"So it's you two. We really do have quite some fate."
Upon realizing it was Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao, Gu Qingfeng was somewhat surprised. He had been here for quite a while but truly hadn't noticed these two had also come. He chuckled, "Now that I think of it, though we aren't acquainted, we've met several times in the Great Northwest. There's no need for such formality. Since we've run into each other, let's have a couple of drinks."
"We dare not."
After rising to their feet, Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao absolutely did not dare to take a seat and drink with Gu Qingfeng.
Gu Qingfeng shook his head but didn't press the matter. He asked, "I saw you two step out from the Immortal Dynasty ranks earlier. What, are you working for the Dynasty now?"
As he spoke, Gu Qingfeng suddenly remembered their identities and laughed dryly, "I'd actually forgotten your previous incarnations."
"Lord, please do not misunderstand. After our reincarnation, the two of us only wished to cultivate in seclusion away from the world. However, against our wishes, due to various unavoidable circumstances, we had no choice but to enter the Immortal Dynasty. Our arrival in Yanluo this time is also entrusted by the Dynasty to protect the safety of several young nobles."
"Is that so…" Gu Qingfeng nodded, indicating his understanding.
Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao, after all, were Xuan Immortals from the Nine Heavens in their previous lives, with complex backgrounds and connections. After reincarnation, if they had hidden their identities, that would have been one thing. But once their identities were exposed, many matters would no longer be up to them.
"That Old Monster Tang was blabbering on about so much earlier. I didn't really catch what was going on. What exactly does the Immortal Dynasty plan to do with the Yanluo royal family this time?"
"The Immortal Dynasty's intention is to have the Yanluo royal family state their terms so they can be recruited and surrender."
"Recruit and surrender?"
Gu Qingfeng looked towards Old Monster Tang in the pavilion and laughed, "Old Monster Tang, did you hear that? The Immortal Dynasty wants you to state your terms. So state one."
"State my foot! We'd rather die than surrender!"
Gu Qingfeng nodded in acknowledgment and asked again, "If the Yanluo royal family refuses to surrender, what will the Immortal Dynasty do then?"
"There will be negotiations. If the Yanluo royal family insists on not surrendering, the Immortal Dynasty will resort to a show of force to intimidate."
"I see…" Gu Qingfeng inquired about Old Monster Tang's stance, and Old Monster Tang responded, "Then let the Immortal Dynasty try their intimidation."
Within the assembly.
No one had ever imagined that Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao, two dignified Purple-Gold Immortal Nobles of the Immortal Dynasty, would not only kneel to a monarch of unknown authenticity but now would also divulge the Immortal Dynasty's intentions without any reservation. This left everyone present utterly incredulous.
The expressions of the thousands of Immortal Dynasty officials and nobles were ashen and grim.
In their hearts, beyond deep shock and suspicion, there was even more embarrassment, and humiliation!
After all, Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao were Purple-Gold Immortal Nobles of the Immortal Dynasty, and they themselves were reincarnated mighty ones. In a sense, they represented the Immortal Dynasty. Now, these very two were kneeling to a monarch of uncertain authenticity, truly sullying the dignity and prestige of the Immortal Dynasty.
However.
Embarrassment aside.
Humiliation aside.
It was precisely because the Immortal Dynasty personnel knew Wan Huaiyu and the other were reincarnated mighty ones that their reverent and respectful attitude towards Gu Qingfeng at this moment made none of them dare to act rashly.
"Just who are you?!"
Finally.
Yun Bao could no longer restrain himself and roared in a low, stern voice.
"And who are you?"
Gu Qingfeng glanced over indifferently.
"I am Yun Bao, emissary of the Immortal Dynasty!"
"Yun Bao…" Gu Qingfeng murmured the name, suddenly finding it somewhat familiar, though he couldn't quite recall. At that moment, Old Monster Tang walked over and chuckled, "Kid Gu, don't you remember this scoundrel?"
"How so?"
"This guy died at your hands back in the day."
"No real impression."
Gu Qingfeng had killed countless people in his life; apart from a very few special individuals, he truly couldn't remember.
"How could you forget, kid? Back when you first established the Chixiao Sect, before you and the Immortal Dynasty started fighting to the death, this scoundrel was once the Immortal Dynasty's Mighty Immortal, leading a group of Immortals to besiege you several times. Dong Laohu nearly died at his hands once. You were in seclusion at the time. After you came out and learned of this, you searched the world for this bastard."
"This scoundrel was so scared he didn't even dare return to the Immortal Dynasty, hiding in some ancient cave abode. But you still caught him in the end. After taking him back, you hung him up and beat him savagely for three days and three nights. Finally, the Immortal Dynasty came to demand him back. You, instead of handing him over, tore this Yun Bao apart alive right in front of the Immortal Dynasty delegation!"
After listening to Old Monster Tang's account, Gu Qingfeng carefully recollected and finally remembered. He couldn't help but laugh, "No wonder the name Yun Bao sounded so familiar. So that's what happened." Looking at Yun Bao again, Gu Qingfeng expressed some surprise, "I never thought you'd also reincarnated, and even cultivated back into an Immortal. That's truly remarkable."
The events of that year were an indelible scar in Yun Bao's heart and a humiliation spanning two lifetimes. Now, having it laid bare by Old Monster Tang in front of the entire assembly, Yun Bao's face was deathly pale, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. Gnashing his teeth in rage, he stared fixedly at Gu Qingfeng and spat out word by word, "I! Don't! Believe! You! Are! Really! Gu! Tian! Lang!"
"That's nothing strange."
Gu Qingfeng shrugged, neither affirming nor denying, and laughed, "Don't say you don't believe it. Ever since I woke up in this world these past years, I've been doubted back and forth. Up till now, even I'm starting to doubt whether I'm really Gu Tianlang."
At this moment.
Gu Qingfeng sat in his chair, one leg crossed over the other, sipping his little drink. He was the picture of carefree ease and at ease contentment, as if he were listening to a tune and watching a show, as if the events here had nothing to do with him.
And compared to him.
The thousands of Immortal Dynasty officials, from the emissary Yun Bao at the top, to the three chief administrators Liu Guangtao, Xun Nian, and Qian He, the thirty-six True Immortals, and the five hundred Loose Immortals—all were as if facing a great enemy, tense and fearful. As for the over two hundred arrogant and conceited young nobles of the Immortal Dynasty, while they too also harbored shock and tension, there was more anger, displeasure, resentment, and intolerance.
Especially the two Purple-Gold Immortal Nobles, Liu Guangque and Long Qianren. One possessed the ultimate of ninety-nine, eight hundred and eleven layers of Colored Spiritual Hues, hailed as the Son of Nature. The other gathered the Minor Heavenly Mandate, Minor Immortal Edict, Minor Nature, and also possessed the imposing might of the Azure Dragon Dominating the Sun. Seeing Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao treat Gu Qingfeng with such reverence, they weren't fools; they knew Gu Qingfeng's existence was absolutely no ordinary matter. But that was all.
Whether it was Liu Guangque or Long Qianren.
They didn't care, nor would they take him seriously.
Favored by heaven, they had been prodigies of the Current Era since emerging from their mother's womb. They had never feared anyone.
The two had long been unable to hold back and had been repeatedly requesting permission to fight from Yun Bao.
Unfortunately, they were all refused.
Now, watching Gu Qingfeng's calm and indifferent demeanor that seemed to disregard everyone from the Immortal Dynasty, they could no longer endure it and didn't continue requesting permission from Yun Bao. Liu Guangque took the lead and stepped forward, followed closely by Long Qianren, unwilling to be left behind.