"Truly, time is merciless. Has it been so long that you don't even recognize your own master?"
That figure spoke to the black-flamed monster.
"Master?"
"This Sage Sovereign has no master. Who exactly are you?"
Though fear still laced the black-flamed monster's voice, it was also filled with confusion.
"It's him?"
But compared to the black-flamed monster, the moment Chu Feng heard that voice, he knew exactly who it was.
This was the one who had warned him that Long Chengyu and the others would be in mortal danger when he, along with the Totem Dragon Clan, the Totem Phoenix Clan, and the Blood-Eyed Qilin Clan, entered that great formation.
The one who had given Chu Feng the compass, allowing him the chance to boost his cultivation and break the formation.
But Chu Feng had never imagined that this person... had been hidden inside his own body all along.
And Chu Feng had been completely unaware.
"Who am I?"
"Truly don't remember?"
With those words, the radiance surrounding the figure faded.
Revealed was a man with utterly ordinary features.
His looks were plain, and his attire was equally unremarkable. Though his white robe was spotless, the fabric was no treasure—it was the most common kind.
Yet compared to his simple clothing and unassuming appearance, the sword strapped to his back immediately caught Chu Feng's eye.
The sword was entirely silver, its hilt also looking quite ordinary.
But Chu Feng knew this sword was anything but.
However, due to its scabbard, the blade itself remained hidden.
The scabbard was leather. At first glance, it seemed commonplace, but as Chu Feng observed closely, he could sense an extraordinary kingly aura emanating from within the leather.
It was of the same lineage as the Totem Dragon Clan's bloodline aura, yet far more powerful.
It was... dragon leather!!!
A scabbard crafted from genuine dragon leather.
Moreover, the patterns lining the inside of the scabbard, though appearing irregular, were actually powerful restrictive formations, sealing away an immense power.
What were they sealing?
Necessarily, they were sealing the sword.
What kind of sword required such a powerful scabbard to keep it sealed?
This sword was absolutely extraordinary.
And anyone who possessed such a sword must be even more so.
While Chu Feng observed the man, Little Fishy, Jie Tian, and the black-flamed monster were also watching him.
Compared to Chu Feng, the black-flamed monster's terrifying crimson eyes still held far more bewilderment and lack of understanding.
"It seems the events of that year caused you to lose your memory as well."
"No matter. I will help you remember."
With a sweep of his broad sleeve, a scroll of parchment shot forth from the man.
The scroll flew to a position above the black-flamed monster's head, then unfurled. Instantly, the void trembled as a powerful restrictive formation descended from the sky, enveloping the monster.
"It's him!"
Seeing the scroll and sensing the aura now emanating from the man, Chu Feng already knew his identity.
"Chu Feng, is he the master of the Hall of Equal Treatment? Is he the Scholar of Chaos?" the Queen asked.
"It's definitely him. He's truly still alive." Chu Feng was certain.
After all, back when the Boundary Painter had asked Chu Feng to examine that painting, Chu Feng had already glimpsed that the painting contained a whole world...
And within that world was a coffin, and within that coffin, a powerful existence. At the time, Chu Feng had deduced that this person, based on the aura of the Hall of Equal Treatment, might well be the Scholar of Chaos.
Now, the man before him was drawing a formation from a scroll, and his aura matched exactly what Chu Feng had sensed from the person in the coffin that day.
If not him, who else could it be?
"How did he get inside your body?"
"Was it during the time at the Hall of Equal Treatment?" the Queen asked.
"No, not then." Chu Feng replied.
"Then when was it?" the Queen asked.
AAAARGH—
But before Chu Feng could answer, the black-flamed monster let out an ear-piercing shriek of agony.
Under the influence of the formation, the monster's face contorted in pain as a strange power resonated within its mind.
At the same time, the man spoke.
"You infiltrated this place, spending years merging with it, to avoid its power sealing you away."
"But do you remember who sent you here? Who helped you infiltrate this place? And who gave you the order to steal the secrets of this Primordial Star Sea?"