After making his decision, Chu Feng followed Liu Chengkun and Huang Luo straight to the outskirts of a small city.
Although the city was not large in comparison to the other cities within the Hundred Refinements Boundary, when measured against the Nine Provinces Continent, it could easily be considered a small nation. The intricate web of forces within it was practically countless.
However, according to Liu Chengkun, the strongest individual in this city was none other than its lord, whose cultivation was only at the peak of half-emperor.
Under the lord's stewardship, everything in the small city ran in perfect order, and its citizens lived peacefully.
But no one could have imagined that beneath this seemingly unremarkable city lay an underground metropolis — and that place… was the headquarters of the Red Butterfly Association.
Right now, Chu Feng had already followed Liu Chengkun and Huang Luo into this subterranean world.
Although it was called an underground world, thanks to powerful barrier arts, this realm possessed its own blue sky, white clouds, and a blazing sun — and moreover, the sun not only radiated scorching light, but also rose in the east and set in the west.
It looked like an entirely separate world, but Chu Feng could tell at a glance that this was merely the work of a Spirit World Master. Simply put, this underground world could be considered an independent space — one carved out by a Dragon-veined Spirit World Master.
Although it was an independent space, within it lay multiple formidable defensive formations and offensive arrays.
To pass through those barrier formations, one had to go through a gate — and standing neatly outside that barrier gate were a full one hundred half-ancestor level experts.
These guards all wore solemn expressions, vigilantly surveying their surroundings, and each one of them gripped a half-completed ancestor weapon in hand — truly worthy of the title of guardian.
At the very least, this was the first time Chu Feng had ever seen guards this dedicated.
"We pay our respects, Elder."
But when those guards caught sight of Liu Chengkun, their eyes filled with reverence, and they all bowed to him in greeting.
Furthermore, the guards hurriedly opened the barrier gate.
"You've worked hard," Liu Chengkun said to the guards, without a shred of an elder's haughtiness, his concern for them genuine and heartfelt.
"It is no trouble at all," the guards replied in unison, their voices booming. From their attitude alone, it was clear that their respect for Liu Chengkun came straight from the heart.
"Well, well, if it isn't Elder Liu. The esteemed elder has finally deigned to return."
However, before Liu Chengkun, Chu Feng, and the others could step through, a voice echoed from beyond the barrier gate.
Looking up, Chu Feng's expression shifted immediately. There were two figures — one a middle-aged man, the other a youth.
Chu Feng recognized the youth — it was the same fellow who had looked at him with great displeasure the first time Liu Chengkun's group had found him. Chu Feng still remembered his name: Zhao Xiao.
As for the middle-aged man, his features bore a certain resemblance to Zhao Xiao. Chu Feng figured that this man was most likely Zhao Xiao's father.
Neither of them had concealed their cultivation. Zhao Xiao's cultivation was at the same level as Chu Feng's — a second-level half-ancestor.
As for Zhao Xiao's father, his cultivation was on par with Elder Huang Luo's — a ninth-level half-ancestor.
"Hm?" Suddenly, Zhao Xiao's father spotted Chu Feng, and his gaze sharpened instantly. He pointed at Chu Feng and shouted, "Who is this man?"
"Father, that's Chu Feng," Zhao Xiao said — and that single word "father" confirmed that Chu Feng had been right; the two of them were indeed father and son.
"Chu Feng? How can a fellow like this be allowed into our Red Butterfly Association headquarters? Guards — seize him!" Zhao Xiao's father bellowed.
"I'd like to see anyone try!" Elder Liu Chengkun let out a cold shout. Once those words left his mouth, not a single guard dared take a single step.
"Elder Liu, how could you bring someone like this into our Red Butterfly Association headquarters?"
"As an elder of the Red Butterfly Association, have you forgotten even the most basic rules? Setting aside the fact that he's an outsider, even for members of the Red Butterfly Association, entry into the headquarters is prohibited without sufficient contributions!" Zhao Xiao's father roared.