Whether anyone had recognized Gu Qingfeng's identity was unclear.
At this moment, no one was paying attention to that.
Upon hearing the shouts, the crowd at the foot of Shangqing Sect surged over in a swarm. In less than a few breaths, Gu Qingfeng was already surrounded tightly, layer upon layer, with no way out.
When everyone saw Fairy Su Hua, they were all startled.
Then, upon seeing Gu Qingfeng sitting opposite Fairy Su Hua, everyone froze.
Dressed in white robes, his long hair loosely cascading, he sat casually on a stone stool with his legs crossed, leisurely sipping fine wine.
Could he really be Monarch Chixiao?
Everyone harbored doubts.
Many present had lived through that frenzied era of antiquity, and quite a few had personally witnessed Monarch Chixiao in that ancient time. In their memories, Monarch Chixiao's presence was aloof and domineering, cold and ruthless, especially his aura of bloody ferocity—it absolutely looked down upon the world, palpable even from a great distance.
But this person before them...
Forget aloofness or domineering aura, forget bloody ferocity—he didn't even seem to have any cultivation.
Could he possibly be that Monarch Chixiao who once ran rampant across the world in antiquity?
Unknown.
No one was sure.
However, they had heard that the Monarch Chixiao personally confirmed by Fairy Su Hua supposedly had neither cultivation nor destiny. From that perspective, this person did fit the description and should be the same Monarch Chixiao who had wreaked havoc in Yanluo.
Soon.
Disciples and Elders of Shangqing Sect arrived one after another.
More and more people gathered.
Not long after, the sect masters of various major sects and the family heads of various great clans who had been in discussions at Shangqing Sect also hurried over. The sect master of Dacheng Sect, the sect master of Chunyang Sect, the family head of Yunshang Long Clan, the family head of Liuguang Clan—all arrived.
Immediately after, as dozens of beams of light flashed, the inner disciples of Shangqing Sect, who were also the leading figures among the younger generation of various great clans, appeared successively.
There was Liuguang Bing of Liuguang Clan, a Star Marquis, Mighty Immortal, who had forged an Icy Immortal Body, condensed a Nine Yin Immortal Spirit, possessed the Imperial Edict of the Natural Water Element, and was known as the Ice-Snow Young Master.
There was also Long Qi of Yunshang Long Clan, a Star Marquis, Mighty Immortal, who possessed the Imperial Edict of the Natural Fire Element and wielded the Azure Dragon Dominates the Sun aura.
And Wang Ba of Huwei Clan, known as the White Tiger Young Master.
Xun Yihe of Haoran Xun Clan, the Haoran Young Master who possessed the Immortal Dao Light Imperial Edict.
Even.
Wuya, the personal disciple among Shangqing Sect's inner disciples, the carriage among Heaven's Chosen Ones, the dragon among men, who possessed the Immortal Dao Light Imperial Edict, the great destiny of a Star Descending to Mortal Realm, the peerless prodigy young master.
Inside the pavilion.
As the experts of Shangqing Sect appeared one after another, Su Hua's expression grew increasingly grave. Especially with the appearance of Wuya and the other numerous Heaven's Chosen Ones, she couldn't help but frown.
Because she knew that even if the leaders of the various sects and clans wanted to seek revenge on Gu Qingfeng for past grievances, they would hesitate due to the attitudes of the Immortal Dynasty and Shangqing Sect, not daring to act rashly.
However.
These young Heaven's Chosen Ones were different.
The attitudes of the Immortal Dynasty and Shangqing Sect might make them somewhat wary, but that was all—it didn't mean they wouldn't dare to take action.
Gu Qingfeng's fame had always been considered the greatest in the world.
He was also a mountain pressing down on the heads of all Heaven's Chosen Ones.
These Heaven's Chosen Ones had always wanted to leap over, topple, or even sever this mountain named Gu Qingfeng that weighed upon them.
That wasn't the important part.
What mattered was that Shangqing Sect was a place where dragons and tigers lay hidden. Just how many reincarnated great abilities were concealed within, even Su Hua couldn't say. Those great abilities were each unfathomable. Even if they bore no personal grudge against Gu Qingfeng, they would certainly be deeply interested in his existence. If they refrained from testing him, that would be one thing, but once they made a move to probe, the consequences would be unimaginable.
However.
What worried Su Hua the most was still that visiting card.
Even now, she didn't know who had sent that invitation, but one thing she was absolutely certain of: there was definitely some conspiracy behind it.
After all, Shangqing Sect was an extremely complex place, the deepest waters in this world, even deeper than those of the Immortal Dynasty.
A single visiting card had stirred up the entire world, completely exposed Gu Qingfeng's identity, and dragged him into the murky waters of Shangqing Sect, whose depth no one knew.
She wasn't afraid of Gu Qingfeng getting trapped, nor was she worried about him being killed.
A person whom even the most terrifying Divine Judgment between heaven and earth couldn't kill—no matter how deep Shangqing Sect's waters were, no matter how many hidden experts lurked, it would likely be useless. What truly frightened her was Gu Qingfeng himself.
On the surface, this fellow appeared calm and indifferent, detached from worldly strife, lazy and casual, looking completely harmless.
He claimed he was older now, more mature in thought, no longer as impulsive as in his youth, and wouldn't kill at the drop of a hat.
Su Hua had never taken those words seriously.
Perhaps after all these years, Gu Qingfeng's edges had been worn smooth, his temper somewhat restrained, not as brash and impetuous as in his youth, his personality perhaps calmer.
But that innate nature of aloof dominance, cruelty, and ruthlessness...
Had never changed.
Yes.
Never.
He could tolerate you once.
He could tolerate you twice.
But he would absolutely not tolerate you a third time.
If you repeatedly challenged his bottom line, he would absolutely obliterate you without mercy.
Mercy, forgiveness, giving others leeway—none of that worked with him.
Yunxia Sect, Bingxuan Sect, Jiuhua Alliance, Yaoyue Palace, Yanluo Kingdom... these were all perfect proof.
Even more terrifying was that no one knew just how powerful this fellow truly was. If he were dragged into Shangqing Sect's murky waters, then whether they were fish, shrimp, crabs, thousand-year turtles, or ten-thousand-year-old softshell turtles—even if there was a true dragon in those murky depths—none would escape calamity.
Thinking of this, Su Hua glanced at Gu Qingfeng with even greater concern.
And at this very moment, Gu Qingfeng was holding a cup of fine wine, squinting his eyes, smiling as he watched the experts appearing one after another. As he watched, he sighed with emotion, though it was unclear whether he was marveling at the sheer number of experts in Shangqing Sect or at the diverse variety of destinies in this world.
"Fairy Hua, is he... the Immortal...
Gu Tianlang?"
The one who stepped forward to ask was the family head of Liuguang Clan. It was evident he had originally intended to say 'Immortal Dao Criminal,' but seemed apprehensive and quickly changed his wording.
Faced with the Liuguang family head's inquiry, Su Hua momentarily didn't know how to respond, hesitating over whether to acknowledge it or not.
But just then, Gu Qingfeng tilted his head back and drained his cup in one gulp, saying nonchalantly, "That's right, I am Gu Tianlang."
As he spoke, he poured another cup of wine, continuing with a smile, "However, that's my old name. I've changed it now. You can call me Gu Qingfeng."
"If you truly are Gu Tianlang, do you recognize this old man?"
Another elder stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Gu Qingfeng with extreme hostility.
"Recognize you? Of course I do. The sect master of Dacheng Sect, Jin Chanzi, right?"
Having said that, Gu Qingfeng finally looked up, smiling at the elder. "Speaking of which, we're old acquaintances. It's been about three hundred years since we last met. You don't look like you've changed much."