Hearing this, the colossal being let out a sigh.
"Chu Xuanyuan once made tremendous contributions to our clan as well."
"If not for him, the Sacred Realm cultivation grounds would never have been opened."
"Nor would our Three Saints Demon Clan enjoy the prosperity it has today."
"You are the clan patriarch now, and you should have the magnanimity befitting one."
"There is truly no need to make things difficult for Chu Xuanyuan's son," the colossal being said.
"He made some contributions, but that cannot offset the sins he committed or the crimes he committed."
"Elder Saint, have you forgotten? It was because of him that our Three Saints Demon Clan's sacred artifact was allowed to escape!"
"That was a sacred artifact passed down from our ancestors!"
"If the sacred artifact had not been lost, my father would never have fallen gravely ill!"
"If I could, I would not want this patriarch's seat at all. I wish my father were sitting here instead."
"Compared to the sins he committed, what are those meager contributions of his?"
"Even killing him a hundred times would not be excessive!"
The middle-aged man's emotions grew agitated, and even the surrounding heaven and earth were affected, turning abnormally cold and harsh.
The colossal being saw the middle-aged man in this state and chose to remain silent.
The middle-aged man, too, fell silent.
After a moment, the middle-aged man spoke again, his tone much calmer — even carrying a trace of apology.
"Elder Saint, I wasn't directed at you."
"Truthfully, I have already shown great restraint. Otherwise, the moment Chu Xuanyuan's son set foot in this place, I would have slapped him dead with a single palm strike."
"Setting Chu Xuanyuan's matter aside, even toward a mere trespasser, one must make it clear that our Three Saints Demon Clan is not a place they can come and go from as they please."
"As for guiding Chu Xuanyuan's son, I leave that to you."
With that, the middle-aged man departed from the area.
Seeing this, the colossal being sighed, then his enormous body began to rapidly shrink.
In the end, his height was only one meter.
However, he now appeared far more humanoid — like a hunched little old man.
The only difference was that he had no eyes.
But his ears were extraordinarily large, like two fans.
With a sweep of his wide sleeve, he deactivated the sealing formation, then descended before the barrier gate where Zi Ling had been standing guard earlier.
Before long, Chu Feng's figure walked out from within the barrier gate.
Once Chu Feng emerged, the first thing he saw was naturally this elder.
But he also noticed that Zi Ling was nowhere to be seen.
His first reaction, therefore, was vigilance.
"Young friend Chu Feng, do not be alarmed."
"Miss Zi Ling is perfectly safe," the elder said, sensing Chu Feng's concern.
"Where is she? Take me to her," Chu Feng said.
"Very well."
The elder gave a slight nod, then soared into the air while a layer of power enveloped Chu Feng.
Though he had no eyes, he could still discern direction.
The elder carried Chu Feng through the sky at a leisurely pace, yet their speed was remarkably swift.
His cultivation was formidable — far beyond that of an ordinary True God — though this may not have been his true level of strength.
"Young friend Chu Feng, are you not curious about this old man's identity, or the identity of the one you encountered inside the cavern?"
Along the way, the elder addressed Chu Feng.
"I am curious, but I want to see Zi Ling first," Chu Feng replied.
At this moment, Chu Feng's heart was suspended with worry.
He did not trust this elder's words, and he was deeply concerned about Zi Ling's safety.
He himself could come to harm, but he absolutely could not tolerate anything happening to Zi Ling.
At the same time, he blamed himself. If he had not entered the barrier gate and had stayed by Zi Ling's side the entire time, this situation would never have arisen.
"This old man told you — Zi Ling is safe."
"There is no need to be so on edge."