You've arrived.
The words were like a cordial greeting from a friend unseen for many years.
Xia Feng had long heard of the hermit families, but he didn't know how long these people could remain hidden or when they might emerge.
Even if Xia Feng wanted to find them, he couldn't.
Now that they had come to him, Xia Feng, uncharacteristically, came out to meet them ahead of time.
Dongfang Lang and Dongfang Kai were prepared for battle.
This person who appeared out of nowhere, saying, "You've arrived."
Anyone would feel uneasy. It was as if their movements had been under someone's control the entire time, and they disliked this feeling immensely.
"Who are you?" Dongfang Lang asked with a grave expression.
From Xia Feng's tone, he could tell that Xia Feng knew their identities and had been waiting for them.
"I am the one you've been looking for," Xia Feng said, spreading his hands.
"What???"
The two froze upon hearing this. Was this person in front of them Xia Feng?
The master of the Qilin?
And he waited for them so openly?
Dongfang Lang looked around. Knowing they were coming for the Qilin, Xia Feng dared to show himself. This was either confidence in his strength or a trap laid out for them.
"Senior brother, something's not right. This brat might have set a trap, planning to catch a turtle in a jar," Dongfang Kai said worriedly to Dongfang Lang.
Dongfang Lang was speechless. *You're the turtle, you idiot.*
"If you can't speak properly, don't speak," Dongfang Lang glared at his junior brother.
"No need to check. It's just me. I have some questions for you," Xia Feng interrupted their conversation.
"You want us to talk just because you ask? Trade your Qilin for it," Dongfang Kai said unhappily.
"Never seen anyone so arrogant."
"You have no choice. You're just two Nascent Soul stage cultivators," Xia Feng said, his mind as calm as if he were discussing everyday matters.
They weren't even qualified to make Xia Feng make a move. The only time Xia Feng had made a serious move after emerging from seclusion was against Susanoo.
Unfortunately, that fellow feared death and directly ascended, fleeing.
The hermit families certainly had people worth Xia Feng's attention, but they weren't these two.
Dongfang Lang and Dongfang Kai's faces changed drastically.
He had seen through their cultivation realms with a single sentence, and spoken of it so casually, clearly indicating he was far beyond them.
Although they had lived in seclusion for a long time, were unfamiliar with worldly affairs, and appeared honest and simple,
it didn't mean they lacked intelligence.
The current situation was entirely beyond their expectations. No one could have imagined there were people outside with higher cultivation than them.
The two exchanged glances, seeing a hint of panic in each other's eyes.
"Senior, we offer our apologies for any offense. Please forgive us," Dongfang Lang clasped his fists.
A true man knows when to yield. When facing someone superior, it's best to apologize first.
"I have no objections to you coveting the Qilin. As I said, I want to ask you some questions. Where is your Dongfang family of hermits located?"
Xia Feng waved his hand, signaling he didn't care about that matter.
The Qilin was a divine beast from ancient times, and no cultivator could resist their greed.
This was human nature. Whether cultivators or ordinary people, human nature was greedy.
Dongfang Lang and Dongfang Kai's bodies trembled, as if they were reluctant to speak.
The family's location was a top secret and could not be revealed to outsiders.
Seeing this, Xia Feng slowly walked over. Though his movements appeared leisurely, he reached them in an instant.
Dongfang Lang and Dongfang Kai felt as if they were bound by a spell, unable to move.
"Speak. You only have one chance," Xia Feng asked again, standing before them.
Facing the pressure emanating from Xia Feng, the two began to sweat. If they hadn't been under a binding spell, they would have already collapsed.
"At... at... at the ancient Gu Lie Island in the North Sea."
Dongfang Kai couldn't hold on any longer and revealed it first.
Dongfang Lang sighed upon hearing this, but he didn't blame Dongfang Kai.
There was nothing they could do. The person they faced was too powerful. Even if they wanted to end their own lives, they wouldn't have the chance.
He could feel that even if they refused to speak, Xia Feng would have countless ways to extract the information he desired.
"Gu Lie Island," Xia Feng murmured.
Xia Feng continued, "Who is the highest cultivator in your Dongfang family of hermits?"
"Senior, our ancestor is at the peak of the late Integration stage and is about to undergo tribulation."
With the situation as it was, Dongfang Lang answered all questions.
Since they had already revealed their location, these questions were minor.
"Alright, you may leave," Xia Feng said and left on his own.
Dongfang Lang and Dongfang Kai found they could move again and looked at the departed Xia Feng in confusion.
Did he just let them go?
Was he playing with them?
Or was there a deeper scheme?
The two looked at each other, utterly bewildered.
"Senior brother, he just left? It would make me feel better if he'd at least slapped us."
Dongfang Kai said in terror, watching Xia Feng disappear.
"This is somewhat illogical."
"Perhaps it's because I mentioned our ancestor's cultivation is at the peak of the late Integration stage, and that's why he decided to spare us."
Dongfang Lang was also confused and could only use this excuse to comfort himself.
After all, peak late Integration stage cultivation was considered the most powerful among cultivators in this world, with the next step being ascension.
Xia Feng couldn't possibly be of a higher realm, right?
If he were, he would have ascended long ago.
Why would he still be wasting his breath with them?
"Senior brother's words make sense," Dongfang Kai nodded.
He also agreed with Dongfang Lang's reasoning.
Then, Dongfang Kai said uneasily, "Senior brother, I feel something is wrong. Why don't we return to the sect and report this to the clan leader?"
"Alright, let's put aside bringing people back to the sect for now. We'll return and report this before making any decisions," Dongfang Lang nodded.
"Senior brother, what do you think Xia Feng's cultivation is?" Dongfang Kai asked curiously.
"I'm not sure, but he's far higher than us. At least at the Soul Transformation stage, perhaps even at the Integration stage," Dongfang Lang shook his head.
"I never thought there were such capable individuals in the outside world. I can't comprehend it," Dongfang Kai sighed.
"There are many things we can't comprehend. Let's leave here quickly," Dongfang Lang said, looking around.
"Okay," Dongfang Kai nodded.
The outside world was too terrifying; they needed to return to the sect quickly.
Despite the world's allure, it wasn't a place they could stay.
The two circled the magical city for a long time. After confirming they weren't being followed, they suddenly vanished into the night.
Watching them disappear into the darkness, a figure emerged in the sky above – it was Xia Feng.
Xia Feng was amused by their actions. Even if he wanted to follow them, they wouldn't have detected it.
Besides, they had already revealed their sect's location.
It was completely unnecessary, like... farting after taking off your pants.