The newcomers consisted of four men and one woman, all older than Chu Feng — roughly in their early two hundreds, but nowhere near three hundred yet.
However, their cultivation was quite formidable. The weakest among them was the woman, but even she possessed a Third-grade Heavenly Immortal cultivation. To put that in perspective, that was the same level as Chu Hongyi — and before Chu Feng had arrived, Chu Hongyi had been the strongest fighter of the Chu Heavenly Clan.
As for the most powerful among this group, he had reached the Seventh-grade Heavenly Immortal realm — a full grade above what Chu Feng had been before his breakthrough.
Recalling the Dongguo Heavenly Clan members he had encountered along the way here, even the weakest among them had been at the Heavenly Immortal stage. This clearly demonstrated that the Dongguo Heavenly Clan's strength was far beyond anything the Chu Heavenly Clan could hope to match.
"Members of the Chu Heavenly Clan still have the nerve to show their faces at the Dongguo Heavenly Clan?"
The woman regarded Chu Feng with an unpleasant expression, her eyes practically dripping with contempt.
In truth, she was not alone in her attitude. All of the Dongguo Heavenly Clan members looked at Chu Feng with undisguised hostility.
"I recently entered the Ancestral Martial Cultivation World and learned that my clan brother had some conflict with the Dongguo Heavenly Clan. I have come to offer an apology on behalf of my clan." Chu Feng clasped his fists and spoke with a courteous tone.
There were two reasons for Chu Feng's politeness.
First, he had come seeking the Dongguo Heavenly Clan's assistance, which naturally meant he needed to adopt a humble posture.
Second, according to what Chu Ping had told him, the Dongguo Heavenly Clan had once treated the Chu Heavenly Clan quite well. The ones who had wronged the Dongguo Heavenly Clan were none other than members of the Chu Heavenly Clan themselves.
Chu Feng was both asking for a favor and representing the Chu Heavenly Clan in offering an apology — it was only right to adopt a humble stance. This was not servility; it was basic courtesy.
"Representing the Chu Heavenly Clan? You?"
"Get as far away from here as possible. Even if an apology is to be made, it should be that useless Chu Hongyi who comes."
The woman spoke with undisguised disdain.
"The Chu Heavenly Clan and the Dongguo Heavenly Clan have maintained a good relationship for generations. What Chu Hongyi and the others did was indeed wrong, but we shouldn't let their actions sever the bonds between our two clans. If you still harbor resentment, I, Chu Feng, will apologize to you in their place." As he spoke, Chu Feng bowed deeply.
"Go back. Chu Hongyi must come in person. And even when he does, he'll need to kneel before us and slap his own face until we're satisfied. Otherwise, within the Ancestral Martial Cultivation World, the Dongguo Heavenly Clan will never make peace with your Chu Heavenly Clan."
One of the men seemed unwilling to make things too difficult for Chu Feng and waved his hand dismissively.
"Today, I have come with full sincerity. If I cannot obtain the Dongguo Heavenly Clan's forgiveness, I will not leave." Chu Feng said.
"Fine then — kneel down and beg for mercy. Slap your own face until I'm satisfied." The woman pointed at Chu Feng and declared.
Hearing this, Chu Feng smiled faintly. "I'm afraid you don't have the authority to make that call. Why don't you bring out someone who actually can?"
"Oh my, you've really got some nerve. What right do you have to speak to my Sister Bingyu?"
"Get lost."