Elder Song Xugu stood frozen in place.

Zhong Limeng’s face was filled with astonishment.

The rest of the fellow disciples all stared with wide eyes!

Everyone was so shocked that no one moved or made a sound.

Only Yi Feng’s awkward voice drifted lightly through the air.

"There was a bit of an accident on the way, so I only managed to collect these hundred or so demon corpses."

"Don’t be fooled by the numbers—these demons are all small and weak. Ten of them probably don’t even compare to one of yours. It’s not that I was slacking off, but I really couldn’t find anything else around here."

"Don’t laugh at me, alright? It’s not my fault."

Yi Feng was genuinely a little frustrated.

He had been perfectly set for a monster-slaying spree, but then some shameless bald old man had shown up out of nowhere, ruining his haul and leaving him with such an embarrassing result.

His words were soft, yet they struck everyone’s ears like thunder!

The crowd trembled at his voice.

Exchanging bewildered glances, their minds replayed Yi Feng’s absurd phrasing.

"Just a hundred or so…"

Hah, what a brilliant use of the word "just."

Was this something a normal person would say?

Those casual words left everyone feeling suffocated.

Zhong Limeng and the fellow disciples’ lips went dry, unable to muster a response for the longest time.

Especially since, despite their small size, they knew full well that the Long-Eared Demon Clan relied on speed to dominate, making them even more formidable than the demons they had hunted.

They had initially assumed Yi Feng was just an ordinary Saint, even treating him like a rookie who had just stepped into the starry skies. Only now did they realize they had severely underestimated him.

The strength he displayed was nothing short of a pleasant surprise for them.

But thinking back, it made sense. Though Cloud Star was barren and isolated, how could Yi Feng, who traveled the cosmos alone, possibly be mediocre in cultivation?

It was their own bias toward Cloud Star that had clouded their judgment.

For a moment, they were both exhilarated and slightly embarrassed.

"Young Master Yi, you’ve been an immense help. I’m truly grateful to have your assistance," Zhong Limeng said, her voice trembling with excitement, snapping everyone out of their daze.

The fellow disciples quickly shook off their awkwardness and began praising him generously!

"A hundred demon corpses—what a terrifying achievement!"

"Young Master Yi, a true master hides his brilliance!"

"I was blind before—please forgive my oversight!"

"Thank you for your aid, Young Master Yi. We are endlessly grateful!"

Cheers erupted, igniting the atmosphere!

At such a critical moment, Yi Feng’s display of extraordinary power brought immense hope, filling everyone with joy. Words of gratitude poured in nonstop.

Even their earlier comforting remarks now felt embarrassingly misplaced.

Elder Song Xugu also steadied his expression, his eyes brimming with delight and approval.

Amid the chorus of thanks and applause, Yi Feng finally snapped back to reality, smiling sheepishly in return.

"I thought these little monsters were useless…"

"If you can make use of them, that’s great. Since they’re helpful, you can have them all."

His generous words sparked another wave of excitement.

Zhong Limeng bowed deeply in thanks, promising ample rewards as she collected the demon corpses.

Amid the exhilaration, night fell unnoticed.

After an entire day of demon hunting, everyone was physically and mentally exhausted. Zhong Limeng calmly decided to set up camp, and soon, tents were erected, with a campfire flickering in the icy wilderness.

The tiny flames reflected in their eyes, as if the competition for the direct disciple position now held a glimmer of hope.

The night passed without incident.

After resting, the team was revitalized.

Though their initial harvest had been impressive, fatigue still lingered. Fortunately, Zhong Limeng’s wise decision to rest earned unanimous praise.

Refreshed and full of hope, the group followed her arrangements without hesitation.

As they prepared to depart, Zhong Limeng turned to Yi Feng with a smile.

"Young Master Yi, given your strength, I wouldn’t dare assign you any tasks. But I must still remind you—do not venture too deep. The further in you go, the greater the danger."

After yesterday’s results, Zhong Limeng was confident in Yi Feng’s abilities and certain he wouldn’t face much peril. Still, for safety’s sake, she felt compelled to warn him.

Yi Feng nodded obediently.

"Mm, got it."

Once the young woman left, a glint of cunning flashed in his eyes.

Deeper means danger?

Good. That’s valuable intel.

Since he was already here, he might as well go deeper.

No danger? Then this trip would’ve been pointless.

Keeping his original goal in mind, Yi Feng immediately set off, retracing his steps to the deep valley from yesterday. Moving like the wind, he swiftly passed the river bend and ventured even further in.

Countless snow-capped peaks and glaciers fell behind him as the mountains on either side grew taller.

After half an hour of travel, Yi Feng’s eyes finally lit up.

Before him stretched a seemingly endless ravine, flanked by thousand-foot glaciers. The gorge looked as if it had been split open by a single sword strike—narrow, deep, and teeming with countless dark figures darting about. Some even scaled the smooth ice walls.

At a glance, it was a veritable demon hive!

Yi Feng’s face lit up with excitement as he slapped his thigh.

"Damn! Finally found the jackpot! My great cleaver is starving for action!"

With that, he whipped out his forty-meter-long cleaver and eagerly stepped forward.

Just then—

The clouds above slowly parted as a figure descended gracefully.

An unusual aura enveloped the surroundings, stirring the wind and snow into a frenzy!

The disturbance made Yi Feng look up.

The moment he saw the figure with hands clasped behind its back, his eyes widened slightly. There was something familiar about it, but he couldn’t quite place it.

Then, as the figure hovered mid-air, its bald head gleamed under the sunlight.

Instantly, Yi Feng’s eyes bulged.

"Shit! No wonder it looked familiar—it’s that damn bald-headed bandit again!"