"This..."
At that moment, the crowd was completely bewildered. What was unfolding on the Combat Platform was simply beyond comprehension. Even the cold and aloof Chen Wanxi couldn't help but turn her head, casting her gaze toward Chu Feng.
Could Chu Feng truly be this strong? Strong enough to rival Chen Wanxi, able to easily defeat a Yuan Martial First Level cultivator with only Spirit Martial 8th Stage cultivation?
While the world certainly had no shortage of prodigiously talented individuals who could defeat those above their realm, those were all towering figures of renown. Could this seemingly unremarkable young man also be such a genius?
All manner of incredulous thoughts began flooding through people's minds. For the first time, they wondered whether they had underestimated Chu Feng — perhaps from the very beginning, he hadn't cheated at all, and had made it this far on his own strength.
"City Lord, this..."
The Purple Gold City guards wore expressions of utter shock. They had always looked down on Chu Feng before, convinced he had only come here through his connection with Su Rou, bringing shame upon Purple Gold City.
After Chu Feng replaced Wan Wenpeng, the hostility toward him had reached its peak. But now, at this very moment, he began to question whether his previous assessment of Chu Feng had been correct, and couldn't help but reflect.
"Perhaps Miss Su Rou was right. This Chu Feng might just bring us a pleasant surprise."
A relieved smile spread across Chen Hui's face. In truth, he had been just like the guards beside him, viewing Chu Feng as dead weight. But now it seemed Chu Feng was far from a burden — he was actually Purple Gold City's ace for earning prestige.
"How is that possible? Could this guy really be that strong? Don't tell me the opponent took some kind of bribe and threw the match on purpose?"
But compared to the others, the Purple Gold City rookies were far less willing to accept this reality. Deep down, they had always despised Chu Feng and had been eager to see him humiliate himself.
Yet now, far from embarrassing himself, Chu Feng had stolen the spotlight entirely. The contrast was stark — it wasn't Chu Feng who looked pathetic anymore, but them.
After all, none of them had even made it into the top ten, while Chu Feng stood on that Combat Platform having decisively defeated two Core Disciples from first-rate sects — one of whom even belonged to the Lingyun Sect, the foremost sect. That was simply too outrageous. At the very least, none of them could have pulled it off. Not even Wan Wenpeng could have done it.
Under the stunned gazes of countless spectators, Chu Feng descended the Combat Platform at an unhurried pace, a smile on his face. The looks directed at him had shifted from the contemptuous glances of before to ones of pure astonishment.
And once Chu Feng ended his battle with lightning speed, that young man from Fengyun City once again became the sole focus of the entire arena.
This time, however, the Fengyun City youth — just as before — struggled through a long fight before barely managing to secure his victory, leaving everyone unsure whether he was deliberately concealing his strength or whether his opponent was simply that powerful.
"You don't need to come down. I've already lost patience with this Rookie Assembly — let's settle things quickly!"
Just as the Fengyun City youth was about to step off the Combat Platform, Chen Wanxi's skirt fluttered as she leaped onto the stage, actively challenging the Fengyun City youth to a fight.
"I am Ding Chou. Please guide me!"
In response to Chen Wanxi's challenge, the Fengyun City youth merely offered a faint smile and clasped his hands courteously, seemingly bearing no psychological burden whatsoever from the strength Chen Wanxi had displayed earlier.