The air of indifference Gu Qingfeng exuded towards everyone and everything, especially his leisurely, carefree, and somewhat slovenly demeanor, had long grated on Mo Baiyu, Fuying, and others.
However, due to Gu Qingfeng's profound and unfathomable nature, they truly couldn't gauge his depths. They were particularly wary and didn't dare say anything.
Even though they didn't know why Upper Immortal Qingqing's Lingyu Sword was circling around Gu Qingfeng.
Nevertheless.
If someone said the Lingyu Sword was forged by Gu Qingfeng, Mo Baiyu and the others simply didn't believe it.
In their minds, Upper Immortal Qingqing was a disciple of the Eternal Life Pavilion and a direct disciple of a major figure like Fusheng Dijun. How could she possibly use an immortal sword forged by an outsider?
Most importantly, they had all witnessed the profound mysteries of the Lingyu Sword and knew its power. Although Gu Qingfeng's existence was somewhat mysterious, the idea that the Lingyu Sword was personally forged by him seemed utterly impossible to everyone present.
Thus.
After Gu Qingfeng finished speaking, not only did Mo Baiyu, Fuying, and others step forward to question him, but even immortals like Shangguan Dong also came forward to voice their doubts.
Clearly.
Their purpose in stepping forward wasn't merely to question Gu Qingfeng; they also wanted to put on a show in front of Upper Immortal Qingqing. One moment they called Gu Qingfeng some kind of demonic practitioner who, using unknown methods, was trying to seize Upper Immortal Qingqing's Lingyu Sword for himself. The next, they labeled him a wicked heretic or evil demon.
They grew louder and louder, each more righteous and indignant than the last, looking as if they wished they could tear Gu Qingfeng to pieces on the spot and then present his head to Upper Immortal Qingqing to claim credit.
On the deck.
Gu Qingfeng sat back down in his chair, crossed his legs, played with the Lingyu Sword, and watched the several hundred people in mid-air who were filled with righteous indignation and moral outrage. He said to Huode with a smile, "Huode, in your next life, try being reborn as a woman."
"Even if you hadn't said it, old man, I'd want to be a woman in my next life too."
Huode nodded, expressing deep agreement. Having lived most of his life, he truly felt it was better to be a woman.
Especially a beautiful woman like Upper Immortal Qingqing. Even when facing major trouble, without even having to speak, a bunch of men would rush to step forward for her. No wonder the old saying went: If a man wants to conquer the myriad heavens and worlds and become the overlord of the Great Desolate, he needs to shed much blood, sweat through many dangers, and battle countless people. But if a woman wants to become the overlord of the myriad heavens and worlds, she only needs to conquer one man.
The sages often said women were the root of calamity. Thinking about it now, it really seemed true.
In mid-air.
Upper Immortal Qingqing had been staring intently at Gu Qingfeng. The expression on her beautiful, clear face changed repeatedly—from initial shock and confusion, to disbelief, then to incomprehension, and finally to utter bewilderment. She watched him like this from beginning to end, not uttering a single word, nor paying any attention to Mo Baiyu and the others who were questioning Gu Qingfeng.
After a long while, she took a deep breath, flashed down to the deck, and said, "I believe you are the master of the Lingyu Sword."
These words immediately silenced all those who had been questioning Gu Qingfeng. However, some were still unwilling to accept it, Mo Baiyu among them. He continued, "Upper Immortal Qingqing, could you be mistaken? How could he possibly be the master of the Lingyu Sword!"
"Yes!
Upper Immortal Qingqing, you must not be deceived! I can't see how someone like him could forge such a profoundly mysterious immortal sword containing a sword spirit as the Lingyu Sword!"
Mo Baiyu and the others clearly didn't know the origins of the Lingyu Sword. At this moment, Upper Immortal Qingqing had no mind to explain these things to them. Instead, she looked at Gu Qingfeng and said, "I never expected to meet the true master of the Lingyu Sword here today. This junior is happy for Lingyu and feels honored for myself."
Upper Immortal Qingqing's words weren't mere politeness; they were a genuine outpouring of emotion.
She was truly happy for the sword spirit of the Lingyu Sword. Having nurtured the Lingyu Sword for hundreds of years, she understood better than anyone that its sword spirit had been waiting for its master all along. Because she had refined the Lingyu Sword, her heart and mind were connected to it, and she knew better than anyone how excited and thrilled the Lingyu Sword was upon seeing its master.
Besides being happy for the Lingyu Sword, she herself felt honored.
Although she had never met Gu Qingfeng before and knew nothing about him, she knew that anyone capable of forging the Lingyu Sword must be extraordinary. And a master whom the Lingyu Sword was willing to wait for for so long must be even more remarkable.
"Senior, please accept this junior's bow!"
To everyone's surprise, after speaking, Upper Immortal Qingqing actually prepared to kneel and bow to Gu Qingfeng. This shocked everyone present. In their minds, even if this fellow really had forged the Lingyu Sword, Upper Immortal Qingqing shouldn't need to kneel, should she?
"I say, big sister, what's with the bowing out of nowhere?"
Just as Upper Immortal Qingqing was about to kneel, Gu Qingfeng raised a hand and caught her by the shoulder.
"This has been this junior's long-cherished wish. The Lingyu Sword once saved this junior's life. Back then, I swore that if I ever had the fortune to meet the master of the Lingyu Sword in the future, I would personally bow in gratitude."
"It was this sword that saved you, not me."
"But the Lingyu Sword was forged by you, Senior."
"That's two different matters. Moreover, if thanks are due, it should be me thanking you. If not for you, I probably wouldn't have been able to see this old friend again."
Gu Qingfeng looked at the Lingyu Sword in his hand and said, "I remember this sword should have been shattered, or at least broken. Did you reforge it?"
"When this junior encountered the Lingyu Sword, it was indeed just a broken sword. So, this junior reforged it. Unfortunately, my skills are lacking, and my forging techniques aren't particularly high. I failed to restore the Lingyu Sword to its original appearance. I hope Senior will forgive me."
"You're quite modest."
Gu Qingfeng looked at the Lingyu Sword floating above his palm and laughed. "And it's fortunate you didn't restore this sword's original appearance. Otherwise, that would have been terrible."
Upper Immortal Qingqing didn't understand. "Why?"
"Because this sword's original appearance was truly ugly—so ugly it had almost no friends!"
"Ah?"
Perhaps not expecting Gu Qingfeng to say this, Upper Immortal Qingqing was taken aback for a moment before saying, "Senior, you jest."
Gu Qingfeng truly wasn't joking. The sword's original appearance couldn't even be compared to its current state; even the magical treasures or flying swords of anyone present were better looking than the sword's original form. Back then, this sword could hardly be called a sword at all; it was practically no different from a rusted iron sword. Even the sword blanks sold in trading worlds were better looking than this sword's original appearance.
When it came to the field of forging magical treasures, perhaps he couldn't be called a master or originator, but he was still passable. He wouldn't dare claim he could forge all kinds of magical treasures with all sorts of profound mysteries, but if he took a look, he could usually forge something roughly seventy or eighty percent similar.
However, regardless of how profound or powerful the magical treasures he forged were, they all had one fatal flaw: they were too crude and too ugly.
It wasn't that Gu Qingfeng lacked an aesthetic sense. Rather, forging a beautiful magical treasure required meticulous carving and polishing. For a lazy person like Gu Qingfeng, how could he possibly spend effort just for the sake of appearance? Besides, the magical treasures he forged were usually for his own use; he prioritized practicality. As for whether they looked good or not, he didn't care.