"Father, how did even you get involved?" Zhan Lingling asked.
"I heard that you and your younger brother were both captured by members of the Demon Clan. How could I not be anxious?" the Patriarch of the Ancient Battle Clan said.
"I was indeed captured by Yao Liutian, but how could my brother have been taken by the Demon Clan?" Zhan Lingling said, confusion flickering in her eyes.
"Weren't you told that the one called Chu Feng is a spy planted by the Ancient Demon Clan, and that he was the one who captured your brother?" the Patriarch of the Ancient Battle Clan asked. As he spoke, he deliberately cast a glance toward Chu Feng, who stood atop the Azure Dragon's head.
After all, he recognized everyone else present — only that Chu Feng was a stranger. So at a single glance, he had already determined that this was the man in question.
"Father, where did you hear such nonsense? Brother Chu Feng is not only my savior — he also saved my elder sister's life. How could he possibly be a spy for the Demon Clan? Look at what he's holding in his hand!" Zhan Lingtong said, his voice brimming with agitation.
To him, Chu Feng was nothing short of a true idol, and he would naturally not allow anyone to slander him like this.
"That's…?!"
Only after Zhan Lingtong spoke did people notice that Chu Feng was, in fact, holding a severed head in his hand.
And that head belonged to none other than Yao Liutian — a Martial Ancestor-level powerhouse of the Ancient Demon Clan.
"You killed Yao Liutian?" The Patriarch of the Ancient Battle Clan's eyes widened in surprise.
"Father, it was indeed him who saved me from Yao Liutian and killed him. I witnessed it with my own eyes," Zhan Lingling said eagerly, cutting in before Chu Feng even had a chance to speak.
"A genius! I never imagined that among the common folk of my Ancient Battle Clan, there could be such an extraordinary talent. Why did I not discover him sooner?" The Patriarch of the Ancient Battle Clan's face was alight with elation.
He knew full well what kind of figure Yao Liutian was, and anyone capable of slaying such a being was someone truly formidable.
Now that the Battle Clan and the Demon Clan were at war — with the Battle Clan retreating wave after wave — they were in desperate need of talented individuals.
To discover, at such a critical moment, a human who could slay Yao Liutian, was cause for unbridled joy.
"Father, you're really overthinking this. Benefactor Chu Feng is no commoner of our Ancient Battle Clan. His origins would probably make you jump," Zhan Lingling said.
"Oh? What kind of origins could possibly make me jump? Do tell," the Patriarch of the Ancient Battle Clan said with a smile.
But that smile carried a hint of amusement — after all, the Battle Clan's ancient domain was only so vast, with only so many races. No matter how impressive someone's background might be, it couldn't surpass his own Ancient Battle Clan.
"Benefactor Chu Feng hails from the Hundred Refinements Mortal Realm," Zhan Lingling declared.
"The Hundred Refinements Mortal Realm?!"
The moment those four words left her lips, not only did the Patriarch of the Ancient Battle Clan's expression change drastically — so too did those of Zhan Quezhi and every other member of the clan.
For them, the significance of the Hundred Refinements Mortal Realm was nothing short of momentous.
Precisely because it was so momentous, what followed the initial shock was not awe, but disbelief from most of those present.
"Benefactor, could I trouble you to display your unique abilities? Otherwise… I'm afraid my father and the others still won't believe that you truly come from the Hundred Refinements Mortal Realm," Zhan Lingling said to Chu Feng.
Crack—
At that moment, lightning flashed in Chu Feng's eyes. A suit of thunder armor materialized across his body, and from his back unfurled a pair of thunderous wings.
The blinding radiance of lightning was so dazzling that it seemed to make the very sky above shine brighter.
But what truly took everyone's breath away was Chu Feng's cultivation.
Chu Feng made no effort to conceal his power. On the contrary, in order to demonstrate who he was, he released his aura without the slightest restraint.
Second-grade Martial Ancestor cultivation. The combat power to challenge three full grades above his own. That was… the current Chu Feng.
"Remarkable — truly remarkable."
The Patriarch of the Ancient Battle Clan was convinced. Such extraordinary power, and such heaven-defying combat strength — these were not things ordinary folk possessed.
Especially that power of thunder. Not even his own Ancient Battle Clan commanded such an ability. He was now certain that Chu Feng was no native of the Battle Clan's ancient domain.
"Who would have thought that a warrior from the Hundred Refinements Mortal Realm would come to our aid," the Patriarch of the Ancient Battle Clan said, his delight evident. "This is a tremendous blessing for our Ancient Battle Clan."
To him, this was nothing short of the will of heaven — heaven itself was lending its aid to his people.
"But if he is one of our own, then why did he wound Quezhi?" the Patriarch of the Ancient Battle Clan asked, turning his gaze toward Zhan Lingling's brother-in-law as he spoke.