"I recall that when the cave dwelling opened, the two envoys from the Nine-Hua Alliance, Lord Murong Fei and Lord Wei Qing, entered one after the other," said the old man. "There was also that monk called Bu'er, and it seems there was a man in white whom I've never seen before. Who is he?"
When Da Qian Zhenren inquired, the crowd responded that it was none other than Gu Qingfeng, who had been making the biggest waves recently.
Upon hearing Gu Qingfeng's name, Da Qian Zhenren let out a soft sound of surprise. "So that man is Young Lord Chiyan, Gu Qingfeng. When I emerged from seclusion, I heard many people mention him. He seems quite remarkable. Although his Foundation Establishment failed, his physical body is exceptionally formidable, having actually eradicated the Three Elders of Yunxia."
"There's nothing remarkable about him. He couldn't even withstand a single move from Qin Wanli."
The one who said this was a young man. Everyone recognized him—Gu Xin, the Color-Spirit prodigy of the Spirit-Capital Sect. Though not as dazzling as Mu Yulong and Qin Wanli with their three golden colors, he was still a Color-Spirit prodigy with one ordinary and two golden attributes. His strength was so formidable that among the hundred-plus people present, aside from a pure Golden Core True Being like Da Qian Zhenren, probably no one was his match.
"My strength may not equal Qin Wanli's, but the difference isn't great."
Gu Xin appeared to be a very cold and arrogant man, standing ramrod straight. His words carried an innate haughtiness as he said disdainfully, "If Qin Wanli could eradicate him in one move, I could certainly do the same within three."
The surrounding crowd nodded in agreement. They knew perfectly well how powerful the force of a great nature golden color was. Just as Gu Xin himself had said, his two golden colors might not be as dazzling as the three golden colors of Qin Wanli and Mu Yulong, but they were absolutely not far off. Since that Gu Qingfeng couldn't withstand a single move from Qin Wanli, it stood to reason he would certainly be no match for Gu Xin either.
Of course, some disagreed.
"Young Master Gu, if you encounter that Gu Qingfeng, you must not underestimate him. I heard that Wen Jingshan, the former top prodigy of Yunxia Sect, was eradicated by Gu Qingfeng in a single move."
"Wen Jingshan? He merely manifested one golden color."
Gu Xin snorted coldly, as if he didn't place Wen Jingshan in his eyes at all, and said arrogantly, "How can a single golden color be mentioned in the same breath as my two golden colors? With the power of my one ordinary and two golden Color-Spirits, eradicating Wen Jingshan would be as easy as turning over my hand!"
At that moment, a voice suddenly came.
"Heh, what a boastful tone."
In response, a group of seven or eight people appeared. At their head was a handsome, tall, and upright man with a face like polished jade, wearing jade-silk treasure robes. He wore a faint smile, held a cyan jade fan, and walked over slowly. Behind him followed two elders and six middle-aged men with resolute expressions.
It was precisely the Nine-Hua Alliance envoy, Murong Fei.
Gu Xin might be wildly arrogant, but facing a figure like Murong Fei, whose status and position far outstripped his own, he could only snort coldly and dared not say anything.
"You all move quite swiftly."
Murong Fei waved his cyan jade fan, smiling faintly. "Strength truly lies in numbers. To have broken through to this point in such a short time... Da Qian Zhenren is indeed worthy of being called a master proficient in mechanisms and formations."
"Lord Murong jests."
Da Qian Zhenren looked at the several people beside Murong Fei and said, "With so many experts by your side, how could this old man dare claim the title of master?"
Murong Fei smiled without speaking. Just as he was about to walk over, Da Qian Zhenren's voice came again.
"I presume Lord Murong knows the rules, correct?"
"Oh?" Murong Fei stopped and asked, "What rules?"
"The mechanism on this stone gate was deciphered by this old man and the others at the risk of our lives. According to the rules, if we do not permit it, you cannot enter without authorization."
Indeed.
For such ancient cave dwellings, there had been a set of old rules since antiquity, passed down for millennia. To avoid conflicts and casualties, it had always been: whoever opens the stone gate has the say. After all, in ancient cave dwellings, every stone chamber might conceal spirit treasures. Whoever opens the stone gate first has the right to enter first. Only after they have plundered the treasures inside do others have the right to enter.
As soon as Da Qian Zhenren's words fell, before Murong Fei could speak, the seven or eight people around him began to shimmer with light, as if preparing to force their way in by martial means.
"Although Lord Murong is an envoy of the Nine-Hua Alliance, you cannot break the old rules."
Da Qian Zhenren said gravely, "If you do, this old man and the others will certainly not yield!"
As his words ended, the hundred-plus people around also gathered, both sides at daggers drawn. It seemed that if Murong Fei dared to force his way in, they would take action.
"Many sects in the surrounding regions have long held grievances against the Alliance. If you break the old rules again... I trust Lord Murong understands this old man's meaning."
"Oh?" Murong Fei seemed unafraid and didn't regard the surrounding hundred-plus people with concern. The corners of his mouth still held a faint, shallow smile as he said, "Are you threatening me?"
"This old man and the others are merely stating facts."
"Heh..." Murong Fei sneered, closing the cyan jade fan in his hand. "I understand the rules. Moreover, this grand hall isn't limited to just this one stone gate. Let's go."
With that, Murong Fei led his people toward another stone gate. But just as he turned, Da Qian Zhenren's voice came from behind again.
"Lord Murong, wait a moment."
"Oh?" This time, Murong Fei seemed somewhat impatient, his tone turning stern. "Could it be that without your permission, this young master cannot even take another path?"
"Lord Murong misunderstands."
Da Qian Zhenren stroked his beard, speaking solemnly, "Inside this stone gate, mechanisms abound. There are no fewer than several dozen various formation traps, extremely dangerous and very unstable. A single touch could set off the whole chain. This old man advises Lord Murong not to enter."
"Hmph! Just because you're afraid doesn't mean I, Murong Fei, am afraid." Murong Fei declared arrogantly, "You can't handle it, but that doesn't mean I, Murong Fei, can't!"
"I urge Lord Murong to think twice before acting..." Da Qian Zhenren tried to persuade, but Murong Fei didn't listen and walked directly toward the other stone gate.
"Senior Da Qian, since they insist on going to their deaths, just let them," Gu Xin said, a playful smile curling his lips. "I'm actually quite looking forward to..."
Before he could finish, Murong Fei, who had walked to the stone gate entrance, suddenly stopped. His eyes blazed with anger as he shouted sharply, "Gu Xin! Repeat what you just said to me!"
Gu Xin's heart skipped a beat, his expression changing slightly. He didn't dare speak.
"I told you to say it again!"
Gu Xin didn't dare.
"Hmph! Don't think that just because you've opened one ordinary and two golden colors, even someone like Mu Yulong who opened three goldens is nothing but trash in my, Murong Fei's, eyes!" Murong Fei pointed at Gu Xin, shouting sharply, "I'll let you off this time. If you dare show me disrespect again in the future, I'll make you regret ever being born into this world."
Gu Xin's face turned ashen, his breathing heavy. He glared at Murong Fei but ultimately didn't dare utter a single word, because he knew he couldn't afford to provoke him.
"Trash!"
After saying that, Murong Fei led his people, pushed open the stone gate, and walked inside.
"Ai... Young people are ultimately young people..." Watching Murong Fei and his group enter, Da Qian Zhenren shook his head and sighed. "Young people these days are becoming more and more arrogant, more and more overestimating themselves, not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth... It truly disappoints this old man."
"Senior Da Qian, if Murong Fei dies inside, and the Nine-Hua Alliance investigates later..."
"No hurry. Although Murong Fei is arrogant, he's not a rash person," Da Qian Zhenren said with considerable confidence. "Moreover, those few by his side are all experts. They should retreat at the first sign of danger."
Sure enough.
Not long after Da Qian Zhenren finished speaking, Murong Fei and his entire group retreated from inside. Their faces were each more unsightly than the last, their expressions each more panicked.
Because only after entering did they realize how terrifying it was inside. Just as Da Qian Zhenren had said, mechanisms abounded, one after another, everywhere—no fewer than seventy or eighty of them. Once triggered, the consequences were simply unimaginable. Fortunately, they had retreated the moment they entered.
Their lives were saved, but their pride was lost.
Although the hundred-plus people around didn't say anything aloud, they were all laughing inwardly.
Murong Fei might be a man who valued face, but facing this situation, he couldn't very well make a scene.
"Lord Murong, this cave dwelling should be the work of a master. There are still countless dangers inside. Why not advance and retreat together with us? What do you think?"
Facing Da Qian Zhenren's invitation, Murong Fei snorted coldly, turned his back, and ignored him.
"Ai..." Da Qian Zhenren shook his head again and sighed.
Just then, someone in the area suddenly shouted, "Isn't that Gu Qingfeng?"
Hmm?
The crowd looked over. They saw a person walking toward them. The man had a tall, upright figure, wore a set of white robes, and had long hair casually draped behind him. On his cold, handsome face, his expression was quite leisurely. As he walked, he was even eating a Red-Leaf Monster Fruit.
As the man in white approached and was about to enter the stone gate, a sharp shout stopped him.
"Ignorant of the rules! Stop right there!"
The sharp shout came from Gu Xin. Having just lost face with Murong Fei, he was stewing in a bellyful of anger. Now that this Gu Qingfeng had delivered himself to his doorstep looking for trouble, he naturally wanted to use this opportunity to vent the fury in his heart.
[Woke up drowsy during the day...]