"Elder, what you're saying is wrong. How is Chu Feng arrogant and conceited? How is he looking down on everyone?"
"Although it's my first time seeing Chu Feng, I haven't seen him be arrogant or look down on anyone."
"I imagine this is your first time seeing Chu Feng too. So where did you get the idea that he's as terrible as you say?"
However, as soon as the Heavenly Dao Manor elder finished speaking, several voices rose in challenge — and they were far from few.
"Hmph, that boy Chu Feng conceals himself deeply. How he truly is — how could people like you possibly see through him?"
The Heavenly Dao Manor elder snorted coldly, sweeping his gaze over the crowd with undisguised contempt.
As an elder of the Heavenly Dao Manor, he looked down on everyone present from the bottom of his heart.
"I see. But if that's the case, why didn't you say all this to Chu Feng's face?" someone called out loudly.
"...!" Hearing this, the Heavenly Dao Manor elder's brow furrowed immediately and his lips twitched. Though seething with anger, he found himself at a loss for words.
"Heh..."
Seeing his reaction, many in the crowd chuckled, their eyes brimming with sarcasm.
The people of the Heavenly Dao Manor looked down on them — did that mean they had to look up to the Heavenly Dao Manor?
Before this, many had considered the Heavenly Dao Manor a beacon of justice, a proud banner of the human race. Seeing their elders and disciples had always inspired a measure of envy.
But after everything that had happened, the Heavenly Dao Manor's standing in people's hearts had done a complete about-face. That aura of sanctity had been thoroughly shattered.
"If you ask me, you just didn't have the guts to say it to his face, right?" the speaker pressed, letting out a hearty laugh afterward.
"Hahahaha..."
At the same time, many in the crowd burst into laughter, the members of Hell Palace laughing especially heartily.
Not only did they laugh freely, but the looks they directed at the Heavenly Dao Manor elder were filled with contempt.
Everyone knew exactly why this elder hadn't dared say those things to Chu Feng's face — because he simply didn't have the nerve.
If that were all there was to it, it would have been understandable. After all, Chu Feng's strength far exceeded his own, and Chu Feng was decisive in killing. Being afraid for his life — that was hardly something to fault.
But to not dare say it to his face, yet immediately start talking behind his back the moment Chu Feng left — that was something people found deeply contemptible.
If he had been badmouthing Chu Feng earlier, people could have understood — after all, one shouldn't be blamed for not knowing. Not just him, but many present had doubted Chu Feng's strength before he appeared.
But having already witnessed Chu Feng's strength, having been spared by Chu Feng himself — to still refuse to repent and continue badmouthing him behind his back...
People could only look down on him. After all, for a dignified elder of the Heavenly Dao Manor to have nothing but the ability to gossip behind people's backs...
Fierce as a tiger behind people's backs, lowly as a dog to their faces — that sort of person was a true scoundrel. If others looked down on him, he had only himself to blame.
"Shut your mouths! How dare you lowlifes freely insult me!" Suddenly, the Heavenly Dao Manor elder flew into a rage.
In an instant, his oppressive aura surged outward like an invisible flood, sweeping in all directions and bearing down on everyone who had been laughing at him.
"What's this? You're allowed to gossip behind people's backs, but no one else is allowed to point out your mistakes?" Just then, a similarly formidable oppressive aura swept forth, neutralizing the Heavenly Dao Manor elder's pressure. It was none other than Elder Changping of Hell Palace who had stepped in.
"You people from Hell Palace — what do you want now?" The Heavenly Dao Manor elder turned his hostility toward Elder Changping.
"Nothing in particular. I just want to put in a few fair words."
"I'm not trying to criticize you, but when you were badmouthing young friend Chu Feng behind his back earlier, he chose not to hold it against you. Now that's true magnanimity."