"To be honest, I, Han Yu, don't go out of my way to befriend just anyone I meet."
"But Brother Chu Feng, you've earned that right."
"Making a name for yourself at the Immortal Weapon Villa was one thing — defeating Chu Xianshuo was a small matter. The real feat was obtaining an immortal weapon from the Immortal Weapon Vault inside the villa. That was truly remarkable."
"Now you're one of the most talked-about figures in the Upper Realm. Everyone's saying that Chu Feng will become the next monster of the Upper Realm, and that you'll shine brilliantly at the next Geniuses Martial Arts Tournament."
"Perhaps you might even earn a spot on the Monster List."
"When that day comes, I, Han Yu, will have to step aside." Han Yu said to Chu Feng with a smile.
His words seemed like praise for Chu Feng, but anyone sharp enough could tell that Han Yu was really praising himself.
After all, he was the one whose name was already on the Monster List.
At the same time, though, he was questioning Chu Feng. He didn't believe that Chu Feng would be able to secure a ranking on the Monster List.
In his view, Chu Feng was only a Second Rank True Immortal, while he himself, despite being at the very bottom of the Monster List, was a Sixth Rank True Immortal.
The Geniuses Martial Arts Tournament was not far off now — only a little over a year remained.
In any normal person's eyes, no matter how talented a genius might be, it would be impossible to grow from a Second Rank True Immortal to Monster List strength within a single year.
"Brother Han Yu is far too modest." Chu Feng smiled faintly, then looked around and asked, "May I ask if anyone here knows what exactly is going on? Are we still able to enter that mountain range?"
"Young friend Chu Feng, allow me to introduce myself. I am an Elder of Holy Pill Villa. My surname is Ma, and my given name is Ma Changchun." A white-haired elder stepped forward.
The elder had a rather distinctive appearance. He was short but quite fat, with a jovial, almost comical look — like the Laughing Buddha himself.
But as he drew closer, Chu Feng's gaze shifted, because this elder possessed formidable strength.
In truth, many of the veteran powerhouses present were concealing their cultivation aura. Without that, Chu Feng would have been unable to discern their levels at all.
However, he could still judge their relative strength based on that unfathomable feeling they gave off.
This elder who called himself Ma Changchun was the most unfathomable of everyone present.
And he was also the strongest of the Holy Pill Villa members in attendance.
"Elder Ma, it is an honor." Chu Feng clasped his fists respectfully.
"Young friend Chu Feng, everyone gathered here arrived today. After we got close to the mountain range, we were pulled into this place by a formation. The people from the Ancient Snake Clan only told us that something has changed within the Sealed Spirit Immortal Domain, and that the mountain range cannot be entered directly at the moment — but they refused to tell us the specifics."
"So, just like you, we know everything you know, and we don't know anything you don't know either."
"But there's one thing — the people here are only those who arrived today. Before us, others must have arrived as well. Every year, when the Sealed Burial Pool is about to erupt, nearly every Spirit World Master below the Royal Robe rank in the Upper Realm wants to come here and try their luck."
"Despite the restriction of the invitation token, quite a large number still come each year."
"So I believe that before us, many others must have already arrived here — but they've all vanished. Perhaps they've already entered the mountain range."
"In any case, the Ancient Snake Clan will have to give us an explanation. They won't let us have come all this way for nothing." Elder Ma Changchun said to Chu Feng.
"Thank you for the reminder, Elder." Chu Feng clasped his fists once more.
"Young friend Chu Feng is too polite." Ma Changchun smiled, then abruptly changed the subject and asked, "Young friend Chu Feng, are you truly not a member of the Chu Heavenly Clan?"
At that moment, everyone present, including Han Yu, had their expressions change.
That was undoubtedly the question everyone most wanted answered.
"Chu Feng may share the surname Chu, but I am not a member of the Chu Heavenly Clan." Chu Feng smiled and shook his head.
What he said was perfectly accurate. As of now, he truly was not a member of the Chu Heavenly Clan — he was the discarded son who had been expelled from it.
"Then may I ask which Upper Realm Young Friend Chu Feng comes from?" Ma Changchun continued.
The gazes of everyone present grew even more intense.
They had likely all speculated before that Chu Feng would not dare treat Chu Xianshuo that way if he were truly of the Chu Heavenly Clan.