The reason Chu Feng could pull off such heaven-defying feats was due to what he gained in the secret passage.
The power that surged into his body wasn’t just torment—it also granted him extraordinary abilities.
That power let him obliterate Supreme Realm monsters with a single punch.
That power allowed him to move freely within the grand formation.
Chu Feng deliberately opened the boundary gate near Wuming Xingyun and Fox Immortal Lady for convenience.
But when he stepped out of the gate, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
Liangqiu Chengfeng and Master Longxuan being there didn’t shock him.
It was the old man—the one he’d met in the fire prison—that caught him off guard.
“Senior, you are…?”
Chu Feng hurried forward to ask. He already knew their meeting in the fire prison wasn’t a coincidence.
This old man was no ordinary figure.
“Chu Feng, this is Master Liangqiu,” Wuming Xingyun said.
At the mention of “Master Liangqiu,” everything clicked for Chu Feng in an instant. He clasped his fists and bowed. “Thank you, Senior, for your guidance.”
“Guidance is too strong a word. Even if I hadn’t mentioned it, you’d have uncovered the secrets in that rock wall. Besides, if you hadn’t found them yourself, I wouldn’t have brought it up.”
“I’ve known the secrets of that wall for some time but never told anyone. I kept silent out of respect for that person’s dying wish—to let the fated one discover it on their own.”
“So, everything you’ve gained is down to your own ability,” Master Liangqiu said with a smile.
“Chu Feng, hand me the Ghost Seal Grass. Go do what you need to,” Wuming Xingyun said.
“Senior, I’ll trouble you then.” Chu Feng passed the Ghost Seal Grass to Wuming Xingyun, then turned and stepped back into the boundary gate.
As the gate closed, Wuming Xingyun looked at the haul Chu Feng had brought back and sighed. “This kid even gathered extra.”
“He’s no ordinary lad. He’s got traces of Chu Xuanyuan all over him. He’ll achieve great things—might even surpass his father,” Master Longxuan said.
“Of course he’s impressive. How else would Master call him a ‘surprise’?” Fox Immortal Lady said with a cheeky grin.
“I’ve made up my mind,” Master Longxuan declared.
“About what?” the others asked in unison.
“I’m going to take Chu Feng as my disciple,” Master Longxuan said.
“Pfft, I thought it was something big,” Fox Immortal Lady laughed, then added, “Want to take Chu Feng as a disciple? You’ve got no chance. Liangqiu Chengfeng’s better than you in every way, and even he got turned down. Think you’ve got a shot?”
Master Longxuan was taken aback and quickly asked, “Brother Chengfeng, is this true?”
“It is,” Liangqiu Chengfeng nodded with a smile.
“Seems this kid’s friendly but proud at heart,” Master Longxuan chuckled. “But once I’ve set my sights on someone, I won’t give up.”
“You’ve got no hope. A talent like that—I’d bet Master Liangqiu’s interested too,” Fox Immortal Lady said.
“Master, you’re not going to compete with me, are you?” Master Longxuan asked hurriedly, worry creasing his face.
Master Liangqiu stroked his beard and smiled.
He didn’t answer, but that confident grin told everyone this big shot was definitely taken with Chu Feng.
“Sorry, Master Liangqiu, even if you want to compete, I won’t back down.”
“You’ve got your strength, but I’ve got my trump cards,” Master Longxuan said.
“Give it up. Besides being a con artist like that old bull-nosed Daoist, what trump cards do you have?” Fox Immortal Lady shot him a disdainful look.
“How can that bull-nosed Daoist compare to me?” Master Longxuan huffed, unconvinced.
“Enough. Chu Feng’s back in the formation, and it’s about to activate. Chengfeng and I will stay here. You lot head in first,” Master Liangqiu said.
With that, Master Longxuan, Fox Immortal Lady, and Wuming Xingyun took to the air, flying off in the direction they’d come from.
Now, only Master Liangqiu and Liangqiu Chengfeng remained.
“You’ve got something to say to me, don’t you?” Master Liangqiu asked.
“Master, Chu Feng’s got both character and talent. I’m not skilled enough to take him as a disciple, but if he could become my junior brother, it’d be a blessing,” Liangqiu Chengfeng said, not wanting his master to miss out on such a pupil.
Master Liangqiu gave a knowing smile but didn’t respond directly. Instead, he asked, “Chengfeng, do you know what my greatest regret in life is?”
“Not taking Linghu Yueyue as a disciple?” Liangqiu Chengfeng ventured.
“No,” Master Liangqiu shook his head.
“Failing to team up with Celestial Machine Venerable three hundred years ago to crack that ancient secret realm?” Liangqiu Chengfeng tried again.
“Not that either,” Master Liangqiu shook his head once more.
“Not becoming a Dragon Mark Saint Robe before seven thousand years old?” Liangqiu Chengfeng asked.
“Even less so,” Master Liangqiu shook his head again.
Now Liangqiu Chengfeng was stumped. He clasped his fists. “I’m too dim. Please enlighten me, Master.”
“My greatest regret is failing to take Chu Xuanyuan as a disciple back then. But this Chu Feng will make up for it.”
At those words, Liangqiu Chengfeng’s eyes shifted. He got it.
Master Liangqiu wasn’t just considering taking Chu Feng as a disciple—he was dead set on it.
That eased his mind.
He knew his master was a proud man. Years ago, he’d passed on Linghu Yueyue over some issues.
So Liangqiu Chengfeng had worried that if Chu Feng rejected him, his master might wash his hands of the kid.
But now, it was clear his master wouldn’t give up on Chu Feng easily.
“Go take charge of the formation,” Master Liangqiu said.
“And you, Master?” Liangqiu Chengfeng asked.
The formation was already set. The main array was now a secret realm that could grant power.
How much power they’d gain depended on what Chu Feng and the others could achieve next.
So, the sooner they entered, the better.
“Breaking through is a small matter. If something happens to Chu Feng, I won’t be able to fix that regret.”
“I’ll stay here and watch. If he can’t hold on, I’ll break all the arrays, stop everything, and go in to save him,” Master Liangqiu said.
Liangqiu Chengfeng’s eyes flickered at that.
He knew how desperately his master wanted to become a Dragon Mark Saint Robe Spirit Master.
It was his lifelong dream.
Yet now, he was willing to toss that chance aside for Chu Feng’s safety.
That showed just how much he valued Chu Feng.
And they’d only just met.
“I understand,” Liangqiu Chengfeng clasped his fists and left.
Now, only Master Liangqiu remained.
His gaze was steady, a faint smile on his face as he watched the formation.
By now, Chu Feng had returned inside, wielding the Boundary Sword alongside Linghu Hongfei to open a boundary gate.
The two stood together, filling everyone with anticipation.
After all, by this point, everyone figured the prophesied battle was a fated showdown between Chu Feng and Linghu Hongfei.
But no matter how strong Linghu Hongfei was, in Master Liangqiu’s eyes, there was only Chu Feng.
