The voice that suddenly rang out startled everyone present.
The moment that voice echoed, it made heaven and earth tremble, its reverberating hum filling everyone's ears.
Moreover, the instant the voice sounded, people sensed an aura of overwhelming power.
That aura belonged to a Venerable.
Another Venerable had descended!
Yet when everyone turned their gaze toward the newcomer and caught sight of who it was, the shock in their eyes only deepened.
The newcomer was not one person, but an entire entourage.
An entourage that strode through the air.
Their numbers were far fewer than the Gold Stone Royal Clan's, but their presence dwarfed it several times over.
Setting aside the fact that every one of their cultivations was extraordinarily powerful, their attire alone was enough to make every person present tremble.
Those garments bore a distinctive insignia, one whose meaning was universally understood throughout the Great Thousand Upper Realm.
They were the most feared existence in the entire Great Thousand Upper Realm.
The Chu Heavenly Clan's Punishment Hall.
It was a detachment of the Chu Heavenly Clan's Punishment Hall.
Not only had the three top experts within the Punishment Hall — Chu Xingtian, Chu Xingdi, and Chu Xingren — all arrived in full.
Even the Deputy Hall Master of the Punishment Hall, Chu Xuanzhengfa, was among the group.
And the aura of that Venerable emanated from none other than Chu Xuanzhengfa.
"Heavens! The Chu Heavenly Clan's Punishment Hall — what are they doing here?"
"Not only have all three of the Punishment Hall's aces appeared, but even Deputy Hall Master Chu Xuanzhengfa has come?!"
When Chu Xuanzhengfa led the Punishment Hall's elite forces to this place, astonishment gripped everyone's hearts.
The Punishment Hall rarely made an appearance, but when they did, someone was certain to suffer.
The current Punishment Hall had sent every last one of its best. Whoever they were after had no chance of escape.
It was precisely because the Punishment Hall's reputation preceded them that at this moment, not only the bystanders but even the clan master of the Gold Stone Royal Clan — and none other than Yuwen Huazang, who was said to be lawless to the point where even the Starfall Sacred Land dared not cross him — had his brows tightly furrowed.
The arrogance of the two of them had been utterly suppressed without a single word spoken.
They didn't even dare utter a sound.
"The Gold Stone Royal Clan — you've got some nerve, daring to come cause trouble in our Great Thousand Upper Realm?"
"Men, seize them."
Chu Xuanzhengfa regarded the Gold Stone Royal Clan and spoke.
"As you command."
No sooner had the words left his lips than the entourage behind him vanished simultaneously.
When they reappeared, they had already encircled the Gold Stone Royal Clan's army. Though their numbers paled in comparison, their momentum was something the Gold Stone Royal Clan could not hope to match.
At that moment, even the clan master of the Gold Stone Royal Clan turned ashen-faced and hurriedly explained: "Xuanzhengfa, I believe there must be some misunderstanding?"
The man who had moments ago been as arrogant as a god now spoke with an unmistakably humble tone.
Under these circumstances, the people of the Great Thousand Upper Realm silently marveled at Chu Xuanzhengfa's prowess.
Even a lord of an upper realm was forced to lower his head and adopt a submissive attitude before him.
"A misunderstanding?" Chu Xuanzhengfa let out a cold laugh. "You led your Gold Stone Royal Clan's army into our Great Thousand Upper Realm, intent on dealing with our people, and you tell me it's a misunderstanding?"
"It's a misunderstanding — truly a misunderstanding. If I had known earlier that this Chu Feng was someone your Chu Heavenly Clan intended to protect, I would never have dared lay a hand on him, no matter what," the Gold Stone Royal Clan's clan master said.
"Now you know?" Chu Xuanzhengfa asked.
"I know," the Gold Stone Royal Clan's clan master sighed.