Old Monster Tang bringing up the past was one thing, but mentioning it now instantly ignited Cang Yun, who had been relatively calm until then. He roared furiously, "Old Monster Tang! You might be able to let go of what happened back then, but I, Cang Yun, cannot! That Gu Tianlang stole my woman and ruined my life. How can you just say 'let it go' and expect it to be over?"
"What do you mean 'stole your woman'? Henghe had no interest in you back then and told you so multiple times. It was you who shamelessly kept pestering her. How does that make her your woman? And what 'ruined your life'? Even if your life was truly ruined, you brought it upon yourself! Back then, that young fellow Gu endured it again and again. Who told you to be so aggressive? He didn't want to fight you, but you insisted...
You lost the fight, and now you blame him?
Your heart is far too narrow."
Cang Yun's face flushed crimson, his eyes glaring with murderous intent as he stared at Gu Qingfeng. "Let me tell you, today, regardless of whether he is the real Gu Tianlang or not, I will not let him go!"
Old Monster Tang shook his head and turned to persuade the Taiji Sect side. "Cang Kong, Xu Mu, hurry up and pull Cang Yun back."
If possible, Taiji Sect's Sect Master Cang Kong and Elder Xu Mu, along with the other elders, all wanted to pull Cang Yun back. However, the Inner Cabinet Ancestral Patriarchs were all present now, especially the Old Sect Master. Since they hadn't spoken, the two of them were helpless. Seizing the opportunity of Old Monster Tang's persuasion, they once again pleaded with the Old Sect Master, hoping Cang Yun would return.
The Old Sect Master then stepped forward and said, "Senior Tang, Cang Yun is now the Deputy Sect Master of Taiji Sect. I have long since entered the Inner Cabinet and have no authority to interfere in sect affairs."
"No authority to interfere? This old man thinks you just don't want to interfere!" Old Monster Tang looked at the group of Inner Cabinet Ancestral Patriarchs from Taiji Sect and said, "What you people of Taiji Sect are thinking, this old man knows perfectly well. You're siding with the Immortal Dynasty. This old man won't say anything about that, and I can even somewhat understand the difficult position Taiji Sect is in. After all, it's the Immortal Dynasty. Who has nothing better to do than to oppose the Immortal Dynasty?
If it were this old man, I'd probably side with the Immortal Dynasty too."
Perhaps not expecting Old Monster Tang to say such words, the people of Taiji Sect were very surprised and also somewhat embarrassed, feeling they had let down the Yanluo royal family.
However, the Old Sect Master seemed utterly indifferent, speaking calmly, "Since Senior Tang understands Taiji Sect's difficulties, that's all the better. I would also like to advise you, Senior, to submit to the Immortal Dynasty. A wise man knows how to adapt to the times. I believe the Immortal Dynasty will not treat the Yanluo royal family poorly. Do not engage in futile resistance, and do not play any tricks of mystification. Whether this person is truly Gu Tianlang or not, I do not know. But you, Senior, should understand that even if he really is Gu Tianlang, it changes nothing."
"This is the Present-Ancient Era, not the Ancient Era. The era belonging to Gu Tianlang has long since passed. The Present-Ancient Era belongs to the Immortal Dynasty, to the Cloud, and to the Nine Heavens Sovereign. The Ancient Era's Chixiao Monarch will also be submerged in the great tide of fortune in this Present-Ancient Era. Therefore, please, Senior, do not try to persuade us further. Since our Taiji Sect has decided to submit to the Immortal Dynasty, we will not change our stance."
"Did you brats from Taiji Sect not understand what this old man said? Do you really think this old man is trying to persuade you to help our Yanluo royal family deal with the Immortal Dynasty?" Old Monster Tang's voice rose with a hint of anger. "This old man pities Cang Yun and doesn't want him to be broken again and again by that young fellow Gu. At the same time, for the sake of the long-standing friendship between our Yanluo royal family and your Taiji Sect, and for Xuanze's sake, this old man has bothered to talk so much with you. How can you all be so ungrateful!"
Hearing Old Monster Tang mention the name Xuanze, the expressions of the Taiji Sect members all changed, especially the Old Sect Master and the Inner Cabinet Ancestral Patriarchs. The Taiji Sect disciples might not know who Xuanze was, but they knew Xuanze was a reclusive Ancestral Patriarch of Taiji Sect, of such high seniority that not even the Old Sect Master himself, nor even the most senior nine-tribulation loose immortal within the Inner Cabinet, would dare address him without the respectful title 'Ancestral Patriarch Xuanze'.
However, Ancestral Patriarch Xuanze had not appeared for several hundred, even a thousand years. No one in the Taiji Sect mountains knew his whereabouts.
Hearing Old Monster Tang mention him now, the Old Sect Master asked, "You've seen Ancestral Patriarch Xuanze?"
"Nonsense! This old man was playing chess with him just the other day!" Old Monster Tang cursed angrily. "And you say this old man is playing tricks of mystification? When you see Xuanze, ask him yourself whether that young fellow Gu is real or fake!"
The Old Sect Master and others seemed somewhat skeptical. "Senior Tang, do not deceive us. Ancestral Patriarch Xuanze has not shown himself for a thousand years. How could he possibly know Gu Tianlang!"
"That's just because you brats don't know! Not only does Xuanze know that young fellow Gu, but back when Gu was in Yanluo, Xuanze personally taught him the Thunderous Might Nine Mysteries Divine Ability. Otherwise, how do you think that young fellow Gu knew your Taiji Sect's secret technique back then!"
The Thunderous Might Nine Mysteries Divine Ability was Taiji Sect's secret divine ability.
Moreover, everyone in Taiji Sect knew that the Chixiao Monarch had injured Cang Yun back then using precisely the Thunderous Might Nine Mysteries Divine Ability.
At the time, no one knew why the Chixiao Monarch knew Taiji Sect's divine ability. It remained a mystery even now. Some had said back then that he might have stolen it, but Taiji Sect knew the Thunderous Might Nine Mysteries Divine Ability could not be stolen, as this secret divine ability had long been lost. Even within the Inner Cabinet, only a handful of Ancestral Patriarchs knew it. How could an outsider possibly steal it?
Now, hearing Old Monster Tang say that Ancestral Patriarch Xuanze had personally taught it to Gu Tianlang, many found it hard to believe.
"Old Sect Master, this matter might be true. Please reconsider!" pleaded Cang Kong, the current Sect Master of Taiji Sect. Then Xu Mu also advised, "The Thunderous Might Nine Mysteries Divine Ability is our Taiji Sect's untransmitted secret, long lost. None of our generation has been able to comprehend it. Yet the Monarch was able to unleash the Thunderous Might Nine Mysteries Divine Ability back then. Thinking about it now, it must have been Ancestral Patriarch Xuanze. Only he, the venerable one, understands the Thunderous Might Nine Mysteries Divine Ability!"
"Hmph! Old Monster Tang is merely playing tricks, aiming to make us believe that is the real Gu Tianlang! Everyone, do not be fooled!" Although the Old Sect Master said this, he couldn't help but feel a stir of doubt in his heart. He shook his head, refusing to dwell on it, and instead shouted sternly, "Even if this man surnamed Gu is truly Gu Tianlang, our Taiji Sect does not fear him! I have said, this is the Present-Ancient Era, not the Ancient Era. The era belonging to Gu Tianlang has long since passed. The Present-Ancient Era belongs to the Immortal Dynasty, to the Cloud, and to the Nine Heavens Sovereign!"
The Old Sect Master deliberately infused his voice with imposing sonic might, leaping into the air and shouting loudly, "Back then, the sinner of the Immortal Dao, Gu Tianlang, went on a killing spree in our Yanluo, nearly destroying many of our sects and families. This grudge! We will never forget it! Now that this man surnamed Gu claims to be Gu Tianlang, let us make him pay for the crimes Gu Tianlang committed back then!"