At the same time.
Over at the Immortal Dynasty side, discussions were also underway, though they weren't debating whether the white-robed man was truly Lord Chixiao.
Instead, they were discussing whether or not to take action.
Originally, according to plan, they hadn't intended to act today, planning to negotiate with the Yanluo Royal Family after the temple fair.
That's right.
Negotiate.
This was also the Immortal Dynasty's intention.
The Immortal Dynasty's decree was simple and clear: try to persuade the Yanluo Royal Family to surrender. If the Yanluo Royal Family stubbornly refused, then use force to intimidate them—and only intimidate, not slaughter. If the Immortal Dynasty truly intended to exterminate Yanluo, they wouldn't have sent so few people.
However.
With Gu Qingfeng's appearance, the situation had changed.
The reason was none other than this.
Gu Qingfeng had killed dozens of Immortal Dynasty Noble Scions in the Great Northwest, and not long ago, he had killed several more in Yanluo. Nine years ago, when Immortal Su Hua said he was dead, that was one thing, but now that he was clearly alive, this debt could not simply be forgotten.
The over two hundred Immortal Dynasty Noble Scions, led by Liuguang Que and Long Qianren, were all itching for a fight, clearly unable to hold back any longer.
Young people, of course, were impulsive and proud. Moreover, why had these Immortal Dynasty Noble Scions come all the way to Yanluo?
Did they really think it was just for training?
While training was part of it, more than that, they wanted to flaunt their power, thereby increasing their fame and preparing to make a name for themselves across the world.
One of the three Chief Administrators, Liuguang Tao, an elder of the Liuguang Family, shared this sentiment, advocating for Gu Qingfeng's immediate execution to uphold the Immortal Dynasty's dignity.
Yet.
There were also those who disagreed with this course of action.
Another of the three Chief Administrators, Xun Nian of the Haoran Xun Family, was one such voice.
"Although Gu Qingfeng killed dozens of our Immortal Dynasty's Noble Scions in the Great Northwest, a crime that cannot be forgiven, taking action against him now would likely ruin our greater plans. After all, our purpose in coming here is to persuade the Yanluo Royal Family to surrender. I hope everyone will prioritize the bigger picture."
Liuguang Tao retorted, "Chief Administrator Xun, you should be able to see the Yanluo Royal Family's attitude this time. They brought out this fellow surnamed Gu, falsely claiming he's the sinner of the Immortal Dao, Gu Tianlang, with a royal throne and prostrations—all just to use Gu Tianlang's fearsome reputation to intimidate us. Given that, do you really think they'll accept surrender?
They're clearly defying the decree. Moreover, we're only talking about killing that Gu Qingfeng. What does that have to do with the bigger picture?"
"Just as you said, Gu Qingfeng was invited out by the Yanluo Royal Family. Regardless of their purpose in doing so, if we execute Gu Qingfeng on the spot, it will inevitably provoke a backlash from the Yanluo Royal Family. Once a fight breaks out, the situation will be beyond salvage...
Trying to persuade Yanluo to surrender afterward would likely become extremely difficult."
Xun Nian argued his point, saying, "Furthermore, everyone knows the Immortal Dynasty's decree: avoid conflict with the Yanluo Royal Family unless absolutely necessary. In my humble opinion, the current situation is far from reaching that point of necessity, is it?"
"Hmph!
Now everyone knows this man is Gu Qingfeng, and they know he killed dozens of our Immortal Dynasty Noble Scions in the Great Northwest. If we let him roam free here with impunity, where would our Immortal Dynasty's dignity be?"
"Even if we must take action, there's no need to rush. After the temple fair, once we've discussed matters with the Yanluo Royal Family, we can still execute Gu Qingfeng then. It won't be too late."
"And if he runs away, will you take responsibility?"
"If we, with so many people here, can't even keep an eye on him, then we might as well not return to the Immortal Dynasty and end ourselves!"
"You!"
Liuguang Tao was left speechless by Xun Nian's words.
Xun Nian was a highly respected senior, renowned throughout the Immortal Dynasty and the world. Though Liuguang Tao was furious, he didn't dare be too disrespectful toward Xun Nian.
Just then, a grave voice interjected.
"If he wants to run, we might not actually be able to keep him here."
The speaker was a woman.
This woman, dressed in black robes, sat upright in her chair, savoring fine wine.
She was another of the three Chief Administrators—Qian He.
Holding a cup of fine wine, she gazed intently at Gu Qingfeng, who was sitting in the pavilion conversing with Tang Laoguai, and said softly, "But the problem is, he shows no intention of running. Not only that, but upon seeing our Immortal Dynasty forces, he hasn't shown a trace of fear or apprehension. Since his arrival, he hasn't even glanced in our direction. Don't you all find that rather strange?"
"Qian He, what do you mean?"
Liuguang Tao asked suspiciously, and the other Immortal Dynasty members were equally puzzled.
"What do I mean?"
Qian He said, "Chief Administrator Liuguang, let me ask you: Immortal Su Hua said he died nine years ago, yet he's alive. Why do you think that is?"
"Isn't it because Immortal Su Hua deliberately shielded him and falsely reported his death?"
"You know Immortal Su Hua, and I think everyone does. Even if you don't know her personally, you should know her character. Do you really think someone of Immortal Su Hua's character would shield a criminal who killed dozens of the Immortal Dynasty's Noble Scions?"
Qian He spoke slowly, her voice gentle. "Don't tell me it's because of Lord Chixiao, and don't mention any nonsense about him fusing with a fragment of the King's residual consciousness. Those are just rumors, not to be taken seriously. And I believe that given Immortal Su Hua's character, even if Gu Qingfeng truly had fused with a fragment of the King's residual consciousness, she wouldn't bend the law for personal gain or openly shield him."
"Immortal Su Hua said he died nine years ago. If she wasn't shielding him, why is this man still alive?"
"Yes, why indeed? That's the crux of the matter. What if Immortal Su Hua didn't falsely report his death back then, but genuinely believed he was dead?
Immortal Su Hua's experience is extraordinary. Unless she witnessed it with her own eyes or was absolutely certain, she would never speak carelessly. In other words, Immortal Su Hua must have personally witnessed Gu Qingfeng turn to ashes, yet he's alive nonetheless...
Don't you all find that terrifying when you think about it carefully?"
Hearing Qian He's words, the Immortal Dynasty members pondered carefully and indeed felt a sense of creeping dread.
"What exactly happened in the Great Northwest nine years ago, we don't know, so naturally we can't infer, nor do we know the truth. But that's not important either. Chief Administrator Liuguang, you just advocated for his immediate execution. So, let me ask you, do you know the extent of his strength?"
Liuguang Tao had no response to this question.
He truly didn't know how powerful Gu Qingfeng was.
"A person with no cultivation, no destiny, not even a reincarnated or body-snatched existence, who can annihilate ancient Earth Immortals with a wave of his hand and intimidate millions with a single shout—such an existence, whose depths you cannot fathom, and you dare act blindly?"
Liuguang Tao, having cultivated to become a True Immortal, was no fool. In fact, he was exceptional among men. If he encountered Gu Qingfeng alone, he truly wouldn't dare act rashly. But this time, the Immortal Dynasty had brought thousands of people, including over thirty True Immortals and hundreds of Loose Immortals. Naturally, Liuguang Tao felt no fear. Moreover, he prided himself on being an Immortal Dynasty-appointed True Immortal, acting on behalf of the Immortal Dynasty. Surely, no one would dare resist.
Even if, as a last resort, the other party did resist and defy the Immortal Dynasty, and if he truly couldn't match them, he was confident in preserving his own life. He could then return to the Immortal Dynasty to summon reinforcements and have Gu Qingfeng executed later!
In short.
No matter who the opponent was.
No matter how high their strength.
Anyone who opposed the Immortal Dynasty had only one fate: death.
And Liuguang Tao, deeply aware of this, therefore didn't worry too much about the consequences.