Not long after, Chu Chengkong returned.
Chu Chengkong had hurried back to report the joyous news to the Chu Celestial Clan: Chu Feng had claimed the top spot in the Ancestral Martial Ten Stars.
If the news from others left the Chu Celestial Clan’s members feeling as though they were in a dream, hardly able to believe it, Chu Chengkong’s announcement left no room for doubt.
After all, they knew Chu Chengkong’s character well. He was an honest man, and though his cultivation was unremarkable, his integrity was a rare quality in today’s world.
With such joyous news and so many powerhouses travelling from afar to celebrate, the Chu Celestial Clan naturally had to extend warm hospitality. They immediately decided to hold a grand banquet to entertain their distinguished guests.
Seeing the situation turn unfavourable, the Jinshi Royal Clan and Hong Beast Clan prepared to slip away amidst the festivities.
“Brother Hong, didn’t you come to see me about something? Why are you leaving?”
But just as the Hong Beast Clan and Jinshi Royal Clan began to move, the voice of the Chu Celestial Clan’s Patriarch rang out.
His words drew everyone’s attention, and suddenly, the previously unnoticed Jinshi Royal Clan and Hong Beast Clan became the focus of all eyes.
In that moment, not only the vast forces of the Jinshi Royal Clan and Hong Beast Clan but even the Jinshi Royal Clan’s Patriarch were too frightened to speak, frantically signalling to the Hong Beast Clan’s Patriarch to explain.
“Brother Chu, congratulations! Truly, who could have imagined your clan would produce such a genius? This is cause for celebration!”
The Hong Beast Clan’s Patriarch, visibly embarrassed, forced a smile, but it was an awkward one. Everyone present could see how strained and unnatural his expression was.
“Thank you, Brother Hong. But it seems you didn’t come here to offer congratulations, did you?” the Chu Celestial Clan’s Patriarch asked.
When this question was posed, the Hong Beast Clan’s Patriarch realised there was no way to bluff his way out. He said, “Indeed, that’s not why I came. As they say, enemies should resolve their conflicts, not deepen them. I came here today to propose that we let bygones be bygones regarding our past grievances.”
“Then why were you just about to leave?” Chu Xuanzhengfa asked.
“It’s a joyous day for your clan, so I thought it better to bring up this matter another time,” the Hong Beast Clan’s Patriarch replied.
“If you came to reconcile, why did you shout and yell outside our clan’s territory earlier, insulting our Patriarch?”
At that moment, an elder from the Chu Celestial Clan spoke up.
“Exactly. If you came to make peace, why demand that our Patriarch ‘roll out’ to meet you? It’s clear to me—you came here to cause trouble!”
Following this, several Chu Celestial Clan elders spoke in turn. As those responsible for guarding the territory, they had heard the Hong Beast Clan Patriarch’s earlier words loud and clear.
Previously, they had been too intimidated by the Hong Beast Clan Patriarch’s strength to speak out.
But now, with so many powerhouses present, they had enough backing to finally vent their frustrations.
In an instant, many Chu Celestial Clan elders began accusing the Hong Beast Clan and Jinshi Royal Clan, laying bare the truth of the matter.
“So, you were here to stir up trouble after all.”
“The Hong Beast Clan is one thing, but Jinshi Royal Clan, what are you doing joining in the fray?” Chu Xuanzhengfa directed his furious gaze at the Jinshi Royal Clan’s Patriarch.
“You misunderstand, Zhengfa. We didn’t come to cause trouble,” the Jinshi Royal Clan’s Patriarch finally spoke, but his words were feeble.
He didn’t want to appear so weak, but he had no choice.
Though the powerhouses who had come to offer congratulations remained silent, they cast hostile glances at the Jinshi Royal Clan and Hong Beast Clan.
The Jinshi Royal Clan and Hong Beast Clan had no fear of the Chu Celestial Clan itself, but they were wary of the forces that had come to celebrate.
They weren’t fools. They understood that, thanks to Chu Feng alone, the Chu Celestial Clan’s status in the Ancestral Martial Star Region was about to undergo a dramatic shift.
They had witnessed firsthand how, back when Chu Xuanyuan rose to prominence, the attitudes of major powers toward the Chu Celestial Clan had changed.
So, they knew, no matter how unwilling they were, they could no longer afford to be enemies of the Chu Celestial Clan—at least not now.
They had hoped to slink away quietly, but they had been caught.
Now, they were at a loss for how to explain themselves, especially since they had indeed spoken those harsh words earlier.
They could only blame their own bad luck. They had come in force to demand justice for past grievances, only to encounter the Chu Celestial Clan producing a genius junior who claimed the top spot in the Ancestral Martial Ten Stars, undefeated even by a prodigy like Linghu Hongfei.
This had drawn countless forces to offer congratulations—or, to put it plainly, to curry favour.
Other forces were one thing, but so many of the Ten Great Celestial Clans had shown up, even the Tantai Celestial Clan had sent representatives.
In such a situation, what could the Jinshi Royal Clan do?
Even the Hong Beast Clan’s Patriarch was scrambling for excuses.
The Jinshi Royal Clan’s Patriarch was utterly terrified, his voice trembling as he spoke.
As for the Hong Beast Clan’s Patriarch, his face was a mask of awkwardness, forcing a bitter smile, unsure how to defend himself.
If even the two Patriarchs were in such a state, one could imagine the mood of the Jinshi Royal Clan and Hong Beast Clan’s members—they felt as though disaster was imminent.
“Forget it, Brother Hong. Let’s put the past behind us,” the Chu Celestial Clan’s Patriarch suddenly said.
“Patriarch!” Hearing this, Chu Xuanzhengfa and many Chu Celestial Clan elders hurriedly protested.
They all knew the Hong Beast Clan had come to cause trouble today and shouldn’t be let off so easily.
“No matter. As Brother Hong said, enemies should resolve their conflicts, not deepen them.”
“Brother Hong, Patriarch Jinshi, since you’re here, why not come in and join us?” the Chu Celestial Clan’s Patriarch said.
“Brother Chu, thank you,” the Hong Beast Clan’s Patriarch said, clasping his fists deeply toward the Chu Celestial Clan’s Patriarch.
The Jinshi Royal Clan’s Patriarch was even more exaggerated, bowing and scraping obsequiously.
Neither had expected the Chu Celestial Clan’s Patriarch to let them off so easily.
After all, while the Chu Celestial Clan was no match for them, with so many powerhouses present today—all here to build ties with the Chu Celestial Clan—if the Chu Celestial Clan wished to move against them, none of these guests would stand idly by.
In short, if the Chu Celestial Clan wanted to deal with them, neither clan would leave unscathed today.
Thus, this outcome was beyond their expectations.
Of course, everyone had their own perspective.
The Jinshi Royal Clan’s Patriarch simply felt he had narrowly escaped disaster, attributing it to his good luck.
But in the Hong Beast Clan’s Patriarch’s view, the Chu Celestial Clan’s Patriarch had spared him great embarrassment, giving him considerable face. This gesture was etched in his heart.
In that moment, the Chu Celestial Clan’s Patriarch had transformed from an enemy into a friend in his eyes, and his “thank you” carried deep meaning.
“Where’s that kid called Chu Feng? Get out here, you little brat!”
Suddenly, a voice boomed from beyond the crowd.
This abrupt shout shattered the joyous atmosphere.
Everyone wanted to know who was foolish enough to cause trouble at such a moment.
The crowd parted, revealing a young man standing alone before the vast forces.
And he was alone.
“Where did this junior come from, daring to make trouble here?”
Before the Chu Celestial Clan could respond, an elder from the Jinshi Royal Clan spoke up.
Having been spared by the Chu Celestial Clan’s Patriarch, he was eager to find a chance to ingratiate himself with them.
Now, with someone causing trouble—and just a junior, no less—he saw his opportunity to curry favour and scolded without hesitation.
“Silence!” But to his surprise, the moment he spoke, the Jinshi Royal Clan’s Patriarch roared at him.
At first, the elder was confused, but then he noticed that many people were looking at the young man with peculiar expressions.
He began to scrutinise the junior, and when he spotted the token at the young man’s waist, realisation dawned.
In an instant, cold sweat drenched his body, and he trembled with fear.
