At this moment, standing behind the balding man was another figure.
It was a tall, muscular man who had grabbed the balding man’s fist, stopping his attack on Chu Feng.
This man stood over three metres tall, his muscles so prominent that even through his clothes, the outlines of his physique were visible.
He looked like a humanoid beast standing there.
Most notably, despite his imposing build, his face was youthful, suggesting he was likely a junior.
“Young Master Pang?”
Seeing him, the balding man was visibly surprised.
At the same time, the balding man’s companions let out gasps of astonishment.
From the murmurs around, Chu Feng learned that this burly Young Master Pang had some reputation.
His cultivation wasn’t particularly strong, only at Fifth Rank Heavenly Immortal, roughly on par with the balding man.
But the balding man was nearly a thousand years old, while Young Master Pang was a junior.
In terms of talent, the gap between them was significant.
More importantly, Young Master Pang’s father was notorious in this region.
As a result, Young Master Pang carried some fame here as well.
“Young Master Pang, are you meddling in this?” the balding man asked sternly.
Though Young Master Pang had a reputation, the balding man’s attitude suggested he wasn’t intimidated.
“Zhang Fan, if someone needs help and you don’t want to assist, fine. But why mock them?”
“You were in the wrong first. Let’s just call this matter settled,” Young Master Pang said, releasing the balding man’s fist. He showed no intent to make things difficult.
Despite his fierce appearance, his tone was gentle, revealing a reasonable nature.
“I was just joking with him, and he spat in my face. How am I the one in the wrong?” the balding man persisted.
“Joking is for close friends. You don’t even know him, and you pull that kind of stunt?”
“Would you dare joke like that with your master? Or with someone from the Cloud Spirit Clan? Or the Red Robe Holy Land?” Young Master Pang pressed.
“I…”
The balding man was speechless. Of course, he wouldn’t dare joke with someone from the Red Robe Holy Land.
And he hadn’t been joking with Chu Feng—he was simply bullying him for his weaker cultivation.
“Alright, we’re all sensible people. Give me some face, and let this go,” Young Master Pang said.
“Since Young Master Pang has spoken, I, Zhang, will give you this face.”
“Kid, remember this: I’m not sparing you because I’m afraid of you. I’m giving Young Master Pang face. But I’ll only let you off this once.”
“If I see you again, you’re done for.”
As he spoke, the balding man released Chu Feng.
Chu Feng adjusted his collar, a faint smirk on his lips, and said to the balding man, “You should actually thank him.”
“What do you mean?” the balding man asked, confused.
“Because by stopping you, he saved your life,” Chu Feng replied.
“What? Are you mental?”
The balding man was both angry and exasperated. He’d already backed down, yet Chu Feng was still taunting him.
A mere True Immortal, talking big?
But he also felt uneasy, not just because of Young Master Pang’s intervention but because of Chu Feng’s gaze.
So, he turned and left.
“Brother, I’m Pang Bo. How may I address you?” Young Master Pang clasped his fists toward Chu Feng.
“I’m Xiuluo. Thank you for your help, Brother Pang,” Chu Feng returned the gesture.
Though they’d only just met, Chu Feng had a good impression of Pang Bo for stepping in to help a stranger.
“Brother Xiuluo, no need to be so polite. It’s boring travelling alone. Why don’t we go together?” Pang Bo said, releasing his aura.
His aura enveloped Chu Feng, allowing him to resist the oppressive force and move forward.
“Thank you, Brother Pang.”
Chu Feng didn’t stand on ceremony, standing to walk alongside Pang Bo.
As they travelled, they chatted quite a bit.
Chu Feng learned that Pang Bo and his father had been among the first to head toward the Spirit Spring.
According to Pang Bo, the Spirit Spring was now completely different, having undergone a drastic change.
Previously, the Spirit Spring was deep within Elephant Valley, housed in a grand hall, heavily guarded by the Cloud Spirit Clan, treated as a sacred site.
But now, with cracks appearing in the Spirit Spring, not only had the hall collapsed, but a surge of water had erupted from the ground.
It had flooded the ruined hall, forming a small lake.
However, the water in the lake wasn’t Spirit Spring water—it was more like poisonous water, with terrifying lethality that even martial cultivators dared not enter recklessly.
The strange force now covering Elephant Valley emanated from this lake of toxic water. More intriguingly, strange sounds came from the lake, as if something alive was within it.
But because the toxic water was so potent, no one could enter or investigate.
Pang Bo’s father had sent him back home from Elephant Valley.
His purpose was for Pang Bo to retrieve their family’s heirloom treasure, which might allow them to enter the lake and explore its secrets.
Hearing this, Chu Feng grew excited.
As he’d suspected, the changes in Elephant Valley went far beyond mere cracks in the Spirit Spring.
All signs pointed to the Spirit Spring being just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath Elephant Valley, there might be a hidden, world-shaking treasure.
Of course, there could also be immense danger.
But whatever it was, Chu Feng wanted to find out.
Ugh—
Suddenly, Pang Bo’s face showed strain.
He was struggling under the pressure.
“Strange. When I came with my father, it was smooth.”
“Why is it so difficult now?” Pang Bo muttered.
“Could it be that the power from the Spirit Spring has grown stronger, increasing the pressure?” Chu Feng suggested.
“Yes, that’s very likely.”
“It’s too eerie. This isn’t the Spirit Spring’s power. What’s in that lake?” Pang Bo’s brow furrowed, and Chu Feng caught a trace of unease in his eyes.
