involved in this."
"My grudge with Jia Lingyi — I don't want to rely on anyone else. I will settle it with my own hands," Chu Feng said.
"Brother Chu Feng..." Bai Yunqing wanted to say more.
"Enough. Didn't your Master have urgent business with you? Go back first," Chu Feng said.
Though he very much wanted to know who was impersonating him, the exhibition was still some time away. And since he was already here, he might as well accompany Bai Yunqing on his trip first.