Seeing Wine Immortal Zhen Yang back down, Gu Qingfeng shook his head in disdain. "That's about all the backbone you've got."
"You brat!" Wine Immortal Zhen Yang was fuming inside, yet facing Gu Qingfeng, he couldn't help feeling a twinge of fear. "Forget it, this old man won't stoop to your level."
Gu Qingfeng paid him no further mind. Looking down at the crowd gathered at the foot of Shangqing Sect Mountain, he said, "You've all been thinking for quite a while now. What's the decision? Yes or no? At least give me an answer."
"Gu Tianlang!" The head of the Liuguang Clan stepped forward to question him. "What you mean is, any one of us can attack you, and you won't fight back. Even if we beat you to death, you deserve it, is that it?"
"Correct." Gu Qingfeng nodded in response. "That's exactly the idea. Among everyone gathered here today, aside from those with grievances against me, I'm sure there are plenty who just don't like the look of me, who find me irritating, and countless others who want to test my depths. Since I'm going to get beaten up anyway, might as well make it a big one. Today, you can all let loose. Whoever wants to take a swing, I won't stop you."
His tone shifted slightly as he continued, "But let's be clear. Those with old scores to settle, I'll let you beat me to your heart's content today. Those who can't stand the sight of me, I'll let you beat me until you're satisfied. Those who want to test my limits, I'll let you probe until everything's crystal clear. From this day forward, the grievances of the past will be completely settled. We'll owe each other nothing. As for those who dislike me or want to test me, this is your one and only chance. After this, you go back to wherever you came from. How's that?"
The major sects and clans gave no response, seeming hesitant. This included even the Liuguang Clan and the Yunshang Long Clan, who bore the deepest grudges against Gu Qingfeng.
They wanted to eradicate Gu Qingfeng more than anyone.
Yet, deep down, they were profoundly wary of him.
Firstly, the silent attitude of the Immortal Dynasty and the Shangqing Sect towards Gu Qingfeng left them unsettled.
Secondly, although none of them believed Gu Qingfeng had the ability to withstand a combined assault, they also knew that without some hidden reliance, how would he dare utter such heaven-defying, arrogant words?
What that reliance might be, they racked their brains but couldn't figure out.
Thirdly, and most importantly, they all feared Gu Qingfeng would seek revenge later.
At that moment, Jin Chanzi of the Great Vehicle Sect stepped forward and said, "Lord, the words you speak today are heard clearly by all under heaven. If you were to settle accounts after the fact, what then?"
"Jin Chanzi, you've always had the ambition but not the guts, hesitant and overcautious, afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind. That's how you were in the Ancient Era, and after hundreds of years, you're still the same."
Gu Qingfeng tilted his head back and took a swig of wine, chuckling. "We've dealt with each other plenty back in the day. You should know what kind of person I am. I've never been one to hold grudges. If there's a score to settle, I usually settle it on the spot. Besides, if I wanted to settle accounts with you all, I'd have done it clearly today. Why would I let you beat me up first and then wait to settle scores later? Do you think I'm so bored I have nothing better to do than play house with you?"
"You!" Jin Chanzi's old face flushed red, yet he had no retort.
He glanced at the others. The sect masters of the various major sects were all in the same conflicted state as him—wanting to act but not daring to, wanting to give up but unwilling. Especially when they looked at Gu Qingfeng's utterly relaxed and carefree demeanor, it left them with no confidence at all.
Time ticked by. Gu Qingfeng was starting to look impatient. "Are you going to make a move or not? Don't just stand there dazed. If you think my proposal is no good, then lay down your own terms. Let's settle the old grievances once and for all. If you don't want to resolve the past, then go back to whatever you were doing. Don't block the way here."
"Gu Tianlang! I don't believe you're a god!" Finally, someone stepped forward. It was the leading figure of the younger generation of the Liuguang Clan, the one known as the Frost Prince, Liuguang Bing.
"Gu Tianlang, the Ancient Era that belonged to you is long over. The Present Era is our time!" Following him, the leading figure of the younger generation of the Yunshang Long Clan, known as the Fire Dragon Prince, Long Qi, also stepped out.
The leading figure of the younger generation of the Tiger Might Wang Clan, known as the White Tiger Prince, Wang Ba, along with twenty or thirty other prodigies from their circle, all stepped forward. Like Liuguang Bing and Long Qi, they were both inner disciples of the Shangqing Sect and leading figures among the younger generations of their respective clans.
"Gu Tianlang, the Ancient Era that belonged to your Chixiao Sect is long gone. The Present Era is the new era for us, the Crimson-Letter Sect!" Not to be outdone by the Shangqing Sect inner disciples, over twenty from the Crimson-Letter Sect's Zixiao Pavilion also stepped forward.
"Whether his era has passed or not, I don't know. I only know that even if Gu Tianlang really is a god, today I will slay that god!" After the Crimson-Letter Sect, over twenty Purple Gold Immortal Nobles from the Immortal Dynasty's Purple Gold Hall followed suit.
It was well known that whether it was the Shangqing Sect inner disciples, the Crimson-Letter Sect's Zixiao Pavilion, or the Immortal Dynasty's Purple Gold Hall, every single person among them was a prodigy among prodigies, a dragon among men. Each was an outstanding genius of this world in the Present Era.
Take Liuguang Bing, for example. He had forged a Frost Immortal Body, condensed a Nine-Yin Immortal Spirit, possessed the Great Nature Water Edict, could freeze a thousand miles with a single thought, and fill the sky with icy blades with one sword strike, effortlessly annihilating Immortals.
Take Long Qi, who possessed the Great Nature Fire Edict. With one move, 'Azure Dragon Dominates the Sun, Scorching the World,' he could reduce an Immortal to ashes in the snap of a finger.
Then there was Wang Ba, who possessed the Tiger Might Bloodline, could transform into a White Tiger. A single tiger's roar had once caused over a dozen Immortals to bleed from their noses and mouths.
And there was Xun Yihe, the leading figure of the younger generation of the Noble Xun Clan, who possessed the coveted Immortal Dao Light Edict.
As for the geniuses from the Crimson-Letter Sect's Zixiao Pavilion and the Immortal Dynasty's Purple Gold Hall, their fortunes and endowments were no less impressive, if not greater, than those of Liuguang Bing and the others.
"Hmm, not bad." Gu Qingfeng looked over the several dozen prodigies and nodded in approval. "Each one looks quite formidable, with a dazzling array of fortunes and endowments. Their strength isn't bad either. The younger generation truly inspires awe."
He then turned his gaze to the people from the major sects. "Look at these youngsters, and then look at you old-timers. Aren't you ashamed? I'm blushing for you. Each of you has cultivated for thousands, even tens of thousands of years. I really don't know what you're still cultivating for. In my opinion, you might as well step aside and let the younger generation take over. Don't hog the latrine if you're not going to shit!"
"Gu Tianlang!" With a furious roar, Jin Chanzi, the sect master of the Great Vehicle Sect, shot forward, his face flushed with shame and anger. "Don't you dare be so arrogant! Today, this old man will avenge the disciples who died tragically at your hands!"
Once the Great Vehicle Sect stepped forward, the Liuguang Clan, the Yunshang Long Clan, the Pure Yang Sect, the Thousand Stars Sect, the Green Moon Sect, the Fire Cloud Sect, the Heavenly Water Sect, and other sect masters and clan heads all followed suit, declaring their intent to vanquish Gu Qingfeng and rid the world of a scourge.