"Are you the only newcomers from the Chu Heavenly Clan this year?" someone from the Puyang Heavenly Clan asked.
Puyang Han and Puyang Qi merely watched from the side. Though they wanted to ask, they held their tongues—in their eyes, these few members of the Chu Heavenly Clan were far too weak. Cultivators of such measly strength didn't even merit their attention.
"That's right," Chu Qing said.
His tone was courteous, yet not servile. If anything, he carried himself with a quiet dignity.
Chu Qing had once been the foremost among the younger generation of the Chu Heavenly Clan. His cultivation talent was exceptional among his clan, and his conduct and judgment were no less remarkable.
Seeing Chu Qing maintain such composure before them—neither humble nor overbearing—quite a few people present were secretly surprised. They noted that this member of the Chu Heavenly Clan was rather different from the rest.
"Who are you kidding? Isn't that Chu Feng also a member of your Chu Heavenly Clan?" someone from the Puyang Heavenly Clan shouted angrily.
"Brother Chu Feng is indeed a member of our Chu Heavenly Clan," Chu Qing replied evenly.
"Cut the nonsense—where is Chu Feng hiding?" the man pressed.
"Hiding? I'm not sure what you mean," Chu Qing said.
"Hmph! That Chu Feng was the first to enter this Prodigy Formation, yet he hasn't shown himself since. You expect us to believe you don't know where he's gone?" the man demanded.
"My brother Chu Feng was indeed the first to enter this Prodigy Formation. However, based on what I know of him, he doesn't seem the type to go into hiding for any reason—nor does he have any reason to hide," Chu Qing answered.
"Oh, no reason to hide, you say? Then explain this: the first level, the second level, the third level, and now this fourth level—there's no sign of your precious brother Chu Feng in any of them. If he's not hiding, then tell me—where exactly did he go?" the man retorted.
Having said that, he bellowed aloud: "Chu Feng! Stop skulking around like a coward! If you've got any guts, come out and show us what the son of Chu Xuanyuan actually looks like!"
"What's the matter? I've said all that and you still don't dare show your face? So the son of Chu Xuanyuan is nothing but a sniveling, spineless coward?"
"There's no need to shout. My brother Chu Feng may not even be here," Chu Qing said.
"Oh, he's not here? Then where is he, exactly?" the man asked.
"Perhaps he is," Chu Qing replied.
"What?"
"You're not serious, are you?"
"Ha ha ha! Did everyone hear that? This trash from the Chu Heavenly Clan just said that Chu Feng entered the Sacred Spirit Light!"
Hearing Chu Qing's words, the man not only put on a mocking sneer but burst into derisive laughter.
At that moment, many others present also let out mocking chuckles. In their view, Chu Qing had just told the most absurd joke imaginable.
Everyone knew that the Prodigy Formation was already extraordinarily difficult to penetrate—the fact that one had reached even the fourth level was nearly unheard of, and virtually no one could locate what lay beyond it.