After Wuming Fenghuo finished speaking, silence fell over everyone.
Indeed, wasn’t this the Starfield Main Realm’s longstanding way of doing things?
They didn’t care about others’ lives or deaths. As long as all factions feared and respected them, that was enough.
“My Lord, I beg you, please save the Wuma Heavenly Clan.”
“Otherwise, the Wuma Heavenly Clan might vanish entirely from the Ancestral Martial Starfield.”
But at that moment, the Chu Heavenly Clan Chief suddenly stood, mustering all his strength to kneel before Wuming Fenghuo.
He was so weak he could barely stay upright, yet he pleaded desperately, even casting aside his dignity.
“Senior!” Chu Feng quickly moved to support the Clan Chief, who seemed on the verge of collapsing.
“My Lord, please!” Yet the Clan Chief continued to beseech Wuming Fenghuo.
It was clear he cared deeply about the Wuma Heavenly Clan’s plight. Otherwise, as a clan leader, he wouldn’t kneel to anyone over another clan’s affairs.
But even with the Clan Chief in such a state, Wuming Fenghuo remained unmoved.
“I’ve made myself clear—I won’t get involved in this.”
“Chu Clan Chief, get up,” Wuming Fenghuo said before turning to leave the hall, his resolve unshaken.
“Lord Wuming Fenghuo!”
Just then, a voice rang out—Chu Feng’s.
“Chu Feng, is there something else?” Wuming Fenghuo turned back.
“My Lord, this junior thanks you for healing me and for upholding justice at the plaza, allowing me to join that duel.”
“Without you there, my clan might have lost control of the Purple Tree Mortal Realm.”
“I’ll never forget this kindness,” Chu Feng said.
“But I can’t agree with your way of domination.”
“As the saying goes, ‘In your position, fulfill your duties; take your role, bear its responsibilities.’”
“Since the Starfield Main Realm has taken the seat of overlord in the Ancestral Martial Starfield, it has the duty and obligation to ensure the people of the starfield live in peace and to prevent tragedies.”
“The order set by the Starfield Main Realm shouldn’t just be about the starfield’s people submitting to you—it should also protect them.”
“So, I don’t accept your way of domination,” Chu Feng declared.
“Chu Feng, don’t speak out of turn! Apologize to the Lord at once!”
His words sent the Chu Heavenly Clan members into a panic. Such defiance was tantamount to treason—Wuming Fenghuo could easily punish Chu Feng for it.
“It’s fine,” Wuming Fenghuo said, waving a hand with a smile to calm the anxious clan members. He looked at Chu Feng, “Actually, I don’t agree with this way of domination either.”
“My Lord, if you don’t agree with it, why do you stand by and let people die?” Chu Feng asked.
“I may not agree with it, but I don’t have the heart of a savior to help everyone. I have no ties to the Wuma Heavenly Clan—why should I help them?”
“Just because I’m from the Starfield Main Realm? Because we’re the overlords of the Ancestral Martial Starfield?”
“Who decided that the strong must always help the weak?”
“If someone wants to help, let them—it’s their choice. But no one should demand it of others,” Wuming Fenghuo replied.
“My Lord, if you weren’t from the Starfield Main Realm, neither I nor my Clan Chief would ask for your help today. As you said, there’s no rule saying the strong must aid the weak—it’s a personal choice.”
“But that applies to unrelated parties.”
“You, my Lord, are from the Starfield Main Realm. Your faction and family are the masters of the Ancestral Martial Starfield. All the clans here heed your commands.”
“Do you think these are unrelated parties?” Chu Feng pressed.
His words left Wuming Fenghuo momentarily speechless, because even he felt Chu Feng had a point.
Indeed, if they were truly unrelated, he could ignore others’ fates—he’d have no responsibility or obligation.
But since the Starfield Main Realm held the right to demand submission from all, a relationship existed, be it master and servant or otherwise.
With such a bond, the Starfield Main Realm did bear a duty to protect these people.
“Chu Feng, stop talking!”
By now, the Chu Heavenly Clan members’ faces had gone pale with fear.
If Chu Feng’s earlier words were mere questioning, what he said now was outright defiance of Wuming Fenghuo.
“No harm done,” Wuming Fenghuo said, waving a hand again. He wasn’t upset by Chu Feng’s challenge and looked at him, “Chu Feng, few juniors dare to confront me like this, but I must admit, you’re right.”
“As the rulers of the Ancestral Martial Starfield, we do have a responsibility to protect its people. But the reality is, even if we don’t act, no one dares to say a word.”
“And I choose not to act,” Wuming Fenghuo said.
“If my Lord insists on staying out of it, I have nothing more to say,” Chu Feng replied.
“You’ve got real courage to speak like this. I see your father’s shadow in you.”
“Your father had this same courage—a quality most martial cultivators lack. I think it’s a good thing.”
“But let me offer you a piece of advice: It’s fine to have an edge, but don’t let it shine too brightly. Otherwise, those who don’t want to be cut by it might find ways to destroy you.”
Wuming Fenghuo’s gaze on Chu Feng was heavy with gravity.
That very weight stirred unease in those watching.
“My Lord, Chu Feng is young and ignorant. Please forgive his offense this once,” the Clan Chief pleaded, joined by Chu Hanpeng and Chu Xuanzhengfa, who knelt to beg mercy for Chu Feng.
“No need to be so nervous. My warning was well-meant,” Wuming Fenghuo said, shaking his head helplessly at the tense Chu Heavenly Clan members. If he truly blamed Chu Feng, he wouldn’t bother with words—he’d have acted already.
