Every year as the temple fair approached, it was the liveliest time in Yanluo Kingdom.
The prodigious talents of the major sects would all choose this time to emerge from seclusion, preparing to flaunt their might and establish their fame during the fair.
However, this year, though the temple fair was only a few days away, the entire Yanluo Kingdom was not as bustling as in previous years. Not only was it not lively, the whole kingdom seemed shrouded in dark clouds, the atmosphere oppressive and heavy.
Everyone knew the reason why the atmosphere in Yanluo Kingdom had become so stifling and oppressive: it was due to the events that had occurred at the Yunchuan Garden Pavilion a few days prior.
That incident had long since spread throughout Yanluo Kingdom, causing a huge uproar. The events at the Yunchuan Garden Pavilion were being discussed in every street and alley.
Since the opening of the Present Era a hundred years ago, this was the first time such a major incident had occurred in Yanluo Kingdom.
Within Yanluo Kingdom, the four great clans and seven great sects held immense power, and almost no one dared to provoke them. Zhou Taihe's Chixiao faction and the Immortal Nobles of the Yanluo Immortal Manor went without saying.
But now, not only were the prodigious talents of the four great clans and seven great sects injured, crippled, maimed, or dead, even the grandson of the Blackhearted Old Master, Zhou Ting, had his lesser mandate stripped. Several Immortal Dynasty Nobles of the Yanluo Immortal Manor had died, and even Feiyu Yun Jue, who was said to possess the Mandate of Humanity, had nearly been killed.
How could this not shock people? How could it not make the atmosphere in Yanluo Kingdom oppressive? Especially since the one who acted was a Chixiao Monarch whose authenticity was unknown.
According to the rumors, the man who claimed to be the Monarch possessed neither prodigious talent nor cultivation, yet his physical body was unbelievably strong, and he commanded the absolute reverence of the Chixiao People's Bloodfiend Dragon-Elephant.
This inevitably made people doubt the authenticity of this Monarch.
For several days, everyone had been speculating about whether this Monarch was real or fake.
While speculating, they were also deeply puzzled.
Because after the incident, the four great clans, the seven great sects, even Zhou Taihe's Chixiao faction, and the Yanluo Immortal Manor had shown no reaction whatsoever.
Some said they were all afraid.
Afraid that the man claiming to be the Monarch was the true Monarch.
Others said that even if the man wasn't the true Monarch, his strength was extraordinary. The fact that he alone, with a single shout, had overwhelmed thousands, and that a Returning to Origin cultivation Purple Cloud Immortal Official couldn't even stand steadily before him, was enough to make the major powers dare not act rashly.
Still others said that the four great clans, seven great sects, including the Blackhearted Old Master and the people of the Yanluo Immortal Manor, were all waiting—waiting for the temple fair to arrive.
It was said that when the temple fair came, the True Immortals of the Immortal Dynasty would descend.
At that time.
Regardless of whether the man claiming to be the Monarch was the true Monarch or not, he would be doomed.
As the days passed, the date of the temple fair drew ever closer.
...
Mei Shan.
It was a mountain of great renown within Yanluo Kingdom.
Because the famous Mei Shan Branch Hall was located here.
Almost everyone in Yanluo Kingdom knew that within the kingdom's borders, two Earth Fiend Old Masters of the Chixiao Sect stood guard.
One was the Black Buddha Old Master, Dong Laohu.
The other was the Blackhearted Old Master, Zhou Taihe.
Under the Blackhearted Old Master, the Juexin Branch Hall took the lead.
While under the Black Buddha Old Master, the Mei Shan Branch Hall took the lead.
The Juexin Branch Hall housed the various Banner Masters and Hall Masters of the former Chixiao Sect. Similarly, the Mei Shan Branch Hall also had many of the Chixiao Sect's Banner Masters and Hall Masters. The only difference was that the Chixiao People in the Juexin Branch Hall all supported the Blackhearted Old Master, while the Chixiao People in the Mei Shan Branch Hall all supported the Black Buddha Old Master.
At noon on this day.
Under a bright, sunny sky.
A carriage pulled by twin-headed lion-tigers raced at great speed before coming to a halt at the foot of Mei Shan.
The driver was a dwarf with a thin mustache and a short, stocky build.
The passenger was a gentle, jade-like young man in white robes who appeared somewhat lazy.
The dwarf was none other than Fei Kui.
And the young man in white was precisely Gu Qingfeng.
After Gu Qingfeng's nirvana rebirth, whether it was his physical body or his essence, energy, and spirit, he was in a state of extreme weakness, truly unfit for action. Having acted at the Yunchuan Garden Pavilion a few days ago, while it hadn't caused any major repercussions, it had left him utterly exhausted. After returning, he slept continuously for three or four days before barely recovering.
Seeing the fine weather today, he remembered the people he had encountered at the Yunchuan Garden Pavilion, like Yu Heng and the others.
Considering it had been several hundred years since they last met, now that they had crossed paths, they really should share a few drinks.
Thus.
He had come today.
"So this is Mei Shan?"
Gu Qingfeng looked at this Mei Shan. He had to admit, at a single glance, it looked quite imposing. It even bore some resemblance, however slight, to the Chixiao Sect of old. He figured it must have been something that rascal Dong Laohu had cooked up; no one else had such grand vision.
"Young Master, this humble one will go announce your arrival."
"No need, people are already coming."
Before Gu Qingfeng's words had fully faded, *whoosh whoosh whoosh*—over a hundred figures suddenly rushed down from the mountain.
Gu Qingfeng took a look. Good heavens, they were all Chixiao People. Leading them were Yu Heng, Feng Xu, and others—old subordinates of Dong Laohu from back in the day.
Immediately after, another group rushed down. They were Dong Laohu's disciples, including the current Hall Master of the Mei Shan Branch Hall, Ben Lei. His son, Hao Yang, was among them, and his daughter, Liu Yue, was also present.
Seeing Gu Qingfeng again, Liu Yue's heart was filled with extreme complexity, a kind that was indescribable.
Even now, she couldn't forget the scene from a few days ago when Gu Qingfeng had acted at the Yunchuan Garden Pavilion.
Besides shock, her heart was also filled with endless doubts.
She simply couldn't understand why this fellow's physical body was so powerful!
Even more, she couldn't understand how this fellow, who usually seemed so carefree and irreverent, could seem like a completely different person when he took action.
That aloof pride that looked down upon the world!
That domineering arrogance that overlooked all under heaven!
That awe-inspiring presence that shook the world!
Even now, thinking about it made it hard for her to believe.
Originally, she had firmly believed Gu Qingfeng was a fraud, someone who had merely fused with a remnant consciousness of the Monarch.
But ever since the events at the Yunchuan Garden Pavilion, she had even begun to doubt whether this fellow had merely fused with a remnant consciousness of the Monarch or was truly the Monarch himself.
She didn't know.
She couldn't deduce it either.
"Well, well."
Gu Qingfeng looked at the hundred or so Chixiao People. Though a smile hung at the corner of his mouth, his heart was filled with emotion, because among these Chixiao People were many familiar faces, as if they had transported him back to the Chixiao Sect of old. He laughed, "Quite a crowd. Many are old brothers from our Chixiao Sect back in the day!"
"Chiyan Young Master, this old man and the others have been awaiting your arrival at the Mei Shan Branch Hall for many days."
Yu Heng's expression was somewhat grave as he cupped his hands in greeting, appearing quite respectful towards Gu Qingfeng. His saying they had been waiting for many days was no exaggeration. Ever since Gu Qingfeng mentioned at the Yunchuan Garden Pavilion a few days ago that he wanted to chat with them, Yu Heng and these Chixiao People had been waiting at the Mei Shan Branch Hall. They hadn't expected to wait a full three or four days. Fortunately, he had finally come, because they had far too many questions and far too many confusions for which they hoped to find answers from Gu Qingfeng.
"My apologies. I was truly exhausted back at the Yunchuan Garden Pavilion. I needed a few days of rest to barely recover. I came as soon as I woke up. Come on, don't just stand there. Let's go have a couple of drinks."