"The son of Chu Xuanyuan — how interesting."
Qingyu Ruize smiled faintly, but no one could tell what he was truly thinking or what decision he had made.
"Brother Ruize, we must punish that Chu Heavenly Clan properly. If word of this gets out, our Azure Feather Monster Clan will lose all face. How will we maintain our standing in the Ancestral Martial Cultivation Realm?" Qingyu Fengming said.
"Out of the question. Hasn't that Wuma Shengjie already served as a cautionary tale for our generation?" But no sooner had those words left his mouth than someone stepped forward to object.
"So what if that Chu Feng could become another Wuma Shengjie? Shouldn't we eliminate him before he has a chance to grow? Otherwise, once he reaches his full potential in the future, will any of us have it good?" Qingyu Fengming said.
"Fengming, you don't understand. Those kinds of geniuses all possess great fortune. Do you really think you can get rid of him? Back in the day, those who wanted to eliminate Wuma Shengjie thought the exact same way. And what was the result? Not only did they fail to eliminate Wuma Shengjie — they were all taken out by him instead," a fellow clansman tried to argue.
"That's enough. I said be quiet. Let me think," Qingyu Ruize said in a booming voice.
The moment he spoke, everyone fell silent — even Qingyu Fengming.
They had all heard the anger in Qingyu Ruize's words, and they knew full well that if Qingyu Ruize became enraged, the consequences would be dire.
No one wanted to anger Qingyu Ruize.
"Brother Ruize, Fenye Ganghao of the Fenye Monster Clan is here requesting an audience," a voice called from beyond the palace doors.
"What does he want? I'm not seeing him," Qingyu Ruize said coldly.
In truth, he considered the Fenye Monster Clan nothing more than a lapdog. When he was in a good mood, he might humor them, but when he wasn't, he couldn't be bothered with such people.
"Brother Ruize, Fenye Ganghao has come regarding the Chu Heavenly Clan," the voice from outside called again.
Hearing those words, the gazes of nearly everyone in the hall shifted — Qingyu Ruize included.
"The Chu Heavenly Clan again?" Qingyu Ruize's brow furrowed deeply. With a sweep of his sleeve, the tightly shut palace doors flew open. "Bring him in."
Not long after Qingyu Ruize gave the order, Fenye Ganghao appeared in their line of sight.
Watching Fenye Ganghao enter through the palace doors, every member of the Azure Feather Monster Clan stared in shock.
They realized, to their disbelief, that Fenye Ganghao had been crawling in on his hands and knees.
"Fenye Ganghao, what is the meaning of this? Even if you've come to ask for a favor, there's no need to go this far," Qingyu Ruize said.
"My lord, it's not that I wish to do this — it's that I genuinely cannot stand. I have no choice but to kneel," Fenye Ganghao said, his face full of grievance.
The Fenye Monster Clan were known for their towering physiques and fearsome, sinister appearances — far more intimidating than any human could hope to be.
Yet at this moment, Fenye Ganghao wore nothing but a pitiful expression, and as he spoke, tears streamed down his face like rain.
"What exactly happened?" Qingyu Ruize asked.
Fenye Ganghao then recounted the events to Qingyu Ruize — though naturally, what he told was far from the truth. Fearing the Azure Feather Monster Clan would refuse to help him, he deliberately embellished the story and spoke a great deal of ill about Chu Feng.
"This Chu Feng — he dares be so brazen?"
Sure enough, after hearing Fenye Ganghao's account, the anger on the faces of the Azure Feather Monster Clan members only deepened.
"That's not all. That Chu Feng also asked me to deliver a message to you," Fenye Ganghao said.
"Oh? What message?" Qingyu Ruize asked.
"That Chu Feng told me to inform you that you should be ready — because you're the next ones they're going to deal with. Your Azure Feather Monster Clan," Fenye Ganghao said.
BOOM— The moment those words left his mouth, a deafening crack echoed through the hall.
The tea table beside Qingyu Ruize had been reduced to splinters by a single slap of his palm.
Qingyu Ruize had already risen to his feet, his eyes blazing with not only fury but killing intent.