"What?" Those words left not only Yin Chengkong stunned, but even Baili Xuankong and the others were thoroughly shocked.
In that moment, Yin Chengkong was utterly dumbfounded, his expression looking as though he had just eaten a hundred catties of dog feces — it was a truly wretched sight.
Because he never imagined that Chu Feng had actually played him for a fool. Chu Feng never had any real evidence at all — he had been bluffing the entire time.
Yet… because of that bluff, Yin Chengkong had revealed his own hand, confessing everything. Before Chu Feng, he had suffered a complete and total defeat.
"Chu Feng, you insidious scoundrel! Even in death, I'll drag you down with me!!!" Consumed by fury, Yin Chengkong lunged toward Chu Feng, intent on killing him.
Boom—
However, before he could so much as draw close to Chu Feng, his body exploded. Only the half-finished Emperor Armament in his hand clattered to the ground, while Yin Chengkong himself was well and truly dead.
It was not Chu Feng who killed him — it was Baili Xuankong.
Baili Xuankong had not originally intended to execute him so soon, but seeing that Yin Chengkong dared to make a move against Chu Feng, he could no longer hold back.
"This traitor's death is well deserved. But Chu Feng — how did you know for certain that he was the traitor?" Baili Xuankong asked.
At that moment, not only the crowd from the Greenwood Mountain, but even Nangong Longjian, the Compass Immortal, and all the members of the Demon Dragon Royal Clan were gazing at Chu Feng with looks of curiosity, eager to understand the truth.
"I had been watching the reactions of all the seniors from our Greenwood Mountain, and the one I judged most likely to betray us was Yin Chengkong. So I fabricated a note, spun a lie, and took a gamble. I never expected to actually win it," Chu Feng said with a smile.
"You boy, you make it sound far too casual — just a gamble? Then why go through all that meticulous preparation? It's obvious that from the moment you publicly asked Ximen Baiyuan who the traitor was, you had already conceived this scheme." At that, the Compass Immortal, who had been silent for some time, spoke up with a smile. His appreciation for Chu Feng was only growing.
As for the Compass Immortal's words, Chu Feng offered only a faint smile. Though he did not confirm it outright, everyone could tell that the Compass Immortal had hit the mark — this had been a trap Chu Feng set from the very beginning.
The fact that Chu Feng had been able to think that far ahead in such a dire moment left not only the ordinary observers, but even Baili Xuankong, Nangong Longjian, and numerous other powerhouses filled with admiration. None of them had conceived of what Chu Feng had.
And if these great figures felt that way, then those of Chu Feng's own generation — disciples like Jiang Furong and Bai Yunxiao — found their emotions all the more complicated. There had been a time when they stood above Chu Feng, but now… the ones exchanging words with Chu Feng on equal footing were Baili Xuankong, Nangong Longjian, and the Clan Leader of the Demon Dragon Royal Clan. As for them… they had lost all say in the matter.
That staggering disparity made them realize the terrifying speed of Chu Feng's growth, and it laid bare the gulf that now separated them.
Those who had always been Chu Feng's friends could accept it well enough, but those like Bai Yunxiao, who had once been his enemies, could not help but smile bitterly at their own past ignorance.
"Chu Feng, take this." Baili Xuankong handed over the Universe Bag brimming with rewards.
"Ancestor, you should keep it. Our Greenwood Mountain still has a long road ahead, and these will be useful," Chu Feng said, declining to accept it. The bag contained a vast amount of cultivation resources — they would indeed be of some help in bolstering his strength.
But to Chu Feng, these cultivation resources were simply far too insignificant to meaningfully advance his cultivation.
However, for the other members of Greenwood Mountain, these cultivation resources and treasures were of paramount importance. This was, without question, a tremendous fortune.
Rather than keeping them for himself, it would be far better for Chu Feng to leave them with Baili Xuankong to develop Greenwood Mountain, because he knew that from this day forward, the Greenwood Mountain was bound to enter a period of rapid growth.
"Very well." Baili Xuankong gave a nod in the end.
"Might I trouble Lord Demon Dragon Guang to escort my Ancestor and the others back to the Greenwood Mountain?" Chu Feng said. He was still not entirely at ease leaving Baili Xuankong and the rest on their own.
"Chu Feng, you're not coming back with us?" Baili Xuankong asked.