The Immortals on the great ship stood suspended in the air, watching the standoff between Yuanwu and the Supreme Demon Beast with tense excitement. Many even shouted encouragement for Yuanwu, as they were all Immortals of the Immortal Dao and naturally wished for their side's Upper Immortal to prevail over the Monster Dao's Upper Demon.
On the deck, however, Gu Qingfeng lay reclined in his chair, one leg propped up on the table. One courtesan massaged his shoulders, while another kneaded his calves. He himself sipped wine leisurely, observing the unfolding spectacle.
Beside him, Huode was also watching the confrontation between the Upper Demon and Upper Immortal, but the sight displeased and frustrated him. "Damn it all," he grumbled. "This old man was looking forward to seeing just how beautiful that High Immortal Qingqing really is, to have so many people bewitched by her. Figured I'd treat my eyes to something nice. Instead, no beauty in sight, no treat for the eyes—just a bunch of little punks hopping around making a fuss. What a damn letdown."
"I say, Huode, having a bit of a show to watch is good enough. What more do you want?" Gu Qingfeng said with a playful smile. "I remember you, old scoundrel, used to love watching a good spectacle. What's the matter? Changed your tastes? Don't like watching excitement anymore, prefer watching beauties instead?"
"It's true this old man enjoys a good show, but damn it, you tell me, where's the excitement here? One little Immortal Dao punk and one little Monster Dao punk, just staring each other down—that counts as excitement? And those other Immortals and Demons standing around—why the hell are they just standing there? They should fight! A real fight is excitement. What's exciting about not fighting?"
"I reckon the chances of them actually fighting are slim," Gu Qingfeng said, taking a sip from his cup. "These little fellows are all roughly on the same level. Even if they did fight, I doubt any of them could seriously injure the other."
"Fighting isn't just about strength," Huode retorted.
Gu Qingfeng asked, "If fighting doesn't rely on strength, then what? Who has the louder voice? Or who's more shameless?"
"Don't talk nonsense. Fighting depends on guts—whether you have the balls or not. Strength alone is useless. If you don't dare go all out, then no matter how formidable your power is, it's just an empty show."
"You old scoundrel talk big because it doesn't cost you anything. You're a loner, without even a Dao companion—a thoroughgoing old bachelor. One person full, the whole family's fed. You can afford to let loose and go all-in. But what about them? These little fellows all have families, careers, dreams."
Gu Qingfeng spoke casually, without much emphasis. "Let's not even discuss their actual strength. Even if they truly possessed the power to obliterate the other, I doubt any of them would dare deliver a killing blow. Their backgrounds are all extraordinary. Killing any one of them would enrage the great Immortal Realms and great Clans behind them—the price wouldn't be trivial. In this era, anyone who survives in the Great Desolate isn't a fool. Before making a move, they'll weigh the consequences and consider whether they can bear the aftermath of a fight."
Beside them, Lei Lie nodded in agreement after hearing Gu Qingfeng's words. "What the Great Lord says is correct. In the current era, minor scuffles are usually fine, but if it truly comes to a life-or-death fight, no one has the guts for it. Especially these Upper Immortals—each one has immense webs of interest behind them. If you kill one, their backers definitely won't let you off easily."
The web of interests behind an Upper Immortal was unimaginable to ordinary people. Why did those great Immortal Realms and great Clans exhaust their blood, sweat, and resources to nurture an Upper Immortal? Precisely so that the Upper Immortal they cultivated could achieve greatness in the future, allowing the Immortal Realm or Clan to bask in their reflected glory.
In the Great Desolate, for a so-called great Immortal Realm or great Clan to establish itself in the world and spread its fame, it didn't rely on numbers, but on how many great figures the Immortal Realm or Clan had nurtured.
Therefore, those great Immortal Realms and great Clans placed immense importance on their Upper Immortals. Otherwise, why would an Upper Immortal travel with so many powerful attendants? If you killed an Upper Immortal, it would mean all the effort and resources those great Immortal Realms and great Clans had poured in would go down the drain. You think they'd let you off? Not a chance!
"Exactly," Gu Qingfeng chimed in. "And more importantly, an Upper Immortal is, after all, an Upper Immortal—one who upholds the Immortal Dao. Killing an Upper Immortal is a capital offense in the Great Desolate."
"Precisely because of that," Lei Lie nodded heavily, as if speaking from deep experience, he sighed, "these Upper Immortals dare to act so arrogantly and run amok without fear."
"Heh!" Huode looked at Gu Qingfeng and suddenly laughed—a complex laugh, as if he'd heard something utterly bizarre. Even his gaze at Gu Qingfeng was like looking at a monster. "Did the sun rise from the west today? It's true that killing an Upper Immortal is a capital offense in the Great Desolate—that's a universally acknowledged fact. But why does it sound so laughable and ironic coming from your mouth, boy?"
Huode indeed found it laughable and ironic.
Others didn't know, but he was aware that Gu Qingfeng's true identity was none other than the You Di. Back in the mortal world, this kid had toppled the Immortal Court. In the Great Desolate, he'd nearly burned the Nine Heavens to ashes with a single blaze. The number of Upper Immortals who had died by his hand probably exceeded the number most people had ever seen.
For such an existence to say that killing an Upper Immortal was a capital offense? Was there anything more laughable and ironic in all the heavens and earth? It was as supremely ironic as a bloodthirsty demonic butcher claiming to be a kind-hearted, benevolent soul.
"Huode, I've long since reformed," Gu Qingfeng began, but before he could finish, Huode couldn't bear to listen anymore. He squeezed his eyes shut hard, as if unable to bear the sight, and waved his hand. "Get lost! Don't you dare disgust this old man! Saying such things, aren't you ashamed? I feel shame on your behalf!"
Beside them, Lei Lie looked at Huode, then at Gu Qingfeng. He was no fool; from Huode's words, he could more or less guess that Gu Qingfeng had likely been no stranger to murder and arson in the past. Curious, he asked, "Great Lord, if I may be so bold to ask… what exactly did you do in the past?"
"What do you think I used to do?"
Huode also asked, "You little brat, I heard you're someone who gets by in the Great Desolate, and you get by quite well at that—you even have a gang of brothers following you. That being the case, you should have considerable experience and insight, right?"
"I wouldn't dare claim vast experience and extraordinary insight, but…" Lei Lie didn't overly humble himself either, speaking with confidence. "…I do have a bit of an eye for things. At the very least, when it comes to judging people, I have some confidence."
"Oh ho, is that so?" Huode said. "Then take a look and tell me what this kid Gu used to do."
"Great Lord, if I say something wrong or offend you, please don't mind me. Just treat it as me passing wind."
"Alright, let's hear it."
"I'm thinking… Great Lord used to be… this!"
After saying this, Lei Lie made a gesture with his hand. The gesture was a bit strange. Huode didn't understand it, and neither did Gu Qingfeng. Huode asked, "What are you waving your hand about, kid? What does that mean?"