As Sheng Tian Ban Bu respectfully entered the tent, Shi Feng followed him inside, though his mind was filled with questions.
Who exactly was this acquaintance capable of such a feat?
Sheng Tian Ban Bu was, after all, a Domain master — the kind of expert who stood at the very peak of any superpower's ranks. Even the leader of a major power would show him a measure of respect, let alone here, in the open seas, a place where even superpowers found it nearly impossible to exert their influence.
Transportation was extremely inconvenient, the environment was treacherous, and the ocean was vast. There was simply no way to maintain the kind of control one could on land.
What's more, the seas were a crossroads where all the major superpowers intersected. The competition was fiercer than anything on land — even Li Hen, president of the Thirteen Royal Court, probably couldn't manage it. After all, every expert had their pride, and someone like Sheng Tian Ban Bu was essentially a king in his own right among the islands.
If he felt like it, he'd call you "president" as a courtesy. If he didn't, he'd simply hole up on some remote island in the ocean, and what could you do about it?
In his previous life, many experts who stood against the superpowers had hidden themselves at sea, leaving the major powers utterly helpless. Either they couldn't find them, or the cost of doing so was too great. Coupled with the fact that superpowers were far from friendly with one another — small conflicts and skirmishes were constant — the open seas had become a place that no single power could truly control.
Just as Shi Feng was wondering what sort of person could command such authority, Sheng Tian Ban Bu led him and the others into the main hall inside the tent.
Though the Bronze Rank tent appeared to have only three stories from the outside and occupied a modest footprint, the interior was enormous — like a magically compressed microcosm. The main hall was resplendent with gold and jade, evoking the grandeur of an ancient temple.
Lining both sides of the hall were over a dozen Level 80 experts whose presence was overwhelming, as though primordial beasts stood waiting. Among them, it was not uncommon to see Epic-grade equipment — the least equipped had two or three pieces, while some wore four or five. Every single one of these experts had at least reached the Void Realm, and they radiated an aura distinctly different from that of humans — either they possessed bloodline lineages or had obtained powerful ocean-based inheritances.
These experts stood on either side, watching as Shi Feng and the others entered. Even someone of Long You Tianxia's caliber felt his hair stand on end and had to lower his head, unable to meet their gazes directly.
Of those present, Si Yu Qing Xuan was the only one who seemed relatively composed. Qing Zhu, however, had already turned pale under the crushing pressure.
Even Shi Feng couldn't help but marvel at a lineup of this caliber.
If these experts wanted to kill Sheng Tian Ban Bu, it would be laughably easy. And even he, Shi Feng, would likely be trapped here if he didn't resort to his trump cards.
Among them, he had identified a full six Domain masters. Two of their levels were even more profound, but because they wore special items that shrouded their faces in dark mist, he couldn't make out who they were — he couldn't even see their levels.
And there were three more people at the head of the hall: two men and one woman. The men were one old and one young, while the woman was young and strikingly beautiful. The sight gave Shi Feng a jolt of surprise.
The young man and woman were, in fact, people he knew.
The young man was none other than his old acquaintance, Lu Xing Luo. And the beautiful young woman was Yi Yun.
"Elder Wu, I've brought him," Sheng Tian Ban Bu said, addressing the white-haired old man seated on the throne. He spoke with the deference of a subordinate reporting to his superior, his tone dripping with reverence.
The old man carried none of the terrifying aura one might expect from such a powerhouse. On the contrary, the energy he gave off was faint, almost imperceptible — as though half his foot was already in the grave. His level was a mere 79, hardly comparable to anyone else in the room.
Shi Feng had never seen this old man before. He didn't even have the faintest scrap of information about him. But one thing was clear: Sheng Tian Ban Bu's respect — and fear — for this elder was genuine and deeply felt.
"You may go," Elder Wu said with a nod.
Upon hearing this, Sheng Tian Ban Bu bowed and withdrew immediately, looking nothing like the formidable lord of the Sea of Death. Beside him, Long You Tianxia had been struck dumb, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
In his mind, someone of Sheng Tian Ban Bu's standing might not be on equal footing with the presidents of superpowers, but they were certainly owed a measure of respect by such leaders. Yet here he was, bowing and scraping like a common servant...
Just as Long You Tianxia was wondering who the old man on the throne could possibly be, those deep, ancient eyes turned toward Shi Feng. The old man's gaze was profound — as though it could pierce through every layer of illusion the world had to offer. Even at his current level, Shi Feng felt a flicker of fear.
"Heroes truly do emerge from the young," Elder Wu said with a warm smile. "No wonder little Li speaks so highly of you."