Only at this moment, witnessing with their own eyes how this impersonator of the Monarch had, with a single shout, forced the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant out of Shi Lingkai, did everyone realize that the rumors were not false, nor were they exaggerated, nor were they a fabricated show of force concocted by Old Man Black Buddha to fool others.
Rather, this man truly possessed such capability and such power.
Especially as they watched the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant circling excitedly and fervently around the white-robed man, a question mark flashed in everyone's minds: was this person truly the real Lord Chixiao?
If he wasn't, why would the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant revere him as if seeing its master, so excited and fervent?
But, if he really was the Monarch...
This...
No one dared to think too deeply, nor dared to speculate recklessly.
Others felt this way, and the Chixiao people present, like Yuheng from the Meishan Branch of the Deficit Head, were also staring wide-eyed at each other.
They had all heard from Liu Yue and Feng Xu personally about the events at the Shanhe Branch, and they also knew this man was that Chiyan Young Master from the Great Northwest.
But hearing about it was one thing; seeing it with their own eyes was another matter entirely.
That kind of soul-deep shock was beyond words; that kind of stirring from the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant within their bodies was something others could never comprehend.
Was the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant's reverence and affection for him because he had truly fused with a remnant wisp of the Monarch's consciousness, or was there another reason?
They didn't know.
Nor did they dare to think too deeply.
Awooo— The Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant continued to circle around Gu Qingfeng, emitting bursts of dragon-elephant roars. Opposite, Shi Lingkai was now neither human nor ghost; having lost the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant, he had almost lost half his life. He had aged considerably in an instant, his Nascent Soul withering, his physical body deteriorating.
"Back then, you colluded with the Immortal Court, betraying your Chixiao brothers. Considering how difficult cultivation is, and survival even more so, I not only refrained from killing you, I didn't even reclaim your Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant. I merely expelled you from the Chixiao Sect, nothing more."
Gu Qingfeng looked at him, his expression indifferent, his voice even more detached, saying: "Since you were expelled from the Chixiao Sect back then, you are no longer a Chixiao person. I won't pursue matters from that time. What you've done in the Present Era, I don't know, nor do I want to know, nor have any interest in knowing. I didn't kill you back then, and now I can't be bothered to kill you again. However, you are no longer qualified to possess the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant."
As he spoke, Gu Qingfeng raised his hand, and Zhou Ting's body levitated into the air. He placed his hand on Zhou Ting's abdomen, a flash of light erupting from his palm as a ball of light was extracted from Zhou Ting's body. This ball of light was sacred and pure, like a holy flame, except this holy flame looked on the verge of death, as if it could extinguish at any moment.
Watching this holy flame, the elders from the Four Great Families and Seven Great Sects present trembled uncontrollably, for they could all see that this holy flame was none other than Zhou Ting's Minor Mandate.
He actually...
He had actually extracted Zhou Ting's Minor Mandate as well!
How did he extract it?
And by what means?
No one knew.
Nor was it important.
What was important was that he had, with just a raise of his hand, extracted Zhou Ting's Minor Mandate and held it in his palm.
"I'll spare your life. Go back and tell Zhou Taihe that I, Gu Tianlang, have returned. Tell him to come to the Yanluo Imperial Mausoleum during the Temple Fair to meet his death."
With that, he flipped his palm and stored the Minor Mandate away.
Looking at the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant circling around him, Gu Qingfeng reached out and gently stroked its head. No one heard what he said, but the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant spiraled upward, soared into the sky, pierced through the clouds, and vanished without a trace, leaving behind only the lingering echoes of dragon roars and elephant bellows.
"Whether it's the Four Great Families or the Seven Great Sects, those who seek revenge, those who want to settle scores, those who find me displeasing, those who find me irritating, even those who want to kill me—it's getting late today, so don't waste your energy messing around. I, your lord, don't have the time or the patience to deal with your repeated provocations."
Gu Qingfeng swept his gaze across the scene, speaking indifferently: "Since the Temple Fair is about to arrive, then let's settle it at the Temple Fair. I, your lord, will be waiting for you at the Imperial Mausoleum. Bring everyone from your families, sects, and factions—your masters are fine, your grandmasters are fine, but it's best to call over even your ancestors from eighteen generations back. Let's settle everything thoroughly in one go."
Turning his gaze towards the Yanluo Immortal Manor, Gu Qingfeng added: "You from the Immortal Manor are the same. I, your lord, can't be bothered to kill any more of you today. Go back and report this matter to the Lord of Yanluo Immortal Manor. It's best to report it to the Immortal Court. Tell them that I, Gu Tianlang, am still alive. Not only alive, but alive and well. Those who think their lives are too long, those tired of living—during the Temple Fair, all of you come to the Imperial Mausoleum to meet your deaths!"
Arrogant!
Gu Qingfeng's words were nothing if not arrogant!
Arrogant to the point of being brazen, arrogant to the point of defying all laws and heavens.
Immortal Official Qimu of Ziyun and the other Immortal Officials flushed red with anger, yet none dared to say a word. They all wanted to leave this place as soon as possible, their thoughts turning to retreat. Only Feiyu Yun Jue remained standing in place, staring fixedly at Gu Qingfeng, as if unwilling to concede, yet also wary. He wanted to make a move but was afraid, hesitating indecisively. No matter how Qimu tried to persuade him, he turned a deaf ear, just staring.
"Just who are you!"
Finally, he asked a question, his voice heavy.
"Who I am is not important. What's important is that you need to know who you are. Since you possess an Imperial Edict of the Human Dao, you are a person chosen by the Dao. Today, I, your lord, will give face to the Human Dao, and also give face to you. I hope you conduct yourself properly and do not disappoint the expectations the Human Dao has for you!"
Gu Qingfeng was a Human.
He was in the past, is now, and will be in the future. He has never changed, and he has always considered himself a Human. Even after ascending to the dual thrones of Immortal and Demon, achieving the position of Nine Nethers Emperor, he has always considered himself a Human.
He respects neither the Heavenly Dao nor the Immortal Dao above, nor the Monster Dao or Devil Dao below. He doesn't even have to respect the Buddhist Dao, nor does he hold the Three Thousand Great Daos in regard.
Only towards the Human Dao does he hold some respect in his heart.
For no other reason.
Because he is a Human.
Those who possess Imperial Edicts are, without exception, individuals chosen by a Great Dao. Since the Human Dao bestowed this Imperial Edict upon Wang Feiyu, it must have expectations for him. In the future, he might also be needed to face some tribulation of the Human Dao.
Since that was the case.
Gu Qingfeng naturally would not make things difficult for a bearer of a Human Dao Imperial Edict.
At least.
Not now.
"Give face to the Human Dao?"
A complex gleam flickered in Feiyu Yun Jue's eyes as he stared at Gu Qingfeng, saying arrogantly: "You truly have an enormous tone!"
"My tone has always been enormous."
"Hah!
I don't know if you are the real Gu Tianlang, and I don't care. Even if you are the real Gu Tianlang, I, Wang Feiyu, bearing the Imperial Edict Mandate of the Human Dao, am not the least bit afraid of you!"
Perhaps Gu Qingfeng's words about giving face to the Human Dao led Wang Feiyu to mistakenly believe that Gu Qingfeng was afraid, which was why he said such things. Consequently, Wang Feiyu, who had initially been somewhat wary of Gu Qingfeng, regained his confidence, his confidence grew much stronger.
"You little brat, I'll say it one more time. Today, out of respect for the Human Dao, I don't want to fight you. But that's all. Don't be ungrateful. Get lost. Go cool off somewhere else."