"If you say so, then Yun Ao is indeed the best candidate."
At this point, Cang Li let out a sigh.
"Ahh~"
"Thinking back to those days when we followed the Prison Lord to battle against the ancient races, how united we were."
"But the Prison Sect of today is no longer the Prison Sect of back then."
"Too many people have changed."
"People like you and Yun Ao, who have kept their original hearts, are truly rare."
"Just take Baili Xukong for example—back then, how devoted he was to the Prison Lord."
"But now, he's consumed by ambition, only thinking about sitting in the Prison Lord's seat."
"If he were told that Chu Feng is the Prison Lord's descendant, he might even dare to kill Chu Feng."
"This matter should have been discussed with everyone, deliberated together."
"The reason I didn't tell everyone and instead sent you to confirm it was precisely because of these selfish motives."
"I was afraid they'd become muddled beyond reason."
"They might not even give me the chance to verify."
Cang Li sighed.
"Lord Cang Li, it's not a matter of 'might'—if Baili Xukong were to find out, he would undoubtedly obstruct it in every way possible."
"Even if Chu Feng were confirmed to be the Prison Lord's descendant, Baili Xukong would likely still commit acts of disrespect toward the Prison Lord."
"Your decision not to tell everyone and to inform me instead was the right one," Dongfang Hansong said.
"Let it be. No more about this."
"I actually hope the guess turns out to be true—that way, our Prison Sect would no longer be without a leader," Cang Li said.
"Rest assured, Lord Cang Li. This won't be difficult. Hansong will handle it properly."
Dongfang Hansong accepted the jade bottle and bowed deeply.
He then found Yun Ao, and the two set off directly for the Ancestral Martial Galaxy.
Even knowing that leaving at a time like this meant Cang Li might not be able to protect him, he still didn't hesitate.
...
As for Chu Feng's side.
Although he couldn't tell what the Seven Realms Holy Mansion's saint-level elders were actually doing, with Xiao Yu'er and Fei by his side, he had nothing to fear.
He even continued to publicly recruit members to join the Chu Alliance.
Of course, this wasn't solely for the purpose of recruiting new members.
Recruiting was merely a side benefit.
His true aim was to lure the people from the Seven Realms Holy Mansion into making a move.
Then let Xiao Yu'er and Fei deal with them.
But despite the Chu Alliance recruiting so openly and brazenly, the people from the Seven Realms Holy Mansion showed absolutely no reaction.
...
One day, while Chu Feng was cultivating, Long Mucheng came to find him.
"Chu Feng, our Chu Alliance has recruited quite a few new members by now."
"Although they've all gone through layers of testing and screening, and they seem reliable enough—"
"The Chu Alliance was built because of you, so we still need your judgment to decide whether these people truly qualify to join us."
"Why don't you go take a look?"
Long Mucheng got straight to the point.
"I don't oppose the Chu Alliance recruiting new members."
"But every person in our Chu Alliance has been tested through life and death."
"Whether or not these newcomers fear the Seven Realms Holy Mansion, I suspect most of them aren't joining us to fight alongside us or because they truly despise the Seven Realms Holy Mansion."
"Most of them are probably just looking to profit."
"People who are motivated solely by profit are never reliable."
"Those types should be screened out," Chu Feng said.
"True, but you can know a person's face without knowing their heart. The hardest thing to gauge is the human heart."
"And the only way to truly gauge the heart is through real tests," Long Mucheng replied.
"Simply set up an illusion formation," Chu Feng said.
"Right! I actually forgot about that—you're a Spirit World Master, after all."