They had arrived here before Chu Feng and the others, and while Chu Feng was helping the old woman, they had already noticed him.
However, Chu Feng’s earlier actions were, after all, kind-hearted. Moreover, with Linghu Yueyue and Linghu An’an standing behind him, even if they harboured resentment toward Chu Feng, they didn’t dare act on it.
At most, they whispered behind his back, accusing him of pretending to be a good person.
But now, things were different.
The area was now filled with many experts, including quite a few at the Venerable Realm.
Since Chu Feng’s words lacked credibility in their eyes, they seized the opportunity to slander him, hoping to incite the crowd’s anger and teach him a lesson.
“I remember now, I saw this guy on the way here. He’s been deceiving people, saying he’d give immortal weapons as rewards if they brought him here. But look at him, does he seem like someone who owns immortal weapons?”
“Yeah, exactly, I saw him too. I thought he was a fraud back then, but since no one paid him any mind, I didn’t bother either.”
“Didn’t expect he’d try to scam us now, damn it, what a shameless guy.”
“Get lost, scram right now, or we’ll break your legs.”
“Yeah, you filthy liar, get out, we don’t welcome scum like you here.”
The bald man and his group’s words successfully stirred the crowd’s anger. Already frustrated by their inability to enter the lake, they now directed their fury at Chu Feng.
“Shut up! Master Shura kindly warned you, and not only do you not appreciate it, but you dare insult him?”
At this, Linghu Yueyue and Linghu An’an couldn’t stand it anymore. They stepped to Chu Feng’s side, confronting those who doubted him.
“These two girls are pretty, but how can they be so foolish? Have they been duped by this fraud?”
“Exactly, defending a liar like that, they can’t tell good from bad. Seems like there’s something wrong with their heads.”
However, when Linghu Yueyue and Linghu An’an spoke up, they were met with mockery and scorn from the crowd.
“You’re the ones with something wrong in your heads, a bunch of idiots who probably won’t even know how they died later.”
Facing the crowd’s ridicule, Linghu Yueyue and Linghu An’an stood protectively on either side of Chu Feng, trading insults with the crowd.
Their stance was one of unwavering loyalty, ready to take on the world for Chu Feng alone.
“Forget it, no need to mind them. If they don’t believe me, so be it.”
Compared to Linghu Yueyue and Linghu An’an, Chu Feng smiled calmly.
He had no obligation to protect these people. His earlier warning was out of kindness, and if they didn’t appreciate it, that was their choice.
Chu Feng had warned them, if they didn’t listen and died, what did that have to do with him?
“Ignore us?”
“Are you ignoring us, or are you trying to escape?”
“What, scam failed, so you want to run? You really think we’re that stupid?”
“We can’t let this guy off so easily. We need to teach him a lesson, or scum like him will go on deceiving others elsewhere.”
“Yeah, we can’t let him go, he needs a harsh lesson.”
But in the face of Chu Feng’s calm demeanour, the crowd’s verbal attacks only grew fiercer. Chu Feng even sensed someone releasing oppressive pressure toward him.
They genuinely intended to attack him.
At this moment, Chu Feng’s sword-like brows arched.
“You lot really don’t know when to stop.”
Facing the aggressive crowd, Chu Feng’s expression turned cold.
“Oh, look at him, putting on airs.”
“Who does he think he is? Does he really think he’s some kind of expert?”
“Damn it, just a liar, and he dares act tough? Beat him hard.”
Yet, in response to Chu Feng’s displeasure, the crowd showed no fear, their mockery growing even sharper.
Boom—
Just then, a water column exploded from the lake’s surface, shooting skyward.
People could see it was caused by two figures.
Many in the crowd recognised them, including Chu Feng, who recognised one.
It was a young man and an old man with black hair.
The young man was Pang Bo.
The black-haired old man, who looked very similar to Pang Bo, was likely his father.
At that moment, both were enveloped in a glowing aura that seemed to resist poison.
It must have been this aura that allowed them to enter the lake and emerge unscathed.
“How did it go, Lord Pang? Did you find anything?”
“Brother Pang, did you locate the source of the Spirit Spring Water?”
Seeing the two, many crowded around, their concern solely for the Spirit Spring Water.
“Everyone, leave now! There are monsters below the lake, incredibly strong, the strongest possibly at the peak of the Venerable Realm. We’re no match for them.”
“Run, run now, if the Yunling Clan doesn’t act, we’ll all die here.”
Pang Bo’s father shouted loudly.
“What? Monsters?”
“Brother Pang, what are you doing? Are you trying to trick us to monopolise the Spirit Spring Water?”
But instead of believing Pang Bo’s father, the crowd grew suspicious, thinking he was lying to deceive them.
Roar—
Just then, countless roars echoed from beneath the lake.
The sound was so terrifying that it alone unsettled everyone.
Splash—
Then, waves of water surged skyward.
People could see countless black monsters, like arrows, shooting out from the lake, their gaping maws aimed at the crowd.
At the sight of the monsters, everyone froze. They could sense that the weakest among them were at the Venerable Realm.
Some might even have reached the Seventh Rank of the Venerable Realm.
Though there were many Venerable Realm experts present, none were at the Seventh Rank.
In that moment, they finally understood.
They realised Chu Feng hadn’t deceived them.
They realised Pang Bo’s father hadn’t deceived them either.
There were indeed such powerful monsters hidden in the lake, not only strong but numerous.
Under the water’s spray, countless black shadows appeared above the lake.
Though the monsters were only a few metres tall, their numbers were vast, at least ten thousand.
Most crucially, upon seeing them, the crowd found themselves unable to move.
The monsters’ oppressive pressure had trapped them all in place.
At this moment, they were like fish on a chopping board, only able to watch as the monsters tore them to pieces.
Regret overwhelmed the crowd.
If they had listened to Chu Feng, they might have escaped.
But now, it was too late for regrets.
Swish, swish, swish—
Just when they thought death was certain, gusts of wind howled, followed by wails of agony.
It was the sound of blades cutting through the air and the monsters’ screams.
The crowd looked and was stunned.
Countless golden blades danced above the lake.
As they flew, blood splattered, the fearsome lake monsters torn apart, meeting their end before the golden blades.
In mere moments, all ten thousand Venerable Realm monsters were annihilated by the golden blades.
“Who is this expert?”
“Did the Yunling Clan intervene?”
“We’re saved, we’re saved, no matter who it is, we’re saved.”
Seeing the monsters slain, the crowd, who had thought themselves doomed, erupted into celebration.
Swish, swish, swish—
Then, the dancing golden blades began to merge, forming a single radiant blade that returned to someone’s hand.
“This…”
But when the crowd saw who held the golden blade, they were dumbfounded once more.
The one wielding it was none other than Chu Feng, whom they had just insulted.
