“So, you’ve heard of me?”
Chu Feng asked, a smug expression on his face.
“The son of Chu Xuanyuan—who in the Ancestral Martial Starfield hasn’t heard of you?”
“But honestly, I didn’t pay much attention to you before. After all, rumours said you were a good-for-nothing.”
“But recently, I’ve heard you’ve done some impressive things. They say you fought Linghu Hongfei to a draw and claimed the title of the best in the Ancestral Martial Starfield?” Zhang Shirui said.
“You flatter me. That’s me indeed.”
“Since you know who I am, you should also know you’re no match for me,” Chu Feng said.
“Hahaha, if you use your Spirit Formation techniques, we’re indeed no match for you.”
“But unfortunately, this… is our home turf,” Zhang Shirui replied.
As she spoke, Chu Feng noticed her hand reaching toward her chest.
Around her neck hung a pendant that rested at her chest, and it was this pendant her hand touched.
But that wasn’t the key point. The moment her hand made contact with the pendant, Chu Feng sensed a faint aura surging from deep underground.
Though the aura was subtle, almost imperceptible to most, Chu Feng’s heightened alertness allowed his mental strength to detect it.
*Swoosh—*
Zhang Shirui leapt down from the tree branch and began walking toward Chu Feng step by step.
“Hearing is believing, but seeing is proof. Come on, Ancestral Martial Starfield’s youngest Saint-cloak World Spiritist, let me see just how powerful your Spirit Formation techniques are.”
Zhang Shirui looked at Chu Feng with provocative eyes, her smug, squinting expression utterly infuriating.
Chu Feng had already realised that Zhang Shirui’s boldness in challenging him meant she had done something.
Sure enough, when Chu Feng tried to release his Spirit Formation power, he found it was as if it had been sealed, completely unusable.
Though his mental strength remained, he couldn’t unleash his Spirit Formation power.
Zhang Shirui had indeed tampered with something. They must have control over some powerful force.
“It seems this place isn’t as simple as it looks,” Chu Feng said.
“Oh, looks like you’ve noticed you can’t use your Spirit Formation techniques,” Zhang Shirui said, her smile growing even more arrogant and triumphant. She continued, “So, what’s your plan now? Are you going to surrender directly, or do I have to beat you senseless before you give up?”
As she spoke, Zhang Shirui released her aura.
Ninth-rank Martial Immortal. As expected, the Blood Devouring Demon Clan member hadn’t lied to Chu Feng.
This cultivation level, while not as high as Chu Feng’s or Linghu Hongfei’s, surpassed the other members of the Ancestral Martial Ten Stars. Even Wuma Shengjie and Linghu Yueyue were no match for her.
This woman’s strength was indeed formidable, but unfortunately, she was no match for Chu Feng.
Facing such an opponent, Chu Feng wore a confident expression. He elegantly raised his hand, smiled, and said with unwavering certainty, five words:
“I surrender directly.”
“What?”
Chu Feng’s words stunned not only Zhang Shirui but also Zhang Boyi behind her.
Zhang Shirui turned to look at Zhang Boyi, as if seeking clarification on what was happening.
But seeing Zhang Boyi’s bewildered expression, she knew he was just as confused.
This was completely different from what they had imagined.
“You… just surrendered?” Zhang Shirui asked cautiously.
“You’re at the peak of Martial Immortal, while I’m only a seventh-rank Martial Immortal—a full two realms below you. I’m no match for you. If I don’t surrender, am I asking for a beating?” Chu Feng said.
“Didn’t the rumours say you also cultivated the Divine Punishment Mysterious Technique and, like Linghu Hongfei, unleashed the power of the Thunder Armour from your Heavenly Bloodline?” Zhang Boyi asked.
“My friend, you don’t understand. Rumours are just rumours. I, Chu Feng, know my own limits better than anyone.”
“As they say, a wise man knows when to yield, and I, Chu Feng, am a man who knows when to yield,” Chu Feng said.
After hearing Chu Feng say this so naturally, Zhang Boyi and Zhang Shirui’s expressions grew increasingly twisted.
“Are you really Chu Xuanyuan’s son?”
“Didn’t the rumours say Chu Xuanyuan never surrendered? How come you seem so… so… so shameless?” Zhang Shirui said, pursing her lips as she looked at Chu Feng.
Clearly, the Chu Feng before her was far from what she had expected, making her look down on him.
“Heh, thank you for the compliment, miss,” Chu Feng said with a cheeky grin, clasping his fists in a salute.
“Compliment? Do you have a problem with comprehension?” Zhang Shirui’s brows furrowed.
“As they say, a man isn’t young without a bit of shamelessness. I, Chu Feng, am in my prime—how could I lack a touch of shamelessness?” Chu Feng said.
“Damn, I’ve seen shameless people, but never one as shameless as you,” Zhang Shirui said, her gaze filled with disdain.
But Chu Feng wasn’t fazed at all and continued to clasp his fists.
“You two, as they say, meeting is fate. Since fate has brought us together, why not become sworn siblings?” Chu Feng suggested.
“Who would want to become sworn siblings with a shameless scoundrel like you?”
As Zhang Shirui spoke, she clenched her palm, and a rope made of martial power appeared in her hand. With a flick of her arm, the rope shot toward Chu Feng, binding him tightly.
“Miss, even if you don’t want to become sworn siblings, just pretend I never said it. What are you doing?” Chu Feng said, feigning surprise.
“Chu Feng, you just destroyed that gate we built. Don’t you think you should pay a price?” Zhang Boyi suddenly spoke up.
“Pay a price? What do you want?” Chu Feng asked.
“Your life. How does that sound?” A sinister look crossed Zhang Boyi’s face.
“What… just for a gate, you want to take my life?” Chu Feng showed a panicked and helpless expression.
“Just a gate? Do you know what that gate was?” Zhang Shirui’s face was filled with anger at Chu Feng’s words.
“Don’t worry, don’t worry, we won’t kill you just yet,” Zhang Boyi said, his smile turning eerie.
With a wave of his sleeve, a Spirit Formation gate appeared on the ground.
Then, Zhang Boyi and Zhang Shirui grabbed Chu Feng and jumped into it.
“Let me go, let me go! It was just a gate made of branches. I’ll rebuild one—no, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, no problem!”
“Don’t kill me, don’t kill me!”
Chu Feng shouted in panic, looking utterly humiliated.
But in truth, his heart was bursting with joy.
If it came down to raw strength, with Chu Feng’s cultivation, dealing with Zhang Shirui and Zhang Boyi would be a matter of a single thought—no need to even lift a finger.
He was doing this deliberately.
He knew the Blood Devouring Demon Clan members were prideful, and Zhang Shirui and Zhang Boyi were likely no different.
Forcing them to confess through torture would be incredibly difficult.
Moreover, they controlled some special power in this place.
Chu Feng wasn’t entirely confident he could defeat them outright.
So, he figured it was better to pretend to be outmatched and let them capture him. This way, he might be able to find the people they had captured.
Then, he could look for an opportunity.
…
