Chapter 311: Unhappy

Who could fail to be astonished? Who wouldn't tremble!

Chu Feng stood in the arena, dazzling silver light radiating from his pores, even his hair shimmering as if forged from incandescent silver. His entire being pulsed with silver energy.

In the air, blood-stained golden feathers drifted down. These divine golden feathers were so sharp that they plunged into the earth and rocks upon landing, clanging like swords.

Chu Feng cast the two halves of a body onto the ground. A top-tier avian king, one who had broken six shackles, lay dead at his feet, its blood staining the Jade Pure Palace red.

Not long after the battle began, he had already killed the Three-legged Golden Crow King with his bare hands!

The scene was silent, everyone stunned. Was this really someone with a physical ailment? The outcome was utterly terrifying.

How many people in this world could single-handedly kill a peak avian king? It was astonishing, especially since even the Jade Pure Palace Master had fought for a long time without success.

Now everyone was bewildered. Was Chu Feng's body truly in trouble? To subdue and kill a top-tier king alone completely contradicted the rumors!

Not far from Chu Feng, several young men and women fell silent, looking somewhat flustered and very nervous.

Just moments ago, they had been subtly suggesting that Chu Feng teach the Jade Pure Palace Master the breathing technique to suppress the alien king-level powerhouses, warning of danger otherwise.

But now everything had been reversed. Chu Feng didn't need protection; he had single-handedly slain the invading formidable enemy.

Inside the Jade Pure Palace, those cultivators who had earlier harbored other intentions, wishing Chu Feng to impart techniques or gift weapons, now felt a surge of unease, even fear.

Not only were there cultivators from the Jade Pure Palace, but also outsiders who had arrived after hearing the commotion. All of them were now deeply shaken.

Chu Feng's performance was too astonishing. Even without relying on the Jade Pure Palace, he could survive, fighting enemies alone despite his compromised body, showing no signs of weakness.

Clearly, this outcome shocked many cultivators. Some looked at the Jade Pure Palace Master in the distance, then back at Chu Feng.

The contrast was quite stark: the Jade Pure Palace Master, at his full strength, had vowed to protect Chu Feng but couldn't defeat the Golden Crow King, fighting for a long time without results.

Yet, when Chu Feng's life was threatened, he himself acted, swiftly killing two powerful foes, a truly shocking feat.

This made some cultivators secretly ponder: Was Chu Feng too powerful, or had the Jade Pure Palace Master not exerted his full effort? The more they thought about it, the more complicated it seemed.

Chu Feng, covered from head to toe in brilliant silver radiance, like a war god, stepped over the enormous avian king's corpse, across the golden feathers, and faced the Peacock King suspended in mid-air.

The air exploded as the Peacock King, with flowing purple hair and a handsome yet demonic face, decisively spread its wings and, breaking the sound barrier, immediately fled, escaping from Shuntian.

Then, another king, who had been blocking the Biyou Palace Master, transformed into its true form—a golden canary—and frantically fled, vanishing from Shuntian City.

Two great kings fled without a fight.

This outcome left everyone speechless. For a long time, no one spoke. Every evolver who witnessed the scene was deeply shaken.

Walls have ears, and with many outsiders rushing to the Jade Pure Palace to witness everything firsthand, the news quickly spread, immediately causing a huge stir.

"He's become a god! Is this defying the heavens?!"

Even as snow fell that morning, the outside world was ablaze with excitement. People from all sides debated the true strength of the Golden Crow King; many knew he was hailed as an unparalleled master, yet Chu Feng had torn him apart with his bare hands, shocking the entire world!

Some speculated that Chu Feng's body might not be problematic at all, that it was all a pretense to lure enemies and then kill them.

However, someone quickly refuted this, asserting that Chu Feng's body indeed had serious issues, as they had attended a banquet at the Jade Pure Palace and learned the truth, which could not be false.

"Chu Feng said this was his final battle, that he would expend his last ounce of strength. Perhaps that is the truth!"

Many agreed with this theory. This was likely the truth: he did have problems, but after fighting desperately, he could engage in one final battle, with astonishing results.

Many outsiders were discussing one question: How strong was he? To so swiftly subdue and kill the Golden Crow King was truly terrifying.

At the same time, a small number of people questioned whether the Jade Pure Palace Master, who had claimed he would protect Chu Feng, had truly tried his best. In the final critical moment, Chu Feng had relied on himself to kill the enemy.

This claim put the Jade Pure Palace in a very passive position.

At this moment, inside the Jade Pure Palace, those young men and women felt the most apprehension and unease. However, Chu Feng said nothing more, acting as if nothing had happened.

As Chu Feng took a step, his body became uncontrollable. The ground beneath his feet cracked in all directions. The silver radiance on him vanished, and dark light surged from his pores. His energy was out of control, and he was rapidly weakening.

This happened some time after the great battle, causing many in the Jade Pure Palace to feel surprised and suspicious.

"How are you?" asked the Biyou Palace Master, approaching. He was tall, with thick black hair and bright, piercing eyes.

"That was probably my last battle," Chu Feng replied.

The one-armed Eight Views Palace Master and the calm-faced Jade Pure Palace Master also walked over, placing their hands on Chu Feng to examine him carefully.

Finally, they confirmed that Chu Feng's current state was extremely dire. Black matter mixed with his energy, causing his strength to plummet and his cultivation realm to drop.

"In terms of energy level, he has directly fallen below the king-level," was their diagnosis, which they were confident was accurate.

At their level of strength, merely touching a person's body allowed them to instantly perceive their true condition; it couldn't be hidden.

"Brother Chu's body really is in trouble. It seems that was just a final flicker of strength. He won't be able to unleash such power again."

"I think he'll leave his legacy for someone to take over."

The young men and women discussed this, occasionally glancing over.

"What's the situation now?"

The Jade Pure Palace Master and the others left, and silence settled. Lu Tong appeared, looking worried. He then invited laboratory personnel to examine Chu Feng's physical condition.

This time, they didn't draw blood; they no longer dared. They only used instruments to measure and found that Chu Feng's various vital signs had sharply decreased, far worse than before.

"He really has fallen from the king realm, this... alas!" Lu Tong sighed softly, now completely at a loss.

"I already said I want to retire," Chu Feng stated. "I'm tired of this kind of life and want to live a more varied and colorful one. You don't need to worry too much."

He was naturally leaving and made it clear to Lu Tong that he would withdraw from the Jade Pure Palace from now on, regardless of whether he could recover in the future.

Hearing this, Lu Tong opened his mouth but didn't know how to persuade him to stay, because he also felt that some people in the palace had gone too far. What could he say now to convince Chu Feng to remain?

He turned and left, looking somewhat desolate, his back slightly stooped and aged. He felt mentally exhausted, utterly weary.

The news, of course, couldn't be kept secret. Chu Feng's impending departure caused a stir within the Jade Pure Palace, and the young men and women rushed to him immediately.

They were both anxious and eager, speaking up one after another to plead with him to stay, not wanting him to leave.

"Brother Chu, it's freezing and snowy outside, and alien creatures are rampant. Now that your body is compromised, it's very dangerous for you alone out there. Please stay."

Chu Feng's expression was calm as he said, "I have many friends outside as well. Wandering around shouldn't be a problem."

A beautiful young girl, looking a little nervous, said, "Brother Chu, can you teach us the breathing technique? We want to become your disciples. If we become strong, we can deter those alien creatures and follow and protect you."

"Yes, Brother Chu, we'll practice martial arts with you and learn your breathing technique. If the sea race lands in the future, we'll fight them for you!"

All the young men and women spoke up.

Chu Feng was speechless, his feelings complicated. In the end, he simply patted a young boy's head without saying anything, walked to the window, and looked out at the wind and snow, calculating that the Big Black Ox and the others should be arriving soon.

Soon after, another group of people appeared at Chu Feng's residence. They were cultivators from both the Jade Pure Palace and the Eight Views Palace, and they surprisingly wanted to learn swordsmanship from him.

"Brother Chu, we know this is presumptuous and embarrassing, but we have no choice but to come. You are, after all, a member of the Jade Pure Palace. You can't just watch as alien creatures rise while we remain weak, can you?"

By now, they had received definite news that after Chu Feng's last battle, his strength had fallen below the king level, and it was confirmed he would withdraw from the ranks of the powerful.

This left some people with mixed feelings. After all, Chu Feng had once been so powerful that when they ventured out, they were treated with great respect by all factions, who dared not easily offend them.

At the same time, some people felt a surge of ambition, believing that Chu Feng's weakening might be their opportunity. If they could obtain his breathing technique and learn his swordsmanship, they might just become a "second Chu Feng."

Chu Feng looked at these people and felt a pang of emotion. He had indeed intended to pass on some knowledge, but later, some individuals became too excessive, making him change his mind.

Yuan Hong, the Jade Pure Palace Master's distant nephew, came again. This time, he wasn't asking for the Violet-Gold Lightning Hammer but directly demanded to borrow the Vajra Yaksha on Chu Feng's wrist!

Everyone knew this was Chu Feng's most important weapon, holding extraordinary significance for him.

"Brother Chu, please rest assured and recuperate. Anyway, you won't need the Vajra Yaksha in the future, so why not lend it to us? We can keep it in the Jade Pure Palace to deter alien creatures. After all, you are a member of the Jade Pure Palace, which fostered your growth. In the end, you should repay the Jade Pure Palace. We would be very grateful."

Beside Yuan Hong were several other people who had followed him. Their tone was gentle and polite, but their meaning was the same: they wanted Chu Feng to leave the Vajra Yaksha behind.

"Your appetite is too great," Chu Feng's face darkened. "Bypassing the Violet-Gold Lightning Hammer, you directly want my most important weapon?"

Not to mention his uncertain condition—the substances in his body shifting between black and silver, presenting both danger and opportunity—even if his future truly looked bleak, these items weren't necessarily destined to stay here. He intended to give them to Yellow Ox, Big Black Ox, and the others.

"Brother Chu, how accomplished were you when you first joined the Jade Pure Palace?" Yuan Hong, the Jade Pure Palace Master's distant nephew, said seriously, with a hint of reproach. "It was with the Jade Pure Palace's assistance and protection that you were able to grow so quickly. You should know how to be grateful."

"After demanding the Vajra Yaksha, do you also want me to hand over my boxing techniques and breathing methods?" Chu Feng asked coldly.

"Brother Chu, the Jade Pure Palace is your home, your great rear-guard. What harm is there in leaving some techniques behind? They won't fall into outsiders' hands. Why distinguish between yourself and us here? We rise and fall together. Once the Jade Pure Palace becomes strong, even if you are no longer a cultivator and your strength greatly diminishes, this place can still keep you safe."

"Is this your idea, or the idea of the Jade Pure Palace's decision-makers?" Chu Feng asked.

"It has nothing to do with others in the palace; it's just a suggestion from some of us passionate young people. Brother Chu Feng, this is your foundation. If we become strong, even if you decline into an ordinary person in the future, you will still be protected," Yuan Hong said with resonant conviction.

"Get out!"

Just then, a large head with black horns abruptly appeared, poking through the window. A large hand reached in and snatched Yuan Hong out.

*Bang, bang, bang...*

In that instant, Yuan Hong was subjected to a brutal beating.

The Big Black Ox, Northeast Tiger, Old Donkey, and Golden Eagle King had arrived, covered in snow, having traveled through the ice and snow all night to reach the Jade Pure Palace that morning, storming straight in.

"You son of a bitch, how dare you disrespect my brother? What even are you? What does my brother's rise have to do with the Jade Pure Palace? Every step he took was on his own! On the contrary, how many benefits has he given your Jade Pure Palace? He helped you flatten mountains and destroy strongholds, sent massive amounts of flesh and blood from king-level creatures for your research, and refined king-level elixirs. How did you get your cultivation? You must have eaten king-level elixirs, didn't you?"

The more the Big Black Ox spoke, the angrier he became, savagely kicking Yuan Hong on the ground, making him scream as his skin tore and some of his bones broke.

Of course, the Big Black Ox expertly controlled his strength, ensuring no lives were taken.

The Northeast Tiger also pressed forward, letting out a roar that nearly shattered Yuan Hong's spiritual energy. "Even if my brother retires, he won't need your Jade Pure Palace's hypocrisy. Our care is enough; why would he need you? You think too highly of yourselves; you're nothing but garbage!"

The Donkey King also stepped forward and directly gave Yuan Hong a kick with his hoof. "Speaking of favors, didn't Chu Feng save the Jade Pure Palace Master not long ago? Isn't that a huge favor? But did he demand anything from the Jade Pure Palace? You take a trivial past incident and act like it's a great kindness, having the nerve to bring it up? Exploiting minor favors for major repayment—do you have no shame?!"

The Big Black Ox, Northeast Tiger, and Old Donkey continued their brutal beating, making Yuan Hong howl in agony, his bones fractured and tendons torn. The people who had come with him were pale with fright and trembling with fear.

"Come on, brother, let's leave this place and go to Kunlun, to live freely and at ease. To hell with this damn Jade Pure Palace!"

The group said, planning to take Chu Feng and leave Shuntian.

Such a commotion naturally couldn't fail to alert others. In moments, many people appeared, rushing to watch.

Lu Tong also arrived, the old man nervously rubbing his hands. After understanding the situation, he was utterly displeased with Yuan Hong.

The Jade Pure Palace Master also arrived. He glanced at Yuan Hong, then cupped his hands to the Northeast Tiger and the others, saying, "Well done. This worthless fellow only thinks of taking shortcuts; he'll never amount to anything in this life!"

As for a peak king like the Jade Pure Palace Master, the Northeast Tiger and his companions didn't want to turn hostile; they preferred to part amicably. So, they were polite, cupping their hands in return and explaining that they had been furious seeing their brother wronged, which was why they had acted in anger.

The Big Black Ox was direct, saying, "We're taking Chu Feng with us, to a beautiful, serene place for recuperation."

The Jade Pure Palace Master sighed softly and shook his head, not granting permission. "Chu Feng has achieved so many great merits. How can we abandon him at such a critical moment? We must do our utmost to help him recover. We are currently searching for methods from the Daoist Canon and various ancient isolated texts, and we have some promising leads. We will certainly heal him."

"We appreciate the good intentions, but it's not needed," the Big Black Ox refused. "We will naturally take good care of him and find a way to help him recover!"