"It was actually Chu Zhiyuan?"
"He's the one who destroyed the main formation of the Upper Realm Gate, slowing down its opening."
"Yes, it should be him — it must be him. Among the younger generation of the Upper Realm, no one else could have done something like this."
After hearing Chu Hanpeng's words, the crowd erupted.
Not just the bystanders — even the Lord of the Starfall Sacred Land, the Valley Master of the Blissful Valley, and other top-tier figures of the Upper Realm all changed the way they looked at Chu Zhiyuan.
Not only that, they hurriedly rose to their feet and actually clasped their fists in a respectful bow toward him.
"Young friend Zhiyuan, you are truly a hero of our Upper Realm. Please accept this old man's bow."
"Young hero Zhiyuan, this old man pays his respects."
In an instant, all these great figures of the Upper Realm bowed deeply to Chu Zhiyuan, a mere junior.
The sight was stunning — at least it stunned every young person present.
The juniors who could appear here were no ordinary characters either.
Yet as they gazed at Chu Zhiyuan standing on the dueling platform, they felt an immense distance between them.
They knew the gap between themselves and Chu Zhiyuan had become vast beyond compare. If they were stars scattered across the sky, then Chu Zhiyuan was the brilliant moon hanging above the starry river.
When the moon shone bright, all the stars were destined to pale in comparison.
At this moment, in this place, amid the heavens and earth — there were countless figures of great stature, yet the most dazzling of them all was Chu Zhiyuan.
"Please, esteemed seniors, take your seats."
"What I, Chu Zhiyuan, did was simply what should be done."
"After all, I am not only a member of the Upper Realm, but also a clansman of the Chu Heavenly Clan."
"Though I am still young and weak, if it means protecting our Chu Heavenly Clan, I, Chu Zhiyuan, would not hesitate to go through fire and water." Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists and declared.
"Wonderful! Truly a hero from among the young — a hero from among the young!"
The moment Chu Zhiyuan finished speaking, cheers rang out in a thunderous chorus.
"My lord, you truly have a wonderful grandson."
Some even began offering congratulations to Chu Zhiyuan's grandfather.
Under these circumstances, Chu Zhiyuan's grandfather was beaming so widely that his old face had scrunched up like a steamed bun. Every wrinkle had bunched together, and his little eyes were squeezed into two thin slits.
He was absolutely overjoyed.
"Old fellow, your grandson's glorious moment is all thanks to me, you know. How do you plan to thank me?"
Just then, a secret voice transmission reached Chu Zhiyuan grandfather's ears.
It was Chu Haoyan's grandfather.
As it turned out, Chu Haoyan's grandfather had been the very first person in the entire Chu Heavenly Clan to learn of the Upper Realm Gate's opening.
By the time he had laid eyes on the Upper Realm Gate, it had already slowed its opening.
This was not his first time seeing the Upper Realm Gate, so he knew that such a sluggish opening was abnormal.
However, he had no idea that the main formation inside the Upper Realm Gate had been destroyed.
And so, he had fabricated the story about the main formation being destroyed.
Because he figured — he was the first person in the entire Upper Realm to witness this Upper Realm Gate, after all.