Outside the main city of the Chu Heavenly Clan, Chu Feng and his two companions were still being blocked by the Guard Corps.
However, the crowd that had gathered at the scene was no longer limited to just the three of them and the Guard Corps forces.
News spread quickly. Word that Chu Feng had returned to the Chu Heavenly Clan only to be stopped outside the main city by the Guard Corps was making the rounds.
Right now, many people were converging on this location. At this point, over ten thousand had already gathered behind the Guard Corps, and that number was still climbing.
Among them were quite a few familiar faces.
For instance, Chu Lingxi, Chu Ruoshi, Chu Huanyu, and Chu Xianshuo.
At the same time, there was someone Chu Feng did not recognize, though that person recognized him.
He was also a junior of the clan, named Chu Huai.
Back in the Hundred Refinements Mortal World, both Chu Huai and Chu Yue had followed Chu Banruo, responsible for monitoring the situation in that realm.
After returning to the Chu Heavenly Clan, he had been cultivating within the clan the entire time, but he had always paid close attention to any news about Chu Feng.
"Chu Feng, you've actually already become a True Immortal."
Chu Huai observed Chu Feng from within the crowd, and upon sensing the aura radiating from him, he sighed with emotion.
He recalled that when he had first laid eyes on Chu Feng back in the Hundred Refinements Mortal World, he himself had already been a fourth-grade True Immortal, while Chu Feng had still been nothing more than a small-time Martial Ancestor.
Now, Chu Feng was a True Immortal, yet he… was still a fourth-grade True Immortal.
Back then, he had been a godlike figure in the Hundred Refinements Mortal World, looking down upon all living beings from on high.
But now, even though he stood on the territory of the Chu Heavenly Clan, when he looked at Chu Feng, he felt as though he were gazing up at someone far beyond his reach.
"Geniuses really are the most unreasonable existence in the world of martial cultivation."
After letting out that sigh, a smile tugged at the corner of Chu Huai's mouth.
He was happy for Chu Feng.
"Genius? That Chu Feng is nothing but a waste."
Chu Huai's quiet sigh was overheard by a clansman standing nearby, who immediately let out a cold laugh.
This man happened to be one of Chu Huanyu's lackeys, the same one who had been present outside the Ghost Sect Hall that day.
"Exactly, a waste. Did he really think that with Chu Xuan Zhengfa shielding him, he could come back to the clan? What a pipe dream."
"Now he's dumbfounded, isn't he? Getting blocked right outside the main city — serves him right."
More clansmen chimed in with their mockery right after, and they were loud about it. It wasn't that they were deliberately trying to let Chu Feng hear — they wanted Chu Huanyu to hear. After all, saying these things was their way of sucking up to him.
But even though they were kissing up to him, it was also true that many people within the Chu Heavenly Clan did not like Chu Feng, and many wished for him to never return.
So in no time, the number of people hurling insults at Chu Feng only grew.
"Silence!"
Just then, a thunderous shout rang out from the direction of the main city.
The moment that shout echoed through the air, everyone quickly shut their mouths, because the voice belonged to none other than Chu Xuan Zhengfa.
Chu Xuan Zhengfa led the Punishment Hall's army, sweeping out from within the main city in a streak of light.
Along the way, everyone who saw them scrambled to get out of the way. The imposing aura they radiated was truly formidable.
In the end, the Punishment Hall army led by Chu Xuan Zhengfa arrived behind the Guard Corps forces.
"Move." Chu Xuan Zhengfa addressed Chu Moqiong of the Guard Corps, his tone so cold it was as if the man simply did not exist.
"Lord Zhengfa, it's not that I'm disobeying your orders, it's just that…" As Chu Moqiong spoke, he raised the token of the Supreme Elder that he held in his hand.
He intended to use that token to pressure Chu Xuan Zhengfa into backing down.
But who could have expected that Chu Xuan Zhengfa wouldn't even glance at the token? Instead, he uttered a single word in a frigid tone: "Scram."
He said it loudly enough that nearly everyone present heard it.
At that moment, Chu Moqiong's expression turned absolutely hideous, and his fists clenched tighter and tighter. If one were standing close enough, they could hear the creaking sound his knuckles made.
One could only imagine just how furious Chu Moqiong was at that moment.