Chu Feng's name echoed across the heavens, reverberating in every direction.
His voice lingered on and on, as if it would resound until the end of time, enduring forever in this world.
Suddenly, the patriarch of the Chu Heavenly Clan raised his hand.
The moment he did so, the crowd — whose fervent cries had been building to a fever pitch — immediately fell silent.
In the blink of an eye, everyone present had shut their mouths, yet the name "Chu Feng" still hung in the air, gradually fading away.
Only after that sound had completely died down did the patriarch of the Chu Heavenly Clan step through the air, ultimately landing before Chu Feng.
He placed his hand upon Chu Feng's forehead.
In that instant, Chu Feng's forehead didn't feel much of anything, but he could feel his soul being subjected to an enormous wave of impact and influence — though this wave was warm.
Chu Feng could sense that something was being extracted from his soul, something that had never belonged to him in the first place.
It was the mark — the word "Waste" branded upon his soul.
The word the Chu Heavenly Clan had once branded onto him by their own hand, now being erased by this very patriarch.
"Senior?" Chu Feng's feelings were complicated.
He wanted to express his gratitude, yet the words wouldn't come, just as his father had once said.
This word was branded upon the soul. Even if the word could be removed, the humiliation carried by father and son could not be erased.
Looking at the complex emotions in Chu Feng's eyes, the patriarch of the Chu Heavenly Clan seemed to realize something, yet he said nothing to Chu Feng and simply offered a faint smile.
Then he swept his gaze across everyone present.
"As you can all see, Chu Feng is by no means someone incapable of cultivating martial arts."
"Back then, it was this old man's failing. It was the Chu Heavenly Clan's failing. Therefore…"
With that, the patriarch turned his gaze back to Chu Feng and said, "This old man owes you an apology."
Then the patriarch of the Chu Heavenly Clan bowed deeply, paying Chu Feng a grand gesture of respect.
"Senior, please, there's no need for this."
Seeing this, Chu Feng rushed forward to stop him, but he found it utterly impossible.
"Chu Feng, back in those days, this old man was blind and deaf and made the wrong decision."
"Now, I wish to atone for my mistakes. I don't know if it's too late, and I don't know whether you, Chu Feng, can forgive this old man's failings — whether you can forgive this clan."
Hearing these words, Chu Feng was stunned. He was almost dazed.
The patriarch of the Chu Heavenly Clan was truly apologizing for what had happened all those years ago.
"Chu Feng, come back."
And in that very moment, every single person from the Chu Heavenly Clan who was present bowed deeply to Chu Feng, and in unison they called out, hoping that Chu Feng would return to the Chu Heavenly Clan.
Whether their words were sincere or feigned, at the very least, they had all spoken the words inviting Chu Feng to return to the Chu Heavenly Clan.
In that moment, every pair of eyes across the entire Upper Realm was fixed upon Chu Feng.
They were all waiting for Chu Feng's answer.
Indeed, today — the patriarch of the Chu Heavenly Clan, and all these members of the Chu Heavenly Clan, actually admitting their wrongs to Chu Feng, a junior — was something truly inconceivable.
But Chu Feng's performance today had made it abundantly clear to everyone what kind of genius he truly was.
Chu Feng possessed the qualifications that warranted the Chu Heavenly Clan admitting fault just to bring him back.
"Actually, my father told me long ago."
"No matter whether the Chu Heavenly Clan acknowledged us father and son or not, the blood that flows through our veins is the blood of the Chu Heavenly Clan."
"So from beginning to end, I, Chu Feng, have always been a member of the Chu Heavenly Clan."
With that, Chu Feng turned his gaze toward the patriarch of the Chu Heavenly Clan and smiled: "Senior, please rise. There's no need to dwell on the past. What matters is the future of our clan."