After Little Fish left, Chu Feng compose himself and continued on his journey.
But as he walked, an enormous family clan appeared ahead.
It was called enormous because it occupied a vast swathe of territory — not just rivers and lakes, but even a stretch of ocean had been claimed as its own.
Though the territory it occupied was huge, the clan's population was not particularly large. This was a powerful elite clan.
However, clans of such strength were nothing new to Chu Feng.
Even if they showed up in the Lower Realm, or even in the Upper Realm of the Eastern Region, they would be considered ruling-class existences.
But here? At best, they were among the top forces of this world. In this star region alone, they were nothing — let alone compared to the entire Heavenly River.
This was the gap.
The gap between the other great Heavenly Rivers and the Eastern Region.
Why was it that despite the Eastern Region possessing two Heavenly Rivers — Ancestral Martial and Nine Souls — it was looked down upon by those from other Heavenly Rivers?
Because of the difference in strength.
The Eastern Region was truly too weak. Putting everything else aside, take the Ancestral Martial Heavenly River. If you set aside the Sacred Valley behind it and spoke only of the Sacred Light Clan — here, they wouldn't even be considered a noteworthy existence.
A bona fide hegemon of a whole Heavenly River, yet unable to compare with some random small family in another world — how could they possibly be respected?
With such a disparity, it was hardly surprising that others looked down on the Eastern Region and the Ancestral Martial Heavenly River. There was nothing to argue about — the Eastern Region truly was that poor.
The two Heavenly Rivers of the Eastern Region being called backwater hovels was no injustice either.
If you converted cultivation into wealth, the richest family in either of those two Heavenly Rivers wouldn't match an ordinary household here.
A place like that — if not a backwater hovel, then what?
But the reason this particular clan caught Chu Feng's attention wasn't that it had impressed him. Rather, it was something he witnessed happening.
A group of children around ten years old were ganging up on another boy of similar age.
No, it wasn't mere bullying anymore — they were beating the boy senseless, and they showed no restraint.
A group of elders stood nearby watching, making no move to intervene. On the contrary, they looked on as though enjoying a show.
From the children's taunts, Chu Feng understood why the boy was being targeted so relentlessly.
He was adopted… an adopted son.
This scene stirred memories of Chu Feng's own past.
Hadn't he been just the same in the Chu Family?
Apart from his adoptive father, his eldest brother, and a few others like Chu Yue, most of the Chu Family had treated him as an outsider.
From childhood onward, he had faced exclusion and bullying.
Looking back now, if Chu Feng hadn't later proven himself and grown strong enough to protect the clan, would their attitude toward him have changed?
Chu Feng knew the answer deep down, but he simply couldn't be bothered to dwell on it.
"These people need a lesson," the Queen spoke up as Chu Feng watched.
She understood him well and knew this sight had reminded him of his own past.
So she was direct, goading Chu Feng to go teach those people a lesson.
Since the parents wouldn't discipline them, then let Chu Feng — an outsider — do it.
Someone needed to teach them that lesson.
In truth, it would be for their own good. Someone needed to help them build a proper sense of values.
You must not bully the weak just because you are strong.
"Stop it, stop it!!!"
At that moment, a middle-aged man came running over.
He shoved the group of children aside and scooped up the bruise-covered boy.
"Father, waaah…"
The moment the boy saw the middle-aged man, he burst into tears.
He hadn't cried even after being beaten to that state, but now he wept with a sense of deep grievance.
"They said I stole something, but I didn't steal anything." That single sentence laid bare the reason for his beating.
"Don't cry. Father's here — it's alright." The middle-aged man smiled gently as he wiped the boy's tears, then turned to look at a richly dressed woman in the crowd.
"Sister."
Boom—!
Without warning, a blast of martial force came hurtling over, sending the middle-aged man flying.