Seeing the Crimson Lizard shatter Chu Feng's physical body, many onlookers froze, their expressions blank.
This outcome seemed to confirm that Chu Feng truly would not show himself.
Though they had already anticipated this, once the verdict was rendered, people still felt a twinge of disappointment.
After all, if that was truly the case, then all of this fanfare had been rather anticlimactic.
It also proved that Chu Feng was, just like the majority of people, someone without any backbone.
"My friends, you all saw it — I, the Crimson Lizard, am fair and honorable. I do what I say."
"But that Chu Feng is despicable to the extreme — a man who goes back on his word."
"As a matter of fact, I, the Crimson Lizard, had long anticipated that he wouldn't show up. I knew all along how shameless and dishonorable he truly is."
"However, the reason I did all of this was precisely so everyone could see this Chu Feng for who he really is — so you'd all know that a vile character by the name of Chu Feng has trespassed into the territory of our Luyang Pavilion."
"In the future, should any of you encounter this brat, you must be on your guard. Do not let him cheat or deceive you, for this boy is a villain through and through." The Crimson Lizard seemed worried that people might actually think him foolish, so he fabricated an excuse for himself.
And the most absurd part was that — whether out of sycophancy or some other inner motivation — once the Crimson Lizard had said his piece, quite a few people actually took his words at face value, nodding in agreement and even applauding.
"Who told you that I, Chu Feng, go back on my word and dare not appear?"
However, at that very moment, a figure suddenly came streaking through the air and entered the Crimson Lizard's field of vision.
Upon seeing this person, everyone present — the Crimson Lizard included — was thoroughly shocked. Not only was this person Chu Feng, it was his true body.
"Chu Feng?!" The Crimson Lizard himself wore a look of astonishment, finding it hard to believe that Chu Feng had actually shown up.
"What's the matter? For one of the six vice pavilion masters of the esteemed Luyang Pavilion, you can't even tell whether I'm the real deal or a clone?" Chu Feng remarked with a mocking smile.
He never acted without confidence. Before coming here, he had already conducted a thorough investigation of the Crimson Lizard.
Despite appearances, this Crimson Lizard was a Rank Nine Half Ancestor — but he was also one of the six most powerful figures in the Luyang Pavilion, second only to Chu Luyang himself.
His strength was far beyond what a mere Rank Nine Half Ancestor would suggest. It was said that even an ordinary Rank One Martial Ancestor would be no match for him.
It wasn't that he possessed some extraordinary heaven-defying combat power — rather, he was a special type of demon beast who wielded a unique bloodline power. That bloodline power allowed him to elevate his cultivation by an entire level.
In other words, though his true cultivation was that of a Rank Nine Half Ancestor, the moment he activated that bloodline power, his cultivation could rise to that of a Rank One Martial Ancestor.
"Hahaha, I truly didn't expect this, Chu Feng! You've actually got the nerve to show up alone."
"Tell me — do you honestly think I wouldn't dare kill you?" Once the Crimson Lizard confirmed that Chu Feng had truly appeared, he was overjoyed. All the displeasure on his face vanished, replaced by an overwhelming sense of superiority.
In his eyes, the moment Chu Feng showed himself, today was already his victory — because with his strength, Chu Feng's death was all but certain.
Exhilarating. Utterly exhilarating. The Crimson Lizard was already somewhat drunk on his own elation.
"Who told you that Young Friend Chu Feng came alone?" However, at that very moment, the voice of an elderly man suddenly rang out.
Immediately after, the space beside Chu Feng rippled like the surface of water, and moments later, an old man's figure stepped through, coming to stand at Chu Feng's side.
"You?!"
Upon recognizing this figure, most of the crowd's expressions shifted dramatically, for this elder was none other than Elder Liu Chengkun — one of the presiding elders of the Red Butterfly Association.
And at this moment, Elder Liu Chengkun was no longer concealing his aura. Instead, he released his true, unrestrained presence for all to feel.