Within the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm, there existed a vast stretch of ocean known as the Myriad Beast Sea.
The reason it was called the Myriad Beast Sea was that countless sea beasts inhabited its depths — and the actual number was far more than ten thousand. It reached into the hundreds of millions.
These so-called sea beasts were in truth Fierce Beasts that dwelled in the deep ocean. Fierce Beasts possessed no intelligence, only the heart of slaughter, and were extraordinarily savage.
Moreover, the Fierce Beasts lurking in the deep ocean possessed cultivation of extraordinary magnitude. The weakest among them were at the Martial Emperor realm, and the majority were at the Half Ancestor realm. It was even rumored that a select few had reached the Martial Ancestor realm.
For this reason, the Myriad Beast Sea could be considered incomparably dangerous — a place that no one below the Half Ancestor realm dared set foot in. Even while traveling through the air, one could very well be forcibly dragged into the sea by a Fierce Beast hidden in the depths, then swallowed whole.
Furthermore, within the boundless expanse of the Myriad Beast Sea, there were no resources or treasures of any kind beyond the endless Fierce Beasts.
As a result, the Myriad Beast Sea had become a desolate place, virtually devoid of human presence.
However, at the very center of this Myriad Beast Sea, there was an artificially constructed isolated island.
Upon this island stood a cluster of buildings radiating an otherworldly aura. At the island's entrance rose a towering gate over a hundred meters tall, upon which hung a plaque inscribed with three large characters: Ink Abyss Manor.
This was the residence of Kongdou Moyuan.
Normally, the only inhabitants of the Ink Abyss Manor were Kongdou Moyuan himself and the household servants.
But today was different from usual. Several of Kongdou Moyuan's close friends had arrived at the Ink Abyss Manor over the past few days.
They had come, naturally, at Kongdou Moyuan's invitation.
At this moment, within a grand and expansive hall of the Ink Abyss Manor, several hundred figures were gathered.
Although in a hall vast enough to accommodate tens of thousands, a mere few hundred figures seated within still gave it a somewhat empty feel, every single one of these people held a position of some standing within the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm.
Setting aside the various reclusive experts, even the four first-rate powers had sent figures of great renown.
Among them was Dugu Jianxu of the Sword-wielding Immortal Sect, hailed as a genius seen perhaps once in ten thousand years.
Then there was Zhou Fukong of the Zhou Heavenly Clan — a man who, like Kongdou Moyuan, was regarded as the strongest below the True Immortal realm within the clan.
And from the Buddha Observation Heaven Temple came an oddity: a wine-and-meat monk who, despite being a man of the cloth, indulged in wine, women, wealth, and worldly pleasures alike.
These three were, without question, the most renowned and most powerful among all below the True Immortal realm within their respective forces.
And they had all been close friends of Kongdou Moyuan for many years.
Beyond them, there were also many peak Martial Ancestor experts present. Though they varied greatly in age, they had always shared similar ambitions and enjoyed excellent relations with one another.
And as the wine-and-meat monk made abundantly clear, none of these people — whether they hailed from orthodox sects or otherwise — were particularly good-natured. Not a single one of them was a truly good person.
They were either outright villains or hypocrites.
"Brother Moyuan, I heard that Chu Feng didn't die. Someone has actually seen him."
"Tell me — do you think he might seek revenge against your Kong Heavenly Clan?" During the idle conversation, a white-haired elder at the peak of the Martial Ancestor realm posed the question.
"Revenge? Does he have the ability for that?" Though Kongdou Moyuan was already a thousand years old, he bore the appearance of a young man. A faint curl of his lips now conveyed his utter contempt for Chu Feng.
"Two years ago, Chu Feng nearly annihilated your entire Kong Heavenly Clan. Surely that's evidence of some ability?" The white-haired elder pressed further.
"Old Monster Fengjin, you don't actually believe that Chu Feng possessed some demonic weapon capable of single-handedly wiping out my Kong Heavenly Clan, do you?" Kongdou Moyuan's expression darkened as he looked at the white-haired elder.
"Ah…" Seeing the unfriendly look in Kongdou Moyuan's eyes, Old Monster Fengjin — despite being a peak Martial Ancestor in his own right — visibly flinched. He quickly put on a genial smile and bowed slightly. "That was all hearsay. I never really believed it myself. I simply wanted to get to the bottom of it today."
"Indeed. The Kong Heavenly Clan has never offered an official explanation for that whole affair. We're all just curious to know the truth," the others echoed in agreement.
"At any rate, I refuse to believe that a mere junior like Chu Feng possessed such heaven-defying power. Even if there truly was such a terrifying demonic weapon, I don't believe a kid like him could have wielded it."