This was a serious matter.
Not only did Gu Mingyuan and Master Liangqiu understand its gravity, but Chu Xuanzhengfa did as well.
Thus, Chu Xuanzhengfa had already ordered the capture of the Blood Devouring Hall members for interrogation.
At the same time, he approached Gu Mingyuan.
Chu Xuanzhengfa seemed excited, and even onlookers could tell he was thrilled to see her.
Yet, he also appeared nervous, which was unlike his usual demeanor.
“Mingyuan, thank you so much for today,” Chu Xuanzhengfa said, bowing to her.
There was no intimacy between them as husband and wife, only the restraint of strangers.
“What did you call me?” Gu Mingyuan’s face darkened at his words of gratitude.
Compared to Chu Xuanzhengfa’s restraint, her reaction wasn’t just distant—it was outright cold.
“My apologies, it was a slip of the tongue,” Chu Xuanzhengfa quickly said, realizing his mistake and apologizing.
“Stay away from me in the future,” Gu Mingyuan said coldly.
Faced with such a response, Chu Xuanzhengfa could only manage an awkward expression, unable to say more.
Though many knew Gu Mingyuan disliked Chu Xuanzhengfa, they assumed it was due to some misunderstanding.
After all, they were Chu Lingxi’s parents and had once been married.
But no one expected Gu Mingyuan to be so cold toward him, bordering on outright disdain.
“Mother, what are you doing?” Suddenly, a voice rang out as Chu Lingxi approached.
She gave Gu Mingyuan a reproachful look.
Clearly, she couldn’t stand seeing her mother treat her father this way.
After all, Chu Lingxi was very close to Chu Xuanzhengfa.
Though Gu Mingyuan didn’t acknowledge Chu Xuanzhengfa as her husband, Chu Lingxi certainly saw him as her father.
She even favored him, choosing to stay with the Chu Heavenly Clan back then instead of going to the Wanzhou Ancient Clan.
Seeing Chu Lingxi approach, Gu Mingyuan turned and vanished.
Though she didn’t continue to make things difficult for Chu Xuanzhengfa, she didn’t soften her attitude either, choosing to avoid him.
“My dear father, my mother still has some misunderstandings about you. They’ll take time to resolve, but I’ll help you,” Chu Lingxi said via voice transmission. “For now, it’s best to keep some distance from her. You know her temper—if she embarrasses you like this, it’s awkward.”
At that moment, Chu Xuanzhengfa, despite his earlier discomfort, didn’t dwell on Gu Mingyuan’s attitude.
Instead, seeing Chu Lingxi, his face lit up with a smile. “Lingxi, your progress is truly astonishing. I always knew you’d surpass me, but I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.”
“I, Chu Xuanzhengfa, have always dreamed of being a genius. My daughter has fulfilled that dream for me.”
Looking at Chu Lingxi, his eyes were filled with pride.
“Surpassing you, Father, is just the first step. The third step is to surpass Mother,” Chu Lingxi said proudly.
“With your talent, even surpassing your mother isn’t impossible,” Chu Xuanzhengfa said, then paused. “The third step? What’s the second?”
“The second step is to surpass Brother Chu Feng,” Chu Lingxi said, turning her gaze to Chu Feng.
“Me?” Chu Feng, standing nearby, heard her clearly and was surprised.
He hadn’t expected Chu Lingxi to set him as a goal to surpass.
“Brother Chu Feng, I was heartbroken to hear about Senior Chu Xuanyuan,” Chu Lingxi said. “Ever since Father told me about your father, I’ve admired him greatly.”
“It’s a pity I’m not from his generation and never got to witness his brilliance or spar with him.”
“But I’m fortunate to have met you, Brother Chu Feng.”
“I know my request is untimely, but I can’t wait any longer. I want to challenge you, Brother Chu Feng, to see who’s stronger.”
Chu Lingxi spoke to Chu Feng with utmost seriousness.
Looking at her, Chu Feng’s heart stirred.
He could see the seriousness in her eyes, and within them, a word: desire.
Chu Lingxi desperately wanted to test herself against him.
This had nothing to do with family or friendship—it was purely the competitive spirit of a martial cultivator.
Hearing her words, everyone present grew excited.
Chu Feng’s true cultivation was Third Rank Venerable.
So was Chu Lingxi’s.
What did Third Rank Venerable mean?
Even Linghu Hongfei, hailed as the Ancestral Martial Starfield’s greatest genius, was only Second Rank Venerable when he faced Chu Feng in the Nine Dragons Upper Realm.
For now, both Chu Feng and Chu Lingxi had surpassed Linghu Hongfei.
Other juniors couldn’t even compare.
If Chu Lingxi fought Chu Feng, the winner would be the true top genius of the Ancestral Martial Starfield’s younger generation.
This was a duel no one wanted to miss.
But they also knew that with Chu Xuanyuan’s recent death and the Chu Heavenly Clan’s recent troubles, Chu Feng must be exhausted, both physically and mentally.
Would he accept Chu Lingxi’s challenge at such a time?
Yet, under the uncertain gazes of the crowd and Chu Lingxi’s earnest eyes, Chu Feng finally spoke.
“Lingxi, if we fight, I won’t hold back.”
The crowd erupted in joy at his words—they had been waiting for this.
A fight meant they’d witness an incredible duel.
But the happiest was still Chu Lingxi.
“Don’t worry, I won’t hold back either,” she said.
