The Long clan’s ancestral land lay within a vast mountain range. Looking down from the sky, one could be astonished to see that among the overlapping peaks, one mountain resembled a colossal dragon coiled in repose. This wasn’t a man-made formation but a natural evolution of the landscape. This was the Long clan’s ancestral land. “This place is truly remarkable,” Chu Feng said, standing in the void alongside Old Taoist Ox-Nose. Even without entering the ancestral land, Chu Feng could feel an extraordinary aura. Though formed from mere mountains, it exuded an intangible pressure, not the kind from a typical martial cultivator but akin to the innate dominance of a ferocious beast, commanding awe without anger. “Not just remarkable, entering it is extremely difficult,” Old Taoist Ox-Nose remarked suddenly. “Master, is it that challenging to get in?” Chu Feng asked. “More than challenging. With our own methods, entering directly in a short time seems impossible. I underestimated this place,” Old Taoist Ox-Nose admitted. “Master, what should we do then?” Chu Feng sensed from his master’s words that, despite the difficulty, Old Taoist Ox-Nose had a plan. “There’s always a way. Since it’s so hard for us to enter with our skills, we’ll have to find a method from within the Long clan itself. Come on.” With that, Old Taoist Ox-Nose led Chu Feng away from the forbidden area, heading towards the Long clan’s higher echelons.
They arrived before a grand hall, perched above the clouds, resplendent in gold and jade, resembling an immortal palace amidst the layered white clouds. Though situated in the sky, entering was no easy feat. This was another Long clan forbidden area, accessible only to those with significant status, even among the clan members. Naturally, it was heavily guarded. Yet, Old Taoist Ox-Nose entered with ease. No barrier could stop him; they were as if nonexistent. Before Chu Feng could even detect a formation, his master had already dismantled it effortlessly. Following Old Taoist Ox-Nose, Chu Feng felt an immense sense of security. This was the Long clan, after all. To move freely within it showed the extraordinary prowess of his master’s spiritist techniques. Chu Feng couldn’t help but wonder if Old Taoist Ox-Nose’s abilities were truly just at the fifth rank of Dragon Transformation. “Master, is the fifth rank of Dragon Transformation really this powerful? How come the Long clan’s layers of defenses are like nothing to you?” Chu Feng finally voiced his curiosity. “The fifth rank is naturally formidable. Back in the day, I secured my place as the top spiritist in the Holy Light Galaxy with this realm. Of course, just like martial cultivation, spiritist realms vary by person. My techniques aren’t something others can simply learn,” Old Taoist Ox-Nose said proudly. “I can’t help but feel your skills go beyond the fifth rank,” Chu Feng said, his gaze skeptical. “It seems my techniques have reached a level beyond ordinary comprehension, confusing even my genius spiritist disciple,” Old Taoist Ox-Nose said, his pride growing. “Master, you’re not deceiving me, are you? Are you really at the fifth rank?” Chu Feng pressed. “Why would I deceive you? If I weren’t at the fifth rank, I’d have already settled scores with that old fellow, Saint Venerable Wudao. Would I need to live incognito?” Old Taoist Ox-Nose replied. “That makes sense. You truly are a prodigy, Master,” Chu Feng said with a smile. “Enough flattery. Wait here.” With a wave of his hand, Old Taoist Ox-Nose cast a concealment formation around Chu Feng alone. “Master, you’re not letting me come with you?” Chu Feng asked. “There are many experts inside. Stay here; it’s safer,” Old Taoist Ox-Nose said. “Master, can you see who’s inside?” Chu Feng asked. He had tried using his Heaven’s Eye to observe the hall, but its ancient and formidable formations blocked his vision. Yet, from his master’s words, it seemed he already knew who was inside. “Just a guess,” Old Taoist Ox-Nose said with a grin before turning to leave. Under Chu Feng’s watchful gaze, he didn’t open the door but passed through the wall into the palace. “Says he can’t see through it?” Chu Feng frowned, feeling deceived. The formations that Chu Feng couldn’t penetrate were effortlessly bypassed by his master’s body. Chu Feng didn’t believe Old Taoist Ox-Nose couldn’t see through the palace’s formations or discern its occupants. “I keep feeling my master is far more complex than I imagined. Is this the skill of the once-strongest spiritist in the Holy Light Galaxy?” Chu Feng still believed his master’s strength surpassed his expectations. Beyond helping him merge divine power, the techniques Old Taoist Ox-Nose displayed today left Chu Feng in awe. They weren’t even techniques; the formidable formations that stumped Chu Feng were nothing to his master, dismantled casually without effort. This overwhelming prowess made Chu Feng suspect Old Taoist Ox-Nose was hiding his true strength, despite his insistence otherwise. Yet, Chu Feng still found his master’s words hard to fully trust.
