I was just making up techniques... how did all of you become Emperors?

"Nothing really, I just remembered something that made me happy."

Chu Feng's lips lifted slightly as his mood visibly improved. He turned to Xiao Chen and the others and said, "You don't need to follow me anymore. Go seek treasures on your own."

"Yes, sir."

After replying in unison, Xiao Chen and the others dispersed.

Seeing this, the City Lord of Baiyun quickly stepped forward and said respectfully, "May I invite Half-Saint Chu to the rear courtyard for a private conversation?"

Chu Feng gave a small nod. "Lead the way."

"Please."

The Baiyun City Lord carefully guided Chu Feng and his group toward the rear courtyard. Once their figures vanished, the gathering quickly returned to its prior liveliness.

Still, many people were discussing the sword strike from Chu Feng just now. Some even felt regret—they had arrived too late to witness the grace and power of a Half-Saint's attack firsthand.

In the rear courtyard, the Golden-Winged Eagle King asked curiously, "Brother Chu, you're not going to hunt for treasure?"

"I already found some."

As Chu Feng spoke, he opened his palm to reveal two extraordinary storage rings.

Elder Bing instinctively asked, "Sir, are those the storage rings of the Jiuyang Half-Saint?"

"Mm."

Chu Feng nodded. "I saw that old thing wearing two storage rings on his left hand, so I chopped it off and took them. A Half-Saint's collection should be far more valuable than the junk sold outside."

Hiss…

The Baiyun City Lord and others gasped inwardly. They thought, Good thing Baiyun City didn't stand on the Jiuyang Half-Saint's side, or we'd be flayed alive by now. This man's methods are terrifying.

Elder Bing: O(≧口≦)O

"You really don't waste a single grain of rice. I like that about you," said the Golden-Winged Eagle King with a flash of golden light as he returned to his original form.

Chu Feng looked at him, puzzled. "So this is what you're really like, Brother Eagle. I imagine being your underling must be quite the experience."

The Eagle King patted his chest. "Absolutely. Ask Wanli if you don't believe me. Back at Wendao Academy, I looked after him quite a bit."

The Baiyun City Lord's expression changed slightly when he saw the Eagle King's true form. He respectfully added, "Eagle Martial Uncle speaks the truth. Back then, you took great care of me."

Hearing this, Chu Feng glanced back and forth between the two with a strange look. You two... something's off here.

...

Meanwhile, in the front courtyard plaza—

Ye Beixuan, seeing that everything had settled down, immediately sought out his father.

"Father, Sister Qingwu, are you both all right?"

Ye Nantian still hadn't recovered. Everything that had happened just moments ago felt like a dream.

Usually, let alone a Half-Saint, even a Nirvana Realm cultivator was a lofty figure beyond his reach.

To say nothing of standing against them—just getting a chance to meet one would be nearly impossible.

But now, his own son had become the disciple of a Half-Saint—and even forced a colossal power like the Lieyang Sect to suffer loss.

This was something he wouldn't have dared to imagine even in his dreams.

"F–Father is fine. Can you tell me what happened after you joined Wendao Academy?"

Ye Beixuan nodded, then glanced at the refined black iron ore on his father's stall. "Father, this isn't the right place to talk. Let's find somewhere quiet."

"Y–Yes… yes..."

Seeing his son so composed and mature, Ye Nantian thought to himself: My son Beixuan has finally grown into a man who can stand tall in this world!

Ye Beixuan looked around and soon spotted a Ye clan steward. He cupped his hands and said, "Brother, could you take us somewhere quiet? I want to talk with my father."

The steward had been assigned to receive Ye Beixuan and others, so he quickly replied, "Cousin Beixuan, you're too formal. We're family. Uncle, cousin, please follow me."

"Thank you."

Ye Beixuan nodded and led his father, Sister Qingwu, and Feng Qiongyu away.

Night soon fell.

The rear residence of the Ye Clan was brightly lit and bustling with life.

The Ye Clan Ancestor sat in the main seat, with Chief Chu seated to his left in the place of honor. The gathered disciples followed and took their seats in order.

Originally, the guest of honor tonight was meant to be the Jiuyang Half-Saint. However, he had already left hurriedly with his followers at noon, making Chief Chu the natural center of attention at the banquet.

After three rounds of wine—

The Ye Clan Ancestor raised his cup and respectfully offered a toast to Chief Chu. "Chief Chu, I fear our Ye Clan has not hosted you properly today. I hope you will not take offense."

Chu Feng replied with a smile, "Senior is too polite. I was the one who didn't inform you in advance. If there's any fault, it lies with me. This cup of wine should be my toast to you."

Having lived two lives, Chu Feng had long mastered the art of speaking appropriately to any audience. His demeanor was natural and effortless, without a trace of pretense.

After they drank,

The Ye Clan Ancestor set down his cup and spoke, "Chief Chu, I have a rather bold question I wish to ask—would you mind?"

"Go ahead," Chu Feng said without hesitation.

The Ye Ancestor continued, "To be frank, the Jiuyang Half-Saint came to our Ye Clan this time to make a trade with me. However, when I tried to continue that transaction earlier, he declined."

He didn't spell it out, nor did he repeat the Jiuyang Half-Saint's original words. He trusted that Chu Feng could understand the underlying implication.

Chu Feng smiled and replied, "Jiuyang's old storage rings are indeed in my possession. I wonder what Senior Ye was intending to trade?"

Hearing this, the expressions around the room varied. Some already knew, so they weren't surprised.

But the cultivators who hadn't been aware now had a whole new level of respect for Chu Feng's strength. Going forward, they silently reminded themselves to stay far away from any disciple of Chief Chu—never provoke them.

The Ye Clan Ancestor chuckled. "To be honest, the item I intended to trade with the Jiuyang Half-Saint was a type of heavenly flame—Volcanic Stone Flame. It's one of the 108 types of heavenly flames. I wonder if Chief Chu would be willing to continue the transaction with my Ye Clan?"

"Volcanic Stone Flame? If I recall correctly, though it's a type of earth flame, it ranks twenty-third on the Heavenly Flame List. It's excellent not only in combat but also in forging Saint artifacts. I'm curious—what does Senior Ye propose to offer in exchange?"

Chu Feng smiled warmly as he described the flame. He hadn't expected that old Jiuyang to possess such a treasure. He made a mental note to thoroughly examine the contents of those storage rings later tonight.

"I've heard of Chief Chu's broad knowledge, and today I see it's true," the Ye Ancestor said with admiration. "This was the list I originally planned to trade with the Jiuyang Half-Saint. I'm willing to add an extra ten percent on top of it, just as a gesture of goodwill and friendship."

As he spoke, he gently slid a jade slip across the table to Chu Feng.

Chu Feng scanned it with his divine sense. Inside were not only millennium-old spiritual herbs, but also rare minerals for forging Saint artifacts, along with several precious treasures—more than enough to warrant a trade for a heavenly flame.

He set the jade slip down. "Since Senior Ye is sincere in wishing to befriend me, I agree to the trade. There's no need to add that extra ten percent—though I would like to exchange it for equivalent resources of a different kind. What does Senior think?"

The Ye Clan Ancestor's face lit up with joy. "Chief Chu is indeed magnanimous! Then we shall do as you say!"

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