"So you're really Senior Jie Ranqing's son?"
After hearing Chu Feng's words, Fu Xing was actually the one who looked shocked.
"That's right. The illustrious Jie Ranqing is my, Chu Feng's, mother."
Chu Feng said frankly, and as he spoke the words declaring Jie Ranqing his mother, his face was filled with pride and dignity.
He even deliberately brandished the Purple Demon Dagger in his hand, just in case Fu Xing didn't believe him.
At this point, he saw no reason to hide anything anymore.
After her initial shock, a look of sudden understanding washed over Fu Xing's face.
"Since you're Senior Jie Ranqing's son, then it's not so hard to accept that you surpass me."
She and Chu Feng had both consumed the black fruit.
But for some reason, Chu Feng's mark was far stronger, so she knew full well that she had lost this trial to him.
In truth, she accepted her defeat completely.
Although she had played a major role, she was well aware that Chu Feng's performance had been superior to hers.
"You're not from the Seven Worlds Holy Mansion either, are you?"
"Otherwise you wouldn't be risking your life here for a treasure of that level."
"Nor would you have been bullied by a force like the Dao Alchemy Immortal Sect," Fu Xing said.
Chu Feng gave a complicated smile before answering. "My mother may be Jie Ranqing, but I actually have no connection to the Seven Worlds Holy Mansion."
"So the rumors are true," Fu Xing said.
"What have you heard?" Chu Feng asked.
"I'd say we're friends?" Fu Xing asked.
"Of course. Friends who've been through life and death together."
"We just went through all of that side by side," Chu Feng said.
"Then I won't hold back. I'll speak plainly."
"I once heard a piece of information. It's extremely secret — hardly anyone dares to even spread it," Fu Xing said.
"Go ahead and speak freely," Chu Feng said.
"I heard that Senior Jie Ranqing was not in seclusion for cultivation. She was forcibly imprisoned by the Seven Worlds Holy Mansion."
"The reason for this was that Senior Jie Ranqing had committed a grave offense," Fu Xing said.
"What offense?" Chu Feng asked.
"If the rumors are true, then it was the gravest offense imaginable."
"The rumor says that Senior Jie Ranqing was with someone from outside the Seven Worlds Holy Mansion, and even bore a son with him."
"The Seven Worlds Holy Mansion has always considered anyone from outside their ranks to be garbage."
"So marriages within the Holy Mansion were mandatory, to preserve the purity of their superior bloodline."
"Senior Jie Ranqing possessed the legendary King-level bloodline — the one the Seven Worlds Holy Mansion valued above all else."
"So when they learned that Senior Jie Ranqing had been with an outsider and given birth to a son, the Holy Mansion flew into a rage."
"They believed her bloodline had been defiled, and they demanded that Senior Jie Ranqing personally kill both the man and the child."
"But Senior Jie Ranqing not only refused their outrageous demand — she had already anticipated it, and had secretly sent her child to a safe place beforehand."
"She refused to utter a single word about her husband or her child's whereabouts, which is why she was imprisoned."
To anyone else, Fu Xing's account might have sounded far-fetched.
But to Chu Feng, every single word cut to the bone.
Because he knew this was no rumor. This was fact.
Especially when he heard Fu Xing describe how his mother had endured that pressure alone, all those years ago.
He could imagine just how crushing the pressure from the Seven Worlds Holy Mansion must have been. And because of that… his heart ached as if someone were squeezing it in their fist.
Not for himself — but for his mother.
Fu Xing watched Chu Feng's emotions shift. His expression had grown solemn, and she could even faintly sense a killing intent.
It was deeply concealed, but once she detected it, she could feel just how terrifying it truly was.
"Chu Feng, it seems the rumors are true."
"Rest assured. The Seven Worlds Holy Mansion will come to regret their foolish decision."
"Because you have not defiled Senior Jie Ranqing's bloodline — you are the most powerful Spirit World Master of the younger generation in the entire vast martial cultivation world."
"Not a single genius from the Seven Worlds Holy Mansion can compare to you," Fu Xing said to Chu Feng.
She too could imagine what kind of pressure Jie Ranqing had faced back when her family had stood against the Holy Mansion.
But she felt that the burden Chu Feng carried was even heavier.