To tell the truth,
While these individuals were all Inner Gate disciples of the Shangqing Sect, under ordinary circumstances, aside from a very select few, the others rarely ever came to the Shangqing Sect. With their innate talents and fortunes, the Shangqing Sect had little left to teach them. More often than not, they were either in secluded cultivation or out in the world developing and expanding their own power bases.
The reason they could gather together today was because the Shangqing Sect's Sect Head, Ye Tianlan—revered as the Female Sect Master Empress—was about to emerge from seclusion. As disciples of the Shangqing Sect, if they were unaware of this event, that would be one thing. But since they knew, they were obliged to come and participate in the ceremony to welcome the Empress's emergence.
Wuya sat upright on a stone stool, a faint smile on his face as he gazed at the chessboard. In one hand, he idly toyed with a piece of pristine white jade; in the other, he gently fanned himself with a white jade fan. With his handsome features, charming smile, profound eyes, and serene demeanor, he truly was the image of an elegant young noble.
Beside him, a woman with an orchid-like grace and flower-like beauty was brewing tea.
This woman was none other than Mei Ruolan, also an Inner Gate disciple of the Shangqing Sect.
Behind Wuya stood two others.
One was a majestic man standing three meters tall. His eyes were closed, and he remained utterly silent, resembling a giant statue or an indomitable mountain peak, exuding an intense pressure. Even Liuguang Bing, Long Qi, and the others present—each a proud son of heaven, a dragon among men—could keenly feel it.
Who exactly was this man?
None of them knew.
They only knew his name: A'Guang.
Like Wuya's shadow, he was often seen by his side.
The one playing chess with Wuya was an old man. The elder wore only a simple gray robe, appearing plain and unadorned—but that was merely an appearance. Whether it was Liuguang Bing, Long Qi, Wang Ba, Xun Yihe, or any of the others, they all understood this elder was unfathomably profound. Like the giant A'Guang, he had followed Wuya for years. As for what this elder truly was, they also did not know. They only knew Wuya addressed him as Ghost Elder, a mighty expert versed in unorthodox and esoteric arts.
"Gentlemen, your visit to my Bairi Peak today likely isn't solely for the matter of the Empress's emergence, is it?"
Wuya's voice, much like the man himself, gave an impression of cultured refinement, as calm and gentle as a spring breeze. He did not look at the others, continuing to toy with the pristine white jade while smiling at the chessboard.
Within the pavilion,
Liuguang Bing, Long Qi, Wang Ba, Xun Yihe, and the other twenty or so individuals exchanged glances. No one spoke up.
Although each was a leading figure of their respective family or power, renowned figures known throughout the Divine Land and even this world, within the deep and hidden waters of the Shangqing Sect's Inner Gate, none dared claim supremacy. Not only did they not dare, even Wuya—who possessed a Celestial Dao Radiance Edict and a Star Constellation Great Destiny—did not dare.
They understood better than anyone how deep the waters of the Shangqing Sect's Inner Gate ran. If one offended someone they shouldn't, they might not even know how they died.
These thirty-plus individuals usually got along well and were relatively close-knit. Within the Shangqing Sect's Inner Gate, they all looked to Wuya as their leader.
The Inner Gate of the Shangqing Sect was a unique and complex place. It wasn't particularly large, nor was it small. There were more than ten small circles like theirs.
The formation of these circles wasn't due to factionalism or discord with others. Rather, some circles were simply too high, too mysterious—so high they couldn't reach them, so mysterious they couldn't even make contact.
Their circle looked to Wuya as their leader, firstly because Wuya's status and position within the Shangqing Sect were higher than theirs. Secondly, and most importantly, Wuya could reach and had the qualifications to contact those few circles that were beyond their own reach.
"Could it be that you all returned solely for the Empress's emergence?"
Wuya chuckled lightly. "If that's truly the case, then I've been overthinking things."
As Wuya's voice faded, the thirty-plus individuals in the pavilion still did not speak. Finally, Liuguang Bing stepped forward and said, "Young Lord Wuya, our return this time is indeed for the matter of the Empress's emergence. However..." He paused, then continued, "Aside from welcoming the Empress, we also came for other matters. At least, that is the case for me."
"Speak, what matters?"
"I presume Young Lord Wuya has also heard the news that the Celestial Dao sinner Gu Tianlang is still alive?"
"So it is indeed about Monarch Chixiao's affairs. Heh."
Wuya picked up a white chess piece and placed it on the board. "Not only do I know he's alive, I also know that in the Yanluo Kingdom, he killed many people. Among them were your Liuguang family's Liuguang Que, and the Cloud-Above Dragon Clan's Long Qianren."
"Since Young Lord Wuya knows of this, that's even better."
Beside him, Long Qi, the leading figure of the Cloud-Above Dragon Clan, also stepped forward. "Presumably, Young Lord is also aware that on the day the Empress emerges, that Gu Tianlang will also come?"
Wuya nodded in affirmation. "I've heard something to that effect."
"What is Young Lord Wuya's view on this matter?"
"My view?"
Wuya shook his head slightly, his voice soft. "I have no particular view. If he comes, let him come. What does it have to do with me?"
Then he asked, "What? Do the two of you wish to seek revenge?"
"I do have such thoughts, which is why I wanted to ask for Young Lord's opinion."
After Liuguang Bing spoke, Long Qi voiced his agreement.
"And the rest of you?"
Wang Ba of the Tiger Might family said, "I have never met that Gu Tianlang, nor do I have any enmity with him. Naturally, revenge doesn't enter the picture. However...
Ever since I was born, I've heard many legendary tales about him. Many worship him like a god. Therefore, I've always wanted to meet him."
The others present seemed to share this sentiment.
Like Wang Ba, they had no personal grudges with Monarch Chixiao. Even if there were any, they belonged to the previous generation—matters of the past. They wouldn't pursue vendettas for bygone grievances; it held no meaning.
What truly interested them was the name 'Monarch Chixiao'. It was simply too immense, so vast that no one in this world was unaware of it. Even three-year-old children knew what manner of person Monarch Chixiao was. Many could recite his legendary stories by heart.
Tales of how his cultivation was broken and rebuilt nine times, how his fate saw nine lives and nine deaths.
Of achieving the status of both Nine Immortals and Nine Demons, of ascending to the peerless throne, of defying all creation and standing unique.
Of destroying immortal dynasties, severing immortal rivers, dominating the Nine Heavens, trampling the Nine Palaces, defying the Nine Skies, hailed as the sole and unparalleled figure across the three thousand boundless great worlds since antiquity.
The legendary stories of Monarch Chixiao were far too many, so numerous they couldn't be finished in days and nights. Just as Wang Ba said, in this world, especially in the eyes of those old-timers who experienced the frenzied era at the end of the ancient times, Monarch Chixiao was like a god.
They were the proud sons of heaven of the modern era, dragons among men in this world. Each had grown up surrounded by the awe and admiration of ordinary people. But they discovered that no matter how rapidly they advanced, no matter how much awe and admiration they garnered, in everyone's eyes, they could never replace Monarch Chixiao.
The existence of Monarch Chixiao was like a mountain of infinite height.
It had always pressed down upon their heads.
They all knew that if they wished to become the true overlords of this world, they must step over, suppress, or even topple this mountain that was Monarch Chixiao.