Under Zhang Yanfeng’s scolding, Zhang Shirui pouted, looking aggrieved but not daring to talk back.
She was terrified of saying the wrong thing and earning another round of harsh reprimands.
But suddenly, her darting gaze landed on Chu Feng.
She noticed that Chu Feng, not far away, had already merged with the lake’s power and was now smirking at them, clearly enjoying the show.
“Chu Feng, my big brother broke through two ranks in a row. How many did you break through?”
“You’re the son of Chu Xuanyuan, so by rights, you should’ve broken through at least three ranks, right?”
“No, wait—at least four! We only sat on the Void Throne, but you ascended the legendary Divine Tree Throne.”
“Come on, show us your cultivation. Let us witness with our own eyes just how astonishing the talent of Chu Xuanyuan’s son is!”
Zhang Shirui pointed at Chu Feng as she spoke.
“Yeah, yeah, Brother Chu Feng, let us see! Show us!” Zhang Boyi chimed in eagerly.
This was an obvious attempt to change the subject. They wanted to shift the focus to Chu Feng to escape Zhang Yanfeng’s scolding.
What made Chu Feng most无奈 was that Zhang Yanfeng actually fell for it.
At this moment, Zhang Yanfeng was looking at Chu Feng with an eager gaze.
And his anticipation was even more intense than that of Zhang Shirui and Zhang Boyi.
If Zhang Shirui and Zhang Boyi were just trying to deflect, Zhang Yanfeng was different—he genuinely wanted to know how much Chu Feng’s cultivation had improved.
Chu Feng could understand this.
After all, everyone has a competitive streak, and for geniuses, the competition naturally revolves around talent.
“Brother Chu Feng, how many ranks did you break through?” Sure enough, Zhang Yanfeng not only stared at Chu Feng with anticipation but finally spoke up.
“Brother, h-how… how many did you break through? Sh-show… show them.”
“L-let… let their jaws drop.”
A voice came from outside the lake—it was Wang Qiang. He was sitting on the cliff’s edge, legs crossed, munching on a pile of Divine Tree Fruits he’d somehow acquired.
Those precious Divine Tree Fruits were being eaten like apples, bitten into with gusto.
This guy was the true definition of a bystander reveling in chaos, the ultimate spectator.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you.”
Chu Feng gave a helpless smile, then released his aura.
First Rank Exalted!!!
“First Rank Exalted?”
Feeling Chu Feng’s aura, Zhang Yanfeng, Wang Qiang, and the other three were momentarily stunned.
“Brother, y-you… you’re not being straight with us, are you? Why play us like that?” Wang Qiang said.
“Brother Chu Feng, no need to hold back with us.”
“Yeah, we won’t be jealous. Whatever you broke through, just show it. Why hide?”
“Brother Chu Feng, you don’t need to worry about our feelings. Even if you broke through four ranks—or jumped straight to peak Exalted—we’d accept it.”
Zhang Shirui and Zhang Boyi urged him on.
“No need to lie to you. I’m not that kind of person. Whether I broke through or not doesn’t matter anymore. This is my cultivation as it stands—you’ve seen it.”
Chu Feng said with a smile. What else could he say?
Could he tell them that he had broken through two ranks, reaching Third Rank Exalted, but because his bloodline power and the Divine Tree Seed were fighting in his dantian, his cultivation was suppressed?
If he said that, they wouldn’t believe him.
“So, you’re serious?” Zhang Shirui asked.
“Mm.” Chu Feng nodded.
“Hahaha…”
Suddenly, Zhang Shirui let out a braying laugh.
Yes, a laugh like a donkey’s.
If Chu Feng hadn’t heard it himself, he wouldn’t have believed someone could produce such a sound.
Though her laugh was grating, Zhang Shirui was clearly delighted, doubled over with laughter, not bothering to hide her mockery of Chu Feng.
“Chu Feng, this is just embarrassing. You’re the son of Chu Xuanyuan, yet you didn’t even break through one rank?”
“If you gained nothing from the Divine Tree Throne, that’s understandable—the Divine Tree Seed is notoriously hard to obtain.”
“But the heaven-and-earth energy in this lake is so dense. Even someone with my talent could break through easily. How could someone with your talent not break through?”
“Sigh, looks like the son of Chu Xuanyuan is nothing special after all.”
Zhang Shirui seized the chance to humiliate Chu Feng, as if she’d finally found an opportunity.
It wasn’t surprising. She’d suffered at Chu Feng’s hands before, and being the vengeful type, she was now taking full advantage to mock him.
“Shirui, don’t be rude,” Zhang Yanfeng said.
“What, I can’t speak the truth?”
“You just scolded us for not cultivating diligently. I think Chu Feng didn’t cultivate diligently either. Otherwise, why did we all break through, but he didn’t?”
“I’m saying this for his own good—to motivate him, so he doesn’t make the same mistake again.”
But Zhang Shirui wouldn’t let up, continuing to berate Chu Feng.
Her words were harsh—far worse than when Zhang Yanfeng had scolded her.
It wasn’t just scolding or mockery anymore; it was a personal attack.
“Y-you… you stinking girl, badmouth my brother again, and I’ll s-start… start stripping!”
Wang Qiang’s voice came from the cliff. True to his word, he began undressing.
“Lord Envoy, I was wrong!”
Seeing Wang Qiang stripping on the cliff, Zhang Shirui’s face went pale with fear.
At this sight, Chu Feng didn’t get angry—instead, he laughed.
Others might think Zhang Shirui was unreasonable or aggressive.
But Chu Feng found her rather amusing.
“You four young friends, thank you for your efforts.”
At that moment, another voice came from the cliff.
Hearing it, Chu Feng and the others quickly turned their gazes upward.
They could tell the voice wasn’t Wang Qiang’s. If it wasn’t Wang Qiang, it could only belong to that powerful being—the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable.
Sure enough, a figure appeared beside Wang Qiang. It was the same “living corpse” who had been with Wang Qiang earlier.
And he was none other than the Blood-devouring Demon Venerable.
