"Rise." The Sect Master waved her hand gently, then turned and walked toward her own territory.
She walked through the air, her steps elegant, yet her speed was extraordinary.
Li Fengxian could only give chase at full effort to barely keep up.
In the blink of an eye, the two of them arrived at the lakeside pavilion where Chu Feng had been moments ago.
But the Sect Master did not enter the pavilion. Instead, she landed on top of it, gazing thoughtfully at the void shrouded by the great tribulation.
"Sect Master, I told you long ago that Chu Feng was a talent. I've been wanting to bring him to the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect for some time now."
"I wasn't mistaken — Chu Feng is a true prodigy. This time… our Crouching Dragon Martial Sect has struck gold."
"If you ask me, we have Duan Liufeng to thank. If not for him… Chu Feng's display of talent might have been delayed."
Li Fengxian was about to recount Chu Feng's remarkable feat.
But the Sect Master suddenly raised her hand, signaling that Li Fengxian need not continue.
"What you two discussed just now — I heard all of it."
The Sect Master showed little emotion, her tone utterly flat.
Seeing this, Li Fengxian's face, which had been covered in joy, grew somewhat tense.
By all logic, upon hearing what Chu Feng had accomplished, no one could remain this composed.
Yet the Sect Master was perfectly calm.
This reaction was abnormal.
"Sect Master… did Chu Feng lie?" Li Fengxian asked cautiously.
"Long ago, Dugu Lingtian once said that within the Blackwater Six Finger Pool, there exists a force that commands the formation. If one could master it, one could gain control over a portion of the pool's power."
"But his comprehension was insufficient, and he failed to master it."
The Sect Master said.
"So what you're saying is… Chu Feng's words are true?" Li Fengxian said, somewhat pleased.
"That the power within the Blackwater Six Finger Pool was mastered by him — that is true."
"That there is an anomaly in the Fierce Beast Prison Realm — that is also true. But whether everything is as he claims remains to be verified."
The Sect Master said.
"But regardless, Chu Feng has already proven his talent."
"First, he broke Lord Dugu Lingtian's record. Now he has accomplished something that even Lord Dugu Lingtian could not. His talent is beyond question."
Li Fengxian was praising Chu Feng when the Sect Master of the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect suddenly turned her head and fixed him with an icy gaze: "Dugu Lingtian is one of a kind."
Seeing that look, Li Fengxian hurriedly explained: "Sect Master, I meant no disrespect toward Lord Dugu Lingtian."
"I merely feel that Chu Feng's talent is rare, and our Crouching Dragon Martial Sect should—"
"Is the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect yours to decide?" the Sect Master asked, her voice sharpening.
"This subordinate would not dare." Li Fengxian immediately lowered his head.
"As long as you know who decides things in the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect."
"Later, you will go and strike the Sect's Dragon Bell, and announce my command to all elders and disciples."
"Chu Feng has violated the laws of our Crouching Dragon Martial Sect, defying his superiors."
"In my capacity as Sect Master, I sentence Chu Feng to the eleventh level of the Crouching Dragon Dungeon for three days of punishment."
The Sect Master said.
"The eleventh level? For three days?"
"Sect Master, Chu Feng is still at the Supreme Realm. Isn't this excessively severe for him?"
"I have already inspected that tempered robe, and it was indeed tampered with by Guardian Qi."
"Guardian Qi attempted to murder Chu Feng first. Chu Feng only punished him in return and did not truly harm him. His actions were entirely justified."
Li Fengxian argued urgently, even knowing it might anger the Sect Master.
But he had to argue. The Crouching Dragon Dungeon had a total of eighteen levels.
The first ten were already extremely harsh punishments — even the first level was an unbearable torture.
And its horrors grew stronger with each ascending level.
Because of this, the Crouching Dragon Dungeon was a place that struck terror into the hearts of every single person in the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect.
And the eleventh level was a place where people could die.