"What are you saying? Sentence Chu Feng to the Wolong Underground Prison — and the eleventh level?"
"What is this about? What crime has Chu Feng committed to warrant such a severe punishment?"
A shrill voice rang out — it was Xia Yan.
But the moment Xia Yan spoke, an elderly figure appeared, standing beside her.
This person was also one of the Wolong Elders.
He was Xia Yan's grandfather, Xia Zhicheng.
Once Xia Zhicheng appeared, Xia Yan froze as if petrified — her body could no longer move, and naturally she could no longer speak. Only her eyes, filled with unwillingness and fury, kept darting back and forth.
Everyone knew that Xia Zhicheng did not want Xia Yan to involve herself in this matter, and had used his power to restrain her.
"My Lord, Chu Feng was indeed at fault, but there were extenuating circumstances."
"Sending him to the Wolong Underground Prison — isn't this punishment far too severe?"
The Head of Beixuan Academy also spoke up to plead on Chu Feng's behalf.
When he did so, many people looked at him with a hint of respect.
The tolling of the Sect Bell represented the Sect Master's will.
To still dare speak up for Chu Feng at a time like this required tremendous courage.
"Head of Beixuan, the punishment of Chu Feng is a direct order from the Sect Master himself. No one may object," Li Fengxian said to the Head of Beixuan Academy.
And though the Head of Beixuan Academy wore a clearly reluctant expression, he quickly bowed his head and stepped back.
Had Li Fengxian not made that clear beforehand, he could have voiced his own opinion. But once Li Fengxian had explicitly stated this was the Sect Master's will, no matter how unwilling the Head of Beixuan Academy was, he dared not say another word.
Within the Wolong Martial Sect, truly no one dared defy the Sect Master's will.
Everyone turned their gaze toward Chu Feng. Some gloated, some felt sympathy, and a small number who appreciated talent felt a sense of regret.
Many people did not understand why the Sect Master would punish Chu Feng so harshly, but since this was the Sect Master's will, even if they wanted to ask, they didn't dare.
"My Lord, could you tell this disciple — what kind of place is the Wolong Underground Prison?"
Chu Feng had also sensed that the Wolong Underground Prison was no ordinary place.
So he sent a secret voice transmission to the Head of Beixuan Academy.
"The Wolong Underground Prison is the cruelest place of incarceration in the entire Wolong Martial Sect."
"The first ten levels are already unbearable for ordinary people. Below that — it is a place where lives are taken..."
"Chu Feng, beg for mercy quickly. If you beg, there may still be room for leniency."
The Head of Beixuan Academy also sent a secret voice transmission, urging Chu Feng.
But upon hearing his words, Chu Feng was first stunned, a look of disbelief surfacing in his eyes.
Then he looked toward Li Fengxian.
"Wolong Elder — has this disciple's crime truly reached the point of being thrown into the eleventh level of the Wolong Underground Prison?"
"Chu Feng, this is a direct order from the Sect Master," Li Fengxian replied.
"Ha ha ha ha ha..."
Hearing this, Chu Feng let out a burst of laughter — a cold, bitter laugh.
Just from that laughter, everyone could feel the disappointment Chu Feng was feeling at that moment.
"Chu Feng! You must not be disrespectful before the Sect Bell!"
Several elders began to rebuke Chu Feng, with a manner suggesting that if Chu Feng did not stop laughing immediately, they were quite prepared to discipline him.
"Is it necessary for you all to run your mouths when I am here?"
Li Fengxian swept his cold gaze toward the elders who were reprimanding Chu Feng.
Seeing this, those elders quickly fell silent.
Li Fengxian was not only a Wolong Elder, but at this moment he also bore the Sect Master's orders. Unless the Sect Master or the Vice Sect Master arrived, no one here could truly override Li Fengxian.
And now, Chu Feng actually stopped laughing as well — but there was not a trace of surrender in his gaze.
"Ever since I, Chu Feng, entered the Wolong Martial Sect, I have never once deliberately sought trouble."
"Even when others bullied me and provoked me, when I was forced to fight back, I always held back and showed restraint."
"I was so careful not because I, Chu Feng, am a coward — but because I respected the Wolong Martial Sect, respected this sacred place."
"Yet never did I imagine that despite my restraint, I would end up like this."
Chu Feng's gaze swept across the crowd, as though these words were addressed to every single person in the Wolong Martial Sect.
"Chu Feng, silence!"
"If you dare speak out of turn again, forget the Wolong Underground Prison — I will take your life right here and now."
Another person spoke — this time it was Nangong Chunyue, grandmother of Nangong Yuliu.
After Li Fengxian had made his position clear, only someone of Nangong Chunyue's stature still dared to reprimand Chu Feng.
But upon being reprimanded by Nangong Chunyue, Chu Feng showed not the slightest fear. Instead, he smiled contemptuously.
"Oh my — it's Lady Nangong Chunyue, one of the Wolong Elders."
"What's this — your grandson didn't come along?"