"Naturally."
"No matter how talented he is, if he dares to stand against our Prison Sect, he deserves death."
"Just so, Jie Tianran sent word that the anomaly hovering above the Bloodline Heavenly River is connected to Chu Feng. He said Chu Feng would definitely come, and that our Prison Sect should ambush him at any cost."
"Originally, I was hoping Chu Feng wouldn't come."
"Now, I hope he comes immediately — so I can avenge Yun Ao with my own hands."
Cang Li spoke through gritted teeth, then relayed to Dongfang Hansong all the details Jie Tianran had provided — the specifics of the ambush against Chu Feng, as well as their plan to activate the Prison God's Bestowed Gift and other particulars.
"If Jie Tianran's intelligence is reliable, this is indeed an excellent opportunity to eliminate Chu Feng."
"Then, my lord, how is the awakening of the sacred artifact progressing?"
"I was away on your business, my lord, and couldn't participate in the awakening. How did the other lords feel about my absence?"
Dongfang Hansong suddenly grew worried about how the other members of the Neutral Faction had treated him.
"Don't worry. They knew you were carrying out my orders and didn't blame you."
"Moreover, the fact that you didn't take part in awakening the sacred artifact may actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise."
Cang Li then explained the current situation to Dongfang Hansong, along with the Neutral Faction's expectations for him.
Upon hearing this, Dongfang Hansong was overjoyed. "Hansong will not fail to meet the expectations of the six lords."
...
Over with Chu Feng.
Though the formation was complex, with the aid of all the Spirit World Masters, it was completed just one hour after they entered the teleportation tunnel to the Nine Heavens Secret Ground.
Looking at the completed formation in its entirety, everyone could better appreciate just how formidable it truly was.
Every Spirit World Master who had participated felt a surge of pride rising from the depths of their hearts.
"How did we arrive so quickly? Did we teleport to somewhere nearby?"
But soon enough, puzzled expressions appeared on the faces of the assembled Spirit World Masters.
They could all sense that they were about to exit the teleportation tunnel. Yet although they had been busy setting up the formation according to Chu Feng's orders ever since the journey began, they also knew that not much time had actually passed since they entered the tunnel. How could they be leaving so soon?
"What you are about to see, everyone, is the true face of the Nine Heavens Secret Ground," Chu Feng told them.
"The true face of the Nine Heavens Secret Ground?"
Hearing these words, Ling Xiao's grandfather and the other Spirit World Masters all showed expressions of astonishment, mingled with eager anticipation.
Previously, regarding the Nine Heavens Secret Ground, Chu Feng had always been reluctant to let too many people know about it.
But now, with the power of the God's Era revealed and the location where his family was being held having surfaced, Chu Feng had a premonition that his remaining time in this Cultivation Martial world would not be long.
The Nine Heavens Secret Ground was something outsiders could never enter anyway. Rather than keeping it a secret forever, it would be better to let everyone know.
Especially for people like Ling Xiao's grandfather — once they learned that the Nine Heavens Secret Ground was such a powerful teleportation array, and that this array was under Chu Feng's control, it might actually deepen their loyalty toward him.
Sure enough, when the massive floating warship entered the Nine Heavens Secret Ground, and they laid eyes upon the ancient stone stele, it wasn't just Ling Xiao's grandfather and the other Spirit World Masters — everyone who had entered the Nine Heavens Secret Ground for the first time was utterly awestruck.
They were amazed not only by the Nine Heavens Secret Ground itself, but even more so by the three stone steles standing within it.
Since the Primordial Stone Stele had already shattered, and the Contemporary Stone Stele bore only Chu Feng's name, everyone's gaze was naturally drawn to the Ancient Stone Stele.
Upon the Ancient Stone Stele, there were six names.
The first: Qin Jiu.
The second: The name was blurred, as though this person had deliberately concealed their identity.
The third: Song Shu'an.
The fourth: Like the second, the name had also been obscured.
The fifth: Ba Jiutian.
The sixth: Zhongli Bahuang.
"Young Master Chu Feng, do the names on this stele represent those who have mastered the power of the Nine Heavens Secret Ground?" Ling Xiao's grandfather immediately asked.
"Mm, that should be the case." Chu Feng nodded.