The phrase "black and blue all over" was a mark of shame for Council Elder Lei Ze and Elder Furong, a humiliation they could never forget in this lifetime.
Back then,
when Monarch Chixiao was cultivating in the Shangqing Sect, for nine years no one had ever seen him train, and he seemed to possess no cultivation whatsoever. Yet, just a few days before the Grand Assembly of Martial Arts, Monarch Chixiao entered seclusion for several days, advancing all the way from Foundation Establishment to Earth Immortal. During the Grand Assembly, Monarch Chixiao beat everyone who had ever bullied or humiliated him half to death. When Lei Ze and Furong stepped in to intervene, Monarch Chixiao beat them black and blue right on the spot.
It must be known that at the time, Lei Ze and Furong were both renowned throughout the world as Grand Luo Heaven Immortals. Yet, they were beaten black and blue by Monarch Chixiao, who was only at the Earth Immortal level—and in front of the entire world, no less. That time, the two of them could be said to have lost all reputation and face.
Later, when the various great sects joined forces to encircle and suppress Monarch Chixiao, the two of them charged at the forefront, only to be beaten half to death by Monarch Chixiao once again.
This made them even greater laughingstocks.
Although the Present-Ancient Era had begun and everyone had long since forgotten this matter, for the two of them, there was no way they could forget the shame of those years.
The reason they stood up this time was precisely to seize this rare opportunity to wash away the humiliation of the past.
Having their thoughts exposed publicly by Zhen Yang, the two found it hard to maintain their composure.
"I say, little Lei Ze, back then you, a Grand Luo Heaven Immortal, were beaten black and blue by that Gu kid with his Earth Immortal cultivation. How many years has it been now? Nearly four hundred, right?
And you, sure, your cultivation has improved quite a bit—you're practically a minor Golden Immortal now. But do you think that Gu kid's cultivation hasn't improved at all?
That kid only needed nine damn days in the Shangqing Sect to become an Earth Immortal. Now it's been four or five hundred years. With his talent and comprehension, giving him four or five hundred years, I wouldn't be surprised if the bastard became a god."
"And all of you."
Zhen Yang swept his gaze across the crowd and continued, "When you're usually dividing up resources, seizing spirit veins, and snatching secret realms, you're all shrewd as can be, each trying to outdo the other. Why are you all being so stupid today? Haven't you stopped to think about why the Cloudborn would issue an edict forbidding the Immortal Court from clashing with that Gu kid?
Back then, that Gu kid overthrew the Immortal Court, killed so many immortals of the Nine Heavens, pointed his sword at the Nine Heavens, and wantonly trampled upon the dignity of the Immortal Dao. Even you all want to save face and take revenge—do you think the Immortal Court doesn't want to? Or that the Cloudborn doesn't want to? Or do you all think every single one of the Nine Heavens is a saint? If that Gu kid were really so easy to kill, would the damn Cloudborn have issued such an edict?"
This logic wasn't something the various sect masters were unaware of.
Precisely because they knew, they had come to the Shangqing Sect today to discuss.
If the Shangqing Sect also intended to follow the Immortal Court's will, then no matter how unwilling they were, they would have no choice but to give up.
"Let's not talk about why the Cloudborn issued the edict—that's not important. What is important is, now that this Gu kid has returned with such fanfare, do you think he's afraid of you? Afraid of the Immortal Court? Afraid of the Cloudborn? Afraid of the Nine Heavens?
If he were afraid, would he still be Gu Tianlang?"
Wine Immortal Zhen Yang said a lot in one breath. Perhaps he was thirsty from talking; he opened his gourd and gulped down several mouthfuls of wine before continuing, "What kind of person that Gu kid is, I don't need to say, you all understand. You should be burning incense in gratitude if he doesn't come looking for trouble with you. Yet here you are, damn well discussing how to kill him. Tell me, aren't you all tired of living?
Me, I've always spoken straight, never beating around the bush. Been like that since I was a kid. If you think there's sense in what I say, listen. If you think I'm talking nonsense, just treat it as if I let out a fart."
After being berated so thoroughly by Wine Immortal Zhen Yang, the various sect masters had no face left to say anything more.
At that moment, Immortal Master Zhen Ting, who had remained silent all along, spoke up: "Although my junior brother's words may not be pleasant to hear, he is speaking for everyone's sake. Grudges, hatreds—since they are all in the past, let them stay in the past. If we continue to pursue grievances that are already over, it will only cause more people to lose their lives over it. If you won't consider yourselves, at least consider your descendants.
If all of you have come to respectfully welcome Her Ladyship the Female Sect Leader, our Shangqing Sect welcomes you. But if you have come to deal with Monarch Chixiao, then I ask you all to please return."
Immortal Master Zhen Ting stood up, looked at the various sect masters, and seemed somewhat disappointed. He sighed and walked outwards, saying, "Moreover, whether Monarch Chixiao is real or fake is still unknown. Why must you go to such lengths?"
Immortal Master Zhen Ting now held the position of Grand Council Elder, and coupled with his seniority, if he said to follow the Immortal Court's will, no one within the Shangqing Sect would dare refute him. The various sect masters exchanged glances, knowing that matters had reached this point, and no one said anything further.
Just as Immortal Master Zhen Ting and Wine Immortal Zhen Yang reached the entrance of the grand hall, a female disciple of the Shangqing Sect suddenly came to report, saying that Fairy Hua had arrived.
Fairy Hua?
Su Hua?
Hearing the news of Fairy Hua's arrival, both the council elders of the Shangqing Sect and the various sect masters were startled. But after the surprise came caution, and after caution came fluster.
Because they all knew that the Monarch Chixiao from the Yanluo Kingdom had been personally verified by Fairy Su Hua. And just a few days ago, that very Monarch Chixiao had sent a formal visiting card. Now that Fairy Su Hua had arrived, did it mean that Monarch Chixiao had come with her?
They didn't know.
Everyone grew somewhat tense.
"Could it be that the Gu kid has come too?"
Wine Immortal Zhen Yang looked quite excited.
Indeed.
Back when Monarch Chixiao was cultivating in the Shangqing Sect those years, aside from being most familiar with Old Tang of the Luoxuan Hall, he spent most of his time hanging around with this Wine Immortal Zhen Yang. It could be said that the reason Monarch Chixiao became so fond of good wine, feeling uncomfortable all over if he didn't drink for a day, was all *cultivated* by this Wine Immortal Zhen Yang.
A few days ago, upon hearing the news of Monarch Chixiao's return, this Wine Immortal Zhen Yang rushed back without stopping.
"Haven't seen that Gu kid for so many years, wonder what he looks like now. I heard his Immortal-Demon Unmatched Throne is gone, and his cultivation is gone too. Don't know if it's true. But that kid has always been damn weird. After all these years, who the hell knows what sinister things he's cooked up again."
Wine Immortal Zhen Yang seemed unable to wait any longer. Just as he was about to go out and take a look, a woman walked in.
A robe of pure white, three thousand strands of long hair.
A peerless beauty that could topple cities and kingdoms, as poetic and picturesque as a painting, her transcendent figure ethereal and sacred like mist within smoke.
Who else could it be but Su Hua.
As for Su Hua, the various sect masters present were no strangers. Seeing her arrival, they all stepped forward at once to greet and welcome her.
Su Hua seemed not to have expected all the various sect masters and clan heads to be gathered here, showing a slight surprise. But she quickly seemed to realize something and then relaxed. She smiled faintly and nodded in acknowledgment to everyone one by one. Seeing Immortal Master Zhen Ting and Wine Immortal Zhen Yang, Su Hua also bowed slightly in greeting.