"It was indeed Chu Feng who helped me. However, the reason we took so long to come out was not without reason, and this… is the reason."
As Chu Lingxi spoke, her palm swept across her Universe Bag. In the next moment, the Ten Soul Beads appeared in her delicate hand.
"That's… the Ten Soul Beads?"
At the sight of those beads, let alone the others, even Chu Ruoshi and Chu Huanyu, who were standing at a distance, had their expressions dramatically change.
The Ten Soul Beads were a supreme treasure of the Chu Heavenly Clan. Although the clan's ancestor, Chu Yetianhong, had placed them within the Death Gate many years ago, the clan held numerous records and portraits of them. Thus, nearly all the younger generation of the Chu Heavenly Clan knew of the Ten Soul Beads' effects and their appearance.
"Are those truly the Ten Soul Beads? You found them inside the Death Gate?" Even Chu Huanyu, who had been silent for so long, couldn't help but step forward to ask.
He knew full well that the Ten Soul Beads could be of immense help to them.
"That can't be real," said Chu Haoyan.
"Of course it's real," said Chu Lingxi.
"Impossible. The Ten Soul Beads have been lost for so many years, and no one could find them. How could you two have found them?" Chu Haoyan questioned.
"Indeed. So many years, so many elders have entered, but none succeeded. Well, I'm sorry to say, but they just happened to be found by Chu Feng and me," replied Chu Lingxi.
"Even if you found them, with your two's strength, you couldn't possibly subdue the Ten Soul Beads." At that moment, Chu Ruoshi spoke up, even turning to address the crowd in a loud voice. "Everyone knows that the Ten Soul Beads have ten guardian beasts. Those beasts are incredibly powerful; only a Heavenly Realm expert could hope to subdue them."
"Furthermore, when our ancestor placed the Ten Soul Beads in the Death Gate back then, he did so with the hope that a future generation of exceptional talent would inherit his mantle. That descendant would not only need keen perception but also extraordinary talent—becoming a Heavenly Realm expert within the age of a hundred at the very least."
Speaking to this point, Chu Ruoshi looked at Chu Lingxi and Chu Feng, then continued, "But as for you two, forget the Heavenly Realm, you haven't even reached the peak of the True Immortal Realm."
"That's right. Their strength couldn't possibly have subdued the Ten Soul Beads."
Provoked by Chu Ruoshi's words, many present cast disdainful gazes toward Chu Lingxi and Chu Feng. They had already concluded that Chu Feng and Chu Lingxi were lying—the Ten Soul Beads were fake, merely an excuse they had fabricated to justify their extremely slow exit from the Death Gate.
"The Ten Soul Beads are genuine." Right at that moment, a voice suddenly rang out. Simultaneously, a figure appeared in the sky above.
Upon seeing that person, many of the onlookers fell silent, not daring to utter another contemptuous sound.
That was because the newcomer was Chu Lingxi's father, the Vice Hall Master of the Hall of Punishment—Chu Xuanzhengfa.
"Vice Hall Master Xuanzhengfa, are you certain these Ten Soul Beads are real?" Chu Ruoshi asked.
She seemed very unwilling to believe they were authentic.
Because the ancestor had once declared that whoever found the Ten Soul Beads within the Death Gate could fuse with them. Once fused, those beads would belong to that individual. Now, the beads were in Chu Lingxi's hand, which meant they already belonged to Chu Lingxi. If the beads were real, then given Chu Lingxi's talent and the power of the Ten Soul Beads, it would only be a matter of time before she surpassed her.