Whether from the Immortal Dynasty, the Four Great Families, or the Seven Great Sects, anyone who had taken action was not spared; all were annihilated by Gu Qingfeng.
What was puzzling was that, for some unknown reason, Gu Qingfeng had not acted against the Taiji Sect alone.
The Ancestral Patriarchs of the Taiji Sect's Inner Council who had attacked earlier were now lying on the ground in a wretched state. Though not restrained, they had been shaken by the sheer force of Gu Qingfeng's voice until their seven orifices bled, their minds shattered, and their Immortal Spirits thrown into chaos. In this condition, forcibly circulating their Immortal Spirit would, at best, lead to Qi deviation and demonic possession; at worst, cause them to self-destruct on the spot.
But that wasn't important.
What mattered was that even if their minds weren't shattered and their Immortal Spirits weren't in chaos, facing the mysteriously powerful, slaughterous Gu Qingfeng at this moment, they dared not move.
Especially Deputy Sect Master Cang Yun of the Taiji Sect.
He lay collapsed in a pool of his own blood, trembling uncontrollably.
He had thought that with the Immortal Dynasty present today, he could borrow its prestige to exact revenge and settle old scores. Even if Gu Qingfeng was a fake Chixiao Monarch, he could at least wash away some of the shame from back then.
Only now did he realize it was all just his own wishful thinking.
Not only had he failed to exact revenge or wash away the past shame, but his Immortal Spirit had also been shattered. From now on, he would be a cripple, an even greater disgrace.
The current Taiji Sect Master Cang Kong, Elder Xu Mu, and others had not taken action. They had consistently opposed the Ancestral Patriarchs' actions, pleading with them repeatedly. But what was done was done; saying anything more was useless. Moreover, they understood clearly that if the Taiji Sect's Old Sect Master and these Inner Council Ancestral Patriarchs died here today, the Taiji Sect would need at least a thousand years to recover its vitality.
The two of them wanted to plead for mercy but dared not speak.
First, they were not acquainted with Gu Qingfeng at all.
Second, they were truly terrified.
After much deliberation, spotting Old Monster Tang, Cang Kong and Xu Mu steeled their hearts, gritted their teeth, knelt on the ground, and implored, "Senior Tang, the Old Sect Master and the others acted foolishly in a moment of confusion. We beg you, in consideration of the many years of friendship between our Taiji Sect and the Yanluo Royal Family, not to hold it against them. This junior kowtows to you here."
The Old Sect Master and the Ancestral Patriarchs of the Taiji Sect, who had been drowning in despair and fear, seemed to see a glimmer of hope. They too knelt and kowtowed desperately, hoping Old Monster Tang could intercede on their behalf.
"This junior knows he was wrong. We beg Senior Tang to be merciful and spare us."
No one feared death.
Both the Old Sect Master and those Inner Council Ancestral Patriarchs were no exception. Cang Yun feared death even more. Ignoring his injuries, he struggled up to kneel and kowtow.
"You sided with the Immortal Dynasty to deal with us, and yet your Taiji Sect still has the face to speak of friendship with our Yanluo Royal Family?" Old Monster Tang said with utter contempt. "This old man warned you earlier, but you refused to listen. You acted recklessly, courting death. Who can you blame now?"
Old Monster Tang knew that within the Taiji Sect, while the Old Sect Master and these Inner Council Ancestral Patriarchs had intentions of siding with the Immortal Dynasty, the majority, including Cang Kong and Xu Mu, still supported the Yanluo Royal Family. Moreover, the Yanluo Royal Family and the Taiji Sect did indeed share many years of friendship. Added to that was his own long-standing friendship with Xuanze. If possible, he truly wished he could plead for the Taiji Sect.
But he understood clearly in his heart: if Gu Qingfeng was determined to kill these people from the Taiji Sect, even his own pleas would be useless.
He was also quite puzzled. Why had Gu Qingfeng killed all those from the Immortal Dynasty, the Four Great Families, and the Six Great Sects who had taken action, yet left the Taiji Sect alone?
Could it be because of their past friendship?
That shouldn't be the case.
Old Monster Tang knew that Gu Qingfeng had no particular friendship with the Taiji Sect. If there was any, it was with Xuanze.
Back then, Xuanze had given Gu Qingfeng guidance. Could it be that this kid was refraining from action out of respect for Xuanze's face?
Gu Qingfeng had always valued loyalty and righteousness, remembering well those who had shown him kindness.
It must be because of Xuanze that he hadn't acted against the Taiji Sect.
Thinking of Xuanze, Old Monster Tang couldn't help but feel puzzled. Since Xuanze left the Azure Bamboo Forest last time, he hadn't seen him again. Had that old fellow gone out on some business?
That didn't seem right either.
Old Monster Tang clearly remembered that Xuanze had emerged from seclusion precisely because of the Taiji Sect's impending calamity. Knowing the sect faced this tribulation, Xuanze couldn't possibly have gone away.
The Taiji Sect's calamity?
Wait.
Old Monster Tang looked at Gu Qingfeng here, then at the kneeling Ancestral Patriarchs of the Inner Council. Only then did he realize: the Taiji Sect's calamity was actually Gu Qingfeng.
This was simply...
...
But then another thought struck him. Old Monster Tang immediately deduced that Xuanze must have known the Taiji Sect's calamity was related to Gu Qingfeng. Knowing he couldn't stop it, he had chosen not to appear.
Thinking this, Old Monster Tang immediately sent out his divine sense to probe. In his mind, even if Xuanze knew he couldn't stop the Taiji Sect's calamity, he would surely be nearby today. Just as he was probing, a figure suddenly appeared within the scene.
An old man with hair and beard as white as snow.
The old man's face was solemn, his brows furrowed, his expression extremely complex.
It was Xuanze.
Xuanze was the most accomplished among all the successive Sect Masters of the Taiji Sect. In terms of prestige and influence, he was second only to the sect's founding ancestor. In the ancient era, he was a powerhouse who shook this world. Moreover, he had attained the Dao and become an Immortal five thousand years ago. After achieving immortality, he abdicated his position, retiring to seclusion within the Taiji Sect to cultivate. Whenever the Taiji Sect faced difficulties, he would appear to help it overcome the crisis.
The Taiji Sect's Old Sect Master and the Inner Council Ancestral Patriarchs had always known of Xuanze's existence. Not only had they met him, but some of the Ancestral Patriarchs had even received guidance from him.
Now, seeing Xuanze suddenly appear, the Taiji Sect's Old Sect Master and the Inner Council Ancestral Patriarchs were first startled, then overjoyed, excited and thrilled.
"Our Taiji Sect's Ancestral Patriarch Xuanze has come!"
"Everyone, quickly kneel and pay respects to the Ancestral Patriarch!"
Some of the Taiji Sect's younger disciples, and even the current Sect Master Cang Kong and Xu Mu, had never met Xuanze. They didn't even know this Ancestral Patriarch was still alive. However, the great name of Ancestral Patriarch Xuanze was absolutely thunderous to their ears, for many of the Taiji Sect's profound Immortal Arts and Divine Abilities had been created by Xuanze. They also knew this Ancestral Patriarch had been an Immortal for five thousand years.
Hearing that this white-haired old man was Ancestral Patriarch Xuanze, Cang Kong, Xu Mu, and the other Taiji Sect elders did not dare be negligent and immediately knelt in worship.
"Ancestral Patriarch Xuanze, please uphold justice for us! This demon Gu is preparing to slaughter our entire Taiji Sect!"
"Ancestral Patriarch Xuanze, we beg you to take action and slay this demon Gu!"
As the Taiji Sect's Old Sect Master and the other Inner Council Ancestral Patriarchs knelt and kowtowed, they also wailed and pleaded for the Ancestral Patriarch to take action and annihilate Gu Qingfeng. Especially Deputy Sect Master Cang Yun, who cried out with a voice torn by grief, "Ancestral Patriarch Xuanze, I am your great-great-disciple Cang Yun! This demon Gu used despicable means to harm us and seeks to slaughter our Taiji Sect! We beg Ancestral Patriarch Xuanze to take action, slay this demon, and avenge us!"