"Can, this matter carries great weight. Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?"
Tian Jian Old Dream advised.
"I've thought everything through carefully before making my decision. There's no need to worry."
"Besides, don't you also think that Chu Feng is rather impressive?"
Tian Jian Can wore a faint smile — confident, composed, and in complete control of the situation.
This made Tian Jian Old Dream realize that Tian Jian Can had indeed weighed his decision carefully, so he stopped trying to persuade him otherwise.
……
Meanwhile, the Bloodline Opportunity Mountain had completely collapsed. The phenomena vanished, and everyone who had been inside was transported out.
The Zhao Immortal Clan's army had already withdrawn ahead of schedule and was returning to their homeland.
Inside the grand hall of that enormous warship, all the elites had gathered.
"Why does everyone look so gloomy?"
Zhao Zhuyin said.
Because apart from her and her father Zhao Laoba, nearly everyone present wore a grim expression.
Yet Zhao Zhuyin, with the Zhao Immortal Clan's full preparation behind her, had not only her bloodline enhanced but her cultivation improved by an entire rank.
Of course, her cultivation advancement was possible only because the Zhao Immortal Clan had invested massive resources. In truth, she was far from the one who had gained the most.
This was precisely why everyone was in such low spirits.
"Father, since we've been outmaneuvered by that Chu Feng, why not bring him back and strip him of his power?" Zhao Tingxue said.
The moment these words left her mouth, Zhao Zhuyin's brow furrowed slightly.
But before she could speak, Zhao Laoba said, "Mutual benefit — where is there any scheming?"
"But..."
Zhao Tingxue wanted to say more.
However, Zhao Laoba continued, "Throughout history, countless people have entered the Bloodline Opportunity Mountain, yet not a single one managed to comprehend the third layer."
"Only Chu Feng accomplished it. That is his ability."
"Moreover, even if what Chu Feng said is true — that our Zhuyin's second layer was merely a stepping stone for his third layer — without Chu Feng, Zhuyin would never have obtained such a harvest either. Isn't that what mutual benefit means?"
"Patriarch, your words make perfect sense." Zhao Daobin spoke up.
The many elders present also voiced their agreement one after another.
They had the Zhao Immortal Clan's interests at heart, which was why they felt displeased about the matter. But the one who made the decisions was the patriarch. His stance was already abundantly clear — if they pressed further, they would only be showing poor judgment.
But there was always someone foolish enough to speak out of turn — Zhao Cangjin, Zhao Daobin's grandson, for instance.
"Patriarch, Miss Zhao Zhuyin's success was achieved through the patriarch's exhaustive efforts."
"But what did that Chu Feng do? What did he contribute? If the patriarch hadn't opened the Bloodline Opportunity Mountain, he would never have had this chance to seize such an opportunity."
"I can't help but feel that Chu Feng got away with far too much. We shouldn't have just let him leave like that." Zhao Cangjin said.
"How do you know Chu Feng didn't contribute?"
"Even if his contribution wasn't as great as ours, what Chu Feng accomplished is something no one else could have."
"By that alone, he is irreplaceable."
The moment Zhao Laoba said this, Zhao Cangjin's face turned deathly pale. He realized that the patriarch's recognition of Chu Feng far exceeded anything he had imagined.
"Cangjin, you are one of the most outstanding younger generations of our Zhao Immortal Clan. The future of our clan will depend on you and others like you."
"But your current perspective simply won't do."
"With someone like Chu Feng, if you befriend him, the benefits will be limitless."
"But if you make an enemy of him, do you know what the consequences will be?"
"He could very well be the one to bring about the destruction of our entire Zhao Immortal Clan."
These words stunned everyone present.
They all knew just how powerful their patriarch was.
Yet they never expected him to say something that so inflated another's prestige while diminishing his own.
This statement once again shattered their understanding of just how highly the patriarch regarded Chu Feng.
"In the ancient era, when those great figures first emerged, countless people coveted the treasures they carried. Relying on the deep foundations of their respective families and sects, they sought to snuff out those rising geniuses before they could fully flourish."
"But the end result was that those sects and powers vanished completely from this world of martial cultivation."
"A person must have the ability to discern correctly."
"I have no objection to you bullying others — but if you bully the wrong person, I will not protect you."
"Understand?"
Those last two words came with a cold edge in Zhao Laoba's gaze.
This was a warning.
"Understood."