"Junior Brother Chu Feng, then I'll have to apologize in advance."
Seeing that there was no room for negotiation, both Yang Chen and Song Zhiliao released their auras.
It turned out they were both Seventh Grade Supreme Masters.
Their aura was on par with Chu Feng's after he had unleashed his Lightning Mark.
The moment their auras erupted, the two of them attacked simultaneously.
Their combat strength was far superior to Xia Ran's.
Yet even with the two of them joining forces, they still couldn't defeat Chu Feng.
"This Chu Feng really does have some tricks up his sleeve."
Watching Yang Chen and Song Zhiliao struggle even with their combined efforts, the onlookers gained a fresh respect for Chu Feng.
After all, they all knew that Yang Chen and Song Zhiliao were nothing like Xia Ran.
Xia Ran had simply been lucky enough to acknowledge a powerful sworn older sister.
But Yang Chen and Song Zhiliao had clawed their way to where they were through sheer, genuine ability.
Rooooar— Suddenly, the mournful howl of a beast echoed through the void above.
Yang Chen had unleashed his Heavenly Bestowed Divine Power, boosting his strength.
His cultivation had soared from Seventh Grade Supreme Master all the way to Eighth Grade Supreme Master.
But after powering up, Yang Chen didn't attack Chu Feng. Instead, he stepped backward.
"Junior Brother Chu Feng, if you surrender now, there's still time."
It turned out Yang Chen didn't want to hurt Chu Feng. He had simply raised his cultivation to make Chu Feng see the writing on the wall and withdraw on his own.
Seeing this, Song Zhiliao also unleashed her Heavenly Bestowed Divine Power.
Her cultivation likewise surged from Seventh Grade Supreme Master to Eighth Grade Supreme Master.
"Junior Brother Chu Feng, we're all from the same sect. There's nothing we can't talk through."
"Just apologize to Xia Ran, and we can call it even."
Song Zhiliao tried to persuade Chu Feng as well.
"Yang Chen, Song Zhiliao, who are you two pretending to be — the good cops?"
"This Chu Feng is a habitual liar. He even had the audacity to claim he broke Lord Dugu Lingtian's record himself."
"That is a blasphemy and a flagrant act of disrespect toward Lord Dugu Lingtian."
"And the two of you, as disciples of the Wulong Martial Sect, show no fury at all? Instead you play peacemaker? Are you even Wulong Martial Sect disciples?"
"Let me tell you — this Snow Summit is a treasure left behind by Lord Dugu Lingtian."
"If you don't beat Chu Feng until he's crawling on the ground looking for his teeth today, none of you are getting into the Snow Domain Divine Palace."
Xia Ran roared.
That put Yang Chen and Song Zhiliao in an awkward position.
"Senior Brother Yang, Senior Sister Song, please go ahead and attack."
"Just treat it as a friendly sparring match, so that a newcomer like me can experience firsthand the skills of Wulong Martial Sect's disciples."
"And remember — don't hold back. Because I… won't be holding back."
*Crackle crackle—* The instant Chu Feng finished speaking, bolts of lightning surged across his body.
The lightning coalesced and instantly formed into a suit of armor that enveloped him.
And his aura climbed once more, from Seventh Grade Supreme Master to Eighth Grade Supreme Master.
"He actually unlocked both the Lightning Mark and the Lightning Armor while at the Supreme Master realm?"
"No wonder this Chu Feng wasn't the least bit afraid of Senior Brother Yang and Senior Sister Song at Seventh Grade Supreme Master."
Seeing the lightning armor materialize around Chu Feng, the onlookers' expressions shifted yet again.
"In that case, we won't hold back either."
Yang Chen had no intention of dragging things out. He struck at Chu Feng directly.
Song Zhiliao attacked in tandem.
Yet even with both of them fighting together, they still couldn't gain the upper hand.
After a fierce exchange, two blades forged from martial energy landed squarely on Yang Chen's and Song Zhiliao's necks.
They had been formed by Chu Feng — weapons condensed from his own martial energy.
Chu Feng had already stripped Yang Chen and Song Zhiliao of their ability to continue fighting.
This bout had gone to Chu Feng.
True, this exchange had never reached the point where half-step Supreme Weapons would need to be drawn.
But everyone knew that Yang Chen and Song Zhiliao had not been going easy.
Their strength was well known to all — they had truly unleashed everything they had, holding nothing in reserve.
It wasn't that they were weak. It was that this Chu Feng was simply too powerful.
"Looks like I won."
Chu Feng didn't press Yang Chen and Song Zhiliao any further. Instead, he dissolved the martial-energy blades in his hands.
"Junior Brother Chu Feng, thank you."
As for Yang Chen and Song Zhiliao, once their cultivation had returned to Seventh Grade Supreme Master, they both bowed respectfully to Chu Feng.
Although Chu Feng had said he wouldn't show mercy, this fight hadn't harmed them in the slightest.
They knew that Chu Feng had already shown them every courtesy possible.
"Xia Ran, I've done what you asked."
"There's not much time left for cultivation at the Snow Summit. Open the gates to the Snow Domain Divine Palace and let everyone in to cultivate."
After the bout concluded, Yang Chen addressed Xia Ran.
"Useless good-for-nothings — you can't even beat a low-grade talent nobody like Chu Feng, and you think you deserve to enter the Snow Domain Divine Palace?"
"You don't have the qualification. Not one of you."
Xia Ran spoke through gritted teeth.
"Senior Brother Xia, just open the gates. If the Protector finds out, what will we do?" Seeing the impasse, Bi Jingjing stepped forward to plead as well.
"Fine, I'll open them. But nobody from the Northern Xuan Courtyard is allowed inside."
"As for the rest of you from the Eastern Dragon Courtyard and the Western Tiger Courtyard — you'll have to swear an oath right here."