The legends of Monarch Chixiao were tales Yun Wan had grown up hearing.
Especially since learning of the past grievances between Monarch Chixiao and her master, Ye Tianlan, Yun Wan had studied the Monarch in detail. While her research wasn't as thorough as Su Hua's, she had investigated every known detail about Monarch Chixiao.
As a cultivator, Yun Wan held immense respect for Monarch Chixiao.
His cultivation had shattered and reformed nine times, his fate had faced nine deaths and nine rebirths, his achievements encompassed nine Immortals and nine Demons, he had ascended to the peerless throne, his Fortune was both rebellious and unique—he had destroyed Immortal Dynasties, severed Immortal Rivers, dominated the Nine Heavens, trodden upon the Nine Palaces, and defied the Nine Skies. Yun Wan believed that among the three thousand boundless great worlds, since ancient times, there had been no second person like him.
However, as the personal disciple of the Lady Sect Master Ye Tianlan, Yun Wan deeply despised Monarch Chixiao's character.
At the World Martial Assembly, he had publicly flirted with her master before the entire world.
Then, in front of countless witnesses, he had rejected her master's Immortal fate.
He had driven her master to heartbreak and despair, not only shattering her spirit but driving her to madness and demonic possession.
Even so, when Monarch Chixiao later faced the judgment of the Immortal Dao, her master had still stepped forward to shield him from it.
In Yun Wan's eyes, Monarch Chixiao was nothing but a complete and utter heartless scoundrel. She felt her master's sacrifices were utterly worthless.
From a very young age, she had secretly sworn that if she ever encountered Monarch Chixiao, she would definitely demand justice for her master.
Today.
She finally met the legendary Monarch Chixiao.
The result left her bitterly disappointed.
The man before her was worlds apart from the Monarch Chixiao she had imagined. If not for Su Hua Fairy personally confirming his identity, she would have suspected this fellow was yet another imposter pretending to be Monarch Chixiao.
The difference was simply too vast.
It wasn't because this Gu Qingfeng possessed neither cultivation level nor Fortune, but a fundamental disparity in presence and essence.
Having acted as the steward of Shangqing Sect for many years, she had met her fair share of people—the sect masters of various ancient sects, the clan heads of major Immortal families, the heaven-favored geniuses of the inner sect, and even those low-key reincarnated experts.
In her view, a person's appearance could change, their cultivation could change, their Fortune could change, but the essential presence born from their core could never be altered. It was like a prince fallen to beggary—no matter how wretched, you could still spot his uniqueness at a glance.
This was a presence ingrained in the bones, an essence emanating from the soul, immutable by any external factor.
But this man?
He had no cultivation level to speak of, no Fortune to boast of.
Essence?
Presence?
Did he possess any?
It was unclear.
At the very least, Yun Wan couldn't perceive it.
No matter how she looked, she couldn't connect the fellow before her eyes with the legendary overlord who once shook the Ancient Times Era—Monarch Chixiao.
Not far away.
Gu Qingfeng was chatting casually with True Ting Immortal Master and True Yang Wine Immortal. Perhaps finding the crowd inconvenient, True Ting Immortal Master invited Gu Qingfeng to Shangqing Sect.
Gu Qingfeng didn't refuse; he had been planning to visit Shangqing Sect anyway.
Just as they were about to leave, a sharp voice called out from behind.
"Hold it."
Hmm?
Gu Qingfeng turned. The speaker was a man whom everyone present recognized—the leading figure of the younger generation of the Liuguang Clan, Lord Snowfrost, Liuguang Bing.
His shout instantly tensed the atmosphere.
Liuguang Bing stared at Gu Qingfeng. "Gu Tianlang, do you know who I am?"
"I do not."
"My surname is Liuguang, my given name is Bing."
After stating his name, Liuguang Bing added, "Liuguang Que, whom you killed in Yanluo Country, was my cousin."
"And then?" Gu Qingfeng replied lazily.
"Bing'er, mind your manners!"
At that moment, the Clan Head of the Liuguang Clan stepped forward, reprimanding Liuguang Bing.
Liuguang Bing showed no sign of impulsiveness. He continued staring at Gu Qingfeng, his tone flat. "There is no 'and then.' I merely wish for you to remember my name."
"And mine, Long Qi of the Cloud-Above Dragon Clan."
Long Qi stepped forward as well, unwilling to be left out, his gaze equally hostile toward Gu Qingfeng.
"In that case, you won't mind adding my name, Wang Ba, to the list."
Whether these heaven-favored geniuses and dragons among men had planned it or not, after Liuguang Bing and Long Qi announced themselves, Wang Ba and nearly twenty to thirty others stepped forward to declare their names, clearly intending to provoke Gu Qingfeng.
Only Wuya, the star descended to the mortal realm, remained quietly standing within the crowd from beginning to end. His eyes swept over Gu Qingfeng, his brow slightly furrowed as if puzzled by many things.
"Liuguang Bing, Long Qi, Wang Ba…
I've remembered all your names."
Gu Qingfeng showed little reaction, treating it as if he'd just made a few new acquaintances. With a smile, as he prepared to leave, he glanced at the leaders of the various sects and clans. "I originally intended to invite you all for a few drinks, but it seems today isn't the day. How about this—tomorrow, let's find a place to properly reminisce."
"Right, that's settled then. See you all tomorrow."
With that, Gu Qingfeng followed True Ting Immortal Master, True Yang, and the others away.
He left behind a crowd of leaders with complex expressions.
When Gu Qingfeng first mentioned inviting everyone for drinks, all had thought it a joke—Su Hua included.
Only now, with his repeated mention of drinking and reminiscing, did they realize he wasn't joking at all. He was serious.
This realization sent waves of unease through the hearts of the various sect masters and clan heads.
Drinks?
Reminiscing?
They didn't believe Gu Qingfeng's offer of 'drinks and reminiscing' was merely that simple. Moreover, they felt they had no past with Gu Qingfeng worth reminiscing about—unless it was the grievances from the Ancient Times Era!
Grievances?
Could it be…
He intended to settle the accounts from the Ancient Times Era with them?
The mere thought sent a ripple of panic through the assembled leaders.
After Gu Qingfeng departed, Jin Chanzi, the Sect Head of Dacheng Sect, was the first to step forward, fuming. "Outrageous! Utterly outrageous!
We haven't even settled accounts with him, and he has the gall to proactively seek us out to settle old scores from back then!"
"What a fine 'Sinner of the Immortal Dao,' Gu Tianlang!" Elder Mo of Chunyang Sect exclaimed, his face flushed red. "Does he think this is still the Ancient Times Era?
Does he think he's still that Monarch Chixiao who ascended the peerless Immortal-Demon throne and rampaged across the world?
Ridiculous! Absolutely ridiculous!"
"Exactly!
This is the Modern Era! Gu Tianlang's era ended long ago! We have no reason to fear him!
His proud Immortal-Demon throne is gone. Now he has no cultivation level, no Fortune. What is there to fear?"
While facing Gu Qingfeng moments ago, the leaders of the major sects hadn't dared to breathe too loudly. Now that he was gone, they all voiced their righteous indignation with furious shouts. Of course, they were just shouts—they only dared vent like this behind his back. In truth, their hearts were filled with fear, each one more apprehensive and less confident than the last.