Old Monster Tang had been cultivating for over ten thousand years. He had seen all sorts of heaven-defying prodigies and geniuses, and had crossed hands with many powerful figures. But never before had he felt so utterly awkward. He had exerted every ounce of his strength, yet he hadn't managed to budge this young man a single bit—not even a single strand of his hair.
Back in the day, that Gu Tianlang's mysterious and bizarre fortunes were one thing; Old Monster Tang admitted he wasn't his match. But now, this kid had no fortunes on his body at all, nor any cultivation base. How had he become even more mysterious, even more bizarre, and even more terrifying than before?
"So, are you convinced yet?" Gu Qingfeng said with a smile. "If you're not, take a little rest first, and we can continue."
"You little bastard!"
Although Old Monster Tang didn't want to admit it, he had no choice but to acknowledge that he truly wasn't this kid's opponent. He didn't seem particularly embarrassed or humiliated, but asked in astonishment, "How is your physical body so damn tough? Are you even human anymore?"
Both of them could see that Gu Qingfeng's body was merely ordinary flesh and blood—it wasn't even an Immortal or Demon physique. With no fortunes to speak of, they couldn't fathom why it was so powerful.
"To be honest with you, I've already become a God."
"Become a God?"
Hearing this, Old Monster Tang froze for a moment, then immediately realized it was impossible and cursed angrily, "God my ass! Are you taking this old man for a three-year-old child?"
"Hahaha! Just a joke."
Gu Qingfeng picked up the wine pot and poured wine for the two of them. "My situation is a bit complicated. You'd better not ask. For one, I'm not too clear about it myself, and for another, you probably wouldn't believe me anyway."
Even if Gu Qingfeng hadn't said it, Old Monster Tang could have guessed as much. Back then, Gu Tianlang's mysterious fortunes—not only did they not know what they were, even he himself didn't know what was going on.
Still, Old Monster Tang couldn't help but ask curiously, "Just what the hell are you now? Back then, this old man clearly saw you get annihilated into dust and smoke by the Immortal Dao Judgment. How did you..."
Gu Qingfeng knew Old Monster Tang had a heavy curiosity. If he didn't clarify these matters, this old fellow probably wouldn't let it go. He didn't hide anything either, just responded lightly.
"The situation back then, you two are clear on it. Only if I died would the Nine Heavens relent. Only if I perished would this world find peace. So, I faked my death once."
"And then?"
"And then? Then I went for a stroll around the Great Desolate Celestial Realm."
"That's it?"
"What else could there be?"
"Nonsense! This old man doesn't believe you just went for a simple stroll in the Celestial Realm. With your temperament, could you have stayed quiet after going to the Celestial Realm? You've always been one to repay every grudge. The Celestial Realm is the territory of the Nine Heavens. Who knows what huge mess you stirred up there."
Gu Qingfeng shrugged, neither confirming nor denying.
"Also, what about your Peerless Immortal-Demon Throne? And all those fortunes? Why are they all gone?"
"Old Heaven crippled them, that's all."
Crippled? By Old Heaven? Could it be...
Old Monster Tang immediately realized it must have been the Ancient Cataclysm.
During the Cataclysm, Heaven and Earth judged all sins. That kid's collection of fortunes was a collection of sins, especially the Peerless Immortal-Demon Throne, which combined the thrones of Immortals and Demons into one. It was like trying to mix fire and water, violating the laws—a great sin. How could Old Heaven spare him?
"This old man knew this would be the consequence long ago. I urged you repeatedly to rein yourself in, not to clash head-on with Old Heaven, and certainly not to defy the heavens. In the end, the one to suffer would be you. So? Now you're in a pickle, aren't you? Crippled by Old Heaven, right? Let's see if you can behave yourself from now on."
"Wouldn't dare not behave."
He had wanted to mock the kid a bit more, but thinking of Gu Qingfeng's fortunes being crippled, Old Monster Tang felt a pang of discomfort in his heart and sighed with pity. "At least Old Heaven left you with your little life. You'd better wise up from now on. Going against Old Heaven never ends well."
"Understood. Come, come, let's drink."
Gu Qingfeng poured wine for the two again. Old Monster Tang raised his cup and drank. Xuanze was no exception; he rarely drank, but since the wine was poured by Gu Qingfeng, he naturally drank.
When old friends meet, there are always endless topics to discuss.
After all, they hadn't seen each other for several hundred years. They chatted about everything under the sun, from the heavens to the earth, reminiscing about past embarrassments, which itself was a kind of tribute to the passage of time.
Cultivation knows no years. Opening and closing one's eyes, a hundred years might pass. Gu Qingfeng felt this deeply, and Old Monster Tang and Xuanze, who had cultivated for over ten thousand years, felt it even more so. Their concept of time had long blurred; only certain people and certain events from the silently passing years remained fresh in their memories.
To welcome Gu Qingfeng, Old Monster Tang specially brought out the fine wine he had treasured for many years. With Xuanze keeping them company, the three raised their cups and drank, feeling utterly carefree.
"Tianlang, what are your plans now that you've returned?" Xuanze asked with concern.
Old Monster Tang's wine was no ordinary wine. It was brewed from all sorts of strange ingredients, extremely potent and with a strong kick. Forget ordinary people, even an Immortal would feel dizzy after one cup. Indeed, Fei Kui had only drunk one cup and immediately fell to the ground, fast asleep. After three rounds, even Xuanze was feeling a bit tipsy, his face slightly flushed.
"Plans? Nothing for the time being."
Gu Qingfeng loved good wine and had tasted all kinds. Old Monster Tang's wine might go to Xuanze's head, but to him, it was like plain water. He shook his head and replied, "This time I came back, I just wanted to see some old friends and, in passing, make up for some regrets I left behind back then."
"Regrets? What regrets? What, do you feel that you didn't completely wipe out the Immortal Dynasty back then, and now that it's returned, you want to make a comeback, rise from the ashes?"
"Where did you get that idea? Back then, I was young and didn't know any better. Now I'm old, I've experienced more, many things have faded in importance, and I'm tired. I don't want to stir up trouble anymore."
"Well, well, kid, I didn't see it before. You've grown up, matured quite a bit."
"Hahaha!"
"But kid, you just mentioned making up for regrets left behind. This old man would like to hear exactly what regrets you mean."
"Just some debts of human favors."
"Debts of human favors? What debts of human favors?"
After asking, Old Monster Tang seemed to realize what Gu Qingfeng meant by 'debts of human favors.' He couldn't help but snort coldly. "You're talking about your old flames, aren't you?"
Gu Qingfeng had many old flames.
At least, Old Monster Tang knew of several: the top female sect master of the Ancient Era, the princess of the Immortal Dynasty, the Queen of the borderlands, and even the World Honored Empress was one of this kid's old flames.
Although Old Monster Tang greatly disapproved of Gu Qingfeng's philandering, there was one thing he had to admit: this kid's luck with women was just too good. Almost all the peerless beauties of the Ancient Era in this world had some connection with him. Rumor had it there were twenty-four of them, each one a peerless heavenly genius's woman, born in different eras, spanning a period of a hundred thousand years.