"So you've been following me this whole time?" Chu Feng asked.
"Not the whole time, okay? Only twice. Once when you went to that… whatever-dojo."
"And then this time. Both were coincidences. I wasn't deliberately tracking you. I-I-I'm not a stalker," Wang Qiang said.
Seeing Wang Qiang like this, Chu Feng let out a relieved smile. Though Wang Qiang was extraordinarily ugly, there was something oddly endearing about the way he acted.
Even though questions still lingered in his mind, he smiled and said to Wang Qiang, "Actually, I only just found out about what's going on here myself. I can tell you, but you have to promise me — you can't tell anyone about this."
"My lips are t-t-totally sealed." Wang Qiang raised his hand to swear. Seeing that Chu Feng was going to tell him about the matter, he grew quite excited.
"Alright then, I'll tell you. But before I do, I have one more request," Chu Feng said.
"Wh-wh-what request?" Wang Qiang asked.
"What is your true strength, really? Can you tell me the truth?" Chu Feng asked.
In his estimation, Wang Qiang was currently at the sixth rank of Martial Emperor. That was already quite powerful.
But Chu Feng couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't Wang Qiang's true cultivation, because Wang Qiang had said he wanted to protect him — which meant Wang Qiang's strength had to surpass his own. Otherwise, how could he possibly protect Chu Feng?
"Fine, I w-w-won't hide it from you anymore." Wang Qiang chuckled, and then a wisp of aura spread outward. Chu Feng suddenly realized that Wang Qiang's cultivation was no longer that of a Martial Emperor.
His aura was that of the Half Ancestor realm. He was actually a first rank Half Ancestor.
But that wasn't all. When Wang Qiang swept his massive sleeve and the surrounding Ancestor-level martial power came under his control, Chu Feng sensed that his heaven-defying combat power wasn't merely the standard three ranks above — it was the same as his own, a full…
This kind of combat power was two ranks above that of ordinary Martial Emperors and Half Ancestors.
Though he had suspected as much, when Chu Feng finally confirmed that Wang Qiang's strength truly exceeded his own, he still couldn't help feeling quite astonished.
"Surprised, huh? Don't be surprised — the really surprising stuff is still coming."
"The reason I could hide from you and that blind old man is because I have a treasure. Watch." As Wang Qiang spoke, he produced a peculiar burlap sack. The sack was tattered and patched together, looking even more ragged than the clothes of a beggar.
But when Wang Qiang slipped the sack over himself, he vanished completely. The sack disappeared too.
And it was a thorough disappearance — not even the slightest trace of aura could be detected.
"Well? Impressive, right?" Wang Qiang's voice rang out again, but Chu Feng still couldn't sense his aura at all.
"No wonder — no wonder even Uncle Blind couldn't detect you."
"Just who exactly are you?" Chu Feng asked with a frown.
Setting aside his cultivation, Wang Qiang's treasure was truly a rare and extraordinary treasure. How could such a powerful artifact exist within the Martial Sacred Land?
"Heh heh, I-I-I told you from the start — I'm a peerless genius. I'm incredibly awesome."
"You just didn't believe me. So wh-wh-what do you think now? F-f-freaked out?" Wang Qiang said proudly.
"You still haven't answered my question," Chu Feng said seriously. "If we're going to be brothers, we need to be honest with each other."
"If… you truly consider me a friend, then you need to tell me the truth. Only then can I be honest with you."
"You're asking me, but I don't even know what to say. I have no parents, and I don't have the kind of background you have."