"To be honest, we are a branch of the Ancient War Tribe. We don't know much about the past of the Ancient War Tribe."
"So for us, the first person to arrive here and teach us cultivation techniques was our ancestor."
"Our ancestor was immensely powerful. Not only did he establish this Domain of the Ancient War Clan, but he also used his remaining energy to create a Place of Enlightenment."
"After completing the Place of Enlightenment, our ancestor passed away from exhaustion."
"So that Place of Enlightenment is extremely important to our Ancient War Tribe."
"And the place where Lord Zhan Haichuan once cultivated was that very Place of Enlightenment."
"Because it is a place reserved exclusively for our people and cannot be used by outsiders."
"So I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid we cannot fulfill Young Hero Chu Feng's request."
After a long silence, the patriarch of the Ancient War Tribe finally spoke. As he said these words, a deeply apologetic expression hung on his face.
Can't really blame him. After all, he had already made such grand promises. Now that Chu Feng had made a request he couldn't fulfill, he naturally felt embarrassed.
"Father, while it's true that our ancestor poured countless efforts into creating that Place of Enlightenment—even sacrificing part of his lifespan—our ancestor never said it could only be used by our Ancient War Tribe."
"That the Place of Enlightenment can only be used by our people is merely our own wishful thinking, not our ancestor's intent."
"Therefore, I see no reason why Chu Feng shouldn't be allowed to cultivate there," Zhan Lingling said.
Hearing this, the patriarch's face darkened with anger, and he was about to reprimand his daughter.
"Patriarch, Young Hero Chu Feng has shown great kindness to our Ancient War Tribe. You yourself said earlier that whatever our tribe could give him, we would grant if he asked."
"And it's clear that we can allow him into that Place of Enlightenment. If we now go back on our word, wouldn't we be breaking our own promise?" At that moment, an elderly elder rose to intercede.
"Senior, you..."
Hearing this elder speak, the patriarch's expression shifted in surprise.
In truth, he very much wanted to agree to Chu Feng's request. But the Ancient War Tribe had its own rules. Chu Feng had saved his children, and he didn't want to give anyone grounds to criticize him—that was why he had refused.
His earlier impulse to reprimand his daughter was for the same reason.
But he hadn't expected that the elders of the Ancient War Tribe would also agree to let Chu Feng cultivate in the Place of Enlightenment.
And this particular elder who spoke was no ordinary elder.
He was a highly respected figure in the Ancient War Tribe, senior even to the patriarch's father's generation, and carried great weight within the tribe.
And there were three more elders of similar seniority and influence.
At that moment, the patriarch couldn't help but turn his gaze toward those three, wanting to see what they thought.
"The Place of Enlightenment is a precious treasure left by our ancestor. But treasures are just treasures—they aren't as important as human lives."
"Young Hero Chu Feng saved the lives of Lingling and Tong today. Which is greater, the patriarch surely knows."
"Indeed. Young Hero Chu Feng wishes to cultivate there precisely out of respect for our tribe's Lord Zhan Haichuan. I think we must grant his wish—otherwise, wouldn't our Ancient War Tribe seem petty?"
"I agree with what they've said. Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. We shouldn't be too bound by convention."
One by one, the remaining three respected elders expressed their agreement.
In that moment, the patriarch's heart was filled with both surprise and joy.
These four elders were normally difficult characters—hardcore old fossils with very stubborn thinking. By all rights, based on their usual temperament, they should have been the ones to strongly oppose this today.
That was precisely why he had refused Chu Feng in the first place—he knew that if he agreed, those four elders would certainly object.
But to his surprise, today they had gone against the norm. Not only did they not oppose, they all urged him to agree.
And now that even these four had agreed, the rest of the tribe naturally wouldn't have any objections. Naturally, he would no longer refuse either.
But he didn't announce his decision immediately. Instead, he swept his gaze across the others present and said, "Everyone, what do you think?"
"We agree with what the elders have said. Patriarch, please allow Young Hero Chu Feng to go."