"Chu Feng, he's here."
"Who said he wouldn't dare come? He's Chu Feng — he doesn't even fear the Seven Realms Holy Palace. Why would he be too afraid to show up?"
Chu Feng's arrival silenced every ounce of doubt.
The older generation still held back out of reverence for the Seven Realms Holy Palace, but the younger generation's eyes burned with fervor.
If Jie Ranqing was the genius who once blazed across an era, then Chu Feng was, without question, the most dazzling genius of this current era.
Whether they liked him or not, every single person was eager to see what would happen.
"So you actually dared to show up, Chu Feng."
Baili Zilin looked toward Chu Feng, his expression light and composed on the surface, though inside he was seething.
In his eyes, Chu Feng was simply inferior to him.
And yet someone inferior somehow commanded far greater popularity?
"So you're that stray cat or dog," Chu Feng said, his words carrying a double meaning.
Baili Zilin assumed Chu Feng was mocking him.
But Chu Feng was remembering something else entirely. Back when he had rescued Little Fisher, he had stumbled upon Song Yun and helped her retrieve an item. Inside that mysterious hall of the Hell Sect, there had been a strange pool of blood, and floating upon it was a translucent crystal.
Within that crystal, a man lay dormant — and that man was none other than Baili Zilin.
According to Song Yun, the Hell Sect had captured Little Fisher precisely because of this person.
So today was not just a match. It was old grudges and new grievances combined.
The only pity was that the timing was wrong. Had he already stepped into True Godhood, he would have taught Baili Zilin a brutal lesson today.
Thinking of this, Chu Feng couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh.
"Brother Chu Feng."
But just then, a private voice transmission reached his ears.
It was Liu Kuo.
"Brother Chu Feng, you don't need to speak — just listen."
"My Master knew you would come, so we came here on purpose as well."
"Just go ahead and do your thing. If you can beat that Baili Zilin senseless, then beat him half to death."
"But even if you can't, don't worry — my Master will guarantee your safety."
Liu Kuo's voice arrived at exactly the right moment.
It was a reassuring pill for the heart, instantly giving Chu Feng a newfound sense of confidence.
After all, Grandmaster Jiudian's strength was unfathomable. With him present, Chu Feng had nothing to fear — not even the Hell Sect.
"Chu Feng, enough talk. If you've got the guts, step onto the fighting stage. I want to see for myself whether you actually have the strength, or whether you're like that stutterer — all bark and no bite."
Baili Zilin suppressed the rage inside him and fixed his gaze on Chu Feng.
He was just waiting for Chu Feng to set foot on the stage. Once Chu Feng dared to step up, he would make sure Chu Feng paid the price.
"Release them first." Chu Feng looked toward Wang Qiang.
"What, you don't dare fight me?"
"Don't be afraid — it's just a friendly spar. I'll hold back and stop before going too far. I won't hurt you."
"After all, everyone came from far away just to witness this battle between you and me."
"Of course, I won't hide my strength from you either."
As Baili Zilin spoke, his robes billowed, and an invisible aura swept out in every direction.
First-grade True God!!!
"I'm sure you've heard — this isn't my limit. I can raise my cultivation all the way to fourth-grade True God."
"If you can't reach that level, you're welcome to concede right now."
Baili Zilin stared intently at Chu Feng.
This man was cunning. He had deliberately brought up why everyone had gathered here, and it had successfully struck a chord with the crowd.
They all wanted to see Chu Feng and Baili Zilin fight.
Chu Feng said nothing. He simply released his cultivation without a moment's hesitation.
But the moment they sensed his cultivation, the crowd wore complicated expressions.
Half-step God, ninth grade.
This cultivation was far from weak — especially among the younger generation.
But the problem was that both Baili Zilin and Wang Qiang had reached first-grade True God.
() Although the gap was only a single grade, in terms of major realms, that difference was as vast as heaven and earth.
"Such a grand reputation, and it turns out he's only a ninth-grade half-step God."
At that moment, someone spoke up with open mockery.
It was a member of the Hell Sect disguised as a spectator.
But within the crowd, voices immediately rose in rebuttal.
"So what if he's a ninth-grade half-step God?"
"Have you not heard? After the Era of the Gods issued its guidance, every major power spared no expense in raising their younger generation to the fullest."
"Baili Zilin has the Hell Sect at his back. Wang Qiang has the Divine Body Holy Mansion at his."
"And who does Chu Feng have at his?"
"He has no one. He relies on himself alone."
"Is ninth-grade half-step God really so weak?"