When Shi Lingkai had just discovered that Gu Qingfeng carried no Turbid Breath and was not a Reincarnation individual, the stone hanging in his heart gradually settled, and he felt Gu Qingfeng could not possibly be the true Monarch.
However.
Now, hearing Gu Qingfeng speak of his collusion with the Immortal Dynasty back in those days, Shi Lingkai's relaxed heart tensed up once more. He stared at Gu Qingfeng, utterly unable to comprehend how this person before him could know such a private matter from the past.
Just as Shi Lingkai was filled with extreme shock and suspicion, Gu Qingfeng's indifferent, spring-breeze-like voice drifted over again.
"Back then, you lot bit the hand that fed you, colluding with the Immortal Dynasty, and even prepared to betray your own sworn brothers. Considering your cultivation hadn't come easy, I didn't do much to you. I didn't even reclaim your Bloodfiend Dragon-Elephants. I haven't spoken of this matter to outsiders even to this day, as it's hardly a glorious affair. If word got out, even if I were willing to let you off, the other Chixiao brothers would never spare you."
Gu Qingfeng wasn't looking at Shi Lingkai. Instead, he held a cup of wine, taking occasional sips as if reminiscing about the past, sighing with emotion. "Thinking back on it now, I was perhaps a bit too soft-hearted back then."
As he spoke, he seemed to remember something else. He lifted his head and looked at Shi Lingkai. "If my memory serves me right, you were among those Banner Masters who knelt on the ground begging for mercy and swearing oaths back then, weren't you?"
"You!"
Shi Lingkai's face paled dramatically, his complexion alternating between green and white. He glared wide-eyed at Gu Qingfeng.
The events of that year remained vivid in his mind to this day. He could never forget the terrifying, sky-piercing killing intent emanating from the Monarch after their collusion with the Immortal Dynasty was exposed!
But that matter was known only to the Monarch and those Banner Masters who had colluded with the Immortal Dynasty back then. Those Banner Masters would absolutely not voluntarily speak of it. Why did this person know? Could he truly be...
No!
Impossible!
Forcing down the fear in his heart, Shi Lingkai took a deep breath and shouted, "You... just who are you!"
"What do you think?"
Shi Lingkai didn't know. At this moment, his mind was in complete turmoil, and he couldn't judge whether this person was the true Lord Chixiao or not.
This scene, witnessed by everyone present, sparked murmurs and discussions.
Although they didn't know the details of the Chixiao Sect's past, from the conversation between the two and Shi Lingkai's reaction, they could more or less infer that what Gu Qingfeng said was most likely true. Otherwise, Shi Lingkai wouldn't be so flustered.
At this point, the expressions of the Elders from the Four Great Families and Seven Great Sects present became somewhat unnatural.
They had all initially believed this was yet another person impersonating the Monarch, perhaps a fake deliberately found by the Black Buddha Lord to impersonate the Monarch and intimidate people.
But with Shi Lingkai's panic, they too began to feel uneasy.
A person's reputation is like the shadow of a tree.
The prestige of Lord Chixiao was known throughout the world, with none unaware.
Back when the Monarch was not yet the Monarch, he had already swept through the Four Great Families and Six Great Sects in Yanluo Kingdom, leaving them with a deep-seated shadow and fear of Lord Chixiao. Especially the natural, unruffled demeanor and fearlessness that flowed from Gu Qingfeng made everyone present quite wary.
Thinking of this, the Elders from the Four Great Families and Seven Great Sects secretly warned their sect's Heavenly Geniuses not to act rashly. Even the Ziyun Immortal Official Qi Mu of the Yanluo Immortal Office was no exception. He had already been an Immortal Official of the Immortal Dynasty in ancient times and had lived through that frenzied era. Precisely because he had experienced it, he knew the terror of Lord Chixiao.
If it were anyone else, he might have been able to see some clues at a glance, but on Gu Qingfeng, he could discern nothing.
Inside the pavilion.
Tang Manqing, Liu Yue, and Lin Xiang'er exchanged glances. They all knew Gu Qingfeng's identity and that he had fused with a remnant consciousness of the Monarch. Since that was the case, he should have obtained some of the Monarch's memories. The words he just spoke were probably meant to deliberately scare these people, right?
"This guy's skill at being deliberately mystifying is no small feat. It seems he's really scared these people," Tang Manqing's voice came.
Liu Yue also nodded. "If this guy is really putting on an act, then he's playing the part too well, isn't he? It's practically flawless, with almost no discernible cracks. If I didn't know he had fused with the Monarch's remnant consciousness, I'd almost believe it myself."
"I don't think he's being deliberately mystifying," Lin Xiang'er said.
Tang Manqing asked, "Xiang'er, you don't actually believe he is the Monarch, do you?"
"I don't know. I just feel he doesn't seem to be putting on an act. Moreover, Sister Miao also said he isn't feigning composure; he is truly calm and truly doesn't regard these people with any importance."
Neither Tang Manqing nor Liu Yue quite believed what Sister Miao had said earlier, feeling her words were too exaggerated and utterly unreliable.
At that moment, another large group of people appeared majestically in Qinggui Garden, numbering several dozen.
They were also people of the Crimson-Letter Sect, but not from the Juexin Branch.
They were over ten Chixiao people from the Shanhe Branch, including Elder Fengxu and Great Elder Luo Yi.
Apart from the over ten Chixiao people from the Shanhe Branch, there were also Chixiao people stationed at the Meishan Branch. Leading them was a highly respected senior Chixiao figure known throughout Yanluo Kingdom—Yuheng.
He was the old Branch Master of Meishan Branch, the old Banner Master of the Meishan Banner of the Chixiao Sect back in the day, and also the Right Envoy under the Black Buddha Lord.
His cultivation had already reached the Chaoyuan Earth Immortal realm in ancient times. He was a man of noble character and integrity, charitable and benevolent, enjoying a high reputation within Yanluo Kingdom.
Accompanying them was another heavyweight figure.
He was the current Branch Master of Meishan Branch, a direct disciple of the Black Buddha Lord, and also Liu Yue's father—Benlei.
And Liu Yue's brother, Haoyang, was also among them.
Haoyang served as the commander of Yanluo Kingdom's Imperial Guard.
His father was Yanluo Kingdom's famous Iron-Blooded General, holding military authority over the Nine Domains of Yanluo. His cultivation was also extraordinary, likewise a Chaoyuan Earth Immortal. True to his name, he was decisive and swift, with thunderous methods.
"Grandpa Yuheng, Father, Brother, how did you..." When these people appeared in Qinggui Garden, Liu Yue felt a surge of joy and was the first to run over.
"Your Grandpa Yuheng, Elder Fengxu, and I happened to be discussing some matters while touring the garden. We heard a major incident had occurred here, so we came to take a look."
This Benlei was a very imposing middle-aged man, standing tall like an ancient pine, his voice resonant as a great bell. Even without wearing military armor, his presence there still exuded a powerful aura.
"Is he the one impersonating the Monarch?"
Benlei's eyes were sharp as a hawk's, sweeping over with a gaze as piercing as a howling winter wind.