The Sect Master of the Wolong Martial Sect held the master token of the defensive formation.
She could sense that the defensive formation no longer had the infiltration of the Ancient Clans' formation — it was completely safe.
But suddenly, the defensive formation underwent a change.
Its power began to recede and dissolve, until only a small portion remained, distributed into the formation nodes of each world.
As that power fused into the formation nodes, the nodes in each world transformed, each giving rise to a small world formed by the formation.
Those formation worlds also contained formidable defensive power.
However, compared to the defensive formation that Chu Feng had previously reinforced, there was a considerable gap.
Still, such formation worlds were more than enough to shelter the martial cultivators of each world.
But the defensive formation that had once covered the entire Ancestral Martial Star River had now completely vanished.
This meant that the current defensive formation could only provide a sanctuary within each individual world.
If powerful enemies came attacking again, they could now enter the Ancestral Martial Star River directly.
When that time came, everywhere outside those formation worlds would be incredibly dangerous.
Setting aside the safety of the Ancestral Martial Star River, without the defensive formation covering everything, the main city of the Ancestral Martial Realm Sect, standing above the starry sky, was now fully exposed.
Anyone could approach the main city.
But normally, the defensive formation should not have undergone such a change. Chu Feng had exhausted his strength to reinforce the defensive formation to an extraordinary level — it should never have ended up like this.
This current transformation was someone's deliberate doing.
Right at that moment, a voice reached the ears of the Sect Master of the Wolong Martial Sect.
"This time's invaders have all been eliminated."
"The Ancestral Martial Star River is temporarily safe, and our Wolong Martial Sect's defensive formation requires a supreme treasure to activate."
"We cannot afford to deplete it all for the sake of protecting the Ancestral Martial Star River. This matter ends here."
It was the voice of Lord Long Xie.
A powerful and mysterious existence hidden deep within the Wolong Martial Sect.
The true ruler of the Wolong Martial Sect.
He had once seen promise in Chu Feng and Zi Ling.
But due to certain reasons, he could not personally nurture Chu Feng, nor could he directly nurture Zi Ling.
So he had contacted the Sect Master of the Wolong Martial Sect, using her as an intermediary to train and guide Zi Ling.
That was how Zi Ling had achieved such tremendous progress in so short a time.
"Lord, protecting the Ancestral Martial Star River — isn't that the rule of our Wolong Martial Sect?" the Sect Master asked.
She knew it was Lord Long Xie who had retracted the defensive formation, leaving behind protective formations in each world.
"Providing shelter for these mediocre lot is already more than generous on my part."
"The current cultivators of the Ancestral Martial Star River — their cultivation is unremarkable, yet they excel at fighting among themselves."
"By rights, none of them are worthy of the Wolong Martial Sect's protection."
"But their performance today did exceed my expectations, if only slightly."
"After all, a leopard never changes its spots. If the formation were breached and the Ancient Clans invaded, the moment the Ancient Clans gave the order, no doubt many would choose to switch sides."
"In any case, this matter is finished." Lord Long Xie said.
"I will follow your arrangement in all things."
"Oh, Lord — those invaders were all destroyed. That was your doing, wasn't it?"
The Sect Master of the Wolong Martial Sect very much wanted to confirm this.
"It was not my hand that struck, but it is related to the Wolong Martial Sect."
"In any case, the crisis has been resolved. Don't think too much about it." Lord Long Xie said.
Hearing him say this, the Sect Master grew even more curious. But she could tell that Lord Long Xie did not wish to reveal the truth, so she did not press further.
Instead, she asked about something else: "Lord, should we bring the main city of the Ancestral Martial Realm Sect into the Wolong Martial Sect?"
"Little girl, why are you suddenly becoming so meddlesome? You were never this nosy before."
"I…" Being scolded by Lord Long Xie like this, the Sect Master suddenly found herself at a loss.
"Rest assured — the treasures of the Ancestral Martial Realm Sect are not so easily claimed."
"If someone truly can claim them, then that simply means those treasures belong to them."
"So stop worrying about it." Lord Long Xie said.
"Thank you for the reminder, Lord. I was being greedy."
Lord Long Xie's words left the Sect Master of the Wolong Martial Sect feeling somewhat ashamed.