A person's reputation is like the shadow of a tree.
Recently, the name Gu Qingfeng had become exceptionally resounding in the surrounding regions. Almost everyone knew that on the day Yunxia Sect established its heir, Gu Qingfeng had ruthlessly executed dozens of True Beings with thunderous methods. Now, hearing someone say Gu Qingfeng had arrived, everyone craned their necks to look.
It was a Four-Steed Grand Carriage.
A short, stout man stood on the carriage, holding the reins with one hand and a horsewhip in the other.
There was also a man dressed in white. He sat at the front, leaning against the carriage rail, one leg crossed over the other, eating Redleaf Monster Fruits and sipping wine. He looked utterly lazy, his expression one of profound calm, indescribably leisurely. His long hair was loosely scattered, and as a gentle breeze blew, a few strands fluttered across his rather cold and stern face.
Was this Gu Qingfeng?
Many were seeing this legendary figure, known for his cold arrogance, decisiveness, and ruthless killing, for the first time.
He was different from what they had imagined.
To be precise, the disparity was far too great.
In the rumors, Gu Qingfeng was incomparably cold and arrogant. A single glare from his furious eyes brimmed with killing intent; a raise of his hand brought thunder, a single palm strike could slay a thousand jun.
But this person...
He didn't look at all like that kind of decisive killer. Instead, he seemed more like a good-for-nothing young master from a wealthy family.
He looked exactly like one.
Many thought so, including Mu Yulong of the Spirit-Capital Sect. He frowned deeply, asking in confusion, "Is he really the Gu Qingfeng from the rumors?"
Clearly, he didn't match his imagination.
It was the same for him, and even Murong Fei, the envoy of the Nine-Hua Alliance, wore a look of astonishment and doubt. "Are you sure he's the Gu Qingfeng who executed dozens of True Beings in the Qingyang region?"
He was ordinary.
Truly too ordinary.
He had no imposing aura, no majesty, no arrogance, not even youthful vigor. One glance, and it was hard to leave any special impression. It was as if if you closed your eyes, you could no longer remember this person.
Wei Qing did not respond. When Gu Qingfeng approached, he couldn't help but close his eyes, take a deep breath, and think to himself: An imposing aura is not frightening, a dignified bearing is not frightening, majesty is not frightening, arrogance is not frightening, sharpness is not frightening, a lack of vigor is even less frightening. What is truly frightening is that kind of ordinariness, that kind of plain, unadorned ordinariness that returns to simplicity, the kind of ordinariness you can't even remember after one glance. That is what is truly terrifying.
"He... he is Gu Qingfeng?"
Looking at Gu Qingfeng on the Four-Steed Grand Carriage, Qing Ning couldn't help but exclaim in shock, as if greatly surprised.
Indeed, what surprised her wasn't that Gu Qingfeng looked so different from the rumors, but that she had seen this person in a cave dwelling several months ago. It's just... she hadn't expected... that he... would actually be the Gu Qingfeng who had been making such a strong stir recently.
Among the crowd, Monk Bu’er had once again pulled out a piece of roasted delicacy from who-knows-where. He gnawed on it while watching, his small eyes narrowing tighter and tighter the more he looked. Looking and looking, he shook his head fiercely, closed his eyes, then opened them to look again, closed them, opened them... repeating this seven or eight times. Monk Bu’er muttered, "This lord is no ordinary lord... Must be enshrined. Enshrine him well, and he's a Buddha-Lord. Enshrine him poorly, and he's a damn Demon-Lord..." Suddenly, Monk Bu’er seemed to remember something. He glanced at the desolate mountain shrouded in rainbow light, carefully wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth with his hand, his heart suddenly tightening. He swallowed a mouthful of saliva and muttered, "Buddha above... Please don't let it be him... Otherwise, this old monk can't handle it... This lord, this old monk can't afford to provoke..."
Opposite, at the foot of the mountain, the Four-Steed Grand Carriage came to a stop.
Gu Qingfeng did not get up, nor even stand. He remained sitting there, leaning against the carriage rail. He took a sip of wine. Perhaps not expecting to be so 'welcomed', his brow raised slightly in puzzlement, a bit unclear about the situation.
"Gu Qingfeng!"
Qin Wanli took a step forward, pointing at Gu Qingfeng and shouting sharply, "Back at Yunxia Sect, if I hadn't shown mercy, your head would have already rolled. Am I right or not?"
Gu Qingfeng held a cup of wine. Though somewhat unclear about the situation, he shrugged and responded, "That's right. That did happen."
"Hmph! I knew you wouldn't dare deny it!"
Qin Wanli put away the short ice sword in his hand and stood proudly. Originally, if Gu Qingfeng had denied it, he would have struck without hesitation to eliminate him. Since the other party was so sensible, he saw no need to act.
Seeing Gu Qingfeng admit it personally, most of the people gathered at the mountain foot began to believe it. They pondered that the rumors from before had been too exaggerated. What one glance unleashing twenty great completion immortal arts? What the might of a single shout intimidating twenty True Beings? What an incomparably powerful physique? How much of it was true, how much false? Some had already been suspicious. Now, seeing Gu Qingfeng not even having the courage to refute Qin Wanli, everyone realized there was too much water in the rumors about Yunxia Sect.
What powerful physique? Faced with a genius like Qin Wanli who had opened three golden colors, it was nothing special.
"This person is rather interesting..." Murong Fei watched with a smile. "I wonder if he truly doesn't care, or simply dares not care... Interesting... Very interesting. I must find an opportunity to test him."
Hearing Murong Fei say this, Wei Qing advised, "I suggest you abandon that thought sooner rather than later."
"Oh?" Murong Fei was taken aback. "Hearing you say that only makes me more interested..."
"Some people you can test, and some people... you cannot afford to test..."
"Heh..." With a snap, Murong Fei flipped his palm, producing a purple-green fan which he gently fanned. He said arrogantly, "You know I love a challenge..."
Wei Qing closed his eyes and said gravely, "Out of respect for your father, I'll advise you one more time. Do not provoke him."
"Wei Qing, stop pretending to be some lofty expert in front of me. Just because you don't dare doesn't mean I don't. Just because you can't doesn't mean I can't!"
Wei Qing shook his head and said no more.
At that moment, seven or eight more people arrived on the scene.
They were seven or eight elders, all highly respected seniors from the Liujin region. Almost every one of them had undergone the Longevity Tribulation. The leader among them was named True Being Da Qian, who had cultivated for over a thousand years and had long since passed his Longevity Tribulation. The others might be like the Three Elders of Yunxia Sect—the kind who relied on external means to pass the tribulation and were just waiting to die. Although they had passed the Longevity Tribulation, the Golden Cores within their bodies remained turbid. The cultivation path for such people was pretty much completely cut off; they could only idle away their time waiting for death.
But True Being Da Qian was different. He had undergone a true Longevity Tribulation in the meaningful sense, and the Golden Core within his body was exceptionally pure.
One could tell from their complexions. The other elders had rather dull complexions and poor spirits. Only True Being Da Qian, though his hair and beard were white, was hale and hearty, with an especially profound spiritual aura flowing from him.
The arrival of True Being Da Qian made many people very happy.
The reason was simple: True Being Da Qian was proficient in mechanisms and formations, with profound attainments. Most importantly, he was highly respected and his character was trustworthy. If he took charge of this cave dwelling exploration, it would ensure safety, and with luck, they might even get a share of the treasures.
Many stepped forward, hoping True Being Da Qian would take charge.
Even True Being Ziyun did the same.
"Since you all extend such a warm invitation, this old man will not decline and will preside over this cave dwelling expedition," said True Being Da Qian, stroking his beard with a solemn expression. "However, I must state this upfront: once inside the cave dwelling, without my permission, no one is to act rashly. The cave dwelling will inevitably be filled with traps and mechanisms. If one person's recklessness plunges everyone into a desperate situation, this old man will definitely not show mercy."
Everyone nodded in agreement. They all knew those ancient cave dwellings were dangerous, one more perilous than the last. Although spiritual treasures were important, one needed to be alive to enjoy them.
Suddenly!
The rainbow light underwent a strange transformation.
True Being Da Qian's expression changed. He shouted, "Everyone, retreat!"
No one dared delay, quickly stepping back.
In an instant!
With a thunderous roar, the rainbow light exploded, then a fissure appeared.
It was open!
The cave dwelling was open.
Everyone grew restless, eager to move. True Being Da Qian shouted again, "The cave dwelling contains poisonous vapors. Do not enter recklessly."
No one dared disobey True Being Da Qian's words. But just as he finished speaking, someone walked over. It was none other than Murong Fei and the others from the Nine-Hua Alliance.
"Envoy Murong, you..."
"Heh!" Murong Fei didn't even glance at him, laughing, "You play your game, we'll play ours..." With that, whoosh—he led his people and flashed into the fissure of the cave dwelling.
"Sigh... Youth... So very young..." True Being Da Qian shook his head and sighed. Just as he was about to say something, another person walked over. It was Monk Bu’er. Gnawing on his delicacy, he chuckled, clasped his hands together, and said, "This old monk will go down first to scout the way..."
After Monk Bu’er jumped down, another person walked over—a man in white.
It was none other than Gu Qingfeng. Without a word, he directly leaped down.
After Gu Qingfeng entered, Wei Qing, after careful consideration, also followed and jumped in.
"Sigh... Ignorance... Such ignorance..." Seeing so many people ignore his advice and jump down on their own, True Being Da Qian was deeply disappointed. He sighed, "In over a thousand years of cultivation, this old man has seen far too many self-righteous, arrogant young people who, for a moment of showing off, ended up regretting it for a lifetime... Ancient cave dwellings are invariably filled with traps and mechanisms. No matter how high your talent, how strong your cultivation, once you fall into a trap or formation, you'll find life worse than death. Ignorance... Such ignorance..."
(This chapter counts for yesterday, right?... I've already finished four chapters... Don't say I don't keep my word! !! !!)