Once both Yan Xie and the white-clad man had stepped forward, everyone present couldn't help but marvel in their hearts.
This was especially true for the elders nearing a hundred years of age. Though they themselves were still considered juniors, they knew full well that this era no longer belonged to them.
And now, seeing Yan Xie and the white-clad man, they finally understood why this era was hailed as the age when the truly powerful would emerge, the age when emperors and kings would rise — because the number of formidable juniors in this era was, indeed, staggering.
One could even say there were more than in any era since the ancient times.
Otherwise, how could so many elders and disciples of the Hell Palace and the Heavenly Dao Palace have been utterly suppressed by a single junior like Jin Wei'e?
Yet the two figures now hovering in the sky — every last one of them was at least as powerful as Jin Wei'e. That was something people simply couldn't help but admire.
"What gives you the right to call Chu Feng a coward? Do you even know him?" Yan Xie fixed the white-clad man with a frigid stare as he spoke.
He considered Chu Feng a close friend. Just like Chili, he would not tolerate anyone insulting Chu Feng. What's more, he had already realized that this man's appearance at this particular moment was anything but well-intentioned.
"If he was invited but didn't dare to show up, what else would you call him?" the white-clad man replied.
"What makes you so sure Chu Feng didn't dare to come? Perhaps he's already inside this fortress — you just haven't seen him yet," Yan Xie said.
"The four great Imperial Clans have joined forces to put a bounty on his head. You think he'd dare show up?" the white-clad man countered.
"Based on everything I know about Chu Feng — as long as he received an invitation, he'll come," Yan Xie said firmly.
"If he does show up, that might prove he's not a coward. But if not, I will make it known to everyone that even if Chu Feng isn't a coward, he's nothing more than an overrated waste."
"Because I will kill him with my own hands." As the white-clad man spoke those words, he clenched his fist, and a flash of killing intent passed through his eyes. He was absolutely not joking — he had truly set his mind on killing Chu Feng.
"Chili, it seems Chu Feng's offended more than just the four great Imperial Clans. He's made quite a few enemies," Big Radish muttered under his breath.
"Shut up," Chili snapped angrily, though her gaze flickered with worry — clearly, she was deeply concerned about Chu Feng's safety.
At this moment, the calmest person of all was actually Chu Feng himself. He knew exactly why so many people slandered him, insulted him, and even wanted him dead.
It was because of the astronomical bounty the four great Imperial Clans had placed on his head. The reward was simply too tempting, and so naturally, those who wanted to go after him were legion.
But one couldn't just attack Chu Feng at random — doing so would earn nothing but scorn. So if they wanted to come after him, they had to pin the label of villainy on him first.
Chu Feng saw through all of these petty tricks with crystal clarity. The Heavenly Dao Palace, Jin-Yin-Tong, and this white-clad man — they were all after the bounty.
"Chu Feng is my close friend. If you want to kill him, I will absolutely not stand by and do nothing."
"But I, Yan Xie, do not kill nobodies. Tell me — what is your name?" Yan Xie asked in a cold voice.
"My name is Zhan Qiankun. My honored master is Zhan Cangtian," the white-clad man said, enunciating each word with deliberate weight.
"What? His master is Zhan Cangtian? He's Zhan Qiankun — Zhan Cangtian's disciple?"
The moment those words left the white-clad man's lips, many among the crowd froze, their eyes going wide with shock. The looks they turned toward him became a mixture of astonishment, dread, indignation, and fear.
And now, from the murmuring around him, Chu Feng learned the true identity of the white-clad man.
Zhan Cangtian — the foremost among the Great Evil. Even the four great villains of Gold, Silver, Copper, and Iron had to bow respectfully and submit before him.
And Zhan Cangtian's disciple, Zhan Qiankun, was one of the most elite and most renowned juniors in the entire Martial Sacred Land.
His exploits had long since spread far and wide across the Martial Sacred Land, and in this grand tournament of the strongest juniors, his name had been included on the guest list personally extended by the Bow Emperor's disciple.
That alone was proof enough — Zhan Qiankun was no mere pretender. He was a true prodigy with real, undeniable talent.