Chapter 134: Storm and Tempest

"Chu Feng, will you give our clan an explanation?" The Peacock Tribe representatives, acting assertively and publicly, posed the question once more, making it clear this was an open challenge, not a private negotiation.

For a moment, the atmosphere grew tense. Major financial groups watched intently, but few dared to speak, preferring to observe how events would unfold. With both the Peacock Tribe and the Panlong Lineage targeting Chu Feng, the consequences were unpredictable. The Peacock Tribe, in particular, wielded immense influence. During this critical period, as the struggle for control over the famous mountains intensified into a fierce, no-holds-barred conflict, the Peacock Tribe had undoubtedly carved out a fearsome reputation.

The Peacock King's audacity in challenging for humanity's sacred Mount Tai demonstrated his formidable power; his might alone surpassed that of several other beast kings combined. Now that Peacock Tribe emissaries were openly reprimanding Chu Feng and demanding an explanation, even major factions not involved in the quasi-king's death felt a surge of apprehension. They feared that an enraged Peacock King might unleash his fury indiscriminately. With blood staining the famous mountains across the land, and powerful individuals vying for control, every major financial group had its own objectives. If the Peacock King were to charge in and slaughter his way through a mountain, the consequences would be catastrophic for everyone. Even with three unparalleled masters from the Eight Sceneries Palace, Jade Void Palace, and Biyou Palace gathered at the sacred Mount Tai, the Peacock King still dared to challenge them and contend for dominance. Any other force would have been utterly incapable of stopping him.

Ordinary citizens, however, paid little heed to such concerns. They didn't fear the legendary Peacock King, as such a being seemed far removed from their lives and unlikely to target them personally. Consequently, their support for Chu Feng remained unwavering. Many felt the Peacock Tribe was being overly domineering. It was clear they had initiated the attack, and Chu Feng had merely retaliated in self-defense, yet he was still being condemned. Using the Peacock King's formidable reputation to intimidate Chu Feng and demand an explanation seemed utterly unreasonable and an act of blatant bullying. Online, a wave of support for Chu Feng emerged, with many believing he should remain fearless.

"Chu Feng, we support you! Go all out. I refuse to believe the Peacock Tribe can truly command the entire world!"

"Even if the Peacock King is truly invincible, their clan should not be so arrogant and overbearing, or they will inevitably invite disaster upon themselves!"

Some people doubted the Peacock King would dare to personally intervene in Shuntian and found the clan's domineering attitude intolerable. The major financial groups remained largely silent, finding it difficult to state their position clearly. Provoking the Peacock King could lead to a catastrophic bloodbath, potentially turning the mountains they sought to acquire into rivers of blood. Thus, the current situation was subtly unsettling.

Soon, many sensed a growing tension in the air. Was the Peacock King truly planning to come to Shuntian in person?

"Where is the Peacock Tribe's envoy?" Chu Feng asked the elder at the Jade Void Palace.

Lu Tong shook his head. "He's not in Shuntian; he's in another city."

Knowing Chu Feng's character, it was clear he would never offer an explanation to the Peacock Tribe. Having already killed several of their members, he would surely kill more if they dared to approach again. Intimidation and threats simply had no effect on him.

Over the next two days, the atmosphere grew even heavier. Many sensed an oppressive tension, as even the major factions, when they did speak, chose their words with extreme caution. As humans, they wouldn't overtly betray their own, but their language remained carefully neutral to avoid offending the Peacock King. Even ordinary people began to sense the Peacock Tribe's formidable power. The mere suggestion that the Peacock King might personally intervene instilled such widespread apprehension among all parties. This level of deterrence was truly terrifying.

It was only then that ordinary people grasped the extent of Chu Feng's potential predicament. If even major powers were so apprehensive, could he possibly withstand such a threat alone?

"Hmm, the noise has finally quieted," an old man remarked. "Those who slandered us no longer dare to be so brazen. The Peacock King truly is god-like, suffocating all opposition."

On Panlong Mountain, an old man spoke—Huang Yun, the clan's quasi-king expert. He had escaped back with a severed leg and his tail cut off by Chu Feng. Across from him, a middle-aged man named Kong Zhuo sat on a cushion. Though not yet a quasi-king, he was close. He was the one who had traveled north, representing the Peacock Tribe, to confront and reprimand Chu Feng.

Panlong Mountain offered breathtaking scenery, with misty clouds swirling around its mid-slopes. Above, lush greenery dripped with vitality, and ancient trees bloomed, making it resemble a fairyland. Sitting on the mountain and admiring Panlong's beauty, Kong Zhuo declared, "Chu Feng is truly audacious, daring to kill even our clan's quasi-king! This is a blood feud. If the Peacock King weren't occupied at Mount Tai, Chu Feng would surely be dead already!" His face was grim. Even a formidable clan like the Peacock Tribe could not endure such losses; in mere days, three of their powerful members had fallen in Shuntian. A significant upheaval had occurred within their clan.

"Chu Feng must be eliminated," Huang Yun said with a smile. "Even if the Peacock Tribe doesn't act, we will not allow him to become a true king-level being."

"Yes, our clan shares that view; he cannot be allowed to continue. This individual possesses extraordinary abilities; as a quasi-king, he can fight three opponents simultaneously and eliminate them all. Such combat prowess is truly frightening."

Over the past two days, both clans had meticulously analyzed Chu Feng's capabilities and were deeply unnerved by his strength. They understood that if such an individual ascended to kingship, he would become an absolute terror. The Peacock King had followed a similar trajectory during his own rise: even when besieged, he defeated his peers, eliminated rivals from other species, emerged as the sole victor, and claimed the unique tree on the great mountain. Chu Feng now displayed similar potential, subtly revealing signs of invincibility within his own realm. If he truly became a king-level being, it would be an unimaginable threat! For both clans, eliminating a potential threat like Chu Feng was a matter of urgency.

"Do you think this young man has become a king?" Kong Zhuo whispered. Deep down, he found it hard to believe, as the ascent to kingship was a gradual process for any being, and it was highly improbable for someone who had only recently become a quasi-king to directly achieve full kingship.

Huang Yun replied, "We considered that possibility, but after reviewing the live broadcast, we concluded he is still only a quasi-king. Our ancestor personally observed him and found nothing unusual."

Kong Zhuo nodded. "It doesn't matter anyway. Your ancestor has achieved another breakthrough, unlocking the second tier of king-level power. His strength has significantly advanced, so even if that human truly becomes a king, he will only meet a pointless death!"

Huang Yun smiled and nodded. "Indeed. Our ancestor has achieved success in his cultivation thanks to the exotic fruit from Panlong Mountain. He is now honing his sword, ready to strike at any moment. His sword-controlling technique must be even more terrifying now."

Kong Zhuo offered a faint smile. "I actually hope he *is* strong. That way, it would be truly worthy of the Panlong Ancestor's intervention, making the deterrence even more impactful."

The two exchanged knowing smiles, as if their shared understanding meant everything: Chu Feng was about to be effortlessly eliminated.

With the rise of the alien races, some beast kings had become incredibly formidable, even described as peerlessly invincible. If pushed too far, these alien races would directly invade human cities and unleash widespread slaughter. This deadly threat explained why some of these creatures acted with such impunity. To a certain extent, they possessed a strong sense of confidence, daring to openly defy humanity.

Huang Yun chuckled. "It's best to maintain a low profile. Our ancestor will act covertly, dispatching a sword to sever his head from a hundred meters away."

Kong Zhuo smiled. "However, I believe an overt display of deterrence is necessary. Haven't we already summoned Chu Feng to Panlong Mountain to atone for his sins? He certainly won't come, but we can press the matter further, repeatedly bringing it up. That itself will be a form of humiliation."

Over these two days, undercurrents of tension surged. All major financial groups grew cautious, wary of the Peacock King, for the more they learned, the more they understood that this lineage was not to be provoked. Many had already realized that the Peacock King, Golden Crow King, and other top-tier experts had formed an alliance. Provoking one of them would likely incur the enmity of the entire formidable group. Ordinary people, too, felt apprehensive, wondering if these events signaled an impending storm. Everyone sensed the atmosphere growing increasingly peculiar, as if a major event was imminent, and it was likely to be unfavorable. Some even suggested Chu Feng should go into hiding to weather the storm. The situation was extremely disadvantageous for him, and a terrifying beast king might indeed arrive to suppress and kill him.

"Boss, you should go into hiding! Something isn't right; a beast king might be targeting you!" Ouyang Qing and others contacted him, urging him immediately. If even they harbored such concerns, it was evident that everyone else outside felt the impending storm.

Ye Qingrou also spoke with concern. "Perhaps the alien races want to assert their dominance. After all, you killed the Azure Wolf King and then successively eliminated the quasi-kings of both the Peacock Tribe and the Panlong Lineage, drawing the attention of various king-level beings."

Chu Feng reassured them, telling them not to worry, though he offered no further details.

Outside, a pervasive silence settled, as more and more people became convinced that the situation had deteriorated to a critical degree. While Chu Feng had indeed killed several quasi-beast kings, he had simultaneously placed himself in a precarious position; the circumstances were deeply unsettling. A sense of dread settled in many hearts, as if a torrential downpour was imminent, accompanied by furious lightning.

As expected, on the third day, a representative from the Panlong Lineage arrived in Shuntian. This was no longer a message from afar, but a physical presence, who ostentatiously delivered a letter summoning Chu Feng to Panlong Mountain for a discussion.

"Your excessive killings are severe, but there is a way to resolve this. Go to Panlong Mountain to atone, and everything can still be negotiated."

Although the man's tone wasn't overtly threatening, everyone understood that if Chu Feng went, he would never return. That day, Chu Feng met the Panlong Lineage's representative, but he merely cast a glance before dismissing him, naturally not even bothering to read the letter.

"Young man, such arrogance will lead to your downfall. I advise you to humble yourself and apologize at Panlong Mountain," the middle-aged man warned, giving him one last look before turning to leave.

Chu Feng retorted, "You nearly killed my parents, yet you repeatedly demand that I apologize. Are you trying to humiliate me?! Since you've come all this way, leave something behind before you depart. Do you truly think I'm so easily ridiculed?"

"You... Ah!" The middle-aged man shrieked in terror.

That day, Shuntian City was rocked. Not only had the Panlong Lineage's envoy been directly driven away by Chu Feng, but he had also been forced back into his original form and had his tail severed. Onlookers witnessed a massive weasel fleeing in terror, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. This incident caused a massive uproar, stunning everyone. While a heavy silence had gripped the populace, Chu Feng remained fearlessly strong.

"Something major is about to happen; a beast king will likely make a move!" someone sighed.

"What will Chu Feng do?" some worried. "If he doesn't go into hiding, he might face a deadly threat."

The situation was now dire and extremely unfavorable for Chu Feng. After days of oppressive tension, many believed he truly ought to go into hiding to avoid the impending crisis. In reality, Chu Feng had already made all preparations. He was about to embark on his journey to Panlong Mountain, intent on leveling the mountain and destroying the stronghold!