Even though Chu Ping had followed Chu Feng and the others, his purpose was not to join Chu Feng in searching for the legendary Darkflow Heavenly River.
He had wanted to dissuade Chu Feng from acting rashly, and to hope that Chu Feng might reconcile with Chu Hongyi.
Even after Chu Feng and the others had landed, Chu Ping was still thinking about how to persuade him.
"What is this?"
But just as Chu Ping was about to open his mouth, he found that his already-gaping jaw wouldn't close.
Even his eyes filled with an incredibly astonished gaze.
Because right now, Chu Feng had already released his barrier power.
Chu Ping was no fool — at a single glance, he could tell that the barrier power Chu Feng had released was no longer at the Immortal level, but at the Sovereign level.
Though it was only the Insect-pattern, Chu Feng was truly a Robed Spirit World Master.
"This… Sister Shuangshuang, this — this — this?"
Overjoyed, Chu Ping looked toward Chu Shuangshuang. Only now did he finally understand why Chu Shuangshuang and the others trusted Chu Feng so much.
It wasn't simply because they were on good terms with Chu Feng — it was because they knew that Chu Feng could truly find the legendary Darkflow Heavenly River.
"Big Brother Chu Ping, now do you believe what I told you?" Chu Shuangshuang said with a smile.
At the same time, Chu Qing was also looking at Chu Ping with a grin.
"Sister Shuangshuang, brothers — if you all already knew that Brother Chu Feng was an Insect-pattern Robed Spirit World Master, why didn't you say so sooner? If you had spoken up earlier, would anyone have disbelieved Brother Chu Feng's words?" There was even a hint of reproach in Chu Ping's words.
Hearing this, Chu Shuangshuang was about to explain, but before she could, Chu Qing cut in.
"Big Brother Chu Ping, those people didn't believe Brother Chu Feng and even mocked him with their words. Go on then — give a reason, a reason why Brother Chu Feng should have to prove himself to them," Chu Qing asked Chu Ping.
"Because we are family," Chu Ping said.
"Mm, we are indeed family. But does being family mean you can mock others without even figuring out right from wrong? Brother Chu Feng said he could lead everyone to find the Darkflow Heavenly River — and that was for everyone's benefit. Not only did they refuse to appreciate it, they looked at Brother Chu Feng with cold ridicule. Is this what family does? In my eyes, they're nothing more than self-serving petty people," Chu Qing said.
"Chu Qing, I understand what you mean, but..." Chu Ping still wanted to explain.
"But no one is a saint. Brother Chu Feng has neither the responsibility nor the obligation to concern himself with those so-called clansmen. Just like when Brother Chu Feng was abandoned in the Lower Realm, and when Uncle Chu Xuanyuan was imprisoned in the Forbidden Land — not a single clansman showed them any sympathy or concern," Chu Qing cut in before anyone else could speak.
Hearing this, Chu Ping's expression froze. He fell silent, and a hint of guilt welled up in his eyes.
"It was wrong of your brother to make such demands of you." Chu Ping sighed, his words brimming with guilt.
He suddenly realized that even though Chu Feng was extraordinarily talented, the journey from the Lower Realm had been anything but easy.
The Chu Family truly had no right to demand anything of Chu Feng, and he, Chu Ping, had even less of a right.
"Big Brother Chu Ping, do you know why I didn't prove it to them?" Just then, Chu Feng suddenly spoke up.
Seeing that Chu Feng had actually said something, Chu Ping's gaze shifted. After much hesitation, he still asked, "Why?"
"Even if I let them know I'm an Insect-pattern Robed Spirit World Master, they still might not believe me. Because the Darkflow Heavenly River is extremely difficult to find. Even if I am a Robed Spirit World Master, I doubt anyone would believe that I could definitely locate the Darkflow Heavenly River. The appearance of this Heavenly River is such a rare event — I think everyone would prefer to play it safe rather than take the risk," Chu Feng said.
"That's true. To find the Darkflow Heavenly River, you'd need at least an Insect-pattern Robed Spirit World Master — but that's only the minimum requirement. It doesn't mean that just any Robed Spirit World Master could find the Darkflow Heavenly River, because even the Darkflow Heavenly River comes in many varieties."
"So Brother Chu Feng, you didn't want to put everyone at risk. I was wrong to blame you earlier," Chu Ping said.
"Whether they believe me or not is their business. The reason I didn't reveal my abilities is actually something else entirely," Chu Feng said.
"Oh?" Hearing this, Chu Ping's gaze shifted, and he asked, "What reason might that be, Brother Chu Feng?"
"In truth, I just wanted to teach them a lesson — to make them understand that not believing in me, Chu Feng, would only be their loss. Only in that way can I better lead them in the future," Chu Feng said with a faint smile.
Hearing Chu Feng's words, not only did Chu Ping's expression freeze, but even Chu Qing, Chu Shuangshuang, and the others stiffened, their hearts trembling.